A.) St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary
Seminary is a place where those who aspire to become priests are formed. It is a house of formation wherein the aspirants for priesthood are trained and prepared for the ministry. In other words, it is their first training ground before they will be released in the field (in the parishes). Those who aspire to become priests are called seminarians. They are the ones who are formed for the priesthood. The seminary is the heart of the Diocese or Archdiocese because without it, there will be no priests to work in the vineyard.
Many are called but few are chosen. Not all seminarians become priests. They are screened in the seminary and they are also given the time to decide whether to pursue priesthood or go other ways. That is why, in every end of the formation year, seminarians write their application letter and the members of the Administration (priests-formators and the faculty) evaluate the seminarians whether to allow them to proceed, send them for regency or send them out. Some are sent out from the seminary because the priest-formators can see that they are not fitted for the priesthood, some are highly recommended and some decide not to continue their seminary formation. In the Archdiocese of Jaro, there are two Catholic seminaries presently existing. These are St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary for the high school and philosophy formation, and St. Joseph Regional Seminary, for the theology. This study is conducted at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, specifically to the philosophy seminarians.
The St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary is a formation house for those who aspire to become priests in the archdiocese of Jaro. It existed more than one hundred forty years producing several bishops, one cardinal (Cardinal Sin), thousands of priests and successful people (in their chosen fields) and even heroes in the likes of Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Quintin Salas and Martin Delgado. Because of its existence for more than a century, the said seminary is rich in subcultures both negative and positive. Some existed for so long; some are counter-cultured due to their negative effects, while some still exist in the present. It is because cultures are passed from one generation to another. The passing of cultures happen, for them to last long and to be observed by the future generations.
Cultures and sub-cultures in the seminary are hard to erase. Unconsciously, the cultures in the seminary (both good and bad ) are inherited by the next generations of seminarians. They are not aware that the cultures they presently have were ones cultures of the generations before them. If the present generation wants to erase some present cultures, they must create a counter-culture to stop the trend of the said cultures. If they want to suggest new cultures, they must be first trending to the present generations of seminarians for them to stand.
B.) Culture of Excellence
Culture is man’s highest expression of his very being.[1] It is the revelation of the being shown in one’s pattern of behaviors and practices. It also refers to one’s beliefs, personality, religion, education, foods, race and way of life. It is what makes a group of people who they are and who they are not. Any expression coming from one’s self is who he is, is his personal culture which is influenced by his environment, the society where he lives, and his family background.
In a bigger picture, culture is seen as something communal. It is present within the society. It is a collective noun referring to the practices and behaviors of the people living in the society. It would also speak of what’s common with the way people think within that society (For example: People living in Brgy. Narasa are industrious).
The culture of excellence is one of the cultures that are emphasized in the seminary. Excellence refers to the achieving of the highest possible performance or quality of work one can produce/achieve. It may also refer to one’s best. Excellence is highly emphasized in the seminary because the people of God deserve the best priests: priests who lead with good examples, priests who are virtuous, priests who can deliver good and “senseful” homilies and priests who carries the image of Christ manifested by their words and actions.
To be excellent does not necessarily mean that one is genius and extremely good in academics. It refers to any aspects of life or any field of art and science wherein one gives his/her best. Excellence can be seen in the quality of output one can produce. The seminary trains the seminarians to have a culture of excellence because it envisions future priests giving their best in their ministry as priests. Priests should not be mediocre. They must give their very best because God’s people deserve the best.
II.) Procrastination as Culture in SVFS
The St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, considering its existence for more than a century, has a vast cultures and sub-cultures. One of the present subcultures of the seminarians in the said seminary is procrastination. Procrastination is the postponement of one’s work even though one is free to do it in the present. It is the “karon-lang” and the “bwas-lang” attitude. Seminarians are really fond of delaying their works, doing first the things that can satisfy their wants and needs. In other words, it is the “not doing” of the “what is needed to be done” or the “doing” of what is “not that important to be done” in the present.
