By Sr. Lilia Conol, MMS

My full-time involvement in the AIDS program and Home-Based Care here in Malawi had given me access to people’s homes, mostly the poor and the needy of the nine parishes assigned to me. Orphans continue to increase as a consequence of the AIDS/HIV epidemic and the future for the children looks bleak. My hope is that the prayers of these orphans for a nurturing environment free from physical and emotional hunger be granted.  It is spiritually nurturing for me to spend time with the children as they learn to play with numbers and the alphabet.

Milikah and her daughter Chimwemwe (meaning joy) in their home during one of my visits. Chimwemwe died a month after this picture was taken – another victim of the AIDS epidemic.

Milikah’s house and porch are now used by pre school orphans on weekday morning hours for their maize-soya porridge and learning their ABC’s and counting numbers while waiting for the porridge to be cooked.

A Mass in commemoration of all, those who have died under our care and prayers and of healing for those who are sick. The officiating priest is Fr. Pino Giannini, a Comboni missionary who is always willing to help us.

A 30-kilometer ‘Big Walk’ for the AIDS/HIV victims, orphans & elderly. Mrs. Rehina Makswel walking beside me is the chairwoman of the Ndirande parish HBC-Volunteers for the past 5 years now.

My name is Vincent Acierto. I am 9 years old, Grade IV, studying at Southville International School. I was born onFebruary 1, 1988 and since birth I cannot walk, the doctors said it was a miracle that I survived. I have had eight major operations since I was born. I have to be always in my wheelchair. I was a sickly boy since birth. I was always in the hospital almost every two months. But for three years now, I don’t get sick anymore. And I thank God and Mama Mary very much for it. All of my pains and sufferings I just offer them to our Lord because it was He who gave me and all of us our lives. Without God we are nothing, we can do nothing in this world without him. When I was 4 years old, I was given Holy Communion and I served the Mass of my priest friend Reverend Fr. Jerry Orbos, and SVD missionary. Do you know what a missionary is? They are those who leave their family, home and country, go out and teach the people how to go to heaven. Sometimes they are killed or get sick in other countries or they die without seeing their family anymore. And we have to pray for them so that they will always be protected by Mama Mary and our Lord.

St. Therese of Lisieux

There is a saint and her name is St. Therese of the Little Flower of Jesus. She is the patroness of the Missions.  She did not leave the convent as a nun but she prayed very hard for the missionaries. She offered not only her prayers but also her sacrifices like not watching TV and fasting from junk food and by praying especially the rosary. We can offer them for the people’s conversion, for people who are sick, for sinners everywhere, for poor souls in purgatory. God has told us “Love one another as I have loved you.” Let us give food and clothing to other people who are poor. And it becomes a mission for us already.

In the morning, let us say our prayers offering everything we shall do for the say to our Lord. Let use consecrate ourselves to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary so that we will only do good things for the day and offer them for missionaries.

Please allow me to pray for  before you the Prayer for Missionaries

A Prayer for Missionaries

Most loving Father, bless your missionaries who have left home, country and family to proclaim the gospel to all nations braving deprivation, loneliness and even persecution that the heart of Jesus may live in the hearts of all.

Protect them from all dangers, strengthen them in their trials, give the perseverance and reward them in this life and in the life to come for their sacrifices and generosity for the kingdom. Short of being out there myself I offer you this heartfelt prayer that I am a missionary, too, and that I should spread the Good News wherever I am, whatever I do.

This I ask in the name of Jesus, the Divine Word. Amen.

By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Airport Time

‘Scientific’ time is always a problem here in Ghana. It is almost next to impossible to start any activity promptly and exactly as it is scheduled . But once in Sogleboi village I was impressed that the people really agreed to have the Mass at 5:30 a.m. sharp which they did. After the Mass the men, excited, were rushing. “Why the rush?” I asked. “Father, they are going hunting,” said the Catechist. “Now I understand why you were early for the Mass,” I murmured to myself.

White Coffee

Gladys Dalanao, my lovely grandniece, was brought by her mother to Sunnyside SVD Retreat House in Baguio City for a visit when she was seven years old. Offering them snacks, I put milk in her tea. Looking at it curiously, she said, “Look Ma, their coffee here is white”, to the embarrassment of her mother.

Where the Cows Are

During my catechism class in Kunsu village, I was explaining the Sign of the Cross stressing that it is the trademark of a Catholic – a way by which we know one is a Catholic even without asking the person. Similarly, among the different tribes here in Ghana, each has its own tribal mark. For instance, “How do you know one belongs to a Grussi tribe?” “When he is following the cows,” shouted one boy at the back to the laughter of the whole class. (Fulanis are still wanderers living by following wherever their cows go.)

Walang Diesel

At Gulumpe, I was vehemently accused of irregular visits. Before I could say anything, one member of the Christian Mothers’ Association came along and sprung to my defense saying, “He could not come; there was a diesel shortage for sometime.” I did not say anything except inside I was laughing for there was indeed a diesel crisis but it had been a year ago.

