‘Do Not Abandon God’

It was his parish in Leyte which adopted the delegates from Davao to see Pope Francis in Tacloban January this year. As thanksgiving, they invited Msgr. Damayo to experience Davao’s delicacies and to enjoy the Kadayawan Festival. (Warren Rex Bautista)

“When I celebrated my 25 years in priesthood, I asked God that He will make me always a faithful priest; faithful to His calling, especially in the service to my people. That’s my only prayer,” says Monsignor Manuel Damayo of Palo, Leyte.

His vocation to priesthood started when he was called to serve as an altar boy (Knights of the Altar) for two years during his high school days. Upon entering college, he found it hard to finance his schooling, and so he looked for benefactors to fund his education in the seminary. Meantime, he took up Medicine at the University of Cebu for two years. When he supposedly entered the medicine proper, he found benefactors who will support his education in the seminary. “Our parish priest that time encouraged me to take the examinations in the seminary. I was able to enter the seminary with the help of our parish priest.” After finishing his 4-year course in the seminary, Msgr. Damayo went to Manila and took his Theology course at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) for 6 years. Afterwards, he went back to the seminary to teach. He became the Prefect of Discipline for 5 years at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo.

As time went on, he struggled especially about his relationship with his siblings. “I have struggles especially with my relationship with my brothers. And I prayed so much and so hard to cope-up with the struggles.” But those difficulties boosted his vocation. “Especially with crisis that I have faced like relationship with parishioners…However, I know that God is so good. If you will pray, God will grant and answer your prayer always.” Those problems gave Msgr. Manuel more strength believing that God will not abandon him. “Given another year to go on with my life as a priest, I believe God called me since the beginning, and that call which I answered will be supported by Him.”

He wishes the aspiring youth not to abandon prayer life. “Communicate with God even how busy you are in your life. What’s important is your prayer life; that you will always lean on with that prayer and make time to talk to God. Always follow God’s calling and always have that intimacy. He will always guide you. Please do not abandon this God who calls you to work on His vineyard,” he ended. (Janin Langoy)