My Chaplaincy Journey

PHILIPPINES

My journey into chaplaincy began with my love of good stories. As a child, I was fascinated with stories that stirred my imagination: my oldest brother’s creative sci-fi themed storytelling, the radio shows which were spoken in my native tongue (Bisaya), and the numerous trips to the movie theaters. I was captivated by human stories, biographical stories, ancestral stories, stories of survival and hope. My parents shared with me how my great great grandfather escaped persecution from the ruling Spanish government; how my grandfather prepared for the incoming Japanese occupation; and how my maternal grandmother searched for her lost son during World War 2.

I was born and raised on the island of Negros in a city called Dumaguete - a small university town in central Philippines. Both of my parents were teachers. My father, initially a United Church of Christ pastor, later became a professor at Silliman University, the oldest and only American-founded university in the Philippines. My mother was a committed elementary school teacher who found opportunities to teach wherever my father followed his call in ministry. Both of my parent’s professions in teaching would profoundly influence my career path.

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In spite of the economically tumultuous times of the 1980’s, my childhood felt largely safe and secure. My family lived in faculty housing on university grounds, a haven that shielded me from broader societal anxieties. My life was punctuated by the simple joys of innocent exploration, and fun memories of adventurous bike rides with friends in the beautiful green college campus abound. However, intense political drama served as a backdrop to my carefree childhood, permeating adult conversations and news reports. Even as a child, I couldn't help but notice the undercurrent of tension, and the palpable sense of concern for events unfolding beyond our sheltered academic enclave. I also have distinct memories of witnessing adults, individuals I knew and respected within our university community, actively participating in street protests in response to the political violence of the Marcos dictatorship. 

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​Complementing these observations of the external political landscape, my spiritual formation during this formative period played an equally crucial role in shaping my understanding of the world and my place within it. My upbringing within a church deeply influenced by liberation theology provided a unique lens through which to view social issues. The theologians within our congregation placed an emphasis on the social gospel, advocating for a faith that was not confined to personal piety but actively engaged with the realities of social injustice, a faith that necessitates a commitment to working towards a more equitable and humane world. 

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UNITED STATES

In 1991, shortly after my high school graduation, my life took a significant turn when my father accepted a position as an ACPE supervisor and educator at the Medical College of Virginia (now VCU Medical Center) in Richmond, Virginia. Unlike myself who tend to be more of a homebody, my dad Lucio was a very adventurous man. His decision to move across the globe had its challenges: the early years were financially challenging.  To supplement his part-time ACPE role and make ends meet, he launched and established a Filipino UCC church-start. He and I lived in small apartments in the not so safe areas of Richmond, and for a few months we lived with generous church friends. However, this immigrant experience also yielded advantages. I became a cultural hybrid, fluent in English and two Filipino languages. And I learned early on to embrace liminality while finding myself in between cultures, which made me become comfortable at being a cultural translator and bridge. This skill remains invaluable in my current work as a chaplain within the diverse and religiously varied landscape of American culture.

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COLLEGE & GRADUATE SCHOOL

Driven by my fascination with art, culture, and mythology, I pursued higher education at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I majored in Religious Studies and minored in Painting. Following my undergraduate studies, I enrolled at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, seeking to further synthesize my diverse interests. My choice to focus my M.A. thesis on the spirituality of Vincent Van Gogh, a mental health patient, proved to be an unexpected precursor to my present role as a chaplain in Behavioral Health.

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SYLVIA

Meeting Sylvia in seminary marked a profound turning point in my life. Sylvia and I have been married for twenty-three years and have three children (20, 16 and 14 years old). Over the years, we both have found ourselves in the unique position of being continuous co-learners within our respective professional vocations. While Sylvia’s dedication lies within the multifaceted realm of church ministry, my journey has often found me walking alongside her, particularly in areas where my skills and passions could offer support, most notably in the environment of youth ministry. A genius in her field, she is a brilliant practical theologian, preacher, and church leader; and much of the practical knowledge and theological understanding I possess has been cultivated through this enriching and collaborative partnership. Moreover, our growth in ministry also coincided with our vocation as partners and parents. Our personalities, learning styles, ethnicity and culture are different, but we both share the same deep values. Our cultural and personality conflicts in our marriage have been opportunities for mutual learning and a deeper appreciation for one another's perspectives.

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CPE

My journey into the field of chaplaincy began somewhat unexpectedly, yet it was also subtly guided by the influence of my father's professional life. Following my graduation from theological seminary, a pivotal moment arose when a friend, an alumnus of a hospital chaplaincy residency program in San Francisco, encouraged me to consider applying. Intrigued, I decided to take the leap and was subsequently accepted into their year-long residency program. Beyond this invitation, my interest in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) had been steadily growing, fueled by the frequent discussions my father had about his work as an ACPE supervisor. This combination of a timely suggestion from a friend and a long-standing curiosity sparked by my father's career path set me on the course that would eventually lead me to embrace the calling of chaplaincy. 

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STUDENT SERVICES

Fresh out of seminary, newly married, and in my late twenties, my year as a CPE student was a period of significant personal and professional development. Then I took an unexpected hiatus for nine years, during which I served as a campus chaplain. As a student services staff member at my graduate school (eventually becoming the Assistant Dean of Students), I continued to cultivate skills in active listening and mindful presence. My focus shifted from patients to academic students and seminarians navigating their degrees. Notably, a significant aspect of my work in academia involved providing pastoral care to students facing mental health challenges, a foreshadowing to my current role in Behavioral Health. Although my ministry took place outside of a healthcare environment, I remained committed to the CPE action-reflection learning model. For many years, I engaged in close collaboration with a therapist, focusing on enhancing my professional skills as well as my roles as a husband and a parent.

