Ano vocation story mo? Yan ang lagi nating naririnig na tanong sa mga nasa consecrated life, or at least those who chose to dedicate their lives in serving God. Pero para sa akin, bilang isang ordinaryong church worker, ano nga ba vocation story ko?
Where it all started?
Nagsimula ito, almost 20 years back. Yes, 9 years old ako. I got interested bakit sila napunta ng Simbahan bukod sa pagsisimba. Ah, nakanta. I started my vocation thru music. Started on that one thru scratch. Literal, I didn't knew anything about music. As time goes by, I got trained. I learned. Eventually, I was one of the "go-to person." Enjoy. Though, it was when I got exposed to other greater singers and musicians, I realized na hindi lang pala siya singing, it was something that I would like to do for a long time, and something na I would like to do for God. It is in music that I pray, serve, and communicate to God. Then, I stopped nung college. Hirap ng acads ng higher nursing years. I had to stop to focus on my studies. God let me breathe on my own. God let me finish my school stuffs without letting me out of His sight. Thru His guidance, I'm a professional nurse now. Never ko nakalimutan na thru music, God introduced Himself to me. And thru His majestic music, I learned na pwede din pala ako makapag-serve.
SocCom: The new ministry
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| Taken three years ago. We started with five strong members. |
Fast forward to 2013, bagong palit ang kura paroko sa parish. Meron na akong previous stints sa powerpoint presentations 'pag meron mga occasion sa parish. I was pointed na mag organize ng Social Communications/ Media ministry sa parish kasi wala naman kami noon. Sobrang hirap, hirap maghanap ng members, ng support, ng lahat. We were literally created out of scratch without any backbone to follow. Nagsimula ako as a one man team. All in one technician, operator, editor, lahat na. Hindi lang ata 10x ko sinabi kay Lord na ayaw ko na. Thru social media, mabilis nakilala yung page ng parish, at least digitally. Wala ako alam in terms sa photo editing, photoshop, photography, videography, video editing. Gosh, nurse ako, di naman yun tinuro samin, pang MMA yung hinihingi sakin ni Lord. But then, I never give up, God never let me. It was thru those difficulties that I felt na it is God who is always there guiding me. Sa tulong na din ng mga ever dedicated na elite members, we always succeed sa bawat event. We started learning, creating our own specialties, innovating new things or strategies, and all. I got inspired nung nakikita ko na they're finally taking off. Learning what works for them, teaching each other kung ano maganda, and gumagaling ang bawat isa eventually. We even co-produced a concert. It was a big one, knowing gabutil lang kami at iilang months pa lang kami. But then, it was a very good start for starters. Thru that concert, we started spreading our wings and soaring. My vocation soared on its own. Juggling from work, business, personal life, hobbies, family, and church. Mas na-inspire ako sa mga sumunod na taon when I met other people who do the same stuffs, communicating God's mercy thru soccom. From our director, Fr. David Reyes, from ordinary seminarians, SMITH like Brother Alfonsus, other soccom from other parishes, priests, and even Ate Lanie. Hindi ka lang sa kanila matututo, pero mas ma-iinspire ka na kahit di ka nag-aral how to be a soccom, you'll get inspired on how they dedicated their time and for some, their lives, sa craft nila.
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| 2013. Closing of Year of Hope. |
My vocation sa soccom has its own high and lows. Sometimes, I will loose my appetite in serving. Parang nagiging cold din ako sa vocation ko. Pero minsan, super "mamaw" naman sa new ideas. Siguro ganun nga, we will have our own ups and downs. Hindi lang sa vocation na pipiliin natin, but in our life in general.
I don't know when will I stop, or even how to stop. Oo, timid ako ngayong mga panahon na ito. Kasi yun nga nasa crisis nanaman yung vocation ko. But I know, God will eventually make His way to shape me into a better member. Extra na lang siguro yung mga recognition from other people or priests. Yung mga invitation sa mga diocesan events biglaan o hindi. Something to keep your fire burning na lang yung mga yun. Extra kumbaga. Yung mga results, how people will watch or like or share your craft. I'm happy hindi dahil pinanood or nakita or na-appreciate nila. Deep inside, I always look forward or sinasabi ko sa loob ko na sana thru those stuffs may nahila ako na pa-isa isang tao na magsimba or magdasal. I always hope na thru soccom, people will learn or pay attention to their faith. I always want to let new members know na thru soccom hindi lang likes yung kailangan namin, but faith. Faith in action. Faith in each personal life.
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| One of my most memorable shots. Opening of the Golden Jubilee. |
I learned na hindi mo kailangan maging professional to be a soccom or to serve. It is the heart and the vocation that matters most. Yung dedication kasama na yun kung talagang mamahalin natin ang service at si God. I may not have consecrated my life as a religious person, but then, I was called to serve His Church in a way that I can also lead people to His Kingdom. It may be a small contribution, but who knows how many people I have inspired to pray harder or hear mass weekly.
