A Porents' Story... BE NOT AFRATD
ry,@b6g'b.%ry Vhen Raymond was younger, about four
years old, he was diagnosed
of
pneumonia. After a month stay in the hospital, frail and health fast deterioraring, the family pleaded for Divine intenrention. Personally, I made a deal with the Lord
to keep a sickly child alive. Look what the good lord did with him. God
has
designed him for greater things despite his imperfections.
He was bom 32 summers ago on April 18 at Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu
City through caesarian operation. Upon leaming of the child's weak condition, I requested my sisten
in - law (Dr. Nelly Montero) to cancel immediately the earlier
authority for my wife's tubal legation. He is the second child in the family. His elder brother is Gerald (with twin brother George who died later) and
a
younger sister Ma. Rosario or
Bah. After
he
was baptized at Sto, Rosario Church, the family setded in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur,
HisChildhd
Dayr
Since both of us were working at the Provincial Capitol in Tandag town, the
kids were taken cared of by their grandmother, the late Feling Bayabas. We visited them only on weekends
Mudlo Montero in
bringing with us groceries.
Like any normal child, Raymond grew up "full of surprises". gathering, he would become the center,of attraction by pretending
In
any
to be an
effeminate. Somerimes he would go bold to show his butt to the delight of other
children. Of course, he got strict sanctions from his Lola who would eventuallv know his antics.
His Lola Feling who was a rown councilor enrolled him in the Daycare center Nursery which at
tlnt
time was financed by the municipal government.
One incident happened dudng the pmctice for ttre closing
e:<ercises.
His
teacher (Dorris cahatian) was almost mad because Raymond misbehaved during the practice at the stage.
vhen
he was told to stand erect, he would stand with bended
knees. The teacher then straightened his knees.
when he alked, he would cover his
mouth with his right hand and garbled the words. The teacher tried to pull his hands but his knees would bend. so the teacher again erected his knees, but his hand would cover the moudr. After several attempts to correct him, the teacher got er<asperated and said "never
It
mind, you practice at home".
was only after completion of his pre,school studies that the family resided
permanendy in Tandag.
our
new neighbors in Telaje found him to be a very restless child. If scolded,
he seldom cry er(cepr, when blamed with no fault of his own. when angered, he would oot rest until he can make even. He will dare to prove he is right. Many times he was repdmanded for starting a trouble. He would not stop making zurprises wen to household helpers, vhen told not to do, he wourd do the opposite. He loves to play in the rain or do the break dance, a popurar dance craze, unmindful of the consequences.
A few dap after a family picnic in
Bayabas, he had difficulty breathing. He
was admined to the nearby hospital in Arasasan and diagnosed that only one half
lung was functioning and the other was full of phlegm, Luckily, her auntie Nelly was employed at the ARTIMCO Hospital so the family had no problem staying
in
the hospital compound.
His attending physician, Dr. Mariano Aacador
diagnosed
him of
pneumonia. The particular bacteria cannot be identified unless a blood culture is
taken. That time there were no laboratories in Tandag and travel to the cities was nent to impossible due to the continued bad weather and flooded roads.
'With no progress seen and scars of needle injections all over his buttocks and arms, we feared for his life. Earlier, the family had a sad expetience when George died
in
December 1975 due to meningitis acquired at the velez Hospital
nursery. The whole family gathered wery night and prayed Raymond's immediate lecovery.
Ve implored "[ord,
your child. You can do what you want of him
as
hilySchalingin
to the lord
for
please take care of him. He is
long as he is alive".
Tandag
By the grace of God, Raymond was fully healed. He continued his srudies at the Telaje Elemenary school until he finished the elementary grades. It was during
his grade school days that he joined the Knighrs of the
Alar under Adonis euico
and the columbian squires under now Rev. Fr. sid Alimboyong of cebu city. Every morning, he would wake up very earh
in order to
serve mass ils sacristan at
the Tandag Cathedral.
He also enjoyed the life of a boy scout He attended a regional jamboree with his father at Bukidnon and visited
Mt Kianglad. rn another jamboree at Makilal4
North cotabato, he orperienced river cnrising and hiking at the foot of Mt Apo. In the later years, he climbed this tallest peak four times, one time with his brother. Their jumpoff site is in Makilela town where he has friends, including Chocoleit
Mounain climbing has been his passion. He scaled the heights of Mt. Banahaw, Maculot and Batulao in Batangas. He planned to dimb
Mt
canlaon,only that
it
suddenly erupted. Even as a bon he alwayn stood for his right. My friend Nilo (Obaob) recalled
that Raymond's forearm are "hard as steel'. He out boxed a bigger
bory
who was
bulying him around in the school. The boy's face got wounded. The mother
Ll_l
of
complained and we paid the hospital bill to settle the matter' Now, they are best friends.
