Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

I am Enee Abrenica from Singles District – South G.  I am the daughter of Rady and Perse Abrenica, who are both covenanted members from South District E. I am a fruit of a people’s yes to the Lord’s call to be a community of disciples on mission.  I am a fruit of my parents’ effort to evangelize, I am a fruit of my PL’s caring and effort to evangelize, I am a fruit of the community’s love and mission to evangelize.

In a phrase, I can describe my life in Community by saying that “This is all because of Obedience.”

I first began my journey in Ligaya in 2006 through the Purpose Driven Life Series sponsored by the South Sector, held every Monday from March 2006 in Festival Mall, Alabang.  I was literally forced to participate in that so called PDL Series by my Mom. She told me, “Anak, kelangan ka mag attend sa PDL kasi wala kaming candidate ni Daddy mo.  Hindi pwede na wala kaming candidate.”  I considered myself FORCED, BERATED, and even BRIBED just to attend Ligaya activities.

Eena Abrenica

But at that point, I had no choice.  My mom’s order for me to attend seems like a life and death situation for her in Ligaya.  I thought, wala ba silang friends at bakit ako kailangan pilitin?  Yet, I obeyed.  All because I had this funny thought that my parents would be kicked out of Community all because they did not have a candidate for PDL.

And so I attended – almost completing all sessions of the PDL, and taking seriously each presentation.  I found myself angry, but taking seriously each talk.  That was the first time too that I came to know the sisters from the Singles District.

But the PDL Series was timely to me for at that point I was experiencing Quarter Life Crisis.  It was a time when I was seeking my purpose in life, and what I am called to do as a daughter, as a sister, as a friend, and as a professional.  And through that PDL Series God spoke to me clearly, “You are created for God’s family.”

Of course, I did not thank my Mom for forcing me to attend the PDL after that Series ended.  Otherwise, she would again force me to attend the rest of the activities.  But I thank God for making me OBEY.

But after that PDL, I received SMS messages from a sister from South G inviting me to the Annual Singles Retreat of the district.  Unfortunately, I told my mom about it, so she again told me, “Mag reply ka ng YES.  Nakakahiya kapag di magreply.  Respect yan.”  Oh well, I had no choice but to reply.  And of course, I said YES.  And eventually that sister who invited me to the retreat became my first Pastoral Leader.

From then on, I just found myself attending the Community Weekend in 2007 and the district gatherings.  And every time I came home, Mommy would always meet me with a big smile.  She would just say “Anak, masaya talaga ako kapag nag-aattend ka ng Ligaya.  Ikahahaba ng buhay naming ni Daddy mo yan.”  And so, attending the formation courses and the rest of the Ligaya activities was all because these were LIGAYA NI MOMMY.  When asked why I was always out of the house on weekends, I would reply, “Hay naku, pupunta ako sa LIGAYA NI MOMMY.”  In my mind, how can I not attend community activities when my attendance would lengthen the life of my mom.  And if I do not go, this will be ANG LUNGKOT NI MOMMY.   I told God, sige na nga, Lord. 

Mom, Enee, and Dad

Although my presence in community was all because I had to obey my Mom, I found myself enjoying the teachings.  I took the courses seriously, and I really tried to apply them in my life.  Unknowingly, I found myself enjoying Community Life.  My mom would sometimes tease me, “Anak, Ligaya ni Enee na ba yan?” I would tell her, Ligaya ni Patty”.  Patty Domingo was my Pastoral Leader then.  My pastoral leader asked me to attend all the courses whenever offered, and she would tell me “Enee, wag kang mag-absent ha, para wala tayong make up session. And baka matagal pa i-offer ang course.  Kaya take mo na, Day.”  And so I finished all the formation courses in less than 2 years.

In 2008, my Pastoral Leader asked me to serve as the district’s Tithe Collector.  Again, it was a test of obedience.  I could not say no to my pastoral leader, who at that time was already preparing to move on from the Singles District to the married district.  I did not want to make her life difficult.  How could I say NO to her? I did not want to ruin her credit standing as pastoral leader, having a member who did not want to serve.  And so I said YES and I had to OBEY.  I just had to because of her.

But God has blessed my YES to the service.  I realized how significant the role of the Tithe Collector is to the life of the brothers and sisters and to the Community as a whole.  And again, I took the service seriously, and considered it “THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.”  Whenever my Mom found me issuing Provisional Receipts and literally praying over them, she would ask me, “Anak, ano yang ginagawa mo?”  I would tell her, “Mommy, I need to pray over these booklets of Provisional Receipts, para maubos agad. That would mean that all of the brothers and sisters were up to date with their tithes.  Tulungan mo akong mag pray over.”  So, both of us will pray over the booklets.

Though I felt that the responsibility was too big, I enjoyed being the district’s Tithe Collector.  I got the chance to communicate with brothers and sisters, and to be closer to them.  In effect, I found my place in their lives.  What I was doing was Ligaya ni Enee.

When I got my invitation to accept the Covenant this year, I thought, was this too soon?  Although they knew that I got the invitation, my mom and dad were unusually silent.  And my dad just said, “Day, all you have to do is accept.”

During the Covenanted Candidates Retreat and the 40 day period of discernment before the Feast of the Covenant, I had only this thought in mind.  “What would life be under the white VEIL?”  My life in community had just been a life of saying yes out of obedience, though my heart was not into it.  From Ligaya Ni Mommy, Ligaya Ni Patty, Ligaya ni Enee.  So, I asked God, whose JOY is it really?

After discernment, two senses were clear to me: First, my obedience is nothing without God.  God has drawn something good out of my YES, and He has never withdrawn anything from me.  He has even multiplied and made me fruitful.  Second, I am in Community not because I am worthy to be here, but this is where God wants me to be.  No matter whose Joy it is, ultimately what is important is what is pleasing to God.  This is Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon –  my family is happy; my district is happy; my sector is happy; the community is happy and truly, God is happy. 

Thank you.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The above sharing was given by Enee prior to making her public commitment during the Feast of the Covenant on September 20, 2009, at the A-Venue Hall. – Eddie Mendoza

Stories related to the 2009 Feast of the Covenant:

• Kuya Tony Exhorts Everyone To Engage In Battle
• My Boat, My Anchor, And My Seashore – sharing by Bobby Quitain
• Being a Silent Witness Is Not Enough – sharing by Charmz Bautista
• Ligaya Elects Sector Coordinators