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Introducing Pastor Wendell M. Serrano
Guest Speaker, Baccalaureate Service
44th Commencement Exercises
Mindanao State University
Marawi City, Philippines
6:00 AM, April 3, 2009
by:
Linda Vilma A. Ole
Department of Physics
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Mindanao State University
Marawi City
We are privilege this morning to have with us, as our Guest Speaker, a man who started from a humble beginning, strove, and rose from the ranks to reach the point where he is now.
We are also having a man who is a product of the combination of the existing educational systems in the Philippines. He finished his elementary education as Valedictorian from a public school in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte in 1960. He graduated high school valedictorian from Harvardian Colleges, a private non-sectarian school, in Davao City in 1967. He graduated AB Theology from Mountain View College (or MVC) in Valencia City, Bukidnon in 1978. Then he finished his graduate studies Master of Arts in Religion, with majors in (1) Systematic Theology, and (2) Pastoral stadies from the Seventh-day Adventists Theological Seminary of the Far East in Silang, Cavite in 1983. Both Mountain View College and the Theological Seminary of the Far East (now named as Adventist Internatinational Institute for Asvanced Studies or AIIAS) are private-sectarian educational institutions belonging to the Seventh-day Adventists.
We are also having a man who went through his high school and college as a self-supporting student yet this did not prevent him from obtaining honors and recognition while at the same time working for the cause of the students. In 1966, in his junior years at the Harvardian Colleges (now called as Harvardian University), aside from obtaining the First Honors, he also received a gold medal for being the most outstanding Junior Student of the Harvardian Colleges. During that year, he was the Student Governor. In 1967, he received a gold medal for being the Most Outstanding Senior Student of the Harvardian Colleges, and he received a Plaque from Davao City Jaycees for being One of the Most Outstanding High School Graduates of Davao City that year. During that academic year was his second stint as a Student Governor. During the academic year (AY) 1967-68, he got two gold medals for the academic honors he received from Southwestern University in Cebu City. The following academic year, 1968-1969, he was voted as one of the senators of the student council of Southwestern University. Financial difficulty, political uncertainties, and some home responsibilities prevented him to finish college at Southwestern University. Yet the desire to work for the students' cause did not diminish as he enrolled at Mountain View College. In 1977 he became the President of the Ministerial Seminar, an MVC Student Outreach. In 1978, he became the President of the Graduating class.
His educational trainings (being a product of different educational systems), and his experiences equipped him for his chosen vocation, the Ministry. Right after graduation from MVC, he became the District Pastor at Northeastern Mindanao Mission in Butuan City, the position he held for four years, from 1978 to 1982. He became a professor at Mountain View College during the academic year 1983-1984, right after he finished his Masters Studies in 1983. He became a Church Pastor at the College Church of Mountain View College during the academic year 1984-1985. This happens right after his Ordination to the Ministry in 1984. He became the Chairman of the Theology Department during the academic years 1985-1986 and 1986-1987 but he left MVC to become the President of the Davao Mission of the Seventh-day Adventists in Davao area; a position he held for two years, from 1988 to 1990. He left Davao in 1991 to become the Director of the Church Ministries of the South Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists based in Cagayan de Oro City. He left Cagayan de Oro City in 1996 to become the President of the Southern Mindanao Mission of the Seventh-day Adventists (Cotabato Area) based in General Santos City. As he served President of Southern Mindanao Mission in 1996 to 2000, he has done some traveling abroad. In 1999, he was a lecturer in Multi-Church Pastoral at Bombay, India. The following year, from April to May 2000 he was a Speaker of Evangelistic Meetings at Winnipeg, Canada. After serving as President at Southern Mindanao Mission, he came back to CDO in 2001 to become the Executive Secretary of the South Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists. Just a year ago, in 2008, he became the President of the South Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists.
