Saturday, March 27, 2010

Betrayal

I hate betrayal!

Sad to say I was betrayed a lot of times. There are two types of people who are prone to betray people. First, those who are powerful. Those powers-that-be. Those who think that they don’t need ants or insects like me to live in this world. They are so proud of themselves. That’s why they look down on me condescendingly. Second, those who are also dirt poor like me who think that they are something when in fact they are nothing. They look down to us poor and simple people because they think that we, simple people, cannot contrbute something to them. They just ignore us because they think that we are just a waste of their time. Sadly, I met so many people who are in the second category.

But just okay. I will just treasure those who are real friends who accepted me not because they think that I can give them something. Those people whose friendships are an end-in-itself and not just a means-to-an-end!
Thus, I will just smile.

Maybe you are asking: Why "betrayal" as a title? Because I felt betrayed by people who are supposed to love me unconditionally but yet they are the one who look down at me.

Live and let live!

Detalyadong Kuwento

( I am reposting here an entry from my old blog account. I wrote this on June 27, 2006.)

Eto, ang detalyadong kuwento. Siyanga pala, kailangan kong magkuwento sa tagalog dahil sa kapakanan ng mga kasama ko. alam niyo na. Dumating kami dito sa Laos ng Biyernes. Kasama ko si Sam, isang Canadian na nanunuluyan na ngayon sa Hongkong, si Jeff, isang amerikano na nanunuluyan na ngayon sa thailand dahil doon ang base ng kanyang trabaho at si Joshua na isang amerikano na nakabase sa vietnam. Naku! Unang beses kong nakakita ng pulang watawat na may panggapas at martilyo sa gitna. Andami dito. Lahat yata ng opisina ay meron dito. Masaya naman dito. Masarap ang pagkaing Laos. Napapangiti nga ako dahil mga eksperto sa pagkain at kape ang mga kasama ko. Kanina ba naman eh kumain kami ng noodles. Tapos, lahat sila ay nagkaisa na hindi masarap ang sabaw. Sabi nila ay malamang ay lalaki ang baka ng karneng inihalo sa noodles. At iyon daw ay hindi kinapon nang bata pa. Hindi sila nagbibiro nang sinabi nila ito. Kaya sigurado ako na totoo ang sinabi nila. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na kailangan palang kapunin ang baka para maging masarap. Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay bumisita kami sa ilang mga lugar na balak pagtayuan ng plantasyon ng kape. Binisita rin namin ang ilang kilalang plantasyon ng kape dito. Pati na rin ang research center ng kape. Balak kasi nilang magtayo ng plantasyon ng kape dito para makapasok sa bansang ito ang aming "organisasyon". Binisita rin namin ang isang unibersidad (na napakaganda) at malamang ay magturo kami dito ni Vida doon ng libre. Paraan namin ito para makapasok rin ang aming "organisasyon". Kaya sana ay ipanalangin niyo ako. O sige. Bukas ay babalik na ako papuntang Cambodia. Sa muling pagsulat. Pagpalain kayo ng Diyos.

A Wonderful Gift From God

(I am reposting here an entry in my old blog account which I wrote on December 19, 2005)

