By Gee-Gee O. Torres

Fr. Philomeno Mahusay is from La Castellana, Negros Occidental. He was the first member of the Missionary Society of Philippine Bishops to be sent on mission abroad. He has been on mission inThailand for almost 25 years now. We also have Sr. Mercedes Dagoob, dc from Iloilo who has been there since 1969. Our editorial assistant, Gee-Gee Torres, visited them in Thailand. Here she tells us of this encounter.

I first met my guide-to-be, Fr. Leo Ochoa, sdb from Isabela, Negros Occidental, in Udonthani. Chaiyaphum was the first on our itinerary. This was the place where Fr. Phil is at present. We called him from Udon and asked if we could possibly see him. He said, “Great. Come over right away.”

Visit to Chaiyaphum

We almost got lost on our way to Chaiyaphum. Fr. Leo admitted that this was the first time he’d gone to Fr. Phil’s place. Luckily Fr. Leo had brought his comprehensive road map. Anyway we couldn’t have missed it because Fr. Phil was right there at the entrance of his farm standing along the road waiting for us. When we came to stop, he jumped on the hood and shouted “Sige na. Sige na.” as he waved his hand up on the air directing Fr. Leo. Fr. Leo behind the steering wheel was also shouting him teasingly. “Ano man ni ang imo lugar man.” It was a complete riot having the three of us Negrenses together.

Ambush Interview

He gave us a quick tour around the places as it was almost 6 in the evening. Then we had dinner. Thanks to Sr. Mercedes Dagoob for the delicious dinner. I really enjoyed the spicy sinigang with fresh eel from their own fishpond. After dinner I began my interview with Fr. Phil. it wasn’t easy because Fr. Leo and Fr. Phil were exchanging stories while the interview was going on. They where like friends who haven’t seen each other for years. The interview took so long that I had to ask a cup of salabat(ginger tea) just to keep myself awake and gather enough data for an article in Misyon. So here it is.

First Assignment

Fr. Phil’s first assignment was in a parish. It wasn’t easy to work far away from home and live in a Buddhist community; with very few Christians around it can be a very lonely life. He searched out immigrant Catholics who had moved from other places and looked after them carefully, visiting them house-to-house. In his whole parish maybe he had only 30 parishioners at one stage. However this didn’t discourage him in pursuing his mission.

Farming Project

Tapioka is the main crop in the village where he was assigned. The people were in the hands of loan sharks and could not escape from them. He got involved in farming in an attempt to help the people out of this quagmire. With the help of foreign aid, he bought a piece of land and started farming projects – orchard, ricefield, sugarcane field, spices and herbs, fishpond. These projects alleviated the lives of the people and helped them to escape from the burden of debt.

As the years went by, Fr. Phil continually reflected on what a missionary ought to be doing. He decided to put the emphasis on the words of our Lord: “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do it to me.” and to give witness to Christ’s presence looking after the poorest of the poor. And in his present parish in Chaiyaphum he discovered that the poorest of the poor turned out to be the tragic HIV victims and those with AIDS. Hence he has begun a program to look after people with AIDS.

Fr. Phil tours Gee-Gee around the farm.

Human Touch

He could have set up a sort of hospital where victims could be given full and complete medical care. But he opted to put up Mary’s Help Center were the staff will visit the patients in their own homes. They may be given the latest technological help in the hospital, but how about the human touch and affection? Fr. Phil felt that this care and affection is better given in their own homes.

He invited the Daughters of Charity to come to the parish. Three Filipino Sisters, Srs. Mercedes Dagoob & Mae Alere from Iloilo and Francesca Bagalso from Laguna are helping him in his work. There I met Sr. Mercedes, another Ilonggo. She was one among the four pioneers of their Congregation to be sent to Thailand.

I asked her how she feels about her work. She said, “I find fulfillment in my work. In my 20 years of taking care of leprosy patients, I learned how to be a nurse and a doctor at the same time. Some patients who came to the clinic felt desolate to the point of committing suicide. We make them feel important and loved and because of this they eventually realize the value of life and find meaning in it. Some of them even became Catholics.”

Sr. Mercedes tells Gee-Gee what its like to be a missionary in Thailand

Abilities not Disabilities

She has also worked with the handicapped and disabled. She learned so much about patience in dealing with them. They walk very slowly; they move very slowly. “During meetings, you cannot expect them to come on time,” she said.” You just have to wait for them. What I do is to focus on their abilities and not on their disabilities. One time I asked one of the handicapped people, "Why aren’t you studying well?” she answered that the time has not yet come. This struck me.” Today this girl employed as a staff member in a foundation for the disabled which makes handicraft products.

A Road Less Traveled

At present Sr. Mercedes is in Chaiyaphum helping Fr. Phil in his AIDS program. She together with the other sisters does house-to-house visitation, encouraging people to look after AIDS victims in their own homes and then helping them to do so with advice and support. They talk and listen to their stories. The patients appreciate the time they spend with them for their presence only shows that people still care.

Fr. Phil and Sr. Mercedes live for the service of these AIDS victims. I suppose we can call this a road less traveled.

Planting rice is always fun for Fr. Phil

Today Thailand is one of the worst AIDS disaster areas in Asia. Official figure from the health minister show that there are about 1 million HIV positive people in Thailand of which 50, 000 have AIDS

The growth industry in Thailand today is crematoria for the AIDS victims.