Thoughts from the Seedbed


Thoughts from the Seedbed

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Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB, June 2014
http://onapensivemood.wordpress.com • @donnieduchin
Cover by Paul Aldrin Dungca, SDB • http://pauldungca.wix.com/
Layout by April Jerome Quinto, SDB • subtleoasis.org • @jeromequinto
“Thoughts from the Seedbed” by Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.

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DEDICATION
To my confreres, aspirants and
prenovices of Don Bosco Seminary,
in whose company I mused and
composed and delivered these talks

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
“Gratitude is the language of the heart.”
I heard the quote from a goodnight talk, several years ago in Canlubang. I don’t
remember now who uttered it. But this struck some sensitive chords in my heart that
more than a decade after, I have not let go of it.
This compilation may just be mere words. But let its essence speak of gratitude and
of love.
My expression of thanks goes
to Mr. Itchan Decena for helping me make this manuscript see print;
to Dr. Maan Gaerlan and Ms. Wenks Pasimio for proofreading;
to Br. Jerome Quinto and Br. Paul Dungca for the lay-out and cover-page design;
to Fr. Gerry Martin, Fr. Joe Fernandez, Fr. Nesty Pidazo, Fr. Reggie Porlucas, Br.
Jomar Castillo for the camaraderie and inputs as I made my first fragile steps as
a Salesian;
to the Prenovices and Aspirants of the formation years 2010-2012 who formed me
as I journeyed with them;
And to Jayce, the Great Gardener, who first planted the seed of vocation in us and
have not grown tired in taking care of it.

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FOREWORD
It is a privilege for me to write this Foreword on Thoughts from the
Seedbed, a collection of the ‘Good Night Talks’ by Bro. Donnie; but it
is far more privilege and pleasure for me to hear him in person deliver
these nuggets of wisdom to our Community of Salesians, prenovices
and aspirants in Don Bosco Canlubang.
Good night talk is a long-standing Salesian tradition dating back to
the time of Don Bosco where he would tell stories, tidbits of wisdom,
and some food for the soul that the boys can bring with them as they
sleep in the night.
It has been quite a long time already since he last delivered to us these
talks but I can still imagine him as I read the pages of the Seedbed. I
can still see his half jesting, half serious face ready to crack a joke or a
pick-up line; or his facial expression when he tells a story that made
an impression to his listeners.
What is admirable is that each of his good night talk is well prepared,
written, crisp and stimulating because they came from his own
experiences and musings about life.
I thank Bro. Donnie for sharing himself with us.
iv
Fr. Gerry Martin, SDB
Rector, Don Bosco Seminary

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INTRODUCTION
In between the chores of checking whether the sems (on this side of
the Salesian world, this is how we call our aspirants and prenovices)
are in their proper places, prepare lessons for my teaching stint in the
college, take care of the gardens-- among many others--one of the
most challenging duties of being a practical trainee in a formation
house is the task of giving good night talks.
That is, at least for me.
Blame it on my stage fright, or perhaps to my distaste of public
speaking, that when it’s my turn to deliver the talk for the night,
I’d go into solitude to reflect and compose a piece so that I’d have
something decent to offer.
But even before I knew it, the two years of my practical training
quickly came and went.
One of the things that rub it in for me that that phase is now over is
a compendium of delivered good night talks sitting quietly in one of
the folders of my computer.
Those once loose talks are neatly compiled here.
They serve as a beautiful memento of my practical training now long
gone and a reminder of that first fervor which I once had—and still
wish to carry with me—up to that final moment when I am thrust
back to the seedbed from where I came.
v