A Wonderful Gift From God
Monday, December 19th, 2005
I and Vids consider our experience in Iloilo a wonderful gift from God.
Aside from the fact that it is a blessing knowing brothers and sisters in the Lord in Iloilo whom we enjoyed spending time with we have learned and discovered a lot about ourselves.
We are thankful to God for giving us Pastor Boy, Tintin, Nang Crista, Nong Sonny, Ate Jo, Pastor Jon, Nong Mart, Nang Gilma, Sharmaine, and Doc Ruel and other Center of Grace family who really showed their love for us. To you guys, thank you very much for showing us what a true Christian love is. We will always keep you in our hearts.
But there are two persons who really made a niche in my heart. I felt that I can really relate with them well. They are Nang Nita and Nong Jun Sano.
Nang Nita lives in the street just 20 meters away from the church building. She sleeps on the pavement. She is about fifty to fifty five years old and she is "mentally impaired (to use politically correct terms). I and Nang Nita had a long chat last June and I really enjoyed talking to her (This was when she was in her right mind). From then on whenever I will pass by her I will take few minutes to chat with her. Sometimes, when I have money I will give her 25 pesos for her meal and if I don’t have money I will give her instant noodles. Since then I noticed that she always sweeps the front of the chapel. I told myself that maybe she is doing it as a sign of gratitude for what I am giving her. Or maybe because it is her way to show her love for us her friends. What God taught me about her is that if we will respect and love any individual, that person will learn to respect and love us in return.
Nong Jun is a pedicab driver who I always meet on the street. Once I passed by him while he was with his fellow pedicab driver and through them I learned that his wife was in the hospital. One night, while talking to him I’ve learned that his wife was to be discharged from the hospital. One problem though. He doesn’t have P1,000 for her hospital bill. That night, I and Vids only had P300 in our pocket and we decided to give him the P200 as a sign of our love for him trusting God that He will provide for all our needs because it was His willl for us to help Nong Jun. I also decided to approach Pastor Boy Narido and some church leaders and they decided to help Nong Jun. The next Sunday Nong Jun attended the worship service and he is consistent in attending all the services since then. What I learned from this experience is that showing love to another person is an effective way of sharing the Gospel. We should not be afraid of helping people (this is brought by the fear of producing "rice christians") because I can see that Nong Jun did not become a "rice christian" as a result of helping him In fact, he tried to return the good deeds by sewing the traveling bag that we used in going to Manila.
I am more convinced that I can really relate better with people who belong in the lowest economic strata of our society. Don’t get mer wrong here. :-) I enjoyed our time with others but there really is a special place in my heart with this kind of people. I don’t know why. And I don’t try to discover why. Maybe because I can really identify with them. Or maybe it is a result of my training in college (they say that most UPians are activists/communists). Or maybe…
I remember a story about Salot Sar (Pol Pot) of Khmer Rouge. Once he asked his comrade what is the best way for them to be loved by poor people in Cambodia. The conversation goes like this:
Salot Sar: How do you think will poor people love us?
Comrade: Fight for their right.
Salot Sar: No.
Comrade: Maybe help them materially.
Salot Sar: No.
Comrade: How?
Salot Sar: Live among them and leave like them. Eat what they eat. Identify as one with them. Then, they will learn to love you.
If we, Christians, will learn to idenrify with different people groups, then we can turn the whole upside down.
Another thing that I also learned in our stay in Iloilo is to hold on to my fundamental baptist belief. In Iloilo, I had the time to read not only books that support fundamentalism but also books that support neo-pentecostalism, third wave, etc. But as I read them, I become more convinced of my baptistic belief.
As you may know, I grew up with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) and since CCC is an interdenominational organization it taught me how to respect other christian denominations. But as time goes by, I’ve seen the importance to hold on to what I believe is true and biblical.
To Pastor Boy and Tintin, thank you for everything. I will cherish our time together. To Ate Jo, thank you for your love and friendship. I’ve really seen Christ in you. To Pastor Jon Jainga, thank you for being a true friend and a true brother in Christ. To Pastor Mike, thank you for showing us that doctrinal differences is not a hindrance to our friendship and brotherly love. As you said, we will always remain friends no matter what. Thank you, thank you very much

My First Cambodia Experience

(I am reposting here a blog entry from my old blog account which I wrote on July 23, 2005 about my experience when I first came here in Cambodia.)


We left Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 12, 2005 at 11PM via Kuwait Airways. We landed at Bangkok International Airport at around 1AM the next day. Going to Bangkok from Manila takes about three hours of flight but Manila time is ahead of Bangkok time for about an hour.


We were fetched by a pastor and members of a southern baptist church in Nonthaburi. We proceeded to their chapel. A short briefing was given by Ms. Geri Abordo with regards to our stay in the chapel. I had a wonderful sleep that morning because I was very tired.


We had a Language Acquisition Training from March 13-19. Our lecturer is Dr. Betty Sue Brewster. She taught us a lot of things not only about Language Acquisition but also about being a missionary. She taught us about culture shock, respecting one’s culture, etc.


I and two of my teammates left Nonthaburi for Cambodia at 5AM on March 19. I was with Fhey Kindipan and Rhona Ricera. We Took the bus from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet. Aranyaprathet is in the border of Thailand and Cambodia. We were able to cross the border easily. We were fetched at the border by two officers of Light and Salt university. Going to Light and Salt from the border takes about two hours by car. The road was bumpy and dusty. We arrived in Light and Salt University safely.




