The FILIPINO CATHOLIC COMMUNITY APOSTOLATE

The Filipino Catholic Community Apostolate or FCCA is a Catholic migrant center of the Diocese of Hualien for the Filipino migrant workers who attend the liturgical rites and activities at St. Paul's Catholic Church at 34 Min Guo Road, 970 Hualien City, Taiwan Republic of China. The FCCA is actively linked and serves the Filipino migrant workers in conjunction with the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) of the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference. The FCCA is designed to cater to the pastoral and support needs of the Filipino migrant workers in Hualien County and in the adjacent counties such as Yilan to the north and Taitung to the south which are all located along the eastern coast of Taiwan. The Filipino migrant workers in the area are mainly marble factory workers, caregivers, and domestic helpers in Taiwanese households whose human rights are constantly being violated and who are frequently being abused and maltreated by their employers. They are also constantly being cheated, exploited, and manipulated by their unscrupulous brokers. These are the main migrant labor problems and issues that our program aims to address.

The head of FCCA is our parish priest, a French missionary by the name of Fr. Jean-Pierre Richard, MEP. The FCCA is administered, managed and supervised by me, Mr. Baldomero Paelmo Bejosano, a Filipino lay Catholic missionary and catechist of the Diocese of Hualien. I am assisted by a group of volunteer church workers who form the leadership core group. The program is actively participated in by Filipino migrant workers from Hualien and nearby counties. Based on the latest official count, there are about 750 Filipino migrant workers in Hualien County, 1,152 in Yilan, and 215 in Taitung. These figures do not include the number of undocumented workers, illegal entrants, and overstaying aliens who are more vulnerable to abuses, maltreatment, exploitation and manipulation by unscrupulous members of Taiwanese society.

The mission of the FCCA is to provide pastoral and social services to the Filipino migrant workers in and around Hualien County so that their spiritual and moral well-beings are properly maintained, their rights as laborers are duly protected, their human dignity is upheld and secured, and their Catholic faith is strengthened.

The FCCA envisions a community of Filipino migrant workers in St. Paul’s Catholic Church who live according to the Gospel truths and Church moral teachings; who are aware and cognizant of their God-given rights and duties as laborers and stewards; secured and protected in their workplace; fulfilled in the performance of their tasks; and contented and grateful with the fruits of their labor and with the blessings of God.

To effectively fulfill the mission-vision of the FCCA, the program provides the Filipino migrant workers with activities whose objectives conforms with the mission of the priest in the church. The FCCA recognizes the role of the laity in effectively performing the mission of evangelization of the Church and the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the pastoral ministry of the clergy. The mission of the priest in the Church are as follow: minister of the sacraments, teacher of the Word, and loving pastor of the flock. As minister of the sacrament, he leads in the worship of God; as teacher of the Word, he preaches and educates; and as loving pastor of the flock, he serves the people of God. The lay faithful collaborate and participate in these priestly ministies, and from that precept, the three general objectives of the FCCA are drawn, and as follow: 1) to worship God; 2) to preach the Gospel and educate the people; and 3) to serve God by serving others.

With the collaboration of the Philippine mission office (MECO-OWWA) in Kaohsiung City and Taipei City, we have already assisted and successfully helped so many Filipino migrants here with their labor problems like the following recent cases:

1. RODEL PEREZ and FERDINAND GOROSPE: unpaid salary, forced repatriation;

2. SUNNY ALSADO COYAO: occupational accident, a slab of marble stone fell on his lower right foot that severely fractured the bone;

3. NITA M. ELVAMBUENA: illegal work, violation of contract;

4. NORIBETH VALDEZ PILE: maltreatment, physical abuse;

5. MARIDEL GARABELLES: illegal employer, illegal work, no day-off.

The FCCA gets its operational funds from Sunday collection and donation from conscientious individuals. However, the Sunday collections have been dwindling and our fund is fast depleting, thus, our financial status is in bad shape. I am inviting you then to participate in the performance of our lofty mission through your prayers, material donations, and financial support.

We do hope to receive positive and encouraging response and reaction from you. Thank you very much. Mabuhay ang mga manggagawang Pilipinong migrante!!!

BALDOMERO P. BEJOSANO

Lay Missionary Catechist
St. Paul’s Catholic Church
34 Min Guo Road, Hualien City 970, Hualien County
Taiwan Republic of China
Tel: (03) 833-5763
CP: 0928716764
email: bejo_sano@yahoo.com.ph
sir_buddy@hotmail.com

DOING UNTO OTHERS

"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me..."

This verse taken from the gospel according to Matthew chapter 25, verse 40 is the first line of a touching song “Whatsoever you do” that I used to sing during my high school days in Ateneo de San Pablo. I still sing this song loudly in my heart and actually doing the very essence of this song in my everyday life, just like yesterday...

I accompanied Noribeth to the labor office of Hualien City here in Taiwan Republic of China. Noribeth, who has been working as a caretaker for an old woman, was beaten black and blue by the viciously violent husband of her ward. We were at the local labor office then to file complaints and seek redress. As a Catholic missionary here in Taiwan, one of my missions is to extend assistance to the Filipino migrant workers who have been treated unjustly and unfairly in their places of work.

When we were at the waiting area of the office, an Indonesian woman caught my attention. She was bewailing and crying very poignantly. I learned that her work contract had been abruptly terminated by her employer after just three months of working as domestic helper. She was left with no choice but to go back to Indonesia to face the huge debt and bank loan that she had accumulated just to pay for the placement fee, broker’s fee, airplane ticket and for other “necessary evils” just to be able to work in Taiwan.

Noribeth asked her if she had already sought any help from the Indonesian mission office in Taiwan or from any migrant groups that help the Indonesian workers. The Indonesian woman said that she knew nothing about them. Upon hearing that, I took my backpack to get the help hotlines in Indonesian that she could call to seek assistance. What happened next will never be deleted from my memory bank.

As I was opening my backpack, the employer and the broker of the Indonesian woman frantically embraced and grabbed her. She then forcibly clung to my left arm, held it so tightly, and mournfully ask for the hotlines, her lifelines. Then, a scuffle ensued. There was a brief thug-of-war. She was whisked away. The labor official then called us for the meeting.

I was so stung by that grossly cruel incident. What the Taiwanese employer and broker did was just inconceivable. To put down a fellow human being into a hapless and miserable situation is evil, but to prevent that same person from seeking help is satanic! I told Noribeth, “You know, you are much luckier than other foreign workers here in Taiwan. You have me, the Filipino community, the Philippine mission office, and God to help you.”

But the Indonesian woman is a child of God too who deserves His love, care and protection. And even if Noribeth is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo religion, it doesn’t matter to me, a Catholic church worker, for I know deep down in my heart the two greatest commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30)” and “Love your neighbor as you love yourself (Mark 12:31).” One does not have to be entangled in all sorts of dogmatic and doctrinal explications to be able to live a truly Christian life. Just love God and your neighbor, be it Taiwanese, Indonesian or Filipino; Muslim, Taoist, or Iglesia ni Cristo. For isn’t it that loving your neighbors and your fellowmen can just simply mean respecting the rights and preserving the dignity of other people regardless of creed, color, and code?

Nevertheless, human situations nowadays demand not just simple respect for the rights and dignity of others, but rather, affirmative actions also need to be done. Due to greed and sinfulness of man, many of our brothers and sisters have been shoved to the edges of the society langushing in dire miseries. Noribeth should be helped in getting justice for the maltreatment she suffered, someone has to hand-over to the Indonesian woman the hotlines, there are hungry people around who need to be fed, homeless who need shelter, weary who need rest, oppressed who need justice.

It is then our inherent duty as human beings to participate and be involved in the alleviation of their sufferings. For I do believe that the value and worth of a person is not measured by what he does to himself but by what he does to the least of his fellowmen.

A CRY FOR HELP

“I am afraid...I don't know what to do...I need your help so that I can solve my problems here. You and God are my only hope...

It is a heart-breaking quote from her letter and a poignant cry for help from Madel, a young Filipina migrant laborer who works as an all-around domestic helper in Taitung County, Taiwan Republic of China. In her letter, she recited the litany of her everyday calvary from 4:00 am as restaurant all-around servant, onto 2:00 pm as house cleaner and laundry washer, then back to the restaurant at 3:00 pm as steamed-bread (mantou) baker, then back to the house as cook and dish washer at 6:00...and lastly, as stacker in an appliance store until 8:00 pm. Only then she can attend to her personal chores before she can finally lay her nearly-broken back to rest.