Together with his friends, they went out
to the fuhpond
leased by my
brother in-law; bathed in the nearby river or go swimming at the sea. During
a
benefit dance for the barangay ftesta, he joined friends and showed his talent in dancing.
High School Li{e For {irst year high school, we sent him and Gerald to study at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, an exclusive school for boys in Iloilo City. They sayed with their
Auntie Patty's (Patria Montero Diaz, Lala's only sister) famrly at Pealsville sub division. On his second year, he was lured to seminary life, so we enrolled him at Santo Tomas de Villanueva Recollect Seminary run by Augustinian fathers
in
San
Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
Years later, Raymond recalled during
his ffrst
mass
at
Telaje
Chapel that it was in the chapel of Sagrado Corazon de Jesus high school in Iloilo
City run by the sisters that he heard Godts call. It took him one year to answer the
call by entering the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Seminary in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
In the seminary school he played
soccer football. He complained that food
was mosdy canned goods. Sometimes the seminarians would sneak out
of
the
seminary to eat outside until they were noticed by the priests. Luckily, he was not caught by the priests who conducted occasionally the raids. Because of his size, he could easily hid under the able and got rid of the punishment.
On his third year, he transferred to
San Jose Recoletos
High School at
Basal<,
Cebu City. He stayed at the residence of his Auntie Linda (Murillo Homedia) at Mabolo, Cebu
City. In
mid.school year, he was reprimanded by his lady English
teacher for not advising his classmates who protested her for giving an exam on subject not yet discussed in the class. B.tttg
"
former seminarian, he is supposed
a
iq
Ld
advise them. Sensing that the incident will affect his grades and future application
to the seminary he retumed to Tandag to finish 3d year at the J. P, Elpa High School. That teacher was never renewed the following year.
As a high school senior, he ran for senator in the supreme
student
government. He was the topnotcher in the election. It was at this time that he got interested in politics and dreamed of becoming a senator someday.
During a round able discussion, his Lola Feling asked everyone on ther ambitions in life. When it was his turn, Raymond casually answered to be a priest. l(nowing hirn to be very naughty, his Lola admonished him for making light of the priesdy profession. Priesthood is such a prestigious vocation. A1l the more, he was encouraged to take up this vocation. Everybody thought all along that he was just
making
a
joke.
In his graduation
yearboolg he reiterated his desire
to be a priest,
He
graduated without honors. His NCEE result came later with a rating of 9996.
His
*minatylife
Without our knowledge, he pursued his ambition by enrolling at the Rogationist Heart of Jesus Seminary in Cebu City in 1993. He was the ffrst from Tandag to enter this newly opened seminary. Many years later, he revealed in an uHistory article of a Vocation" that:
'gao datt e/t 2 t erad ale oanawg t t ad a /a, /W &l ozt ildtdel t gztf,ed. ?ltbt ./ aM Ut, t &a&d aqaol/ tal b. t afu td ngad/ A taaeiry ab araoizr, lArdqt e nuic ud a ardlnry ale d9 t M zd add b tlc rre, Oad Abt tw tty.dti There were 26 students in their precollege barch. Classes were held in the seminary. Their teachers came only during class hours. They were given assignrnent
in the seminary such
as cleaning the CRs, prg pen, pasturing anirnals, landscaping
the grounds, etc. Like all seminarians, they have a hectic schedule to follow sarti4g
with the early moming
prayers.
|-!]|
The school spiritual director then, Fr. Rene Panlasigue would joke to us during our periodic visits about the uyoung crocodiles' under his ward. Raymond felt that some of the formators seem not to undersand him erren as he
tried to make some adjustments. He admiaed that this period of seminary life
were his turbulent years.
"Ot&
d
@druArAle
fuau /qf7"ttc ut$ tQptalepo
"
"gd arc
rd
4
fu,t
dturtu.q
He was a sophomore student when he was attracted to run as chairman during the SK election in barangay Telaje in 1995. He was ready ro cell ig quits. Incidentally his younger sister prwailed over him and filed her candidacy instead, was God's way of keeping him 'World
It
in the seminary. Later on, his attendance in the
Youth Day'95 in Manila and the improved relationship with his zuperiors
somehow revitalized his period of discemment.