Sinister Hand

In Busuama, I asked our catechumens, “Why do we touch the left shoulder first before the right in making the Sign of the Cross?” “Because Christ’s left arm was nailed first on the cross,” quickly came a reply from a small boy. I like this question most because it always generates a healthy quarrel among the catechumens. After exhausting all possible reasons, I came in with a simple explanation: Well, the left is usually associated with something bad. That is why in your culture, you do not shake hands with your left; you do not eat with your left. “Left” is sinister. So, in making the sign of the cross, we touch the left first to mean, God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to make bad people good (right hand is associated with what is good). This they really remember.

Sister Josefina Santos, spc (extreme left) with her companions in Hong Kong

By Sr. Josefina Santos SPC

I grew up in the lovely island of Culion. One day I strayed and found myself in unfamiliar territory walking along a river bank. Because most of the stones were big and slippery I had to walk slowly and with great difficulty so as not to fall. From time to time there were huge boulders, wild bushes, and twisted branches of trees blocking my way. All these obstacles however did not deter me from pursuing what I had set out for – to find the church.

Which Way?

I must have been walking for hours and hours before I came to a fork dividing the river into two. I was in a dilemma as to which direction to take when I heard someone calling my name. A friend and neighbor, Estelita, was swimming in the middle of the fork in the river. When I called to her to ask where the church was, she pointed to the right, shouting and frantically waving at the same time, “This way! Go this way!” For some reason, I didn’t believe her.

Faraway Church

With slow and agonizing steps I set out again but to the left. I walked on and on until, with my back bent and my head drooping from tiredness, I happened to look up and saw  a Sister of St. Paul standing on high ground overlooking the river.  It was Sr. Raphael, and I had known her when I was a child. I was so happy and excited. Of course, she knew! “There is the Church!” I walked up towards her, then looking at the direction of her pointed finger I saw a vast sea, and on a far distant island the white outline of a church. My heart sank! The sight of the sea and the distance I still had to travel took all my courage away, and with it went my strength and determination to continue my journey.

Just a Dream

Dejectedly I turned back to where I came from. An in no time I was home. Odd, but the way back was easy and quick. Then I woke up. It was a dream, a dream which still remains so vivid and fresh in my memory even after more than forty years.

Go On or Give Up

I find this dream so meaningful for it matches the story of my vocation, except the ending. In my dream I turned back, in reality I continued my search. Like my dream, I met so many obstacles. Twice I applied to enter the Sisters of St. Paul in the Philippines and twice I was rejected. I couldn’t pass the medical examination. The fork and my friend urging me to take the wrong direction represented the time when I was about to leave the Philippines and go abroad to get work. I was so overwhelmed with sadness – I was leaving my dear family and my country. “Perhaps I had no vocation,” I thought. I was ready to back out. Thank God, I didn’t.

Finding the Church

So, like my dream, I found my ‘church’ – beyond the seas. I was accepted in the Sisters of St. Paul inHong Kong. I did my noviciate in Rome in 1966 and my formation in London in 1968. Now I am here in Hong Kong as a professed Sister.

Way in the Back Door

God’s ways are indeed strange. On my first home visit to the Philippines, I went to the Provincial House I Antipolo. As I joined the other Sisters in prayer in the chapel, I was in awe. I couldn’t help thinking to myself, “I am not supposed to be here, and yet I am. I was not allowed to enter the front door, but God opened the back door for me.” In a flash the only proverb I could remember from my Spanish class back in college came to me, “El hombre propone, pero Dios dipone!” (Man proposes, but God disposes.)

By Gee-Gee Torres

Sr. Juana Argota, DC is from Tanauan, Leyte and the youngest of 6 children. She has been a missionary in Thailand for the past 27 years. At present she runs the Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme for the Disabled and the Handicapped in Loei. Our editorial assistant visited her and tells her story.

Sea of Mountains

Sr. Juana and I met in Udon. She invited me to visit the rehabilitation center where she is presently assigned. I was delighted to go with her. This time the trip only took two hours, unlike my previous trips to the Augustinian Sisters in Thare and Franciscan Sister in Ubon Ratchathani. Again I enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. The province of Loei is surrounded with mountain ranges covered with trees. No wonder it is called the Sea of Mountains.  I thought of the barren mountains in the Philippines and I was saddened. I wish that these mountain ranges in Loei will still be the same in the years to come.

It was almost dark when we arrived in Loei. The Sisters’ house is a kilometer away from the highway. It is in the middle farm, cornfields all around. As soon as we got off the pick-up, Sr. Juana told me that she would first feed her chickens, then we’d have our dinner. Hurriedly she got her paraphernalia – flashlight, apron, pail, chicken feed-and off we went to the chicken house in the backyard.