Light and Salt University is an institution which trains future Cambodians for pastoring, for missions, and for church works. I stayed there for two months and immersed myself in Cambodian culture.




Ministering in Cambodia was a blessing for me. I’ve learned a lot about God. I’ve seen that God really works in mysterious ways. We can really trust God in every detail of our ministry. I have learned to be thankful of whatever God gave me especially when I see Cambodians literally live a Spartan life. They are thankful for the food which we can’t eat in the Philippines. Imagine yourself having fish gills and rice for meals. (You read it right: FISH GILLS).  But thanks be to God because I’ve learned to love Khmer food. And their way of life too!




It was my first time to take a bath outside in full view of other people! In my stay there, I always visit the family of the students if such opportunity arises. Once I went to one of my students’ house and stayed there for a night. It was a traditional Cambodian house. When it was time for me to take a bath, my student told me that they don’t have bathroom. He pointed to me the area where they take a bath. I told him that it is okay. I did what Cambodians do with a smile! I took a bath outside!




When the same student brought me to the highway for it was now the time for me to go back to the school, he was shocked when I told him that I will take the cheapest form of transportation! Riding at the back of a pick-up truck! I explained to him that as missionary I have to do what the locals do. I prayed to God that this will encourage him in his spiritual life.




A lot of times, I had eaten food handled in an unsanitary way. I’ve seen swarms of flies on top of the food which we were about to eat. And it really amazes me because I haven’t had diarrhea during my stay there. God really works in mysterious ways.




My experiences with the Khmer are really unforgettable. I really enjoyed being with them. To tell you more about it, let me share to you their letters to me. On my last night in Light and Salt, my students surprised me. We were supposed to have our last class and I really prepared for it. But before the class begins, Nhin Samnang, one of my students, stood up. He leads his classmates in singing some songs. And he started reading his letter to me. In total, I received thirteen letters from my students that night. May I share to you some of them. I will quote their letters here as is. No corrections. No editing. J




Nhin Samnang wrote:


“Thank you for your teaching, letting me to be your translator, many things which you have given to me and my friends. I really enjoy studying English with you. I want to learn with you and want to get experience from you more. Teacher, I remember all thing which we have got, such as we go to Srey Sophon Market, go to Phnom Bak Mountain, we play games, and many things. Teacher, really I cannot forget your good and all thing which we have done. You are my best teacher, I love you, I don’t want you go away from me. I hope God will let you comeback my school again. Please pray to God for me, that God will bless me go to study in your country. God bless you to be successful in your life!”



Chann Samnang wrote:


“Hello my best teacher, how are you my best teacher? I hope that you keeping well, I thank you so much, for you come here in my school and teach me and all the student. And I thank you for you teach me about English grammar. Because before I can’t understand about English grammar but now when you teach me I can know a little. I and all the student, like Pastor Jun so much, and love you also because you is very good teacher, in English now I can speak English a little but before I don’t know in English. But now you leave from me I am very sad I can’t meet you, I can’t see you when you go away from me I miss you so much, but I will pray to God for you come back in my school again, and all the students too. You don’t forget me and all the students because we are all miss you and love you so much. I remember every night I always talk with you and joke with you about enemy and you scare enemies also. You don’t forget pray for my wisdom because I study not clever. I will pray for you too.”




Siem Vichet wrote:


“Hello teacher. I thank you for you teaching me about English language. Because before I don’t know it. But when you come here, you teaching me and spoke with me. So I could spoke in English a little, can write little and listen also. You know when you left me I remember for us. Sometime we sleep outside and sometime we went to mountains and play kite also. We have memory every place so everything I don’t forget. I know that you love me and you stay with me, Sokan, Peter and Try when vacation. When you turn to your country so you remember me also. But I thought that you don’t forget me forever more. I will pray for you and your family for mission. So I hope that God look after everywhere want you go. I don’t you leave in here. Because you is good teacher for me. Sometime when I worry you comfort me and you play with me. I will pray for you to God because I think that God prepare, God will used your life come here again for teach me and all students. Because all students need English language study. We want to use English language very well in the future. I want you to pray to God for me. Because I want to God used my life. And future I want to be missionary in other country. So you pray for me also and my family. Because my parent him don’t believe Jesus Christ. So him don’t forgiven from God. You know in my family is I Christian only one. So you help pray for my house. Because my house everyday is small. But I want to have a big house. I hopes that you pray. Because God said everything us asked him God will give. Goodbye. God bless you.”