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On Epiphany
First, here are some pick-up lines:
• Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?
• Do you know why I can’t see any stars tonight? You outshine them.
• Did you know you’re like my blood…
you’re A+ and always in my heart
• Did you just fart? Cause you blew me away!
For the more outrageous and out-of-this-world pick-up lines, please go to
Romnick. He has got a lot more under his belt.
Pick-up lines have been in the limelight of late. I’d like to think that this is
so because of our attachment to symbols.
The bananas or blueberries, the CPR, the stars in the night, the blood, and
yes, even the fart could be stretched a little further to symbolize how they
remind us of the person whom we consider significant to us.
Or if there is no connection at all, we’ll try to find one.
A grade six student from Albay named Janela Arcos Lelis,1 must have
found that strong connection between the Philippine flag and the country
it represents when she braved the floodwaters as she tightly held the
Philippine flag in a heroic act to save the national symbol from being swept
away by the raging waters on that stormy day on July 26.
To recognize her act of bravery, a little Philippine flag was pinned on the
left collar of her uniform. She was also given P 20,000 in cash for this
selfless act.
More than two thousand years ago, a group of wise men found a
connection between a star and the coming of the Great King who would
rule them all.
That star, in my opinion, could have easily been forgotten if it did not lead
the magi to their supposed destination. But it did what it ought to do. That
explains why every year we take pains in thinking of what type of star to
crown our Christmas tree.
1
Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 30, 2011
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Symbols are fundamentally important not because of what they are,
but because of what they stand for.
On that first Christmas night, the star was there to stand for the
coming of God and to announce the reign of His Kingdom.
May we, who also seek to discover God’s will for us, become
ourselves an outstanding sign of God’s loving compassion. So that
when people, when our companions, when the young people we
relate with see us, they will be reminded that Christmas is not an
event which only happens once a year.
It goes on.
Merry Christmas!
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What does love look like?
I was feeling bad one day when I thought of flipping the pages of my
journal.
On one page I wrote two years ago, I read this line “A confrere-friend
shared with me that when he was in the novitiate, he promised not to
look at flowers so as not to lose his focus on God. I was awe-inspired.”
On Valentine’s Day, my heart leapt when I read this entry. “A 16-year
old teenager, a close friend, sent me this text message. He told me
that the he’s preparing himself to be consecrated to God” for he was
due to enter the seminary this year.
Last March, one entry reads “I was gently moved with one aspirant
when I raised my voice at him. I expected him to react negatively—
to justify his deed, perhaps—but I was surprised when he gently
reminded me to correct him in private. My anger faded away.”
Turning to another page, I realized that I jotted a personal
observation in my journal when we came back from Tarlac after the
thanksgiving mass of Fr. Reggie. An aspirant caught my interest for he
was the last person to leave the bus. He silently collected the wrappers
of bread left by the rest of the community.
Apart from soothing my wounded soul after reading these journal
entries, I noted one thing common to all of them. All of these are
concrete practices of love. They show me concretely what love actually
looks like.
God bless. Good evening.
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My Vocation Story
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One concrete proposal of Fr. Chavez in his strenna is for the
Salesians, and I’d like to believe, for you as well who opted to become
SDBs someday, to share our vocation stories.
And tonight, allow me to use this opportunity to share mine.
To begin with, I am a returnee. I left the seminary in 2004 as a
novice-to-be on the eve of our supposed flight to the novitiate. I
worked as a teacher in some school in Manila, and I thought that I’d
be happy to live and die working as one.
Along with that teaching stint, I worked for a publisher producing
English textbooks exclusively marketed in Korea. I also contributed
articles and edited educational materials for a Japanese firm. And
because I had so much free time left, I also worked as an English
tutor for a language school.
Looking back, I couldn’t believe that I was able to juggle three jobs all
at the same time!
Despite the fat pay check I was receiving, the glamour of working as
a professor in a respectable academic institution in the country, the
fulfilment of doing what I liked doing the most, I was not satisfied.
There were so many possibilities ahead of me. Or so I thought.
One late afternoon, after coming from work, I passed by a mall. I
told myself that I could treat myself to a fancy restaurant for I was
hungry. While deciding where to eat, out of nowhere, I was reminded
of my past life as a seminarian.
I recalled those times in the seminary when there would be
unstructured activities by batch, and we’d just have a quick hike to
Tatlong Butas, order halo-halo and something else, and share stories
we would be delighted to talk about over and over and over again.
And that alone was a piece of heaven!

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It was not just the tasteful flavour of the halo halo served there, but the unique
friendship, and yes, the warm brand of brotherhood that bonded us as one batch.
That time, I longed exactly for that.
I set aside the idea of eating for I had become hungry for something more, for
something greater that could not just be satisfied by any physical food alone. Deep
within, I was completely empty.
That time, God knocked again at my door. And at that moment, He knocked me
down.
I got in touch my spiritual director, one year after I left. I told him of my situation.
And then, we talked about the process of my re-admission. He asked me to
volunteer at the street children center Pugad once a week. And then we processed my
experience.
Irony of ironies, it was on a Good Friday that I got settled with my decision to re-
enter. The universal Church was recalling the agony of Jesus that day, but inside me, I
found peace in my decision.
On June 1, 2006 I returned to this seminary together with my third batchmates, all
first timers, three of whom will be professing their vows six months from now.
I’ve been a Salesian for only three years. Too young, you would say. But that short
period has been filled with moments of bliss and faithfulness, although, it has been
also marred by pains and infidelity. There were clear moments when I felt that God
wanted me to remain by His side; but there were also times when haunting questions
became my sole reason to stay.
I listened to him when He told me “Donnie, come and see.” When I wanted to
explore, He allowed me to “Go and see.” And now, that as I wrap up my practical
training, He tells me “Donnie, we shall see.”
God bless. Good evening.
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On Namuncura and Savio
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Namuncura and Savio have some things in common.
One is that the Church recognized their sanctity. The latter was
canonized, while the former was beatified.
Aside from this, they were both Bosconians.
And your guess is as good as mine: They would have been splendid
Salesians had God permitted them to live a little longer. But as we
know it, they lived only a short life. Savio met the Creator when he
was just barely 15 years old. Namuncura, however, smiled goodbye
when he was about my age: 19 years old.
When the latter entered the Salesian school, it was not a walk in the
park. He found it difficult to fall in line and to be obedient to the
sound of the bell.
Picking up Savio as his model, Namuncura’s companions could no
longer distinguish the former from the latter. He became a wonderful
copy of him.
When a companion slighted him with the question “what does
human flesh taste like” inferring that he was a cannibal since he was
an Indian, he responded with just a big tear.
The life of Zefferino is a parable of scarcely 19 years, but it was a life
filled with lessons.
Fr. Chavez said that “A saint is never like a meteorite that
unexpectedly flashes across the sky of humanity, but is rather the fruit
of a long and silent gestation in a family.”
Saints inspire others to be saints. Let us learn from their examples.
God bless. Good evening.