She was delighted to see her chickens. It was fun watching her feed them while talking to them in Tagalog, asking them how they were doing and checking out that each had gotten home safe. They seemed to understand each other. Sr. Juana must have taught them Tagalog well. I was also amazed when Sister told me that this and that chick were the offspring of this and that hen. Wow, talk about photographic memory, Sister!

Occupational Therapy

The next day Sr. Juana brought me to the Rehabilitation Center. The Center gives occupational therapy for persons with disabilities. The staff visits them in their homes to encourage and help them become self-reliant. They are given opportunities to study and take up vocational courses like electronics and sewing.

Lonsan

I met Lonsan in Udon. He’s one of the people whom the Rehabilitation Center in Loei had helped. I watched him do his paintings using his foot skillfully. Besides his gift for painting, Lonsan has a compassionate heart. He shares his talent with others. Occasionally he conducts art classes. Lonsan must have learned such good virtue from the wonderful people around him.

He is presently staying in the Diocese of Bishop George Phimphisan in Udon. Bishop George provides Lonsan painting materials and takes care of selling his paintings.

Lonsan can also do some carpentry with his foot.  He made his own drawing table.  And he also designed a device to assist him in brushing his teeth.

Meaw

Lonsan has changed the life of Meaw by teaching him how to paint. When I first saw Meaw in her home I thought she just a toddler lying on the floor. But she’s 28 years old. Her hands and legs are deformed since birth

Now however wither new skill she does simple paintings such as flowers, butterflies and trees which are bought my Niramit Craft. Her paintings are made into greeting cards by Niramit Craft. Indeed a new dignity. Indeed a new life.

Niramit Craft

Niramit Craft is an offshoot of the occupational therapy of the Center. This projects aims to develop these special people to become self-reliant so that they can accept themselves as they are and be accepted by society as well. They make handicraft products such as frames and baskets made from newspapers and old telephone directories, folders, calling card boxes and tissue holders made from cardboard wrapped in Isan cloth-hand woven cloth specially made in Northeast Thailand. Niramit Craft is a member of the Thai Craft Association. Their products are sold in Bangkok. During Christmas they are particularly busy because of orders for Christmas giveaways.

Sr. Juana said working in the Rehabilitation Center demands a lot of patience. She has to continually train all the members and staff. However despite everything, she loves her work and finds fulfillment when she sees them develop and gradually being able to manage their own lives.

There are times when the she wishes she could bring these people back to the time of Jesus Christ and ask Him for a miracle to heal them. But I think God has already performed that miracle. For these special people, Sr. Juana is the miracle.

P.S. Sr. Juana, thank you for all the trouble you went to in bringing me to the border near Laos, in Kaeng Khut Khu, to see the Mekong River and to Thabum where I met on of our Filipino teachers

By Jerry Esplanada

First time to this islet of Malitam Dos, sitting at the mouth of the Calumpang River in Batangas, will be surprised to find its 250 plus residents speaking a strange tongue. Instead of Tagalog, the locals converse in Sinama, the language of the Badjaos, the boat people of Southern Mindanao. Why? Because they are Badjaos. During the past 15 years, hundreds of them have made the difficult voyage from Zamboanga City and the island –province of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to coastal areas in Luzon and the Visayas. Some Badjaos have moved to as far as Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative region and the local provinces and parts of Central Mindanao and the Caraga region. The government classifies them as internal refugees – people displaced by, among other things, militarization and harassment by pirates and other criminal groups.

First the Pirates

Suhayle Ache, a fisherman and leader of the small Badjao community here, says his family fled Lamitan, Basilan, in the late 1970’s because of the deteriorating peace and order situation there. “First, the pirates. Then, groups of Muslim secessionist rebels and criminals elements like the Ilaga gang and bandits from neighboring provinces were making our lives miserable. Killings, lootings, burning and strafing of houses he recalls. We had no choice but to leave our place birth.”

No Longer Live in Boats

Ache, who does not know his age but thinks he is in his 60’s, says eleven other Badjao families joined his family in their trip to Cebu, the first leg of a journey that would end in Luzon. “We left our boats behind, took an inter-island vessel in Zamboanga City and settled temporarily in Daan Bantayan in Cebu. From there, we moved to Masbate, then Sorsogon, southern Quezon and finally here to Batangas City,” he said. Here, Badjaos live in thatched huts, made of scrap wood and plastic sheets, not in moored boats as they did back home. They make a living by fishing off nearby Verde and Maricaban islands and buying and selling pearls necklaces and shells.

Pollution

The city government earlier declared the islet Malitam Dos off limits because of its proximity to the Shell refinery in Tabangao. “Due to environmental reasons, we had relocated the squatter families who used to live in Malitam,” says Mila Espanola, city social welfare officer.

