For you I STUDY, For You I WORK, For you I LIVE, For You I am Ready even to give my LIFE

The Fruits of our labor

2011-11-01T13:14:00.000+08:00

Last August Renan and I were assigned in the vegetable garden for our work. we wanted to have a fruitful garden and so we decided to plants vegetables. after all it is called a "VEGETABLE GARDEN"

After three months of hard work, we now see its fruits(as in the fruits of what we planted).

The vegetable garden (3 months after)

Ampalaya

Chinese Kangkong

String Beans

String Beans (1)

Ampalaya and Patola

Flower (Patola)

Okra

Patola Leaf

Ampalaya and Patola Plantation

Baby Okra

String Beans

Vegetable Garden

Honeydew Melon

Tomato

Soon we will be harvesting them...

Obey...

2011-11-01T11:01:00.000+08:00

I was finishing my research paper on Obedience when one of my companions shared this quote from Don Bosco about Obedience:

"Your obedience must have no limits. Even if your superior is at fault, Obey and hold your peace. Come to me later and I shall uphold your rights and give each one his due. Obey and do not criticize orders."

- Don Bosco

What an inspiring quote from Don Bosco. What do you think?

Memorable Experience

2011-10-31T10:47:00.002+08:00

picture with Bishop Jose Palma during our audience with the local ordinary.

Everything has a PURPOSE

2011-10-19T18:29:00.002+08:00

There are certain things that are happening around us that we cannot really explain. We tend to see everything as if it is ok but everything is just a cover-up. We then ask why are these things happening? Is there a purpose in all these? There is a purpose for everything but we cannot see it immediately. We have to look at it in the eyes of faith.

I remember a story that was once told by a Salesian. In a village, the people prayed for rain and on the day for the prayer only one boy brought an umbrella with him. That is what we call FAITH. When a baby is thrown in the air he smiles because he knows that someone will catch him. That is what we call TRUST. When we sleep in the evening, we are not certain whether we will still wake up in the morning and yet we plan our activities for the following day. That is what we call HOPE.

Some of the things that happening to us may not be to our liking but God allow these things to happen for a purpose. Yes, a purpose. We may not see it now but in due time. I invite you to put your trust in God and always remember that life without God leads to emptiness.

June Reflection

2011-06-30T10:16:00.001+08:00

My Life of Faith

Humans tend to worry a lot. We would worry about what to wear the next day. Will we have food on our table tomorrow? Will we wake up to a new day after tonight? The worry list goes on.

I too am a natural worrier, but for the nine years that I was inside the seminary I cannot deny the fact that I did not worry much. I didn’t have to think about where to eat or what jeepney to ride going to school; it was all provided for. Of course there were things that did bother me like passing all my subjects or if I was going to graduate. But looking at this on a higher level, I believe that with the faith I have in God, I don’t have to worry about the future either. I am now here in the novitiate and I continue to trust in God’s will for me.

I can compare faith to a person eating in a restaurant, enjoying his meal. This person eats something that was prepared by a person whom he doesn’t know or hasn’t even met before. For all he knows, he could die from something in the food. In our life, God is the cook and we are the costumers, we eat at the banquet that He prepares for us and we eat whatever is served and would always find it delicious. For me, faith is believing in someone or something that we don’t see. We don’t see God but we are convinced that He is there to guide and to bring us to the right path.

To have Faith is to be sure of the thing that we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see” (Hebr. 11:1). The Handbook of Religious Life bluntly puts it this way because we sometimes would believe immediately in things or persons. When we watch commercials, the usual tendency is to believe the effect of a particular product and we would be drawn to buy it. In our day to day living, we easily believe a person who sounds very convincing. In the book, it is mentioned that man is born to believe, belief gives us the courage to rest confidently on the infinite chest of a most fatherly love. We are indeed born to believe. When we sleep in the evening we believe that we are to wake up the following day. We believe that God will provide for us what we need.