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On Good (and Bad) Books
“Uncle Charles Cabin” and “The Wandering Jews” Do these titles ring
a bell?
For those among us who are taking the Rizal course, they should, for
these two books greatly awakened Rizal’s consciousness in fighting for
our freedom.
Hands down, books influence us. There’s no argument about it. Was
it not St. Augustine who said that “The world is a book and those
who do not travel read only one page?”
Don Bosco knew the importance of reading books. This prompted
him to issue, three years before his passing, a circular letter devoted
entirely on spreading good books.
At this point, let us listen to the words of Don Bosco:
The enemies of souls are aware of the influence of this weapon,
and experience has taught us how young people avail themselves
of it to the loss of their innocence. Strange titles, presentable paper,
clean type, fine engravings, low prices, popular style, variety of
plot, vivid descriptions: everything is exploited with diabolic
artistry and craftiness. Woe to all of us if we doze off while the
enemy is constantly alert!
All pupils should be told to hand over any new book they may
acquire or that may be brought to them by relatives or friends.
Professors, supervisors in the study hall, and assistants must take
note of what the boys are reading in the church, at recreation, in
class and in study hall.
Speak often on the subject of bad books during the year from the
pulpit, in the evening talk, and in the classroom. Point out the
harm they do.
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If we act along these lines, I hope that no bad books will be
smuggled into our schools, and that if they are, they will soon be
destroyed.
cf Biographical Memoirs, pp. 173-177
This letter was written in 1883. And the popular medium back then
was the printed matter. If Don Bosco were alive today, I am certain
that he would also write a letter on movies, TV shows, Internet sites.
We have been reminded to choose our friends well, to associate only
with those who serve as good examples. I believe that, it is also true in
choosing the books, and of comics, and of video clips we save in our
computers. For we do not just possess them, we also allow them to
possess us.
I said a lot tonight. Forget everything, but please remember this.
When you receive some cash during the Christmas break, please
consider buying good books that will not just satisfy your curiosity,
feed your mind, warm your heart, but more importantly, buy books
that will nourish your vocation.
God bless. Read more. Good evening.
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Magone and Mary
Most of the Bosconians I know could very well relate with the
naughty General Mickey more than the perpetually holy Savio. I can
perfectly understand the reason why. Dominic, they perceive, must
have been groomed right from the very start to become a saint.
General Mickey, on the other hand, had to find his way towards the
greater scheme of holiness. It was not an easy feat for him to turn his
back on his former life; to leave a life of sin did not happen in a snap.
He agonized over the past evils he committed.
Mickey Magone figured into my consciousness when I read in that
classic orange book entitled “Don Bosco: Spiritual Director of Young
People,” that he made six resolutions to prepare himself to celebrate
the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady.
1. To detach my heart from all earthly things so as to give it
completely to Mary.
2. To make a general confession in order to ensure a peaceful
conscience at the hour of my death.
3. To skip breakfast every morning as a penance for my sins and
to recite the Seven joys of Mary to merit her assistance at the
last hours of my life.
4. To go to communion every day provided my confessor advises
it.
5. To tell my companions an anecdote in honor of Mary each
day.
6. To place this sheet at the feet of Our Lady’s statue and, with
this act, to consecrate myself completely to her and for the
future, I wish to be entirely hers until the very last moments
of my life.
All of these were approved by his confessor except for the first part of
the third resolution, that is, to skip breakfast every morning as an act
of penance for his sins.
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Some observations:
First, you see in these resolutions the awareness of Magone of the
reality of death.
At a very young age, he did not consider death morbid. In fact, he
welcomed the idea of it. He longed for it to happen. He embraced it.
And when it finally came, instead of it conquering him, he conquered
‘it.’
Second, we see here an image of a young person who desired
greatness, not through the use of force and might, but through his
submission to the will of the Father.
Third, Magone took advantage of the sacraments, particularly
confession and communion, to attain holiness.
And finally, he allowed Mary to be his guide.
Magone died more than 100 years ago. But he lives on in that orange
book, and in the many young people who continue to believe and
declare, through their words and deeds, that God is still in charge
after all.
God bless. Good evening.
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On New Media
One of the main issues we tackled in the social communication
East-Asia Oceania regional meeting was formation. Not only of the
seminarians—aspirants and prenovices—but also of Salesians—the
young ones and the once young.
You see, the emergence of personal media such as the mobile phone,
I-touch, I-pad, netbook and the like have done a lot of wonderful
stuff in our ministry for the young people.
Fr. Duds Hila, a Salesian based in Tondo has his weekly Kiliti
ng Diyos, a blog dedicated to breaking the Word aptly written
for the young people. For those who are into Lectio Divina, the
Pandelasamena of Fr. Chito Dimaranan will surely be of help.
The reflections of Br. George Celis concisely wrapped in more or less
140 character text message and sent to all his phone contacts never
fail to capture the essence of the Sunday Gospel.
One Salesian priest who sells his retreat manuals has three SIM
cards—one for Globe, another for Smart, and the last one is for Sun.
His reason: So that he could easily be reached by the young people
belonging to any or all of the networks. Whenever he celebrates Mass
at the Greenbelt chapel, he would use the PowerPoint, which he
generously shares on one condition: that the one asking for the file
should invite him to be a friend in Facebook.
Young Salesians are also sharing their reflections in cyberspace. Of
late, I saw one informative and inspirational video produced by the
brothers of the postnovitiate community on St. Benedict. Practical
trainees flood the Facebook thread with the photos of Bosconians
taken during their retreats and school activities.
When I was a cloistered novice in the hill at Don Bosco Lawaan, I was
able to befriend some of our Bosconians from Mandaluyong, Makati,
Pampanga and even Tarlac! I corresponded with an FMA aspirant in
the United States and an elderly Salesian Indian priest based in Rome.
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This was made possible through my blog.
The websites of the Salesians in Africa, in Australia, in the United
States are loaded with so many materials on vocation promotions.
One night will not be enough to enumerate how personal media have
been used to evangelize and to make way for God to be known in the
digital continent.
But as I enumerate its advantages, let us not close our eyes to the
dangers it poses.
One of the major blunders of the Aquino administration last year
endangered our diplomatic ties with our neighboring country
Vietnam. When he visited that country last year, one of his secretaries
noted that the wine served to them was not that delicious, and that
there was a scarcity of good looking men. There is nothing bad about
this opinion, only that, it was made public via Twitter.
It is true that the new media have made our life a lot easier, but it has
also made our lives more complicated. For one, in the context of the
seminary, the clausura is diminished. The wall separating us from the
outer secular world collapses. We are exposed to the crazy outfits of
Lady Gaga, and even the antics of Moymoy Palaboy. We could receive
text messages in the wee hours of the morning, waking us up to the
morning greeting: kamusta na u?
We may shield ourselves from the complexities of the cybernet if
we’ll honor the seminary values inculcated in us. Two words. Just two
words. Authenticity and Transparency.
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We are seminarians. Let us hold on to this our identity even when
we step in the realms of cyberspace. This identity should remind us
to behave well and observe prudence in whatever stuff, be it photos,
reflections, witty remarks we post in the Internet. There is such a
thing as digital footprints. Once we leave our mark in the cyberspace,
it will be difficult to erase it.

