Job applicants implore aid of Divine Providence

Job applicants implore aid of Divine ProvidenceBy LESLIE AQUINOApril 4, 2011, 6:11pmMANILA, Philippines — With thousands of students graduating yearly, not to mention the difficulty in finding employment, job hunters are now resorting to having their resumes blessed.

One of them is “Nica”, a nursing graduate who went to the Monasterio de Sta. Clara on Katipunan Road, Quezon City to have her resume blessed.

“We all know how difficult it is to find a job nowadays so I was thinking, maybe, if I pray here and have my re-sume blessed, it would help me land a job,” she said.

A resume is a document that an individual submits to an employer describing his background and skills. It includes the curriculum vitae.

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church in Manila is another place where job hunters, with brown envelopes containing their resumes, troop to have their resumes blessed.

Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, rector of Quiapo Church, said he cannot blame the people if they think that having their resumes blessed would give them luck since this proved to be very effective for some.

“They have the right to ask blessings from God since based on our experience, many prayers are really being answered,” he said in an interview.

“A blessing is also a prayer…it is not being done on sacred objects only,” added Ignacio.

He, however, reminded the faithful not to feel bad if they don’t get the answer that they want in their prayer.

“All prayers are answered, but it depends on how God would answer our prayers because sometimes He has a better plan for us,” Ignacio said.

Legazpi City Bishop Joel Baylon, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Com-mission on Youth (CBCP-ECY), for his part, reminded applicants to also do their part, and not merely rely on God’s help.

“It’s okay to ask for help, but the individual should also exert an effort because it is not something that is automatically given to us,” he added.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said at least 431, 592 college students are expected to graduate this school year. –LESLIE AQUINO, Manila Bulletin