A Pilgrim's Heavenly Harmony (First of Two Parts)

CEBU, Philippines - Father Manuel Leandro Domingo, a Salesian priest of Don Bosco, has completed the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Road to St. James of Compostela), a popular item in the Bucket List of most of my friends. And he did it not once, but twice!

Whether it's done out of curiosity, a challenge or an inspiration, the fabled pilgrimage begins with one's purpose: deciding on what to pack, what to let go or what, one must surrender eventually, where to set out for a remarkable spiritual journey-coupled with cultural and historical tours and much more-of discovering or rediscovering the Almighty.

Whatever path one chooses-the Camino Ingles, the coastal way of Camino del Norte or the more famous but longer walk through the Camino Frances, among others-will take from a number of days, to many weeks, to more than three months, to complete the Camino trodden by travelers in the past thousands of years in their attempts to reach the 12th century Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the relic of the apostle, Saint James the Greater, is believed to rest.

The Camino is a laborious undertaking through stretches of barren land and thick forests, traversing hills and mountain in all types of weather, with the danger of possibly losing track of one's way. Yet, every so often, it is punctuated by uncomplicated rests in albergues-pilgrim lodges-with inspiring companions from many nations representing various races, all with their own personal stories to share.

Stricken by grief by the demise of his own mother, Fr. Manny made his first pilgrimage in 2009 in her honor and as an offering for the recovery of the late President Corazon Aquino. It took him 37 days to complete the more than 770-kilometer walk, although admittedly it was done at a leisurely pace.

For his second journey in 2010, he crossed almost 1,500 kilometers by foot from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, finally arriving at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, 71 days later. During this time, he did not only take in the scenic destinations along the way, but also took the time to meditate, reflect and review the choices he had made over the years and reevaluated his very being. He promised to himself only to write his reflections and put it all in a book, supplemented with images-a promise already in progress.

Listening to a pilgrim's story over a Filipino breakfast at a common friend's residence revealed a myriad of anecdotes of hardship and survival, camaraderie and friendship, love and devotion. Here are some excerpts of Fr. Manny's camino to Santiago de Compostela.

On what inspired him to do the Camino…

FR. MANNY: : In the year 2000, while on a visit to Philadelphia, I happened to see Shirley MacLaine, the American actress of note, most remembered for her Oscar award-winning role in Terms of Endearment, on television sharing her experience on this particular walk in Spain-the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The number of miles triggered my curiosity. Imagine 1,500 kilometers. I searched for materials about the Camino, to the extent that I even wrote to the Spanish Consulate General in New York about it. So I received this book written by Millan Bravo Lozano-a Spanish scholar and professor-which provided historical facts on the Camino, complete with directions. Despite my desire, it took nine years before I could actually do my first pilgrimage.

In 2009, a new chapter of my life was unfolding, with the death of my dear mother and the end of my term as Parish priest, and both, eventually sparked off my journey to Santiago. Missing the chance to properly mourn, I needed the Camino to honor her memory and finally accept the fact that she had passed on. And during that time, Tita Cory [Aquino] was very sick. I likewise offered the trip for her recovery.

On what led him to venture on his second journey…

FR. MANNY: In 2011, I celebrated my 30th year as a religious, as a Salesian of Don Bosco, and 20 years as a priest. It was my 49th year, and Tita Cory advised me over lunch one day, to commemorate such a milestone. And so I did as a celebration of life and vocation. Another reason was my way of looking forward to the next year (this year), when I hope to launch the book, if plans would not miscarry. It is something I have wished to achieve before turning 50.

On how he prepared for both pilgrimages…

FR. MANNY: Physical activity is essential. I did badminton every Monday, yoga every Wednesday in addition to my daily walks. This I found to be very helpful. It also allowed me to pace myself, so you may know of your body's capability, how fast or how leisurely you should move given a particular distance. If you'll take the pilgrimage yourself, I suggest that you first acclimatize in the country-most particularly the city-where you plan to start. Arrive, say, three to four days before. That way, your body can somehow adjust to the environment.

I found these points very useful particularly for the second trip. You would encounter the extremes of weather. It could be staggeringly hot such that I wanted to drink an ocean. A few days later, there was continuous rain and I was totally drenched, near illness. The terrain was likewise unpredictable with the upward-downward paths-the descent being the most difficult-and tricky loose stones that, with a wrong footing, would lead you in a bad, if not a serious, fall.

On the kind of gear or equipment one should carry…

FR. MANNY: Remember that what you carry is your load for the rest of your journey, so limit yourself to the essentials. The suggested weight of your bag should be 10 percent of your body's-no heavier than that. If you are thinking, "Oh, I'll take it with me just in case…," then, that is a clue for you not to bring it. The "just in case" excuse doesn't work.

Discipline yourself: only the indispensable. I actually brought more than I should have. For instance, bringing five sets of clothes when I could have survived with just three. One could do the washing every day. Climacool or dry-fit shirts are best, because they cool the body and they dry easily after washing. Make sure you have the right kind of shoes-trekking shoes you're comfortable with. Then cushion your feet. The first is cotton sock liner, and the second something thicker such as sports socks. Thanks to these, I was blessed to have completed the pilgrimages without a single blister.

I did bring a camera, though-a simple one on my first trip and a better one on the next. By then, I was planning to write a book. A small first-aid kit would be advisable, especially for someone who relies on medicines.

More importantly, one needs a staff to keep balance while walking, and it can be useful for other purposes such as shooing off dogs, although they seldom bothered the pilgrims.

Along the road, we replenished our water jugs and plucked low-bearing fruits such as apples and peaches. It was much more convenient that way rather than to carry a baon; more so when every gram becomes heavier and heavier by the minute during the walk. (FREEMAN)