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Your seminary formators are helping you by barring you access from
certain websites. For us to monitor what you place in your Facebook
account, or the videos you upload in Youtube or your reflections in
your blog, or even the text messages you send will be quite difficult if
not utterly impossible. You have to do the gatekeeping yourself.
So, the next time you log on to the net, remember these two words:
authenticity and transparency.
God bless. Good evening.
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Evangelizing Ourselves First
The South American region has contributed about 101 canonized and
beatified saints to the Church. We have saints like St. Rose of Lima,
St. Peter Claver, and of course, our very own Bl. Ceferino Namuncura
who all come from this region.
Being considered the most Catholic continent in the world, the
question “why does it need Catholic missionaries?” surely defies logic
and reason.
Meeting in Brazil four years ago, the region’s bishops called for the
Latin American church to be in a “permanent state of mission.” The
bishops realized that “Latin America is a continent of people who are
baptized, but who are not really disciples, much less missionaries,”
noted a Bolivian theologian.
When I came across this news earlier this week, I suddenly felt afraid
for the Catholicism in the Philippines. Did Fr. Rector not mention
only last night that there is just only an estimated 15% of genuine
Catholics in the country?
Just looking at the support of Filipino Catholics to the RH bill, which
is tantamount to contradicting the teachings of the Church, one
cannot but see the writings on the wall. If we do not do our part, we
are also doomed to face the same situation.
We who belong to an institution founded for the main purpose of
evangelizing and educating to the faith need to do more. A lot is
expected from us.
But before we set foot in inviting others back to the church, before we
dream about that wonderful first sermon in our thanksgiving mass,
or the awe-inspiring good morning talks which we’ll deliver to the
students, let us begin first the serious task in the mission field we are
asked to evangelize: let us begin first to evangelize ourselves.
14 God bless. Good evening.