Madel is a classic epitome of migrant workers from the Philippines who dream for a better-paying employment in Taiwan, but only to experience horrible nightmare. They fall victims to some unscrupulous Taiwanese brokers and to some abusive Taiwanese employers. In her contract with the broker, Madel is suppose to work as a care-giver for an old sick woman. She is ready and prepared to work as a care-giver, only to find out upon meeting her employer in Taiwan that she has to work an assortment of back-breaking jobs under three employers related to each others. She is physically exhausted and emotionally drained, feels gravely cheated and can no longer carry-on. And worst, she does not enjoy day-offs, barred from using cellphone to communicate and forbidden to talk to other migrant workers. There is only one left whom she can talk and communicate to...God.

She has been praying ceaselessly and crying for help. Then, a fellow Filipina migrant worker clandestinely handed over to her a missalete from St. Paul’s Catholic Church located in the nearby Hualien County. On the missalete, the address and the telephone number of the church are printed. Madel did not hesitate. She called the church through a public phone. Buddy, a volunteer worker, received her frantic call...and her cry was heard at last.

Buddy immediately called the attention of the parish priest, Fr. Jean-Pierre Richard, MEP. The good priest has an out-reach program in his church called Filipino Catholic Community Apostolate that caters to the pastoral needs of the Filipino migrant workers in Hualien County. St. Paul’s Catholic Church has been helping, caring and sheperding the Filipino flock alongside the Taiwanese locals since 1995 upon the influx of migrant workers from the Philippines. The parish priest then was Fr. Auguste Lespade, MEP who was greatly loved and cherished by both the Taiwanese and Filipinos. He is succeded by Fr. Richard, a young, energetic, and conscientious priest filled with missionary zeal. He is conspicuously and undoubtedly French but whose heart is half-Taiwanese, half-Filipino.

Fr. Richard delicately directed the handling of Madel’s case. Madel was asked to send a letter to St. Paul’s Catholic Church detailing her agony and hardships. Upon receiving the letter that will be used as evidence, Buddy immediately coordinated with Sister Teresa Mabasa and Sister Matilde Serneo of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul based in Taitung County where Madel works. The two sisters also work tirelessly and zealously in their migrant ministry. The Philippine labor attache in Taiwan was also informed about the case and was called to action. Subsequently, a case of illegal work and violation of contract has been filed before the local labor authority against Madel’s broker and employer.

The case is now being processed, and surely, it will be a long, tedious and damnable one. For the time being, Madel needs care, moral support and spiritual guidance. Sadly speaking, the stake is always in favor of the broker and employer since migrant workers are not covered and protected by labor laws of Taiwan. Nonetheless, no matter how unfair the system is for the migrant workers, God’s merciful love and heavenly justice covers and protects all people from every nation, and God condemns the masterful and redeems the humble servants from prostration. Buddy holds it true. Sister Teresa and Sister Matilde  believe it in their hearts. Father Richard grounds his life on that truth. Thus, they fight on in the defense of the distressed migrant workers no matter how uphill the battle is.

After all, victory for Madel and for all the oppressed is assured because it is written so: “The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress He rescues them (Psalm 34:17-18.)”.

PRAYER SERVICE at ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, August 3, 2008, Hualien City, Taiwan ROC

THE FEEDING MIRACLE OF JESUS

I delivered this homily on August 3, 2008 during the prayer service at St. Paul's Catholic Church (34 Min Guo Rd., Hualien City, Taiwan ROC). This homily is based on the Sunday readings: First Reading, Isaiah 55-1-3; Second Reading, Romans 8:35, 37-39; Gospel, Matthew 14:13-21) . Fr. Richard is still in France and Fr. Vedrenne is in Vietnam for a short visit. Therefore, in the absence of priest to lead the mass, we hold prayer service instead which I lead.

I will always remember the first Sunday mass that I attended here in St. Paul’s Catholic Church on September 16, 2007. I was still then a student at the Center For Language Studies of Tzu Chi University. My classmate from Peru named Kamuy told me about St. Paul’s Catholic Church where Filipinos attend mass, and after the mass, they gather and together they eat lunch being offered by the church for free. “That's cool...amazing,” I told Kamuy, “this is the first time that I heard of a church where after the congregation have received spiritual food during the eucharistic celebration, another gathering immediately follows, and this time, to eat food for physical nourishment. This church offers the congregation a perfectly balanced diet---food for the physical body and food for the soul. That is so cool.”

I searched for that church to try their so-called free lunch, and to attend mass, of course. To my amazement, the food indeed tasted so good so I came back the next Sunday, to attend mass of course. Then I discovered that St. Paul’s Catholic Church also offers free supper; and that most of the food come as donations; and that the Filipino community of this church thrives, lives and eats together through sharing of resources, time and talents. Then, I decided to work as a volunteer to do my share both for the church and for the community. It has transformed my life since then, until I decided to stay here to serve. Hence, my physical body and my soul have become healthier than ever. Thanks for the physical and spiritual food that God so faithfully provides us in this church. You may not be aware of it but the hands of God is working in the midst of us here, and the feeding miracle of God is happening in our lives.

Todays gospel tells of another feeding miracle of God. It is a favorite story about Jesus, his disciples, and the hungry crowd that was told over and over again. It is not told merely once, not twice, not three times, but four times in its variations. It is the only Gospel miracle which is told in its fullness in all four Gospels.In the story, Jesus Christ looked on the massive crowd with compassion, like they were sheep without a shepherd, like people who were in need of spiritual feeding for their spiritual hungers inside. And so he taught them and he healed them. They only had five loves of bread and two fish and yet Jesus invited everyone to be seated on the green grass. Jesus took the bread…looked up into heaven...gave thanks...broke it…gave it to his disciples...who gave it to the crowds. And they all ate and were all satisfied ...and… there were twelve baskets of bread left over. The number who ate were five thousand men, plus women and children.
Now, why is this story told over and over again? It was told over and over again because I believe this story captures the very truth and the very essence of Jesus as the wondrous Son of God. It captures the very essence of God, His generosity, His abundant grace and extravagant gifts to us. It captures the very essence of God as our great provider and and sustainer. It also captures the essence of our lives, who having seen the miracles of God day by day, all around us, we still doubt and ask, “where is Gods action in my life?”

Sometimes, people ask about this story: “How did Jesus Christ do it? How did he feed all those people with so litte food, with merely five loaves and two fish.”

There is a thinking among some biblical scholars who explain that the real miracle in the story is the success of Jesus Christ in persuading the people to share the food that they have at that moment. According to them, when the people saw that Jesus really cared for the crowd, the people suddenly felt generous and started sharing what they have brought. Therefore, the real miracle is not the multiplication of bread and fish but the multiplication of generous hearts. The selfish hearts of the people were transformed into generous hearts and were inspired to look inside their coats and share the food that they brought with them, food that had been hidden inside their clothing. But no matter how laudable or plausible this explanation of sharing may be, this is not the message of Matthew who points to Jesus as the source of bread, like God who fed the Israelites in the desert. Moreover, in the story, the disciple see that the people do not have food and suggest to Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that they can buy food. But Jesus replies that there is no need for them to go away. He Himself will feed the people.

Jesus really multiplied the loaves and fish, because He had compassion on those who were going without, and because He wanted to meet a much deeper and more eternally significant need: the need of the human heart for God, for divine healing, forgiveness, and joy.

The multiplication of bread and fish is not just an actual feeding miracle but also a sign about Jesus and of his mission. A sign, as we all know, points to something else and it gives directions. Thus, the miracle of the feeding of the crowd by Jesus is a sign that points beyond the miracle of multiplying the bread and fish---it is a sign that points to The Eucharist. It is a sign that points and foreshadows the continuing and real miracle which is the Eucharist.

Our Lord Jesus Christ uses the feeding of the crowd to prepare the people for His teaching on the Holy Eucharist. It shows us God’s power to transcend the physical to meet our needs, physical or more importantly spiritual. It points to the continuing miracle of the Holy Eucharist in which there is always enough, more than enough, to feed the souls of all who believe. Just as the miracle of the multiplication caused the crowd to believe that Jesus was the messiah, so the reality of the continuing miracle of the Holy Eucharist must inspire in us faith in Jesus, true God and true Man, who gives us His Flesh and Blood to eat and drink that nourishes our soul and gives us happiness as well as physical well-being.

