FOUR DAYS after arriving in Melbourne, Eric Timajo drove to the Philippine Community Centre with his wife, Mariel. The place is famous for being the venue of shows mounted by Filipino celebrities visiting Australia.The couple, though, did not drive 15 kilometers all the way from the Deer Park suburb, where they were staying, to see popular Filipino concert artists. They went there to listen to people talking about faith and repentance. The two eagerly listened to life’s lessons being shared by other married couples who, just like them, felt the need to put God in the center of their relationship. To them, what they came for was more than a variety show; it was a revelation of a life they would soon be living. “Joining the Couples for Christ in Australia was an invitation we just can’t refuse,” said Eric, who, before tying the knot with his wife eight years ago, was being ordained as a priest. “Even before we left the country, Mariel and I have already agreed to find ways to serve the Lord even if we’re not in our homeland anymore.” At present, Eric leads a life of devotion to God while keeping his day job in the land Down Under. This makes living in a foreign land easier, he said. He was not fully receptive in the beginning to the thought of moving to Australia. He could not imagine himself leaving the rest of his family in Taytay, Rizal, especially since, back then, he was still fulfilling his duties as elder brother to five other siblings despite being married. But, as if waiting for a miracle to happen, Eric soon accepted the possibility because, he said, his prayers for directions yielded positive signs. A kind of refreshment “Almost every month after we lodged our application in 2004, we received developments from the embassy,” he said “Throughout those months, all I was praying for was this: Lord, you know what is best for me and my family. I am leaving everything up to you. If it’s really for us, so be it and thank you.” In June 2005, Eric, together with Mariel and son Matthew, found himself in Australia. “We just grabbed the opportunity believing that we could have a better future for our son here,” he said. “After two years, we got our citizenship. We’re Aussie now, but still Pinoy by heart!” This same loyalty to his roots moves Eric, who spent four years in the San Carlos Seminary in Makati, to find time to always join CFC occasions and other church-related activities even if he is now busy working in Crown Melbourne Limited, a well-known licensed casino in Melbourne. He said arranging CFC events is a bit challenging because almost all the jobs in Australia run on rotating shifts. But then he tries his best to strike a balance between his tight schedule and spiritual pursuits. No family support “You don’t usually get a weekend off here,” he said. “And much worse, you’d work nightshift or graveyard shift or whatever is given to you. But because life here in Australia is very stressful, you have to find some activities apart from your work to refresh your body and your spirituality.” Eric is fond of painting, playing outdoor sports, and reading inspirational books such as Og Mandino’s, also acts as instructor of the town’s youth choir and plays the guitar and the piano during Sunday Mass. He said that this service he shares with the community does not only keep him and his family grounded in their Catholic upbringing but also reminds him to make a difference because a lot of people in Australia have no religion. “Even if they are into religion, they would rather be in the sports arena watching their favorite teams instead of going to Mass,” he said. Eric said that some Catholic churches there would only have 10 to 20 people, members of the choir included, during Sundays and other days of obligation. This personal mission he has long carried sprung from one of his biggest regrets in life. “When I went out of the seminary, it took me two years before I was able to hear Mass again,” he said. “It always breaks my heart every time I’d see a priest celebrating Mass. I’d tell myself, ‘I should be the one standing there giving the homily.’” Stepping out of the halls of San Carlos was a difficult decision to make for Eric. Sadly, it was misconstrued by many, including Eric’s mother and other relatives. Living by a promise “Getting out of the seminary was very hard. Giving up your dream is another thing. What made it more difficult for me was the social pressure. I could feel that my family, especially my mom, couldn’t accept the fact that I went out of the seminary. I didn’t get any support from the people whom I was counting on,” he said. “I remember when I’d come home for the holidays as a seminarian, my family would proudly introduce me to their friends saying, ‘This is my son or brother who is in the seminary.’ But when I left the seminary, they would then tell me when a visitor came was, ‘Could you please just stay in your room?’ I don’t know if they still remember this but this is one thing I’ll never forget.” Things changed after several years. Eric now enjoys a good rapport with his family and relatives in the Philippines. “I promised God that, no matter what, I will continue serving him in anyway I can.” He said that during those trying times, he always kept in mind one of his greatest realizations in life.
When he was younger, he was diagnosed with a heart problem and a brain cyst. God designed him for greater things despite his imperfections, he said. Undying faith At 34, Eric maintains his life of undying faith, which essentially reflects his being a good family man. He and Mariel are now focusing on being supportive parents to Matthew, who is in 3rd grade and showing a remarkable flair for the arts. “During the preparation for the World Youth Day in Sydney last year, Matthew was chosen by his school to paint a big mural on the ground together with other kids using chalk,” Eric said. “He dances well, too, which he got from his mom, and at the same time sings well. The singing part, well, that’s mine. I am actually starting to teach him how to play the guitar and the piano now.” And the blessings continue to pour. And Eric shall continue to share, he said. | 
