Technology today is moving forward at an increasingly rapid pace. These
technological advances have enabled many people in the world to reap
the benefit of the internet and intranets or the world wide web. The
rise of internet potentially allows intruders access to a much larger
amount of sensitive information and data, giving many individuals even
the hoipoloi the ability to ultimately destroy would be victims.
Unfortunately, I was one of the victims. In the age of dramatic
technological advances, somehow, many innocent victims have suffered -
I have suffered a great deal. On April 20, 2008 the rector of
Seminary, my alma mater, called over the phone and asked me about a
certain blog circulating over the internet. Mixed feelings of shock,
ire and disbelief fell upon me when I heard the news. I was so
defenseless because around that time my computer was busted and i had
no idea that someone was already destroying my identity especially my
priestly life on the internet. It is the easiest and most convenient
way to destroy someone or to character assassinate. There was a willful
infliction of harm on me as a priest. I became a victim and I didn’t
know what to do. I prayed.
Weeks after that dark night, many priest friends and some bishops
called my attention. All of them fell into disbelief and were left
wondering. Who was the impersonator? What was the motive? Many
questions seeking for the right answers and many other questions left
unanswered. I myself had lots of why and how questions. One question
remains: How do you get the feathers back when the pillow has been
broken? The unjust damage has been done. A contumely act to ridicule
and make me look foolish to others.
Did I do something to counter? Yes, the best way I could with the help
of the authorities and people in power. We have already identified the
suspect, it’s just a matter of time. I prayed again - more.
Why the long silence on my part? For a lot of reasons really and i don’t
need to tell a tale. For most people silence is not helpful because it
will aggravate the wound and it will be more painful as it lasts.
Personally, silence can be an effective weapon. One reason of my
silence was i don’t give a lot of attention to things not worthy of.
More importantly, only a few people need to know the other reasons so
as not to reveal the best laid plan. But i need to defend my side now.
Many people have been hurt, were affected, and continue to be hurting.
First of which is my beloved church, my diocese including the diocese
of Balanga, my Bishop and Bishop Soc Villegas, the priests, my family
most especially, my relatives and many of my friends. Many of those who
have read the blog but do not know me personally were scandalized and
have made to believe that it is the real me as author. Some even made
bad comments on their own blog judging me as a pedophile priest. I
prayed for them.
God knows that it was not me who wrote those blogs. God is my witness
and I will be condemned to hell if I’m not telling the truth. The only
authentic site where you can find me is my friendster account where my
real name is not used as user’s name. Many of my friends there can
authenticate that. the impersonator also made friendster accounts using
my name and posting photos not taken by me. My photos on the internet
are watermarked and they can be authenticated by the human eye. In the
blog a solo of me was posted and many were reacting as to why i was
naked and had grown a long hair. Actually, that photo was a project
taken by a renown photographer from
subject was on the expression of the human eye. If you ask any
professional photographer or if you are into photography, the portrait
of a person is defined by the expression of the eyes. Most important
part of a portrait is the human eye and having other colors is a sort
of distraction.
The following facts will prove that the details written on those blogs are not true:
1. I was a guest priest of Balanga Diocese through the invitation of
Bishop Soc for more than a year, that is from July 20, 2005 to August
30, 2006. From then on I was already in
Tagaytay, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Clark and
shoot projects or sometimes out of the country.
2. I was a resident priest of The Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph,
to any of the parishes in the diocese after that.
3. I never was a resident priest of any of the parishes in the
Metropolitan Manila area or any of the nearby dioceses. I had no parish
assignment and did not intend to have one due to the hectic demands of
my course. Second reason of which is for my personal security. My
bishop, family and closest friends know why.
4. After my parish residency in Balanga I was specializing a course in
Film and Media Communications. At the same time I’m into advance level
photography. And still finishing until this time. I’m doing this
because i want to specialize on social communications ministry of the
church as advocated by the late Pope John Paul II in one of his "moto
proprio" or documents.
5. On those dates mentioned in the blog, the impersonator is a terrible
liar. From March 31 to April 3, 2008 I was in our hometown in Surigao
Sur to preside over the funeral of my late auntie Emma. My family and
many of my relatives where present during the wake and at the church
for the funeral mass.
6. As a priest, why should i destroy myself to the public or to the world
using the internet as a tool knowing very well that it is the least
secure of all types of communication in this world? I’m not at the
brink of my insanity.
7. I don’t think that if you ask any parishioner in my latest parish
assignment in Balanga would say that i was close to the youth or altar
boys. Yes I was offered to handle the youth ministry of the parish but
i denied. The simple reason that I wanted to dedicate more my time as
hospital chaplain of the different hospitals in the city. Most of my
time during the day I was in the hospital tending to the sick and the
dying, everyday i preside the mass, anointing them with Holy Oil,
counseling and praying for their healing. It was the most moving and
touching ministry as a priest. It was a very personal experience of God
face to face.
