By: Gabriela Chin

Berulo is still very young. He became handicapped through an accident, three years ago. But he always keeps smiling and is very positive person. He is young. So he is always interested in women. When he meets me, he asks me many questions. You are a lay missionary? Can you get married? Do you like Filipinos?

Secret Love
One day, I talked about secret love during bible sharing. After that he always joked me, “Gabi you’re my secret love!”

A Carved Bird
One day, when I visited Kakayahan, (the house of the handicapped) Berulo was very sick. He had stone in his kidney. At that time, I couldn’t do anything I just stayed with him. Sometimes I held his hand. After that when he met, he seemed very shy; on my birthday he gave me a present a bird. He had made it himself. I was made of carabao horn. The bird had a flower in its mouth.

Avoiding the Question
One day, after the Mass, he was very serious and he asked me gently. “Gabi, if someone loves you very much, could you get married to him even if he is handicapped?” I was embarrassed and all I could say was, Berulo, hindi kita naintindihan.” (“I don’t understand.”) It’s my best way to avoid his question. I’m afraid because I don’t want to hurt him.

Special Smile
After two days, I went to the Kakayahan and I told him: “Berulo, I like you as a friend. I’d like to always remain your fried.” Later, when I visited Kakayahan for bible sharing, I thought he seemed to have a very special smile for me.

True Friends
I know when I feel very lonely or sad and someone is with us, we feel the warmth. I can understand Berulo a little more. I too have experience loneliness. And I too experienced the warmth. To love and to be loved is our natural desire. Agape, Eros. To love myself, to love people, to love God. I ask myself quietly “Gabi, what are you capable of giving the world?” Something, I hope. I can love and I can share.