But after the squatters were gone, the homeless Badjao refugees from the south came, and three was no stopping them. They had no other place to settle down. “It’s not advisable to live there,” says Espanola, “The Badjaos, especially the children, may be exposed to air pollution. And the place gets flooded during the typhoon season.” Portions of the islet are slowly being eroded by river currents and the waters of Batangas Bay.

Flexible lifestyle

But the Badjaos do not consider that a problem. Ache says they "can always move elsewhere”. Ache, who doubles as a medicine man, describes the Batanguenos here as “very accommodating and hospitable”.  Ache’s neighbor, boat maker Sali Lamani, agrees. “At first we expected some hostility and human rights violations. But our fears did not materialize. I think we’re lucky to have settled here in Batangas,” says Lamani.

Other internal refugees have been tagged as rebels by host communities because they came from insurgency-devastated areas. “We have shown our hosts that, like them, we are also peace-loving and that Badjaos are trustworthy, contrary to what some people say about Muslims,” says Ache son, Sani.

But times have changed, says Ache. “We have managed to buy some battery-operated household appliances and maintain a bangka-bangka (small boat). Sometimes we run out of food, but we don’t mind. “We’re happy because we’re living in peace.”

By Sr. Mary Angela Battung RGS

Filipinos in Exile

In the late 19th century, many Filipinos went and settled in Europe to continue their studies, to flee from persecution by their Spanish colonizers, or to seek reforms. They were called “Filipinos in exile”.

Today, the Filipinos who leave their country are called “Overseas Workers”. They have the reputation of being willing to do work that is considered dangerous, dirty, humiliating; and most Filipino women are presumed to be either domestic helpers, nannies or entertainers. Many of the women I minister to in Our Lady of Lourdes parish are so stigmatized by this perception or image of them that they have a very low self -esteem while others are so angry; they are defensive and prefer to stay on the periphery of the parish.

Uphill Battle

The Filipinos I minister to are here to escape economic difficulties. They believe that Canada can provide them with better opportunities to gain a higher economic status, develop professional skills, pursue higher education or find refuge from political and military oppression. Some came not by choice as much as by necessity. While a few have realized their dreams, for most of the search for a more secure future has been up uphill battle.

Community of Pilgrims

Our pastor, Reverend Robert Foliot, SJ, asked me to do pastoral work with the Filipinos in our parish. All the Jesuits and staff are committed to a ministry of bringing the Good News to our “Community of Pilgrims” gathered from different lands and different culture. We are all committed to the human and spiritual healing and integral development of the immigrants, the ones discriminated against and alone on the fringes of society. Father Foliot asked me to help the Filipino community to integrate its value in the Canadian church and society.

Their Struggle

I hear stories of Filipinos here – the challenges they meet in adapting to the Canadian way of life. They describe their feelings to pain and alienation, loneliness and isolation. They are depressed by the indifference of people and confused, adjusting to a new culture – multi-cultural, multi- racial – while trying to maintain a personal sense of identity. They are frightened by the violence in a society whose economic and social structures have declined over the past decade (bringing out the best in some Canadians and the worst in those who have become aggressively fearful and resentful towards immigrants, especially Asians). The struggle for survival continues, the “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” is always elusive.

By Fr. Bart Pastor

Fr. Bart Pastor runs the Family of God Little Children – a charismatic community in Tacloban Leyte (1977). He shares with us the importance of the Holy Spirit in all our, work, especially if we are involved in the Social Gospel. His commitment to social transformation goes way back to the early seventies. But he tells us that along the way back he had much to learn. He went down some dead ends, but in the end the Holy Spirit led him to a more wholistic approach to his priestly vocation.

Freeing the Captives

In the early seventies I was convinced that as an Alter Christus it was my mission to save the Filipino people from poverty, misery and oppression which I blamed in great parts on the imperialist and colonial powers of the West. As a priest my mission was “to bring the Good News to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, sight to the blind and freedom to the oppressed.” [Luke 4:18] A touch of the Messianic Complex.

Author: Fr Bart Pastor

Something was Wrong

Body and soul I devoted myself to organizing and encouraging the landless tenants and slum dwellers to fight for their right and to bring about social and economic transformation. To my frustrations however, in spite of all my efforts, I witnessed our people sinking ever deeper into social,  economic and political depression. What was wrong? What was missing? Where had I failed?

Pastoral Activities

During all this time I also had a full pastoral schedule. I baptized thousands of infants, solemnized weddings, blessed the dead and new houses, celebrated daily Masses, preached pious sermons and I prayed novenas in honor of patron saints. How effective were these pastoral activities in dethroning the unbridled greed, the unmitigated pride and the runaway lust for power which I saw around me among the rich and influential?

Crisis

A crisis came in my life. I began to ask myself how relevant was my priestly ministry in the face of the enormous social problems of our country? Was my being a priest useful at all in the effort to dismantle oppressive social structures? I guess my answer was almost always a large NO. As a result I began to feel disillusionment with my priesthood. I know this happens to many other priests like myself. I know that many other priests left the priesthood as a result of this disillusionment. For me it was a crucial moment. I was confused and struggling to make up my mind whether to continue as a priest or not.

