By Fr. Edito Casipong, CICM
When I was still in Belgium, learning the French language and receive the order to be in Haiti by 15 December 1994, I had hard time deciding whether to go or not to goat the given deadline. Not to go, of course, would automatically mean to celebrate Christmas with those whom I already knew and felt at home, with the five other Filipino CICM destined for Africa. I was wrestling with the temptation to stay with what is already familiar. I wanted to build a tent where I was because the situation seemed to be so secure. I was afraid to cross the bridge of uncertainty that goes with the realization of my dream to be a missionary. But the voice of God was stronger than my human tendencies. I went as requested and in Haiti I was warmly welcomed by my confreres. Little by little, my fears were transformed into feeling of joy and security.
Now, perhaps, a bit of myself. By virtue of my family’s affection, I am called Dodong; by virtue of Catholic faith, I was baptized Edito and by virtue of my civil records, I an known as Guillermo. Now, I am having an identity crisis. I do not know anymore how to call myself. I come from the island of Negros. As a mother tongue, I speak “Cebuano”, the national language of the south. I am the sixth in a family of seven, four boys and two girls. Inspired by the simple but rich and nurturing faith of my family and my parish, I decided to join the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1986. For four years I received my college formation at Maryshore CICM Mission Seminary in Bacolod City while earning a degree in philosophy at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod. In 1991, after a year in the Verbist CICM novitiate, Taytay Rizal, I professed my first religious vows. Then, I moved to CICM-Asia Regional Formation Community, our theologate house in New Manila, Quezon City. For three years, I studied theology at Maryhill School of Theology. In 1994, I flew to Belgium to study French and so prepared myself for the French Speaking island of Haiti. That island where Columbus landed 500 years ago and where I am now.
My first months here in Haiti were very exciting. I was delighted by the kindness of the confreres. Some talked to me in English, others, French, with some flavors of Creole, Haiti national language; still others spoke in a combination of the three. But all to the same purposes: to make me feel at home! Getting to know Haiti especially its culture and language is an important part in this period. A professor in Creole gave me lessons for two months. With the help of my Belgium-learned French plus the non –sophisticated grammar of Creole, I learned the language easily. After the forma lessons in Creole, some experts spoke to us on politics. Economy, history, media, theology, family in Haiti. All was given in Creole. These sessions were coupled with exposure to some important and historical places here, the whole program gave me a general picture of this county and prepared me to learned form this new culture.