One habal-habal ride!

Tomorrow is Fil-Mission Sunday (July 25), and remembering the mission works of the Church, I recall my first mission assignment as well. In 2005, I began my life as a missionary when I was sent to the SVD Agusan District, two months after I got ordained. I brought with me to that place our class motto, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation” (Mk. 16:15).

One striking feature that caught my attention when I arrived in Veruela, Agusan del Sur was their mode of transportation – the habal-habal, a truly Filipino ingenuity. The habal-habal is an improvised motorcycle that serves as an all-purpose vehicle for one to reach even the far-flung areas. It can carry various loads but the most fragile and valuable cargo a habal-habal could carry, however, is a load of people. Taking the habal-habal one day to the interior of the place for my pastoral work, I realized that skill, balance and endurance of the rough journey are crucial to ride it.

In the first few months of my pastoral work as assistant parish priest in the Immaculate Conception Parish, life seemed to be just bearable. However, there will be times when challenges will come to test one’s resolve to remain in the missions. This happened to me in 2006 when my father was rushed to the hospital for a yet to be determined illness. Later, I learned he has prostate disease and he needed to be operated on. For an old man entering his seventies, the procedure would consequently entail gentle and attentive care and a prolonged hospital stay. This scenario obviously required financial assistance, so the thought of leaving the congregation came to my mind. My plan was to take an indefinite leave of absence from the SVD until such time that my father recovered. I planned to leave Veruela and transfer to Manila to look for a job. Anyway, I told myself that since I am a licensed professional, I would be able to find a good paying job to support my father.

My intention to take a leave of absence became stronger as days went by. Thinking of my father, I could hardly concentrate with my work in the parish. At this time of crisis, I prayed hard in order to arrive at the most appropriate decision. Much of the burden in my mind came from the financial obligations, so I decided to knock on generous hearts. Thankfully, God’s providence is always at work. Although my father’s life lasted only a few years after his operation, I was able to help him without compromising my priestly vocation. He joined the creator in November 2011 at the age of 74.

After such an experience in my first mission assignment, I realized that my missionary journey can be likened to a habal-habal ride. The ride can be rough at times. The road will have obstacles, but God’s grace will always guide the journey.  

Fr. Alfonso A. Araceli, SVD