Chapter 21 – My Three Semesters Study at CPU College of Theology
After finishing my two years Associate in Arts studies (AA), I proceeded to the College of Theology at CPU. We were at Johnson Hall most of the time. We have our classes there, the whole day. Every day, we go the CPU Library.
I entered the theological college with quite a good back ground. When I was 3rd & 4th Year high, I often joined Rev. Ernesto Carvajal while he was visiting and calling on members every Saturday morning. I also attend Prayer Meetings every Wednesday afternoonm mostly at 5 p.m.. I joined the choir every Sunday morning.
When there were Evangelistic Meetings by the church nightly in different villages on the months of February, March and April, the dry seasons, I always attend the rallies. I was assigned during the 30 days evangelistic meetings, to prepare the 4 Kerosene lights.
I listened often to preaching worship on Sunday and during 3 months of evangelistic meetings from February, March and April in 1959 and 1960. And during the nights, when I am alone, I took the Outlines of Rev. Carvajal, mount the Church Pulpit of Dumangas Baptist Church and delivered the message
I can remember and quote from Rev. Carvajal’s message. I can follow his voice, his gesture and his words. But one thing I cannot do. I think, I don’t have the ability of Rev. Carvajal to make the audience laugh or cry.
And when, I was 2nd Year, at CPU College of Arts I was called to work as Youth Minister of the Iloilo Bapitst Youth Felowship, by Mr. Pat Dionio. This assignment gave me opportunity to visit youth organizations of Iloilo churches every Saturdays and Sundays. That provided me chance to visit youth organizations in Iloilo Baptist churches.
We attended Baptist Youth meetings on Saturday afternoons, join choir practice Saturday evenings. We participate Sunday School Youth on Sunday mornings. Often, I was asked by the Pastor to preach on the Worship Service.
On Sunday afternoons, we have some kind of sharing and planning among members of Baptist Youth Fellowship and how to mobilize the youth for active participation in the youth ministry. At 4:00 PM I went back to Iloilo City and my responsibilities as a working student.
The arrangement gave me some 45 week-ends to visit churches and youth groups in Iloilo that year.It gave me a chance to preach. It was a big opportunity for me. Few students was given the same opportunity, visiting churches and youth groups most of the whole year.
That was also the way how i developed my preaching and lecture skills.
My classmates in First Year at the College of Theology were: Margarita Juanico from Antique, Elizabeth Yap from Manila; Adino Delgado from Iloilo; Lore Bacera from Davao, Dionita Irao from Aklan, Procerfina Corvera from Iloilo City, Norma Monteclaro from Iloilo, another woman classmate, whose I cannot remember, and myself.
Elizabeth Yap was the daughter of the Dr. Jose Yap, General Secretary of the Christian Federation of Christian Churches, later the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). We were only eight (8) theology students that time. Me? I did not made good in my studies. I left theological school after three semesters and went to Manila.
All of my classmates made good in their ministry. After finishing their Theology studies, they were immediately called to different church assignments. Adino Delgado worked as pastor in several churches in Panay and Negros and made his marked in this churches.
Lore Bacera and Norma Monteclaro got married after graduation and worked in CPBC churches for several years. Then they went to the United States where they worked until today. They have some outreached ministry in the Philippines with some churches.
Dioneta Irao worked as Pastor of Kalibo Baptist Church in Aklan and married her husband, Mr. Villanueva, son of a President of Aklan Kasapulanan of Baptist churches,. She pursued a course in education and taught in high school at the same time, pastor Kalibo Baptist Church..
Elizabeth Yap worked in Manila for years and later went back to Iloilo City. Margarita Juanico worked with several churches, later joined the teaching staff of the Filamer Christian College. Miss Procerfina Corvera worked with the church, married Mr. Nathaniel Espantar, an agriculture graduate and started their business, both of them, working in Calvario Evangelical Church.
Our professors and instructors that time were, Mrs. Wanda Kelly, Dean, College of Theology, Rev. Loel Bacera and Mrs. Bacera. Miss Gladys Baban was our teacher in piano lessons. Mrs. Elora Jordan taught us music and the choir.
Miss Gladys Baban is a lovely piano teacher. She taught me rudiments of piano – what was called the fingering lessons. I loved piano. But piano, I think do not love me. Only one song I mastered during my 1 semester piano lesson – “Itik¬-Itik” which I often played, where ever I have chance before.
My fingers seem hard. My hands were used to hold the plows. And my fingers¸ both left and right, were just hard to touch the delicate piano keyboards. I did not enroll in piano, the following semester.
