Formosa, Republic of China

Taiwan, ROC, is where i am presently stationed and had been here for a total of nine years (on two separate occassions). The small, turtle-shaped island is home to about 23 million people: the Mandarins, the Hakkas, the aborigines. Other minor islands and islets are Pescadores, Green island, Kinmen, Orchid island and Dioyutai, the latter creating tension as it is also claimed by Japan. Formosa is the 16th century name of the island during the Portugese occupation. The Dutch and Spaniards also ruled the island in the 17th century, and the Japanese occupation in the late 19th and mid 20th century. It was in 1945 that the island became under the rule of Republic of China, and in 1949 became permanently the home for Chiang Kai Shek and his troops after they were defeated by the Communist China. Since then, the island became self-ruled, and is now officially recognized as democratic island nation. It is however of much debate since mainland China claimed the island as one of the provinces of China, and does not recognize the island as an independent nation. However, for the majority of the 23 million citizens, Taiwan does not belong to the People's Republic of China. The name Republic of China is also under a much debate for some people pushing for a change in name i.e. Republic of Taiwan.

Taiwan is also a progressive nation along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. It is also home to many migrant workers mostly coming from South East asia: the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia. The major religion is Buddhism and Taoism, but folk religions are also very eminent. Christians comprise the least percentage but religious freedom is allowed. There are at least three major languages widely spoken: Mandarin (north), Hakka (central), Taiwanese/Hokkien (south).

Taiwan is also known for its 101 skycraper, which became the tallest building in the world for over four years. It is located at the heart of Taipei city. The transportation system is very effcient, however finding a direction is a little bit complicated especially for non-chinese speakers.  

The Beauty of the Philippines

Also known as 'Pearl of the Orient', the Philippines is an archipelago which prides herself with about 7, 108 islands. Its name was derived from King Phililp II of Spain. Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. Some of the various name were : San Lazaro (by Magellan's), Republica Filipina (Malolos Congress), Philippine Islands (Philippine-American war until Commonwealth era). The official name as of this date is Republic of the Philippines.There are three major islands: Luzon , Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital is home to about 1.6 million people, making the city the second most populous city in the country. Filipino and English are the major languages and about 90 dialects are spoken.

Caleruega in Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas, is a Dominican Retreat Center built in 1995. It is the local version of Caleruega in Spain, the birthplace of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Friars Preachers. Since then it has been a place for retreat and recollection, local and international meetings, weddings and film and photography. The beauty and serenity the place offers are very apt to its motto, which read “Close to nature, closer to God”.

 

Tagaytay City is not only home for the famous Taal volcano but also a place for religious communities. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destination. Tagaytay City is a 55 km south of Manila, belonging to the province of Cavite. The city is also a popular summer tourist destination because of its cool climate due to its high altitude.

Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "taga" meaning to cut and "itay" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "taga itay!". The boy's repeated shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters and wood gatherers, the cries became subject of conversation for several days in the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as TAGAYTAY (c/o wikepedia.org)

In 1979, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos built the famous 'Palace in the Sky' as a guest house for the visiting President Ronald Reagan, who never came. The guesthouse was built on the highest peak of Tagaytay, overlooking the taal lake, balayan, laguna and manila bay. Today the place is common to all as the 'People's Park in the Sky'. Although the construction did not reach its completion, and due to poor maintaneance, it is still one of the places to visit in Tagaytay. Other tourist spots that might interest you are tagaytay picnic grove, tagaytay highlands, the chapel of the cloistered nuns known as pink sisters, filipino-japanese friendship garden among others.

The University of Sto. Tomas or UST is the oldest existing Royal, Pontifical, Catholic university in Asia, located in Espana, Manila. It was built in 1611 by the Dominican Spanish friars. The university prides not only of her ancient legacy but of its contribution to Philippine Church and society in particular, and to Asia in general. The university accommodates about 30, 000 students every year.

A pilgrim’s walk

It was a call of faith which brought me here;

I followed the voice within, my heart searing

For three years I delve if mystery is a reality,

Instead, it was love divine I found and believed.

Three years swiftly move yet dawn is just breaking

The unveiling of learning deep and teeming;

The desire of a poignant mind, of thirsting soul

Will it end or stay? Will it flow and grow?

Today is the culmination of my tread;

Let me savor the moment I deem I deserve

This concluding march is not final yet

For tomorrow I will walk another step

This occasion pays tribute to my labors of questioning

An event that bridges another beginning;

Let me walk in faith; let me stand strong and brave
And embark to proclaim the one Truth that saves.

