From Seaman to Seminarian

I was able to be on-board last March 2011 to April 2012 on a cargo vessel for a one-year program of apprenticeship as a graduating student of Holy Cross of Davao College. I encountered a lot of people in different places around the Philippines. That ship was quite small compared to that of an International Cargo vessel. Although that vessel was somehow built around 1980’s, it was so capable of navigating the waters of Philippine area.

While on board, I felt so happy because a lot of knowledge that I gained during my college days which seems to be impossible to be known have now slowly been disclosed. Through those experiences I was able to navigate and the captain of our ship entrusted to me some tasks that I may perform the duty of an able bodied seaman.

I thought it was only in dreams that I might experience such beautiful places and oceans in the Philippine archipelago. It was so real with my first port of entry is in Jagna Bohol. I could not forget such wonderful experience. Our ship was stable, although I cannot deny that it was old but there were some modifications so that it would compete with the new ships.

As a seaman I cannot deny that it is not all the time that the sea is like a mirror where you can see yourself because of its stillness. There are times when you experience troubles even to the point of life and death challenge in the sea. I remember when we were approaching Iligan City, we were hit by the typhoon “Sendong” that we were about to capsize, our vessel was in trouble because of the strong wind and strong current.

I could not forget that experience, it seems to me that it was my last minute to see the beautiful creation of God in this life. We were in hurdle to maneuver our vessel because of that situation. I believe that God never abandoned me, he gave us well-trained and experienced captain, so that we may be able to survive and be alive.

That unforgettable near-death experience always comes back to my mind because that time I was the quartermaster, who maneuvered the steering wheel of the ship. I need to be attentive and focused for every command of our captain. Otherwise, if I execute wrongly, we will be in peril and we might have perished. It was a very challenging experience that I always cherish all the days of my life.

Accordingly, one of my uncles who was also my inspiration as a seaman, said during our casual conversations, “the life of a seaman is like that, your one foot is in the hospital and the other one is in the cemetery”. A single moment of your mistake will lead your life to harm or will lead others to destruction. It is indeed, I affirm the realization of my uncle, as experienced it on-board the ship.

Being a seaman, the life at sea is always at risk, there are a lot of experiences that I might think that would not happen in real situations. Perhaps, I would only perceive, that, it will happen in the movie of the televisions. I realize that, the calmness of the sea may reflect of its beauty but at same time the horrible waves and currents may also be mirrored, that the sea is out our control. That is why, we pray for our seafarer as they do there work and may their life be always in good hands and guidance of our Lord.

Now, I continue my journey in life not as a seaman but a seminarian. I am now following the Lord, as what Saint Peter did when he first met the Lord. The Lord’s invitation to Saint Peter “follow me” is also my real experience when I first heard his call. I am following the Lord to become “See Man” to become a shepherd to His flock, a shepherd which the Lord entrusted to care for the Church. Lastly, I continue to navigate with a change of heart, change of perspective, change of responsibility but serving the same Lord Jesus Christ, He whom I encounter at sea and now in my journey towards priesthood. (Sem. Soren Abellanosa)