When was the day when you received first the call to become a Salesian or when God called

you to be a
Salesian?

My parents could not afford to send me and my older sister in a formal school together. So in 2006,
through the advice of my uncle, my parents sent me to Don Bosco Training Center in Mati and I took a
one-year manpower course as a stepping stone for my life. I became a resident in the boarding house
due to the distance of our home from the school. I took one year training in automotive technology.

My stay in that training center in Mati was so meaningful. I played football during games, listened to
good morning and good night talks, prayed the holy rosary, celebrated the holy mass on Fridays and
Sundays and have had the courage to go to confession. Then I met the Salesians — the priests and a very
simple Salesian brother who were working there. For me, it was a partial inspiration that made me
desire to become Salesian, but during that time, it was really just a desire. There was an old but very
enthusiastic Salesian who loved to teach us drafting. There was a time when he got sick but still gave a
morning talk. He was always present during our game times, outings, and even still did some gardening
despite his age. He loved to plant vegetables and fruit trees. His name is Brother Tena.

After experiencing the Bosconian lifestyle, I was convinced that I have loved to stay in Don Bosco. My life
became meaningful. In fact, I was planning to come back after my on-the-job training and the rest of the
one year course and to take another course just so that I will be in Don Bosco again. After six months of
training in theory on Automotive technology I was sent for apprenticeship in one of the shops in Davao
City. It was a 183-kilometer distance from Mati and 5-hour travel by bus. After the 6-month OJT, the
company assessed that I was eligible to start working with them for good. And so, I worked for the
company when I finished the Automotive course.

After seven months of real world work, I received an invitation via text message that all the Bosconian
alumni of the training center will have a gathering in Don Bosco – Maa. This setting is a residence for
poor and abandoned boys. When I arrived in the place, Brother Tena saw me and wanted to talk with
me. He personally invited me to become one of his pre-aspirant in DB-Mati. I was shocked. I asked him
for clarification about it and he said, “Yes, pre-aspirantate in mati”. At that time, I could not decide
immediately and told Brother Tena, “Brother, I would like to ask permission first from my parents if they
would allow me”. For me, I was not so sure but there is a strong desire that this may be God’s call and
the answer to that desire and inspiration was to stay in Don Bosco. After a week, I asked my mother
first, that I want to join the pre-aspirantate.

I stayed in Mati to be with the community, to pray together the lauds and vespers and other practices of
piety, attend class enrichment, and other things. We followed the same schedule as in the seminary.
After eight months of pre aspirantate, three of us were sent to Don Bosco Formation Center in Cebu for
the aspirantate. The journey was not so smooth, there was also a time that I wanted to go out especially
after college as many aspirants were also leaving the seminary. But leaving out the seminary was only in
my mind but heart is telling me to remain.