“Walay mag-una, walay maulahi. Dungan ta sa paglakaw niining panaw.”

These words embody the heart of Joshua John Malalis’ mission: to walk with others in their

journey, not ahead of them. As a Development Communication graduate of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, his journey toward a campus formator was shaped by meaningful encounters with people often unheard. With his commitment to journeying with others paved the way for his vocation in campus ministry.

Joshua started his journey in Xavier University as a Psychology student, influenced by his mother who took up the same program. In his fourth year as a Psych major, everything changed. “I was in my fourth year when I shifted to Development Communication,” Joshua recalls. “It was the last day for shifting. I took a leap of faith—and I didn’t even tell my parents.” That decision, rooted in a desire to tell stories, capture real lives through photos, and understand the voices of the marginalized, would eventually shape not just his career, but his calling.

Bringing with him the conviction to be people for others, his experience during the first-year immersion motivated his path to continue in DevCom. During his college years, he admired the works of the campus ministry leaning towards stories of ordinary people in the university. Joshua used to converse with XU’s staff—university guards, maintenance workers, and even the stoll vendors in the Magis Canteen. With this passion to become a person for others, listening to their stories became a big part of his journey today as a campus formator.

From Communication to Companionship: Living Out the DevCom Mission

After graduating from Xavier University, he began his career as a government employee—steady, practical, and expected. But deep, down, there was a calling that couldn’t be ignored. A few months later, he made another life-altering decision: he entered religious formation. “I thought that was my calling,” he shares. “But during my formation in the seminary, I realized that I could do more as a layperson.”

It was not a straight path, and it was not easy. Rejections, redirections, and a long period of discernment marked his post-college life. But for Joshua, those moments were not setbacks—they were sacred steps toward clarity. “Rejections are redirections from God,” he reflects. “I experienced all of it just to be here, to be part of the Campus Ministries, to contribute to peace and healing in a wounded world.”

When the opportunity came to return to Xavier University, it felt like a quiet affirmation that he was exactly where he needed to be. This time, he returned not as a student but as someone prepared to walk with others, especially the youth navigating their own crossroads. In becoming a campus formator, he found a role that brought together his communication background, his spiritual training, and his deep desire to serve.

In his work, Joshua values presence over instruction. He listens to students with patience, recognizing that they often carry invisible burdens. Rather than offering quick advice, he creates space for honest conversation and reflection. He understands that many young people do not necessarily seek solutions, but simply hope to be understood.

He believes that meaningful change happens in small, sincere moments. A thoughtful conversation, a few minutes of undivided attention, or simply being present during a difficult time can have lasting impact. Joshua has learned that true ministry is not about fixing others, but about making room for healing, growth, and hope. In a world that often rushes forward, his steady and compassionate presence reminds us of the power of simply being there.

“What the young people want from us is that capacity to listen to them without any judgment.” As a Campus Minister, Joshua emphasizes the importance of active listening in this world full of chaos and noise. One of his principles is to simplify take-aways as he believes that giving advice is like pointing a two-edged sword, either making or breaking a person; highlighting the importance of always being careful about what one says.

Formation as a Vocation: Responding to the Call to Serve

For Joshua, being a DevCom practitioner is all about accompanying students and journeying with them through Spiritual Conversation. “I firmly believe that we are journeying together,” he sets aside his role as the Campus Minister. At the same time, he maintains a sense of sensitivity and equality among every ordinary person he encounters every day.

During times of personal and collective crisis around the campus, Joshua establishes trust with and among the students as he makes sure that everyone involved is safe. Emphasizing the importance of leveling off with the students, it is crucial to understand where the students came from and what the students are feeling in the present. “This generation wants only one thing, that is to be listened to without any judgment or prejudices.”

Joshua’s biggest challenge in communicating with the students during difficult times is the fact that he is in fact only human who gets tired and needs to recharge himself now and then. “Still the very basic thing we need for everything to be fixed is conversation and communication.” The way he navigates his biggest challenge as a DevCom practitioner is to communicate his struggles as well to a safe outlet.

When asked about what advice Joshua can offer to current DevCom students who are considering roles in his field of work, he shared that “Formation-related jobs are not jobs but a ministry and a mission.” He emphasizes that what he does is a calling, as he not only enriches others but also themselves.

What makes the Campus Ministries life-giving is how they cannot give what they don’t have. “Walay mag-una, walay maulahi. Dungan ta sa paglakaw niining panaw,” Joshua does not lead from above but he walks beside them, as a guide, a companion, and a source of quiet support to make them realize that there is more to life than hatred and negativity.