my third birthday speech in the seminary

My stay here in the seminary taught me a lot of things, and one of these things is peace. After experiencing pains, difficulties, and discouragement this past year, I realize that peace is not the absence of storms and waves in life, but an experience of comfort, hope, and calmness in the midst of these storms and waves, through the helped of all the people around me. And for that I would like to thank all of you. We have different personalities, and the differences have a tendency to cause us misunderstanding, but I think it is normal for them to be experienced. Not all of our ideas could be appreciated, and on this situation we tend us to make actions and decisions which sometimes affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. And I think this is what I have experienced these past days. But this is the time when I have to choose and to reflect for what is right and good. To think about my purpose in this world is one of the difficulties that up to this moment is something I do know. Why I am here and what I really want to be. When I was in grade three, my father passed away, due to forty-one shots of bullets that went into the different parts of his body; I was eight years old at that time, I did not have any reaction, what I knew was my father was dead. I never even cried then not because I did not love him, but because I did not know what to do. I grew up under the guidance of my grandmother whose house was just near our home, one of the persons from whom I learned many things, the one who helped me, to become what I am now. She died three months after I entered the seminary. These are two of the most important persons in my life who taught me many things and now they are gone. But one thing is for sure, God did not leave me empty, for he replaced everything I’ve lost. Hardships, difficulties, trials, discouragements allowed me not to think more about myself but to love others more, who have been a part of my life. The presence of supports, prayers, care, and love, express the true purpose and meaning of my life—to face all the pains and problems and welcome the graces and blessings. In due time most of the things that our formators, teachers, and fellow seminarians teach us will be forgotten but the lesson that we have learned we could apply then to life. And maybe that will be the moment when we can realize that they are very important to us. I hope that we could teach good lessons to others too. People need a good example to imitate and this start within ourselves. And remember that everything in this world has a great purpose. Minsan iniisip kong baguhin ang pagkatao ng iba, ngunit hindi ko pala kaya, ang kaya ko lang palang gawin at tanggapin ang kung sino sila at mahalin sila. That we are loved by the people around us not because of what we have but because of who we are is my prayer for all of us. Again thank you very much to all of you, good evening and may God bless us all. British essayist Joseph Addison stated, “The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” The human mind is hard-wired to look beyond the present moment and into the future: the domain of hope. If we hold on hope, we are able to move through life and all its challenges with a spirit of generosity and joy.