‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9).

By Rose Jessica ‘Jet’ F. Octaviano

I feel special. I know in God’s eyes, we are all special. So I’ll say I feel extra special. I had the chance to witness my friends’ ordination to the priesthood. Priests are highly respected, seemingly one step higher than we are. They are our links to God. I am often overwhelmed even when with priests I know. Yes, I talk to them. I also confess my sins to them. I just never thought that I would have priests as good friends.

I am a peace advocate. My road to peace started during my college years at the University of St La Salle (USLS), Bacolod City. I was a community outreach volunteer. I had led a sheltered life and being a volunteer opened my eyes to the realities of life. We worked with street children and those in situations of armed conflict. I experienced living in one of the street children’s houses in the squatters’ area while my friends lived in nearby houses. This immersion made me a better person.

After graduation, I worked as a youth formator at Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet-Negros (Solidarity for Peace-Negros), a non-government organization dedicated to peace work.  I continued the call for peace. I led in organizing our existing youth partners, the Young Ones for Peace (YuPeace), in different schools and communities in Negros Occidental. We used to come together regularly at the PEACETIVAL, held each September at the Capitol Lagoon, Bacolod City and the Negros Summer Youth Camps in April-May at Sitio Guintubdan in Bago City, both activities since discontinued due to lack of funds. But then I emigrated to the USA.

Ten years later, I came home to stay for awhile. I enrolled at the USLS Graduate School in the Masters of Arts in Conflict and Reconciliation Studies Program. Because of this I joined the Visayas Peacebuilding Institute (VPI) in held on 10-15 April 2010 at Balay Kalinungan, USLS. VPI is a collaborative effort between the Pax Christi Institute and the Institute for Negros Development of USLS. There were 32 participants from Luzon and the Visayas, NGO/GO workers, religious, discipline officers, church workers, teachers and other professionals.

I met Father Chris Militante and Father Kim Miro at the VPI. They were still seminarians then. They represented the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte. We were curious about their lives. We asked them why they wanted to be priests, if they were really sure about it and when they would be ordained. They were patient with us. We all had fun.

We kept in touch through Facebook and texting. The Bacolod group met them again in September when they came to Bago City, just south of Bacolod City, for ongoing formation. We all had lunch together. I was also able to attend Mass with them along with about twenty other priests. It was a remarkable experience. I had never been in the company of so many priests. It is something I will always remember.

Finally on 24 May I received a text message from Father Kim giving me the date of their ordination! I felt elated and excited. It was also my task to tell the rest of the gang about this. I made plans to travel to Leyte for the ordination but was the only one from the Bacolod group who made it. My nephew Franz accompanied me. He and Father Kim became friends too.

Franz and I left Bacolod for Tacloban via Cebu on 18 June. We woke up late and almost missed our flight. It was our first time to visit Leyte and upon arrival in Tacloban we felt the warm hospitality of the people there. Father Kim and ‘Manong’ the driver brought us to our home for four days. It was a retreat house managed by the Franciscan Handmaids of the Lord, founded in Palo by Bishop Cipriano Urgel in 1979. It was peaceful place, conducive for reflection and I loved being there. Sister Virgie and the other Sisters were friendly and the girls who lived there were very helpful.

We visited the Archbishop’s Residence, Gonzaga House. We were very impressed. It was on top of a hill and was cool. From the balcony, you can see many trees. There were animals in the land and a tennis court. We were introduced to Father Gwen Padagdag who was to be ordained with Father Kim and Father Chris. Father Gwen was always smiling. The two invited me to attend the Family and Relatives’ Recollection next day.

At the recollection we met so many loving people, the families of the future priests, the Sisters and other priests. They were very welcoming and pleasant. We were shy at first and there was a communication problem. The people around us were either speaking in Waray or Cebuano. We were confused as we speak Hiligaynon (Ilonggo). But they were very cooperative – they spoke English or Tagalog to us. The recollection ended with the sacrament of penance. I felt purified and blessed.

Later, we attended the Rites of the Promise of Celibacy, Declaration of Free Choice and Profession of Faith followed by Holy Mass. I felt fortunate to witness the occasion. It was something extraordinary, a once in a lifetime event. A reception followed the Mass. Families and relatives were introduced. As the three, Fathers Chris, Kim and Gwen were batch mates, it was a chance for their families to get to know each other better too. We felt like members of their families too, except that we were the Ilonggo-speaking branch.

20 June finally arrived. We woke up early and were ready two hours before the ordination. It was a beautiful morning. As I witnessed the ordination, I had mixed feelings of joy and sadness. Mostly joy! I have friends who are now priests. I felt sad because I felt that things will not be the same for us. I still have this feeling that priests are above us, therefore, we are not on the same level anymore. It felt different somehow. I was awed by them.

I felt very blessed being able to attend the first Mass of Father Chris.

There was only one downside. I lost my camera. We were in downtown Tacloban City when my camera was taken from my knapsack. I was a bit careless. I had a good cry during Father Chris’s Mass and the ill feelings slowly vanished. I prayed for the thief. However, I would not exchange the trip for the camera. The camera can be replaced but never the experience.

Overall I can say two words about the notable experience: ‘Amazing Grace!’

Jet :)
ROSE JESSICA F. OCTAVIANO

Jet is the Chapter Executive Manager of the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Bacolod-Negros Occidental Chapter. PMHA is a non-government organization dedicated to the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness. You can email her at jet.octaviano@gmail.com.