The day I mourned for being a man

Do you hear the anguish cry of the downsized?

Even the dolphins being butchered in the ocean cannot contained the sound

Have you noticed the mark of inhumane discoloration?

By the thick nectar of a system of pride, of terrified humiliation.

The Nightingales chant in chorus the voiceless melody

The thousand songs of her inexpressible agony

Written in her heart the untold stories of her optional existence

This, for hundreds of years documented as bad prophecy.

Bull riders ride on his horse poised, proud and magnified

On his right hand a thick rope stirring undeserved suffering

A scene akin to a ravenous tiger chasing his prey

Apathy drives his jaw to feast and jubilation.

The day I mourned for being a man

Tears streaming my eyes now that I have realized

My flamboyant class slaughtered and slaved

The magnificent work of a perfect Creator.

When I was a Child

When I was a child I used to count what I don’t have

But now I used to count the priceless blessings I have.

When I was a child I used to grumble on things out of my control

But now I used to say gratitude toward the things I can control.

When I was little I used to cry on petty things and cried out foul

But now I still cry not on things but on persons I hold high.

Life is a journey, life is a mystery

Full of surprises; a never ending quest

It brings me up on a sunny day;

It quiets me on a cloudy day;

Though it shatters me when storm passes by

Yet there is one thing which keeps me laugh and cry

The life I had when I was a child.

When I was a child I always used to speak for myself

Now if I speak wisdom they are but products of “Dad used to say”;

When I was a child my mother always gives the caring;

Now I found myself giving even for those who do not care.

When I was a child I create memories, great and small

Those memories are the reason why now I stood tall.

When God went fishing…

Every vocation is unique because each person is called by God according to his or her name. The call begins with a religious experience – an intimate desire to be with God. I never knew I had a religious vocation until I became a Dominican.

I am a nurse by profession and it has been a dream to migrate and work in the US. In 1997 I began working on my papers through the encouragement of a relative and a friend based in the States when upon the invitation of my friend’s sister, I came to Taiwan instead to earn money and to gain experience at the same time. It was my first time to set foot outside the Philippines so there were a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I thought it was good luck that brought me here since my work in a computer company has nothing to do with my profession. At that time I had very minute knowledge in computer and was ignorant with computer programming, repair or parts. Yet I was hired, was assigned to a very important department and finished my three year contract. My work rewarded me with a good salary and opportunities to meet both Filipino and Taiwanese friends, and enjoy the luxury of being in a different environment and culture.

Aside from work I also involved myself to church activities where I spent my Sunday afternoon practicing and preparing for the liturgy. The spirit of community life is strong and alive even if we only gather once a week or during the celebration of big feasts like Christmas and Easter. Whenever I get tired or bored during weekdays I usually go to the city either to use the internet, read a book in a coffee shop, or just hop around the city square. I considered myself adventurous because I never tire of discovering new things, or would rather choose something exceptional against the common trend. I am a happy person and I always look at the positive side of the not so good situation. I don’t socialize much but when I do I go with my close friends.

I am the third among the brood of four boys. My mother passed away when I was seventeen and my father remarried two years after. According to my mother I am the most obedient among her children. As a child we love to play and do things most children do. However my mother would always asked me to go with her whenever there were prayer meetings, mass or novenas in the church. I complained from time to time but the allure of having sweets and pastries if I come with her left me with no choice. It was at this early stage that I have learned to pray the rosary. It was also the start of my becoming active to church activities either becoming a member of a choral group or joining a youth group. Most of the time if I am not at home, I am with friends in the church.

When I was in college I used to come to mass almost every day. My school is adjacent to a Dominican University which has a huge chapel. However I never knew of the Dominicans until I met one here in Taiwan. Anyway, the habit of participating in the mass gave me the kind of serenity and courage to get through the difficulties of losing a mother and the pressure of university life. Some classmates knew of my habit and would even tease me for being overly religious but often asked me to pray for them. I remain active in church activities that it became a part of my life. It is through this humble beginning that my faith grew which I believe led me to search for what is most essential in life.

In 1999 I joined a charismatic group known as El Shaddai, a catholic renewal movement which holds their Sunday service at Fu Jen University. I especially like the way they conduct their liturgy that aside from singing and dancing, they also have Bible sharing or study, or sharing of God’s message. They hold mass as a culmination of the whole activity. It was at this moment that my faith in God became more and more alive which I believe helped me find what has been my greatest desire. I began to see my life differently that I realized amidst of the luxury I enjoy, the good relationship I have I am not happy. There is an empty space in my heart that I don’t see anyone or anything in this world can fill it. I began to question my existence and the purpose for which I work hard to achieve my dreams. I thought if none of what I am achieving can fulfill my heart’s contentment then what is the use of laboring for it?