I had a recent experience in my life that is connected to faith. Last September 27, 2010, seven of us (my batchmates) took the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) in Manila. The exam was exhausting and it really drained me because it was a whole day exam. Months later, the results came out and I was quite hesitant to look at the result because I was afraid not to find my name on the list. Indeed, I did not find my name; in short, I did not pass the exam. It was the first time in my life that I was not able to sleep and I felt cold the whole night thinking whether the news was true or not, was it just a dream. That morning Fr. Reggie called me and he confirmed to me that I did not pass the Let exams. I thought I was the only one who did not pass but I found out that we were three. I got discouraged and immediately told myself, maybe this is not the life that God wants for me. I kind of blamed God for not giving me the knowledge to pass the exam.

It took me a long time to accept the reality and with the help of my formators, I decided to try again. This time I put my faith in God. I realized that there are things that He allows to happen so that I will learn from it. I took the second exam last April and just last month I saw my name on the list of LET passers. I guess God wanted me to learn something from my experience. I once read in a book, “do we have to let calamities happen before we go back to God?” or “do we need bad things or misfortunes to happen before we turn to him?”

To have faith in God we must be able to surrender our very self to God and trust in Him. We must believe that God will never fail us and that He is very compassionate to us even though we keep on sinning against His name.

Sermonette (7th Day)

2011-06-28T08:06:00.002+08:00

Topic: Simplicity

June 28, 2011

It is quite ironic for a person who owns a number of gadgets yet will talk to you about simplicity.

Do you notice anything when you look at the cross? (points to the cross inside the chapel of DBFC). It was in May 1, 2006 when Fr. John Cardinal, who was then our principal called me and told me that the other guy who was suppose to be with me in Canlubang backed out just that morning. And so he asked whether I still want to continue. Without the knowledge of my parents I said YES so he asked me to come here to get the requirements I needed to fill-up and to meet Bro. John who is now a priest, the batchmate of Fr. Arvin Abatayo. When I arrived here, I went straight here in the Chapel and I was sitting in one of the pews and I looked at the cross with the question in mind: “Is this what you want from me? Do you want me to go to Canlubang?” While looking at the cross I noticed something. In the abs or the stomach part of Jesus. I saw another face of Christ; I don’t know if the one who made that did it on purpose. While looking at the cross I then I realized that Jesus himself obeyed the will of his father. Why can’t I do the same? After all it is his will not mine for without him I am nothing.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" From these words of Jesus, he is telling us that if we want to follow him we must detach ourselves from the worldly things that are around us. In other words Jesus is challenging us to be simple. Are you willing to detach yourself from earthly things to follow Christ.

Let us look at Don Bosco. He grew up from a poor family and has really nothing just enough for them to stay alive. Don Bosco believed in the divine providence that God gave him. Can you imagine a poor man from Turin was able to build a big Basilica in honor of Mary Help of Christians or start a congregation for the poor and the abandon and we are aspiring to be sons of him one day. Don Bosco was a simple man but he accomplished a lot of things in his life.

As human as we are, we have the tendency to make our life complicated by acquiring needless things that we can live without. We have worries in life like; what am I to eat tomorrow? Will I still wake up in the morning? Will Manang Lily cook HUMBA on Saturday? And all these things… We become so anxious that we lose focus on what is important and true in this life. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus did not worry about what is to happen next because he knew that God would provide what is needed. How about you, do you also worry what will happen next?

Simplicity is a grace that makes us become like little children. It enables us to know who we really are in front of God, without any masks or pretensions. It is a gift that makes us become single-hearted and single-minded. It enables us to recognize and live the truth. The simpler we become, the more our entire life becomes unified with God’s love and truth.

