Date: 1st March, Sat to 2nd March Sun. Time Start: Registration 2pm Time End: 4pm VENUE: CHIJ Toa Payoh Secondary (Toa Payoh Lorong 1, walking distance from Toa Payoh MRT station) Cost: $15
The Fast Pledge: Sat 3pm Closing of FAST with Eucharistic Celebration: Sun 2pm Light Meal: 3pm Bring: Bible and sleeping bag. Program includes Way of the Cross, Reconciliation Service and Sunday Mass Minimum age: 13 years old Maximum age: adults welcomed!
Hey everyone! the 24hour FAST is back and it will be held during the season of Lent. Lent is a time for us to be in prayer, fasting/abstaining and almsgiving/good works. The 24hour FAST program will include all this and help you on your way to develop your own personal Lenten program. The 24hour FAST program reminds us of the poor who live beyond our shores in the various regions of Asia. This Lent we invite you to join us as we encounter the poor. Spend 1 day 1 night in the shoes of the poor. Come for the 24hour FAST (For Asia Solidarity Together).
Payatas is a place that's not only filled with garbage. It's filled with all kinds of vice. It's also a place full of children.
Young boys, barely 10, play billiards with adults along Pampanga Street. Children walk up and down Pampanga, drugs tugged beneath and stapled to their tees. "Who takes care of you?" "My sibling" "Where is mama and papa?" "working in the dumpsite" or "dead" or "prison"
I've known Nicasio and his sister Joannie since he was 5. Nicassio 1st enrolled in Paaralang Pantao for the kindergarten class. He'll be 10 this May. His father passed away about 2 years ago. His illiterate mum and 2 older sisters did not know what to do. In their little hut, they kept the father's body for almost a month till the barangay authorities stepped into help. The death was finally certified and the family could proceed to bury the body. Joannie now 15 stopped school around that time. She began work as a scavenger atop the infamous Payatas Dumpsite. Mother does not come out of their home. She seems to be ill, extremely underweight, suspected TB. But she is not seeking treatment. A few weeks ago, Nicassio came to school with a fever. He had stepped on a rusty nail the day before. Mayb was unable to help him as Joannie would have to give her his medical cert before the German doctors would see to him. Joannie was afraid. She feared the same thing would happen to Nicassio just like her dad. Eventually Nicasio was taken to the health centre an he eventually recovered. Nicasio is one of the sweetest kids I've ever met. "Teacher, please wait for Arnil." he told us one day when we were about to leave for our photo project. "Arnil is working and rushing for a bath. Please wait awhile for him". "Teacher, let me go look for Joshua" he volunteered another day when Joshua failed to show up for the photo project.
Just last week, he heard us asking teacher Jane for sticker labels. He pulled out an a4 sheet of bright orange sticker labels. "Here you can have this Ate May. I found many at the dumpsite. I have many at home. I'll bring more tomorrow." And he did :) Nicassio can read! the other day he saw a sign and read it aloud "Bi ll i ard!" He's the most diligent child in the school and I know it breaks Tita Letty's heart that this boy does not have a birth certifcate to be enrolled in school.
"Nicasio what will you do in May if you can't get into a formal school?" With a downcast look he says softly, "I'll work. Mam Letty says I cannot come back next year" This is what Tita has told him to encourage him to get into formal school. "School shoes and uniforms are too expensive. We can't afford them." "If Ate Sherlyn gives you shoes and uniform will you go to formal school next year?" With a wide grin he nods, "Yes".
My heart cries for Little Roman. He's just 8 but he is as tough as underground gang leader. "Do you know who my father is?" he once proudly announced to all his friends. "He's the one who'll rob! No one is afraid of him! He's in city jail." Roman has sudden bursts of outrage throughout lessons. At times, he would bolt out of class and attempt to leave the school. Mayb has a hard time getting him away from the school gate. Sometimes when he is naughty, Tita Letty would ask him to look after the gate of the school, which he proudly does. Roman is ahead of his classmates. He is bored and shows it. He picks books from the shelves. Books are his refuge. Though he can't read yet, he goes through the illustrations page to page. This is the time Roman is the most peaceful. Roman often comes late for school. No one looks at him when he's late or he would glare angrily. He glares even at his teacher and Tita Letty. Some mornings, Roman walks all the way to the school gate. He waits for the teacher to notice him. Then he turns around and heads home.
