A Penny's Worth: The story of a husband, father and a brother during the Haiyan Supertyphoon

As we mark the third month since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, I want to share the story of Mark whose journey made him realize the real value of money.

In one barangay where we put up a Women and young Children Space, a young mother named Hope  (not her real name) shared the story of her husband (Mark). Hope said her husband is now bedridden after what she claimed was a traumatic experience for Mark (but I will reserve that for another story). She began by sharing that she and her husband Mark were local entrepreneurs who worked hard to provide a decent life for their family. But when Supertyphoon Haiyan hit their village they realized the real value of money. She said that during the supertyphoon, her husband was separated from them. She and all her children were able to find shelter in one of the elementary classrooms while her husband Mark still went to the field to make sure the coconuts were safe in the storage area. Mark then found shelter in the day care center which was about 20 meters away from the classroom. But the classroom was not going to withstand the supertyphoon and Hope was quick to decide that they had to run across the street and find shelter instead in the barangay hall. Mark was not able to see his family leave the classroom but he did saw how its roof was torn to pieces by the storm and the classroom walls collapsing slowly. People were screaming in fear and Mark wanted to run in the middle of the storm thinking his family was inside the classroom. Mark was held by his siblings telling him it was not safe for him. Mark was crying and he was emotional throughout the whole morning as he was calling out his wife and his children. He was repentant for making the crops safe first instead of joining his family and securing their safety. Mark could not be calmed the whole morning. When the wind mellowed a little, he ran into the classroom and was relieved to find out that his family was safe in the barangay hall.

The next day, Mark and 2 of his brothers decided to go to Tacloban to check on the condition of their youngest sister and other family members. They joined some other men from their village. They made sure they have enough money for whatever incidental expenses they might incur during that visit. They left their village at dawn to catch the early bus trip going to Tacloban. But they realized that no vehicle will be able to travel the highway with all the debris scattered on the road. Being physically fit and able, Mark and the other men from their village decided to walk the 40 kilometer stretch to reach Tacloban. What they did not expect was the horror they will encounter in the journey and the emotional and mental anguish it will have on them.

Hope recalled that Mark told him how he felt helpless during that long walk to Tacloban. Mark can only feel pity for the lifeless children and women lying on the roadside, over some trees and together with the debris. Mark shared to his wife how he felt  thinking these children and women could have been his family. He wanted to help them but the money he had in his pocket could not be of any value for them. Mark felt helpless.

The day long walk made Mark and the other men hungry. They did not bring any packed lunch thinking they could buy some food along the way with the money they prepared in their pockets.
They did not expect the extent of the damage to the properties and livelihood of the people in Leyte. No store was open. No food. No water. There was nothing to buy. Money has no value.

When they arrived at Tacloban, Mark and the other men went straight to the boarding house where their sister and other relatives were staying. The boarding house was totally destroyed. The owner was there but she did not know the whereabouts of her boarders. She was grieving for the loss of her property that she had invested in. It has no more value. She spent millions of pesos to invest on her rental business but it was all gone in just a matter of minutes. All her invested efforts, time and money were for naught. 

Mark was not able to find his sister. They searched the city of possible whereabouts of his sister. Other people were there too searching in evacuation centers, makeshift hospitals and worst, in the pile of dead bodies. People from all walks of life were there searching just like Mark. Mark and the men were tired. They had money but it could not buy anything. Money had no value. Mark reflected how the rich and the poor were made equal by the supertyphoon.

Mark and the men took another long day to walk back home to their village.  In that journey, they realized what was really important in life and the real worth of a penny.

Happy New Year

BANG!!!   LIGHTS!!!    FIREWORKS IN THE SKY!!!

Celebrated New Year in Manila for the first time. I wondered how will we welcome New Year? There is not Ball Drop here like in Time Square? No, big parades nor any traditional public activity where people can go.

Will the church have some activity to welcome the New Year at 12 midnight? What can we do?

My family was present to celebrate with us.

The fireworks and the firecrackers were deafening. I wonder why most Filipinos light up a firecracker? Do they really believe that it will drive bad spirits away like the original intention was? Or it was a form of celebration? Or people simply want to hear a big bang? Or they just want to do what the pop culture dictates? How should Christians welcome the new year?

How will the church welcome New Year? What does your church teach its people?

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12).

