I was born John Ronaldo Gabutan Abulag on March 31, in Talisayan Misamis, Oriental, Philippines (My Mom's place). After a month I was baptized at the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I grew up in Gingoog City, my Dad's place.
At home they call me John-John. I am named John after my great grandpa and Ronaldo after the famous movie actor way back then, Ronaldo Valdez.
I have a sweet tooth. I love the colors Blue, Red, Green and Black. I love listening to music and I sing a little. I like to watch horror movies. I have 5 brothers and 1 sister. But I do have 1 adopted sister (niece of my dad) and 1 adopted brother (nephew of Mom).
I am already an orphan. My Mom died on the first day of my final exams in Theology. My Dad passed away a day before I was ordained to the priesthood. I went to public school from kindergarten, Elementary and High School. I went to Catholic School during College.
I finished my Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management. After college I worked as a curator in a painting gallery. I also taught Christian Living 1 & 2, and Philosophy of Man in the High School Department of St. James College of Quezon City. I finished my AB Philosophy at Our Lady of the Angels Franciscan Seminary. As for my Theology I finished it at the University of Santo Tomas- Recoletos School of Theology in Manila, Philippines.
I met the Dominican Missionaries for Deaf Apostolate in the year 2011. I became a perpetually professed brother before going to the Diocese of Joliet. I became a Deacon on December 5, 2020 and was ordained to the Priesthood on May 22, 2021. It was also a good year for me (though my Dad passed that day) because my country, the Philippines, in the year 2021 celebrated 500 years of Christianity. Also that day May 22nd was the feast day of my home city (Philippines) in honor of Saint Rita of Cascia. That is why I consider her as my ordination saint. I also have several favorite saints such as St. Philomena, St. John Maria Vianney, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John Paul II, Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Dominic de Guzman.
I have been a die hard member of the Legion of Mary since High School. Presently, I am the Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary in the Joliet area. I am also the Chaplain of the Deaf Community in the Diocese of Joliet.
Since I came to Joliet I have never returned to the Philippines. Hopefully next year I will be able to go home to see my brothers and sisters and their families, God willing. Now, I am excited to be transferred to St. Joseph.