I planned to write about myself as a third person. How will it look like? It may look like the one I prepared below.
Rolando O. Cabanday was born on April 28, 1973 in Binitinan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. His Father is Mr. Manuel Legazpi Cabanday, the eldest son of Mr. Pablito Zayas Cabanday and Mrs. Susana Sabejon Legazpi. His mother is Mrs. Florencia Olaer Cabanday, a daughter of Mr. Juan Madrazo Olaer and Mrs. Cresencia Rañoa Olaer, both Boholanons (Bol-anon, person who was born from Bohol).
Rolando studied in Binitinan Elementary School and graduated with highest honors as Valedictorian, with rewards also as Artist of the Year 1987 and a recipient of PPC Scholarship grant. (PPC – Philippine Packing Corporation which later on became DMPI – Del Monte Philippines, Incorporated). Because of this, he studied his first and second year of High School in a private Catholic school (SRC – St. Rita’s College of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental). In spite of the insistence of the nuns especially the school Directress with the school principal, Sis. Virginia Umadlao, Rolando went to Baliwagan National High School to join with his former classmates in elementary school, many among them were his childhood friends. That’s how he valued old friendships. He graduated in BNHS with honors as class Salutatorian (If not for his absences, he would have been the class Valedictorian). The Valedictorian and Rolando has only a difference of 0.04 in their grades. Nevertheless, he received the awards as Artist of the Year and Best in Mathematics. He also passed the MSU-SASE scholarship granted by Mindanao State University with 98.87 percentile. He studied in MSU-IIT (Iligan Institue of Technology, Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines) but due to some financial problems, he was not able to continue his studies. He went back to Balingasag to study BS Education at St. Peter’s College of Balinagasag but was not able to finish even a semester due to financial problems again. He worked as a baker since 1990 and became a master baker up until 1994 when he decided to study in MOSCAT, Claveria, Misamis Oriental. (MOSCAT- Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology). He availed another scholarship (RP-EEC scholarship, RP-EEC – Republic of the Philippines European Economic Cooperation partnership) in MOSCAT, the last grantee of the said program. Though the list of scholars was already closed, it opened a privilege for Rolando who persevered in asking the school registrar, Mr. Sabejon. He passed the exams almost perfect. The school did not hesitate to admit him to DAT-BAT (ladderized course, if you finish the Diploma in Agriculture Technology or DAT you can proceed to Bachelor in Agriculture Technology or BAT).
In many subjects, Rolando was exempted during exams because of his excellent performance in the class. His teacher, Mr. Pines, commented that he should study in a university, especially in Xavier University (XU in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines) because he had the mental capacity to do so. His “inferiority complex” did not permit him to go again to a university. His desire to dig deeper on Religious aspect brought him to a very serious study about Religion. That was the time he quit his studies. The words of Our Lord in St. Matthew’s Gospel rang through his ears day in and day out. “For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?” (St. Matt. 16:26). He recalled how his friend Raul died at an early teen age days. He realized how short life is and yet he is looking for something he cannot bring with him after his death. So, he changed his direction towards a higher goal, i.e. spirituality, Religion. He said to God, “Lord, many times I have planned for myself and my plans were not fulfilled. My wishes were not granted. Can you, please, plan for me and I follow? Just show me signs.” He dug deeper into Religion. Little by little he learned the facts and information surrounding the mysteries about the Catholic Faith.
Way back on November 8-11, 1991 (Thursday night up to Sunday in the afternoon), he attended the Bible Seminar conducted by the CF-LAMP in Dumarait, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. (CF-LAMP means Catholic Faith Lay Apostolic Movement of the Philippines). It was a stay-in 3 days-seminar. He graduated as the Batch rector among the 18 participants who were commissioned by the CF-LAMP organizers/lecturers to support the next Batch of CF-LAMPers (read as CF-LAMers). CF-LAMPers are those who graduated CF-LAMP Seminars.
During his saddest moments in High School (a break up experience with his loved one), CF-LAMP “gave light to his darkest moments”. His emotional wounds were slowly healed with the growth of his spiritual life. During the seminar, he wrote down important details about the topics discussed. The CF-LAMP lecturers were Bro. Lito Cabaguete, Bro. Rody Fortun, Bro. Jun Bajao (also a guitarist) and Bro. Nilo (a diocesan seminarian from Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines). Except Bro. Bajao, the lecturers were from Butuan City.
Back to the school campus of BNHS, Rolando encountered informal debates against non Catholics who criticized the Catholic Faith in his high school days.
Aside from being a CF-LAMPer, Rolando, now called Bro. Rolly, was also a NAMFREL Volunteer since 1992. He was also a participant of Stay-in Seminar on the Documents of Vatican 2 (The seminar lasted for 3 days.). It was given by Fr. Robinson Montalba (a fresh graduate from Rome way back 1992), Fr. Valmorida and Fr. Ronnie Valmoria (well-known activists and, maybe, leftist leaning priests). Bro. Rolly was also inducted into the CCRM (Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement). Judge Sabio of Branch 28 of Misamis Oriental Regional Trial Court (RTC) was one of the lecturers in the Charismatic seminar. Bro. Jun Vicente, a school teacher in Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City, was the CCRM leader in Binitinan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.