At the same year a Filipino Dominican priest became the spiritual director of the group since he lives nearby and he at that time was available to look after a group of OCW. In one of his homilies he shared about his life changing experience, from having a “CEO” lifestyle in a school where he was assigned to, to having a very simple lifestyle with the Chinese brothers. His voluntary work in Taiwan was the turning point of his religious life because for the first time since he was ordained priest, it was during his stay here that he felt he is one. He felt that God works in a mysterious way because everything that has taken place in his life like his coming to Taiwan was not in his plan. And yet he found himself and God found him. At that moment I knew clearly what is missing in my life; God is searching for a place in my life. Since then I even pray harder, asking the Lord to enlighten me and to speak to me. And alas, on the eve of my birthday, I found myself answering the call of God. It was vivid to me that I want to follow Christ to be of service to others.

It did not stop there because it is not clear to me which among the different ways of following Christ should I choose. Perhaps I became too excited that I forgot to ask God about it when he spoke to me that night. Now another question troubled me and as my practice I resorted to prayers for an answer. Then one day in the congregation, out of the blue the priest asked if there were unmarried men in the audience, invited us saying should we want to enter the religious life and be a priest, he could be of help. I have got an answer to my question and that invitation never left me. As it happened I talked to the priest and told him that I want to enter the religious life. Then one thing led to the other and the story goes on.

I would be using the whole magazine to write every detail of my vocation story which will surely deny others to share theirs. I don’t want to do that so I would just content myself in telling everyone that God loves us and He wants us to have a happy life. Jesus said that the reason He came here is first to give us life, second to have this life to the full (Jn 10:10b). If God intends to make us happy then we could ask ourselves if the life where living is really what God wants us to. If we are not happy in our present life or if we feel an inner emptiness which our career, ambition, relationship could not fulfill, then maybe God is calling you to serve him by being a religious. You may not realizing it but that maybe God’s plan for you. Whether you are convinced or still doubtful of your vocation to answer the call of God, my advice is don’t make any second thought, say Yes! And God will do the rest for you, your family, and even the persons you will meet along the way.

…and it’s not easy to be me

When we are still little kids we are all familiar with and love watching cartoon or movies of our favorite superheroes. We may have even thought these comic heroes really existed and began dreaming of becoming one. They are called superheroes because of their extraordinary powers and we all love them because they are always there to defend and save us. Little have we known that they have limitations too; that they are also human beings like the rest of us (at least in the movie). We often do not understand this other side of them that we feel upset whenever they fail to live up our expectations, and critical as if they have no right to commit mistakes.

In the ‘world’ of ordained ministers, it is also often times the case. People tend to define them and expect them to be superheroes. Moreover, their eyes and ears are most sensitive to what the priest is doing, saying or thinking. When the priest celebrating the mass is an old man, they would say “boring and long homily” and surely “conservative.” When a priest happens to be young, they would say, “inexperienced” and “liberated”. When a priest is seen in the company of women, he is a “womanizer”, when in the company of men, “homosexual” and when in the company of children, “pedophile”. When a priest is obese, he is a “glutton” and does not practice fasting but when he’s skinny, he is health conscious and fanatic. When a priest is seen drinking with company of friends, he’s a drunkard and a socialite but when he stays in the convent most of the time, he is selfish and no sense of camaraderie. When he is for the cause of the poor, wealthy people hates him and when he makes friend with the rich, the poor hates him more. When he expresses his voice on political issues, he’s politicking, and when he does not meddle, no sense of patriotism. And the list goes on.

Unfortunately some of these claims are true to ‘only’ some of the priests of today and yesterday but priests like superheroes are not perfect. Today more than ever, I realized that becoming a priest is not an easy course and task. Even though a priest is himself convinced not to live up the expectations of the people, he ought to convince himself to live up to what God expects him to be. The priest is the hands, mouth, eyes, ears and heart of Christ who calls and ordains them, to serve and not to be served; to do not his will but of the Father’s; to sacrifice himself even unto death; to become a saint of today in the eyes of God and men. Priests were not ordained because they are perfect rather they are ordained because God saw in their imperfections a great deal to manifests his grace and love. A priest may truly sigh in despair, “it is not easy to be me”, and Jesus would only nod in agreement but would tell him, “my grace is sufficient and will sustain you”.

