His childhood years were spent in Catholic schools at Baucau and Ossu, before he proceeded to the Dare minor seminary outside Dili, from which he graduated in 1968.
Masa kecilnya dihabiskan di sekolah Katolik di Baucau dan Ossu, lalu ia pindah ke seminari kecil Dare, di luar kota Dili dan lulus pada 1968.