Few major things have happened in the past
month until last week and the key words as to what are those can be read from
the title.
It was my first time to be interviewed on
national TV via 700 Club Asia about my journey and struggles with SSA that was
aired on second week of Julyat GMA News TV. At first, I thought I got invited
to share my views on the Anti-SOGI Discrimination bill but when I got on the
set and read the script I was shocked! But then I realized perhaps it was the
time the Lord has set for it to happen so it felt like God has set me up for a
good purpose without a warning! Asking my friends and prayer to cover me with
prayers and the Holy Spirit to lead me, it went very well indeed.
The host Peter Kairuz and the former beauty
queen Miriam Quiambiao were the interviewers. Basically I was able to share how
I have come up with my decision to “deny” myself and try hard to live the life
God has called me for, which is to turn away from the “gay” life. And since it
is a Christian program, my views on homosexual issues were the big part of that
conversation. Positive feedbacks were received from all the community I am
connected with including the former ones. A few of them told me that I was like
a professor giving lectures to the two interviewers hahaha!
Most importantly, I got some supports and very good comments from my family and
relatives.Also, this debut on TV has revealed the real me to old friends and
former classmates during high school and college days thus I can say, “I am
truly out!”They were all proud of me actually praise God!
For the fourth time since 2012, I have visited the
Logos Hope ship docked at San Fernando, La Union and shared the story God has
written on my life for the second time to this whole community of young
Christian missionaries from all over the world. Not only I have done devotion
and workshops on homosexuality but I was also able to do a one on one focused
conversation than counseling with some of the ship’s crew. So glad to hear that
they were truly blessed with everything I have shared and encouraged to face
theirself-issues. This was the part I really enjoyed during this stay. Moreover,
I was able to make a new best friend out of my Scottish host from Edinburgh and
made friends with his friends and some of the Filipino visitors and volunteers.
Similarly, not only they were proud of me but impressed and blessed too with
the work God has been doing through my life.
Closely fourteen days after I left the ship, I
took the board for NCE or National Counselors Examination to become a licensed
practitioner or Registered Guidance Counselor or RGC. Despite of the several
challenges we have faced such as time constraint reviewing, application for
examination and uncertainties from Professionals Regulations Commission or PRC
as to whether our program and school will be approved to take the exam, almost
all of us who took from the our school passed the exam! On top of that, one of
us placed fifth overall! Personally this is a miracle and truly all by His
grace alone for this is how exactly what I have been praying from the beginning
of our intention to take the licensure examination. Now my masters’ degree did
not only give me a “Pastoral Counselor” ministry title but also earned me a
license as RGC. It was really unbelievable for we found the exam difficult like
it was impossible to pass especially if you were not able to study well almost
75% of the content. But this is another proof that if you yield everything,
trusts and let God…His will prevails! What an unforgettable experience! So to
all who prayed for and with us, from the bottom of my heart, my deepest thanks!
So what’s next? Well I need to focus now with
our newly formed counseling center and attend to several commitments on seminars,
workshops, and counseling that all were put on hold for this NCE. Another thing
that happened in the Logos Hope ship, somebody told me…. again…to write a book
on my story so I am still praying if it is really one of the direction God is
setting me up for. Hmmm not a bad idea so we’ll see, I might start thinking
about it seriously.
