By Anne Gubuan

Jerry was driving his passenger along the busy streets of Ozamiz City. His son was also seated beside the foreigner. The man was so amused at his son, talking to him in straight English. Jerry didn’t mind the heat of the sun and the strain in his legs from pedaling. He was so full of pride over the fact that his son was talking to the foreigner, amusing him with his intelligence. It is in his six children that Jerry’s hope comes alive.

Fr Oli McCrossan with Jerry's family

Jerry didn’t even finish elementary school. Growing up in a violent home where his alcoholic father frequently beat him he ran away at an early age. That’s why, when he met Wilda and married her in 1996, he vowed to himself never to lift a finger to his wife and children. This was something that he struggled with, raising his family. Most of the time he was scared of his own temper. Whenever he would lay a hand on one of his children, he would feel very guilty.

Things started to change when he and Wilda became members of Couples for Christ in 2003. ‘Nagkaroon ako nang bagong buhay’, he mused when asked what kind of change he was referring to. ‘Mas maganda ang buhay sa CFC. Lahat nang ginagawa mo parang meron nang kabuluhan.’ He said that he started looking at difficulties as ‘pagsubok’. Something more hopeful, than hopeless and complaining. His faith has helped him change his ways for the better.

They’ve become Household Leaders (leaders in their cell group, where they gather their members every week for a prayer meeting and sharing of their faith life) of six couples. Jerry and Wilda, in spite of the challenges of leading six couples, have remained faithful to their commitment. There are times when instead of attending their prayer meeting, some members would rather focus on their livelihood so they would have food on their table. This Jerry knows too well having experienced the same thing while they were just starting in the CFC. There were times when he would be too embarrassed to attend CFC assemblies because he didn’t have any decent clothes to wear.

But all these things he considers trials for a Christian like him who wants to have another shot at life. He feels grateful to be one of the beneficiaries of the Pedaling to Live under the guidance of Fr Oliver McCrossan. They were among the few who were privileged enough to be qualified for the housing program. Fr Oli dreams of a sustainable community for the trisikad drivers and their families. Jerry, along with the rest in their small community, works hard for it. His ultimate dream is to see his children finish their education, something that he and his wife didn’t have the chance to accomplish.

Jerry with the author

In a place like Ozamiz there are many challenges and difficulties that people like Jerry have to face in order to at least keep discouragement at bay. ‘Opportunities for people like us are always scarce, not to mention the fact that we also fight among ourselves in order to survive’. But every day, he chooses to remain steadfast for his family. ‘Kung galit ka sa kapwa, hindi ka malayo sa malas.’ For him, it is a conscious decision that he has to make every day. ‘Kung gagawa ka ba nang masama, o kung gagawa ka nang mabuti.’ He wants to do well so that his children will reap the harvest. There is no other way for him but to keep trying to change for the better. This is to at least repay the kindness of the people God sends his way to make his dreams come true.