The women students were at Johnson Hall. The males were at the top floor of Franklin Hall. We have good lives and fellowship at the College of Theology
While at the College of Theology, I got hold a copy of some books, lectures and speeches of Dr. Robert (Bob) Ingersoll. He was considered the Dean of Atheists in the United States. I read some of his books. I liked his speeches and lectures.
He wrote simple and short phrases but full of meaning that challenged many beliefs and traditions of the time, including belief in God. Bob Ingersoll challenges my faith. He made me, somehow doubt the existence of God. I fought this doubts in the sanctums of my mind and thoughts.
I tried to challenge Dr. Ingersol in the crevices of my mind. And there were times that he seem to won me to his side. But my deep experience of worship and simple faith fought hard, against the wisdom, strength and powerful arguments that there is no God by the most powerful, brilliant and influential atheist in the United States of America. By that time, 50% of my faith was belief in God.And 50% was with Dr.Robert Ingersol, who said, there was no God.
I remember my schoolmates at the CPU in 1963 and first semester of 1964. I remember Noel Lapatha and Rosina Ilustre. I saw them always together walking from the library to Johnson Hall. After finishing the theological studies, they married, and both went and worked at Maao Evangelical Church, in Barrio Maao, Bago City.
Then they went to Canada, where they worked until today. Lately, they built a new church, mostly with Filipino members. We often communicate on Facebook and shares some thoughts this year 2017.
I often saw Esfe Tandog at Johnson Hall. He was also working there. I remember well Alfe Tupas at CPU. I saw him often. We have short conversation. Later, he worked with the Baptist Convention as Field Secretary for Stewardship. And we also have opportunity to work together, when later, I was appointed Director of 4th Program of the CPBC. the New Frontier Ministers, which later changed to Development Ministries.
After I enrolled at the College of Theology in 1963, life was much better. We were served food at Johnson Hall dormitory. I began to experienced, how Intern students lived. We were served food -- rice, viands, vegetables, sweets and water. It’s a new experience being an intern student and scholar in the College of Theology.
At home in Carles, we pound palay before we cook and able to eat. Often, I have to go to the swamp or river to catch fish an hour before lunch time, to cook and eat. In my younger days, it was easy to catch fishes and crabs in swamps and rivers.
Mrs. Wanda Kelly was a loving dean of the College of Theology. She’s motherly. We have very good teachers. But the one that challenged my mind most was Rev. Loel Bacera, who taught theological and Biblical subjects.
While I was 2nd Year in the College of Theology, my father, who was a veteran and member of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) sent me his papers, an Educational Benefit that will give me scholarship as a son of a Filipino veteran.
He waived to me the educational benefits. Now, with an amount for food and fares, I can enroll in any college in the Philippines through the Educational Benefits from the Philippine Veterans Administration (PVA). I was provided with Free Tuition, wherever I will study in the Philippines.
During that time, in the College of Theology, I worked as a week-end pastor of Guinacas Baptist Church, Pototan. My love gift was P10.00 every Sunday. That is P40 a month. That was good for me. It was enough for my transportation and snacks.
The bus and jeepney fares in Iloilo City that time was P0.05. Lunch at the Chinese carinderia at the front of CPU costs P0.05 for rice and P0.10 for viand with vegetables and a slice of meat. Life was not hard if you have just a little income. With Fourty Five Centavos, students could have lunch, breakfast and supper daily. During that time, daily wage was also P 2.00 a day.
Despite the privilege I enjoyed, free studies at the College of Theology, I begun to toy with the idea of leaving the College of Theology and go to Baguio City or Manila. There, I will go and study, any course I would like to take, except medicine for that was more expensive.
But law journalism or foreign service would be easier to take. I knew some vocations that can provide me with incomes, while studying in Baguio or Manila. One skill was photography.
My mind began to toy with the idea of leaving the College of Theology. The Educational Benefit, given me by my father was, one of the biggest temptations of my life. I will try some ways to make an adventure outside of Iloilo, after 3 semesters in the College of Theology,
I began to think the ministry was not my calling. Perhaps, Satan has put that idea in my mind. The Tempter has worked softly and effectively on me. The idea of going to Manila or Baguio City kept pressing on my mind.
Before the start of the 2nd Semester, I went home to Carles. I did not tell Mrs. Wanda Kelly of my plan. . I told my father and mother that I will go to Manila or Baguio City. I also told my younger brother Restituto Jr., sisters, Elvira, Zenaida and Mildred that I will go to Manila. They gave me their permission.
One week later, I went to Estancia. I boarded the ship at the Estancia pier for Manila. That was supposed to end my early dream to be a pastor of a church of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches..
No comments:
Post a Comment