Now, being the President of the South Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the different hospitals and colleges labeled as the Seventh-day Adventists Institutions in Mindanao. The hospitals that are his concern are: Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital in Iligan City, Gingoog Sanitarium and Hospital in Gingoog City, Valencia Sanitarium and Hospital in Valencia City, Bukidnon, and Davao Adventist Hospital in Davao City. The colleges that are his concern are: Mindanao Sanitarium & Hospital College in Iligan City and Mountain View College in Valencia City, Bukidnon. He is also a member of the executive committee (the highest deciding committee) of the World Church Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventists based in Maryland, USA. He traveled abroad to Europe, Middle East, Asia, Canada and the USA and has given lectures and/or acted as resource person on topics of his specialization.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you understand now why I have said at the opening statement of this introduction that our guest speaker is a man who started from a humble beginning, strove, and rose from the ranks to reach the point where he is now. As a family man, our guest speaker is a grandfather with grandkids Alec Mervyn, Dean Axl and Anika Zen. All of his three children namely: Elma Bella Serrano-Gucilatar; Norkis D. Serrano; and Nee Viole D. Serrano are all married. Our guest speaker shared his life , all his success, pains and challenges with his wife, the former Miss Estrella Dahuya of Zamboanga Sibugay. Mrs. Estrella Dahuya-Serrano is an MSUan having finished the graduate course Masters in Education from Mindanao State University at General Santos City and, if we can make a man an MSUan by marital affinity, then we can say that our guest speaker is also an .MSUan. Most men would say that behind their success is a dutiful and a wonderful wife yet, our Guest Speaker attributed his success to God Almighty. According to him, "To God I give honor and thanks for I am only his vessel and servant"
Ladies and Gentlemen, let us listen to our Guest speaker, a grandfather, a father, a husband, the President of the South Philippine Union of the Seventh-day Adventist, and a Servant of God: Pastor Wendell Mangoya Serrano!
When Sister Lobelle asked me to talk about my experiences after my conversion to the Adventist faith, I decided to talk instead about the experiences of the converts of the MSU-SDA Church during the time when the church was experiencing tremendous growth. It is because I believe that the conversion of the early members of the church has contributed, in one way or another, to the growth of the Church.
At this point in time, I could say that the initial growth of the church was made possible due to: (1) the effort of the outside supporters of the MSU-SDA Church who gave their time, effort, knowledge, finances and even love nurturing these students in the early stages of their Christian life, (2) the effort of the Disciples of Christ who saw the need to spread the Good News in the Morolandia (Muslim lands), (3) the effort of the MSU-SDA Church in nurturing and supporting the talents of each member and utilizing these inwork of spreading the Good News.
II.MSU and the MSU-SDA Church
A.Background Information Regarding MSU.
MSU means Mindanao State University. It is a state university created for the purpose of integration. That is, the university is designed to educate the Muslims and other cultural minorities of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan (MINSUPALA) region so that they will be fully drawn into the mainstream of the Philippine society and would be able to participate in the Philippine body politic.
When it comes to budget given by the national government tostate universities and colleges, MSU ranked second to the University of the Philippines (UP).
MSU is situated on top of rolling hills, five kilometers away fromMarawi City. The MSU campus is overlooking the second largest lake in the Philippines, Lake Lanao, which is in Lanao del Sur.MSU is found at the center of the Muslim Philippines because Marawi City claims to be a Islamic City.
Initially, the students coming to MSU are: (1) the second fifty of the National Science Development Board (NSDB) scholars since the first fifty is assigned to the University of the Philippines, (2) the full and partial scholars who passed the MSU Scholarship Exam given to the upper 20% of the graduating class from both public and private high schools in the MINSUPALA region, (3) the National Integration (NI) scholars which are given to Muslims and other cultural minorities, (4) the State Scholars who obtained the scholarship by passing an exam given by the government, (5) the College Bound Program (CBP) scholars whose scholarship is obtained by passing a summer course offered to graduated high school Muslims and other cultural minorities, (6) the “Dependents” of the faculty members and staff working in the university.
From the above list, we could see that thorough screening has been done before a student can enter MSU. The different scholarships obtained by the students show that the students are mentally equipped to go through the rigors of the university life.
B. Background Information About the SDAs and Events that
Engulfed MSU Leading to the MSU-SDA Church Formation
It must be said that there is NO MSU-SDA Church before 1970. But there were already SDAs working in the university since its opening in 1961. But these people have not bonded together to form a church.
The formation of the MSU-SDA Church is made possible by the efforts made by the pioneers of the MSU-SDA Church. The pioneers were the SDA students who came to MSU before 1970 and those who came in the early parts of the 70’s.
In the academic year (AY) 1968-1969, Georgia Solijon, from Manila, an NSDB scholar started her Bio Pre Med course at MSU and she attended Sabbath Services at the Nery’s Studio in downtown Marawi if not at the house of the Quirante’s at Camp Keithly, Marawi City.