Miracle of Sequence Prayer

But I was lucky, or I should say blessed, because when Pentecost 1975 came something special happened to me. The Lord in His unlimited mercy miraculously touched my life. On that Pentecost day while I was listening to and praying the sequence prayer of the Mass He opened my heart to His Spirit. The sequence prayer was written hundreds of years ago by Thomas Aquinas. I will quote some of his beautiful lines:

Come, Holy Spirit, come
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poorCome, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine!
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where your are not, man has naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stain of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

Blocking the Holy Spirit

As I listened to the prayer suddenly the Holy Spirit made me see what was wrong with my life, what was missing in my effort at social transformation, what was lacking in my pastoral activities. The problem was the absence of the Holy Spirit. I had not asked Him to take charge of my pastoral ministry. I had not given Him a chance to work with me, through me and in me. In spite of my hard work and dedication He was practically locked out of my life and ministry. I realize that in the noise and clamor of my work for social justice I was in a way doing an injustice to the Lord. I had missed the first line of Luke 4:18, that line which says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me,” I was not allowing the Spirit of the Lord to rest upon me.

God’s Transforming Power

Today things have changed. Oh yes, I am the same frail me but I have learned a lot. Never again would I want the Spirit of the Lord to be locked out from my life and pastoral ministry and my work for justice. As I serve in a community of disciples, I am making sure that the Holy Spirit always occupies the center of our Christian community life and activities. I believe efforts should not be spared to teach our Filipino Catholics the significance of our baptismal character and to woo them to experience God’s transforming power through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Richness

Our Filipino people may not become affluent and powerful according to the world’s standard, but by the baptism of the Holy Spirit however we are richly graced and empowered. Various initiatives and ministries inspired by the Holy Spirit through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal should be coordinated for greater effectiveness and lasting fruitfulness in the work of evangelization and church renewal. For me this is a real spiritual revolution.

Our work for the poor is an essential part of our being a Christian. But the Holy Father in is letter Redemptoris Missio [par. 83] tells us that our work of evangelization can never be reduced to that. He says, “The poor are hungry for God, not just for bread and freedom. Our activities must fist of all bear witness to and proclaim salvation in Christ and establish local Churches which then become a means of liberation in every sense.”

By Fr. Aodh O’Halpin, MSSC

Fr. Aodh O’Halpin, Columban chaplain to migrants in London, describes for us the kinds of things that happen in the lives of domestic workers. He has worked in London since the early 1980’s after having been in Mindanao for more than 20 years

“I now know that princesses, diplomats, doctors of medicine and other normally respectable people keep bonded, indentured domestics in virtual slavery and all too often their misdeeds go unchecked....Domestics from overseas, nearly all working for foreign employers and mostly in London and the home counties, remain wide open to exploitation.” Harsh words but they came from none other than Lord Hylton in the foreword to Bridget Anderson’s books Britain Secret Slaves.

About Domestic Slavery

Bridget Anderson’s book looks at the causes of migration, the sad situation of many Asian domestic workers in the Gulf States, particularly post-Liberation Kuwait and the problem of domestic slavery in Britain. There are many personal accounts of the indignities suffered by defenseless women. A number of organizations in Britain are concerned about the situation of overseas domestic workers who come to Britain with their employers.

For many years Columban priests and sisters have worked alongside others on the Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers (CFMW). Since 1987 I have also been associated with Kalayaan, an organization based in London which concerns itself with the needs of domestic workers of all nationalities.

Deprived Rights

There are many domestic workers in Britain who arrived classified as members of the household o f people from other countries. As a general rule domestic workers accompanying their employers are admitted into Britain. Outside the household of their employers they have no rights. Among them are women who suffer all kinds of mistreatment and run away from their employer as soon as the opportunity arises. They then become illegal immigrants as the terms of their entry to Britain does not allow them to change employment.

The Survey

A survey carried by CFMW/ Kalayaan among 666 overseas workers who ran away reveals the reasons:

Psychological abuse – 91.9%
Physical abuse - 33.6%
Sexual abuse – 6.3%
No regular food - 62.3%
Not paid regularly – 81%
No time off – 95%
Not having a bed – 51%

Their average working day was 17.5 hours and average monthly salary $180. If one takes the descriptions of slavery as give in 20th century human rights charters them the situation of many of these workers is one of slavery or virtual slavery.

Lisa’s Case

Lisa was a typical case of one of these who arrived at our center. Four months previously she had arrived in Britain. She had never been allowed outside the house for her employer. Her spirit was broken from continual abuse, insults and beatings by her employer. Finally, she ran away one day when the door was left open. She knew nobody in London. She just kept running until she saw a Filipino at a bus stop who talked to her and took her to the center. Over the past ten years over 4, 000 women in situations similar to that of Lisa have come to our centre.

