By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Money Can’t Buy it
While at Language School, we do not stay at the school itself but we live with a Ghanaian family for six months to facilitate learning Twi, the local language. In the family where I stayed, my cook unfortunately was divorced by her husband. Our conversation:

Me:      How long were your married?

Cook:  Three years.

Me:      In those years, how was your marriage?

Cook:  It was turbulent. For three years, my husband gave me only two dresses          and a pair of slippers. When we divorced, he even took back the slippers.         The dresses, they were worn out.

Me:      (Talking to myself: Kawawa ka naman. Sa loob ng tatlong taon dadalawa       lang ang damit, a pair of slippers, tapos kinuha pa.) How do you feel now?

Cook:  Praise the Lord! I have peace of mind.
            (Charismatic pala ere.)

Peace of mind – that’s matters. It can not be bought.

Missing Groat
I found a notebook buried under the laundry in the laundry room. Then the woman suddenly dashed in without warning. She was so worried and confessed that she lost a very important notebook containing the number of ironed clothes and their prices. The loss means no salary. Full of pity, I showed her the notebook, pressed it hard over her breast and looking up, exclaimed: “Thank my God!” (forgetting me who found the notebook).

Spiritual Competition
Twice my malaria sent me to two hospitals. At first hospital run by Medical Sisters, a group of Protestant Charismatics, unaware that I was a Catholic Priest, came to pray over me. After them came the Catholic Charismatic group. I got well but the problem was I did not know whose prayer made me well.

 

‘Symptomysis’?
The second hospital was rum by Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit. While my Ghanaian nurse was talking my blood pressure, I asked her, “Son, what is my sickness?” Father, you have symptoms”> “You mean ‘symptomysis’? I jokingly continued. “Yes Father”, she replied much to my surprise.

When I was discharged, I related the same story to another priest. Is there a sickness called ‘symptomysis’? He said, “Usually, when you are going to die, the doctors do not tell you your sickness”, O.I.C., I said.

Duol ra sa Pikas
“Are you going up North or down South?” I asked the Bishop’s driver. “Going down North Father”, he said to my confusion.

Dangerous Compliment
The worst and best wrong identity people here usually give me is not that I look like a Japanese, a Chinese, or Frenchman, but that I look like Flt. Lt. Gerry Rollings (Ghana’s President). Hindi madali ito; pag may coup de’etat, pagkamalian ka, tapos ka na! “Di maaga na ang iyong pagka-bloody martyrdom”.

 I have many other jokes but I do not want to tell them because you will just laugh at them.

 

By Fr. Martin Dubuc
Nabeoka Miyosaki Prefecture

Japan

No Road to Escape
When I was assigned as missionary to Japan a little over ten years ago, little did I think that I would also be working with Filipinos, but for the past five years, besides my work with the Japanese, I have also been involved with migrant workers from other Asian countries, mostly from the Philippines. Most of these migrant workers were women, and the vast majority would be in Japan officially as dancers or singers. But some who come to Japan with a dream of making much money for themselves and for their families find themselves forced into prostitution with no road of escape.

Locked into Rooms
Since I am diocesan director for foreigners in my diocese of Dita on the southern island of Kyushu, I am involved a lot in this problem.
Most of the women (or I say “girls”, because some are as young as 14 or 15?) in my area come with proper work visas: good for two months with a possibility of being renewed twice. Many come with only a tourist visa, and find themselves at the mercy of the Japanese Yakuza: forced into prostitution, locked into their rooms so they don’t run away.

Burnt Alive
Several years ago, two Filipinos died in their apartment in Okinawa. The building caught fire, but their room had been locked from the outside.

Beaten by the Employer
I could tell many stories, but allow me to share this one with you. A group of fifteen Filipinos were employed as singers and dancers at a club in southern Kyushu. According to Japanese law, they are not to be forced to cuddle up to customers or to ply them with drinks, but I know of no place in Japan where this law is enforced. These fifteen had their passport taken form them (probably illegal, but done everywhere), had not been paid at all, were being beaten up by their employer who was also supposedly threatening them with rape.

Contacted the Columbans
One of the girls mentioned their situation in a letter to her sister who in turn contacted a Japanese sister she knew in Tokyo who in turn contacted a Columban living not too far from the girls. He in turn contacted me.
To make a rather long and complicated story short, with the help of a Filipino priest and a representative of the Philippine consulate, the bar owner was made to return their passports give them their back pay (even thought much was deducted for various expenses), and release them into our custody.

$1,000 Taxi Bill
The girls did not want to spend one more night in their apartment so hired five taxis to take them to a convent where we would hide them until their return to the Philippines could be arranged. The ride to this convent was roughly three hours and the taxi bill came to more than $1,000 which the bar owner was forced to pay.

Where are they Now?
Two days later, the girls where all on a plane back to the Philippines. What has happened to them since then? I wish I know. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them found a different promoter and returned to Japan to make their fortune. I pray that they found a good promoter and a decent bar owner. I have to admit that some of the girls do get fairly good treatment, and are allowed by their ‘papa-san’ at the bar to come to church at all. They are the ones I worry about and especially pray about.

