 |
| Life is indeed hard... |
I had the chance to visit the apostolate area of one of my seminary classmates in college somewhere in Tondo, Manila. We were about to do a film-making in their day care center for poor children as part of our project in Psychology at that time. After the film-making, my classmate gave me a tour of their area. Unexpectedly, chaos started as one group of teenagers approaching towards us and another group were chasing them. A riot is starting to develop. They were armored with balisong (switch knife), sumpak (home made gun) and other dangerous weapons that could kill somebody and even us. I was terrified and quickly walk away as fast as I could without thinking that I am with my classmate. Surprisingly, he didn't feel any fear but instead he told me that it is an ordinary sight in Tondo to see teenagers joining riots. He has used to it already.
Life is indeed hard in Tondo. I understood then what really cause these things to happen all because of poverty that continues to flagellates them. When you come to Tondo, think not of fear but internalize the very situation they are into and what must be done to help them.
When the Wind Blows
It was sweltering hot and humid afternoon after we have finished cleaning our classroom, we stayed for awhile in the campus while watching my high school classmates playing volleyball. I was able to join their game and when the ball comes before me and strikes it with my both fists, it went on the other side of the fence where the river is. I felt responsible for striking the ball. My classmate began to worry that her volleyball might float away. I had no choice but to retrieve the ball. It was 10 meters away from the school fence! I couldn't find any sticks to get it but again, I have no choice but to swim though the river is deep and dirty. The ball continues to drift away.
 |
| Drifted by faith... |
I, too began to feel worried but nevertheless I quipped with a prayer that the wind would change its direction towards where I am. All of the sudden, the wind blows and drifted the ball towards me! When it finally reached about 3 meters, I grabbed it and my body plunges! When I came back to the campus, my classmates noticed that I am soaking and smells awful. They teased me but I did not mind, what is important for me is that I retrieved the ball and gave it back to my worried classmate. For me, it was an act of bravery and the experience that God works miraculously and His presence was felt that very day in one sweltering hot but windy afternoon.
Ghosts at the Bridge
 |
| fear not! |
While we were riding back to the seminary from our Christmas caroling in Manila, we passed by a bridge somewhere in Cavite that every night of December. Our L300 stopped suddenly and the headlights went off. Everyone inside the van started panicking that there might be ghosts. We were at the middle of the bridge with no street lights, no cars sighted passing by and it's very quiet. It was believed to be that there are ghosts roaming around. Instead of being frightened, we pray for their repose and calm ourselves until our van starts running again so fast that we reached the seminary in less than 10 minutes!
