What a miracle!

A new Christian was enthusiastically reading his Bible at the park. On the next bench was an old skeptic who was observing the happy new Christian. Suddenly the Christian shouted, "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!"
The skeptic asked aloud, "What's the praising for?"
The Christian replied, "Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea! God parted the Red Sea! What a miracle! Praise the Lord!"
The old skeptic sighed, "That's not a miracle!" Don't you know? The water in the Red Sea sometimes receeds to a depth of only 2 inches. Those Israelites crossed the sea and only got their ankles wet in the muddy shallow water!"
The Christian looked downcast but continued to read the Bible. The skeptic satisfied, began to nod off.
But the skeptic was soon awaken by more shouts. He woke to find the Christian jumping for joy, laughing and shouting, "Praise God! Praise God! God is great!"
"What's with you now?" asked the irritated skeptic.
The Christian replied with much joy, "God drowned the Egypitans, and their chariots and all the horsemen with just 2 inches of muddy shallow water! What a miracle!"

The greatest miracle of all takes place at Christmas. When you walk down Orchard Road it's easy to forget that really a miracle took place 2000 years ago in a simple manger. It's much easier to buy and give presents, write letters to Santa, attend Christmas parties then to open our hearts to the Infant Jesus.

Christmas is a time to renew our love for God, those around us, even our neighbours, especially the poor. This is the time to embrace God's love by receiving his Son Jesus once more into our lives and into our families.

1John 4:10 "Love consists in this; it is not we who love God, but God loved us and sent his Son to expiate our sins."

This Christmas let's accept God's love for us.

Let God be God

I had such a good time reading the various super powers you want to have.
Funny lah!
Daryl wants to be a cheerleader!? Alvin is scary. Don't go near him, he'll read ur mind. OK i know why.. so no need to talk, just know. hehe. I don't know why Iggy wants to be spiderman.. I thought he would rather be able to see all the colours of the rainbow. Sylvester is not that smart after all. He wants to fly to beat the airfares. but he'll just be a big bird in the air and he'll take a long time to fly to another country. Boeing and Airbus... those things have turbo power... How far can Sly fly? How fast can Sly fly? Got to fly low, cannot fly too high cos not enough oxygen. Nikki is cute and smart... Girl power! Get away from trouble in a fingersnap. As for me yes, I know... My voice is loud enough. Call one time, everyone can hear! I was thinking, actually if I had the power to call the person's name and pop the fellow appears. E.g. "OSAMA!!" out from the Afghan cave into my living room.. shudders...oh no! So if i call his name backwards, then back to the Afghan cave he returns. E.g "AMASO" poof!
ok why did I ask this question again??
oh yes. cos it's advent.
You see we've been meeting thrice a week for advent sessions to fellowship, hear the Word of God and pray together. We want to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus. What's so important that we have to devote such time? give up our old life for Jesus... because Jesus is greater than any superpower. He is Lord over every sovereignty, principality and force.

If really we were given some kind of superpower and we didn't know Jesus... we wouldnt know how best to use it for others. As it is we've got superpower modern technology. But many don't know how to use it wisely. As a result, the Earth, our home, is being destroyed. Often we want to play God and we attempt to do so, often with negative consequences. From this Christmas let God be God and stop playing God.

The Most Important Advent Question

Hey to all the people I know and all the people I don't know.
I have ONE QUESTION FOR YOU...
Please send in your answer by choosing any of these options...tagging, commenting or emailing: enquiry@acts29mission.org

Leave your name if you want or stay anonymous. Give a "cheem" theological answer if you wish or a funny one or a smart alec answer. Answer anyway you want... Don't have to think so hard...

Here it is:

If you were a SUPERHERO what kind of power would you like to have... and WHY?

Alrighty! I'll be waiting for your answers. We'll publish the answers here this Sunday.

Cowabunga-luya-dude!

Hey What if Cartoons Got Saved???

to begin with Humanity... is to begin with Jesus

If you have been to our website lately you’d have seen our new banner: the one month School for Humanity mission trip.

You are 16-20 years old.
You would like to give 1 month to serve the Lord.
You would also like to experience living amongst the poor.

