I. Charism - La Salle.org

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VI. EIGHT TESTIMONIES FROM LASALLIANS
took up education. I persevered in my education and aspirancy, and
eventually joined the postulancy program.
I entered the postulancy in 1987, left the program the same year,
entered again in 1989, and then left for good. At that time, I was a
mess of adolescent hormones, idealism and disillusionment. I finished
my undergraduate degrees at De La Salle University in 1990
and went in search of the authentic Lasallian Mission.
I volunteered to teach at St. Joseph’s High School, a Lasallian school
for the children of the working class in Villamonte, Bacolod City.
There, I saw the Lasallian Mission fully alive. I stayed for four years
until 1994. After that, I thought I had enough of La Salle. I got
married and began looking for a “real” career to support my family.
I moved back to Manila to work for a non-government organization
for a year, then plunged into a 4-year career in banking with
the largest Philippine bank.
During this time, I was hearing about changes in the Lasallian
Family. In 1997, I heard that my former postulancy director
(Brother Armin Luistro FSC) was the new Visitor and they were
talking about holding a “Synod” in 1999 to usher in a “new
Pentecost” for the Lasallian Family in the Philippines. I was curious.
Brother Armin invited me to attend the Synod of 1999 to represent
the external sector, which I did. I participated actively, even
helped in the drafting of the final output. I found myself working
overnights, then weekends to turn the Synod ideals into reality.
One commitment led to another, until I was offered a full time job
with the Provincialate.
I thought I was finished with all this Lasallian stuff. But here were
new signs of change, of progress, of authenticity. I decided to say
yes to this God who never gave up hounding me, and yes to this
Lasallian calling. I quit my job with the bank in 1999 and became
Director of the Lasallian Family Office. In my first year, I helped set