Refuge Center

The police and local authorities have referred people in difficulties to us. The center provides as safe haven and it is a place where people can talk freely make friends and often begin new life and a new job. Over the past year the centre has responded to 8,000 requests by phone or visit for help for the migrant community. There is average of 20 visitors a day to the center and on Sunday there may be as many as 80.

Organization’s Domestic Worker

Classes and weekend courses are a regular feature of life at the center in London’s Notting Hill where accommodation is shared by Kalayaan and CFMW and the Brent Asian Women’s Centre. There are other courses on computer use, dressmaking, hairdressing, music and cultural programs, human development, with special attention to women’s issues since most of those who come are women. Retreats and opportunities for spiritual growth are also offered.  Domestic workers now have a strong and active organization of over 600 members.

The CFMW with which I am principally involved has many other aspects to its work such as helping people to settle in and adjust, visits to hospitals and searches for missing persons. A housing association has been set up to attend to the needs of the homeless in the Filipino Community.

Support from People

Our efforts to improve the situation of people like Lisa have received support from many people. Lord Hylton and a number of MPs have promoted the cause in Parliament. A large number of domestic workers are members of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), and this union has been supportive. The late Cardinal Hume helped on many occasions.

Gathered Pieces

Fro those of us who work with migrants at the Kalayaan Centre the going can be heavy at times but there is plenty of joy and laughter. There is a great satisfaction especially seeing happiness come again into the lives of those who were broken and terrified when they first arrived on our doorstep.

Finally, she ran away one day when the door was left open. She knew nobody in London. She just kept running until she saw a Filipino at a bus stop who talked to her and took her to the centre.

Traditionally missionaries used to go from west to east. Now they are going from east to west. Six young Filipino women have gone to Ireland to share their faith in a country which is struggling to retain its own faith. This is apart of the Columban Lay Mission Program.

Maria Leonora “Leonor” Fatimah Agan

Leonor is 23 and is from Davao City and graduated wit ha Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While her family describes her as shy and dependent, her friends find her funny, brave and adventurous. Singing and fencing are among her hobbies. She came to Lay Mission from working as an account executive in Makati.

“Although I’ve had no experience in working with and for refugees, I have always had this special interest in them. Coming from a broken family, I feel that I can also work in a family ministry especially with the youth who come from dysfunctional families.”

Maricel “Macel” Bedra

Macel is 24 and is from the sugar-producing town of Victorias, Negros Occidental. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. As Macel loves to dance, she became a Physical Education teacher at a school for girls in Bacolod for three years before finally deciding to be a missionary.

“The career was satisfactory but still I opted to experience the fullness of life with the people. Serving God as a lay missionary is my way of giving Him back all His goodness to me and to my family.”

Eden “Ed” de la Cruz

Ed finished a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. She is originally from Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She is 37 and has already worked as a volunteer at the Center for Filipino Migrant Workers in Hong Kongprior to joining the Lay Mission Program.

“While working in Hong Kong and spending my free time as a volunteer with ASEAN migrant workers. I met a Columban priest who interested me in joining lay mission.

Angelica “Angie” Escarsa

Angie is 25 years old and completed her degree in Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Playing the guitar and watching basketball games are among her many hobbies. She came to layMission from working as a full-time catechist in Subic, Zambales.

“I’ve know personally several Columban priests who were assigned to our province even before I joined the Lay Mission Program. It was through them that I learned about the Society of St. Columban and their vision as missionaries inspired me to also go on mission.”

Venus “Vines” Guibone

Vines, raised in Cagayan de Oro City, is 36 years old. she is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Masters in Pastoral Ministry. She loves singing, reading, gardening and housekeeping. She has worked as a teacher for almost 15 years and as a retreat director. While still studying at LST Ateneo she decided to join the Columban Lay Mission Program.

"In between my teaching career I got involved in pastoral-spiritual programs which brought me to different places and parishes in Mindanao.  my great passion for life has brought me face to face with the desire to be a missionary."

Aurora “Sancha” Magat

Thirty-seven-year-old Sancha graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. A few of her interests include books, sports, cross stitching. She comes from Bulacan and was a Physics teacher in a Quezon City high school before joining the Lay Mission Program.

“My missionary inclination started even when I was still studying where I was involved in a nutrition and environmental awareness program. When I was already working I was with my sister in a Dental-Medical mission, serving people in depressed areas.

By Ed Locsin

Ed Locsin is a well –known evangelizer in Bacolod, Negros. He is much love for his gentle and modest approach. Here he shares with us, at the invitation of the Editor, his life’s journey.

