By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

PO Box 23, Nsawkaw, B/A, GHANA

Roam Sweet Rome

Nung minsan na nag-aral ako sa Rome, nakalimutan kong may klase ako. Mabuti na lang at tinawag ako ng aking kaklase. Pagpasok ko sa classroom namin halos di maipinta ang mga mukha ng aking mga kaklase. Kaya agad kong sinabi, ‘Aba, ang aga n’yo yatang dumating?’ sabay tingin ko sa aking relo. Aba, lalo silang sumimangot?!

The Rabbit

My friend and I visited Kabou parish at the border of Togo and Ghana. However the parish priest was out so I decided to leave a note. I said to the sacristan with confidence, ‘Please, we need la pen, la paper’. While I was making my note, my companion kept laughing. ‘I wonder why?’ I told myself. Later I learned that he knew all along that ‘la pen’ in French means ‘the rabbit’. French is the official language of Togo.

Slaughtered Pigeons

On the eve of the handing over of Wenchi parish to the diocese, we were preparing pigeon soup. Father Eko, my assistant, was so eager to help in the kitchen. When he saw the lifeless pigeons on the table, he asked me, ‘How do you kill them?’ ‘Oh, simply smash their heads on the chopping board,’ I answered. He then took the youngest pigeon and smashed its head on the board – so strongly that the head flew off, leaving the pigeon headless. He was so horrified. He was out of the kitchen in a flash and he didn’t join us for the meal.

Takas na Manok

Pumunta kami ng kaibigan kong si Benjamin sa bahay ng isang kakilala para basbasan ang lugar kung saan siya magpapatayo ng bahay. May nakita kaming manok na naglalakad sa daan. ‘Tsk, tsk, tsk…swerte ng manok na ito,’ sabi ni Benjamin. ‘Nakaligtas siya sa Pasko, pero mukhang di siya aabot sa Bagong Taon, Father.’