my pics

You might be curious about the pics that I display in each of my blogs. Most of what I've posted as of now are pictures of locations here in the Sacred Heart Seminary. The one I posted in the last one before this is actually a shot of the sanctuary lamp that hangs in the sanctuary of the our main chapel, with the image of the Sacred Heart in the background. I believe I've done a good one in taking that photo. That lamp, which indicates the Real Presence of Christ in the chapel, is one of my favorite pieces here in the seminary. It's been with us since when the chapel itself was built, way back in the late 50's. Medyo pambawi na rin 'tong extra post na 'to. Sige dyan na kayo....

De Gustibus...

I wasn't able to attend to this blog for some time since the last days had me immersed in certain things pertaining to my work here in the seminary as Dean of Students. I had to prepare an important document concerning the case of a certain student who was dismissed for certain grounds and it took me practically the whole working day to come up with the whole of its six pages. It was very illustrative of the case and i may say that i never knew that i could be capable of coming up with such a legal document. I;m toying with the possibility that perhaps I may have a legal frame of mind. Anyway, yesterday I was able to relay the said document and the necessary documents that come with it to the recipient, and I guess that quite handles the case (of course I won't be telling what the case is all about in here). In the afternoon I helped some of my colleagues in hearing the confessions of some high school seniors who were having their pre-graduation recollection at the Eastern Visayas Normal University. Need I remind you that we're in the season of Lent, and we priests help each other out in one's ministry, anyway, it's all for the Lord.

Concerning my plan about buying myself a motorcycle, I've heard negative comments concerning the whole idea. Come cited it as being dangerous adn unfitting to my priestly status. I've mentioned in one of my earlier blogs how the Rector discouraged me from having one. This week my Archbishop, who is a father to me, also told me that he was not amenable to the idea of my having one, though he didn't forbid me from having one. He told me that he wasn't sold out to the idea because of what happened to one of his best friends back then, who was also a priest, and who was killed in a vehicular accident involving a motorcycle. Then when I went to have my monthly haircut my barber told me the same thing.

But anyway, at supper with some of the formators at table I broached the subject once again. Fr. Oliver, who is the Academic Dean of Studies, himself a young priest barely seven years in the ministry, told me that it could be ok fo as long as it would be used in the surrounding vicinity (Tacloban-Palo-Tanauan and the nearby barrios) but never to faraway places since it would be really dangerous and even fatal. "Pater" (Latin for Father, a term we usually address ourselves among the young clergy), remember, no one could ever force you to do otherwise if it's your wish and included among your tastes, though of course, four wheels are preferable to two and it's much safer. Just be doubly careful...Remember, de gustibus non disputantur..when it comes to one's tastes, provided that they are legitimate, other's may not hold it against you".

Yep, I think that kinda clears things for me, but I think I'll still let things mature before I make the decision to proceed. Not that this would by first bike (I've had my first when I was still in high school), but you know, it's quite a lot of money to waste on an ephemeral whim...

de gustibus non disputantur....

Sunset

This afternoon, as I was making my way to the chapel to assist at vespers in the main chapel, it suddenly struck me how swiftly the year had flown by and how soon we found ourselves nearing the end of our stay. As I went along with the boys who were heading for the chapel, and as I gazed at the light which the setting sun cast upon the my surroundings, I could just remember how as a seminarian myself, in times not unlike these, when days were already longer, I used to sit by myself at the Sacred Heart Park not far from the entrance to the seminary compound and I would gaze at the sunset, feeling quite melancholic and reflective at the same time, about how life could just be a series of endings which gave way to new beginnings. Things end and start again. things get destroyed and new things are born and created. I ponder upon these things as I prepare to conclude a year here in seminary formation which, as I have expressed to my college sems during the last conference that I had with, was one of grace and continued growth.

On Judgment and Motorcycles

it's been quite an eventful day today. I got up at the usual time, had my morning prayers and daily rituals, then joined the community for the Mass offered daily in the Main Chapel. After a substantial breakfast I was off to begin the morning with a series of personal chats with some seminarians, something which we call the "ratio", in which the seminary formator informs the apprehensive seminarian whether he could still be allowed to come back and live within the walls of the seminary when the new school year starts next June or whether he would have to begin a new life outside. I called quite a number of College freshmen, and it made the rounds that Father Prefect had begun to pronounce judgment upon each individual seminarian. In our time we called it "judgment day", and I see that they still call it as such. You know some things never change.

Later I joined the rest of the sems in the community room where they were watching The Phantom of the Opera as part of their class in Humanities. It was very entertaining, and I think that it would be really helpfull if these guys get acquainted with films from the not-so-distant past, other than just plainly sticking to what Hollywood produces nowadays.

In the afternoon I went to get some more clerical shirts I've had made, and then went to check out some big bikes...well, not so big. I was thinking of buying me a new motorcycle for transportation purposes (duh...).I found one which was fresh out of the assembly line, a newly minted model, worth something that I could well afford. Of course I was careful to ask for advice, and I was very excited and enthusiastic about it, until it was somewhat dampened when the Rector, advised me against it since it was dangerous..well I respect his opinion and that advice is well kept...but I had some reservations.

Our evaluations continued and we took care of the whole College Department this evening, which means that I could carry out the Ratio fully in the coming days.

well, I still have to prepare for the meditation that I would have to give tomorrow, so I'd better be off...

riser

i'm off for breakfast, but i'll be back to post another blog; i just can't resist the temptation of making a post, no matter how brief. See ya...

house warming

I've just spent an hour fixing up the appearance of this blog, you know, placing all the pictures and arranging the elements that would appear in it. actually i just woke up from the dawn marian procession and Mass that we just had here in my place where I'm currently assigned, and i found myself with a splitting headache afterwards, so i went off to bed while I could hear the seminarians in the basketball court just below my room playing. I would've joined them in their sports (I actually play badminton with some of the enthusiasts here in the Sacred Heart Seminary), but I found myself too weak. So I thought that I'd better conserve my strength and build up energy for the hectic sked that I have for today (recollection with High School students in Tanauan, Leyte, hearing confessions, Mass, and another Mass with the Neo-Catechumenate in the evening). i dozed off for about two hours and when I finally woke up I started to tinker with my laptop. I came across my account in Google and this is where this all started. i decided to fix this blog thing and post this entry. Since summer vacation is fast approaching, i would be having less academic commitments and more pastoral ones; i would be having more time to place my thoughts and experiences in this blog space or whatever you may call it....
...A seminarian just came and knocked at my door. I'm off to hear hear student confessions in no time, but I'll be back to share more thoughts soon.