7 minute read
Steered by fate
Hidden behind the image of being a lighthearted professor on campus is a portrait of a man who was supposed to have been the first priest of San Jose, Batangas —a would-have-been worthy honor and legacy to his family. Yet, destiny pulled him away from taking the vows and instead, drove him towards what he sees as a more content and purposeful living within the walls of teaching.
Known as “Sir Teody,” to his students and colleagues in campus, Mr. Tedoro Alday has been teaching in the institution for 27 years as a religious education teacher. His presence classically brings out a light and friendly spirit to any crowd. Fatherly-figure in nature, he is not just simply being a teacher but is one who is apt to establish an emotional connection with his students through his inspirational lectures and genuine communication and compassion. According to his
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former students, he would often treat them to a bowl of hot lomi after a community engagement activity, or talk to them with much sincerity about their own concerns and problems in life.
Hailing from a family of doctors and public servants (his father had been the town mayor before) it was expected of him to also live a life of service. At that time, it was fate taunting him to live a life within the clergy as there were still no priests in their town. Knowing how being the first one can bring merit to his family, his parents motivated and encouraged him to choose this path. And with only two years left before being ordained, it was a close call for him before he made the crucial decision that changed him from a compassionate seminarian to a beaming educator with a heart.
The devotional route
Sir Teody’s entry to the seminary was in fact, also a spur-of-the-moment decision. He was influenced by his friend to take the entrance examination for St. Francis Minor Seminary. “Sa totoo lang kaya naman ako pumasok ng seminary dahil yung best friend ko papasok. Nagpasama [siya] ngayon sa akin doon noong kukuha siya ng exam. Noong makita nung proctor na wala akong ginagawa, ang sabi sa akin kumuha na rin ako ng test.”
His mother upon knowing of his application, couldn’t hide her pride and excitement as he qualified to be a seminarian in high school. “Sa aming lugar sa San Jose, Batangas, nagkataon na talagang wala pang naggiging pari noong time na ‘yon,” Sir Teody said, wistfully recalling how he almost clinched a legacy his family could be solely claim.
The fervor sketched in his mother’s eyes stoked his disposition to consider pursuing priesthood after high school in St. Francis Major Seminary with a degree in philosophy.
First departure
Despite his family’s fervent support with his priesthood journey, Sir Teody exited the seminary twice as he was still doubtful with his legitimate calling —a mark showing his inner turmoil and doubts towards achieving the priesthood.
The cause of his first withdrawal was when his aforementioned friend decided to exit from the seminary first. As his friend parted ways with the priesthood life, Sir Teody realized that he really had a trifling purpose for entering in the first place. “Hanggang sa nakita ko para bang kaya lang ako pumasok dahil para lang maka-please [ng mga tao sa paligid ko],” he said. As he reflected on his thoughts, he realized that he was not happy anymore in this journey, driving him to a decision to leave the seminary.
He left after he finished his tertiary studies in the seminary with a philosophy degree. Hailing from a family of doctors, he then pursued a degree in medical technology as a pre-medicine program at the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas.
However, Alday learned that being a doctor was not his calling either as he left the program after only a year, to return to the folds of the seminary. He entered the St. Alfonso School of Theology, a seminary in Lucena City to pick up four years left in his priesthood formation.
Second departure
However, skepticism about his priesthood path still chased him for two years in St. Alfonso which soon led him to arrive at his final decision. As he packed his bags to leave for good, he felt relief realizing leaving the seminary was leaving his own box of confusion.
His reasons were still the same. Still, being unhappy and unfulfilled prompted his second exit. Yet, the difference this time, was that he was already sure of his decision. This departure gave him a clear vision of what he really wanted. Sir Teody trailed two concepts which shaped his verdict to leave and he deemed these to be his philosophy in life.
“Kailangan ng dalawang elements, una, masaya ka and second, you can serve God,” Alday said. Though the seminary would fulfill the second requirement, he had lost the element of being happy and fulfilled. His intentions he realized, was never a strong reason to start with as it was bottling himself in a situation with a chief intent to please everyone, especially his parents. As he was drawn closer towards becoming a priest, pressure in comprehending his atual purpose started to distance him from what he initially believed to be his calling. It made him realize that he was not happy.
His father was the first person to know about his withdrawal in the seminary. Though it was their vision to serve simultaneously as a priest and a mayor, his father supported his decision to move to a direction which would make him happier.
Handling the changes after his retraction from the seminary is not as easy as it sounds. “Para kasing nakalaya na ‘ko... Although minsan hindi nawawala sa akin yung pag ka-batch mo naging pari na, siyempre di nawawalan [sa] isip [ko] na sana ako’y pari na din,” he said. Out of 33, only two of his batchmates were fated to be priests.
When asked about his what-ifs, Sir Teody admitted that sometimes he still feels open to considering returning to especially since he is still single. There are days when he still wonders how it feels to administer sacraments to lay people. “Minsan malaking bagay pa din sa akin yung ikaw ang nag mimisa at nagbibinyag.” he stated.
“Although ngayon parang masarap ang teaching eh,” he smiled. He was directed to the profession as he was able to hit on the idea of being happy whilst serving God through preaching the Gospel and Christian values as a professor of religious education.
“Sa akin, pag kulang ang isang element [sa ginagawa mo], hindi ito talaga ang iyong vocation, mayroong ibang paraan kaya tinatawag ka ni God,” he added.
His first students as a professor were from San Beda College-Alabang, where he taught for two years. He then moved to De La Salle Lipa where he has been serving until now. Alday is presently in his 29th year of teaching. Arriving at his final decision seemed to be a long-drawn-out process that he undertook and Sir Teody views the power of prayers and discernment as a significant tool in focusing and elucidating the mind while figuring out what he really wanted to do in life. DYNAMIC 71
With his life-changing decisions, he strongly believes in God’s time, citing himself as proof that things take time and that things happen for certain reasons and that he should not close doors to possibilities. He goes by the idea of trusting the flow of life’s circumstances and getting through it by profound discernment and faith. Sir Teody is the living testament that we can survive the challenges of life, provided that we make better choices and wise decisions for ourselves.
As the drivers of our own destiny, we are fuelled by our hopes and devotion. This fuel gives us the power to turn our course towards a path where we can encounter growth in the end. Pausing and being indecisive for a while is part of the journey. It is important to silently take your time and focus on your decisions for in this way, we could eventually find what’s meant for us. In the end, what matters is that you pursue a path that makes you happy the most.
