The Christ in the Farmers

There is this Greek term in theology known as kenosis describing God emptying Himself for the salvation of His people. This self-emptying of God had its ultimate expression in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who sacrificed himself for the atonement of the sins of humankind. I came across this teaching through seminary studies and professors of theology. Yet little did I know that the kind of people who would really make me understand this truth would come from the humblest of sectors of our society—the farmers.
The week-long orientation of the newly hired ACD teachers, guidance counselors and office personnel reached its final toll with an exposure in Brgy. Salvacion, Sitio Cogonon, Trento, Agusan. It was an opportunity to have a first-hand experience of the lives of the farmers. After a trip of more than three hours in a rented van, the place could be accessible via a 30-minute ride with a 5 to 6-seater katig-motorcycle. I must say, the travel by motorcycle was one heck of a bumpy ride leaving us exposurees calling out to God for our dear lives.
But the most striking experience for me was coming to see and feel the pitiful situation of most farmers in the area. Since most of the agricultural plain lands were owned by big corporations and private companies, farmers are forced to plant on distant and steep terrains deep in the forest. It took us more than an hour of hiking just to reach a relatively small area of rice plantation in a bakilid terrain. Despite the scorching heat of the sun, we tried to accompany the farmers in harvesting. Yet unlike the lumad farmers, we did not stand too long since the toil proved to be too much to bear for most of us. The thought that a single grain of rice is borne out of a farmer’s single drop of sweat finally made sense to me. Personally, the impact and learning drawn out of the Exposure-Immersion experience was far more moving than any book, movie or case study could give. It was as if blinders had been taken out of my eyes. At that moment, I was grateful that I knew and felt how it’s like to be a farmer.
Christ’s act of kenosis or self-emptying is a redeeming sacrifice for others. In the same way, the farmers of our country are doing that same act of self-emptying. They are the silent heroes who empty themselves just so that others may live. I find it ironic that those who toil in planting and harvesting our country’s staple food are those who have less or even nothing to eat. They are the Christ who are persecuted and crucified by the unjust system of our society. Thanks to them, they have taught me who Christ truly is.

Postulancy formation... for-mission

Our Postulant Director once told us that when it comes to any stage of Redemptorist seminary formation, Postulancy stands closest to the actual Redemptorist way of life. Unlike college which generally stresses academic formation, postulancy allows formandis to have much time being immersed into the mission areas. For us postulants, one thing that stands out among many experiences we’ve had is indeed mission. As one confrere rightly puts it, “Mission is the flagship of our congregation.” That may have been the reason why mission is clearly stressed as early as collegiate, and continues to be so as one progresses in formation. And, although we have been involved in many other wonderful activities such as ecumenical forums, vocation promotions and lots of pamiesta and Pamertday (fiesta and birthday celebrations), much of our time have been devoted to mission.
The current mission here in Dumaguete is in Sibulan. If I’m not mistaken, a Redemptorist mission was held in the same place many years before. Sibulan, the port in Negros across the island of Cebu, is a developing municipality. Known for its devotion to San Antonio de Padua which falls on every 13th day of the month, thousands of believers from all walks of life would flock the believed-to-be miraculous image of St. Anthony offering him their petitions and devotions. The first missionaries who settled and initially developed the place were Agustinian Recollects. It was up until recently that the Parish was handed over to the Diocesan clergy.
Like many developing places, a lot of issues that have emerged from Sibulan are being faced up by its Church. One evident concern that has come into sight is morality. Currently, a lot of night clubs, bars and motels have been put up which consequently encourages prostitution and moral devaluation. Many foreigners have become attracted with the place because of this growing business. And, the local government and the Sibulanons seem to have mixed, if not indifferent, reactions regarding the issue.
Doing mission in this semi-rural and semi-urban area can be quite testing. One particular goal of doing mission in this place is to encourage the people to live their faith. Addressing this challenge to people, whether they be from bukid or poblacion, requires a lot of initiative and creativity on the part of us missioners. The constant question for us is “how do we become living witnesses of the Gospel values in this kind of society?” By the time the mission in Sibulan has culminated, which is on Dec. 13, we still may have not figured out the sufficient answer to the question. But, we are certain that we have made a difference in our own humble ways. The challenge of doing mission is indeed not that simple and easy. Yet it is a journey worth taking precisely because it is a way of witnessing to the faith.

Sugar Isn't Sweet at All

Waking up at 7 in the morning, I knew we postulants were late for a hard day’s labor in the tapasan. An hour ago, the obreros would have started harvesting sugar canes—cutting off its long shoots and carrying a heap of them over their backs toward the carrier trucks. Almost all their lives revolve around this back-breaking labor in the haciendas. Being paid for the service rendered each day is a matter of having something on the table to eat.
After a quick breakfast, we went off to the tapasan area where the obreros had been working. From where my batch mates and I had spent the night, it took us 30 minutes of hiking before arriving to the place. With a lending a hand in mind, we stumbled upon a group of men who were drenched under the scorching heat of the sun. Yet, they seemed tireless, working on a half-hectare sugar cane plantation with espadings (a cutting tool resembling a Bolo) held firmly on their fists. The scene, only pausing for lunch breaks at noontime, would last until late afternoon. It’s hard to believe that by the end of the day, these people would only earn 90 to 100 pesos—way below the supposed standard minimum wage of every Filipino.
They say truth can be hurtful at times. Something is meaningfully true only to those who experienced why it is so. I remember having some little knowledge about Sakada workers in my high school days. I knew of them through magazines and movies. At that time, I felt pity on them being in subhuman conditions. But nothing compares having been exposed to their situation in real life. When I was there, just a few minutes after having started harvesting sugar canes myself, tears fell down from my eyes. Their work, their burden, their life, after having experienced it myself, proved to be too much to take. It’s hard to imagine that many Filipinos have to live with this kind of situation. It’s quite ironic. Those who harvest the sweetest of grains the earth soil ever produces, are those who live the bitterest of lives.
For four days, we postulants lived with the Sakada workers and their families. The place was in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, around 5 kilometers away from Murcia, Negros Occidental.