By Franklin Hidalgo

Frank is an electrical engineer who has managed his own business for 30 years. He is a native of La Paz, Iloilo City but has settled in Las Piñas with his family for many years.

When my wife, Liberty, made contact with the Columban Missionaries in the late ‘90s, she started receiving Misyon magazine, then, later, the Columban Mission newsletter. I did not bother to read them. When she left for the US to take care of our very young, one and only grandson, I was left behind. The newsletters continued to come to the house. So I started reading them and got to know about the Columban Missionaries. I was inspired to learn how they cared for my countrymen; for the many years of sacrifices they had made to help the poorest of the poor. I had probably been to these far distant places where the Columban Missionaries went. It made me realize the difficulties that these missionaries experienced and yet they gave their lives and their hearts to serve the people. How noble it is!

At that time I was looking for a way to multiply myself, so to speak, in order to reach out to the poor in many places of the country. I would be very limited if I did it alone. So I prayed to God for direction. I was then led to the Columban Missionaries. It just came as an inspiration. If I want to multiply myself, I’ll do it with the missionaries because they go out to many places all over the world. And if I become part of the Columban Missionaries, I can reach out to many poor people as well. So it was an answered prayer.

Franklin (leftmost) with Columban mission partners at the diaconate ordination of Rev. Louie Ybañez, Columban House of Studies, Cubao, Q.C., May 13, 2018

One day I visited Singalong House when Fr. Pat O'Donoghue was still the regional director. I handed him a gift for the mission. I was happy to be able to do it and I want to continue doing this.

Years passed and on April 7, 2017 I had a heart bypass. I asked for prayers from the Columban Fathers. It played a very important part in my life now. I thank God for having extended my life and for giving me a purpose-driven life. I have more time to continue my advocacy and to continue being a mission partner.