Vacation is over.  It’s time to bid goodbye to the realms of the outside world.  Goodbye to those who accommodated us in our two-month stay beyond the four corners of our real world.  Goodbye to our parents.  Goodbye to our foster parents.  Goodbye to our friends, girl and boy friends.  Goodbye to our bar hopping and outing.  Goodbye to those beautiful and favorite places we long to be.

This might be a sad reality; a natural and ordinary feeling that we usually experience.  Yet, what could we do?   Of course, just sigh, console ourselves and say “there’s still a next time.”  Hence, we need to learn from Plato’s wisdom: that this is not the real world; that this is just a fascinating “world of forms and negations.”  What we need is to be in our “best and real world of ideas” – a world full of truth and ideals – and to reflect and recollect so that we would be able “to remember the values and ideals that we knew which was lost and forgotten while we enjoyed the fascinating material world of our existence.”

I think this was the reason why, on May 25 – 28 and June 3 – 4, a series of refocusing sessions were given by Fr Rey to the 83 young and vigorous college seminarians.  At least Plato’s wisdom is still applicable.  By the way, it must and should really be applied to the max. You know how seminarians are, seemingly always plagued with amnesia.

Speaking of amnesia, Plato’s wisdom seemed once again got suspended for a while on June 2.  It was a very exciting and refreshing day.  Boarding the St. Camillus College Seminary (SCCS) bus, the seminarians were “like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  It was KUMPULAN time.  A total of 113 formators and formands swarmed the pools of Club Manila East, Taytay.  The day was indeed a time of enjoying moments of relaxation and fun and appreciating the beauty and bounty of God’s creation.

Some had fun kayaking, sliding and swimming.  Some just enjoyed roaming around and a doing a bit of “pacute.”  Some enjoyed watching the taping of My Girl, to the point that they even memorized the piece of Niña Jose, “Really… Talaga… etc…” or even imitated the actuations of their effeminate director.  It was really a very tiring yet, an enjoyable day for all of us.  Thanks to the Organizers!

Going back to Plato’s suspended wisdom, I think, through the help of Sr. Cathy Incarnacion, MM, this was redeemed during the seminarians’ retreat on June 5 to 7.  At least some ideals were revived as they tried to know better their own selves and their relationships with one another.  Thanks also to Fr. Boy for being a fatherly confessor.  Nice tandem, Sr. Cathy and Fr. Boy.  It is really a thumbs up to the highest level!

June 9 was truly a spirit-filled day for the seminarians; and it is but proper to start the School Year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.  Of course we could expect here a Spirit that can help the seminarians in their struggle to remember many ideals and values that they need to become future leaders of the Church or what Plato would call “Philosopher King.” Good luck to you guys.  Much is expected from you.  May the Holy Spirit be with you always.

Attention: this is to inform you that another two faculty members from Ateneo de Manila University will regularly teach at our college seminary.  They are Mr. Roy Tolentino and Mr. Michael Aurelio.  By the way, attached to this inbox is the complete list of professors at SCCS.  In fairness, they are all extraordinary.  Therefore, all seminarians are requested to give their best.  “Minsan lang yan, sagpangin niyo na" (That happens only once, grab it).

As a final word, just think about this: “In the light of the Gospels and in ways suited to our times, we help the sick to find an answer to the persistent questions regarding the meaning of pain, evil and death, and about the meaning of life both present and future”  (Camillian Constitution, article 47).

Dear bros, as our Founder would say… you are not far from the real world, just keep on striving to know and remember, because later on you would be of great help in answering people’s pressing needs, especially the sick and the suffering.

PS.  On behalf of Pilosopo Republic, I apologize if this inbox turned out so long.  Just allow me this time, while I am still filled with inspiration and intensity.  Next time it would really be short.  I promise.  Till next!