But… you say, “I’m too young.”
Acts29 partly means Acts: A Call To Serve
Every baptized person is entrusted with the mission of the Christ and in responding to the call of our baptism we renew our missionary commitment and strengthen our faith by giving to others and to give meaning to life in today's world.

That’s what the church says… not what acts29 says... that every baptized person has a mission... and more so if you’ve been confirmed.

29: is the continuation of the Acts of the Apostles which ends at Acts Chapter 28.
Christ gave his disciples the missionary mandate: “Go and make disciples of all nations,… and lo, I am with you always, to the close of age.” The apostles were sent to the whole world and they were assured that the Spirit would enable them to fulfill their work.

Acts29 is having this mission trip for the young so that young people like you can take this opportunity to respond to the missionary mandate given by Jesus.

But… you say, “What have I got that’s so great that it can make a difference?”
You know I’ve met parents who say to their children they can’t go for mission trips because
“You’re not God. Don’t play God. You’re not a saint or a religious!”

The church recognizes that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of our mission. If someone is going to experience God’s love it is “not by your might nor by your power but by the Spirit of God”

But…you say, “I can serve the poor in Singapore. I don’t have to go all the way to Payatas”
80% of the world’s resources is used by 20% of the world’s population. That 20% world population includes all the people living in Singapore, who have access to clean running water, basic sanitation, a HDB flat to call home. And in Singapore, food is available 24hours. If we have to go out and look for the poor in Singapore, then we are not poor. Poverty is where the poor is everywhere you go and the poor includes you. FYI: 20% of the world’s resources is available to 80% of the world’s population. (Stats from U.N)

As young people we have much kindness in our hearts but do we have the courage to step out of our comfort zones? We know what’s happening in the world. We see the injustices on the news. We want to change the world. We seek for solutions as world leaders, politicians, business moguls, humanitarians do. We seek to bring justice, peace, freedom and love to this world. We seek to heal the earth and to bring God’s kingdom here on earth. But before we pursue our dream of transformation, it is Jesus whom we should give our hearts to. It is he who will begin the 1st transformation, by transforming us. Before we embark on the rest of our life’s journey to do good, let us build ourselves, not on shallow sand but on solid ground, a deep foundation. Before we begin our dreams for our life and family, our country and our world, let us be in communion with the Lord. Contemplative disciples know his life, his truth, his way.

This January, come live with Jesus.

School for Humanity

Are you 16-20 years old?
Do you have one month to give to the Lord?
Do you have place in your heart for the poor?
to live among the poor?

Acts29 is running a mission program for young people: post O and A levels/post ITE and those awaiting NS.
We would like to invite these young people to give 1 month to serve the Lord and to live among the poor.
At the end of the mission, we would like to see these youths back in their parishes, active members igniting the spirit of mission among their peers.


School for Humanity (Paaralang Pantao)
Contemplative youths for mission
School for Humanity is a one-month formation program for youths between the ages of 16 -20 years old who desire to experience Simplicity, Solidarity and Mission through Jesus for others.

Purpose:
A one month formation program to
1)Contemplation – be in communion with Jesus as we encounter him in the suffering poor
2)Compassion - love in action for the transformation of this world, “loving our neighbour”
3)Communication – proclaiming Jesus Christ to others, to witness, to engage in a dialogue of life

Cost: $600 (airfare, food and accommodation) funds can be raised through acts29

Youths will have mission experience in Paaralang Pantao and Anawim Lay Missions Foundation

To register youths are required to email a personal introduction (including name, age, parish, email address, contact no) to enquiry@acts29mission.org.
The personal introduction should include
• A brief description of who you are, your personality and background
• Why you are interested to participate in this mission
• How you intend to use this experience to serve in your parish

Dates:
Jan 3 -5: stay-in pre-mission preparation
Sessions include:
• How to Pray
• Catholic Social Teachings
• Redemptoris Missio
• Tagalog and Cooking Lessons

Jan 6-27: Philippines Mission
Living as a community (Montalban)
Serving urban poor (Payatas and Erap) and abandoned (Anawim)
Witness and evangelization

Jan 28-Feb 3: Post Mission
Singapore sharing and outreach (participants will return to their parishes to share with youth groups/catechism classes, whichever is possible) their mission experience
To ignite a sense of mission among their peers and in their parishes.

http://www.acts29mission.org
email: enquiry@acts29mission.org

Rhythm of Life

Recently I asked some youths to give up their watches while we were in the Philippines. I expected some of them to protest silently in their hearts. To my surprise, even the quiet ones spoke out loudly as if they had heard a most repelling thing and they just had to react. "What? Give up my watch? never!" As if I had asked them to surrender their last breath of air.