Allow me to share to you a story. In a small barangay in the land far far away, there is a young boy who is the only child of the family. Since he is the only child, he is well loved and he is very fortunate to have anything he wants. One day this young boy made a decision that shocked his parents for they were not expecting such a decision. He wants to enter the seminary. His parents did not know what to do but they wanted him to be happy so they permitted him thinking that he will be bored inside the seminary and eventually leave one day. This young boy was ready and willing to give up his treasures in life to follow Christ. Just imagine that young man leaving the comforts of the outside world (he can have night life with his barkada, he can enjoy watching movies in cinemas, all the gadget he wants and etc). Sa bisya pa mo-ingon ang uban: kinsa nalay mopadayon sa imong apilido dong? Ka sayang… (sayang ba gyud kaha?) I don’t know if Alvin is also asked with the same question knowing that he to is the only child of the family. Back to my story, while inside the seminary and with the help of his formators and Spiritual Director, he was able to clarify his vocation and he gladly answered that call without any regret. That young boy in the story is now enjoying his life with the Salesians and he is the person standing in front of you. Yes, you are looking at him. Nine years ago, I made that decision to enter the seminary. As early as twelve years old I was already inside the seminary. I stayed here in this very campus for four years before this place became the College Seminary. I met great salesians and they inspired me to follow Don Bosco by their examples. The likes of: Fr. Randy, Fr. Nioret who was my rector for four years, Fr. John Cardinal, and Fr. Ronel. Then I went to Canlubang for my College Seminary (why Canlubang and not DBFC, it is another story to tell that is reserve for another occasion but if you want to know you can ask me later).

We may have all the treasures in life but to follow HIM we must be simple. Like what I said earlier, the simpler we become, the more our entire life becomes unified with God’s love and truth. What about you? The challenge is: Are you willing to give up your greatest treasures in life to follow him?

Lastly, I would like to share what Fr. Bong wrote on my paper: “God provides for those who let go” indeed he really provides.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!

Have mercy on us

(May Reflection)

2011-06-21T08:52:00.001+08:00

My Life of Prayer

People flock to churches or chapels when they are facing a lot of problems and they don’t anymore know what to do. At this point, they believe God is their last and only hope. The more popular churches they usually go to are the Church of St. Jude, the Church of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, and the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Baclaran. I have been to these places and have witnessed the huge crowd of people bringing their supplications to God. These places are like public markets because people come from different walks of life. There were even rich people or people in authority who knelt along with the masses. I had wondered what this people still wanted from God when they already have so much not like the poor people. Then I realized that you can have all the material things in life but not everything can be bought with money. I feel that many Filipinos look at the Church as they would a hospital. They would only visit Churches when they need a favor from God. They do not see the many graces God has already blessed them with, graces for which they should be thankful. I would sometimes ask myself whether the Church dispenses medicines that can be asked for in prayer to remove all the problems that we are facing.

I have learned that there are many types of prayer. We have the vocal prayer which often is a recitation of a fixed formula. In the Constitutions and Regulation of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, there is a section entitled: “In Dialogue with the Lord” where it gives instruction with regard to the different prayers that we have to recite vocally or as an assembly. As I read it, I was really amazed because I personally was in formation under the Salesians for nine years. In the end, the prayers were just recited mentally and not from the heart. I am guilty of this one especially when I feel tired of prayer because I keep on repeating and repeating the same words. The other type of prayer is the personal prayer, in this we are more connected with our God intimately. It was only later in my formation that I was really oriented with prayer. In the early part of my life in the seminary, every time I would enter the chapel and kneel to pray, I always feel that I am talking to the walls; I would feel that there is no one in the other end because I don’t really feel anything. In the Handbook of Religious Life, it says there that if, while in prayer, I ask too many questions, like “Is there someone in the other end?” then I am not praying. I personally would sit inside the chapel and would start to talk to him but the reply I get is the sound of the bird in the morning or the sound of the crickets in the evening.

In the Gospel of Luke, his disciples approach Jesus and ask him to teach them how to pray. Jesus did teach them. I can honestly say that this was what I was asking God before. I remember a Salesian who once told us in a recollection talk that before we even ask God to grant us our petitions, He already knows what we want. What we do in prayer is an act of humility, acknowledging that we need Him.

I truly believe that God answers our prayers but sometimes not in the way that we want it to be. Human as we are, our tendency is to be angry with God because He did not grant our petition the way we want it to be. It is only later that we realize what He did to us was better than what we wanted.

