People come and go, and this is a fact. The only permanent thing in this world is change, and the only permanent thing in life is death.
For the last thirty (30) years, the Diocese of Virac was under the pastoral leadership of the Most Rev. Manolo de los Santos D.D., now Bishop Emeritus of Virac. As a priest for almost 25 years now, I learned how to please (or displease) the bishop, I knew from his face if he is angry or joyful, and I knew if he is interested in my stories or not. He will always have that special space in my heart because I am so grateful to him for understanding and for forgiving me unconditionally for all my transgressions as a priest.
Now, we have a new Bishop, the Most Rev. Luisito “Bishop Louie” Audal Occiano, D.D. He is a year older than me and 2 years ahead of me in our seminary formation. I cannot claim that we were close friends during our seminary years, but I am very sure that he knows me very well. I am open regarding my personality, the “what you see is what you get” kind of thing is present in me 24 hours a day. So, I really do not know what the future has in store for me with our new bishop. How I wish I can reformat his knowledge of me because I believe that I had shown him through the years all the negative aspects of my priesthood and personality. I might be reduced to the ranks from a priest to a mere altar server or a lay minister with all those negativities that can be attributed to me. Well, that is the price I must pay and all I can say now is: “sukat pan-o… puro pagpastidyo ang gibo!”
Looking on the brighter side of it, he knows about my skills and talents too! I do not want to elaborate about those things because it will be better if it will be hidden from your eyes. I want to remain an enigma to everyone. He knows I am good at driving cars, so it will no longer be a question if I become his personal driver. He knows that I have some writing skills, but I do not want to end up as his secretary or speech writer because he is better than me! As of this time, my future lies in his decision because he is my immediate superior and I am bound to obey him at all costs.
What lies ahead is exciting for me. Bishop Louie is very friendly, and our age gap is not an issue for me to be open to him just as I did with Bishop Manolo. Before his election as a bishop, I can send him funny messages and some other things that is normal for friends. Now, he is my bishop and I do not know if I can still do the same as before because doing so can make or break me. However, I just want to assure our new bishop that I will remain as the person, the good one, whom he knew since the beginning. I will do my best to kill the other side of that person so he will not grow old too soon as my bishop. Welcome, once again, Bishop Louie… I am presenting myself to be under your fatherly care.