Layang Bilanggo

Last Saturday, my friends and I went to Shang Cinemaplex to see an indie film. We intentionally wanted to watch one at the 5:30 pm schedule but the tickets were sold out so we went for the next one: "Layang Bilanggo."

This movie touches on the issue of "prisoners for hire" (assassins). It centers on the life of one inmate who does this task so as to protect the daughter he left behind some twenty years ago. To do this he went on a run as a fugitive to a Home for the Aged where his now grown-up daughter teaches drawing.

I was reminded of my growing up years at the Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa where as a kid I would brush shoulders with the prisoners and would eagerly listen to their life stories. They really are not what they seem to be from the outside. There's a lot more I could learn from the experiences they encountered in life.
Deep down they too have a heart (probably much larger than mine).

Bosco Hall - Guam

We Salesians are almost a year (around ten months) here now in Guam helping out in Father Duenas Memorial School. We called our residence (part of an old small structure near the school) Bosco Hall. It's our refuge after a long day's work in the hustle and bustle of an all boy's High school and everything that comes with it...

It is a place where we could rest and relax, eat and pray together, and even share stories and enjoy each other's presence.

You know, this experience reminds me of a particular Psalm (133): "How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in harmony." Hey, wasn't that one of Your final prayers? Remember- that "Ut unum sint"-ish thinggy (Jn. 19:28)?

A Tale of Two Cities

The year end brought me exploring two cities in Mindanao- Dapitan and Dipolog.

Dapitan is a sleeply town which has deep historical roots since this was the place where Dr Jose Rizal was exiled and did his last works prior to being sent back to Manila for his martyrdom.


Rizal made a map of Mindanao outside the Cathedral of St James. This church has a unique ceiling.


Dipolog is the commercial city where the airport lies and near the city itself a port which connects sea trade with the Visayas. This city is famous for its sardines.

Meet FD's new principal

My Salesian companion, Fr Chito, (we're two in the island) got into the TV news today. Ironically we couldn't watch it live since we do not have tv nor cable. But hey, we can still google right.
So here's news about the Salesians of Don Bosco's new presence in the island of Guam.
Meet FD's New Principal (the video)
Father Duenas Memorial School (FD or FDMS) is an all male Catholic Preparatory High school belonging to the Archdiocese of Agana. Right now the school has around 420 students (from Gr 9-12). I find the teachers of FD very professional, helpful and kind-hearted. They already gave me a tip.... don't smile until the end of the year (well, that's for the discipline part). After all, the students are all boys, right. Gonna be tough for me, got used to the land of smiles, Thailand and Cambodia. Very different culture. But they're all great. I love the variety.
In fact, my blood pressure has already soared after the first week of my classes. Oh, it's not them believe me, it's me not getting used to teaching high school after some time now.

Salesians of Don Bosco - now in Guam

This is where I belong....


Find more videos like this on Salesians of Don Bosco

GUAM - a new journey begins

On the early morning of a Thursday, the 18th of June, Philippine Airlines Flight PR 110 touched down at Guam's airport. The rector of the Cathedral fetched me and brought me to my temporary home - the Archbishop's residence. There and there I was welcomed by Archbishop Anthony and his dog, Koa. Here is my temporary domicile as I await the other two which will complete the team to help run Father Duenas Memorial School (FDMS).

The following day I went to the beachfront to the places of battle where the Americans reclaimed Guam from the Japanese during WWII.

Benguet State University

I went up to La Trinidad Valley last May 19-21 to help one of my UPOU colleagues give a workshop seminar on Course Module Preparation for Distance Learning. We were invited by the Open University Department of Benguet State University. In the welcome tarp, they even got my title wrong, but hey, that's a felix culpa (happy fault). I was really excited since this was my first time to give an academic seminar to school administrators, professors, and other professionals. I've given seminars before but not in this area. So it was a real experience for me.

Of Nieces and Nephews

The last time I had bonding time with my nieces and nephew was ages. I used to bring my three nieces (they were still grade school students) to the cinema with all three clinging to me so that we could cross the street safely. Then inside the movie house the youngest (then aged 4) would cry: "I'm dying of hunger already. Haven't eaten in two days" when in reality she just finished her breakfast. So we finish the movie amidst her nudging and off we go to get a Happy Meal (the cheapest) since they come with those cute toys for free. After she grabs a bite (literally), she leaves her food and plays with her new-found buddy (the soft toy).

Now look at them all grown-up. Worst they all have different tastes from each other. So I bring them to a Food Court (various delicacies to choose from) and give them money instead to choose whatever they like to eat. I get to have a long chat with them at table about their present lives. An hour or so later after some kisses and goodbyes, off we go to our different ways (one has to do some errands for her mom, the other has to get her hair done, and the youngest has to meet a friend).

With my nephews, it's a boy thing... so that would be for another time.

A New Journey (?)

Looks like I might have to put this blog journey in this area on hold.

I'm on an extended vacation right now. I originally intended to go for a study leave but then maybe the One up there has other plans. I needed a long vacation to attend to some important family matters that have to be solved. I thought I would need six months or a year to work on this pressing legal matters in the family. And I thought the study leave would be a good way to have the best of both worlds. So I didn't express my availability for any new work or assignment for sometime.

However He must have other plans. The very day I finished all paper-works and legal leg-works of what I had to do, the FIN provincial calls me for a meeting for this new Salesian presence in a place called GUAM.

Now You tell me, had I refused, would You have sent your thunderbolt down to hit me on the head for ingratitude? How else could I express my thanks but to simply surrender. Your signs are too obvious and I would be too stupid not to see it this time.

A turn along the way

I'm headed back to the Philippines for a kind of long sabbatical.
I'm really gonna miss Cambodia and Thailand.


I saw this picture at the airport as I was about to board the plane. It's very much what I think in spite of what I feel. As Dag H. would put it:

For all that has been - "Thanks"
For all that will be - " Yes"