We reflected on this. We prayed and prayed for each other. And we claimed the light that is Jesus.

We light up this New Year as a symbol of our claim that Jesus will be our guiding light for 2014.

Happy New Year 2014

  

Road Trip for Christmas 2013 Part 1

This Christmas, I will be going on a road trip up North.

With my blue Vios, I will take a week long journey with my family for a Christmas celebration and fellowship. My wife and the kids, my brother and a friend rides with us. We will be travelling with my sister-in-law who will travel with her family on their car and we will meet up other family members in Nueva Ecija to complete our three vehicle convoy.

Day One - We woke up early. Our call time was 3 AM. After meeting up in McDo, we were able to hit the road at around 3:30 AM. We left early to avoid the expected traffic build up in NLEX.

The travel was smooth. We took the newly opened TPEX. The kids and my rear passengers were asleep during the trip but my wife kept me company to make sure I won't fall asleep while driving. I love long travels because it allows for good chit chats on whatever topic that may pop up. I always believe that a good conversation builds relationships and strengthens old ones.  This is a good way to catch up after being away from my family for two weeks to assist in the rehab efforts in Tacloban.

Our first stop was in Guimba. We took some shortcuts which led us to wrong directions. Good for us we were with "Magta" who helped us ask for directions. We arrived at our first stop in Guimba before 7 AM. We had a hearty breakfast of steamed vegetable and lechon paksiw prepared by the Barrientos family. At around 9 AM, we were back on the road towards Tuguegarao.

Since it was daytime, there were not too many cargo trucks travelling along the highway. This allowed us to have a speedy travel. After racing to the top of Nueve Vizcaya in Sta Fe, we took a short break to enjoy the view in Dalton Pass. It has been quite some time since I took a moment to appreciate nature. For me, mountaintop experiences always gives the perfect setting for a communion with God. Being at the top of Sta Fe, NV, looking up to heaven, it seems that God is closer to us. It is Christmas indeed for it is the time where God came to earth not only to be closer with us but to be with us.

It was now past 11 AM and we decided to have lunch in Cordon. We got there at around 2 PM. This is my favorite pitstop whenever I travel to Tuguegarao. The ambience is so cozy and relaxing. For a moment it makes me forget that I have been taking a long travel. We ordered their specialty of seafood kare-kare, fish fillet, vegetable salad among others. It was a full lunch.

The last leg will be towards Tuguegarao. We took the road via Roxas to save some time. It was already 3 PM and we don't want to be travelling before the sun sets. But the day is shorter and the nights are longer in December. It was only 5 PM but the sky is already getting dusky and dark. I don't have my glasses and I don't want to drive in the dark. Good for me that I am sandwiched in between our convoy. This helped me be guided in the road. We finally arrived at Tuguagarao safely at 8 PM. We were welcomed by my In-Laws and we feasted on seafoods and vegetables they prepared for us.  
 

  

Are you the one who is to come?

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. The Gospel lesson comes from Matthew 11:2-11. This is a timely story to tell for all of us doing relief and rehabilitation in Leyte for the Typhoon Yolanda affected areas.

The story is about the disciples of John who went to ask Jesus if he is the messiah or is it somebody else. They know he is doing great things, helping the people, healing the sick, feeding the hungry and water to the thirsty. Yet, they are not sure if he is the messiah. John was pretty sure that his cousin, Jesus, was the anointed one by the Holy Spirit because he baptized Jesus himself. But, John is now in prison and he has doubts.

John has doubts. Whenever things go wrong, we doubt God. We are Christians, and likeJohn we believe in God. But, when things go wrong we doubt and ask, why would God let it happen to us if he loves us? Why would God let the corrupt suffer if he is just? Why would God allowed destruction if he is powerful?

We are like John, we have also doubts. Especially whenever we are in prison, like John. The bad things that happen to us could be considered our prison. Our prison could be financial burden, failed relationships, unrealized goals and targets and being sick or a love one with poor health. We focus on our situation and we fail to recognize who God is.

Why did John doubt if Jesus was really the messiah? Because John was expecting Jesus as the messiah to be able to help him. John had expectations of Jesus and they were not met. Expectations were big, and when they are not met, they fall big.

We believe in God and expect God to do certain things as our God. When our expectations of what our God should be able to do are not accomplished, we doubt if God and ask why did he allow it to happen?