Chay Vien wrote:


“I thank you God who let you Banteay* come here, to teach English I and all of my friends. You never get tire for lazy students who learn with you. But you always encourage us to try studying. Teacher, I am very happy to learn with you. Even though I’ve got sickness but I always have feeling want to learn with you. But I am very sorry that you must go back to your country. I hope you will come back here again. God bless you and take care you all the time.”




(Banteay is the province where the school is located)




Peter Komk wrote:


“Very thank you for teaching me! You know my brother I am don’t forget you my older brother I very like you very very love you. You only one good teacher for me. The your name in my heart forever life. My God my God my God please bless my teacher. Oh my God Please bless my teacher eternal life my older brother don’t forget me. You very nice. I am very happy. Very exciting.”



(I consider Peter as my Timothy in school. I pray to God that I will disciple him more. He really has a teachable heart. J )




Phally wrote:


“Hello! Teacher how are you when teacher come back to Philippines is teacher how? Guess what? I hope teacher comeback to home enjoyed is true. Light and Salt when have teacher came teach English all the students have growing studying English. Teacher, I thank you very much for teaching English to me and all the students in during shortly. But my studying is growing much when I studied with you. I want to study English with you because teacher teach soon understand. I want not give you comeback to Philippines. I want give teach English here. Teacher is good for me, I like teacher. When are you happy don’t forget to pray for me. I want knowledge English same you, too. I want to become to is Pastor same you. I really in my heart, because I hope to God. I have errors in my grammar please excuse me. It is because I just studied English this year. Have to say goodbye now. Take care.”




Kut Sopeak wrote:


“Thank you Lord. I am very happy to learn with you. I believe that is because of God’s plan that you came from your country to my country. You are my best teacher. You never mind about living in my school, even hot, no good food no comfortable sleeping. So, this is because of God’s love that give to you and you give it to me. As for me, a student in Light and Salt, I want to say thank you for your teaching and all thing. God bless you and your country the Philippines to be progress and progress.”

Guys, these students are really wonderful. Until now, I am missing them so much. I wish to see them once again. But I can’t. I need to comeback here in Iloilo. I just pray to God (and please help me in praying) that He will take care of these wonderful students. Please also pray for me as I continue the ministry which God entrusted to me here in Iloilo City. I am now at the church and working again for the Great Commission.


The market in Sisophon, Banteay Meanchey. This is where  I , Rona and Fhey used to go to buy  supplies and relax,

My third year students at Light and Salt.

My second yeat students at Light and Salt,





Lastly, I want to thank you for partnering with me. Thank you for your prayer and/or financial support which enabled me to go to Cambodia. Thank you, thank you very much!

Taong Grasa

(I am reposting here my blog entry in my old blog account. I wrote this on November 15, 2005).

Ewan ko ba? I wish I can do more! Sana mas marami pa akong magawa para sa mga taong hindi pinapansin ng lipunan. Biro mo naman, kanina habang nakasakay ako sa jeep papuntang Jaro ay may nakita akong "taong grasa". Dumugo na naman ang puso ko. Tinanong ko, bakit ganoon? Bakit may mga taong grasa na palaboy-laboy lang sa kalye? At bakit parang bale-wala lang sa mga tao? Walang pumapansin sa kanya? Hindi ba nila naiisip na tao din siya at bilang kapwa-tao ay dapat nilang isipin ang kalagayan ng iba? Siguro, kagaya ko rin silang hopeless. Siguro, kagaya ko rin silang nanghinawa na dahil parang walang nangyayari sa pagtulong. Parang sayang lang ang lahat ng ginagawa sa buhay. Pero hindi dapat ganito ang attitude. Dapat ay hopeful tayo. Kaya nating mabago ang mundo. Iyan ang dapat nating isipin.

Noon, kapag may nakikita akong ganoon ay bumababa ako ng jeep at inaabutan ko ng biskuwit. Pero ngayon ay hindi na. Ewan ko ba. I searched myself at nalaman ko na para bang desperate na rin ako at sa tingin ko ay wala ring mangyayari sa pagtulong. Sa tingin ko kasi ay parang walang gumagawa. O kung meron man ay kakaunti.