There are deeper needs of the human soul that food and material things can not satisfy. Once there was an American millionaire by the name of Jay Gould who had a lot of money to buy all that he wanted to buy. Before he died, his fortune amounted to $72,000,000, a lot of money to buy loaves of bread and fish. But when he was dying, he said, “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.” He failed to understand that “Life is not in the things we possess,” and “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

A saying tells, “We are what we eat.” In this church, we will continue to eat together the fruits and produce of our generous sharing and loving concern for each other. This feeding in our church shall continue to foster unity and camaraderie among us and to build a stronger and more authentic Christian community. And in our regular and faithful attendance in Holy Mass and partaking in the Eucharistic celebration, we eat one bread and drink in one cup which makes us one body in One Lord Jesus Christ; and we though many throughout the earth, we shall forever remain one body in this One Lord. AMEN

PRAYER SERVICE at ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, July 27, 2008, Hualien City, Taiwan ROC

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

I delivered this homily during the prayer on July 27, 2008 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. This homily is based on the Sunday readings: First Reading, I Kings 3-5, 7-12; Second Reading, Romans 8:28-30; Gospel, Matthew 13:44-52. Fr. Richard is still in France, Fr. Vedrenne is in Vietnam for a short visit. Therefore in the absence of priest to lead the mass, we hold prayer service instead which I lead.

I am sure everyone of you here is familiar with the television program Wish Ko Lang (Just My Wish). It is the first wish-granting show on Philippine television aired over GMA Channel 7 hosted by Vicky Morales. It is a very popular show because an actual wish from the viewers sent through mail can be granted and the story is featured in the show. The wishes range from a wheelchair for a paralytic husband to a major heart surgery for an ailing mother; from finding a long lost child to searching for a perfect match as husband or wife. In the Philippines where poverty is widespread and frustration in life is experienced by many, the show Wish Ko Lang offers some relief and entertainment as well to the suffering masses.

How about you, brothers and sisters, if granted the rare chance to make a wish, a wish that will be surely and immediately be granted at this very moment, what would that wish be? I bet most of you here will wish to win the jackpot prize in a lottery draw so that you can leave Taiwan at once and spend all your money with your family members back home. Or perhaps, some of the ladies here will wish to meet and marry a very rich and a very handsome Taiwanese gentleman, and then raise up a big and happy family here in Taiwan. Wow, what fairy tale story!

But as the popular saying goes, be careful what you wish for, because sometimes, our wishes when finally granted, do not necessarily bring happiness to us but instead they bring tragedy and misery. We have heard news items in Philippines about someone who won the jackpot in the lottery draw and after a few days, ended up being robbed, kidnapped, or killed. We have also heard news of Filipina women who married foreigners and after a while, ended up being a beaten and battered wives living in extreme miseries and sufferings. Or perhaps some of you here are now regretting so much to have wished working here in Taiwan. See, your dreams came true!

As we listen to the first reading today, from the First Book of Kings, we can understand Solomon’s answer to God. Solomon, as we all know is the king of who succeeded his father David to the throne. When God said to Solomon, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon did not have any second thought, he wished for the best that he could wish for and said, “Give your servant, therefore an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of your?” Solomon did not wish for wealth or power, instead, he wished and asked for a gift that would serve others and help the people under his rule. He was very careful and prudent in making a wish.

Now, each of us can also ask this question of himself or herself: What would I choose, what would I wish for? If God were to promise you the same as He promised Solomon, what would you choose, what would you wish for?

The Gospel today tells us an answer to God’s question to Solomon: we can ask God for the Kingdom of Heaven. If we look just at the first reading and the Gospel, we can see that the deepest wisdom of our lives is to choose to live in the Kingdom of God.

The gospel calls the Kingdom of God as the ultimate desire and the ultimate wish of the human heart. The Gospel says “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew chapter 6, verse 33). But where is the Kingdom of God? Where can I find it? Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Kingdom of God is here...now, it is in the midst of us, it is within us. We can find the Kingdom of God if we let God reign in our hearts, if we let God rule our lives, if we let God take control of our homes, if we let God lead our society, and if we enthrone God as the King of world. Truly then I say to you, The Kingdom of God is here and now, in the midst of us and within us.

And when you find The Kingdom of God, what else do you find? Dear Brothers and Sisters, the one who finds the kingdom of God finds everything desirable, he finds everything pleasing, he finds everything good. That is why The Kingdom of God is compared to hidden treasure in a field which a man finds, then goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. Or a precious pearl which a merchant finds, then goes and sells everything he has and buy this one pearl. In fact, these parables invite us not only to seek first the kingdom of God but to seek only the kingdom because with the kingdom of God comes every other good thing.

Brothers and sisters, the personal value we put on God and the things of God must be of the highest order. The men in the gospel parable sold everything to obtain what they value. That fact is significant. They didn’t hold anything back, they made total commitment. We need to make total commitment too in valuing and treasuring the Kingdom of God. We enthrone God as our King and absolute ruler who controls our lives. As the saying goes, “What you value controls you.” Many people value and treasure money more than anything else, and it controls them, and leads them to unsatiable hunger for more. Many people value and treasure their passion and wordly desire more than anything else, and it controls them, and leads them to scattered lives. Many people value and treasure their friends, partners and loved ones, and it controls them, and leads them to frustrations and disillusionment. We seek, we value, and we treasure the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and it controls our lives, and it leads us to happy and abundant life, here on earth, and in heaven.

When we pray the Lord’s prayer, we say,“...Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Yes, my brothers and sisters, the Kingdom of God is right here right now, at this very place, at this very moment because we subject ourselves to God’s rule and control. We say it in our prayer, and we also express it in a beautiful song, “Ikaw ang nagturo ng tamang landasin, sa puso at aking damdamin. Dinggin ang papuri ng bawat dalangin, dahil sa’yo, lupa man ay langit na rin (Because of You, even the earth is heaven as well.)”

And the Kingdom of God does not end here on earth, though it is here and now, it is also there and then, right there in heaven with all the angels and saints, and with Mary our Virgin Mother. It is only then and there that we can obtain the fullness and completeness of the Kingdom of God, with Jesus Christ our Lord and with the Holy Spirit in the glorious life eternal and life everlasting. AMEN.

KALAHATING TIMBANG TUBIG

Whenever I see girls and boys selling lanterns on the streets, I remember the Child in the manger as He sleeps. Wherever there are people, giving gifts, exchanging cards, I believe that Christmas is truly in their hearts...Kapag naririnig ko ang pamaskong awit na ito, maraming alaala mula sa mga Paskong nagdaan sa aking buhay ang nananariwa sa aking isipan. Totoo na maraming awit na pamasko at maraming bagay ang makapagpapaalaala sa atin sa Pasko gaya ng makukulay na parol, mga kumukuti-kutitap na ilaw ng christmas tree at ng mapanghalinang sipol at amoy ng nilulutong puto-bumbong. Pero ang awit na ito ni Jose Mari Chan tungkol sa mga bata ang naghahatid sa akin sa mga alaala ng isang Paskong hindi mabubura sa aking isipan at kikipkipin sa aking puso hanggang sa kabilang-buhay. Ito ang Pasko ng aking kabataan, ang panahon ng paglalaro at laruan, ng sigla at kapilyuhan. Ito ang panahon ng kamusmusan, ng kalinisan ng pag-iisip at ng tunay at walang dungis na pagmamahal.

Sa Los Baños, Laguna kami nakatira noon. Nasa grade 3 ako at nasa grade 1 naman ang kapatid kong bunsong si Baby. Titser ng Home Economics si Mommy sa Los Baños School Of Fisheries na nasa baryo Mayondon. Nasa itaas ng isang luntian, mahangin at maaliwalas na burol ang aming bahay, tumatanaw sa malawak na kagandahan at karangyaan ng mabughaw na Laguna de Bay.

Tradisyon na ng pamilya ang magdiwang ng noche buena tuwing Pasko. Gumigising talaga kaming lahat pagsapit ng alas-dose ng gabi upang pagsaluhan ang napakasarap na pagkaing inihanda ni Mommy. Tsampyon talaga siyang magluto, titser yata ng Home economics at cooking pa ang kanyang linya. Dalawang magkasabay na okasyon ang ipinagdiriwang namin sa salu-salong iyon---ang pagsilang ni Hesus at ang bertdey ni Baby.

