MY name, Victor, is Latin in origin meaning conqueror.
I best appreciated my name when I read a favorite Bible verse, John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And since Jesus conquered death and promised us eternal life, the apostle Paul further pointed out in 1 Corinthians 15:57: Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (emphasis mine).

So, early Christians called themselves “Victorious” and to this day, in our Light of Jesus Family, when someone asks us, “How are you today?”

We happily exclaim, “Victorious!”

Humbly, I like to claim I am indeed victorious through our Lord Jesus.

I went to Catholic schools— elementary at La Salle Academy, high school at St. John the Apostle Academy, and college at the Ateneo de Manila University.

I’ve been blessed with my loving wife Ditas and our son Miko, now already in his 40s!

Early on, in my younger days, I was what’s called nominal Christian, a regular Sunday Mass goer. No vices. Clean living. Focused on career.

And somehow, along the way, became proud and arrogant. Had a lot of fears about health and death. Had a lot of questions about faith. Suffered depression even, that paved the way to my joining the Light of Jesus Family, through the invitation of my brother Pio, a pioneer LOJ member and member of the pioneer Council of Elders.

Ditas and I joined LOJ in 1990. By God’s grace, I’ve been able to serve in various LOJ Ministries— as Chapter head of the Alabang Chapter and sector head of the Makati Sector of the Homes for Christ, and as head of the Feast Ortigas District. I also helped Ditas in organizing the Pastoral Care Ministry. Ditas now serves as head of the LOJ Pastoral Care Center, a partner beneficiary of our Feast Family.

Today, I serve as Region head of LOJ International, going on pastoral visits abroad, such as at Feast Qatar (right) and Feast London (below)

Amid our busy, busy service, our simple, little family received the biggest blow in 1991 when Ditas was diagnosed with cancer.

It’s distressing, to say the least, but we look up to Him with steadfast faith as we know God heals.

And every day, we’ve received grace upon grace as we go through
this mission.

I’ve particularly become aware of the suffering of others, I have been able to help them deal with their trials, and in the process, I’ve been healed of my own wounds, especially my fears and depression.

Today, I focus on shepherding our Feast International flock as we struggle through the Coronavirus Crisis. I have advised
everyone to join our online live-streaming of our faith gathering, we call The Feast at Home.

We’ve been going online for almost half a year now, and we are thriving in this New Normal. Because our name is Victory.

#LOJat40