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Insight and Reflection
Every third Sunday, for the past five months now, I slip away from
our community to go to Makati for the radio broadcast.
I cannot thank Fr. Gerry enough and the rest of the confreres for the
go signal and the support they have given me to pursue this media
apostolate. Despite the fact that agreeing for me to be there means I
would not be here.
I love to teach, and I consider the classroom as my rightful place in
the congregation. It’s where, I think, I’ll be most productive, it’s there
that I’ll be most maximized by the province.
But communication is my first love. And so far, my experience
of being on the radio can be summarized into three words: I am
learning.
Br. Jomar would tease me for being so silent most of the time on air
because I feel intimidated being in the midst of seasoned broadcast
professionals.
Coming back to the community after each broadcast, I bring home
that exhilarating experience of not just being able to learn how to
operate the console when a commercial needs to be played, or how to
modulate my voice so that it becomes more pleasing to the listeners,
but being able to learn some insights from my co-hosts and from the
listeners who interact with us a well.
I hope that your stint in the seminary does not only give you the
obvious skills that we want you to have: to play an instrument, to
have a deeper relationship with the Lord, etc. but also, those which
are subtle and hidden, skills which could only made surface through
insight and reflection.
God bless. Good evening.
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True to our Identity
Before Paulo Coelho, JK Rowling, Bob Ong, Dave Peltzer and Arun
Gogna invaded the seminary, there was first Robert Fulghum.
In his magnum opus, entitled “All I really need to know, I learned
in kindergarten,” he outlined the lessons, which were not taught to
him by his professors in the graduate school, but learned in his lowly
kindergarten class.
These are some of the things he learned:
• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Live a balanced life.
• Be aware of wonder.
I was reminded of this when I was having my personal spiritual
reading on the life of Savio the other day, and reached that episode
when he sought the help of St. John Bosco to help him attain
sanctity.
Don Bosco told Dominic that in his school, to become a saint, one
needs to be cheerful. The former made the latter realize that to be
genuinely holy, one needs to be human first. The age we are in may
be characterized by immediacy: think of pancit canton ready in just
three minutes and antique furniture that could be manufactured
while you wait. We come to realize that “instant” does not apply in
the process of sanctity.
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There is no shortcut to the process.

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Here in the seminary, we have to learn how to become human first.
And when we have mastered that lesson: when we are able to say
sorry, inculcate discipline, and develop the habit of denying ourselves,
the task of becoming a saint will just be some corners away.
In our quest to reach sanctity, let us first be true to our humanity.
God bless. Good evening.
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Mabuhay si San Bosco!
Last week, during the send-off of the relics, I committed a major
major blunder. I guess, it would easily land on the list of my most
embarrassing moments.
No, it was not when I shouted “Mabuhay si San Bosco (Long live St.
Bosco).” I maintain that that is acceptable. If we have San Lorenzo,
San Pedro, and even Sta Cruz, Sta Mesa in our lexical consciousness,
then it follows that we could also have something like “San Bosco.”
When Fr. Arnold shouted “Mabuhay ang Panginoon (Long Live the
Lord),” that’s when I entertained the possibility—however remote it
may be—of how Don Bosco must have been complaining because
he’s been getting so much attention.
That made me also feel a little disturbed realizing how the majority of
individuals who came to venerate Don Bosco with much care seemed
to fail to show respect to the Blessed Sacrament. What is worse is that
some even failed to recognize its existence.
God is present in our Blessed Sacrament 24/7, seven days a week.
And we don’t just get to see and touch and talk to Him. We consume
Him. He becomes part not just of our biological mechanisms but
also, and more importantly, He strengthens us spiritually.
When Don Bosco was alive, he would be branded in the newspapers
as a “miracle worker” owing to the countless miracles he would
perform. But he would be quick to deny that he did not do it and
almost instantly, he would lead them to thank God’s Providence.
If there is an improvement in the quality of our relationship with
Christ; then, Don Bosco’s coming to Canlubang is not in vain. And
his visit is not going to be just that, a short visit, for he will remain in
our hearts.
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Mabuhay si San Bosco! God bless. Good evening.

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Musings on Don Bosco’s coming
Advent season is about coming, I am certain that it’s always been
general knowledge. And coming means we are to prepare.
This year, this season of advent means doubly special for we are
preparing for the Christmas season, and more than a week after,
we brace ourselves for the coming of Don Bosco in the flesh,
metaphorically and literally. We’ll be able to see a part of him.
I hope that we’ll not be drowned in the pomp and pageantry and
noise of his coming, for I believe that his visit is meant to strengthen
us spiritually.
Don Bosco’s coming is a meeting with the person of Don Bosco. And
I’d like to believe that he has some special message for each of us.
I’ve read a couple of episodes in the Biographical Memoirs when Don
Bosco would do oratory hopping to visit his Salesians, the novices,
the young people, and the preparations are simply remarkable. They
would assign someone to deliver the speech. They would intensify
their practices of piety. They would offer their communion and
confessions so that the visit of Don Bosco to their house will be a
tremendous success.
I wish that we’ll also do the same.
That as we busy ourselves in thinking about what exhibits could be
set up, what else will catch the fancy of our guests, what will make the
event more special, we may not lose grasp of the essential.
After all, that’s what his motto is all about: Give me souls, take away
the rest.
God bless. Good evening.
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On Salesian Brothers
Yesterday, we quietly marked the first day of the triduum in honor of
Blessed Artemide Zatti.
I note that there was nothing special in the community schedule, no
colorful fanfare, no ballyhoo at all; such a characteristic of Salesian
brothers who usually opt for the side lines, shying away from the
publicity and attention.
I think it was in the library of the novitiate where my knowledge
and fascination about the Salesian brothers grew more. There’s this
booklet in the library entitled “Life Sketches of the First Coadjutors.”
It details the life stories of Salesian brothers who helped Don Bosco
when the congregation was just starting.
Among the names listed there, there were:
Marcello Rossi, a porter for 48 years.
Dominic Palestrino, sacristan.
Peter Enria, music master and in charge of stage, cook, painter
Camilo Quirino, a polyglot
Maestro Dogliani, a music genius
Andrew Pelazza, director of the press
Peter Cenci, head tailor
Joseph Gambino, head of the Salesian library
Joseph Rossi, General Economer of the Salesian Society
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Among the ones in the list, my favorite is Joseph Buzzetti. He was
just nine years old when he came to Turin to work as a brick layer. He
donned the clerical habit in 1851. But a pistol shot wounded one of

