The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Redempto Maniwang, SVD – Divine Word Formation Center, Davao City
Wednesday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
I am Fr. Redempto Maniwang, SVD. I was ordained to the priesthood together with seven of my classmates at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City on December 1, 1968. Last year was our 40th year in the priesthood. With all of my 67 years, I was able to fulfill a personal vow to celebrate a jubilee thanksgiving Mass on top of Mt. Apo with a group of friends.
While on top of the highest peak of the Philippines ( 10,310 ft. ); I looked down at the awe-inspiring scenery below. And as if at that same time, I received the panorama of my priestly and missionary life during the past 40 years.
Looking back to my different assignments and tasks during those 40 years, I realized that I would not have done these things without God’s empowerment and grace.
My first assignment was to teach and be a formator in the minor seminary in Cabanatuan City. Then after a year I was sent to serve in Binmaley, Pangasinan for three years as assistant parish priest. I had to learn a new and difficult dialect then. From there I was sent to Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, upon the request of Msgr. Miguel Cinches, SVD. At one time Bro. Efren Ilogon, SVD and I had to cover nine towns, mostly traveling to the barrios and towns by motor boat. Most of the roads were impassable. There was no electricity at the time. Then I became the first District Superior of our SVD Missions in Mindanao (i.e. our Agusan and Surigao Missions.
After three years, I was transferred to Dinagat Island (with seven towns) to deal with the PBMA and many sects invading the island. At that time there were very few roads (mostly impassable by land vehicles especially in the rainy seasons). We had to move around mostly through rough seas. I was in Dinagat Island for five years. After my stint in Dinagat Island, I was elected as the first Provincial Superior of then newly formed SVD Southern Province, comprising the Visayas and Mindanao. After two terms, I was appointed Rector of our Divine Word Formation Center in Cebu City also for two terms.
After my second term as Rector of DWFC Cebu, I volunteered to be in a mission in Communist Cuba. For four months I was in Mexico City to learn Spanish in preparation for my work in Cuba .
I arrived in Cuba on January 30, 1995. The communist regime of Fidel Castro that time controlled almost totally the lives of the people and of the Church. The country for me was a kind of a desert and purgative experience. Having experienced pastoral freedom, success, acceptance, and cooperation on the part of the people I worked with in the Philippines, it was a new experience for me to be always very wary and careful of what to do and what to say in homilies in my conversations with the people because of the very efficient network of spies in Cuba.
The situation of the Church in Cuba improved after the visit of John Paul II in 1998. The church gained a bit of freedom and respect. During this Papal visit, Christmas was declared a Holiday and Christmas decorations, including the Belen, were now allowed. Restrictions and prohibitions on church activities were gradually revoked, although not yet completely.
Coming back to the Philippines from Cuba in 2006, I was assigned to our Divine Word Formation Center as formator of our College Seminarians. Recently, I was appointed Rector of the same seminary.
I am sure that my surviving classmates (one classmate, Bishop Vicente Manuel, SVD, DD of San Jose Occidental Mindanao has already moved on to another level of life) have their own personal experiences and stories of how God called them and empowered them to proclaim, to witness, and to build up God’s Kingdom in our SVD schools, parishes, seminaries, and missions.
In 2018, our class will celebrate our Golden Jubilee, (50 years) in the priesthood. With God’s empowerment and help, together with my strict observance of a healthy life-style, I aim to climb Mt. Apo again to celebrate a mass of thanksgiving for the good Lord for His constant empowerment and blessings for me and my classmates. By then I’ll be 77 years old. With God, everything is possible!
All praise and honor and glory to our ever loving, faithful and empowering Lord!