Isa na lang talaga ang pag-asa. Ang pagdating ni Kristo. Sana dumating na si Kristo. Pagdating ni Kristo ay wala nang sakit. Wala nang paghihirap. Wala nang prublema.

Sana.

Sana.

Sana.

Kaulayaw sa Karton at Kariton

Umaalingasaw
Ang masangsang na amoy
Ng natuyong ihi sa gilid ng kariton

Humihiyaw
Ang karton
Na piping saksi sa nangyayari sa loob

Lumalangitngit
Ang mga pinagtagni-tagning tabla ng kariton
Na animo'y sumasabay sa sayaw
Sa bawat indak ng magsing-irog

Bumubulwak
Ang pinaghalong pawis at katas
Ng pinag-isang katawan
Sa ibabaw ng karton
Sa loob ng kariton

Ngunit ang masangsang na amoy,
Ang lumang karton,
Ang maingay na kahoy,
Ay hindi alintana

Ang mahalaga
Ang dalawang pusong pinag-isa
Sa ibabaw ng karton
Sa loob ng kariton

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Spooky! Spooky! Spooky!

Spooky house. That's how I can describe our abode. But our decision is not to be bothered by it. It is because we know that Satan and his cohorts were defeated by Christ two thousand years ago. Christ's victory is final. We refuse to be destructed by Satan in our work which is the accomplishment of the Great Commission.

We moved to our house last February 1, 2010. Here are some of the strange things that happened.

1. Three of our housemates had unexplained "hematoma" or "ecchymoses". They just noticed when they woke up that there were discolorizations or patches of discolorization in their skin.

2. Two pictures that were taken by our Pastor's wife has a scary image of... I don't know how to call it... it looks like an Extra Terrestial. Or probably a gnome. With two big eyes, a round nose and a bald head. It has a body too. Or at least shape of a human body.

3. Several times, they heard knocking on the door but no one was there when they opened it.

4. The other day, one of the ladies in our group felt that demons were holding her so tight that she couldn't move. One was holding her feet. The other two were holding her hands. She also felt a very strong wind that was touching her face. They were not using fan. Their room is airconditioned.

There are some other strange things and I will try to record it here when I have the time.

Monday, March 8, 2010

What's In A Name?

Last week, tinawag akong pastor ng isang young people. I told him that I am not a pastor. There is only one pastor in the church at itinuro ko ang aming Pastor. :-)

Oo, noong estudyante ako sa seminary (Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary) eh nasanay akong tawaging pastor. Kasi lahat naman kami doon eh tinatawag na pastor. So, to be one with them and be like them eh okay lang sa akin na tawaging pastor. Noon yun. Noong estudyante pa ako sa seminary. Iba na ang kuwento ngayon. :-)

Ewan ko. Ayaw ko talagang patawag ng Pastor sa maraming kadahilanan. Una, parang hindi ako worthy patawag ng pastor. Parang ang bigat ng burden ng isang pastor. And I think I did not meet even a single criterion to be called a pastor. Pangalawa, parang (sa tingin ko lang ha) kapag pastor eh may distance sa ordinaryong tao. Probably because the pastor is chosen by God to do a special work for Him. Eh alam mo naman ako. Gusto ko kabilang ako sa masa. Sa mga ordinaryong tao. Kaya mas gusto kong matawag na kuya. :-)

Meron namang tumatawag sa akin ng Bro. Jun. :-) Well... actually... okay lang sana. Pero tuwing tinatawag akong Bro. Jun eh naalala ko ang mga katolikong seminarista. Di ba ang tawag sa kanila ay Brother? Tapos, kapag ganap na silang pari eh Father na? Kaya ayaw ko ring patawag ng Bro. Jun. Isa pa, parang banyaga yata iyon. Eh kahit na 104/120 ang TOEFL iBT ko at English teacher ako dito eh mas gusto ko pa ring gamitin ang sariling wika natin.

Madalas naman akong tawagin "Phu" dito sa Cambodia. Maski mga drivers ng pampublikong sasakyan eh ang tawag sa akin eh "Phu". Ano ang ibig sabihin ng "Phu"? Uncle. Yes, uncle ang ibig sabihin ng "Phu". Grrrr!!! Ganoon na ba ako katanda?