Ay naku, talaga namang kahit mumukat-mukat at mamuta-muta pa kami ay masisigla kaming nagsalu-salo nang noche buenang iyon. Gaya ng dati, nawala agad ang aking antok dahil sa mapanggising na amoy at lasa ng pagkaing nakaparada sa mesa---ispagheting napapalamutian ng maraming meatballs, chicken macaroni salad na namumutiktik sa mga himaymay ng manok, orange chiffon cake na nangingintab sa makapal na butter icing, hamon na pinaniningning ng honey syrup, fruit salad na nakukulayan ng ubas, pinya at mansanas, cheese sandwich na pinamumula ng pimiento at umuusok na tsokolateng maraming-maraming Milo. Haaay, tsalap-tsalap talaga.

Pagkakain, buong pananabik naming limang magkakapatid na tinungo ang christmas tree upang kunin at buksan ang regalo ni Mommy para sa bawat isa sa amin kaya naiwan na naman siya sa kusina para maghimpil at maghugas ng aming mga kinainan. Matagal din naming inasam-asam na mabuksan ang mga regalong iyon na araw-araw naming hinihimas-himas, kinakalug-kalog, pinagtitimbang-tmbang at hinuhulaan kung ano ang laman.

Habang nagpapakaligaya kami sa natanggap naming regalo, nagrereklamo naman si Mommy sa kusina---"Sus, talaga kayong mga bata kayo, matapos kayong mapalamon e lalayasan na lamang ninyo ako. Ni Hindi man lamang ninyo ako matulungang maghimpil ng kinainan, ako pa ang paghuhugasin ninyo ng mga pinggan, huhummm...Ay naku, wala na palang tubig na panghugas! Mamayang umaga na lang ako mag-iigib sa poso. Mamaya na lang ang mga pinggang iyan."

"Kawawa naman si Mommy," bulong kokay Baby matapos marinig ang daing ni Mommy.
"Tinulungan mo sana, ikaw ang pinakamalakas lumamon d'yan e," sumbat sa akin ni Baby.
"Ikaw nga d'yan ang dapat tumulong e, mis maganda na naman 'yang regalo mo kesa amin."
"Dumali na naman po si inggitero. Hoy, mis mahal yata ako ni Mommy! Tsaka, bertdey ko yata ngayon...Pero kawawa talaga si Mommy."
"Regaluhan kaya natin," mungkahi ko.
"E, ano namang ireregalo natin," tanong ni Baby.
"E, di ano...e di...LI-PIS-TIK! Tama, ibili natin si Mommy ng pinakamapulang lipistik, 'yung kasimpula ng atswete."
"E mi pera ba naman tayong pambili?"
"Wala nga. Sinungkit ko nang lahat ang pera ko sa alkansya. Naibili ko na ng mga paputok para sa bagong taon. E ikaw, mi pera?
"Hindi naman ako nag-aalkansya e."
"E anong ireregalo natin...?"
Sandali kaming nag-isip.
"A tama, ganto na lang," bulong ko kay Baby, "mam'ya, gumising tayo nang maaga. Unahan nating gumising si Mommy. Tapos, umigib tayo ng tubig, tapos, tayo ang maghugas ng mga pinggan. Paggising ni Mommy, wala na siyang huhugasan. 'Yun na lang ang regalo natin."
"E, 'yako nga, baka pagalitan tayo ni Mommy pag nag-igib tayo," pag-aalala ni Baby.
"Tanga! Ba't pagagalitan e tutulong nga tayo?"
"Tanga ka rin! E hindi ko kayang mag-igib e. Tsaka hindi ko pa abot ang lababo."
"E mis tanga ka pala e. E di tutulungan kita tsaka magtuntungan ka."
"E ikaw naman, tanga na gago pa! Patay tayo ke Mommy pag nadulas tayo sa pag-iigib. At tsaka kung mabasag ang mga plato, o papaano?"
"Ako'ng bahala."
"Hum, wala akong tiwala sa 'yo."
"Hindi mo lang mahal si Mommy...Sige, kung ayaw mo e di ako na lang."
"Mahal ko si Mommy!"
"E ba't ayaw mo?"
"Sige na nga, sali na 'ko."
"E di pumayag din ang bungal," panunukso ko pa.
"E ikaw, usngal," ganting tukso ni Baby.
"Komang ka naman."
"Baboy ka naman. Masiba."
"Si Tsi-tsay ka naman, bungal. Tsi-tsay bungal, tsi-tsay bungal..."
"Mommy, si Baldo nga po!"
"Baldomero, ano na namang ginagawa mo sa kapatid mo, ha?" pasigaw na tanong ni Mommy.
"Nanunukso na naman po, hindi naman s'ya inaano," sumbong ni baby.
"Sasapukin kita, ikaw nga d'yan e," ganting sumbong ko.
"Gusto na naman ninyong mapalo, ha?!" banta ni Mommy.
Tumahimik na kami.
"Basta mim'ya ha," paalala ko kay Baby.
"Hum, basta baboy ka," sagot ni bungi.

Wala pang gripo sa loob ng aming bahay kaya iniigib pa mula sa poso sa ibaba ng burol ang ginagamit naming tubig. Wala naman ang katulong naming mauutusan ni Mommy dahil umuwi sa kanila para magbakasyon. May inuupahan kaming agwador pero tanghali pa ang dating niya. Kami namang magkakapatid, lalo na si Baby, ay hindi pinag-iigib ni Mommy dahil mga bata pa raw kami at masyadong mataas ang hagdan mula poso hanggang bahay kaya delikado. Pero sa umagang iyon, mag-aakyat kami ni Baby ng dalawang timbang tubig.

Hindi na ako nakatulog nang bumalik ako sa paghiga. Pabiling-biling ako sa kama na parang daing na ipiniprito. Eksayted talaga ako sa pagdating ng umaga. Iniimadyin ko ang gagawin namin ni Baby at ang magiging reaksyon ni Mommy. Kaya nang napansin kong maliwanag na, agad kong tinungo ang kusina para kumuha ng dalawang timba. Ang balak ko'y gisingin si Baby pagdaan ko sa kwarto nila ni Mommy bago kami tuluyang bumaba. Pagdating ko sa kusina, naroon na pala si Baby at bitbit na ni gaga ang dalawang timba.

Nagtulungan kami ni Baby sa pagbomba sa poso. Ang hawakan ng posong ito ay isang mahabang kahoy na dos por kwatro ang sukat kaya napakabigat para sa amin. Napakaganit na nito kaya halos maglambitin kami ni Baby sa pagbomba. At kahit sadyang napakalamig nang madaling-araw na iyon, mas malakas pa yata ang tulo ng pawis ko kaysa sa tubig na lumalabas sa poso.

Nang napuno na namin ang dalawang timba, sinimulan na namin ang pagpanhik at kasabay nito, nagsimula na rin ang "kalbaryo sa araw na Pasko." Bitbit ng kaliwa kong kamay ang isang timba at tulong naman kami ni Baby sa pagbitbit sa mas malaking timba. Tangan ito ng kanan kong kamay at ng kaliwa at kanang kamay ni Baby.

Liligwak-ligwak ang tubig sa dalawang timba nang iniaakyat na namin ang mga ito. Marami nang tubig ang natapon nang nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng hagdan. Basa na rin ang aking short pants pati ang bestida ni Baby. Pagkapahinga nang sandali, muli kaming hahakbang paakyat. Pagkahakbang ng isang pitak, hihinto kami. Pagkahakbang uli ng isa, hinto uli. Pakiramdam ko'y mahuhugot sa aking balikat ang dalawa kong kamay at parang lalabas sa aking puwit ang lahat ng kinain ko sa noche buena. At sa tingin ko, halos bumaon na sa labi ni Baby ang bungi-bungi niyang mga ngipin dahil sa mariing pagkagat niya rito. Tumuwid na rin yata ang kanyang kanang kamay na komang pero hindi pa rin bumibitaw sa tatangnan ng timba ang dalawang kamay ng bungal.

