Day 6: Interdependence

 Singing the "Ave Maria" during the beatification of J.Paul II in 2011

During my first two months here in Rome I used to celebrate the Holy Mass either at the Chinese Parish nearby or at S. Pudenziana Parish. I liked attending the latter's five o’clock in the afternoon Mass because there are less commotions, hence solemn atmosphere is never difficult to solicit. There was one Sunday which I found very pleasing because the choir sings very beautifully. Not only they lead the congregation in singing but the beautiful music they sung brought us to a deeper meditation, to a deeper appreciation of the fullness of the celebration. It’s one of the moments your soul will keep asking for more because each time you hear them sing you are brought to the experience of the Divine.                           

Karilagan Singers, is a choir group here in Rome composed of Filipino migrant workers who love and understand music. The group was founded in 1992 and has since become one of the most well appreciated singing groups in Europe. The group was blessed to be invited to grace the occasion of the beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II, where during the vigil of the said joyful ceremony, the Karilagan Singers interpreted a song for Mary (Aba Ginoong Maria – Ave Maria).  Handful of invitations from different parishes in Italy brought not only honor but a sense of fulfillment to the group, and which also encouraged them to improve and hone their musical skills through which they can realize their mission to serve the Mother Church. I was fortunate (through Fr Romy) to meet the group during their Christmas Party in the Parin’s residence.

The Parin's Family: 
Noel, Bernandita and Karyle 
at their residence in Via 
Matia Battistini 

Today, I was invited for dinner (Sinigang Dinner) by the couple, Noel and Bernandita Parin, the group’s conductor and musical director, and the group’s president respectively. Both Noel (from Cavite) and Bernandita (from Batangas) work ‘full time’ to meet their family’s daily needs, and true to almost all migrant workers, to extend some financial help to their own respective families. They were blessed to have a daughter, Karyle, who was born and raised here but speaks fluent Tagalog and who according to them growing as a responsible young girl. The sumptuous dinner lead to an interesting conversation about real stories. Life has many twists and turns for the couple and I just can lend a listening heart to their stories – typical ones of any couple or family yet unique in each approach. If I have to emphasize a moral lesson I learnt from their sharing, it is the value of interdependence among couple. What a husband is lacking can be the wife’s strength and vice versa. To respect this is to accept that they need each other, hence keeping the relationship in the right mode.

There is no such perfect family if we talk about the absence of any form of struggle, but we can have a holy family, just like the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus if we will depend on God and on each other’s strengths and gifts.

With so much respect and admiration, thank you Noel , Bernandita and Karyle for opening your home to a ‘journeying’ religious priest like me. May God grant your hearts’ desire.