Why the reaction? There were 2 reasons. The 1st reason was the watch was of sentimental value... someone had given it to them or they have been using it since the last millenium and have since grown so attached to this made-in-japan thing that it would be weird not to have it on the hand.

The 2nd reason was "I need to know the time".. If you observe a young person long enough that fella is probably looking at his time (watch or hp) every 15 minutes.

The irony was: after much discussion the youths agreed that it was not important for them to have their watches and they did not need their watches but they just could not take it off. If it's not important or you don't need it, why can't you take it off?

I felt I was looking at myself as a teenager struggling with time and with my possessions. A youth is as poor as a church mouse. I can say that from experience. What a youth has to call his/her own is really almost nothing. That almost nothing is probably the watch they have on. Some youths earned their watch. Perhaps from good results or behaviour. Some, perhaps, cos they learnt to be on time! :) But for whatever the reason, many young people are given watches. Watches are often gifts. I notice adults give watches to young people as a way of telling them, "You're old enough to tell time and to keep time."

And that's what young people do.. and boy.. do they keep time.. at least for Singaporean youths. Our young people are always rushed and hurried, especially rushed and hurried to grow up. Many of them have a fully-packed program for the holidays. Many do not have programs they themselves had come up with or chosen. Many were put on leadership courses, work attachments, overseas trips, training, extra academic lessons. Even holiday trips were planned for them. They have so many plans and activities pre-programmed. There were a few without any plans, just happy-go-lucky but these youths did not seem to fit in with the others. I also suspect some just gave the impression that they have a lot on for the holidays just to be in sync with their friends.

In all our rushing and speeding through life, it's no wonder the young people find sunrise and sunset to be unfamiliar events. Strange that roosters crow and cows can run freely in open land. The full moon seems to be an oddity in the dark sky. and the stars.. oh never see stars as bright as these. Oohh... smell the air just before rain drops fall pitter patter. Waiting for water to boil, just waiting for water to boil. raining, raining, nothing to do cos it's raining. never had nothing to do. children chattering. Don't understand what they're saying. Can't answer, can't understand. Never felt isolated, never felt un-understood. What to say? just smile. never smiled for the sake of smiling ... nothing to do but smile. Rain stops, no more pitter patter, no more chatter. Across the valley, a giant rainbow appears. The valley seems to smile, the rainbow seems to be listening.

Time has passed. Time, not in seconds or minutes or if.else.then. But time in the rooster's crow, in the sunrise, in the air, the pitter patter, the chatter, the smile, the listening rainbow, the smiling valley, the boiling water, the quiet sunset. Time, not by Seiko nor Casio nor Raymond Weil, rather time by the rhythm of life.

One Meal A Day

This is BABY JANE. She's such an angel. An active happy child who loves to dance and tell stories. She comes up to me with those big puppy eyes and rattles off in Tagalog. Often she is asking "Are you leaving tomorrow?"

Beneath her cheerful and extrovered behaviour, it is hard to imagine that Baby Jane often has only 1 meal a day. And that meal is the lunch that she receives in Paaralang Pantao. Our food project will reach its 5th year come 2008. I wonder what goes through the minds of the young recipients after each lunch. Many are too young to express what they really mean. We're going to get each kid to do a survey to give their feedback on the meals. I can't wait for the response. Perhaps some will complain about the vegetables and ask for more fried chicken. :)

Just last week, a fight broke out in school. Pepito, who was not able to finish his fried chicken drumstick, ran over to Arnil and dumped his remaining chicken on Arnil's plate. An angry Arnil jumped out of his seat. Pepito was already back in his seat, 2 chairs away. Arnil yanked the hair of Pepito and dragged the smaller boy back to that fried drumstick. Arnil sat down expecting Pepito to take back his chicken. Perhaps Arnil was embarrased because there were visitors present and they had seen the leftover chicken dumped on his plate. Pepito, also embarrased that he had been too weak to fight back, then rained punches - blow after blow, on a stunned Arnil. The 2 boys were separated quickly and each was given time out to cool down. Arnil continued his lunch and even finished off the remaining of Pepito's half-eaten drumstick. This is a boy who has 8 or 9 siblings at home. Meal times are a rush and even a fight for who gets the bigger share of the meal.