Nang nasa loob na kami ng bahay, lumigwak na naman ang tubig sa timbang bitbit ng aking kaliwa. Tumapon ito sa sahig at nang natapakan ko ito, nadulas ako at biglang tumimbuwang! Bumuhos sa sahig ang lahat ng tubig sa timbang bitbit ng aking kaliwang kamay. Lumangoy ako sa isang timbang tubig na iyon. Basang-basa ang aking damit pati ang aking singit. Basa rin ang damit ni Baby. Basa na rin ang kanyang mukha. Napaiyak na kasi siya...hindi dahil sa awa sa akin kundi dahil sa katatawa. Naibaba na niya sa sahig ang isa pang timbang pinagtulungan naming bitbitin. Kalahati na lamang ang natirang tubig dito.

Nagmamadaling pumasok sa eksena si Mommy kasunod sina Ate Beth, Kuya Sonny at Ate Ineng. Akala ko'y nagising sila sa malakas na katatawa ni Baby. "Anong malakas na kalabog 'yon, anong malakas na kalabog 'yon?!" nanginginig na hiyaw-tanong ni Mommy.

Hindi siya nasagot ni Baby dahil alumpihit pa rin sa katatawa ang bruha na hilam na hilam na sa luha. At sa kalagayan kong iyon ay kailangan ko pa bang sumagot? Ipinaliwanag namin ang buong pangyayari nang nahimasmasan na ang lahat. Aba'y kami pa ang pinagalitan ni Mommy pagkatapos ng aming kuwento! Sermon niya, "Kayo talagang mga bata kayo, mga atrabido't atrabida. Kung nadulas kayo sa pag-akyat e dalawa pa kayong ipaoospital e Paskung-pasko. At ikaw naman magaling na lalaki, kung napasama ang bagsak mo e baka putok 'yang matigas mong bungo! Masyado ka kasing pasimuno kahit kelan. Huhummm, puro trabaho ang ibinibigay ninyo sa akin. Kailan pa kaya ninyo ako pagiginhawahin?"

Hay, Diyos ko, ang mga ina nga naman...Pero ibang pagalit iyon, napuna ko, kahit ang marami sa mga salita niya ay madalas ko nang narinig sa kanya. Sa pagkakataong iyon, malumanay ang kanyang boses, garalgal at hindi "high blood" ang pagsasalita niya, mamasa-masa ang kanyang mga mata at tila may ngiting nagnanais kumawala sa kanyang mukha. Napakabanayad din ng haplos niya ng tuwalya sa katawan ko habang siya ay "nagsesermon."

Nasisiguro kong naggalit-galitan lamang noon si Mommy. Pero kahit hindi niya sinabi, nasisiguro kong siya ang pinakamaligayang Mommy sa buong mundo nang umagang iyon, hindi dahil sa kalahating timbang tubig na natira sa timbang pinagtulungan naming bitbitin ni Baby, at lalong hindi dahil sa katawa-katawa naming pagmamagaling na nauwi sa kahiya-hiya kong pagbagsak. Napakasaya noon ni Mommy dahil mahal namin siya.

Sinabi ni Hesus na "kapag hindi kayo nagbago at tumulad sa mga bata, hindi kayo mabibilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos." Totoo. At lalong magiging maligaya at makabuluhan ang ating Pasko kung tataglayin natin ang sigla, kalinisan at kababaang-loob ng isang bata...tulad namin noon...noong panahong iyon kung kailan ang kalahating timbang tubig ay maaaring mangahulugan ng dalisay, taimtim at nag-uumapaw na pagmamahal.

Let's sing Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. This season may we never forget the love we have for Jesus. Let Him be the one to guide us as another New Year starts. And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts...

A VISIT TO MY SISTER'S NEW CONDO

I was in Taipei City from July 31 to August 1 to visit Baby, my youngest sister, in her new condominium unit. I must admit it is much cozier, much bigger, much prettier, and more expensive I guess from her previous house. Let me take you then to a tour to her new dwelling place.

This is the grand entrance...

....and the grand staircase, but we will take the elevator.

Let me pose for a photo shot before we go up to the fifth floor.

Welcome!!! Relax, feel at home.

Yes, CNN...

This is the kitchen, the left door is the Japanese computer room, the right door is the washing room.

Open sesame!!!!

This Japanese computer room definitely doesn't look Japanese at all in this picture.

What a huge refrigerator! You can stuff it with food that can last "till thy kingdom come."

This is my sister's bedroom.


This is the guest room...my room.


Ah, what a cute little boy.

Let me bring you down to the garden...

...to the children's little amphitheater...

... and to the swimming pool!!!

And presenting...the owner of the house...

The Duchess of Taipei City!!!

And presenting...the story-teller and the distinguished guest!!!

HOW ABOUT YOU, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO VISIT US HERE IN TAIWAN?

LARAWAN NG MAKABAGONG BAYANI

(Binigkas ko ang talumpating ito noong ika-12 ng Hunyo sa pagdiriwang ng ika-110 anibersaryo ng Pagpapahayag ng Kalayaan sa bayan ng Nagcarlan, Laguna. Inimbitahan ako ng kaibigan kong si G. Rino Umali, tagapamahala ng programa, na bumigkas ng talumpati bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang sa kanilang bayan.)

Noong nakaraang Martes, muli na naman pong nabuksan ang pintuan ng mga paaralan para sa ating mga guro at mag-aaral. Para sa mga bagong saltang estudyante sa Unang Baytang, ang pagpasok sa paaralan ay tunay ngang "unang hakbang para sa kinabukasan." Eh, ano naman kaya ang una nilang natutunan sa unang hakbang nilang iyan? At sa unang pahina ng kanilang mga notebook ay ano naman kaya ang nilalaman? Bilang isang dating guro, interesado akong malaman.

Bweno, heto po ang unang natutunan ng marami sa ating mga mag-aaral. Sa notebook na ito na pang-grade 1, nakabalandra ang larawan ng mga artistang kapamilya na sina Nikki Gil, Mat Evans, Shaina Magdayao, Jake Cuenca at Angel Locsin. Sa notebook namang ito ay nakabungad ang mga Pinoy superpowers na sina Mark Herras, Jennilyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo, Nadine Samonte, Dingdong Dantes, Sunshine Dizon at iba pang artistang kapuso. Tingnan ninyo nga naman.

Kaya kahit hindi pa naisusulat ng mga mag-aaral sa unang baytang ang kanilang pangalan ay tila ba pamilyar na sila sa pangalan ng mga artistang kanilang hinahangaan. At bago pa man sila maging pamilyar sa hawi ng buhok at bigotilyo ng bayani nating si Dr. Jose Rizal ay iniidolo na nila ang hitsura at hilatsa nina Richard Gutierrez at Piolo Pascual.

Ang talamak na pag-iimprenta ng larawan ng mga artista sa mga notebook ng mga mag-aaral ay napansin na rin po ng mga opisyal ng Department of Education. Hindi naman ito ipinagbabawal ng batas ngunit higit sanang makatutulong sa paghubog ng kamalayan at pagpapahalaga ng mga kabataan kung ang una nilang mabubungaran at palaging mabubungaran sa tuwing iaangat nila ang mga pahina ng kanilang notebook ay larawan ng ating mga bayani ng lahi. Higit na kapakipakinabang para sa ating mga mag-aaral, at para na rin sa ating lahat na makilala ang mga bayani natin, matutunan sa isip at puso ang mga nagawa nila para sa bayan, at maisabuhay ang kanilang mga ginintuang halimbawa. Sila ang mga bayaning nagtaya ng sariling buhay upang mapagwagian natin ang kalayaan at kasarinlan ng bansa na ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon. Tinahak nila ang daan ng paglilingkod sa bayan tungo sa pagtatatag ng isang malayang Republika. Dahil dito, ang mga pangalan nila ang ipinangalan sa marami nating daan, kalsada at lugar bilang parangal sa kanila at para lagi natin silang matandaan.

Halimbawa, sino pong bayani ang dapat nating alalahanin kapag pumupunta tayo sa Quezon City? Naturalmente, si dating Pangulong Manuel Luis Quezon. Siya ang Ama Ng Wikang Pambansa at isang makabayang tagapaglingkod na nagpunyagi, kasama si Dating Pangulong Sergio Osmeña, Sr. para sa pagtatatag ng isang malayang Republika ng Pilipinas.

Pero bago po tayo makarating sa Quezon City, dumaraan muna tayo sa EDSA, hindi po ba? Ngayon, sino pong bayani ang dapat nating alalahanin kapag dumaraan tayo sa EDSA? Si Epifanio De Los Santos po at Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue ang ibig sabihin ng EDSA. Si Epifanio De Los Santos ay isang makabayang intelektwal, manunulat, makata at patriotong opisyal ng pamahalaan noong panahon ng Amerikano.