A.) Causes of Procrastination
There are reasons behind the act of procrastination of the seminarians in St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary. According to the research of the researcher, the main causes of procrastination of the seminarians in the said seminary are laziness and the “more-time” mentality.
1.) Laziness
Laziness is one of the reasons why seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary procrastinate. It is the root cause why seminarians postpone the things they need to do, even though they have more than enough time to do it in the present. Once a person is lazy, he/she is not in the mood to do things he/she needs to do. He/she would answer whatever the call of his bodily wants and needs (e.g. sleep, play, talk, etc.).
Man, in nature, wants easy and unburdened life. They want anything that is easy and that are instant. They don’t want so much concerns and they really hate pressures. That is why, man has the tendency to be lazy. As what the researcher have observed, most of the seminarians have the tendency to be lazy (even in ordinary situations), especially when they don’t want what they are doing or they don’t want what is imposed to them to be done. Because of the lack of self-discipline, they just follow what their bodies ask them to do.
2.) “More-Time” Mentality
Aside from laziness, another reason why seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary procrastinate is the “more-time” mentality. When a seminarian is lazy to do the things he must/should do, he tells himself “I will rest first, and do it later because there’s so much time for it” or “I will play first and do my work later (because there’s more time).” Because of the “more-time” mentality in the part of seminarians, their tendency is to postpone their works and do anything else. It shows that seminarians do not want to pressure themselves.
B.) Effects of Procrastination
Procrastination is not alone an act of postponing one’s work even though there is enough time to do it in the present. It has an impact and effect to the ones doing it. According to the research of the researcher, the effects of procrastination to the seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, specifically to the college are cramming, mediocrity, poor performance, production of “unexcellent” output and time will come that it will become ones habit.
1.) Cramming
Cramming is one of the basic effects of procrastination. It is the doing of things in a lesser period of time, near the deadline, due to not doing them long period before the said deadline. Seminarians do cram in studying during exams. They would also cram in making their assignments, papers and other requirements. Cramming is not proper for seminarians. If the seminary envisions excellent seminarians and priests in the archdiocese, seminarians must take seriously their works, doing them ahead of time for them to give their best in it and for them to have a quality output.
2.) Mediocrity
Mediocrity is another effect of procrastination. It refers to the quality of output one can produce that is acceptable (average level) but not so good. As an effect of procrastination, one cannot give his/her best because of the limited time and the unpreparedness of the person involved resulting to mediocrity. Seminarians are expected to excel in their own field of interest. In order to achieve it, they must not be mediocre; they must be at their best in anything they do, at all times. They must give their best in order to achieve their highest possible performance/quality that one can produce. Mediocrity is always bellow or far from the best, excellence. It has no place in the seminary.
3.) Poor Performance/“Unexcellent” Output
Having a poor performance and “unexcellent” output is the very possible effect of procrastination. When one procrastinates, he/she will cram on the time near the deadline. Because of his/her cramming, one is tensed, lack of focus, and disturbed while doing his/her works. Because one cannot organize well his or her work, there is a big possibility that he/she can create a mediocre work. Achieving mediocre work would show that one’s performance is poor. Mediocrity, as the researcher said so, does not reach the level of excellence.
4.) Procrastination becomes Habit
The worse effect of procrastination is, when it becomes a habit. A single act of procrastination does not make it a habit rather; it is the repetition of that act (for many times) making it a habit. Presently, procrastination is a habit of seminarians. They did not do it ones, but almost all the time they have their assignments, papers and projects.
C.) Counter-Cultures to Procrastination
Procrastination had been the sickness of the seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary. It becomes their habit, part of their way of life. In order to stop procrastination, the researcher suggests counter-cultures to it. These are foresight and punctuality.