Our father had always encouraged us four boys to be independent and self-sufficient. He did not have an hacienda for us to inherit so he pushed us to work hard for a college education. My three brothers all earned their college degrees and Dad expected me to have one, too. However, unlike my brothers and sisters, I did not have the inclination or drive for study. I was impatient to get on with life. Besides, I knew that I was not cut out to be an employee. I wanted to be an entrepreneur and the sooner I got started, the sooner I could realize my goal. After high school, my father allowed me to go to Honolulu and enroll at the University of Hawaii and take up Agricultural engineering, this because of my love for machines. The plan was for me to get my bachelor’ degree in Hawaii and proceed to the Mainland for my master’s. But I had other plans.

Starting the Steps

After one year of college in Bacolod, I left fro Hawaii by freighter reaching Honolulu after twenty-one days. I chose a freighter not only because it was cheap but I thought I could get some experience on the ship and on visits to the different ports of call. Besides, I loved the sea. What my father did not know was that I planned to stay at the University for only a year or so, come back, start a business and get married. The problem was I had to go through the sophomore and junior years taking up courses that did not have anything to do with actual hands-on engineering. I talked to the college dean about my hurry to get back to the Philippines to help in the rehabilitation of the Sugar Industry and so, if he would please enroll me in the senior year so I could take course dealing with actual machinery work, especially in their research shop. Of course, this was all bull. To my surprise, agreed, on a special visiting colleagues status. I even got invited to tour the Hawaiian Research Station in the island of Maui at their expense. This experience added to what I thought was my ability to b e able to get what I wanted if only I used my head-self-reliance.

On My Own

In Honolulu I had to work for my personal needs since after the war Dad did not have the resources sufficient to sustain my stay in Honolulu. At first resented the idea that I had to work, not realizing at the time that God allows such experiences for His plan for us in the future. Of course, God was very far from my thought at that time. I was focused only on myself and my future.

After one year and a half I came home. I had already written to Dad that I was coming home without a degree. He did not want to receive me at home. Thanks to a mother’s love, Mom convinced him into taking me back.

Top of the World

With my mother’s help, I bought a tract of second growth forest, got married to Jeannette R. de Luzuriaga of Ilog and settled down to make my future of my own to design in my own way, with my own strength, not being aware that God not being aware of God had already started working in my life through many events. We wanted to have several children but God allowed us only one. My wife and I develop the second growth forest into a very diversified farm, not dependent on sugarcane alone, as was the dream of my father, to free us from the bondage of sugar. We put up a meat processing plant serving the needs of local animal growers, especially the poor brickyard hog raisers. The farm and the business prospered. Our son Chito grew to be a hardworking, mature and diligent student, making the dean’s list at La Salle, Taft. He was, at the early age, already helping us out in the business as our company’s representative in Manila and supervising the farm’s machine shop during vacations. I had prepared the future for Chito. We were on the top of the world, giving myself the credit for our success. The God allowed tragedy to invade our lives.

When He Took Everything

Midnight, September 23, 1972, I was asleep alone in the farm. Jeannette was in Manila to visit Chito to make up four our absence at his birthday on September 9 because we were too busy making money. I woke up with a start and sat up. I heard myself saying as if in prayer. (I had not prayed for many years), “Lord, if it is your will to take our most precious, your will be done.” I looked at the clock and it was 12:20 am, September 24. it was the exact time that Chito expired. He died in his sleep, while sleeping next to his mother, of the hemorrhagic pancreatitis or bangungot. This experience, perhaps, is the real turning point of our lives. Jeannette and I, needless to say, were devastated. Our lives, our work, vision and purpose were lost in our grief and self-pity. How could you, God? You’re supposed to be good, loving and merciful. How could you?

Nothing Else but Grief

The farm deteriorated, and with it, our lives. I went deeper into my alcoholism. The next nine years were years of decline, financially, emotionally, and worst, in our marital relationship. I had become a very difficult person to live with. Three times my wife threatened to leave me. Perhaps, it was her own unfailing faith in God that made her go through these very trying times. She was alone in the farm, without anyone or community to support her in her loss and grief. Her strength came from her daily reading of Thomas A’ Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. The year 1981 was a significant year. I was at my lowest. My mother died in May and the business was closed in October.

Matthew 11:28

However, in February of that year I happened to join a Christian community called the Bacolod Prayer Breakfast & Fellowship. I met a Baptist pastor with whom I shared my situation. He led me to the Bible, especially to Matthew 12:28, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” This verse changed my life. He showed me how to read through the Bible and led me to surrender all to Jesus. My hunger for the Word of Good develop rapidly and on September 25, 1981, at 4: 00 o’clock in the morning I made my surrender – all, including the life or my wife, which of course, I found most difficult to do but God said all, total, complete, and so I did with much fear that God might really take my wife’s life as He did with our son.

Freedom at Last!

At that moment the Holy Spirit filled me with God’s peace, an experience that I cannot put into words. All of the sudden everything looked so bright, so full of hope. In fact, I felt the freedom of not being shackled to the business and farm anymore, or to anything else. God is so good that at about the same time, Jeannette also experienced the same freedom, the freedom from the past, and the resentments of Chito’s death. God could use me now the way He wanted me to, ready to obey whatever He wanted me to do, and I told Him so. However, I did not expect that what He wanted from me was something completely out of my character, something that brought a very drastic change to our lives.