In 1969-1970, Johnny Postrero, a full scholar from Malangas Zamboanga del Sur started his BS Chemistry course.
In 1971-1972, several SDA students attended MSU. These are: Joandel Solijon (BS Zoo), Sammy Batiancila (Political Science), Guillermo Semorlan (BS Fisheries), Letty Asumen (BS Forestry), Patria Pana and Gloria Caballero (Community Development). It is during this year that the Dagbusans, SDA faculty members, opened their cottage to the SDAs so that they wouldhave a place where to hold Sabbaths Services. The gathering and the Sabbath Services held at the Dagbusan’s place might have provided the seed in the creation and establishment of the MSU-SDA Church.
In 1972-1973, Edwin Pueblos (BS Chem Engineering) and Bethuel Ortaleza (AB Philosophy) joined the SDA group in MSU. But in September 11, 1972 President Marcos declared Martial Law. A month after that, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) staged an uprising that over run the MSU campus. To be able to gain control of the lone radio station in Marawi City, MSU was taken by the rebels. Radio station DXSO was based in MSU. To gain control of the radio station was also the reason why the government forces rescued DXSO and MSU back. The event was scary. The war that rages in the Marawi City and MSU brought more fears to the constituents of MSU and the environs of Marawi City. The uprising sent some scholars scampering away from the university. It is sad to note that when the University opened again in January 1973, the Dagbusans transferred to Jolo Sulu , thus the gathering at the faculty cottage ceased.
The Uprising in October 1972 results to having MSU to enforce mass promotion and subsequent long vacation to give time to the government forces to quell the uprising.Military forces occupied the University campus.
Because of this long vacation, two of the students from Palawan (Maria Vi Peand Calixto Inao) decided to stay and spend their vacation at the Solijon’s place in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental. With them were other students Sonia Cubero (from Cagayan de Oro City), Rocaya Macmod (a Maranao, a Muslim from Marawi City). These were the very first students who received Bibles studies handled by Delfina Solijon (Mommie). Take note that Sonia was the roommate of Georgia, Maria Vi Pe was the roommate of Joandel, Rocaya Macmod was the roommate of Patria Pana, while Calixto Inao was the “kababayan” of Maria Vi Pe.The Good News was easily planted by Mommie Solijon to the hearts and minds of these MSU students due to the friendship established by the Solijon children with their roommates and friends.
The Baptism of Calixto Inao, Maria Vi Pe, Sonia Cubero and Rocaya Macmod in May of 1972 provided the MSU-SDA church with people to help in the dissemination of the Good News. Both Sonia Cubero andMaria Vi Pe are gifted with words. They are also good in music and in drama. Rocaya Macmod is good in cooking, in sewing, in “mothering” those who needed attention. Calixto Inao with his talents in playing the guitar provided the necessary accompanist in the sundown, sunrise and other services of the church. That baptism also marked the first Muslim convert of the MSU-SDA church. Rocaya was a Muslim.
The baptism of Adriano Salvador (Guillermo Semorlan’s friend) and Romeo Milan ( Johnny Postrero’s friend and batch-mate), a few months after May 1972, was brought about by the bible studies conducted by Mommie Solijon when Romy and Adriano stayed at Lagonglong for a vacation. Romy Milan’s Baptism is also attributed to the bible studies conducted by George Solijon when Romy stayed in Manila for a vacation. According to Judith Joy Gamponia, Romy Milan’s method in doing bible studies was so patterned after Mommie Solijon’s methodology.
During the Holy Week Summer Camp at the Solijon’s place in Lagonglong in April 1973, seven more souls were converted to the SDA faith.They were Sunnie Noel, Noel Manico, Alfonso Catolin, Fely Pornea, Aleja Plaza, Memong, and yours truly (Linda Vilma Ole).Their baptism was the result of the week long doctrinal bible studies conducted by George Solijon. But the seed of friendship and the seed of the Good News were already planted by the members of the MSU-SDA Church long beforethe Holy Week Summer Camp. It is best to mention that the Sarona sisters, Sarah and Rebecca, were good at their work of simply inviting people to attend the Sunrise, Sundown, Midweek, Vesper and Sabbath Services. They were always around to invite, wait and cater to the needs of the friends they invited.