One incident happened in the seminary. During a game of the parents, how well do you know your son, we were asked about our son's lovelife, underwear etc. Upon reaching Lala, the Father Rector asked how many girlfriends Raymond has, My wife casually answered usix". later on, the seminarians were called one by one.
When it was Raymond's tum, he was asked "How many girlfriends do you He answered uS"later on, he admitted "6 diay father
".
have?
The group exploded in
laughter.
One summer vacrtion he stayed
in
Cantilan and had time with his
grandfather to visit the farm. They ended counting the harvest and castrating the
piglets. Years later he helped a relative with a ss'ollen hand operated by a doctor relative to remove an embedded bullet.
While vacationing at Mahayag Beach years lateq he drove a family jeep on his way home at
night While avoiding
a group of {ishermen coming from the sea,
he swewed the vehicle to the left of the narrow road. The jeep fell on the deep ravine and tumed turtle about
.5
rimes before it landed on the coconut tree about
30 feet below. A loud explosion alerted the whole neighborhood.
E
His only passenger, a seminarian flata Sullano) suffered a broken rib. He sustained only bruises but the jeep was a the second time in order to
toal vrreck God indeed
to.
for
it to the top of his class if
he
fulfill a mission.
Regarding his studies, he said he could make
wanted
saved his life
"Only that I don't want to create a gap betrveen me and my fellow
seminarians," he boasdilly said.
After five years in the seminary he graduated from ABPhilosophy. Only seven of them were advised
to proceed to postulancy in Silang, Cavite. Their
class
valedictorian was not even one of those recommended. After two years, he was tansferred to St Hannibal Rogate Center or Green Court in Paraiaque City.
tb twrtt gra.?t o/,nhra b Ab gidng lattd a/ fut "/ anu&b Z 14 te dat ttatf/zal4liaa r/ t& d4 ,/ anuifu Ah atutrc aa a pad ulae "/ dad ny otfu draw . tatt t anb?t. .,,/w .f ilarc tao@ Are ?at 4 ls.driag ab uulot { aA ttt?. ttratety&ttut aql&, taaorre udpuainngd/ataE auldtb ( daag. /tt ate t& rtou@'l In the
same article, he said:
"./(g arfuae A ab paAdaaql uaa oa o/
Along with four others, he had his ftrst vow in November 1997 at the Multi.
National Church
in
Paranaque City. Aside from his parents and relatives, the
occasion was attended also by his benefactor, a certain Mrs. De Leon, a banker from Batangas City who gifted him with a box of delicious omnges.
He rcnewed his vow at the Green Court Chapel. Due to the cost of travel, we seldom attend the yearly renewal of vows.
to act
as
proxies. He understood
Ve would
request relatives in Manila
us. His last renewal of vow was held at the newly
opened Rogationist School at Baracatan, Toril, Davao City. It was wimessed by niy
cousin Meding Piedad, nephew Dr. I-arry
M. Diaz and their
families who are
residents of that city and a busload of friends from Makilala, North Cotabato.
At the Rogate Center in Paranaque City, he was the Secretary of the Father Superior of the congregation. 'When the old Italian priest got hospialized at the Makati Med, he was the accompanying caregiver.
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In one of his articles in the school publication, he asked "What's the big fussl When the gorng gets tough, the tough gets going" quoted apparendy referring
to the problems encountered during the
outreach program
in
some Llzon
provinces.
There are times when he would ask us for an allowance for the purchase of toiletries, slippers, toothbmsh, soap etc. needed by children of indigent families. Is my life a mre witnessing of action and contemplation?, a question in uMy Personal Life Project" sometime it year 200L2003, he answered under concrete goals uto have at least 5 minutes visit to the Blessed Sacrament, to prepare well for
the apostolate, physically and spiritually and to prepare and participate actirrcly in the Eucharistic celebration and to avoid gotng to bed without having recited the rosary and visited the Blessed Sacrament".
He was already on the second year ofTheology when he approached Bishop Nereo P. Odchirnar of Tandag Diocese to join the diocesan clergy due to the lack of
priest in Tandag Diocese. Feeling the need for a diocesan priest to minister the needs of the neglected ones in our society, he was accepted to the organization.
He conftded to us that his idea of a pdest exacdy fits the lowly diocesan clergy. He is at home with the poor, the oppressed and the disadvantaged people in
the parishes.
This time we asked him about his girlfriends. He answered that there were none
left.
Yes, he a&ised each of them to severe their relationship because he has
made already a vow. What if they insistl He said
'I will
bless them one by
one".
As a diocesan seminarian, he continued his Theology at the San Carlos Seminary and stayed at Bahay Pari both located in Makati
City.
