Basic Education Department

It is said that life is a mysterious journey and each of us has only one life time to travel it. That mysterious journey is always connected with a Sister friend – Sr. Ma. Lourdes Verzosa who was my co-faculty member of old CSI (presently Universidad de Sta. Isabel). She was my bed neighbor because we were both Interns. At the close of the day after classes we would share our intimate hopes and dreams and that wishful dream indeed materialized in God’s special way. Now that fifty years have quickly passed , I feel my “ journey sharing” will be incomplete without looking at my past.
Fifty years ago I was one of the youngest members of the DC Congregation of the Philippine Province. I am a testimony of a fragile seed that withstood fifty years in the Lord’s vineyard in the palm of His loving hands..

I was a high school student in CSI during the years of World War II but because of circumstances my parents deemed wise that our family be back to Goa, our hometown, where I finished my secondary course. After finishing my College Studies in Manila I was taken by the late Sor Soledad Torre to teach in the College Department for the newly opened BSEED course because the Philippine Normal College graduates were prepared for the new curriculum for teachers.. Those who knew me then can never imagine in their wildest dreams that I would be a Sister someday but God writes in crook lines. Mysterious, indeed!

In 1960 I resigned as a College Instructor and made my final decision to leap to the Convent Walls in Madrid, Spain. Of course, it was a deep secret for 2 special people-(Sr. Consolacion Arceño the one who inspired and paved my way to be a DC and our CSI Principal, Sor Soledad Torre) aside from my family. The reason behind the secret was for reasons I might not persevere in the trial. At that time when one enters a Convent and returns as a lay was shunned by society. Sor Consolacion Arceño must have prayed a lot that I be accepted in Spain since that was what I wanted and that I persevere. Since I was still a lay, I toured Middle East, the Holy Land a part of Africa to see the pyramids before proceeding to Europe to see the places I taught in History and World Geography as well as my way of bidding bye to the world.

The Sisters in Spain were very good to me. I was their special Hermanita since I was the only Filipina in a group of more than 400 postulants. I also encountered some trifles and problems since community life is not living in a bed of roses but I was able to persevere with God’s help because my start with my Spanish formators was good one. Being faithful to prayers and the little convent requirements kept me going despite the cold climate, different food and culture. Of course, I had lapses, too, but our Lord and Blessed Mother and the good Sisters were always there to prop me. I remember I cried once to our Directress, a robust serious-looking Sister (Sr. Isabel Lopez from Asturias to whom I confessed in tears I wasn’t used to hard work waking up at 4 in the morning to iron the enormous pre-Vatican habits of the Sisters until 12 noon broken only by the Holy Mass and breakfast. She took her handkerchief, dried my tears and told me just to go on. In fact, I would have died long ago in my religious vocation at early mid-life had I not fallen in the hands of very supportive Directresses and Superiors ( we call Sister Servants) who knew how to nurture vocation and understand human frailties .and limitations. Last year 2000, the Jubilee Year, I tried visiting her but the Sisters in Madrid told me she had already Alzheimer’s disease.

Looking back at my journey I can only thank God that I am a Daughter of Charity , a Golden Jubilarian at that for there is no better life when one is called and chosen by Him. Perhaps you might want to know how old is this Jubilarian! A few weeks from now she will be 80 years old! Indeed, truly a gift from the Lord. Let me share to you some ideas which might be worth reflecting of how one goes until this age in Religious life.

E is for Example: One cannot preach integrity without living it. My formation as I have mentioned previously although started from home was perfected in the Community.

I is for Influence- Although good formators produce good Sisters, it was the devoted and dedicated, hard-working Spanish Sisters -Sr. Pilar Acerete who became a Visitatrix of India ( Sor Ana Cassasas my first SS, Sr. Hermene Beroiz, Sr. Ines Pena (All now in our Assumpta Park)and Filipina Sisters (Sr. Maria Oandasan Sr. Concepcion Mabunay, Sor Paz Marfori) to name a few and of course, many others who became my role models of Vincentian virtues. They, too, has have smoothen my rough edges.

G is for Gratitude- I can never ask for more for the gift of life vocation, family and health, friends and members of the USI community and Sisters with whom I have lived over the years.

H- is for Happiness. Of course, I am happy, very happy to be in the Vineyard of the Lord. I have found happiness in doing well the assignments given by my Superiors, even at this age knowing there is a purpose in doing it and seeking others’ benefit especially when it is for the Poor.

For letter H, I would also like to include Health. Health is my greatest physical possession, a blessing that money cannot buy. According to the radio announcer, if you are healthy you are rich. I am rich!

T- is for Thankfulness. There is always a lot to be thankful. We were taught in the Novitiate that if the weather is cold we must say :Bendito sea Dios or Blessed be God. If is hot, because summer in Spain was hot during my stay we must say the same:Bendito sea Dios. Yes, thank you is a beautiful word.

And finally for Y is for Youth. When people ask how old I am I tell them: “You guess.” Maybe you are sixty or perhaps sixty five. When the guess is far below my age I joke them : You guessed it right.” But before I leave them, I tell my correct age for fear I would fail against truthfulness. There is an adage that if one is youthful she must be useful. For this reason, I am involved in the Prison, Hospital and Music Ministry aside from teaching in Graduate School and Music Department.

At this juncture, I wish to thank the Jubilee Celebration organizers, Fr. Randy Agner, CM our Provincial Director, Fr. Serafin Peralta, CM, past Provincial Director, our Vincentian brother-priests, Bishop Jose Sorra and Bishop Jesus Palma, who honored and highlighted the Mass with their presence, Sr. Teresa Mueda, DC and her Council, Sr. Sony Evidente, DC, my SS and all my USI Sisters and never the least my loving family for having offered me generously to the Lord . To the Lord goes my deepest gratitude expressed in the song “My Tribute.” composed by Andrae Crouch:

“How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You gave to prove Your love for me.
The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude;
All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.
To God be the glory for the things He has done for me.


The Concelebrated Mass	With Sr. Julma C. Neo, DC former Councilor for Asia and Sisters

My USI Sisters and members of my family	With Sr. Sony G. Evidente, SS we offer these beautiful flowers in gratitude for the many blessing

With Baby Brunilda Alberto and Ms. Sonia Ibarbia who came all the way from Naga City to grace the celebration, my big THANKS.	My loving members of the family represented by Jennifer, my niece, Fr. Dan Vargas, my nephew, Judge Jose P. Nacional, my brother and Jeff. my nephew.
Apostolates


Hospital Ministry in Bicol Medical Center	Vincentian Seminar

Radio Program Ministry in Rdio Caritas Marie DWRV 98.3MHz The Mother's Touch	Prison Ministry in Del Rosario Naga City