III.The Witnessing Procedure
The witnessing procedure done by the early members of the MSU-SDA Church and emulated by the first converts became the reason why bible studies and subsequent baptisms occur a few months after April 1973 and continues on until the early 80’s.An example, in 1973, the invitee of Sarah and Rebecca Sarona, received the bible studies from Romy Milan and Johnny Postrero. The friendship established and the methodology of conducting bible study facilitated the conversion process.
The utilization the talents and skills found among the members of the church made services vibrant. Example: In 1972, Al Inao was the in-charge of the music department. He was joined by Johnny Postrero, Edwin Pueblos, Sosthenes Postrero, Hermes Herbolingo, Lemuel Lecciones, Maria Vi Pe, Patria Pana, Sonia Cubero, Linda Vilma Ole and the rest of the singers who can be asked to sing or perform during sunrise orsundown services, Sabbath School, AY service, Midweek, Vesper,and the Divine Services.
The utilization of new talents found among the member of the church made the bible studies more invigorating. For example: No one would believe that a small boy Hermes Herbolingo who came to the university in 1973-1974 became instrumental in the conversion of Ham Migrinio and Cyril Balmadres.
The nurturing of the talents found within the church and supporting these talents to join university-wide competition made the church more popular. For example: the singing voice of Linda Vilma Ole and Diana Jean Go, the guitar skillsof Sosthenes Postrero and Lemuel Lecciones, the beautiful song emanating from the flute of Dodong Pelisco, made them won in the talent shows conducted by the University. The honor was not solely attributed to the talent but to the MSU-SDA church that nurtured these talents.
The nurturing of members with leadership potentials resulted to the emergence of leaders not only within the church but to the student body as a whole in the university. Fenando del Rosario was the best example of this. He joined the MSU-SDA Church in 1973. He became a member of the Student Supreme Government during the closing years of his stay in MSU.
The use of new methods of witnessing as applied by Vigilanda Solijon in the dormitories and cottages brought more souls to Christ. She was the one who initiated in conducting bible studies at the Dormitory living rooms. Bible studies in masse results to conversion and baptism in masse.
The brother-sister relationship, big sis-small sis, big bro-small bro, in short, the buddy system was encouraged among each members to care for those who were new in faith helped in the bringing more souls to Christ.
The establishment of Medical Outreach and Community outreach with the help of outside supporters exposed the MSU-SDA Church members to the rigors of the medical profession and to the current state of affairs in the rural areas and in the hinterlands. Examples of these were the medical outreach and community services initiated by the MOVE. Another example is the formation of the Signet Singing group to be the entertaining arm of the Medical Outreach headed by Pastor and Doctor Donton at Tamparan, Lanao del Sur in 1977-1981.
IV.Conclusion
It is beautiful to reminisce the past. For this reason a reunion of the MSU-SDA was done in Hoyanjog Islet in Surigao during the Holy Week (March 19-22, 2008). In this reunion, the fourth Muslim convert of the MSU-SDA Church in 1973-1974, Pastor Badrudin Magarang graced the occasion. During the reunion Pastor Nelson Paulo, a convert to the MSU-SDA church after 1981-1982, baptized four souls. Both Pastor Paulo and Pastor Magarang took theology classes at Mountain View College in Bukidnon. Pastor Paulo did it after he graduated with a Math course in MSU while Pastor Badrudin has to do it after his baptism at MSU because of persecution from his own family.
Another reunion, a convention is to be held in Missouri on July 8-13 at Concordia, Missouri, USA.
We have taken a look at the past and I hope that the gesture would make us take a good stock of courage to be able to move towards the future. I believe that we can derive inspiration of the things done in the past that made us closer to the Lord and to each other.
New Breed of Pinay Care Givers: Release Upon Arrival
I arrived in Canada in August 21, a Tuesday. At around 4:00 PM, on a Friday after, as we moved about the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), I saw these girls at Toronto Transit Corporation (TTC) pick up points or bus stations. They are very noticeable because they go in groups of two or more. I didn't find them during weekdays. They "swarm" around GTA during weekends. We can find them together busy talking and laughing in a bus or in street cars, or in the subway. You will know if they are new to Canada by the manner they handle themselves. The new ones are always filled with stories about their masters or employers. They talked in Tagalog, Bisaya (Ilonggo and Cebuano), and Ilocano without any reservation since they knew that Canadians and other nationalities would not understand what they are talking about. They talked freely about their family, their children, their boyfriends, their employers! The "older ones" (that is, those who have been in Canada for a while), normally handle themselves like the Canadians do: staring blankly in space, as if no other person exists beside them, yet ready to say sorry if they happen to bump or touch someone as they moved about in a cramped space like the bus, the street car or the fully loaded trains.