Now back in Singapore I think of Baby Jane and Arnil. I wonder if they have had enough to eat today? If they have gone to bed hungry? The Christmas season is in the air. We're busy getting the home ready for the festive season. Planning our gift list, what to buy when to wrap and so on. The menu for Christmas is already in the works. In NTUC or in Sheng Siong, housewives can be heard complaining. The price of MaLing was once $1.10 and is now $2.50. Food prices have risen over the past few months. Yet in Singapore there is no shortage of food. Food is available 24 hours. An old lady once said, "In Singapore, the poor will never die of hunger."

As Advent approaches, I've decided rethink what food means to me and what the food project means to the kids in Payatas. I've never gone hungry, never known what it's like to have just one meal a day or what it's like to share a small piece of meat with 9 others. This Advent I'd like to have just one meal a day. I started 2 days ago... Today I had cup noodles for lunch and some fries... It's 1130pm... I'm hungry very hungry... But I think: like Easter, Christmas also comes with personal self-sacrifice in the season of Advent.

How do I make Christ present in the world for 2008? I don't know. I also don't know how to bring about justice and peace, freedom and hope in the world. But I know that if I have one meal a day, I will constantly be reminded that the poor exist and that Christ chose to come to the world not as a privileged king but as a poor Asian child, like Baby Jane and Arnil.

If you'd like to join me in this advent "fast", do tag here and let me know how it has been for you :)

Peace
Sherlyn

Paraiso Return to Paradise Smokey Mountain

Dear MEC-Amen,
when i 1st met u guys at UST (Univeristy of Santo Thomas) u made me cry with ur singing. Your songs were not a performance like so many other singers I've heard. But when you sang, it's just one voice, one message telling me that God's looking out for me. Now so many years later, we're all working and last Sunday we met up again u sang this time to the IJ girls and teachers.. and again you made me cry, even the girls and the teachers cried.

you chose such a powerful song to share with us. I felt I was I stepping into Payatas for the very 1st time once more. Thank you for sharing not only your voice and the song with us, but your heart as well.

I found a video of Paraiso on the web. And I invite all of you who have been to Payatas to listen to this song. Looking back, I realize now that truly this place is paradise. In Payatas, I learnt what was worth laughing about and experienced the freedom to laugh and be filled with joy. I learnt also what was worth crying for. I learnt to let go and cry, to be in sorrow. I realise only when we experience Paraiso then we can know laughter and tears. I know many of you have not been to Payatas for some time because of studies or work. But I invite you to come back to Payatas, return to Paraiso. To those of you who have always wanted to experience life on this Smokey Mountain but have just been too afraid to come to the Philippines, listen to Paraiso. :)

Return to a land called Paraiso,
a place where a dying river ends.
No birds there fly over Paraiso,
no space allows them to endure.
The smoke that screens the air,
the grass that's never there.

And if I could see a single bird, what a joy.
I try to write some words and create
a simple song to be heard
by the rest of the world.

I live in this land called Paraiso,
in a house made of cardboard floors and walls.
I learned to be free in Paraiso,
free to claim anything I see.
Matching rags for my clothes,
plastic bags for the cold.

And if empty cans were all I have, what a joy.
I never fight to take someone
else's coins and live with fear
like the rest of the boys.

Paraiso, help me make a stand.
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
that if I could see a single bird, what a joy.
This tired and hungry land could expect
some truth and hope and respect
from the rest of the world.

Congratulations Paaralang Pantao

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The Foundation for Human Rights in Asia (FHRA) has chosen Paaralang Pantao as one of the recipients of Asia Human Rights Award 2007 this coming December 7, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. The said award is granted to individuals or organizations who have conducted great and meritorious services towards improving and solving human rights problems in Asia.

In behalf of Paaralang Pantao, I would like to share this recognition to all those who have always been supporting our efforts to promote children’s welfare through education. Let us all spread this good news so that more of our friends would know that Paaralang Pantao is not just a school for the children of Payatas but a community where we can all belong, and where all the efforts we share -- big or small can make a difference and help improve one’s life.