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his finger so that it had to be amputated. This accident discouraged
him from becoming a priest. However, he loved Don Bosco so much
that his preoccupation was to make himself useful in the Oratory
and soon he became the factotum of the house. He would teach
catechism, he was in charge of music and of the choir until 1860
when Don Cagliero took over.
When Don Bosco had some important business at hand and did not
know to whom he could entrust it, he would say: “Call Buzzetti!”
If there is one idea that will neatly package and synthesize that book
on the life of Br. Zatti, it is this: They all loved Don Bosco: that even
in the littlest, humblest, lowliest task they carried out, they did it with
the greatest love.
I heard from someone that the greatest form of devotion is imitation.
Let us do likewise. Let us live as the first lay brothers and Br. Zatti
did.
God bless. Good evening.
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Damaso?... Santo!
Carlos Celdran has been an instant celebrity for some weeks now.
And in case you’re not aware why, you must have been out of the
planet. He disrupted the homily at a Mass celebrated at the Manila
Cathedral, where no less than Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of
Manila, was among the celebrants. He hurled up an improvised
placard and at the top of his voice, shouted at the members of the
clergy to “stop getting involved in politics.”
Upon his arrest, support for him has steadily been snowballing.
Facebook accounts were set up in his honor and those who made
their reactions publicly had generally only two things to say:
1. To free Carlos Celdran
2. To criticize the Catholic Church
Assessing the quantity and quality of the discourse, I was saddened
by the great majority of those who have elevated Celdran to a hero
status for being brave enough to challenge the leaders of the Catholic
Church.
In times like these, we don’t expect the members of the clergy and
even the religious congregations to exclusively do the talking. They
are very much identified with the Church, and for simple minded
folks, it’s just that, the priests and religious are the church.
And so, I believe that the most effective stance against the passing
of the RH bill is beyond us. We are against the present form of the
reproductive health bill as it contradicts the very morals we hold and
even if we try to sound objective and rational about it, people have
made up their minds.
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Amidst the clutter of comments, I found the insights of lay people
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have been vigilant in taking up the cudgels in defending the stand of
the CBCP against the passing of the RH bill and surprisingly, they
seem to be well versed in the teachings of the Church. Some claim to
have read Humanae Vitae, and they seem to have been enlightened
with it.
My point is this.
We don’t only become evangelizers when we write our names with the
initials SDB or when we are ordained for priesthood. Our ministry
begins now. We have the privilege of meeting our students on a
weekly basis. We have to do our best in catechizing them. This is
especially true for public school students who may be receiving the
last religious instruction in their lifetime.
The students we have at present, who have received the finest values
and religious instruction, may not just become apologists in the
future, but probably even saints.
God bless. Good evening.
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Tribute to Fr. George
They come in threes.
Fr. Gerry started the streak of paying Fr. George homage. Last night,
we heard the paean of Fr. Nesty. Tonight, it's my turn.
Young Salesian I may be, I also have my precious encounters with
Fr. George. Not with the ageing, bed-ridden priest the younger ones
have come to know now, but with the still robust, lucid and youthful
octogenarian priest I first met ten years ago.
I was a first year seminarian when I was assigned to be the room
cleaner of Fr. George. I recall that I would be delighted to clean his
room notably because of two reasons:
1. two pieces of candies await me each time I report for work—
with the equally sweet note he hand-scribbled that accompanied
it "For my room cleaner."
2. his room is a concrete example of how to live a life totally
detached all for the reason of serving the Lord.
He didn't want his room to be cleaned on Sundays. According to
him, it's the Lord's Day and I should be resting. But since it was part
of the seminary schedule, I would still go just the same. His room was
always unlocked anyway. But on Sundays, strikingly, there would be
no candies.
His kindness and warm smile would draw people towards him. He
would have ready candies in his pockets. And his supply of sweets is
bottomless. He had tons stored in the physics lab. He might not have
enough energy to carry out his apostolate, but his foresight would still
enable him to be a Salesian in the midst of the young.
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A confession to Fr. George in the confines of his physics lab means
enjoying a reward of candies.

