LIFE is unpredictable. No matter how carefully we plan, there are moments when things happen that remind us, we are not fully in control. Looking back, I’ve come to believe that our lives are not shaped by chance alone, but guided by God’s loving hand. We make plans with the best intentions, yet whether they succeed or fail ultimately depends on His will. When God allows something to happen, it happens. When He doesn’t, no amount of effort can force it.
What many people call coincidence I have learned to see as God quietly at work. Nothing happens outside His care. Even the moments that frighten us or confuse us can unfold according to His purpose—for our good and for His greater glory.
I’ve often asked myself a hard question: Why do accidents still happen even when we pray every day? I don’t always have a clear answer. What I do know is that life can change in an instant. I experienced this firsthand on March 29, 2018 (Holy Thursday), February 28, 2021 (during Lent), and most recently on January 24, 2026.
Every time my family prays together, we end with two prayers: the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and the Angel of God prayer. My younger brother, Rev. Fr. Ronnie Ablong—an exorcist priest—taught us to pray them faithfully as a way of asking for God’s protection through His angels.
These prayers have become part of our daily life. They are simple, but powerful. Through them, we entrust ourselves to God and ask to be guarded from harm. I truly believe that because of these prayers, I was spared during all three incidents.
March 29, 2018 — Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday morning, March 29, 2018, a great miracle happened.
My Toyota Vios automatic car was parked on the road in front of our gate. I was preparing to go to the Cathedral to help with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. As I adjusted the car, our hired reflexologist arrived. I stepped out quickly, forgetting that the gear was still in reverse.
I opened the gate, guided her inside, and told my wife she had arrived. When I came back outside, my car was gone.
It had rolled backward on its own.
I saw it moving toward an open drainage canal. I ran as fast as I could, jumped inside, pulled the handbrake, and stopped it just in time.
Two motorcycles with passengers were waiting to cross the road. They thought someone was driving the car—until they saw me running toward it. Their decision to wait likely prevented a serious accident.
Praise God that no one was hurt. Praise God that my car was spared major damage. Praise God for answering my daily prayers for protection.
Thank you, St. Michael the Archangel, and thank you, my Angel of God, for watching over us and keeping us safe.
February 28, 2021 — A Close Call at Home
On February 28, 2021, something else happened that could have ended very differently.
After attending the 4:30 p.m. Mass at the Bishop’s Palace, my family and I went downtown to buy food. We got home around 6:30 p.m. After everyone got out of the car, I parked our Xpander inside the garage.
A few minutes later, we heard a loud crash. We rushed to the garage and were shocked by what we saw: our built-in bookshelves had collapsed onto the right side of the car. Books, documents, and heavy shelves were everywhere. By estimate, almost a ton of weight had fallen onto the vehicle.
I was sure the car was totally wrecked. The noise alone was frightening. But when I checked, the engine was untouched. The windows were intact. The side mirror was slightly tilted but still usable. The roof was dented and the body scratched—but the car still worked.
God is truly good. What could have caused serious injury or total destruction ended without anyone getting hurt.
That moment strengthened my belief in the power of prayer, especially when we ask for protection through St. Michael the Archangel and our guardian angels.
January 24, 2026 — Just Five Days Before My Birthday
On January 24, 2026, I was organizing files inside a tall, four-door steel cabinet. Without any warning, the cabinet suddenly tipped over and crashed in front of me. The sound was loud and terrifying.
I remember my hand being hit, and the next thing I knew, I had been thrown about two to three meters away from the cabinet. I felt dizzy and shaken. Files were scattered all over the floor, and the cabinet was badly damaged.
My first instinct was to check myself. I touched my head—no swelling. My leg was a bit red, and my right hand had a small scrape. That was all.
Praise God, I was not seriously hurt.
When I told my brother, Fr. Ronnie, what happened, he said with certainty that my guardian angel had rescued me. I believe that with all my heart. It truly felt like an angelic rescue.
These experiences taught me something simple but powerful — prayer doesn’t mean bad things will never happen. It means we are not left on our own when they do. God never promised a life without fear, accidents, or sudden turns—but He did promise His presence. Looking back now, I can see how close each moment came to ending badly, and how quietly, almost gently, grace stepped in.
I may never fully understand why these things happened, but I know this much—I was not alone. Something greater was at work each time. What could have gone faster, slowed down. What could have gone further, stopped. What could have crushed me. didn’t. These were not escapes I could take credit for. They were reminders that God sees, that angels are sent, and that prayers we say every day are heard, even before we realize we need help.
These moments changed me. They deepened my faith and made me more grateful. They taught me to trust more, to pray with more sincerity, and to turn to God not only when everything feels safe, but especially when it doesn’t. Most of all, they reminded me that protection doesn’t always mean nothing happens—it means that when something does happen, God is already there.
And so, I hold on to this promise:
“For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
— Psalm 91:11–12
