Apologetics Dialogue with Students of Centro Escolar University at Mendiola

Fr. Abe with the CEU students in an informal Apologetic Discussions last July 20, 2009 at Centro Escolar office of the Chaplain. [The full names of these students are: to my left, the one standing there is John Kenneth Concepcion. the one sitting with a blue ID Lace is Reymart "Bon bon" Cano. beside him is April Hazel Carrido. to my right po, is Jose Benedicto "Jobi" Simbulan. Next to him, the one wearing all white dentistry outfit is Jose Edmund "Jed" Roldan. the one who's holding the magnifying glass is Jon Aries Ortega. infront of Aries is Bengie Tarayao. Three of them are officers of Student Catholic Action. John kenneth Concepcion is Treasurer, Aries Ortega is Internal Vice-President and Bengie Tarayao is External Vice - President.]

Last Monday I got the opportunity to return to Centro Escolar University at Mendiola in order to honor the requests by dedicated students who are eager to study the Catholic Faith and to be provided answers to their lingering questions on the doctrines and history of the Church.

Fortunately, the morning before I accompanied our AITV5 technical director, Mr. Rosauro Amistoso in Quiapo, Manila to buy important materials needed for our TV productions. It was past 1:00pm when we finished roaming around for the needed materials and after taking our very late lunch meal I headed to CEU.

Just like the previous dialogue with CEU Students led by Jayson, Hazel and TJ this encounter between me and the CEU students was made possible by Bro. Jayson Leones, one of the active youth leaders of the said university. As usual Bro. Jayson met me at the entrance of the university and brought me to the CEU Chapel until we reached the Chaplain's office.

When I reached the meeting room I found out that there are more students this time. We could hardly find enough chairs for them.These group are much, much younger that TJ and Hazel. They look like fresh graduates in High School, yet during our Questions and Answers as well as in the sharing of ideas I've noticed that these kids are serious in their search for faith and as eager to learn as the more mature first batch.

The students are having examinations that day that is why some left after an hour because they have to attend to their nursing or med tech exams. There are others who remained with us from 3:00-7:00pm. And, another batch immediately came in to replace those who have left.

The lady beside me whom I requested to read the passages of the Scriptures is Isabel de Leon.

Some of the boys are active in the spiritual and liturgical life of the university. They served as choir leader, musician, lectors or knights of the altar. There are others whose relatives or friends became Born Again and therefore being challenged doctrinally and Biblically. There are also some, who like Hazel, are 'Revert' to the Catholic Faith - they are born Catholics but later lapsed into other Evangelical denominations and thanks be to God found their way home.

Their questions and concerns are wide-ranging. From the latest Harry Potter movie to Mariology, from the Sacrament of Baptism to the history of the Church in the 19th Century, from Masonry to Homosexuality, from Miracles to Exorcisms and many others. They listened attentively in a period of four hours of non stop discussion except for a 10 minute break. They didn't take snacks... our young people are thirsting for the Word of God.

Armed with the Sacred Scriptures, I have given these young souls the rare opportunity to side side by side a Catholic priest and feel free to express their minds as well as to inquire. I consider this valuable because when I was younger my former parish priest, Rev. Fr. Jovi Sebastian did to me the exact thing. Having a priest to answer one's questions is too memorable for me and too valuable for my faith until now. I hope to have given the same imprint of the Holy Spirit to these young souls as Fr. Jovi did to mine years and years ago while I was still a High School student.

I remember with joy the faces of these young people and pray that the Holy Spirit shall preserved what is good and novel in them until they reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

Fr. Abe, CRS with the beloved Chaplain of CEU Mendiola, Fr. John, MSSC. The full name of the university Chaplain is Rev. Fr. John A. Keenan, MSSC, an Irish Columban Missionary.

One of my first friends from CEU, Ms. April Hazel Carrido. She was teaching then but she still rushed to CEU to be part of our discussions. Ms. Hazel is a revert from Born Again.

The two fathers with my dear friend Bro. Jayson Leones. The guy who introduced and invited me to talk to the students of CEU.