8. On the impersonator’s blog dated April 1, 2008 (again I was in our
hometown) it says that "I have taken a vow of poverty…" What a lack
of knowledge! Diocesan priest do not have a vow of poverty. The vow of
poverty is one of the three vows or evangelical counsels for the
religious. The religious men and women profess this vow of poverty; it
involves the voluntary renunciation of the right to own property or, at
least, the renunciation of the independent use and disposal of what one
owns, the living of the common life, whereby one gives to the community
what one earns and receives from the community what one needs (cf. CCC
2443-2447). I was trained by religious people. Diocesan priest do not
take a vow of poverty because we do not belong to a religious
institution. We live with the poor and we have a heart for the poor, we
don’t intend to get ourselves rich either.
9. On the above-mentioned date second paragraph it says that I was
molested and sodomized by two priests in the seminary. What kind of
imagination is that? I came from two respected seminaries with no such
background, Claret Seminary with strict standards for missionary life
and one of my formators was Fr. Blanco, a Spanish priest who was
kipnapped by the Abu Sayyaf and a very holy man; and San Jose Seminary
a highly respected seminary run by the Jesuits. We had old formators
there and my rector then is now the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits,
the highest position of their congregation in the Philippine province.
10. April 2, 2008 of the impersonator’s blog it says, "after i said mass
tonight…" A pure lie because I was in our house with my family in
Butuan, the only mass I had was on April 1, 2008 8:00am at the parish
of San Agustin during the funeral of my aunt.
11. On the comments side it says about my passion for photography. I’m
sorry to say that I don’t take pictures of women especially nude
photography. I’m only passionate with travel photography, animal
photography especially my dogs, my siamese cats, and exotic animals,
and nature photography. Now I’m into photologue, that is, photos that
invite a dialogue. My photo collection will be out soon.
I could go on and on and give you a litany of facts why those blogs are
not true. I thought there was no need to defend my side, but on second
thought, I am also inviting people to believe those blogs. I say it now
and I’m saying this with all honesty and transparency; NONE of those
blogs were written by me. If you, reader, is still unconvinced I will
be willing to show the results of investigation where and when those
blogs were written. I have the specific location and computers used.
Remember the internet world is the least secure of all. Even banks can
be hacked, even your most secure accounts, your emails, your secrets
can be revealed with just one click on the keyboard. There is a mob of
talented hackers and crackers out there, a mix of cyberpunks and
whackers, lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to break and
destroy innocent people. There is no safe place in this world. The only
safest place is the church because it is the place of refuge, the place
to be closer to God, the place of worship, the place to experience God
and be renewed by God, and most of all to feel the love of God. As a
priest I have been taught by experience that vengeance is not the easy
answer to those who have sinned against you. As a human being i do not
judge anyone, even those who have judged me already. To quote Jesus,
"Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone
at her."(John 8:7) I am not judging anyone even my impersonator. I do
not even hate the impersonator. I am praying for his/her poor soul. I
knew who you are from the start, i am praying for you and have forgiven
you for what you have done. If you have so much hate against me I am
very sorry for the whys. I do not know why you have to hate me like
that. Many people from Butuan and even in manila know that it was you
as the author. Your soul is at the brink of becoming an apostate please
settle your faith in God. You may have succeeded in destroying my
priesthood, but please be mindful that we have a God to fear, a God who
will judge us at the eschatology of our life. We have a God who shows
love and mercy and will always be ready to accept us. It is never too
late for anyone to repent.
I am inviting those who are reading this. Please pray for all the
priests most especially your priest(s) in your parish, not only for me.
The priests also commit sins just like anybody else but they are also
God’s chosen in order to make present God’s Kingdom on earth. On the
contrary, they are the most convenient victims of the devil so as to
destroy many more souls for the glory of God.
When i accepted the gift of ordination i knew there and then that the
priestly life is not a joy ride. i knew that there will be earthquakes
and storms to face, many trials and tribulations to conquer. But there
are so many things that happen in the presence of a priest that go
beyond who we are. I am a priest and not a single moment have I been
away from God. The Jesuit theologian Teilhard de Chardin once said that
a priest has the power from God to consecrate every person and every
thing he touches. in a way that expresses the core mystery of my
priesthood.
This recent turn of events challenged me more as a priest. I know I
have been ridiculed, deride upon, misunderstood, and judged by some
people. But beyond my experience of passion and crucifixion I am still
full of hope for the coming of my easter.
We are at the third millenium, the millenium of technological
advancements, and the more we advance more evil designs are taking the
advantage. We need more time to pray, it is the best tool we only have
and we need brave hearts for the mission in front of us. Thank you for
sparing your time reading this. To quote Simeon in the Bible, "Nunc
Dimittis." God bless you!