Sa EDSA, dinaraanan po natin ang Camp Aquinaldo, ang headquarter ng Armed Forces Of The Philippines, at ang Camp Crame, ang headquarter naman ng Philippine National Police. Ang tanong: kanino po natin ipinangalan ang Camp Aguinaldo? Aba, hindi po natin dapat kalimutan na ipinangalan ang Camp Aguinaldo kay dating Pangulong Emilio Aguinaldo, ang Pangulo ng Unang Republika Ng Pilipinas, at ang nagdeklara ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas sa balkonahe ng kanyang mansyon sa Kawit, Cavite eksaktong isandaan at sampung taon na ang nakakaraan ngayon.

Pero kanino naman po natin ipinangalan ang isa pang kampo sa EDSA, ang Camp Crame? Para sa kabatiran ng lahat, ipinangalan po natin ito kay Brigidier General Rafael Crame, ang magiting at makabayang sundalo na naging unang Pilipinong hepe ng Philippine Constabulary noong 1917.
Utang po natin mula sa serbisyo ng mga bayani ang kalayaan at kasarinlan ng ating bansa---kay Dr. Jose P. Rizal na sumulat ng walang kamatayang nobelang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo; kina Emilio Jacinto at Andres Bonifacio, mga tagapagtatag at lider ng Kataas-taasan, Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan; kay Apolinario Mabini, ang dakilang paralitiko at Utak Ng Rebolusyon; at kay dating Senador Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., ang martir na nagpabagsak sa diktaduryang Marcos.

Ganting-bayad naman po natin ngayon na mag-ukol ng ating serbisyo sa Republika upang mapanatili at maging ganap ang tinatamasa nating kalayaan na pinuhunanan ng dugo at hininga ng ating mga bayani. Dapat nating ipagtanggol at pagyamanin ang kalayaang ito tungo sa ating ganap na pag-unlad. Kaya nga ngayong ikaisandaan at sampung pagdiriwang ng Araw Ng Kalayaan, ang tema ng pagdiriwang natin ay REPUBLIC SERVICE, TUNGO SA GANAP NA KALAYAAN AT KAUNLARAN. Nagampanan na nina Rizal, Bonifacio, Jacinto, Aguinaldo, Mabini, de los Santos, Quezon, Osmeña, Crame, Aquino, Jr. at iba ang kanilang kabayanihan, serbisyo at pagpapalaya sa bayan. Ngayon naman ang pagkakataon natin para gampanan ang ating kabayanihan at serbisyo sa ating republika at sa ating kapwa Pilipino para may maipamana tayong ganap na malaya at maunlad na Pilipinas sa susunod na henerasyon.

Sa mga sandaling ito, maaaring may ilan po sa inyo ang nais magtanong sa akin---"Eh, paano tayo makakapagserbisyo sa republika?....Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, aba'y sarili ko muna ang seserbisyuhan ko...At sa gitna ng talamak na katiwalian sa pamahalaan, may bisa at pakinabang pa kaya ang aking serbisyo?" Isa itong makatwirang tanong at puna na tanging sarili natin ang makasasagot. Sa ganang akin, nasagot ko na sa sarili ang tanong na ito at sa aking paniniwala, napakarami pong paraan para pagserbisyuhan ang bayan, maliit man o malaki, hayag man o lihim, nasa Pilipinas ka man o nasa ibang bansa.

Sa kasalukuyang panahon, may tinatagurian tayong mga "bagong bayani," ang mga Filipino overseas contract workers na hataw sa pagkayod bilang tagapag-alaga o caregiver, katulong, manggagawa sa pabrika, nurse at seaman na matatagpuan saanmang lupain at karagatan sa buong mundo. Sila ang mga O.F.W. na nagsasakripisyo at nagtitiis ng hirap sa ibang bansa para lamang matustusan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya dito sa Pilipinas. Bilang resulta, ang perang mula sa katas ng kanilang pagod ay nakatutulong nang malaki sa pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya. Marapat nga silang tawaging "mga bagong bayani" dahil mula sa kanilang sakripisyo ay nagagawa nilang palayain ang bayan mula sa kahirapan, ngunit kapalit naman ito ng pagkaalipin at matinding paghihirap ng marami sa kanila.

Saksi ako sa matinding paghihirap na iyan ng ating "mga bagong bayani" sa ibang bansa. Isa po akong missionary catechist o tagapaglingkod ng simbahan sa St. Paul's Catholic Church sa Hualien City, Taiwan Republic of China. May programa po ang St. Paul's Catholic Church na tumutulong sa mga naghihirap at naaalipin nating O.F.W. sa dakong iyon ng Taiwan---ito po ang FILIPINO CATHOLIC COMMUNITY APOSTOLATE o FCCA, isang non-governmental organization o N.G.O.. Ako po ang kasalukuyang tagapamahala o direktor ng naturang programa na tumutulong sa mga kababayan natin doon doon na inaalipin, inaabuso, minamaltrato at pinagtatrabaho nang sobra-sobra ng kanilang employer; at dinadaya, ginugulangan at pineperahan ng kanilang broker.

Kamakailan lamang po, isang bentesingko anyos na Pilipina ang aking natulungang makalaya mula sa kanyang abusadong employer at tusong broker. Siya po si Maridel Garabeles, isang "bagong bayani" na umuwing "duguang bayani" sa kanyang bayan sa Asingan, Pangasinan. Tipikal na kuwento ng isang O.F.W. ang kanyang istorya. Para makapagtrabaho sa Taiwan bilang isang caregiver, nagbayad siya sa recruitment agency ng mahigit na isandaang libong piso bilang placement fee. Pagdating sa Taiwan, pinagtrabaho si Madel ng kanyang broker sa iba't ibang employer hindi bilang isang caregiver gaya ng nasa kontrata kundi bilang katulong sa restaurant mula madaling-araw hanggang tanghali, all-around katulong sa bahay, tagamasa o tagagawa ng mantou o siopao sa hapon, at tagabuhat ng mga paninda sa tindahan ng mga appliances sa gabi. Matutulog siyang ang katawan ay bugbog, maging ang kaluluwa ay lamog. Wala siyang day-off, bawal gumamit ng cellphone at hindi siya pwedeng makipag-usap sa kapwa Pilipino. Sa kanyang sulat na lihim na naipuslit sa akin, sinabi niya, "Kuya, wala na akong inaasahang makatutulong sa akin kundi ikaw...at ang Diyos."

Lubhang pong mahaba, masalimuot at mapanganib ang ginawang pagliligtas at pagpapalaya kay Madel ng inyong lingkod katulong ang ilang Pilipinong mayroon ding ginintuang puso sa Taiwan. Kaya naman hindi mailarawang kaligayahan ang aking nadama nang narinig ko ang tinig ni Madel nang tinawagan niya ako noong ika-25 ng Abril mula sa Asingan, Pangasinan---"Kuya, narito na ako sa Pilipinas. Maraming-maraming salamat sa iyo, Kuya. Maraming salamat sa Diyos."

Masarap pong tumulong sa kapwa. Nakalulugod ang makapagdulot ng ginhawa sa mga taong nagdurusa. Kasiya-siyang maglingkod at magserbisyo nang may pagmamahal sa kalahi at kalipi. Nakaliligaya ang maging instrumento ng pagpapalaya sa mga kapwa Pilipinong biktima ng pang-aalipin at pang-aalila. Gayunman, nakalulungkot isipin na ang isang malinaw na indikasyon na hindi pa ganap na malaya ang ating bansa ay ang pangingibang-bansa ng maraming Pilipino upang makahanap ng ikabubuhay sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaalila sa mga banyaga.