I used to observe these girls, the Pinay Care Givers, and I wonder what goes inside their heads. They are not the usual house helpers that we have at home in the Philippines. Most of them are the educated ones (nurses, teachers, and even medical doctors) who took a venture to Canada, and who believe that the easiest way to get accepted into the Canadian society is to serve Canadians in their homes. I understand that because of the opportunity that abounds in Canada, care giver position is the most lowly type of job that no Canadians would ever dare venture into.
The normal care givers would have a two days off or a weekend off. They work for five days in a week in the homes of their employers. They are paid the lowest according to the salary scheme but because Canadian dollars is much higher than the Philippine peso, these care givers earn much, much higher than our University Professors in the Philippines.
Because of this, many girls from the Philippines took risks in coming over. They applied in the Philippines with certain agency that assures them that they can enter Canada for a fee of more than two hundred thousand pesos (PhP 200,000). They knew that as soon as they arrive Canada they would be released by their "employer" that made them come to Canada, and they knew that they might be asked to pay another amount just so they would find a new employer as they set foot in Canada. This is where the danger lies.
Canada is not like the Philippines. It is very difficult to move in a place that you don't know about. It takes a lot of courage and strength to master one's fear about the unknown. Yet, this new breed of Pinay Care Givers who are opting for the "Released Upon Arrival" way of coming to Canada makes me feel awkward and inadequate in mastering my own fears.
I came to Canada not to become a care giver but circumstances forced me to venture into this field. The insecurity that I felt was so intense that I needed a job, or something to hold on to. I was not a care giver that was released upon arrival, but I felt that way upon stepping on Canadian soil.
Having experienced what I had experienced, I have now some first hand knowledge on how it is to be insecure in a foreign land where no blood relations exist. I have also experienced the care and attention of friends who care about my existence. It is the care, the attention, and the help of Filipino friends around Canada that made this new breed of Pinay Care Givers take risks to be released upon arrival.
Filipinos are known to be helpful. I salute those hearts who accepted the new breed of our care givers. I salute those who extended their help to me!
"We take pride being part of a well-functioning system but we can be
partly blamed if the system malfunctions". I had that realizations
last Tuesday as I volunteered to serve the homeless again.
I always evaluate my work with a critical mind. I always take pride in
a job well done because I know that I did not only use my head in
doing the job, but I did it with all my heart inputted in the process.
And I bow my head in embarrassment as defects and negligence would be
noticed. Defects and negligence surfaced last Tuesday and I am just embarrassed and, I am left wondering why such event must
happen.
It is like this: I am used to work in the kitchen as assistant to
people in charged with the food preparation. I can also work in the
dining hall as server (to serve the clients with food), wash girl (to
wash the tables with soap and water, then disinfect it with
disinfectant), or simply to gather the bowls, spoon and forks, etc.
that the clients used in eating.
Last Tuesday, a request by the in-charge in dish washing section was
forwarded to the Dining Hall Supervisor. He wanted me to be with him.
I have never been to the dish washing section and I took it as an
opportunity to learn. I was assigned to remove the utensils from the
plastic rack right after it has come out of the dish washing machine
and to place it in their proper places in the kitchen. I knew then
where the knives, pans, kettles, glasses, spoons, forks, and etc. were
kept. I was ready for my new experience then but alas, the one who
requested my presence could not be found as the dishes to be washed
came piling up.
What am I going to do? I asked loudly. The clock is ticking and we are
at the gap between the first serving and the second serving. All the
used bowls, cups, plates, trays, spoon, forks that came in to the dish
washing section right after the first serving will be used during the
second serving. We have only barely 30 minutes to wash and set all
these utensils! "Where is this guy?"
I was told to wait for the in-charge. I waited. I have to wait for the
utensils to come out of the dish washing machine before I can do my
part to remove them, and place them in their proper places. The
waiting was an anxiety-filled time because I knew of the need that the
dining hall is to demand from the dish washing section, from us!
The in-charge came from nowhere several minutes late. Rushing, he
placed the soiled utensils on plastic racks, after initially washing
them quickly with running water from the faucet. He instructed another
volunteer on what to do to make the process quicker.
