Winston C.

Quilaton (ESHT) and Edjay Khen Casa (SMA) Group Activity 11/ 16/ 2023
Philosophical Anthropology
Dr. Maxwell L. Felicilda, Ph.D.

DIRECTION: Direction: Go back to you group. And discuss the question:

SUBMISSION: Email at 2:00 pm today [Nov 16, 2023]:

What particular experience do I have that help me remember Camus’ thoughts that life is

suffering [absurd] and how did I go about this experience to continue believing that there is

something to hope for in this life?

I am Winston, and as human as I am, I could also feel and sense suffering, through painful

struggles that I had endured throughout my life. Camus’ idea of suffering [absurd] is indeed a great

life lesson to ponder which reminds me about the experiences before I went into the seminary. I

cannot write all of it here for it requires an extensive historical biography of my past but there were

some which I thought helped me to introspect about how meaningless my life was. When I was still a

young boy, I struggled so hard that I am always bullied at school for being dwarf and feminine (being

called gay). These may be the reasons why girls are not attracted to me and even belittled by my

siblings. I often receive physical abuse by my brothers whenever we argue. My parents would not

even side with me for a reason that I have no right to talk back at my older brothers. They would let

me being beaten by my brothers for it served as a discipline for being stubborn. At the edge of my life,

I considered myself as unimportant and treated life as meaningless as it was. Since I had no right to

be with my family, I also thought that life is unimportant and deserved to die. I attempted suicide

and slowly felt the physical suffering that I was un aware of. However, unfortunate for my family (it’s

sarcasm), I lived. Right after that moment, I never did that again because I did not like that gruesome

experience as it made my stomach suffer in so much pain. Even though the stereotypes of the people

around me remains the same, I simply ignored them as I treated them as challenges towards

maturity. I just hoped that all of these things will be gone once I could prove that they were wrong

about me. I rebelled against the toxic mindset, fought back, and continued to live on. As time passed

by, I eventually proved to them that I should not be belittled as I was proudly recognized by others as

“small but terrible”. I remained my status an achiever and tried to be a strong man as I am. I became

independent and my family always looked up to me as I am the only child who is about to graduate
Winston C. Quilaton (ESHT) and Edjay Khen Casa (SMA) Group Activity 11/ 16/ 2023
Philosophical Anthropology
Dr. Maxwell L. Felicilda, Ph.D.
this school year. Thus, my struggles kept me on my toes standing with confidence and full of hope.

Still, those struggles and those unmentioned serve as an opportunity for me to keep on clinging in

life. As long as there is hope, there is a chance to success.

I am Edjhay, and the experience I wish to share, which reminds me of Camus' belief that life is

filled with suffering, is my time spent in the seminary. Why? Because before entering the seminary, I

made a solemn commitment to the Lord, dedicating my life to Him by answering His call to become a

priest. As I embarked on this journey, I gradually realized that being a priest entails more than just

praying or uttering "Amen Amen." It requires complete surrender to Him, which is an act of self-

sacrifice. Throughout the nearly five years I resided in the seminary, I encountered continuous

suffering. I struggled with disobedience towards the formation, the formators, my fellow brothers

and sisters, my own ego, negative thoughts, and a wavering faith in God. Nevertheless, I held onto

hope, for as stated in Psalms 119:50, "Even in my suffering, I found solace in your promise, which

gave me life." This promise provided me with constant reasons to remain joyful and optimistic. At the

end, there is always a place where there is no pain or suffering that awaits us.

Thus, this priesthood vocation is the best training ground for us (Winston and Edjhay) to strive for

more, persevere, and to keep on fighting. We cannot AVOID evil, nor suffering, for this characterizes

the world, however, we can FIGHT evil and suffering, for this characterizes the existence of being an

authentic man. Jesus, a man who died on the cross and rose again, is the exact representation of

suffering and hope. He always reminds us that suffering is temporary and something to hope for is

eternal.