Again, thank you and we hope to commune with you again on one of Paaralang Pantao’s future activities.

Sincerely,
Jaycoben B Reyes

Heartspeaks

Dear Kimberly, Jamaica and John Mark,

It was in the first week of August, when I first, met the three of you. You all wore strange head dresses, colorful bandanas and wigs, except for the little but strong brother, John Mark. Your distant gazes puzzled me, and I often wondered why you had strange rejection of the most awaited ‘chicken” meals. Tita told me, you find such food strange. Deep in my heart, I asked why. Why you look and act a little different from the rest.

Yet your bonding as siblings impressed me. I observed how you protected each other, from a classmate who teased or an annoying pull from another peer. I caught a naughty act from a classmate, who pulled your colorful “wig” out of curiosity, revealing your little hair strands growing slowly. I know it hurts you, but you girls never cried nor fought back. Instead you just put back the wigs and continued your work. Tita said your papa shaved your heads because of lice.

Forgive me for I inquired and observed much about you all. I learned your mom left and marry someone else, leaving your father to take care of you all. Isn’t your father an amazing man? I heard he’s working real hard, doubling the effort, doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and still working in the nearby junkshop. Being a full time mom is a challenging thought for me. I still can’t imagine the strength that your father has raising you all.

Last week, I met your father. He was there during recess time. He was coaching you Kimberly, remember? He was coaching you to tell teacher that the boy beside you is being a nuisance. I met him again the next day, with 3 pesos at hand ready to pay for the snacks you ate, for 1 peso each. Your father escorts you all to school, wait till all of you are settled and returns to peak in once in a while and pick you up in the afternoon. He has all rounded abilities! Hope John Mark, that in time you would inherit those too!

As you were all about to go home, I observed you. Older girls, you were packing your stuff. You were carrying a plastic envelop with very organized notebooks, papers and pens. Don’t you think your dad deserves a big thumbs-up? Yeah! For being a very good provider, coach and disciplinarian

Today we had our program in school. Your father attended. He wore a very cool outfit. Nice polo shirt, very neat shoes and very proud smile to see that you will all dance and sing. He sang along with you all as we invited the parents to sing “Hawak Kamay” (a popular Filipino pop music today, inviting everybody to join hands in the midst of struggles, poverty and pains of life.)

In my heart I wish for many fathers like your papa. I wish your papa’s example would touch the many people he encounters each day; his neighbors, his co-workers so many can make a difference like him.

I wish to thank God for your family. You touched my heart profoundly. This I know will be as source of light and strength. Tonight, I remember you all warmly; love had a picture in seeing you three together with your amazing father. May you all grow embracing the wonders of love that cures all pains, eases all hunger and nurses all wounds.

Lastly, I wish to congratulate the three of you, you all danced so well today. You girls were pretty with the flowery costumes. And John Mark, I feel you are slowly going out of your shell as you sing with the rest. Carry on!!!

Heart Speaks - From the Children

“I will never be like him, a “rugby boy!”
(an insight by a little boy, looking outside the school window staring at a man sniffing rugby.)



“ My papa will be in city jail until he grows old.
He’ll never see my art works. I miss him.”



“ In school I can play, I am very happy.”

“ My life is such a burden for days, because Nicassio is absent…”
(one little girl’s sharing about an absent classmate.)




“We will have classes tomorrow, even it is Saturday, right?”

“My mother is in the dumpsite. My father left her.”

“I need to be absent. I need to wash our clothes.”



“I didn’t come to school because I have nothing to wear.”

I wonder. How Jesus would touch these little ones? How would He talk to them? How would He look at them?

How can we be his hands? How can we be His heart?

Faith resounds as we trust in His marvelous presence in the simple words of these children. How they speak their hearts in such a simple and powerful way.

Hope inspires. It makes us all move on and believe. Yes, things will soon be better.A great fruit originates from a little seed. The simple and basic learnings would bear fruit in time.

Imagine love. Love overpowering all the longings, heartaches and broken dreams. Love consciously extended, love so unconditional.