As the soup container came out from the dish washer, I noticed that it
was still dirty. I returned the dirty containers back to the in-charge
telling him of what I noticed. He grumbled! I insisted!
The Dining Hall Supervisor came in to ask why it took us too long to
clean the utensils that they needed in the Dining Hall. I told her
what I observed. As she inspected the plates, cups and bowls, she
returned it to the in-charge after pronouncing them as "dirty"!
I could not believe what I am seeing. My "practicum" with Daya and
Baby Roca in California told me that what the in-charge was doing was
wrong, but I cannot say it openly. My actual practice at George and
Joy's places told me that the in-charge is not using his common sense,
but I cannot say it, for fear that I might be putting my foot in a
wrong place, for the fact that I am just a volunteer, and that I have
no right to change their methods of doing things in that kitchen.
We survived that period but with much grumbling both from the Dish
Washing Section in-charge and from the Dining Hall Supervisor. I hid
my dissatisfaction by simply keeping silent after the outburst of the
Dining Hall Supervisor, and by concentrating on the next job assigned
to me by the chef cook of the day, to be in the food distribution line.
As the dishes to be washed piled up again, the dish washing in-charge
was already in argument with two of the people in the kitchen. One of
them pointed to the fact that he came late after disappearing during
the serving time. The in-charge reasoned out that he was called for
translation. He was told then that he could have said no since he was
assigned in the dish washing section for that day and not in the
translation. I could sense that he did not take the reason of him
being late as one of the factors that caused our failure in dish
washing section. The in-charge insisted that something was wrong with
the machine. He used me as a proof that I noticed the utensils to be
dirty as it came out from the dish washer. As he was saying that I
returned to him dirty utensils, I gave him a set of ladle that I
collected right after coming out from the machine. That set was still
dirty!
The other guy told him that the reason the utensils came out dirty
was: the dishwasher was already very dirty! To solve the problem, the
dish washer must be cleaned first. It must be stopped, to be cleaned
thoroughly before using it again. I agreed silently on what was being
said because I remembered Daya telling me that dishes placed in a
dishwasher must be free from any food particles. According to her and
to Joy, food particles left in the dishwasher can cause smell to
develop as they decayed inside the machine. In our case, the food
particles left on the dishes were scattered to all the other utensils
placed on the rack. He was rushing on the first set, I remembered. The
dirt on one, simply contaminated the rest! But the in-charge refused
to stop the machine and chose to continue with dish washing the next
pile.
As I noticed the same problem of having dirty utensils coming out from
the dish washer again, I told the in-charge that I would be off at
12:15 as somebody, a friend, was already waiting for me outside. It
was an excuse because I told Inday Esther that I would be off at
12:30. I simply could not stand the sight of looking at dirty utensils
coming out from the dishwasher when a solution has been offered by
someone who is knowledgeable enough to solve the problem. The
in-charge reasoned out that "someone is doing things" to make it more
difficult for him to wash the dishes that day! True or not, I noticed
the negligence he got at the start of the session. I also noticed him
being stubborn. Being stubborn is not good especially if the whole
system malfunctions because of the "hardheadedness" of one man!
Being part of that system that day, I ended up dissatisfied. We should
have done it right if he showed up on time, gauge before hand how
thick or thin the soup was, what extra work must be done to get the
food particles out before making the dishwasher dirty!
But that was all gone now. I am left with ideas, processes, and
methods which I could not share because I might be misconstrued as
doing something beyond the capacity given me.
"I wish I could but I can't so I won't!" This was a statement I saw on
a poster of long ago that made me laugh because of the monkey's pause.
Now I am saying this with no laughter in my heart because I did not
know of any position to take, except my escape!
Many things happened last Sunday, 28 October 2007.
Both good and bad!
The first good thing happened at around 8:39 AM. I saw
the YRT Bus stationary near the passenger pick-up
booth but I was still on the opposite side of the
avenue, the traffic light was showing an "open palm"
which means pedestrians are not allowed to cross yet.
As soon as the image changes to "a walking man", I
ran to cross the avenue, with my hand up in the air to
signal the bus driver for him to wait awhile. He did!
I was on time reaching Finch station and I was in for
the first (9:00 AM)trip of the subway. Without
catching the 8:39 AM trip, I would arrive an hour late
at Finch Subway Station!
The first bad thing is, I was not able to finish doing
the laundry!