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This made me entertain bad thoughts then, whether people really go
to him for the sacrament or for the candies.
His devotion to the sacraments is unparalleled. He would be in the
confessional box as early as 5.30 AM to hear our confessions. He
would be in his post again at 7.00 in the evening during our spiritual
reading and evening prayers. Almost faithfully, he would be in the
periphery of the gym for the EPC Masses whole year round.
Apart from these encounters, you may ask, what has Fr. George left
me with?
An example of faithfulness and dedication to the consecrated life I
have chosen to live.
Fr. George is gone. He has gone ahead of us to the Salesian Garden
that Don Bosco promised his children.
God bless. Good evening.
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On Noynoying
Those who took up linguistics must recall the term ‘neologism.’
Neologism means a newly coined term, word, or phrase, that may be
in the process of entering common use, but has not yet been accepted
into mainstream language.
We have got some examples of this:
Robotics, 1941
Cyberspace, 1984
Blog, late 90’s
I was reminded about neologism because even before leaving
Canlubang, militant groups protesting against the government had
invented a new word to describe how President Aquino is running the
country.
It is called Noynoying.
They defined it as “That idle moment when you are supposed to do
something but you are not doing anything.”
They even were creative in using the new word in sentences which
have found their way in my Twitter timeline.
“It’s our Finals tomorrow, but let me just do Noynoying first.”
“Today, I will go Noynoying. Is there a hostage crisis? Let me just eat
first. Is there a typhoon coming? I’ll go partying first.”
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“Let me predict what you’re doing now. It’s 315pm and you’re all
Noynoying at your desk, watching the clock, waiting for 5pm to
come.”

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Noynoying has become viral in the online world. It has a twitter
account and a Facebook page.
For the past days, we can say that we’ve been joining the Noynoying
craze as we enjoy this piece of white paradise away from the structure
of the seminary.
Daily VTRs were offered, along with generous free time and
unstructured activities by the sea; relatively lighter responsibilities
you need to contend with in exchange for monetary compensation to
boost the economy of your respective countries.
But one may ask, what have these got to do with my seminary
formation?
I say, a lot.
For St John Bosco himself believed in the power of recreation in
relation to the formation of young people.
This is specifically true for you who are set to follow him more closely,
God willing.
Fun and games occupy a privileged place in Don Bosco’s educative
method. He gave it a pedagogical slant elevating it into a spirituality
that coincided with sanctity. Dominic Savio expressed it insightfully
to his friend, Camillo Gavio “here we make holiness consist in being
cheerful.”
And so, as we continue to join the Noynoying bandwagon, let us be
conscious that this activity or non-activity has got fundamental value.
God bless. Good evening.
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On Graduation and Ordination
Tomorrow, we’ll witness two events: the ordination to the deaconate
of the 9 brothers from the theologate, and of course, the graduation
of our very own fourth years.
The ordination tomorrow is a little special for me, because four of
them were my classmates when we were prenovices. The graduation
tomorrow is anticipated because it marks a milestone in the lives
of our fourth years who will not just be called “professional” after
tomorrow, but more importantly, they will be “prenovices” soon, God
willing.
These two events are moments which we dream of. And for those
who are concerned, these events are not just dreams—for tomorrow,
they’ll be a reality!
What we’ll witness tomorrow is the glorious triumph of our seminary
companions. We’ll add our applause to the applauses of the audience,
we’ll convey our congratulatory remarks to them, and perhaps, we
may also feel envious because they’re already in the threshold of
enjoying the fruits of their labor.
But what we are not aware of is the drama behind it: the many
sacrifices they offered, the many daring questions they needed to
confront, the puzzling problems they had to endure, the many
sleepless and restless days and nights of their lives… all for the sake of
reaching their goals.
And so, as we accompany them in these events tomorrow, I invite
you to pray for them, that they may always be in the loving Grace of
God, that they may continue to walk along the way leading to the
Father. And as we do these, let us also pray for each of us who are still
on the journey towards our respective goals.
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May the difficulties and trials and afflictions we’ll encounter along
the journey challenge us to live our dreams.
God bless. Good evening.

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On saying Good Words
about Others
Once upon a time, I wanted to know whether God was calling me to
be a Jesuit.
I talked with my spiritual director about this matter and with the
go signal from my Salesian formators, I found myself one day in the
midst of young Jesuits who were explaining to me the process of how
to become one.
That took place 10 years ago.
One sweet after-taste of that encounter with the Jesuits is the
realization that they speak well of their confreres. I note that they
only reserve the best and sweetest adjectives for each other.
And that feeling of awe I still carry up to now, now that I am already
a Salesian.
I have learnt in my research that the SJs don’t put much emphasis on
community life unlike the way we celebrate our fraternal community,
but they are able to express their love through their good words for
each other.
Scanning the pages of our very own Biographical Memoirs, I found
out that it’s no less than the “Salesian Pope” himself in the person
of Pio Nono who advised Don Bosco when he visited the former in
Rome to imitate the Jesuits in their ways of treating the confreres.
Don Bosco quoted Pius IX with these words:
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You will never hear a Jesuit priest speak less than favorably of
any of his confreres. Rather, they always highly praise any of them
should their names come up in conversation. Should anything

