From Mayor To Priest
Posted On Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at at 12:03 AM by TAGABUNGTOD
After the local elections in 1988, Mayor Joel O. Bugas, at age 21, became the youngest municipal mayor in the entire country--a position he won by an unprecedented 3-vote margin over his opponent.
Fresh from finishing his A.B. Political Science degree from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Joel Bugas was thrown into the political fray after his father, Zosimo Bugas, who was a mayoralty candidate at the time, was shot and killed by NPA hitmen right on the stage where they were holding a political rally.
As a town executive, Joel displayed such levelheadedness you could have concluded that he was like a turtle thrown into the water. Not so surprising to most tagabungtod considering that he came from a political family, his father having served as vice-mayor and later as mayor during the 70's. Lauro C. Arabejo, the first municipal mayor and one of the longest serving mayors of Nabunturan, was also his granduncle.
Joel won two more elections which made him mayor for a total of 10 years. When his term as mayor expired in 1998, he could have trained his sights on higher elective political positions and easily win. More so because the new province of Compostela Valley has just been created. But Joel rather chose not to run.
A few months after the 1998 elections, Joel quietly left for the U.S. Years later, he was rumored to have entered the seminary. It turned out to be true. He would be the second Bugas to enter the priesthood, the first one being his first cousin, Rev. Fr. Ricardo Bugas, who is now a missionary in New Zealand.
At 10:00 A.M. on May 30, 2009, Saturday, REV. FR. JOEL O. BUGAS, tagabungtod, third child of the late Zosimo Bugas and Corazon de Ono, will be ordained priest at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico by its Archbishop, the Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan.
He will celebrate his First Solemn Mass Of Thanksgiving on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 8:30 A.M. at the San Antonio de Padua Parish-Penasco, State Highway 75, Penasco, New Mexico and then to be followed by another Mass at St. Anthony Parish-Dixon at 10:30 A.M., State Highway 75, Dixon, New Mexico.
Dear Tagabungtod,
Though I'm no longer living in Nabunturan when Mayor Bugas was in office I heard a lot of good things and improvements he did to the town. The townspeople felt a huge loss when he died.
Thereafter, they did not hesitate to put Joel into office as his successor. Very young at that time Joel did his best to manage the businesses and affairs of the municipality. While its true that he has all the chances and bright future in politics, I guess he still believe that he has lot or more fulfillment if he will stay closer to GOD.
To Father Joel Bugas: we are happy to know that you have chosen to hear and follow HIS footsteps. I'm sure you find fulfillment in the path you have chosen and that you are happy to answer such calling.
MABUHAY KA UG MABUHAY KITANG TANAN!!!
May 19, 2009 / Tuesday , 6:30 pm and cloudy with sunny breaks in Vancouver
Trino,
Nabunturan, ComVal Prov./ RP's Politics loss, God's gain .....
I wish and pray more Godly Men / Men of God enter into Philippine Politics (like the Gov. of Pampanga) and really realy transform our stinking Bureaucracy and Governance and distorted sense of Values into a higher plane of New Beginning and a New Hope and a New Positive and Meaningful Change for the Public Interest.....this time for REAL......
tgt, thanks for sharing this....
God Bless the Philippines.
hello.. i used to call you kuya joel before kaya tatawagin parin kitang kuya hehehe.. how are you now and your family ? mama aida misses you so much.!! hows kuya dennis, lando , danny now ? sana u still remember us.. WE MISS YOU!!!GOD BLESS
I had the chance to work with former Mayor Joel Bugas both as DTI Director for Davao Province, and as DAP Consultant under the CIDA Project after I left DTI;
and I found him to be among the most open-minded and hardworking,
local govt. executives in the District and Province during my stint, in both capacities.
He had so many dreams for Nabunturan and with his positive, "can do" attitude I did not doubt that he could bring Nabunturan to a higher level of development.
I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised( nay, shocked to be honest) to see the photo of a much slimmer Joel, and as a priest at that!
It is easy to remain in our comfort zones, and not heed an inner calling for a specific mission that must have been implanted by our Creator since He placed our soul on this planet; yet Joel who could have gone higher in the political rung in the Province prefered to listen to the silent voice within him...breaking the mold, getting out of the box, not following the road that politicians trod in their quest for fame, power and fortune.
I am sooo happy for him...he is serving our Father God and our dear Lord, Brother and Savior Jesus Christ by walking in the Path of the Shepherd!
It takes great courage to follow our passion especially when it does not conform to the expectations of our family, friends and our community.
I salute you Mayor/Father Joel. I pray that the Holy Spirit will always guide and protect you as you tend to your flocks.
In a way, you have a good experience on this...you tended your flocks in Nabunturan with sincerity and untiring effort.
With your new "Boss", I know you will do no less. You'll walk the extra mile again.
God Bless always.
Nang Marge
Thanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be down... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please answer to my post if you do!
I would appreciate if a staff member here at www.tagabungtod.com could post it.
Thanks,
William
Cool web site, I had not noticed www.tagabungtod.com before during my searches!
Carry on the excellent work!