Bituon Class

Bituon is a Kinaray-a term for “Star.” The class

was inspired by the Nativity narrative of Jesus,
when the three magi were guided by a star on
their path in search for the savior (Matthew
2:10-11). The Bituon class then, in their
vocation, wishes to bring others to Christ the
savior. To light their path, just as the star who
guides those who were lost.

Class History:

The “Bituon Class” was formally named on the

2nd day of June 2018 5 days after the 15
aspiring seminarians were gathered to the
grounds of the seminary. 11 of them were
regular grade 11 students:

John Gideon “Giddy” T. Abong from

the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Egana, Sibalom
Fritz Gerald “Pringoy” B. Alotencio
from the Parish of St. Luke the Evangelist,
Valderrama
 Gabriel “Gabby” D. Cabanig from the
Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer, San Remigio
Patricio “Patrick” C. Cabaya from the
Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer, San Remigio
John Prudence Francis O. Calantas
from Parish of St. Joseph the Worker, San
Jose
Louie Blaise “Wowie” R. Emejas from
the Parish of St. Augustine of Hippo,
Patnongon
Tristan Jay “TJ” N. Golena from the
Parish of Our Lady of Candles, Belison
Hanz Lester “Hanz” F. Naig from the
Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Egana,
Sibalom
Riogin Eliemer “Bijie” Pon-an from the
Parish of the Immaculate Concepcion,
Guisijan, Luau-an
Joe Deo Nicol “Manoy” P. Tarroja
from the Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine,
Tobias Fornier
Fritz Kenjie “Kenjie” Y. Villasis from
the Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Tobias
Fornier
 2 were transferees from St. Vincent Ferrer
Seminary that are regular students that will be
taking their 1st year in Philosophy:

Sernie John “Sernie” Rodriguez from

the Parish of St. Thomas of Villanueva,
Miag-ao, Iloilo
James Paul Emmanual “Paul” Valera
from the Parish of the Immaculate
Concepcion, Oton, Iloilo

2 were on their bridging program to their 1st

year in philosophy (this is because of the
prerequisite subjects of the seminary that are
being taken during the senior highschool
curriculum).

John Rolin “Bon-Bon” Aurelio from

the Parish of St. Augustine of Hippo,
Patnongon
Benito Varon Vicedo Jr. from the Parish
of the Holy Child, Bugasong

Benito went out just 3 days after they first

entered the seminary. Prudence on the other
hand, was unfortunately withdrawn from the
seminary in the later part of the year due to his
medical condition. This exit was of his own
choosing.

The grade 11 seminarians of the Bituon class

belonged to 2 sections in St. Anthony’s College
Senior High School Program, under the
Academic track, and of the HUMSS and GAS
strand: St. Isidore of Seville (HUMSS), the
mother section, and St. Alfonsus of Liguori
(ABM). Though they were not taking
Philosophy subjects at that time, they were
given the privilege to join the gathering of the
Western Visayas and Romblon Seminarians
Philosophical Gathering that was held in St.
Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo, for
which a momentous event for them.

These 13 brave men endured the surging of the

waves for the formation year 2018-2019. At that
time, the seminary community was composed
of only 36 seminarians with 4 classes: Bituon
Class (grade 11); Kirab Class (grade 12); Layag
Class (1st year college); Suga class (4th year
college).

In the formation year 2019-2020, Only 10

remained as Bituon class. Bon-Bon was
transferred to Kirab Class, and Sernie and Paul
were transferred to Layag class. The 10
graduated from the Senior High School
Program that year. In addition, In the later part
of the formation year, COVID struck the whole
world which prompted the world’s governments
to implement a quarantine period. And so, the
grade 12 Bituon Class Seminarians did not
actually have their graduation rites, a once in a
lifetime that is worthy of regret.

In the formation year 2020-2021, Only 5

seminarians of the Bituon Class remained
faithful to the calling of the Lord (excluding
Bon-Bon, Paul, and Sernie as they were already
in their new group). Fritz, Hanz, Riogin, Joe
Deo, and Kenjie finally bid farewell to the
priestly vocation. But still, the Lord sends more
laborers into His vineyard. The Bituon Class
welcomed another 4 seminarians as they
answered the call of the Lord:

Emil Andro “Bibo” M. Canja from the

Parish of the Holy Child, Bugasong
Kenneth “Toto” C. Pacaul from the Parish
of St. Anthony of Padua, Caluya
John Eric “John-John” A. Tanio from the
Parish of St. Augustine of Hippo Patnongon
Roy O. Plameras from the Parish of St.
Joseph the Worker, San Jose

The total of 9 seminarians in the Bituon Class

were in their 1st year Philosophy: 5 are regular,
4 are irregular. Roy left the Bituon class in the
second half of the formation as he was advanced
to his second year. As a result, he was
transferred to Kirab Class. Unfortunately, Giddy
went out of the seminary in the second
semester. The Bituon was composed of 7
seminarians at the end of the formation year.

In the formation year 2021-2022, the Bituon

Class welcomed its new member of the family,
Paul Angelo “Paul” R. Estellena hailed
from the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Semirara, Caluya. Patricio, Gabriel, Tristan, and
Louie, the original members of the Bituon class
were invested in a cassock on October 30, 2024
by the Most Reverend Marvyn A. Maceda DD.
In this formation year, the community has
completed the 6 classes: The Layag Class (4th
year), Kirab class (3rd year), Bituon class (2nd
year), Haron class (1st year) Ugsad class (grade
12), Lawod class (grade 11).

Emil, Kenneth, Eric and Paul were invested in

the following formation year (2022-2023)
together with the Haron class.

Formation Year 2023-2024 will be the final

year for the Bituon Class. They will soon bid
farewell to the beloved St. Peter’s Seminary as
they graduate from the discipleship stage of
formation.