The First Deacon

            

           The flight has been booked. We are ready to go. Hello Cebu and Maasin, here we come. We, the highfive (I, Eric Jorge Dueñas, Miel Sedfrey Nebrida, Austin John Ortinero and Emil Valeza), the remaining from the batch of STB 2013 in the UST Central Seminary witnessed and shared a momentous event in the life of our very own classmate Casiano Anthony Cotiamco as he received the sacrament of the Holy Order-Deaconate.

            Our trip from Manila to Maasin via Cebu can be liken to the journey of one’s vacation. Excitement filled our hearts as we were planning on attending this ordination. This is not only because we will be able to witness the ordination of our brother but also because we will be able to visit Maasin and of course to see the beauty of Cebu especially for some of us who are first time to go there. Some of our batchmates are in Cebu and we look forward to meet them and to spend some quality time together as we reminisce the joyful experiences we had together in UST. One of us is also looking forward to ride in an airplane and some of us like me to ride in a ship because it would be our very first time. Indeed, one’s vocation is like this journey that is full of excitement. We always look forward for new experiences and new acquaintances. Yet, this journey is not all about fun. As we were in the plane, we experienced turbulence which hurt our ears. As we were approaching Maasin, there was a sudden thunderstorm. Hard rains, strong winds, and big waves unduly prolonged our trip and it made it troublesome. We cannot do anything but to pray for the abiding presence and guidance of our Almighty God. Thanks to Him, we arrived in our destinations safely. Just like one’s vocation, it is not always a smooth sailing as challenges and troubles would occur along the way. We can’t help ourselves but to bend our knees and trust in the Lord’s mercy and love. Surely, His will be done.During the ordination, we are sure that whatever he felt in that moment, we also felt it. He must be very grateful to the Lord for the grace he just received just as we are also very grateful because the Lord has bless our batch, the very first ordinandi who is to serve His church and His people. We know that there is more ordination to come and hopefully our time will come as well.  Attorney/Kuya Sonny must have been proud because finally all the efforts and the challenges he went through have reach a certain destination. Although this new chapter of his life entails more challenges to come. Perhaps it is even more challenging and troublesome. We are also very proud of his achievement because we feel that this is also our achievement. Since for us, an achievement of one is the achievement of all. We can say this because we know that we have been part in his journey towards this event; we are part of the story of his vocation. We are very proud of him. It can’t be denied that throughout the celebration, there is also an atmosphere of doubt and unworthiness. He is aware of his own weaknesses and shortcomings. He must have asked: “Why Lord? Why am I here? Why did you let this happen? Are you sure of this Lord?” While sensing this feeling of doubt, in a way, it also moved us to reflect on our own unworthiness and to what keeps us holding on our vocation despite our unworthiness. In the end, we realized that this is no longer a question of being worthy or not, since, as many would ask: “Who is worthy anyway?” Rather, it is a question of commitment and dedication: Are we ready to commit and to dedicate ourselves to the calling of God despite our imperfections? Are we ready to trust in the will of God and to His helping hand in this endeavour?

            ‘Things will never be the same’ for Attorney/Kuya Sonny, the first blood in our batch as our classmate Romolito ‘Manong Mulkins’ would say, as he is now a cleric. He gives us hope and inspiration  to be firm in pursuing our vocation. He is one step ahead of us already but we know too well that as a cleric now, he needs to pray harder for us his batchmates that we may be able to keep close to him and someday will stand in the same step. Nevertheless, he is assured of our prayers and fraternal support. As we departed our ways after his ordination, he sent us this message, “Thanks to all of you. I’m happy to know that God send me His soldiers to stand by my side as I received the sacrament of Holy Order for He knows that I am weak and hesitant. Your presence was an assurance that he will never abandon me.”  Truly Attorney/Kuya Sonny, you can count on us.

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