The second bad thing happened while I was at the Finch
Subway Station. I was wearing gloves because it was
very cold. The gloves made me clumsy. The coins I was
holding for me to buy the tickets with slipped from my
gloved hand. The coins made sound as they landed on
the floor. A man picked the coins up and gave them to
me. Then an angry lady came up to me demanding the
coins that the man gave me. The lady claimed that the
coins were hers and that I have no right to get them.
I was dumbfounded. When she started swearing, I moved
back. I realized that standing in front of me was a
mentally-challenged person! I've got to be very
careful with this type of people!
The second good thing happened as soon as I reached
the Scott Mission. Ranjie, the chef cook of the day,
came to me and led me to the bulletin board. He
pointed to a cut-out article with a picture from a
Chinese newspaper. He asked me, "Can you see this lady
in the picture?" I said yes! "She looks like you,
isn't she?" I said, "Yes, she looks like me! Who is
she?" I asked. Ranjie, pointed to the the Chinese
characters of the article and said, "According to
these characters here, she is a volunteer named
Linda!" I laughed! Everybody near us laughed because I
was able to play Ranjie's game. Having myself in a
picture from a Chinese newspaper as one of the
volunteers serving at the Scott Mission during Thanks
Giving Day made me happy! I was very new in the group
but somehow I was blessed to be noticed. I praised God
for the attention given me.
The third good thing happen still at Scott Mission
when we were about to end the morning work. While I
was cleaning the food service area, Carmen, a Romanian
volunteer, passed by me and told me, "You know Linda,
you are the best cleaning lady I have ever met. One of
these days I will have to make you clean my house!"
Ranjie, commented right away, "I am thinking the same
way too! We are going to compete with each other for
her services!" I laughed and answered them, "Don't
joke with me like that! I don't have a job and I might
jump into the opportunity if you are to ask me!" I
remember Daya and Baby Roca. When I was having that
"practicum" at the Holstein home, I had a nagging
feeling that I am going to end up in someone's
kitchen! Now, I know that that practicum made me feel
easily at ease at the Scott Mission's kitchen and
Dining Hall!
The third bad thing happened while we were having
lunch at the Scott Mission. Someone was howling. I
asked my companions what's the noise about. They told
me there is a hippie bar nearby and the noise must
come from the bar. But the howling was becoming
intense and just very, very close to us. Pastor Jude
stood up and after looking at the window, told us that
the man howling was just below the window. I stood up
too and I saw a man rolling on the ground, pounding
his head on the cement, with yellowish-colored-fluid
coming out of his mouth. I said that he must be a drug
user! That was the first time that I saw a drug user
on a trip and at a very bad trip, at that! As we saw
the paramedics and the Scott Mission's security guard
attending a very limp/seemingly lifeless man, I said
to myself that there is more to life than being
poisoned by a pill that excites the senses in a wrong
way!
The fourth good thing that happened was when I went
out from the Scott Mission's building. I was wondering
why my umbrella "was having some sound". I stood to
listen and I saw white particles as big as half the
size of a grain of rice falling on the ground. I asked
the people around me what's the white-colored thing.
The security guard answered me "It's hail!" Aha! I was
so happy having experienced hail! The lady guard
looked at me. I told her quickly that I came from the
Philippines and I informed her that there is no hail
in the tropics!
The fourth bad thing? It became very, very, very cold!
Instead of getting the bus to Bathurst, I run to get
the street car to ferry me to Spadina station for me
to get the subway! Subway is a better transport when
it's cold!
Th fifth good thing happened when I arrived at Joy's
place. The Matthews children and grandchildren were
around! Joy's place became a paradise!
The fifth bad thing, one of the Matthews grand
children doesn't like me. He always cries when he
sees me! And he cried again seeing me.
The sixth good thing happened when the Matthews
children played with me.
The sixth bad thing happened when that small lady of
the Matthews grandchildren refused for her picture to
be taken.
The SEVENTH GOOD THING happened when the kids became
friendly and that smallest boy did not cry anymore.
I wonder if there would still be a bad thing when I
would meet this children again. I hope there would be
none! I hope to meet them again in the near future,if
not, when they have grown enough. Just like their
moms. I saw them in 1986 when they were flower girls
in Oyette and Bong Mendoza's wedding. Now I am meeting
them again when they are having wonderful kids of
their own!
Good things and bad things: they seem to be woven on
the same fabric that we are wearing everyday!
