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Philippines

Candle in the Dark

By Mandy Ochoa


Photo Courtesy :  Abs-Cbn

I felt I was on top of the world I had everything I wanted: fame, girls, my own car and my own house. But I wasn’t happy I felt empty inside.

My real name is Emmanuel which means God is with us. It is a name that holds a special significance during Christmas time because it’s the same name that was given the Lord Jesus Christ when he was born in Bethlehem – God coming to the world to be among us. And now that Christmas is just around the corner, I feel that special affiliation to Jesus once again. I feel lucky to have been named after Him. And I join the rest of the world in welcoming the wonderful, joyous Christmas season, at the same time commemorating the birth of our Savior and joining in the merry revelry that comes with the season.

A Grain of Salt

By Fr. Jaime Del Rosario, omi

I came here in Japan 1996, I was ordained in September, 1995 at the Our Lady of Grace Parish in Caloocan City as an O.M.I. priest. I ministered in that Oblate Parish as a deacon and then as a priest for some months. Coming to Japan as a new priest, at the age of 28 is a really challenging mission for me.

The Oblates are known to going for the most difficult missions. As a seminarian I had a great desire to go the difficult missions, particularly in foreign lands. I thought that it was a noble self-offering to the Lord. But now that I’m into a difficult mission, I begin to realize that “difficult” really is difficult.

Hostage


His days as hostage of Muslim rebels last year highlighted the difficulties of Fr. Des Hartford’s mission reconciliation.

On 7 November last, Fr. Des Hartford, Apostolic Administrator of Marawi in the Philippines, was released by his captors and walked for two hours through the forest of Mindanao to freedom. His ordeal began eleven days previously when he was abducted by former members of the Moro National Liberation Front. By their action they hoped to bring pressure on the government of the Philippines to fulfill promises made when an amnesty was signed some years ago. Fr. Hartford, who has worked for almost thirty years in the promotion of peace in this conflict area, represents the Catholic bishops on the Mindanao Tripartite Commission for dialogue.

A New Springtime Coming

By Tony O’Brien

Fair exchange

In March 1997, Frs. Joseph Cho and Felix Lee of Seoul Archdiocese, who were ordained in 1992, came to the Philippines for six years as associate Columban priests. In the Philippines they will work with Columbans and Filipino diocesan priests. In September 1997 two newly ordained Columban Filipino priests, Leo Distor and Abraham Sumalinog returned to Korea where they had spent two years as students on overseas training.

Death Where is Thy Sting

By Johnny Hagad

Titay Hagad, a life long committed Christian and our own dear promoter of MISYON, departed this life two years ago, Johnny, her husband, has kindly given us permission to print the following from the book he wrote, Looking Back for Tomorrow.

It was on the Eve of Christmas of 1995 when a bolt fell from the sky. For sometime, Titay had been coughing but we both dismissed it as caused by the weather. By December, however, I had become worried by its persistence and on December 24th I told her we had better consult a doctor. She agreed to go to the hospital for a medical check-up, after the New Year, we flew to Manila for the Scan, Dr. Villalon confirmed tour worst fears. It was positively lung cancer which had already spread, asked what he suggested for treatment, the doctor said: “Don’t touch it. Just live as normal a life as you can.”

Be Patient with Us

By Fr. Eugene Canete, CICM

On the afternoon of December 18, 1995, I was ordained a priest in Mandaue City, Cebu, the event was like a Family Day, a grand reunion of relatives, friends and confreres. Some interpreted the occasion as standing for the missionary animation of my parish. For myself, it was more of a Thanksgiving Day for a dream come true. Truly, I thank God for all that has been in my life.

Don't Let Go of your Dream

By Sr. Leonor Montiel, MM

Sister Leonor (Len) Montiel of Romblon is off to Cambodia to join the Maryknoll and to fulfill her dream.

My name is Maria Leonor Montiel and I was born in Looc, Romblon on December 30, 1970, the youngest of the two sons and five daughters of Lucy and Juanito G. Montiel.

After my graduation at the Ateneo, I work with Vietnamese Refugees as a teacher for one year at the Philippines Refugee Processing Center at Bataan Working with the Vietnamese refugees made me race how rich each of our cultures is, as well as the fact the no one culture is perfect.

Brave Journey

By Bro. Condrado Lagaya, SDB

It has been two years since that tragic death of the Jesuits Missionary, Bro Richie Fernando, SJ, here in Cambodia. His memory is still alive among the Catholic communities, especially with the students and staff of the rehabilitation school. Though his mortal remains rest in the Philippines, some of his blood is now enshrined in a tomb placed on top of small mound. And on January 25, 1997, this mound was visited by two Bro. Richie’s loved ones, his mother and his brother.

Telegram from Purgatory

By Fr. Eammon Fleming

It was summertime in Lanao del Sur, Mindanao. In that year 1974 there was turmoil in the Province. I was parish priest of St. Mary‘s parish in Marawi City and chaplain to the Mindanao State University. There had been an insurrection a few years earlier and since we were still under Martial Law there were many skirmishes between the army and the Moro National Liberation Force.

Whiter China

By Sr. Josefina Santos, SPC

A Filipino Sister makes a pilgrimage to China and reports on the difficult situation of the divided Church.

No in my dreams did I ever imagine myself walking on Chinese soil. If someone had told me when I was a child that I would one day see China. I would have said. “You must be joking.” And yet this impossibility became a reality on August 21, 1996 when I set foot in Beijing, the heart of China, with a group of 53 parishioners of St. Margaret’s Church.

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