Following the economic challenges the Great Recession of 2008 brought to higher education, I concluded my academic career. In 2013, I was ready to move on to something different and left my job in higher education for good. The subsequent two years involved a period of exploration, and juggling three different roles. I became a stay-at-home dad for my children, then aged 3, 5 and 9 – a truly cherished chapter of my life as a parent. Concurrently, I enrolled in pre-nursing science courses at San Francisco State University, briefly considering a career in nursing before deciding to discontinue my studies after a few semesters. Additionally, I worked part-time at a senior care facility, providing support to individuals living with dementia.

ALBUQUERQUE

In 2015, my spouse and I decided to relocate to Albuquerque, New Mexico, eager to build a life closer to our extended family (my in-laws have resided here since 1986), and to escape the exorbitant cost of living in Berkeley and the wider Bay Area in favor of greater economic stability. Fortuitously, after our arrival in Albuquerque, a hospice position became available. This felt like a meaningful return to my healthcare roots after a thirteen-year break, bringing my professional healthcare journey to a full circle.

HOSPICE

As a Bereavement Coordinator in hospice, I rediscovered my passion for listening, supporting, and guiding individuals, particularly those in grief. This role also reignited my interest in facilitating support groups, a skill I previously utilized while supporting seminary students. Eager to excel in grief support, I actively sought out learning opportunities from various agencies in the Albuquerque area to understand and integrate best practices. Upon joining the regional office, I spearheaded the development and implementation of both virtual and in-person grief support group programs for grieving families, establishing a resource that had not existed before my arrival.

PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL

In June 2021, I secured my current hospital chaplain position. This move wasn't driven by a desire to leave grief support in hospice. I applied for an open chaplain role with the hope of passing my grief support position to a friend, who had moved from California to New Mexico and underwent a prolonged unsuccessful job search. Fortunately, things unfolded as I envisioned: Presbyterian Hospital hired me, and my friend found a job. Although hired, I was unexpectedly assigned to Presbyterian's smaller "Kaseman" campus, known mainly for its Behavioral Health inpatient unit and some outpatient services, rather than the main hospital campus with most of the inpatient units, where I had anticipated working.

My current role has surprisingly become my ideal job, a confluence of my diverse life skills and experiences. I had previously believed that my personal and academic passions—mythology, art, and music—were relegated to the realm of hobbies, separate from my professional life. However, in my present position, these interests and abilities seamlessly integrate. Within the Behavioral Health spiritual care support groups I lead, I've successfully created a robust curriculum that blends narrative wisdom with multi-sensory learning methods, incorporating music, art, and mindful movement.

My ability to lead spiritual care support groups aligns with my spiritual vocation. Recognizing that some patients may be wary of overtly religious individuals, I strive to embody an impartial and open-minded spiritual presence. Conversely, for patients who connect with explicit Christian expression, my deep roots in the Episcopalian and United Church of Christ traditions offer reassurance of my theological foundation and integrity. Individuals identifying as agnostic, atheist, or having no religious affiliation who join my support groups relax, lower their defenses and become receptive to receiving support once they understand my pluralistic perspective and exposure to diverse religions and spiritualities. I have cultivated the spiritual care support group as a neutral and supportive space where people from diverse backgrounds—religious and non-religious, theist and atheist, Christian and non-Christian—can connect. Within this nurturing environment, participants find common ground in their shared human experiences while respecting and valuing their distinct spiritual and religious beliefs.

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LUCIO (DAD) - THE CPE SUPERVISOR

The definitive confirmation of my calling to hospital chaplaincy, as opposed to roles such as university professor, pastor, or nurse, occurred in May 2021, at the conclusion of my father's battle with cancer. To provide context: In 2010, my parents returned to the Philippines, my childhood home, for their retirement. Ironically, my father’s retirement plan at the age of 72 was to establish a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at the university where I grew up. As the pandemic began in 2020, I regularly spoke with him virtually to learn about his CPE teaching and supervision at Silliman University Medical Center. As his energy was waning, he expressed relief that his supervision sessions had transitioned online, and he appreciated being spared by the daily commute to the hospital. When he was eventually hospitalized, we learned that his liver cancer was advanced. In his final days, I called him daily via Zoom, offering spiritual care to a man whose life was dedicated to chaplaincy. He reflected on his life journey, recounting how he, the youngest of twelve, had defied his parents' expectations by leaving farm life to pursue education, become a minister and academic, and to work in the United States for twenty years to pursue his passion. In his final hours, my brothers and I sang to him, including a favorite lullaby which he sang to us during our childhood. His passing illuminated what a profound gift it was to provide spiritual care to someone so devoted to chaplaincy. It felt as though my long path toward this vocation reached a critical moment at my father’s death bed. Supporting him in his final moments affirmed my readiness to embrace his legacy and dedicate my life to chaplaincy. My father was a compassionate and selfless man who never pressured me to follow his career path. Consistent with his role as a CPE supervisor, he guided me gently, allowing me to explore, struggle, and discover my own way. Ultimately, I found a vocation akin to his, yet uniquely my own. May it be so.

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