For the past weeks, together with the children, we were learning an inspirational song, entitled, “That we may be one.” And each time we reach the part, “inspired by the love we feel,” the children embrace themselves with a tight squeeze, for some moment, the word seems to profess—truly the greatest of them all is LOVE!!!

Children of Payatas

Boy having his siesta



3 boys on a wall, enoying the view



Boy looking at sky



Team of Photographers

Look out for their pictures here! Will be posted up soon! :)

Dare to dream beyond the Dumpsite

Buy a tee! Support the education of Dumpsite Children!

$10 - one tshirt

How to order? email me your name, the number of tshirts and the sizes.
sherlyn@acts29mission.org


What the design symbolizes...
1) The silhouette of a child freeing a dove (symbolizing our mission “Dream Beyond”)
2) The words “Paaralang Pantao, School of Humanity” (the name of the school we serve)
3) Green in colour to symbolize the hopes of the children to have a green Payatas one day (it is currently grey, without trees or grass, landscaped with mountains of trash) as you can see from our blog banner

Friday HeartSpeaks

Dear Friends, we're happy to bring to you our reflections from our mission experience. Every Friday watch out for HeartSpeaks. (sorry it's late today... we've been at the CHIJ YM campfire! heehee!)

Our 1st HeartSpeaks comes from Mayb, our fulltimer serving in Payatas. This is her reflection of the past week.





I walked down the road with a need to have someone to talk to today. I was wondering if this is another solitary day, where friends are busy doing their own thing, or when my sister is buried with her books or with her own escapades, with no time to even chat.

The enormous need for companionship is knocking, once, twice, thrice and I battled it with the song from Prince of Egypt, Joseph inside the prison sings: “You know better than I, You know the way, I’ve let go the need to know why, I take what answer You supply, You know better than I.”

I walked down the road with a need for someone to talk to today and I met Teacher Jane and Teacher Princess.

“I really wanted to leave my work, said Teacher Princess, “but the day I listened to the children telling their stories, I decided to stay.”

“What did you have for breakfast?”
“Nothing teacher”
“What will you have for dinner?”
“Nothing. I only have what you serve for lunch."

I asked a 5 year old playful boy, “Where is your father?”
He answered, “In the city jail.”

One shy girl shared, “We’re eleven in the family, and I have a twin, my siblings are all working in the dumpsite.”

I walked down the road with a need for someone to talk to today, and I witnessed a smile, a hug, a wondering look, from those who couldn’t even talk.

Non-verbal communication!

“Please help me open my biscuits.” “Let’s sing and dance some more…” “Oh, I need another serving…”

I walked down the road with a need for someone to talk to today, and I saw a young father glancing at his daughter from the window, she’s writing a vowel. He didn’t talk to me but I saw his happy face.

Suddenly, the solitary day becomes a wonderful day. Truly, sometimes, the call is to let go of the need to know why, “I’ll take what answer You supply, You know better than I.”

In the end, God speaks in the many moments of my “today.”

Welcome to Paaralang Pantao, Payatas!


Paaralang Pantao, Payatas. One last look... before the MOVE...



The last Mass at the Vincentian Centre in Payatas before being pulled down



Teacher Reynaldo



smile Aloy!


Luci's School Cleaning Day


A boy and a tyre


A young girl



Over in Erap City


Telling the Story of Christmas



Come, Lord Jesus!



Christmas Lights are up!



Angel Factory - the place to get an angel's wings



The Christmas hatmaker



Strike a pose!



The 3 kings with Jollybee



Angels with Jollybee



Food Time!


Christmas present. With love from Singapore


A very healthy horse ...


... and a very hungry boy



WHO ME? YES! YOU!

December 2006: Maligayang Ang Pasko

I went back to Payatas and Erap City last December. Someone asked if I ever get bored of going back to the same place again and again... I don't get bored and I hope I never do. If I were a tourist to Payatas or Erap.. sure I'd get bored after a few trips... If I were an observer, I'd get bored too. But I have a purpose for going there. I don't go there to say "been there done that" or to "look look see see"... No time to do that! I think the day I feel numb to the people and the project, then that'll be the day I'll stop going.

