Bro. Christian Hernal
BAGUIO CITY- Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary (CaReS) community welcomes 25
neophytes for the Formation Year 2025-2026.
The higher years seminarians at CaReS extended a warm welcome to the twenty-four (24) new
brothers, greeting them with songs and dances. Each was introduced to their respective “angels,”
who will guide them in their initial months, fostering a strong sense of community and
belonging.
The 22 neophyte brothers arrived at San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Manila
community on July 17, Thursday, to visit the different formation houses of the Province before
setting off to their new home at CaReS, Baguio City.
Brother Marcos Catalla, an incoming second-year college seminarian, and Brother Adrian Hechanova, an incoming fourth-year college seminarian, accompanied them on their journey, with Fr. Paul ‘Yong’ Demillones, the former Provincial Vocation Director, which began with a visit to Antipolo, the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, and then to the Saint Ezekiel Moreno Novitiate-Recoletos (SEMoNoRe) on the morning of July 18.
In the SEMoNoRe community, the neophyte brothers met the nine novices with Fr. Bob T. Cabanag, OAR, the novice master. They had a chance to venerate the relics of various saints of the Augustinian Order at the community’s reliquary.
At the Provincial House in Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, the neophyte brothers had a fraternal exchange over lunch with Fr. Bernard Amparado, OAR, the prior-provincial of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno. Their journey continued with a visit to the Recoletos Formation Center (RFC) community, where Fr. Emilio Quilatan, OAR, provided a comprehensive tour of the complex, emphasizing the richness of the Recoletos’s heritage.
Fr. Quilatan showed them around the Bulwagang Rekoleto, a significant building that houses the Order’s rich heritage and history, and the vast collection of books at the community’s St. Augustine library, a valuable resource for the theology students’ studies. After a brief visit to the Our Lady of Consolation Parish, the neophyte brothers went back to SSC-R to rest.
On the following day, July 19, Saturday, the incoming first-year college brothers experienced a profound spiritual growth as they attended the daily mass with the Augustinian Recollect (AR) Sisters of the Sta. Rita College community. After a meaningful breakfast shared with the sisters, the neophytes departed for Baguio, carrying with them the spiritual nourishment from the mass, ready to embark on their journey of faith.
The brothers who arrived at CaReS were the following: Jechrest Cadugo from Banga, South Cotabato; Kublaikhan Cempron from Getafe, Bohol; Louie Cloma from Mabini, Bohol; Nathaniel Desuyo from Casian Island, Taytay, Palawan; Raymond Angelo Dumaguit from Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); Apple Fortaliza from Barobo, Surigao del Sur; Ryan Lagahit from Valencia, Negros Oriental; Angelo Loyola from Dulag, Leyte; Terrence Seth Lucero from Carmen, Bohol; Joemer Mahilum from Meycauayan City, Bulacan; Neil Jose Nazareno from Calatrava, Negros Occidental; Niño Philip Nomananap from Banga, South Cotabato; Jerald Paira from Valencia, Negros Oriental; Tom Andrew Paragas from Masinloc, Zambales; Cedrick Polines from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; Justin Jay Pugate from Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur; John Louise Repia from Sto. Domingo Bay, Laguna; Gian Thomas Riconalla from Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; Lance Gian Salazar from Laoang, Northern Samar; Adrian Carl Tilos, and John Anthony Ubag, both from Valencia, Negros Oriental.
Brothers Aaron Andaya from Tuba, Benguet; Rovie Mark Lopez from Luna, La Union; and Diody Sister, from Laoang, Northern Samar, arrived first at the seminary, and Bro. John Harold Del Mundo from Torrijos, Marinduque, reported to the seminary the next day.
This is the first in the history of CaReS that, this formation year, the seminary accommodates a diocesan intern from the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, Saipan, CNMI, in the person of Bro. Raymond Angelo Dumaguit.
With the 25 new formands and 43 old ones, CaReS’s total population this formation year is 68.
God, indeed, the Lord of the Harvest, continuously calls young, brave men to work in His vineyard.
