Monday, November 06, 2006

Adventures in Kiamba

Tales of my Father - Part 4

My parents were surprised that I was included in the school's honor roll despite being absent many many times. A rich childless couple who lived in the town wanted to adopt me, but my mother was adamant. She said she'd rather die than sell her own child.

My mother's well-to-do brother and his wife noticed my wit and potential. They asked my parents if they could take me with them to Kiamba, South Cotabato (now Saranggani). They said they will shoulder all my educational expenses, and send me to the best school in town, together with their only daughter.

My smile was from ear to ear. I really wanted to pursue my dream of getting a college education and a better life. My parents nodded and parted with me. My eight other siblings didn't care about my departure. No tears were shed on our parting that day. I was sure I won’t miss my parents either.

In Kiamba, I helped my uncle and my aunt in their store. I dearly call them Papa Juan and Mama Bening. They're like real parents to me. They enrolled me in a private school and I was getting popular each day. I got myself a girlfriend by just giving her sweetened banana. I became very close to my cousin also but her other cousins got envious of me. They made up stories. I don't easily get discouraged but it was too much then for my feeble mind. In my frustration I went a parish church and inquired about getting inside a seminary.

The Priest asked if I had any parents. I said I had none. I knew beforehand that they will only accept orphans. He asked if I was willing to serve God all my life. I piously nodded. But a neighbor overheard my conversation with the priest and informed my aunt. They hurriedly went to the parish priest and explained everything.

I was busted. I was scolded and spanked for claiming I had no parents. I told them that I don’t have my parents here and that I badly wanted to enter seminary so that I could become a priest someday. I had no intention of disowning my parents. Well... the priesthood would have been a good escape from poverty.

Had I became a priest, I would not have seen my beautiful wife and wonderful children. God has other plans for me though. I still got that Priesthood without entering the seminary.

Parts 1-3

14 comments:

The Itinerant said...

naks! kung gikan ka'g kiamba,kasabot diay ka ani hehehe.

Ey, Lazarus, you can still find yourself interested in religious life as late vocation, why not? I was not permittd to become a priest since my father was an ex-seminarian and Im the only son,but where am I? not only in a seminary hehehe, more than that. Come join us!

Lazarus said...

bro vince, it's my father's story and not mine. he he. Nakalimot ka siguro? I'm just narrating it in the first person.

He got converted to evangelical christianity years later in a crusade in Cebu. Then he met my mom. That would be another story to tell.

The Itinerant said...

yaks! kakahiya! HAhahaha! Sorry, hehehe....

Lazarus said...

Ha ha ha! saan ba nakakahiya dun? Bro Vince, my father just spent 3 years in Kiamba. I haven't been to that place, even in Gen Santos. But I might be in Gen San this weekend, if plans push through.

The Itinerant said...

wow! i miss Gensan now (sigh) ok lang, malapit na rin... ey, dont forget "inihaw na panga" ng tuna para masabi mong nanggaling ka talaga sa Gensan, how about visiting Lake Sebu, 2 hrs away lang from Gensan, then water tubing sa Maitum, madadaanan yan papunta ng Kiamba. Wish u luck then.

Anonymous said...

nice to read stories like these..

Anonymous said...

That's true. If he had become a priest, you wouldn't be in this world. :)

Bryan Anthony the First said...

great story, really is

@nice: i did hear about priests with kids...

Joey said...

Hi Lazarus,

Your father is a good story teller. My father was also a good story teller and he loved to retell his stories from time to time. Actually I also remember my grandmother would love to tell story to bring us all to sleep as little children. I really miss those special moments.

I think we are now loosing the art of storytelling as our lives are now being preoccupied with so many things. Storytelling is now replaced with Internet and TV. Do you not wonder that we our not storyteller anymore? My kids would ask me to tell them stories and with much effort i would comply but we could not do it as skillfull as our parents were or our grandparents did.

Blessings,

Joey

Lazarus said...

Thanks for reading the stories bing, niceheart and bryan.
Thanks for dropping by my blog joey.
My dad is very good at telling and retelling stories. He said he got it from his grandpa. When I was on my teens, my younger cousins gather around me to listen to bible stories, myths and my father's tales.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad things worked out well for you. I know someone who's living a double life. He's both a priest and a father. Was a husband too. It was difficult but he couldn't give up one for the other. He had to have both. Caused tremendous pain to the people who loves him. But he's coping well. I'm just glad you didn't have to live that way.

Wil said...

nice story. thanks for sharing. That's an interesting strategy to get into the priesthood -- saying you're an orphan.

Lazarus said...

thank for the visit sexy nomad and wil. This is part 4 of my Father's tales.

Part 5 is still about an adventure in Kiamba - an encounter with a headless horseman.

Anonymous said...

its not a sin to be a minister of God and still have a family.
I read in th Bible how a minister should give a good exmple: he is taking care of his household, having one wife... so priests can marry.
I am more worried of illegitimate children no rights legally because the father is a priest and cannot marry the mother...