When we got to Payatas, the first thing on my mind was to get our script for the Christmas party checked out and eidted. We had already prepared them in Tagalog. Lauraine and Grace helped with the corrections and we started rehearsing our roles. Then there was the headache of the props and the costumes. But by and by, inspiration floated in. In time the 3 kings got their crowns made of cardboard and cellophane. The angels got their wings thanks to the nifty work of Celesther who should open a wings factory in heaven - for angels who need to repair their wings or get new ones! Celesther's a great angel-wing maker and "repairer".. haha Next was to plan the program for the party and what food to get the kids.

Diana did a great job with coordinating star-making back in Singapore.. so we had brought more than a hundred paper stars with us of varied colours. I brought along a handsewn image of the Nativity scene which had been so artistically put together by Catholics from Pakistan. With the Nativity scene, the paper stars and the Nativity story in Tagalog, we conducted a rather successful children's liturgy at both Payatas and Erap. At the end of the story-telling aided by the Nativity scene, the kids decorated their Christmas stars as sign to welcome Jesus.

After staying some days in Payatas, we headed for Erap where we spent the time getting the props and angels' wings ready for the big day.. Christmas party day.. oh yes and putting up Christmas lights too. Tita Letty put some other christmas costumes and we were transformed into angels, kings, mary and Joseph, ready to act out the Christmas story. We managed to order food from Jollybee and Tita was able to persuade the outlet to send us a Jollybee mascot to the party. The kids really loved the mascot and we all went "Boom taratara"!

The Christmas party went very well. The youths gave their all for their roles. They put in so much effort to speak in Tagalog. Poor Papa Joseph (Aloysius) had such a hard time getting the Tagalog right but we loved him for all his effort and 4 step box dance! And we're all proud of Mama Mary (Diana)too. She was careful not to drop baby Jesus! Lucien and Tim were so cherubic. Imagine that! and the 3 kings (tatlo hari, Daryl, Iggy and Sylvester) in their mighty yellow, blue and red paid homage to Jesus. The Japanese put on a most entertaining magic performance. We played "Pass the Present" and had a Christmas tree decorating competition. After giving out the presents and food to the kids, I couldn't believe how fast time flew from the day we arrived till then. It was great to do all we had planned for the Christmas party even though the whole area had no electricity! No lights, no fans and no music yet we we had a great time. Glory be to God.

The day of the Christmas party was also 2nd day of Simbang Gabi. We were able to make it in time to the little chapel of Erap City. This is no concrete chapel. The roof of the chapel is canvas held up by stong wooden poles. The chapel is small; not enough to hold the Simbang Gabi crowd that had flocked there religiously the night before. Because of the blackout, we were not sure if the celebration would take place. Eventually more and more people came. Shortly after 745pm, the opening hymn was sung. In the dark, the people sang with all their hearts. The choir had to squint over the lyrics which had been written on Manila paper as it lay on the ground. This way all the choir members standing aournd the paper could see the lyrics. A litle boy was responsible for holding a lit candle close enough to the paper. The lector had to share a dimly-lit candle with the priest. Then we remembered that we had come with modern technology. The choir, the priest and lector were very appreciative of our gadgets. A bright little torch from Celesther and my Sony Ericsson k750i's light that is bright enough to light any street.

After the Eucharistic celebration, we made out way home in the darkness; still no electricity. It was time for dinner when we got back tot school. I like Jollybee's Chicken Joy but this was one Chicken Joy too many. Because we had ordered in bulk, we had Chicken Joy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At dinner I was sure I was not going to have another fried chicken for the rest of the trip. "What would be great to have right now, is Hen Lin!" I told the rest. The others agreed. It did not matter to the new ones what kind of food Hen Lin sold as long as it was not chicken. I was thinking of century eggs and siew mai, when the door opened and Charlene popped her head in. "Did you order Hen Lin?" I went out to see what she meant. I was sure my heart stopped for a moment. Right at our doorstep, was a Hen Lin delivery man! Unfortunately, the delivery man had no food from Hen Lin to offer. In fact he was there to collect a deposit for the next day's party! It turned out to be a misunderstanding and the he soon left. While we were sorting out the situation, the lights came on! Everywhere, residents were cheering and clapping, as though Christmas was already here!

I end with this. I want to thank my dear friend, Jay, and Tita Letty for always welcoming us and for giving us (especially the newer youths) the opportunity to share the spirit of Christmas with the kids from Payatas and Erap City once more.