Now, when I pray to Him, I would thank Him for everything, both good and bad. I know that He allows these things to happen so that I will be able to grow and learn something good from it. I believe that when I pray to Him, He hears it and He shows me the answers through the things that are happening around me. I can truly say that prayer for me is my colloquy with Him. He is quite the listener and He is very patient in listening to me.

again, its been a long time...

2011-06-21T08:50:00.002+08:00

i will to update my blog more often. its been a while since i placed something.

i will be posting my requirements here in the novitiate and some important things.

Decisions are not made overnight.

2010-05-08T21:35:00.002+08:00

I was in Don Bosco Technology Center Labangon this morning to visit Fr. Lan and asked him about the things that i need to give to him for the camping of the Aspirants from Canlubang.

On the way back, one of the Salesians asked me to stop by his office and we ended up talking, like a spiritual direction, rendiconto or you may call it anything you want.

This is what he told me that i would bring with me till the end: " decisions are not made overnight."

What the....

2010-01-08T18:50:00.003+08:00

looking at my files on my external hard disk, i saw a word file entitled: Dear Daddy and Mommy. it goes something like this:

Dear Daddy and Mommy,

Naaalala nyo ba yung mga panahong gusto ko kayong kausapin tungkol sa pagpasok ko sa seminaryo? Yung minsang habang nagtatanghalian tayong pamilya isang Sunday ay napansin nyong matamlay ako. Yun yung mga panahong natatakot ako dahil hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihing kailangan ko kayong iwan, yung mga panahong iniisip ko kung paano na lilipas ang bawat Sunday Lunch na hindi ko kayo kasalo.

Nung tinawag nyo ang pansin ko nung mga sandaling yun at tinanong ako kung ano ang problema, hindi ko napigilang umiyak sa harap ninyo habang nagpapaalam, “Mommy, Daddy, papasok na po ako sa seminaryo.”

Tumigil ang oras. Tila, sumama na sa mga luha ko ang takot, sakit, at pag-aalala sa magiging reaction ninyo.

At nang matapos kong sabihin ang lahat, hindi ko inaasahan ang mga nakita ko. Habang nakatingin kayo sa akin, walang kibo na tila nangungusap ang mga mata, binigyan nyo ako ng dalawang matatamis na ngiti.

Nang Makita ko ang mga ngiting yun, alam kong pumayag kayo, at nasa mga ngiiting yun ang pagtitiwala at suportang kaylangan ko sa pagsagot sa panawagan ng Diyos. Sa totoo lang dama ko nun na ako na yata ang pinakamasayang anak sa mundo.

Salamat.

para sa mga gustong pumasok sa seminaryo, basahin nyo ito.

i was laughing...

2009-12-23T00:48:00.003+08:00

I got somethings from National Bookstore today for my requirement in art appreciation. There were a lot of people.

Anyway, going back i rode a jeepney. Approaching near USJ-R in Basak a passenger tap a coin on the handle bar(like what the filipinos are use to do inside a jeepney for the jeppney to stop and the passenger can go down), the passenger was a girl, as she was going down jeepney the Kunduktor or the money collector reach out his hand. The first thing that came into mind was the Kunduktor will help the girl go down the jeepney because the jeepney was high. to my surprise the Kunduktor only took the money and left the girl on her own.

Talking about being a GENTLEMAN. try to reflect...

I was laughing after what happened. i don't want to judge. i leave it to you. Good Luck!

Champion!!!

2009-12-21T21:30:00.003+08:00

For the fourth and last time i won the table tennis single division of the college intrams

Thank you Lord for guiding me the whole time.

My Christmas Card to Everone !!!

2009-12-12T21:43:00.005+08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Eveyone !!!

I'm Tired

2009-12-12T21:31:00.003+08:00

I am not a graduating student in college, i am now experiencing a great pressure from the school at the same time in the seminary.

Thank God my classes are over for the year, i am now just waiting for our Christmas break to start. this week will be our intrams week and after that i am going home.

This Christmas break my batchmates in the seminary will be going to CEBU for a vacation and at the same time our bonding. yehey !!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!