Last week, Roman was very happy to see us. He came to school half and hour early. "Are you happy Roman?" "No inside I am not happy... I eat snacks everyday for my meals. Grandma cooks but sometimes she does not give me food so I eat out. I love my siblings. Grandma doesn't love me. Sometimes she locks me up. My mother is not my friend. I love my mother more than I love my father. I've only seen my father twice. He's in prison. There's fighting everyday at home. My siblings are fighting at home. My eldest brother in Grade 5 fights with me. Grandma fights with me also. I'm the only one beaten by my grandma. My other siblings are not beaten by my grandma, only me. That's why I am angry when I come to school. I don't want to make friends."
Erwin is one strong little boy. At home he does all the household chores. Cleaning, washing, cooking and even fetching water. He and Nicassio are good friends. They sit side by side in school. Erwin studies hard. He's as clever as Nicassio. Erwin comes for all the photo sessions. He likes to take his own face. :)
This gate does not look like much. But it leads the children to a safe place away from scavenging in the heat, drugs, pornography and other kinds of abuse.
Here the children can take off their shoes. They dont have to be afraid. This is Roman's hiding place from an angry man who had threatened to kill him. This is a place where Pepito can learn to read and write, away from the pornography at home. This is a place where Arnil and Cherilyn know they will not be hit. There is no broken glass. No one will get bruised, cut or hurt. This week we told them the story of Noah's ark and God's promise. The children learnt to catch a rainbow. They listened to how brave David stood up against the fierce giant, Goliath. They made crowns because they are little kings and queens in heaven's eyes.
We finished our photo workshop last Saturday. We visited the homes of all the kids. Joshua came to school last Friday. Tita Letty talked to him. He shared that his mother sent him to his grandmother and aunts where they scold him a lot and at times beat him. It looks like he has a very low motivation to study. Last Saturday, we got the chance to talk to him as we walked towards his home. He said he doesn’t like to go to school because he has very limited shirts and he is at times scolded. When I asked him if he was made to work he told me “no”. I was able to talk to his mom. His mother said that she sent Joshua to grandmother and she is now the one responsible for him since she is also working in the dumpsite. She is not sure if Joshua has baptism cert and not concerned much about Joshua getting a birth certificate. I shared with her about acts29’s mission to secure him his birth certificate. She was ‘ok’ with it.
We then visited Angicel’s house with Jane (Angi’s mum and teacher at Payatas). The kids were so happy to see their house. They think Jane’s house is very neat and beautiful. The kids enjoyed looking at Angie’s pictures and their family pictures framed on the walls. They like Angie’s toys and their appliances. Hee hee… and also her sweet cat…(Hopefully arnil and nicassio didn’t finish their films on her cat)
-we showed Alvin and Celester the old school site….Alvin has been very curious and he’s happy to walk along Zamboanga Street once more…he asked me to interpret the conversations I had with the family’s and glad that he brought his notebook to record
After that, we hiked to Nicassio’s home. He was so excited. Running ahead all of us. We met his sister, Johannie and his mum. His mum cannot speak Tagalong very well. But she tried to respond. The kids feel at home in Nicassio’s house. Johannie asks if she can join us. Of course!!! She said she really wants to study. She gave me her birth cert and Nicassio’s too. She told us that they were fake ones. We’ll validate this Tuesday when we go to the govt. office NSO, (National Statistics Office).
I asked her how about her work and her family needs if she was to study. She said that she can still work part time. At least when she study she can fulfill her dream to be a doctor or if not, a teacher. She even speaks to me in English at times. She currently earns 100-150 pesos a week. She said it’s very hard to work since her other sister is not so independent like her. She needed to guide her more.
Then we went to Arnil and Cherylyn’s house right in front of Nicassio’s. We met their step mother taking care of her baby. The house of Arnil and Cherylin is very small, like Nicassio’s. The length is only a few feet. The stepmother, told us they were not able to go to school the other day because they were rushing to finish their work. Arnil and Cherylin help them. I told her of our mission to work. She is ‘ok’ with us getting them birth certs, but sending them to formal school does not seem to be not in her priority. She told us she’s not aware that the kids did not go to school the previous days. The father didn’t talk to us. As we walked Cherylyn shared they cook their own meals. She asked if she could keep her camera with her and Arnil asks also.