Sa ating lipunan, ang bawat isa ay nakatanikala sa isang uri ng pagkaalipin na naghuhumiyaw ng paglaya. Gayunman, ang bawat isa rin sa atin ang may kakayahang lumagot sa tanikalang iyan. Sa inyo po, mga mapagmahal na guro, ang inyong mapagkalingang kamay at puso ang magpapalaya sa marami nating kabataang alipin ng kamangmangan at kawalang-direksyon sa buhay. Sa inyo po, masisipag na kawani ng pamahalaan, ang inyong mapag-asikasong asal at masiglang pag-agapay sa publiko ang magpapalaya sa marami nating kababayang alipin ng mga pang-araw-araw na intindihin at asikasuhin sa buhay. Sa inyo po, mga senior citizens, ang inyong karunungang pinanday ng panahon ang magpapalaya sa mga kababayan nating alipin ng mga lihis na paniniwala at lisyang pangangatwiran. Sa inyo po, mga magiting na beterano ng digmaan, ang inyong katapangan at inspirasyon ang magpapalaya sa mga kapwa natin Pilipinong alipin ng karuwagang makisangkot at kawalang-tapang na makipaglaban para sa pangkalahatang kagalingan. Sa inyo po, mga makikisig na peace and order volunteer at miyembro ng kapulisan, ang inyong dalisay na layunin at kahandaang maglingkod ang magpapalaya sa mga kapatid nating alipin ng pasaway na pag-iisip at walang-disiplinang pakikipamuhay. Sa inyo po, mga pinagkakatiwalaang halal at itinalagang opisyal ng pamahalaan, ang inyong matalinong pamumuno, taimtim na paglilingkod at matapat na paggugol sa kabang-bayan ang magpapalaya sa maraming mamamayang alipin ng kahirapan at kawalang-pag-asa sa buhay. At sa ating lahat, ang ating tunay at wagas na pag-ibig at pagmamahal sa Inang-bayan ang ganap na magpapalaya sa ating bansa mula sa mga kinakaharap nating krisis at paghihirap sa kasalukuyan.

Kapag sabay-sabay at sama-sama natin itong maisasagawa, ang ating bansa ay tunay ngang magiging "perlas ng silanganan, duyan ng magiting at tahanan ng mga bayani." Isang bansang ganap na malaya at tunay na maunlad ang maipamamana natin sa mga susunod na salinlahi. At sa muling pagbubukas ng klase sa darating na panahon, hindi na larawan ng mga katulad nina Mark Herras, Jennilyn Mercado at Richard Gutierrez ang mabubungaran sa notebook ng mga mag-aaral. Mga larawan na ng mga bayaning ganap na nagpalaya at nagpaunlad sa bayan ang kanilang matutunghayan---ang larawan ni teacher, larawan ni konsehal, larawan ni mayor, larawan ng beterano, larawan ng senior citizen, larawan ng peace and order volunteer, larawan ni SPO1, larawan ko rin marahil, at larawan nating lahat na mga makabagong bayaning ganap na nagpalaya at nagpaunlad sa Pilipinas nating mahal.

MABUHAY ANG KALAYAAN! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS! ISANG MAPAGPALAYANG UMAGA PO SA INYONG LAHAT.

Baldomero P. Bejosano
Hunyo 12, 2008
Nagcarlan, Laguna

A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

This article written by Sampaguita '98 was published in PaetenianInternational, Sept.-October 1998 issue. It is about BALDOMERO CAGUIN PAELMO of Paete, Laguna, my grandfather whom we fondly call Lolo Merong.

I regret having known him late in life for a short time. But I shared wonderful memories of this man and his family in Grove, College, Laguna.

I was surprised then that my folks in Paete knew him well. I had never seen him before. He was a native Paetenian but his family moved to Los Banos. It was a blessing when some of us took agriculture courses at UPLB. His house was a home away from home when I decided to stay with them. No wonder, three of the first women agriculturists of Paete stayed in his house as boarders.

I admired his patience with children and student boarders particularly during those sleepless exam time before prelim, mid-term and finals at UPCA. I wonder why sleep is so sweet and inviting during exam time that no amount of "wake up" beverage could keep us awake. And there he was, staying up late, just to wake us up anytime as requested.

His old fashion humor was always delightful. There was a time when some "tao po, binata po" from Paete came to visit his female boarders. He was the first to welcome and interview the visitors. On one occasion, when young men from Nagcarlan and Sta. Cruz came to visit, he jokingly said, "Bilisan ninyo at baka maunahan kayo ng mga taga-Paete."

His balding head with few silver hairs betrayed his age but his stocky built reminded me of a strong, healthy man during his younger years as an abaca farmer in Dalig, Papatahan and Kasantanaan. Wearing his thick eyeglasses, he often sat in the veranda playing solitaire, talking with people or just baby-sitting his many grandchildren. I learned later that he was once a town Mayor of Los Banos. He used to sit by the train station just to see some kababayans on their way to Manila.

It is said that one time, as he was doing his rounds with a peace officer, he spotted his boyhood friend and kababayan, the late Valentin Afurong aboard the train. So, he immediately planned to surprise him. He ordered his officer to arrest him and detain him in his office. He then appeared later in his office and immediately, Valentin Afurong realized the practical joke. The mayor just wanted to see his friend and share some "usap-Paete" with him.

Blessed with a big and caring family, most of his children are professionals. His relatives usually stay with him and his family, ever helpful and caring to all. He was a true Paetenian and a jolly good fellow.

Amang Merong spent his last days and died in Paete in his old age. I dedicate this line to him, to Baldomero Caguin Paelmo.

I leave the world, in passing, left no stones unturned.
Have done my best, the very best to make the world a better plan.
Not much chest of gold, nor treasures are the things I left behind...
but chains of golden memories and descendants of a noble man.

KAPAYAPAAN NOONG WALA PANG KAUNLARAN

Si Inay ay nasa bahay pag-uwi natin galing sa iskwelahan. Walang mga bakod at gate ang magkakapitbahay at kung mayroon man ay gumamela lamang.

Singkwenta lang ang baon---beintesingko sa umaga, beintesingko sa hapon. Mayroong free ang mga patpat ng ice drop, buko man o munggo. Mataas ang paggalang sa mga guro at ang tawag sa kanila ay maestra at maestro. Hindi binibili ang tubig, pwedeng makiinom sa hindi mo kakilala. Malaking bagay na ang pumunta sa ilog o kaya sa tumana para magpiknik. Grabe na ang kaso kapag napatawag sa principal’s office.

Simple lang ang pangarap---makatapos, makapag-asawa, mapagtapos ang mga anak. Pwedeng iwan ang sasakyan at ibilin sa hindi mo kakilala, wala naman kasing lock ang mga jeep na Willy’s noon. Mayroon kaming mga laruan na gawa namin at hindi binili---traktrakan na gawa sa lata ng sardinas na Rose Bowl ang katawan at Darigold na maliit ang mga gulong; iskeyting o iskuter na bearing na maingay ang mga gulong at de-singkong palo para sa preno; patining na pinitpit na lata lang na may butas sa gitna para suotan ng sinulid, pwede pang makipaglaguta; sumpak, pilatok, boka-boka, borador at iba pa. Hindi nakikialam ang mga matanda sa mga laro ng mga bata kasi laro nga iyon. Maraming usong laro at maraming kasali---lastik, gagamba, turumpo, tatsing ng lata o tumbang preso, moro-moro o sikyo, patintero o tubiganan, luksong-baka, luksong-tinik, luksong-lubid at marami pang ibang luksuhan at takbuhan! Ang pera-perahan namin ay kaha ng Philip Morris, Marlboro at Champion, at kahon-kahon iyon! May dagta ng langka ang dulo ng tingting na hawak mo para makahuli ng tutubi o kuliglig, nandadakma ka ng palakang tetot peroingat ka sa palakang saging dahil sa kulugo. Butas na ang sakong ng Spartan mong tsinelas pero suot pa rin. Nanlilimahid na ang pundiyo ng karsonsilyo mo kasi nakasalampak ka sa lupa.

Pero ngayon, sa gitna ng modernong pamumuhay at sa lahat ng pagsulong sa teknolohiya, hindi ba minsan nangarap ka na rin...mas masaya noong araw...sana pwedeng maibalik.

May takot tayo ngayon sa buhay. Kasi naman, maraming napapatay at nakikidnap, maraming adik at masasamang-loob, may bombahan, at may banta pa ng terorismo. Noon, takot lang tayo sa ating mga magulang at kina Lolo at Lola. Pero ngayon, alam na natin na mahal pala nila tayo kaya ayaw nila tayong mapahamak o mapariwara, na una silang nasasaktan kapag pinapalo sila.