Remembering the PAST...

2009-09-16T17:23:00.002+08:00

4th Year

3rd Year

2nd Year

1st Year

As i was browsing my external hard disk this afternoon, i came across these pictures. When we were 1st yrs, we were 33. 2nd yrs, we were 28. 3rd yrs, we were 28, and we graduated 22.

those were the years in high school...

Like a fourth student again...

2009-09-12T21:24:00.003+08:00

Last september 11, 2009 was the funeral mass of Fr. Macky. I was shocked by the salesians that were present, there were a lot of them from the North and the south province.

Before the funeral mass, i saw Fr. Godo and Fr. Nioret. i greeted them. after the mass, i saw Fr. John Cardinal. its been a long time seen we haven't seen each other, its like three years now. i join Fr. John in the table and we talked for a long time. while talking to him, I remembered my high school years in Lawaan.

That night during my meditation, I came to realize that, that morning i was like a fourth year high school seminarian in Lawaan. Fr. Niret as my RECTOR, Fr. Godo as the ADMINISTRATOR, and Fr. John my PRINCIPAL. You can see it in the picture above during our graduation. The only Salesian lacking was Br. Don2x. Those were the years and they are now part of my history.

Memories...

Another week...

2009-09-12T20:50:00.005+08:00

another week done, we got two more weeks to finish our off campus practice teaching. it had been very tiring but at the same time very consoling. the encounters with the students, teaching them and talking to them in their breaks. all these things has a lesson with them.

and after a hard week, nothing beats sitting at your table and make a rosary. just to relax and enjoy what i am doing.

We will miss you...

2009-09-11T17:52:00.009+08:00

This photo was taken last February 24, 2009 Provincial Day North Province. (Kanlungan Area)

Today, Fr. Macky was laid to rest here in Canubang. Looking at the salesians and the people that were present, i can really say that Fr. Macky was a good person.

we will surely miss you Fr. Macky.

Bro. Jomar Castillo SDB

after a week....

2009-09-05T21:46:00.000+08:00

After a week of practice teaching, finally i was able to rest.

Last tuesday we started with our OFF CAMPUS practice teaching. i myself was assign in Camp Vincente Lim National High School.

Together with me are: Jm, Roman, and Jules...

I was struck by the public school... it is really different from the private school.

Now the question: "Is it a JOB or a VOCATION?" would be nice question nowadays.

Thesis Approval

2009-08-29T07:48:00.003+08:00

Finally, At LAST...

The title of our thesis was accepted by the panel.

"Teachers Personal Qualities and their relationsip to the intrinsic motivation of the students"

the group is compose of: James Aro, Jan Renan Parala and Roman Bonifacio Torres.

Everytime I go HOME

2009-08-22T17:41:00.003+08:00

Every time i would go for a vacation, i would always go through a lot of process. It would usually take around six hours before i would finally arrive at our house.

From Canlubang to NAIA airport - From Mactan International Airport to the house and vise versa. of course, money is a problem but the important thing is i would be able to see my parents and my grandmother and nothing could stop me from going back home.

SEMS vs THE WORLD

2009-08-18T13:18:00.008+08:00

Last August 15, 2009 was the anticipated mass for the feast of the ASSUMPTIONS. the whole EPC had a mass and after the mass was the opening of the intramurals as an institution.

After the opening, there was an exhibition game, the seminarians against the different football players in the campus. we were hoping to win against them and luckily we did. We won 5 - 2. During the duration of the game, many emotions were seen and heard but we played for fun and for Mama Mary.

2009-08-13T14:27:00.001+08:00

A Great True Friend

"Truly Great Friends are hard to find, difficult to Leave and Impossible to forget"

Prayer for a Happy Death By Former President Cory Aquino

2009-08-07T09:08:00.002+08:00

One of my friends told me the news that the former president Corazon Aquino made a prayer for a happy death. I was so eager to see it that i got a copy and i want to share it to all:

Prayer for a happy death by former President Corazon Aquino

Almighty God, most merciful Father
You Alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore ony You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
How much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love. AMEN

Source: http://farfromneutral.com/exodus/cory-aquinos-prayer-for-a-happy-death/

Is it a JOB or a VOCATION?

