I have been a priest for 22 years and I have been involved in different ministries.  For my first year as a priest, I was assigned as prefect of discipline in the St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary.  A year later, the Commission on Vocations and the Kapisanan ni San Francisco de Sales was assigned to me.  I held it for almost 13 years while at the same time doing spiritual direction and teaching the Sacraments and Economics to the minor seminarians.  

 Towards the end of my term there, I took a course on formation at the Guidance center which was credited as a Masters Degree at De La Salle University.  Then and there, I became a part of the Commission on Clergy of the Archdiocese and providing ongoing formation to the young and junior clergy.  In 1997, I became involved in the Assist program of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Commission on Clergy.  After an initial exposure giving a short talk to the Bishops in their July 1998 annual retreat, I joined a year-long training program in assisting priests and henceforth became involved full time to the ministry to priests for the next 5 years.  I had given retreats to many (around 20) diocesan and religious clergy here and abroad.  After my sabbatical leave and renewal in 2003, I stayed in Ayala Alabang as Chaplain of the De La Salle Zobel and assistant parish priest (guest) for the duration of 2004.  

 When I returned to the Archdiocese in 2005, I had hoped to be assigned in the parish as a pastor to expand my experiences and exposures, but Archbishop Arguelles had other plans.  I was assigned to set up a ministry for Apostleship of the Sea in the ports and seashores of Batangas.  By late January, I was given further the Commission on Migrants and Mission after Fr.  Quiel Dimaculangan relinquished the post and was sent to the theology department in Lucena City.  I have practically four tasks: Apostleship of the Sea, Migrants Ministry, Mission Apostolate and attached priest in Batangas City.  Every now and then, I still give conferences to Priests and seminarians in the Assist programs and I give retreats and renewal programs here and there.  

 In the past two years, I have been involved in the Apostleship of the Sea and most especially in the Ministry to Migrants and their families left behind.  This year, I am very much involved in the preparation for the First Archdiocesan Mission Congress (October 18-20, 2007) as part of our Commission’s program and the first year (2007-2008) of the three-year celebration of the Centennial Year of the Archdiocese of Lipa in 2010.  

 As a priest, I have never declined any assignment given me by my superiors.  I had initial resistances, but eventually, I agree and do the best I can to the ministries assigned to me.  I could imagine the reluctance of the first disciples when they were sent by Jesus Christ by twos.  I could imagine the anxieties and uncertainties and fears when the apostles delved into the mission.  They went to unknown territories and their only strength was their faith in God.  Mission, as it were, was plain obedience to God to bring the Good News to all people using their gifts and talents but most especially using their faith and the graces that come from God.

 The Asian Mission Congress echoes the message of Jesus to the disciples to preach the Good News about Him and the salvation He is offering to all.  The missionary task is to tell the story of Jesus in Asia to make every people know who Jesus was and is, to all peoples.  Our Archdiocesan Mission Congress repeats this direction.  All Priests and Religious, all lay leaders and catechists, all evangelizers are called upon to do mission, to tell the story of Jesus, to lead people to genuine conversion and radical evangelization.  

 Whatever place we have in this Archdiocese, whatever assignment given to us by God, whatever ministry entrusted to us, as pastors, as parochial vicars, as religious, as teachers and leaders, as commission heads, as lay leaders or catechists, we have to make the most of it, for God and for the Church, to be the new missionaries in bringing the story of Jesus to all Batangueños and to people beyond Batangas.  Each of us has his own story to tell regarding our history of doing mission here in and outside our Archdiocese.  I believe God is always with us all the way even if we are not worthy.  

 I think we all have a place in this Archdiocese.  We all have a mission.  The Centennial Celebration of the Archdiocese looms large in front of all of us.  We cannot deny it.  We cannot deny our mission.  If we do, we will deny ourselves and ultimately, we will deny our God.  He sent us specifically to make the Jesus Story alive here and now in our beloved Archdiocese of Lipa and beyond.  Let us accept this challenge and ultimately, this vocation from God.