By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Hey Daddy!

In some villages in southern Ghana, our Filipinos workers who used to pass by there were annoyed by many mestisos and mestisas calling to them, “Dad Dad, why? why did you leave me and my mother?” Private investigations were made and it was found out that those villages along the roads were constructed by foreign contractors a few years back. Yes, really Dad, why did you leave them?

Male Chauvinism

I attended a one-month spirituality course our SVD Founder Blessed Arnold Janssen. Two Filipino Holy Spirit Sisters were also in the group. We were sharing with Fr. Gelata, SVD from Poland who has stayed a long time in Ghana about how our founder was rather stern. Some even branded him as stubborn” “Not Stubborn”, Fr. Gelata strongly objected, ‘but steadfast”. “Only women are stubborn” he continued and smiled immediately at the two sisters who were staring at him defenseless and probably saying in their own minds: “Some day the men will learn who is steadfast and who is stubborn.”

Miscommunication

Rev. Fr. Rudolf Krajick now back in Slovakia was popularly known in Ghana as a Master Builder. He built many schools, clinics, convents, to mention a few. One day as he was transporting sand on a local boat across the Volta Lake – the world’s longest man-made like, they began to sink. To lessen the load, he shouted to the workers scrambling in panic: “Take the shovels and throw the sand away!” To Krajick’s utter amazement, one worker grabbed the shovels were retrieved and they were able to save themselves in the nick of time; but the question into the lake remains; Who failed to communicate?

Aids

While waiting for my tire to be repaired at Techiman, another customer was seated beside me. he was murmuring, “Foreigner, you know everything. Why cant you discover a medicine for AIDS. You cant chase women for fear of it.” I replied: AIDS is terrible but maybe the fact that you cannot chase women is not so bad.” After all women are partners not objects.

Joe the Cat

Among the natural beauty spots is LakeBosomtwe in was discovered by a hunter who was following a wounded deer [hence the name]. The water was so clear that one wonders why. After swimming we climbed the veranda for drinks. Fresh fish from the lake, of course, cam tempt anyone. Under our table was a big cat enjoying the bones. Then the waiter came calling the cat, “Joe, come, come, My fellow priests burst into laughter. I asked the waiter “Joe?” “Yes, it’s the name of the cat,” he replied, “Why not Josephine?” I suggested. “Father it’s a male cat”, he countered. “Better change the name of that cat. Otherwise I will not come here anymore.” The waiter left smiling like a Cheshire cat.