05/02/2026
"BAKIT DIYOS PA ANG KAAGAW KO."
(E ready ang tissue at puso, play the song "Heaven Knows by Rick Price para damang dama habang nagbabasa.)
"Bakit Diyos pa ang Kaagaw ko."
A VOCATION STORY OF SR. JOVY CENDANA FROM THE SSPS CONGREGATION. ๐ฅน๐ฉท
Sister: So there was silence.....then composing himself he said:
Him: Nandiyan na yan! I will give you 1 year to try the life of a "sister." JUST ONE YEAR!
Sister: However, he continued.
Him: However if you decide otherwise or you found that you are not for the sisterhood, or for the convent, then you know where to find me.
He continued....
Him: I will be right here waiting for you.
*/Students listening are starting to get emotional.
Him: Remember that Song of Richard Mars? โ "Right here waiting for you."
"Okay, fast forward again."โ Sister Jovy to students while smiling.
Sister: The day came that I need to enter the convent. My boyfriend on that day, carrying my bags, brought me to the convent to start my formation.
The Sister were there to welcome me and I introduced my boyfriend to them. Their facial expressions was beyond words to describe. When he, my boyfriend left...one of the sister asked me,
"magmamadre ka ba talaga Jovy?"
I just smiled, in my heart I was saying, Lord, please let me give myself a try. If I am not for here, then I will leave the convent, go back to my work.
Anyway my boyfriend is still there waiting for me to go back to him.
"To make the story short, ONE YEAR CAME, December 26th, to be exact."
True to his word, after a year, he came to the convent in Quezon City and asked me my final decision.
"Oh my God." โ crowds reaction, some are shouting.
I did not answer him right away. He looked at me. From head to foot, because I was already in white veil and in white habitโ A young beautiful novice, that was me.
I was the one who asked him,
"How do you look at me now?"
"How do you assess me with my looks?"
For some time, he stared at me, looking straight into my eyes and said in a slow and soft voice,
"Alam ko, you are happy where you are now. JUST STAY HERE." โ Him
"MAS MABUTI NA LANG NA DITO KA NA, KAYSA MAPUNTA KAPA SA IBA." โ He added.
*/Crowd shouting and screaming, some are already teary.
Sister Jovy Continue...
Then he said again, remember always our theme song "Somewhere out there"
*/Crowd are screaming and getting loud once again.
Allow me to read verse 2 of that song because he sang it for me.
"Somewhere out there, someone is saying a prayer. And even though I know how very far apart we are, it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star. And when the night winds start to sing a lonesome lullaby, it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same Big Sky, Somewhere out there."
"Ako yun Jo" โ Him
The name Joe, it is the name he usually calls me, and he's the only one who calls me, "Joe."
He stood up and as he started walking towards the door, he whispered,
"Indeed, We Have The Right Love At The Wrong Time."
*/Crowds getting louder again, and Sister Jovy is laughing, and continued.
So those who know that song, "We have the right love at the wrong time." He was singing that to me when He came to visit me.
I embraced him for the last time, trying to control my tears. But a sister was there around.
Still holding back my tears. Slowly, I accompanied him outside the door before he left. His last words to me, quote and unquote....
"Hindi na kita guguluhin Jo." - Him
๐ฅน๐ฅน๐ญ */Crowd screaming.
"Stay where you are. But if you decided to leave the convent, nandito lang ako naghihintay sayo."
*/Sister paused, crowds are screaming, some are already in tears...
And he added again,
"I will be right here waiting for you. You know where to find me."
Sister Jovy Continues. And he said for the last time,
"I love you very much."
*/๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
*/Sister trying to composed herself to continue...
Okay, I will continue di pa tapos, she said.
My eyes followed him until I could no longer see him. True to his words, he waited for me to have my final vows until he decided to settle down.
I invited him but he did not show up. Through our common friend, he just extended his congratulatory words.
Since then, we have not seen each other. Neither did I hear from him.
That was 38 years ago....
And here I am still in the convent serving the Lord.
I do still remember him and always pray for him...that with whatever life he has chosen, true enough he was a gentle and noble man who gave me up for a higher value.
He sacrificed his happiness in order to offer me to the Lord. In the religious missionary life. And I thank God for that, I thank God for him. ๐ฅน๐ฅน
โAnd you know what?? that was 38 years ago already and their memories is still clear and vivid to Sister Jovy's mind.
โINDEED THEY HAVE THE RIGHT LOVE AT THE WRONG TIME ๐ญ๐ญ
"Hangang-hanga talaga ako sa mga lalaking kayang gawin 'to. Mga tipo ng lalaking gugustuhin mong dumami sa mundo. Nabibilang na lang kasi ang mga lalaking may ganitong pagmamahal sa isang babae ngayon."
"Kung saan ka man ngayon, Tito, I hope you're somehow happy and have contentment and fulfillment in your heart, like Sister Jovy did in the life she chose."