Then we headed to Erwin’s house…it was a long hike. Next mountain..hee hee No wonder Erwin Erika and Mariel always look haggard when they arrive at school. We’re happy to meet Erwin’s cute brothers named Gokul and Gohan and the rest I can’t remember. I just remember these two because they’re named after dragon ball anime characters The mum is so supportive of Erwin. She is just so worried because she has so many children. But she said she’ll get Erwin’s baptism cert so we can work on his birth certificate. She shared about Erwin’s dream to study in the formal school and how he often asks her for this. She is very happy that her children are learning a lot in Paaralang Pantao.
We all head home. And along the way guess who we met?? Nestor! Your friend from Foundacio. We agreed to share more about BEC and also share mission experience. God made a way for us to meet him and his friend. Hope to keep in touch with them too.
This May, the Marian Evangelization Choir will be in Singapore. Most of the members are orginally from Santo Thomas Univeristy. Since their Uni days, they have been going to schools to sing and conduct recollections for young people. acts29 is happy to have them with us and we'll be having an exciting line-up of activities with them.
Below are 2 videos of them singing. They had little time to rehearse so the performance is not as good as their usual. I'll upload a more pro video of them when I get back from Manila in 2 weeks.
In the meantime, the blog will be quiet for 7 days from Wednesday unless I can blog over in Payatas. :) Please keep our upcoming mission in your prayers. Enjoy the songs!
The Christmas break was good! This blogger is ready to get blogging for 2008...Gave me time to recollect and envision the year ahead. :)
Wat's new? What's been happening in the world? the word "random" is out for 2008 and the word "emo" is out too, so I've been told..Yup it aint cool anymore.. Esp when u get emo at random moments... these are
my words for 2008: "EGO".. that's so "ego".. "Awkwarrrrrrd" sustain.. with fingers tapping against each other for maximum effect. "s.m.m" (meaning - see my mood) ok this one is not my contribution.. from sylvester anymore words to add? just tag it
11 people were rescued after being stranded on some Pacific coast for 3 months. 5 were sent out only after the group had no more food rations. the 5 finally stumbled on a military base after walking for 4 days. Interesting. They should have thought of it 3 months earlier.
People are still bombing people. How sick is that? Would God actually want you to blow up the people He created into bits and pieces of bone fragments and bloody flesh? Killing and violence degrades the existence of human beings on this Earth. The cockroaches whom we regard as filthy and gross are actually living more peacefully with each other than we human beings. How come the cockroach and the other animals can live peacefully with their own kind and we humans can't?
AMK Hub finally opens after years of waiting. Unfortunately, it's really not that great. Bishan hangers this is one place not worth coming over for. Stay at J8.
Taxi fares are up! Who benefits? Only the taxi companies. Poor taxi drivers. The next time you get into a cab, just talk to the driver about the fare hikes. Let the driver complain and grunt. He's got to let out all his pent-up frustrations.
The salaries of civil servants have increased, esp the people at the top. Who has the most well-paid ministers in the world? Is it right for ministers pay themselves well to ensure they give their loyalty and their best to the country? Is it right to pay one well so that one does not fall into corruption? A hero to me is a minister who rejects his payslip and serve for the sake of serving the nation, out of loyalty and love for the people.
Wikepedia: Personal values evolve from circumstances with the external world and can change over time. Integrity in the application of values refers to its continuity; persons have integrity if they apply their values appropriately regardless of arguments or negative reinforcement from others. Values are applied appropriately when they are applied in the right area. Love, care, courage, bravery, integrity and compassion are examples of values. Last night
I was on the MRT last night, boarded at Orchard Station. A group of teens were sitted in one row. The train was crowded. 2 old ladies boarded the train. The teens turned to their friend sitting at the corner and teased him to give up his seat to the elderly since he was sitting in an "elderly" seat. The boy laughed and made a face at them. The teens continued to ignore the old ladies. 2 China workers from across stood up and offered their seats to the old ladies who were only too happy to rest their feet. We, Singaporeans, gripe about foreigners coming in. Maybe as many as 3 million have and will be coming in to make Singapore their home. I don't know but there are so many from Philippines, India, China and so on already here. These foreigners have never gone through the best education system in the world, the Singapore education system. They probably attended village schools where there were 60 kids in a class. They probably came from countries where the athorities say "no more passports cos not enough paper". Until they pay for the planting of a tree then they get a passport? in other words, corruption. Yet 2 blue-collared China workers who could not speak English gave up their seats to 2 elderly women while our group of Singapore teens refused to.
Perhaps just as we pay our ministers to ensure they stay loyal and honest, we should also pay our young to ensure they show kindness to the elderly and disabled.
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