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happen that might in any way stain or tarnish the name or
reputation of your society, keep it hidden from the strangers.
Do likewise.
cf Biographical Memoirs, p. 262
These words of St. John Bosco stirred some sensitive chords in my
heart. It has forced me to evaluate how the Salesians live well to the
standards of the Jesuits in terms of fraternal charity. It asks me to
assess each Salesian as regards his treatment of his brother Salesian.
Don Peter Ricaldone, the fourth successor of Don Bosco, entitled his
1933 message “Think well, speak well and do well to all.” At a glance,
it seemed that it’s written more for very young kids who are learning
to “stop, look and listen," however, the profundity and richness of his
message written more than seventy years ago has never lost its essence.
He said that “Charity exhorts us in the first place to think well of all.
“Think” here means the proper use of the mind in forming judgments
with regard to our neighbor. Uncharitableness is so detestable a
vice that St. John Chrysostom compares it to the low occupation of
cleaning out sewers and revealing the filth that is in them.”
“St. Francis of Sales rightly points it out: those who criticize others
by making laudatory preambles and interweaving appealing clever
remarks are the most subtle and poisonous slanderers of all.”
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it or if you’re concerned at all, but
the ill remarks toward others are spreading like wild fire; it's more
satisfying to speak about the weakness of others rather than of their
strength; it's easier to put them down than to lift them up.
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Basking in the glow of the good news of Christ’s resurrection, let us
become ourselves good news by stopping the verbal assaults we hurl
against our companions, and even and our hushed grumbling about
the imperfections of our formators.
I say this especially because of two reasons: first, it contradicts charity;
and second, it will not make the person change.
I have let out a mouthful. I hope that you’ll not be constipated in
digesting them. But let me end this with an invitation to speak well of
our community members.
Happy Easter, good evening and God bless.
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The Perfect Garden
“A perfect garden” my spiritual director once told me “is not that
which is filled with plants and has the most beautiful flowers.” He
told me that a flawless garden is that which does not provide for any
possible spot in which weeds may grow.
Our gardens here in the seminary may not be able to live up to that
standard. For if you look around, you’ll notice that weeds co-exist
with the beautiful plants you take care of.
An aspirant came to me one afternoon during work time with a
plucked out plant in his hand, asking me if it could be taken care of
in the greenhouse. I examined the plant and it took me sometime
before I figured out that it’s a weed.
Seminary is a garden. And it is not a perfect one. We need to
distinguish plants which we need to take care of from those which
need to be plucked out.
But it is not an easy task. We need to allow the small plants grow in
order to determine whether they are real plants. If they are weeds,
they need to be pulled out. This is important not just because
they are out of place and they make the garden ugly, but, more
importantly, they also steal away the nourishment which should be
enjoyed solely by the plants.
The act of discernment can be likened to this. We need to know
which are the plants and which are the weeds so that we can separate
them.
God bless. Good evening.
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Brods, madali bang
magprofess?
“Brods, madali bang magprofess?” (Brother, is it easy to profess?)
One aspirant asked me this question sometime in the recent past. I
found this question in my memory bank surfacing upon seeing our
novices last week winding up their novitiate. Time has flown fast for
them. In a matter of two months, they will be back here as freshly
minted Salesians of Don Bosco.
“Brods, madali bang magprofess?”
The question reminded me of an interview with Dolphy, the comedy
king of the Philippine showbiz industry. A reporter asked him “Bakit
po hindi kayo tumakbong presidente?” (Why did you not think of
running for presidency?) To this, he retorted casually: “Madali lang
namang tumakbo. Pero paano kapag nanalo ako?” (It’s easy to run, but
what if I win?)
He made a lot of sense in that off-the-cuff remark. The wisdom
underneath his statement is a no-brainer. It’s not easy to become a
president of the land, for he ought to be not just our leader, but he
should represent the best ideals of our country so that he could lead
us to daang matuwid.
But consecrated individuals are not just asked to become divine signs
in the temporal world, for they are to signify what lies beneath when
we all reach the end of our earthly existence.
Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata,
describes a consecrated individual as “someone of radical nature of
following Christ. (84)”
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He emphasized that the very purpose of consecrated life is conformity
to the Lord Jesus in His total self-giving. (65)” That in the process of
our consecration, we become Jesus Christ ourselves in the midst of a
world that embraces Godlessness.
Just last week, a co-practical trainee share with me that to be a
Salesian in the midst of the young is to be like a Superman!
But come to think of it, if our idea of religious life is just to write the
initials of the religious order after our names; if we just enjoy being
seen in our clerical attire and cassocks; if we just love the attention,
the respect, the dignity cast on to us simply because we are religious;
then, yes, it is easy to become one. No sweat!
But if your idea of consecrated life is that of “the affirmation of the
primacy of God and of eternal life, as evidenced in the following and
imitation of the chaste, poor and obedient Christ,” then you have the
concrete answer right in front of your fingertips.
So, madali bang magprofess? Think about it.
God bless. Good evening.
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