JESUIT NOVITIATE: MISSION TRIALS 1999
by Frank Savadera, SJ
February 6, 1999 (Saturday) – MISSION TRIALS
Dot and Oliver dropped by from Zamboanguita with Father Bong and Hermes. We were all in a frenzy ... especially Karel ... tsk! Who could have imagined that after parting a few days ago, we would all meet again this soon? The mountains are all around us. We all are in a strange land. Who would have thought that visiting each other would come this easy? Our reactions prove how we can easily miss each other. We surely do. What more if we’re all into other more serious things, more than the mission trials. We’ll see.
A meeting with the alagads and the chapel presidents was also ongoing today. There, Father Mat announced our exposure assignments. I’ll go to barrios Cabuluhan and Anlugan. I’ll stay in the household of Mr. Tony Caluna (Cabuluhan) and Mr. Jovencio Navarra (Anlugan).
It was also a time to meet the Ursuline sisters early in the evening. The sisters were in full force with Sisters Adeline (superior), Claudia (Italian nurse), Amanda and Filipino Sisters Lourdes and Minda.
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February 7, 1999 (Sunday) – MISSION TRIALS
Sunday is a busy day for priests in the barrios. We must have gone to at least three masses today with Father Mat. We were at the Poblacion at 7:30AM, then to Iba at 9:00AM for another mass and houseblessing. We arrived very late for the Cabuluhan-Crossing Mass at 11:00AM. People were at the chapel waiting for us just the same. We were served food each time. People prepare meals and priests must eat else the townfolks will feel rejected.
In the afternoon, Salty and Hermes left for Cagayan de Oro/ Cebu to buy the new truck for the parish. And a BIG AHA! I got myself a project. I’ll fix the parish albums. It’s exciting enough to look at all the photos. It would be more exciting for me to get everything fixed. I’ll put order into all these that people may eventually enjoy going through the file of photos in the future.
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February 8, 1999 (Monday) – MISSION TRIALS
It’s the feastday of St. Jerome Emiliani, the Italian founder of the Somascan Congregation. Sisters Ella and Ana (Somascans) had been in Cabanglasan for only six months (they were from my hometown in Cavite
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February 9, 1999 (Tuesday) – MISSION TRIALS
“Gamay ra ang akoang pag-sabot sa Binisaya, pero sige ra, sugod ta bisan mag-sagol sagol ang akoang mga pulong … recollection dili iuurong.” Chris and I gave a recollection to high -school students this morning. Since, we only had a few moments to prepare before the actual thing, I was telling Chris that we should maximize the travel time with Sister Lourdes for a briefing (i.e., what to do, what to expect, what to say, etc.). Chris as usual was in his playful mode indulging the good sister in stories about aswangs and wakwaks. I was getting anxious knowing that we may not have enough time to prepare.
The recollection, nevertheless went well. It was likewise a pre-confirmation seminar of sorts with the Cabuluhan high-school kids. We covered topics about the Church, the sacraments, the power of the Holy spirit and the Confirmation rites. I was just telling myself: Refer to the book, refer to the book. We can’t get this all wrong. We’re teaching catechesis. This better be correct else we ingrain the wrong beliefs in the minds of these kids. The main theme became clearer for us and the kids in the end: the Holy Spirit empowers. the Holy Spirit gives strength. “Ang lana na ipinahid, kusog ang inihahatid. Pagiging Hari, Propeta at Pari ay buhayin sa inyong kinabuhi.”
I start my parish exposure to Cabuluhan today. It was the best decision not to take the habal-habal and instead walk with the kids from the high-school. It was a good 30-minute leisure walk along the dry and dusty 2-kilometer road to Cabuluhan with Rey, Gaspar and Johnnie and the rest of the kids. In my mind, I was singing a tune:
Apat na Chow Noodles at anim na tinapa
Apat na Chow Noodles at anim na tinapa …
Na dala ko sa maliit na plastic bag na pula …
Dumuduyan sa ‘king kamay … at walang bigat na hila
Habang nag-babaklay papunta sa kung saan na nga ba?
Ang kwento ng mga bata’y sapat na bang aliw …
Upang bahagyang malimutan ang init sa papawirin …
Mga kaibigan, tayo ba’y may sasapitin?
Sa malayong paglalakad sa maalikabok na landasin.
Apat na Chow Noodles, anim na tinapa.
Na sa paglalakbay na ito’y …
Sapat na … o sapat na nga ba?”
Alas, from on top of a hill, along the dusty road, I can already see the greenfields of Cabuluhan. I can easily count the number of houses that I see … a few dozens, I suppose. The village lies on a fertile valley. I can see corn plantations everywhere juxtaposed by the local cottages. It looks peaceful. It looks plain. The quiet that welcomed me speaks so much of the gentle people that I meet along the way.
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February 10, 1999 (Wednesday) – MISSION TRIALS
Today, I attended Cabuluhan’s BEC meeting for Seldas 7 and 8 with Jimmy and Kuya Ed. The group was truly very prayerful. They met in Vannie’s house. There in the middle of the room, the group lighted a candle. Vannie’s kid was also playing around while the meeting/ prayer was in progress.
BEC-Selda 7 & 8
Kandila sa gitna ng simpleng la mesa
Nag-aagaw buhay sa ihip ng hangin ng umaga .
Asa ang posporo o lighter kaya …
Ayun at nasa kamay ng maliit at paslit na bata.
Ilaw na namatay. Ilaw na binuhay.
Sisindihang paulit-ulit …
Upang sa ati’y magbigay init
Sa malamig na kaumagahan …
Dito sa maliit na bayan ng Cabuluhan.
This, to my mind, is what the BEC is for most people in this small town of Cabanglasan
I also walked around with Kuya Greg to scout around for piglets. Father Mat instructed me to revive the livelihood program that he started a few months back. There’s enough funds, he said, to once again proceed with the livelihood project. For four months, while waiting for the harvest, the farmers have nothing else to do. Luckier are the pandays, the carpenters who can easily find work elsewhere. But for the rest, what else can they do?
Buhay Baboy
Baboy … baboy … hybrid man o bisaya ...
Palaboy sa putik … doo’y tuwina’y nakahiga.
Sige’t magpista sa tanang mga tira-tira
Walang isipin kundi magpataba at magpakasasa pa.
Sa limang buwan na kung 50 kilos na ang timbang
Dugo’y ikalat sa putikan
At lamay’y ipakain sa matagal ng naghihintay.
Baboy … baboy … hybrid man o bisaya
Salamat … maraming salamat sa hatid mong sakripisyo …
Sa hatid mong biyaya.