He was the only
seminarian in that house intended for visiting priests.
In one of his outreach programs he chanced to meet and befriended U.S, Consul and Mrs. Mossulini who were project supporters. He got very close to the family and was even invited to spend
a
vacation with them in Baguio City. Later on,
the US Consul was reassigned to cambodia. They again invited him to visit the country. He toured vietnam and Laos, cambodia for one week after completing his
theology studies. '$(/hen
he returned &om abroad, he was sent to the Archbishop parace in cebu city under cardinal Mdal for one year exposure. Here, he attended the spiritual Pastoral Formation in preparation for priesthood and enjoyed his say in cebu because his cousin Fr. Marcelino M. Diaz, Jr. now headed the Rogationist
seminary' He spent his weekends with them because 'they have plenty of food,, In the formation yearbook, he quoted "I came that they may have life and have it to the tull (|n. 10.10). He met another benefactor in Cebu City Mr. Juan Mercado, a writer and columnist of the Daily Inquirer. on December rg,2@6,he made a vow of chastity in my hometown of cantilan. on January z, zw., he was admitted as a deacon during a lituryical rite at Barobo, all in Surigao del sur. It was attended by my sister Lily (Ambray Tubaon) since LaIa was already in lloilo city undergoing chemo, therapy for breast cancer.
As a Deacon
He was ordained Diaconate on April 13, Z@7 at the San Nicolas de Tolentino cathedral in Tandag ami&t apprehension of his mother,s absence.
His mother had to rerum to Iloilo immediately to continue her therapy. He served as deacon in different parishes of the diocese of randag. It was during this period that he witnessed and denounced the deplorable effects of mining in the province of surigao del sur' He was later on sent to Benguet to observe mining operations. He helped a jobless family by puaing up a small piggery farm in lapaz, Bayabas.
He likes writing and has contributed articres to the philippine Inquirer under l-etters to the Editor section. He wrote uFarewell a poem Uncle John" which was read during the funeral mass. The deacons put up arso their newsletter 'rigpasayon" upon his initiative for the benefft of the Kaabags.
tel
After
a 'year
of sewice
as deacon,
Msgr. Odchimar sent him to Tagaytay City
for the ASSIST program. He finished the course in one month. Later on
he
enrolld at Ateneo de Manila University on Family Ministry and accepted invitations as seminar facilitator or resource speaker in some holy retreats and recollections.
AasrcringGrd's
GII
His sacerdoal ordination was set on June 9, 2009 at the San Nicolas de Tolentino in Tandag. He celebrated Thanksgiving Massos in his barangay Telaje in the aftemoon, in Bayabas on June 10, in San Miguel parish on June 11 in Tago parish onJunel2, in Tandag Cathedral on June 14at8:30
dM.
and in
Cantilan at 5:00 in the afternoon.
During his homily at the Telaje San Vicente Chapel, he told the that he is very familiar with the place. ln fact when he was younger, he would enter the road culvert near the chapel and exited at the other end to ttre swamp.
In
Bayabas, a program was held at the Town Gym before lunch.
A
close
family friend flosefa Denso) when asked to give an impression told of an incident in Raymond's youth when his Lola Feling would look for him at lunch time shouting
to the neighborhood. The old woman
gave up because he could
not be found.
Moments later, he surfaced from the rice granary. She described him as 'malditohi" and could not believe him now as a priesc
In Cantilan, during a sumptuous dinner after the afternoon privilege
to tell the
mass,
I
had a
relatives about Raymond's sickly condition and how he was
miraculously healed. Rev.
Fr.
Ambray belongs to a family who senred indefatigably the church
since the Spanish times in various capacities. More than half of his life, about 16 )rears, was spent
in the preparation of his priesdy vocation. Now he is assigned
Spiritual Director of the Saint Peter Seminary in Ampayon, Butuan City
as
the
He
nw
joins the company of rclatives like Rev. Fr. Raul Murillo Buhay
of
ttre Recollects, Rev. Fr. Marcelino Montero Diaa Jr. of the Rogationists and Rev. Fr.
Eric Encendencia laguesma of the Diocesan otder.
His motto during his ordination is "BE NOT AFRAID", apparently referring
'
to the words of Jesus Christ to His apostles. To him, Pdesthood is a vocation. It is a gift of God. It is honl he anss'ercd God's call wlren he was a kid.
His priesthood proves to one and
dl that God willed him to be one of His
ministers on earttu God's hand indeed guided him touru{s his priestly vocation.
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