Father Joeker

By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Labang Volleyball

Inimbitahan ng Our Lady of Fatima School and aking mga altar boys na maglaro ng volleyball laban sa kanilang women’s team. Di ako makapaniwala na natalo nila kami. “Ang daya nyo,” sabi ko sa kanila. “Nanalo kayo dahil ginayuma nyo ang aking mga altar boys.” Matinding tumutol ang mga babae, “Aba, hindi ah! Huwag kayong mamimintang, Father. Anong magagawa naming eh nagdasal kami. Ang mga altar boys mo nagdasal ba? Tignang nyo sila o.”

Never ending photo sessions

During our renewal course in Steyl, Holland, we had a pilgrimage to Issum, Kevelaer, Goch, Germany, where we had lots of picture-taking. Everyone had a camera except me and one confrere. So we remained with the group posing for the shots while those with a camera would walk out to take a shot one after the other. After the picture-taking I said, “This is great! This is what’s good about not having your own camera. You are in every shot.”

The Amazons

I parked our Toyota double cabin car under the tree on sloping ground but did not put on the handbrake. While inside the convent, I heard women’s voices screaming for help. Ali Jara, my mission boy, ran outside, but instead of helping the three women, he laughed at them until I came to the rescue. Held by such big women, the all-powerful Toyota, pride of Japan, looked utterly helpless.

Gatas ng Kalabaw

Sa aming Renewal Course, ikinukwento ko ito sa aking mga kasama… “Ako ang bunso sa aming magkakapatid. Nang ipinanganak ako, sabi ni Nanay inubos na daw ng mga nakakatanda kong kapatid ang kanyang gatas at walang nang natira para sa akin. Mabuti na lang nasa bukid ang kalabaw namin. Kung hindi baka gatas ng kalabaw ang ipinainom sa akin.”