God's Methods

            “GOD’S METHODS ARE PEOPLE.”   Several years ago this statement which I read in an article kept me wandering what it really means.  Lately I experienced a feeling that gave me an insight into what it means.  When our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Gerard Ariston P. Perez, congratulated me for the publication of a parish newsletter, saying: ‘MAKASTA’, I felt happy that  God used me as an instrument in assembling the articles to be published in the said newsletter.

            In addition, in the introduction of the SAMBUHAY, a missalette  published by St. Paul’s Media Pastoral Ministry, dated October 6, 2013, I read: “If we believe that God is the one in control and that our achievements are his, the more we become productive in our Christian life. For it is in weakness and humility that God’s greatness shines.”

            Reviewing my past life shows that, indeed, God’s methods are people.  On many occasions when I was in need of some help, financially or otherwise, there were people who responded to give me what I needed.  Just to mention a few:

1.When I was out of job, a priest, Rev. Fr. George Willmann, SJ, offered me a position as Office Manager in the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines.

           2. When I was not assured of receiving my monthly salary because of the declaration of Martial Law, another priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Manaligod, SVD, came unexpectedly to my residence at San Fernando, La Union, and offered me the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration at Divine Word College in Laoag.

            3. When the salary I was receiving from a Government Office was not sufficient to meet the financial needs of my family, a Paulinian Sister, Sr. Nathaniel Rocero,spc, a  friend during World War II, came to know of my whereabouts and recommended me to the  President of St. Paul College of Tuguegarao, Sr. Benjamin Ponce,spc, for the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration, with a salary that was sufficient to  give my family a decent living. 

            As for being used by God as His instrument in doing something, I recall the following:

1.     He gave me the opportunity to help in starting an Educational Institution in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, which is now called Divine Word College of Urdaneta.

2.     He used me to open a Graduate School of Business Administration in two Tertiary Schools, namely: Divine Word College of Laoag and St. Paul College of Tuguegarao.

3.     He made use of my technical know-how to organize a Multi-Purpose Cooperative at St. Paul College of Tuguegarao.

4.     He used me to convene the descendants of our grandparents, Esteban Birung & Juana Cammayo, and inspired us all to strengthen our bond of kinship by organizing ourselves and form the  Association of Birung’s Clan (ABC).

5.     He gave me the opportunity to serve for a period of eighteen years as the Archdiocesan Catechetical Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

I realize then that the blessings I received to lift me up from  critical situations came from people whom God used in His infinite Goodness.   Likewise, I acknowledge God’s wisdom in using me as His instrument in many undertakings.

            Indeed, GOD’S METHODS ARE PEOPLE.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Oct. 6, 2013