I left Everything and Followed Him

In February of 1982, God impressed upon me to leave everything, including the farm and come to Bacolod, after which He would reveal what I was supposed to do. We did exactly that. We looked for a house in the city and moved to live here in July on the same year. Then He led me to teach scriptures to people in remote places. Although I continued to study under the Baptist pastor, I was able led to study more deeply my catholic faith. I found out that everything that attracted me to the Evangelical churches could also be found in Catholic Church, and more – the Eucharist, devotion to Mary and the Magisterium of the Church. In 1986 the P.E.A.C.E. Fellowship, Inc. ( People’s Ecumenical Action for Christians Evangelization) was founded and it is here that I now serve God through its Bible classes, lectures, weekly TV program and weekly fellowship meetings.

Wealthy in God’s Love

We are no longer financially rich but extremely wealthy in God’s love, the peace of Jesus and the joy of the Holy Spirit. For one thing, now I know that I can never be self-sufficien, but can be all-sufficient in Jesus Christ, my Savior. To God be all praise, honor and glory. Alleluia!

Negros is sometimes called a Social Volcano. In fact Negros is the emotional heart of the armed revolution precisely because of the social inequality. When Ed Locsin found is new vocation he determined to face the social problem squarely. During a long period of years, he and his wife quietly and persistently started a land reform program through their Chito Foundation. First they started with their own farm – never an easy task. Now after many ups and downs it has been in its own way a model of Land Reform with the people running it themselves – a sign that it can actually be done. The Chito Foundation helps and encourages other groups to take the same road. In this way, through the grace of Christ, we pray that the wounds of Negros can be healed.

By Dr. Chris Giannou

It’s hard to believe, but women and children are still being torn apart everyday by those evil weapons called landmines. Protest from ordinary human beings like you and me have shamed most governments into signing the agreement against landmines. However some have not signed yet and Dr. Chris Giannou shares with us here a little bit of his worldwide experience in treating the shattered bodies of mine victims.

What Mines Do

After 17 years as war surgeon, I know that war wounds are particularly ugly. But there is something specifically horrific and barbaric about mine injuries, so that even after everything I have seen I am still appalled by them. I don’t think anybody can be hardened enough not to be affected when they see what mines do to a human being.

Not to Help but Get Help

By far the largest use of mines is in rural areas where at the best of times there is a problem of communication and of transport. In a semi-nomadic society like Somalia, water holes (which are important to the survival of people and their flocks) have often been mined. It may take up to two weeks for someone who is injured to reach a hospital which could be hundred of kilometers away.  A major problem in rural areas is that, if the injured person is accompanied, the immediate reflex of their friend is to rush and help them, thus entering a minefield. Then you are talking about two injured people and nobody to go get help. People have to overcome this natural urge to rush in. They have to fetch help, get the person removed from the minefield, staunch the bleeding, provide basic first-aid which may not always be available and transport the victim to the nearest health facility. In areas such as Angola, Mozambique and Somalia you are talking here hundreds of kilometers.

Complex and Costly Surgery

In purely medical terms mine victims require more antibiotics and dressings and longer hospital stays. People who have to suffer an amputation will need seven times a much blood, on average, as those wounded by gunshot. If 10 percent of patients in a hospital have been wounded by mines, they may constitute 80 percent of the supplies. It is difficult, time-consuming surgery. I’ve been in situations where I’ve worked for 20 hours a day for weeks on end in the threatre.

Nature’s Fault?

They are also indiscriminate in terms of the times and place. In 1992 I was working in Beled Weyne in Somalia and I had to operate on a young girl. She used to go down to the riverside everyday to fetch water from a place in the centre of the town. One day she went to the same place and stepped on a mine. In 1977 Ethiopia and Somalia had been at war and troops had mined the mountains along the borders. Fifteen years later the rains had carried this small plastic water resistant mine down the hillside, along the river, 40 kilometers further downstream where it came ashore and the young girl stepped on it. The military may say, “We make maps f our minefields and we provide notification and markings,” but the rains fall and the winds will blow and snow will melt and soil will erode. And mines will displaced ending up years later, in places far from the minefields. Nature does not respect national boundaries.

Denying Deadly Reality

The international community no longer accepts that you use exploding bullets against soldiers, it does not accept that you gas soldiers; it does not accept that your infect soldiers as a means of warfare. Yet we continue to tear people’s limbs off. It seems to me that that’s just as terrible as infecting or grassing someone.

Landmines are completely indiscriminate in terms of the victim -a soldier places a mine in the fields and doesn’t know whether a friendly soldier, an enemy soldier woman, child or peasant is going to step on the mine.