Mr. Reynaldo Sarmiento

Seminarian: Pastoral Year, Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish

     My family and friends call me Bong. I was born and raised in the Philippines and my residence is in Las Pinas City. I am the youngest of five and the only boy in the family. My parents are permanent residents of the United States living in Downey, California. I studied in a Dominican school for my elementary and high school. I have a Business Management Degree from San Beda College, an institution run by the Benedictines.

     My fifteen years of working were in the hotel and restaurant industry. To name a few I joined the Mandarin Oriental Manila, Excelsior Hotel in Hongkong, Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore and Makati, TGIFriday’s Philippines, and CinnZeo, Philippines. I was also a free lance consultant for training and human resources and facilitated a number of team-building seminars and workshops for private firms and religious organizations. It was indeed a great blessing for me to have worked with big and prestigious companies.

     Even with my busy schedule, I had the opportunity to sing professionally for clubs, lounges and shopping malls with some of the great singers in the Philippines. I was at the peak of my career when the Lord, in His remarkable sense of humor, called me to be a priest. Initially, I was in doubt because I was enjoying my work, my life. Later on, however, I felt empty. I was looking for a sense of peace and happiness. By His grace, He led me to where I am now through the friends I have met.

     The Lord has blessed me with skills, talents and opportunities which I am looking forward to sharing and using in my future ministry. I may not be worthy, but by knowing that I am doing His will I have found the peace that I am looking for in my life.