While in St. Rita’s College, Bro. Rolly was a member of the parish choir led by Mr. Saarinas, a music teacher. When Bro. Rolly went to Camiguin in 1992, he participated in the Catechist Orientation Seminar organized by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Pedro Sombilon. In front of the priest, some nuns and professional catechists, Bro. Rolly courageously demonstrated how to give Catechism to the classrooms. He was the youngest among the participants that time. He was only 19 years old while his batchmates were already Nanays (married women having many children). Right after the seminar, he immediately went back to Binitinan Elementary School in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to share what he learned from the said seminar by helping Lola Talia, the old catechist of the School.
Economic problems prompted him to work as a fulltime-baker in Salay, Misamis Oriental. So, he stopped being a catechist. His frugality enabled him to save more money in the bank. At his teenage years, he already acquired a house and lot which he bought from a neighbour in their barangay.
When he returned to Camiguin in 1995, he attended again the CF-LAMP Seminar as a “refresher course” and in order to be enlisted to the CF-LAMPers Community in Camiguin. In 1995-1997, he served as a catechist in Mambajao National High School, Lumad, Mambajao, Camiguin. In 1997, when Bro. Fernan Presillas, Jr. asked his help for the Bible Rallies and Seminars in Visayas and Mindanao Regions, Bro. Rolly did not hesitate to go.
He became a CF-LAMP National Lecturer and a member of CF-LAMP National Speakers’ Bureau in 2 years, the longest service rendered among CF-LAMP lecturers from Camiguin. Bro. Fernan assigned Bro. Rolly in the CF-LAMP Striking Force due to his versatility in many activities with regards to the Movement. He can give lectures in more than 3 hours straight just like his “maestro” (Bro. Fernan). He also sang and play guitar during Meditations, Candle Ceremony, Mañanita, Action Songs and Holy Mass. He speaks in Bible Rallies or Doctrinal Expositions and can even manage Open Forum without fear.
He went around the parishes of Leyte and some parts of Samar in the Visayaz. He also served some parishes in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte, Butuan City, Gingoog City. As he served Catholics in Camiguin, he served them also in places far from his residence.
In 1999, the wandering lecturer went back to Camiguin. He stayed in the parish convent because Fr. Abelardo Cabillan, SSJV asked him to help the parish and its parishioners who, according to the priest, needs much instruction on the Catholic Faith. The priest often told him, “Do not presume that the parishioners know much about the Catholic Faith. Even professionals do not know the basic prayers and basic truths of the Faith. You need to instruct them.”
Bro. Rolly served as a catechist in 1995 up to 2010 in San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, Mambajao, Camiguin, Mindanao, Phiippines. He taught the pupils in Mambajao Central School, Baylao Elementary School and the students in Mambajao National High School, Camiguin Polytechnic State College, and Yumbing National High School. He also gave Recollections in both elementary and secondary schools throughout the parish.
This young catechist-lecturer was the first one who gave Recollections to students of these schools, even in some college graduating classes. He had also given Recollections to some classes of Fatima College of Camiguin way back in 2000 and 2003. He gave lectures to parents and godfathers and godmothers of those infants who are to be baptized. He wrote the first module for Pre-Baptism Seminar as ordered by Msgr. Cirilo Isnani, PC. It was called “Pre-Jordan Seminar”, patterned to the Pre-Matrimony Seminar called “Pre-Cana Seminar”. Later on, the Pre-Jordan Seminar was renamed “Pre-Baptism Seminar”.
Bro. Rolly was also a lector & commentator at Mass, Sacristan Mayor, choir leader, and a Bible Apostle approved by the Archdiocesan Biblical Apostolate Central Committee lead by Msgr. Isnani. He was also a member of several parish organizations and movements such as the Cursillos in Christianity, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, World Apostolate of Fatima(WAF also called Blue Army), NAMFREL, PPCRV-VOTECARE, NAMFREL’s LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections trained in paralegal disciplines for national and local elections), Parish Pastoral Council (representing Quiboro chapel and CF-LAMP).
During the Jubilee Year, the CF-LAMP became dormant. In 2006, Bro. Rolly revived the movement by giving lectures in a Bible seminar he proposed & initiated. He organized new CF-LAMPers. The 5 batches of CF-LAMP seminars had produced more than a hundred new CF-LAMPers. In order to be free from any technicalities which might be done by some local and national officers in CF-LAMP, Bro. Rolly organized the New CF-LAMPers Society as a one body/organization composed of CF-LAMPers who just graduated from the said seminars. The NCS (New CF-LAMPers Society) has its own Mission and Vision, Constituition and By-Laws, Set of Officers and list of members.
In 2010, he wrote the CF-LAMP Handbook which was primarily intended to give detailed information on the CF-LAMP Seminar topics undergone by CF-LAMPers so that they will be refreshed and can participate effectively in propagating the Catholic Faith, in and out of season. It was the year he left the parish activities for another journey.