Balik tayo sa nakaraan kahit saglit...bago magkaroon ng computer, internet at cellphone...noong hindi pa uso ang gameboy at counterstrike. Tayo noon...doon! Tinutukoy ko ang harang-taga at taguan kapag maliwanag ang buwan; ang pagtatakip mo ng mga mata pero nakasilip sa pagitan ng iyong mga daliri kapag nanonood ka ng nakakatakot sa “Mga Aninong Gumagala.” Unahan tayong sumagot sa multiplication table na kabisado natin kasi wala pang calculator. Pag-akyat natin sa mga puno...pagkabit ng kulambo, lundagan na sa kama...pagtikwas o pagtitimba sa poso, pingga ang pang-igib ng lalaki at may dikin naman ang ulo ng babae, inaasbaran pa ng mga suberbiyo. Nginig na tayo kapag lumabas na ang yantok-mindoro o buntot-page. Naisako ka na rin ba? O kaya, naglagay ka ba ng karton sa puwet (o kuyukot, hehehe) para hindi masakit ang palo ng tsinelas o sinturon? Magkano kupit mo nang inutusan kang bumili ng suka, paminta at toyo sa kanto? Namili ka ba ng bato sa bigas, nagtinda-tindahanan na puro dahon naman, nagbahay-bahayan na puro kahon naman, at naglako ka rin ba ng pandesal, masapan, bitso at ice candy noong araw?

Karera sa takbuhan hanggang maubos ang hininga...pagtawa hanggang sumakit ang tiyan, hahahahahahaha! Meron ka bang himbabaw, kulitis o pongapong? O kaya, ng lukaok, susuwi o espada? “Susmaryosep” ang nadidinig mo kapag nagpapaligo ng bata, “Estigo Santo” naman kapag nagmamano. Masarap mapagod sa kalalaro, di ba? Pero nakakatakot ang sipay, kapre, berdugo...lalo na ang pamalo. Tuwang-tuwa naman kami kapag tinalo ang tinali ni Itay kasi may tinola! “Yung “crush” mo sa iskul, tanda mo pa ba? At kapag reses na, tanda mo pa ang pinamili mo sa garapon ng tinapay? Tinapay-alembong, taeng-kabayo, pinagong, pandekoko at biskotso? Pwede ring ang sukli ay kending Nougat, Caramel o Vicks na meron pang libreng singsing. Kung gusto mo naman, pakumbo, bukayo, tira-tira, kariba o inuyat. Sa kusina, Purico ang mantika at mauling na ang mukha at ubos na ang hininga mo sa kahihihip kasi mahirap magfparikit ng apoy. Masarap ang kamatis na piniga sa kamay at lumabas sa pagitan ng daliri para sawsawan; ang palutong kapag isinawsaw sa sukang may siling labuyo; ang duhat kapag inalog sa asin; ang isa-isang isubo ang daliri kapag puno na ng kanin; ang halo-halo na namumutiktik sa sahog.

Sakang ang lakad mo at nakasaya kasi bagong tuli, ha-ha-ha-ha! O kaya naman, naghahanak ka ng chalk kasi tinagusan ang iyong palda sa iskwela, kakahiya, di ba? Labaha ang gamit sa gupit na white-side-wall o ang lipstik mo ay pulang papel de hapon. Naglululon ka ng banig pagkagising, matigas na amirol ang mga punda at kumot, madumi ang manggas ng damit mo kasi doon ka nagpapahid ng uhog. May programa sa iskul kapag Lunes, may rasyon namang nutriban at gatas kapag Miyerkules at may pakiling ka namang dala kapag Biyernes kasi mag-iis-is ka ng desk. Di ba masaya, naaalala mo pa ba? Wala nang sasaya at gaganda pa sa panhong iyon...masaya noon at masaya pa rin tayo ngayon habang inaalala ang mga iyon.

Noon, ang mga desisyon ay ginagawa sa awit, “Sino ba sa dalawang ito...ito ba o ito?” Eh kapag ayaw ng resulta, “Pen pen de sarapen de kutsilyo de almasen. Haw haw de karabaw batuten...” Ang presidente ng klase ang pinakamagaling, hindi ang pinakamayaman o pinakasikat. Masaya na tayo basta sama-sama kahit hati-hati sa kakaunti. Nauubos ang oras natin sa kwentuhan, may oras tayo para sa isa’t isa. Naaasar ka kapag marami kang sunog sa sungka, kapag buro ka sa pitik-bulag o matagal ka nang taya sa holen. Iyong mga nakatatandang kapatid ang pinakaayaw natin pero sila ang tinatawag natin kapag napapatrobol tayo. Hindi natutulog si Inay, nagbabantay kapag may trangkaso tayo, lagi pang merong Skyflakes at Royal sa tabi at pahihigupin ng mainit na Royco.

Kung naaalala mo nang may ngiti sa labi ang mga ito,,,nabubuhay ka na sa KAPAYAPAAN! Pustahan tayo, nakangiti ka pa rin. Kung naka-relate ka naman sa halos lahat ng nabanggit, ang ibig sabihin niyan ay talagang...MATANDA KA NA, hehehehehe! Pero, laging punababata ng TUWA at SIGLA ng nakaraan at nagdudulot sa ating isip ng KAPAYAPAAN at KAPANATAGAN ng kalooban.

At bukas makalawa, ang kasalukuyan naman nating ito ang ating sisinupin, lilingunin at ngingitian na tatatak sa ating mga labi hanggang sa huling sandali ng ating paghimlay.

11th NATIONAL MIGRANT'S SUNDAY

Today is the 11th National Migrants' Sunday. I didn't know that till I attended mass in St. Christopher's Church at Zhong San Road, Taipei City (Taiwan), where a multitude of Filipino migrant workers regularly gather every Sunday.

Right now, I'm in my sister's house here in Taipei City for a 4-day mid-autumn festival break when Chinese people eat a lot of "youzi" or pomelo (suha baga sa atin) and "yuebing" or mooncake (sa atin nama'y hopia). In Hualien City, I was surprised to meet a big number of Filipino migrant workers who regularly gather Every Sunday in St. Paul's Catholic Church. But I was even more surprised to brush elbows with multitudes of Filipino migrant workers in St. Christopher's Church in Taipei City. In the vicinity, there are lots of Filipino shops selling Filipino goods, products, and food. Literally, the place has become a Sunday rendezvous for our kababayan migrant workers in Taipei. I attended the Tagalog mass at 12:00pm and since it was the 11th National Migrants' Sunday, the priests talked about the plight of the Filipino migrant workers in Taipei . He passionately counselled the people apropos the in justices and violations done against them by their employers and brokers, and about their emotional and psychological problems caused by homesickness and depression.

Honestly, I could not relate and connect to the homily of the priest. I felt so alienated from the migrants' predicament and estranged from their situations. I felt like a Filipino among Filipinos having a starkly different face in Taipei. And while I'm being generously treated as guest by my host country being a scholar of Taiwan government, the Filipino contract workers here are treated as no more than servants whose everyday existence is at the mercy of their masters.

My sister has been working here in Taipei for almost five years now as an information officer for an international agricultural research organization. She herself has been in the same predicament as I'm right now with regards to our fellow Filipino migrant workers here. In our discussions in search for the root cause of the Filipino overseas contract worker phenomena, every inch of the problem seems to boil down to the most simple and obvious reason.

Our political leaders in the Philippines have not been doing their jobs in securing and safeguarding the welfare of the majority of our people. These are the vulnerable people---those who need guidance and direction from leaders; those who depend on thinkers and intellectuals for the answers to their queries; those who are born to follow and not to make decisions. A society sprang from an band of followers and a leader while a great nation sprang from a society of conscientious leaders and obedient followers. The rise or fall of a nation can always be attributed or traced to the strenght or weakness of its leaders.

Take Taiwan for example. It is a small country, not even a full-pledged nation and always at the brink of being engulfed by its giant adversary, the Big China. It is precisely this constant and imminent danger against their sovereignty that makes Taiwan's leaders so tough and principled that they even literally fistfight in their parliament to get things done for the betterment of the Taiwanese people who in return follow their leaders through and through.

Well, the Filipino people are good followers too! Just see what is happening to our country right now---we are messing it up because we have nothing back home but rotten leaders to show our way...down.

I always follow the news in the Philippines. Nothing is new. The senate is again investigating the executive branch who is again accused of grave corruptions and anomalies They are talking the same language over and over and over again back home. When will they ever learn to really talk and speak up for the people?

And when will they ever learn to lead?!

(Taipei City, Taiwan ROC, September 24, 2007, 12:16am)