My family and friends call me Jhay and I was born and raised in the Philippines. My hometown there is Las Pinas City located in Metro Manila. My birthday is on July 29, 1982. My mother’s name is Concepcion Basillaje and my father’s name is Ceazar Galeon.
After graduating from high school, I decided to enter the seminary where I started my college education. My first community is the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette; this congregation was originally from France. For five years I was with them where I finished my college philosophy.
After graduating from Philosophy, I left the seminary for two years but still God was calling me, so I joined my home diocese and became their seminarian. I continued my theology with them and this diocese (Imus) became my second community. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, now Prefect in Rome was my Bishop and Rector. For two years I was a seminarian of this local diocese until the time I decided to join the Diocese of Sacramento.
Father Joel Genabia introduced the Diocese of Sacramento to me and invited me to join the diocese. Then I submitted my application to Fr. Brian Atienza who was then the vocation director and he interviewed me when he was in the Philippines. After waiting for a few months, I was accepted and I came here in the United States on September 5, 2007.
My present seminary was at Menlo Park, St. Patrick’s Seminary and University. Serving the Lord is indeed a blessing and a serving his people is my joy and strength.
I was ordained priest June 1st, 2013 and Saint Rose Parish Roseville was my first assignment under Father Joel Genabia who was my first Pastor.
Now I am returning to continue my priestly ministry to my first parish family of Saint Rose as Pastor.