2009-08-04T18:36:00.002+08:00

its been two weeks now since i started my practice teaching in Don Bosco College, in the high school department. i am bet-by-bet realizing the real job of a teacher. i can really say that becoming a teacher is not only a job but a vocation.

teaching is not easy, imagine, you are to discipline thirty six students not blood related to you and you have to control yourself not to hurt the students if they are noisy, playing or doing other things not related to your subject inside the classroom.

i can really say that, i am paying the things that i had been doing inside the classroom before when i was a student myself.

standing in front of the classroom, i can feel that some of my students look at me as if i know everything, like i am a walking encyclopedia or dictionary.

earlier, i said that teaching is not just a job but a vocation. in this job, it takes a lot of patience and understanding. each teacher will have to understand his students like what i am doing in my class.

looking at the work of a teacher on the point of view of the practice teachers like me, i can say that it is not easy to teach, discipline and form the students inside the classroom but it is consoling outside the classroom, playing with them or just be there with them in their lunch break.

i was struck by one of my students who once told me: "Sir, bat ang bait nyo sa labas pero ang sungit nyo sa loob ng classroom?" actually, it made me think.

its been a long time

2009-08-04T18:15:00.000+08:00

its been a long since i open this blog of mine. i was not able to update this due to the hectic schedule that i have here in the seminary.

i will try my best to update this every now and then.

Origin of 12 days of Christmas

2007-12-13T14:09:00.000+08:00

The Origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today I found out, thanks to the Internet.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love,
Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.go

Poem

2007-07-31T14:07:00.000+08:00

Mother Teresa of Calcutta admonishes
how to be Christ's witness in today's world.

Man is unreasonable, illogical, self-centered;
It doesn't matter, Love him!

If you do good, they attribute it to selfish motives;
It doesn't matter, do good!

If you achieve your goals, you will find false friends and real enemies;
It doesn't matter, achieve them!

The good you will do will be forgotten tomorrow;
It doesn't matter, do them!

Honesty and sincerity make you vulnerable;
It doesn't matter, be frank and honest!

What you have been building for years can be destroyed in an instant;
It doesn't matter, build!

If you help people, they will resent it;
It doesn't matter, help them!

Give the world your best and they will kick you;
It doesn't matter, give your best!

Loneliness amidst Happiness

2007-05-20T00:00:00.000+08:00

Family.........................

I was thinking of a topic to write and I was given the deadline, there was nothing i could do but to write the column for this year-ender issue. this is my first time to make a column in this publication. it took me two days to decide on my topic name and at least I found the perfect name for my first column, the title is Family.........................

You might be wondering why Family.........................? the reason is this, when I first arrived here in Canlubang, I already knew that my parents would not be able to visit me every last Sunday of the month because they live far away. I remember my first visiting Sunday, we had a family day in order to welcome the first years. In one of our batch meetings of planning the potluck lunch, I remember what kuya Donnie told the batch: "Let us not forget James doesn't have a visit". Upon hearing that statement I said to myself that my batchmates gave importance to me.

At first it was hard for me to adjust having no visit during visiting Sunday when I was still in Don Bosco Missionary Seminary in Lawaan. I just realize that I am already Canlubang and have to face the reality.

Every time I saw one of my batch mates having a visit I always recall the times when I was with my parents. It may be anywhere, in the mall, at home or just with them.

Whenever I miss them I would just call home and talk to them. I usually call them when i can use my cellphone. There was a time when I forgot to cal home, my mother called me and told me that my lola was angry because I did not called them.

I was so happy when my parents visited me here in Canlubang. It was their first time here in Canlubang and they were excited to see the place and to meet with my formators. Their visit was a memorable moment for me because despite the work that they have back home, they still visited me and stayed with me during the weekend.

This coming vacation I will go home and once more I can be with my parents. It will be two weeks of fun for me. I will make use if their company while I am stil outside the walls of the seminary.