What to Do?
Every diocese in Japan now has a director for the Apostolate to he migrant workers. If anyone you know should be in trouble, tell them they should try r\to go to, or contact, the closest Catholic Church or to call A. L. S. (Asian Laborer Solidarity) at 052-935-9448.

Many are not allowed to go to the church at all. They are the ones I worry about.

Sr. Ines A. Tan, FMM
A Filipino Missionary in Macau

Continuing her story. Read on:

Ten Meters from China
One day, I went to visit one new immigrant families from China. They are forty families who live in an improvised building, built out over the sea along the coast of Macau, ten meters away from China.

Cheapest House
It is one-floor building roofed with galvanized iron. It is divided into small rooms (3x 3 meters). Each room has a window located high up. Part of the roof can be pushed up to brighten the room. They have the common kitchen and toilet. This is the cheapest kind of house that those newly arrived from China can afford to rent.

Her Husband Objected
While I was walking along the dark pathway, a door opened. I saw a woman in her late 30’s. She smiled and welcomed me. She then closed the door to make sure that nobody could hear what she was going to say. It took time before she started to tell me that she was two months pregnant and was contemplating an abortion, even though she was some what afraid of it, and her husband seemed to be objecting to the idea, silently.

“One More is Too Much”
She further explained ( after a deep breath) that it was not because she did not want the child, but because their house was too small to accommodate them, the couple and the three children they already have; to have one more child would be too much.

Deep Respect
Having three children they are already financially hard up. In Macau, children at the ages of three have to go to school and parents pay the tuition fees. Besides, it the woman’s desire to help her husband earn and also she got bored when she spent the whole day in the dark room. If she had another baby, she would have to stay in the house to take care of the two small ones. I listened to this woman, Leong Gam Fung, with deep respect for her sincerity in searching for good decision. 

I Will Accompany You!
On my second visit to Leong Gam Fung, I brought pictures of the stages of development of a fetus and I informed her that it has life at the moment of conception. Then I asked her one question, “Can you afford to kill your own child?” She immediately said, “No!” She is not a Christian but believes in the Powerful Being who created sea, earth, and sky. In Chinese it is called “TIN” [Christians Translate GOD as “Tin Jyu” which means literally means God of Heaven, (sky)] the one who is created the earth, the sky and the sea plan your life. I’ll be your friend who will accompany you.” Finally, Leong Gam Fung decided to go ahead with the pregnancy.

A Red Envelop
One day, after some months, I went to the hospital to visit one FMM (Franciscan Missionary of Mary) Sister who had an operation. Before I left the room, she gave me a red envelop with 200 Patacas in it (US $25), and asked me to give it to the poor that I know.

A Baby Boy
Now, while going down the stairs, to my surprise, I met the husband of Leong Gam Fung and he smilingly told me that his wife had given birth to a baby boy. I immediately went and visit her.

Afraid of the Future
The moment Leong Gam Fung saw me, she cried, her whole body was shaking as she sobbed. I though she was in pain until she spoke and asked her husband to leave the room for a while because she would like to talk to me. She said, “Sister, I am afraid for the future of my child. We are very poor and we may not be able to bring him up”. Then she continued crying. Amazingly, every time she cried, the newly –born baby also cried; when she stopped, the baby also stopped. She also noticed the same thing, that a baby seemingly knows when he is welcome or not. Again, I said to her, “Let the God of Heaven plan your life. Here is already a sign that God cares for you, I have just receive this money to give to someone in need and I am giving it to you”.

Baby Welcome
When the baby was three months old, I help Leong Gam Fung look for a nursery. Normally, it is very difficult to find a place in nursery especially in crowded area where Leong Gam Fung lives. But the baby was made welcome, and as well as that, the second from the youngest was also accepted in the day- care nursery. The administration helped her to get social welfare aid for the fees and for milk and medicine for the two

Good Meals Day
Leong Gam Fung was very joyful and grateful because she was able to go to work. Since then, the family has been able to eat good meals everyday, and not as before when the husband was out of job. Furthermore, starting this school year, when the youngest one will begin his study, all the schools in Leong Gam Fung’s area will be fully subsidized by the government.
At present, Leong Gam Fung is a Volunteer Natural Family Planning (NFP) promoter; she gives lectures and informs her fellow factory workers about the (NFP). She joyfully gives what she has received.

Let God of Heaven, the one who created the earth, the sky and the sea, plan your life.

…the baby knows when he is welcome or not.

By Sr. Ching Madduma, ICM
A Filipino Sister working in India

Hidden in Backrooms
Sudha and Kavita are two Indian women- bright, intelligent and ambitious. They are members of a high caste family in India but they are forced to live in the world “world of shadows” because they have a brother and two sisters who were handicapped. Their family is oppressed in silence and sadness. Inside and outside of their home there are no voices to be heard from the intellectually handicapped members of their family. They are voiceless people “without minds”. They are mere shadow hidden in the backrooms!