The strategic targets for our organizations, the cluster targets and other deliverable are not according to our expectations. We are frustrated because we know we are doing this as part of God's ministry to the little children and their families. We doubt God because God is not helping us accomplish our plans.

We forget that God works according to God's own plan and not on our plan. God is expected to do the things God plans to do and not on our expectations and plans. We are blinded by our prison that we could not see the whole picture just as God does.

Whenever we are in doubt because our expectations of God's rewards for our hardwork, God's blessings on our faithfulness, and all the other expectations were not met, let us remember that God remains a God. And God is working according to God's masterplan which is better than ours.

A Different Encounter with God this December

December is always unique and special. Yesterday, I had a different encounter with God. We went to the House of Refuge but it was not a church. There were songs of praise and worship but there were also sounds of laughter and joy. There were children all around and some adults too. Anywhere I looked, God was there.

Yesterday, December 8, 2013, we celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday in an orphanage. There were more than 20 boys and girls in that orphanage. We prayed, we sang, they danced, we ate good food and we had fun.

I was amazed by the ministry of this place. There were three house mothers taking care of all these little children, nurturing them and taking care of them. But they said a whole community of faith, the Bread of Life, showers them the love and support that they may grow according to God's plan for them.

The place is three storey's high and has rooms for girls and boys. They provide enough space for them to play. They have enough food for each kid. They can eat nutritious food three times a day. The children go to school. And they get enough school supply for them to do well. The place is amazingly decent considering it is run mostly from charity and donations. I was just blessed how this place can minister to children for decades now with support from the faith community. I can only imagine the dedication and the commitment of the loving people who showed the fruits of their faith.

I reflect back on the many big organized churches scattered around the world, yes, UMC one of them. I know our churches have made great advances in educating children with our pioneering work in kindergarten school. But I know there are people who have hearts to have a ministry with the orphans. I know KKFI ministers with street children. But I have yet to encounter a single local church who has a ministry for orphaned kids. I have yet to see a SEC recognized institution ministering to children supported by a single local church. I know there must be one out there. If not, will your church have the heart to start one?

Update 10 on Supertyphoon Haiyan

Update 10 - An appeal for our church friends and faith-based organizations to refrain from accepting milk formula donations (breastmilk substitutes).

"Breastmilk is the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants and young children and it protects them from infection and its consequences. Especially in disaster situations like in affected Visayas communities, optimum breastfeeding gives infants and young children continued nourishment anytime; avoids risks of using contaminated water and materials; and gives protection from illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory ailments, which can be fatal in such situations.

However, uncontrolled distribution of breastmilk substitutes like infant formulas to affected families can lead to early and unnecessary cessation of breastfeeding. This could have dire consequences. Donation of breastmilk substitutes, especially during disasters, in fact, is illegal in our country. Relief assistance emphasis for infant and young children should be on protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding and ensuring timely, safe and appropriate complementary feeding."

Several civil society organizations in the Philippines like World Vision, Save the Children, ACF, Plan International and coalitions like KAIN has issued statements supporting the use of human breastmilk during emergencies. Let us not allow milk companies to influence our government in watering down the effective Milk Code of the Philippines (EO 51) that will allow them to donate milk to advance their agenda.

Please continue to help our brothers and sisters but avoid donating milk formulas to anybody. We want to give with integrity. We want to be faithful stewards of God. We want to give the best, and the best and practical for babies are human breastmilk.

To send help, contact Office of the Bishop - DEA or UMCOR.

Update 9 on Supertyphoon Haiyan

Update 9 - More than two weeks have passed since Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines. Many have contributed to the relief work in Tacloban. Some have courageously went to the field to help. Most have contributed to fund raising cmpaings. One way or another, helped has been offered. Thank you. But after the relief efforts in the previous days has been done, the real work in rebuilding begins.

The government has now transitioned to the early recovery phase of the affected areas. It comes at a time when relief teams are starting to leave the area, when most medical missions are over and the media has started to shift focus on other equally important news topics. But the internally displaced people still needs support. The affected areas still needs help as they rehabilitate. This is where community development organizations from the religious groups, CSOs and other individuals make a great impact (and oftentimes away from the limelight).

If you feel called to help in this rehab phase please contact Office of the Bishop- DEA or UMCOR.

Photos by Rev. Bayani Alkuino