BELFAST, Ireland. – A Boholano again makes history in the Lord’s vineyard.
A Boholano reverend is the first Filipino to be ordained as priest in the entire of Ireland.
To be ordained today at the Saint Peter’s Cathedral at the St. Peter’s Square here is Rev. Manuelito Muga Milo, a native of Alburquerque, Bohol. He is the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Danilo Milo (nee Ma. Victoria Muga)
He will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Noel Treanor of the Diocese of Down and Connor at 3 o’clock this afternoon
Among those attending the ordination are Boholano priests led by Bishop Antonieto D. Cabajog of the Diocese of Surigao together with Fr. Eugene Tungol,. Fr. Arnold Zamora, Fr. Ruel Tungolh, Fr. Butch Palapar and Fr. Craig Jubac. Relatives and friends of Rev. Milo from the Phlippines are likewise gracing the ordination.
Rev. Milo completed his philosophy at St. Malachy’s College in Belfast, United Kingdom and his theology study at St. Patrick Seminary in Maynooth, Republic of Ireland. His college years were spent at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
PAYBACK TO GOD
Rev. Milo said his journey to the priesthood is his “payback to the Lord” as he almost died when he was two yeas old due to severe convulsion.
In fact, a renown doctor at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Manila insisted that he should undergo surgery otherwise he will be deprived of his speech for life.
However, his parents opted to forego the medical operation and instead lifted the health concern of “MM,” (as he is fondly called in his family) to the Lord. The sickness of MM brought the Milo family (with brothers Vichristian and Emmanuel) back to Bohol even as both his parents were already having stable jobs at the Veterans Memorial Medical Hospital in Manila.
Danny, the father, recalled that when they were back in Bohol, together with his wife, Marivic, they did not miss to bring “MM” to the feast of the Sto Nino every January of the year to offer his sickness for divine healing during the Sinulog in Cebu City. Likewise, they prayed for the intercession of San Vicente Ferrer in Maribojoc, Bohol for the healing of their son.
The prayerful life of the Milos greatly influenced “MM” who even in his elementary days at Holy Spirit School in Tagbilaran City and high school at the Holy Trinity in Loay, Bohol already vowed to become a priest.
True to his promise to the Lord, “MM” will finally be ordained today to the priesthood amid jubilation and thanksgiving from his family, relatives and friends.
He is the 19th priest of the Dumagan clan of Bohol, to include Bishop Antonieto D. Cabajog, the late Msrg. Margarito Gonzaga, Msrg. Dominador Dagondon and Msrg. Cirilo Darunday, Jr.