By Schol Mark Lopez SJ

 

Rev Fr Gil Chua Donayre SJ

Gil was born in Margosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur, where he was baptized and confirmed by Jesuit missionaries. He went to high school in Xavier University High School in Cagayan de Oro City and proceeded to the Ateneo de Manila University to obtain his undergraduate degree in Economics in 1999. Right after college, he joined the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP) and was assigned to Bendum, Bukidnon to work with Fr Peter Walpole, SJ and the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC). In 2001 he entered the Society and has since obtained two master’s degrees from the ADMU – in Mathematics (MOM 2006) and in Philosophy (MA-Ph 2007). His teaching experience over the past 5 years (in Ateneo de Naga as a regent and in Ateneo de Manila as part-time faculty) spans various disciplines from Trigonometry, to Calculus, Statistics, Philosophy and Theology. He has also been part of the team that engages parish ministry in the Ina ng Kapayapaan Parish in Montalban.
 

Rev Fr Arthur Williams Nebrao SJ

Errol, 34 is from Tetuan, Zamboanga City. After finishing his studies at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (High School class 1994 and BS Computer Science class of 1998) he became a faculty member of the same University for one year and then joined the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP.)  As a member of the JVP, he was missioned to the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service, ministering to inmates of the New Bilibid prisons in Muntinlupa City from 1999-2001. In 2002, he entered the Society and has since worked as a formator of the Ateneo Christian Life Community and the Office of Social Concern and Involvement and also as campus minister and faculty member of the Ateneo de Iloilo for his regency. Over the past 4 years, he has been serving in the urban poor apostolate through parish ministry in the Sta. Cruz and Hesus Nazareno Chapels under the Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish in Payatas.
 

Rev Fr Francisco Sabio Parilla SJ

Koko, 33, is from Cagayan de Oro City. He is an alumnus of the Xavier University High School and Xavier University College (class of 2001) where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Right after college, he entered the Society and has since been able to serve as teacher of the Miriam Adult Education (MAE) program, formator of the Office of Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) at the Ateneo De Manila University and with the Campus Ministry of the Philippine School for Business Administration (PSBA). For his regency, he worked as a formator and guidance counselor at the Ateneo de Davao University. Simultaneous to studying for his MA in Theology, he has also been serving in the Ina ng Kapayapaan Parish in Montalban, and is now coordinator for the Jesuit ministry work in the chapels of Kristong Hari, San Isidro, and Sub-Urban Gitna Chapels of that Parish. 
 

Rev Fr Joseph Raymund Patrick Sanchez Sanchez, SJ

Weyms, 48, is from Quezon City and is an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering (BS ME Class ’87), he joined the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP) and was missioned to teach in Mati, Davao Oriental. After JVP, he proceeded to work for Citibank and eventually obtained an MBA from the University of the Philippines. After banking, he shifted to a career in education.  By the time he discerned to enter the Society in 2001, he had already been Associate Principal at the Ateneo de Manila High School for several years, with extensive experience in Math education. Since entering the Society he has obtained an MA in Philosophy, and has served in the Ateneo de Manila Grade School, High School and College levels as well as in the Ateneo de Davao. For the last 3 years, he has also been serving the urban poor apostolate by assisting in parish work for the Fatima Chapel of the Our Lady of Divine Providence in Payatas. Currently, he is missioned to the Ateneo de Iloilo where he assists with administrative and organizational development initiatives, while finishing his MA In Theology and preparing for his ordination to the priesthood.
 

Rev Fr John Lester Obidencio Tajon SJ

Bong-Bong, 37 was born in Pinil, Ilocos Norte, and grew up in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. He attended high school at the Ilocos Norte National High School, Laoag City and proceeded to obtain his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E. class of 1997) from the Mariano Marcos State University, Batac, Ilocos Norte. After some years of practicing his profession as a licensed Electrical Engineer working with the EEI Corporation and RCBC Plaza Property Management, he entered the Society in 2002. He has since earned an MA in Philosophy, assisted in Parish work for the San Jose Manggagawa Parish in Marikina (before it was turned over to the  Diocese) and has done missionary work in Cambodia where he helped manage operations and care for patients in Peytyieychi, a small hospital that the Battambang Prefecture in Cambodia runs for indigent patients. For the past 3 years, Bongbong has also been serving in Payatas, doing parish work in the Fatima Chapel of the Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish.  He recalls that the first Jesuit he ever met (during a ferry ride from Manila to Cagayan de Oro in 1988) was Fr Benny de Guzman SJ who then, as a newly ordained priest, was on his way to his new mission assignment in Bukidnon.
 

Rev Fr Chester Alfaro Yacub SJ

Chester, 32, the youngest of the newly ordained deacons is from Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila. He is an alumnus of the Mapua Institute of Technology Pre-Engineering High School and obtained his college degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman (B.S. in Electronics and Communications Engineering.) After college, he served as Volunteer Youth Minister for Christ's Youth in Action for two years, before joining the Society in 2002.  For regency, he was missioned to Sacred Heart School, Ateneo de Cebu where he taught Christian Morality, Church History and Sacraments, and Geometry, while also serving as Faculty Moderator of the HS Student Council. He has also served as the assistant director of the Arvisu Candidacy House and Minister of the Dela Costa House, and as part of the team that helps in the Sta Cruz Chapel in Payatas. Chester says that the first Jesuit that inspired him was Fr Jordan Orbe SJ (then a Junior Scholastic) who at a gathering of UP-CYA in 2001, spoke on the Call of Mary, and raised the proverbial questions of ”What have I done for Christ ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I do for Christ?”