Filipino Gathering

 There are two things which are very noticeable of us Filipinos whenever and wherever we gather. One, there sure are food of different varieties and two, there sure is singing .These two characteristics of Filipino gathering bring out the sense of community life among us – sharing and communion. We do not pay too much attention on the attire one wears or whether how much or little one brings, nor a competitive singing voice a requirement to be received, what matters is one’s presence and willingness to participate. It is how Filipino gathering works and becomes enjoyable. This very sense of community is also what brings us together in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. There is the visible presence of the whole family including the extended members. There is singing in the whole celebration and a good coordination between the minister and the lay. The active participation of the congregation is also evident however formal their attire may be, or how liturgical the songs and how long or short the responses are. There is no dull moment and there sure is a sense of joy and fulfillment before, during and after the celebration.

However, as modern technologies swiftly conquering our everyday lives it is also worth noticing the changes and effects they bring to our faith especially in fulfilling our Sunday obligation. The sense of community is gradually diminishing as family attendance cut out to only parents or to only children or there are times there is only one person who represents the family , attending the Mass. Moreover, the motivation in attending the Holy Mass is reduced to fulfilling an obligation alone rather than a free desire and serious participation. They are physically present but their heart is roaming somewhere else. These reasons explain the scenario of coming late or leaving without finishing the whole celebration. This is an alarming situation the Church in the Philippines is experiencing right now considering her Catholic population and members. Given that modernity makes people more efficient and productive but does it make people more altruistic? What is happening now to our sense of community life? And what are we to do in order that such good trait may stay and relive amidst the posing threat of modernity?

I believe the starting point is prayer and that it should begin in the family. If we acknowledge that family is the basic unit of society, it is prayer in common that makes a family intact. As Fr. Peyton, CSC said “the family that prays together stays together”. Recitation of graces before and after meal or prayer before leaving the house are some basic prayers when done in common builds a sense of closeness within members of the family. Moreover, the highest and most fundamental of this ‘prayer in common” is the participation in the Holy Mass, where ‘it seeks to consolidate and bring communion to perfection.’ The Eucharist builds the Church and the Church makes the Eucharist. We should therefore make every effort to see that each celebration of the Holy Eucharist is alive - allowing the faithful especially each family members to actively participate, and educational in that the liturgical significance and meaning is taught and explained, by which the faithful will appreciate and deepen their commitment in the beauty of the celebration. We should begin by telling them especially the youth that the Holy Mass is not only an obligation but more importantly a participation and communion with God. The Eucharistic celebration is the very source and summit of the Christian life founded in communal love and service.

Education plays an important role too. It is part of our mission as members of the Church who was and remains built on “the foundation of the Apostles, the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself.” It is not only important that Christian education be included in the school’s curriculum but we must also have competent and good Catholic teachers to teach the children. We must insist on the value of good Christian education and by doing so we must encourage the lay to study religious studies or theology and provide good training on pastoral work that will benefit the pastors in particular and the Church in general. Educational activities could also start in the parish or religious’ community activity centers where pastors, religious men and women, and lay catechists hold Bible seminars and catechism classes. Through the use of modern technologies we could make our teachings appealing without losing the integrity and importance of the Church’s teachings. It lies therefore in our acceptance, willingness and dedication to do the responsibility given us by the Church. Vatican II opened the door to many great possibilities to read the signs of the time. I believe we are commissioned to do our share.

Witnessing is also an important key not only to educate but to convince this generation on the importance of the Holy Eucharist in our faith and Christian life. It is therefore the task of each member of the faithful and more specifically, the particular responsibility of the Church’s pastors to make sure the communion celebrated and perfected in the Holy Eucharist is as well transforming and perfecting their Christian life. We heard of the saying ‘action speaks louder than words,’ in the same manner each of us should start living and practicing the faith we profess and to which we are committed; a faith that perseveres without lamenting; a faith that sustains the sense of community within us. Everything else is at the mercy of God, who never fails to give to those who seek and who is ever willing to give Himself to those who desire to commune with him.

I have been involved in Filipino communities in Taiwan since I came back in 2004. I see the greater need to boost their spiritual life since it is always easy for them to stay away from the Church and renounce their faith. I find others becoming more participative, appreciative and concerned about their faith and spiritual life, an opportunity when get hold of allow them deepen their Catholic commitment. I feel tasked to guide them since most of them became active only upon arriving here. I hope that by doing so I am also contributing something for Taiwan Church, an issue that sometimes being raised against me. As St. Dominic saw the needs of his time, and as Pope John XXIII saw the signs of time, thus the opening of Vatican II, so we too through prayerful reflection, inspired by the Holy Spirit do the task our Lord has entrusted to us who came not to be served but to serve.