Caged and Chained
There are too many cases of such “normal persons who happens to be slow” being caged, chained, hidden, abused, rejected, ignored and even killed.
Poor people are those who are the poorest of the poor, who have no food to eat. We do give food to the hungry people. Poor people are persons who have no clothing or insufficient clothing. We do “cloth the naked”. Poor people are those who have no place for proper shelter. We do give these poor persons a place to rest their head. Poor people are those lacking of human dignity, human rights interpersonal relationship. We do speak out, advocate, conscienticize society concerning such people. Bu what of those persons who live in the “world of shadow”…what an existence have we relegated them to? These persons, by the million in nations of the world, may or may not received food. These intellectually handicapped persons may or may not have clothing. These “normal persons who happen to be slow” may or may not have shelter. But for certain they have advocacy, respect, due justice, recognized rights, and most of all, tragically, they so very few people who are their voice. They have NO ONE to express their personal thoughts. This makes the intellectually handicapped persons truly the “poorest of the poor people”.

Unchained, Uncaged
To reach out to unreached mass of intellectual handicapped persons in the world, I have followed in my work here in Varanasi (Northern India) an approach that is different. It is non- institutional, non- professional, and low cost, in order to bring light, justice and a voice to so –called “shadow people”. My work has resulted in these people being unchained, uncaged entering into local society, being integrated into schools and being given an avenue to express their human aspirations as “normal persons who happen to be slow”. I have, over the past nine years initiated here at Sarnath education programs for intellectually handicapped people and at present I conduct a model special education unit and have established six pedagogic units in government and semi- government schools.

 

No Longer Poor
As a Missionary Sisters of Immaculate of Mary, I am alone in this effort. There are over one hundred and thirty children who have come from a shadow existence into the light of normal society, and they feel “they are no longer poor!” In collaboration with an international organization known as INTER- AID, I have fortunately been able to present about 50 special educational programs (one week; 40 hours of lectures and class demonstrations) for people “who care for and educate persons with mental handicapped”, in 18 countries of Asia, Africa, and South Pacific area. Written evaluations received from all of the participants in this program have revealed to me the full impact of the necessity of such apostolate to the world of people living in shadows.

The Shadow People Need You
The intellectually handicapped are in all nations on this globe called Earth. They are truly the poorest of the poor who are waiting in a shadow of existence for those who have a mission to be their voice and to express their thoughts. The international character of any congregation or society challenges all of us as members to respond in mission to this need in all shadow corners of the world…Let’s our heart be like His, so generous and so great that the whole world may find room in it.” The world of shadowy, silent suffering, oppressed and poor people – intellectually handicapped persons – needs many sisters, brothers, priests, who have the charism to enter the dark world of shadow people; the needs for sisters, brothers, priests committed to sharing the tears, frustrations, and sufferings of those called “intellectually handicapped”.
“Truly I say to you, as long as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me”. (Mt. 25:40)
“You will be my witness to earth’s remotest end”. (Acts1:18)

They are waiting in the shadow of existence for those who have mission to be their voice.

By Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD
Is a Filipinos Priest in Angola

Josefa
One month after my arrival in Angola, I met a young catechist named Josefa. She was a good animator- active and joyful in the formation of the catechists.

Illness Strikes
One day she got very sick, a kind of ulcer with complications in the stomach caused by hunger. She brought to the hospital. We visited her, brought communion and prayed together.

Fear First
The doctor said she was dying. Her first reaction was fear. We tried to comport her by reading the Gospel. Gradually her courage returned and she said: “I’m lucky, I know I’ll die and I’ll meet the Lord face to face.”

Song for the Suffering
With this kind of inspiration, I was able to make a song dedicated to those who are suffering. For as we, know Angola is a war-torn country where thousand of people are dying of hunger and diseases, exploitation and injustices. The war started in 1961 against the Portuguese colonizers. But from 1975 up to now, they are fighting one another. Dialogue for peace has begun but the war continues.

Farewell Song
We visited her next time ready to sing the new song but, as we went to the hospital, we heard the news that she had just died. We went to her room where she lay on her deathbed and in the presence of her aunt, friends and other sick people, I sung this song:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell Song
Junto ao teu leito de dor
Minha irma quero cantarte um
Linda poema de amor e baixinho
Segredor te “tem confianc no Senhor.”
Refrao:

E um amigo ao teu lado
Quer de noite quer de dia
Presente em tua agonia
Te mantem sempre velado
esse amigo e Jesus
Que te oferece seu amor
E porti ti sofren e por ti sofren na cruz
Oh...oh...
(Refrao)
Esse amigo e Jesus

(Together with you near your
 bedside of pain, I like to sing to
 my sister a beautiful poem of
love and to whisper to you “Have
confidence in the Lord.”

Refrain:

There’s a friend at your side
Whether in the night
Whether in the day
He is present in your agony
But always concealed.
This friend is Jesus
Who offers you his love
And who for you suffered on the cross.
(Refrain)
This Friend is Jesus.)

Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD, is the only Filipino priest in Angola. He is in his 8th year of service to the lepers, the refugees, the orphans. He belongs to the diocese of Bengo and works in the parish of Kifangondo. He is known to many as the singing priest. He accompanies his catechesis with his guitar and his own composition.

In spite of wars, life goes on in Africa. African mothers make little money by preparing and selling meals.

The war started in 1961: dialogue for peace has begun but the war continues.