1.) Foresight
Foresight is one of the counter-cultures to procrastination. In order to stop procrastination, seminarians must develop a sense of foresight, seeing that postponing things that should be done in the present, will just lead him/her to cram, not giving his/her best in his/her work. If one has a foresight, he/she anticipates what will happen in the near future and as a reaction to them, preparing things ahead of time. Foresight as a counter-culture to procrastination, does not remain only in expecting what will happen in the near future, but doing something in preparation to what is expected to come (Example: Study all the subjects two weeks before the days of examination.
2.) Punctuality
Aside from foresight, another counter-culture to procrastination is punctuality. Punctuality is the act of doing things/accomplishing them earlier than the deadline time. It is the opposite of procrastination. If procrastination is to delay, punctuality is to advance. Punctuality is greatly related to foresight. Those who accomplish things earlier are those people who have foresight. All punctual people foresee the future.
III.) Conclusion
Procrastination is one of the subcultures existing in St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary. It is the postponement of one’s work even though one is free to do it in the present. It is the “karon-lang” and the “bwas-lang” attitude. Seminarians are really fond of delaying their works, doing first the things that can satisfy their wants and needs. In other words, it is the “not doing” of the “what is needed to be done” or the “doing” of what is “not that important to be done” in the present.
The main causes of procrastination to the seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary are laziness and “more-time” mentality. Laziness is the root cause why seminarians postpone the things they need to do, even though they have more than enough time to do it in the present. Once a person is lazy, he/she is not in the mood to do things he/she needs to do. He/she would answer whatever the call of his bodily wants and needs. Aside from laziness, another reason why seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary procrastinate is the “more-time” mentality. When a seminarian is lazy to do the things he must/should do, he tells himself “I will rest first, and do it later because there’s so much time for it” or “I will play first and do my work later (because there’s more time).” Because of the “more-time” mentality in the part of seminarians, their tendency is to postpone their works and do anything else.
According to the research, the effects of procrastination to the seminarians of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, specifically to the college department are cramming, mediocrity, poor performance, production of “unexcellent” output and time will come that it will become ones habit. Cramming is the doing of things in a lesser period of time, near the deadline, due to not doing them long period before the said deadline. It is the very basic effect of procrastination. Another effect of procrastination is mediocrity. It refers to the quality of output one can produce that is acceptable (average level) but not so good. As an effect of procrastination, one cannot give his/her best because of the limited time and the unpreparedness of the person involved resulting to mediocrity. Poor performance and “unexcellent” output is the very possible effect of procrastination. Achieving mediocre work would show that one’s performance is poor. Mediocrity, as the researcher said so, does not reach the level of excellence. The worse effect of procrastination is, when it becomes a habit. A single act of procrastination does not make it a habit rather; it is the repetition of that act (for many times) making it a habit.
As a solution to stop the culture of procrastination in the seminary, the researcher suggests two counter-cultures. These are the sense of foresight and punctuality. Foresight is one of the counter-cultures to stop procrastination. In order to stop procrastination, seminarians must develop a sense of foresight, seeing that postponing things that should be done in the present, will just lead him/her to cram, not giving his/her best in his/her work. If one has a foresight, he/she anticipates what will happen in the near future and as a reaction to them, preparing things ahead of time. Another counter-culture to procrastination is punctuality. Punctuality is the act of doing things/accomplishing them earlier than the deadline time. It is the opposite of procrastination. If procrastination is to delay, punctuality is to advance. Punctuality is greatly related to foresight. Those who accomplish things earlier are those people who have foresight. All punctual people foresee the future.
In relation to the ministry…
In relation to the ministry, priests must not be mediocre in their service to the people. They should give their very best considering that God’s people deserve the best. Priests must develop a sense of foresight. They must foresee the future happenings/events for them to prepare for it, doing things at their very best and giving everything they can. Sense of foresight is important in the priestly ministry. Priests must also be punctual in all their schedules. It is understood that their life is full of concerns and headaches. Despite of these, they must not miss doing good to people and being punctual to their schedules. Again, God made the best for all humanity. As return, priest must give the best for God’s people because they deserve only the best.
[1] Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau