NEWNESS OF LIFE

By Sr. Christine Gebel, OLM
Summer 2001

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One of the favourite scripture quotations of our founder, Father Dan Macdonald, was “Behold, I make all things new.” We believe this was the hope and prayer of many Filipinos during the January drama that took place in the senate and in the streets.

Sr. Norma Samar takes part in International Women’s Day. Philippines. “journeying with young women in their search for God and for meaning in their lives, is a privilege and indeed a very interesting ministry.”

Our Lady’s Missionary Sr. Norma Samar, originally from Southern Leyte in the Philippines, reflects on her experience in Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao:

Mary prayed her canticle, “You have put down the mighty from their seats and have lifted up the powerless.” These words came to my mind during this year’s “People Power 2”, the second peaceful revolt in the Philippines since People Power 1 in 1986 that overthrew the Marcos dictatorship. Prophesy and history were being enacted here in our country.

During the impeachment process of former President Joseph Estrada (commonly known by his nickname, Erap), there were lawyers who were trying to uncover the truth. The proceedings ground to a halt when a majority of senators decided against admitting further evidence of corruption into the hearing. This caused the whole impeachment process to collapse, and the people immediately responded by taking to the streets.

Hi-tech forms of communication such as cellular phones and email facilitated the spread of Cardinal Sin’s and former President Corazon Aquino’s calls for action in the name of justice. President Erap was asked to resign for the sake of the country. The people responded with marches, prayer rallies and all-night vigils, hoping for a peaceful solution. The possibility of violence was real since there were also pro-Erap loyalists—who still believed in the president’s promises of prosperity—demonstrating in the streets.

Sr. Myra Trainor (far right) with people living at a landfill on the island of Mindanao. At the window is Inday with her grandchild. Seated beside Sr. Myra is Inday’s son and another grandchild, along with an elderly neighbour.

As a woman religious at this time in our history, I feel challenged by these events. The witnesses at the impeachment trial, including Emma Lim, Carmencita Itchon, and Clarissa Ocampo, put their lives in danger by testifying to the truth. We are proud of them as they helped us to realize that each of us has a contribution to make in our Church and in our society. In our ministries we try to foster this awareness in others, especially those who feel they have no voice.

The people of Mindanao followed closely the events in Manila, and the response from public offices, churches, schools and ordinary citizens was amazing. People seemed to pour out into the streets for two days and nights as the drama continued. Following the stepping down of Erap and the swearing in of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, there were great celebrations and a joyful Eucharist in thanksgiving for the peaceful and powerful expression of the people’s desire for change. As I write this, the people of the Philippines dare to look to the future with hope.

The island of Mindanao suffers much unrest as various tribes of Indigenous people, and the Muslim community, strive for a fair share of the land and its governance.
Sr. Myra Trainor, from Prince Edward Island, gives us a glance at some of these struggles:

We live in Mindanao, often called the land of promise as it is the richest of all the more than 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines. It is a land, however, that is bleeding from the wounds of past centuries. The latest outbreak of war, the killing of Claretian Father Gallardo and Oblate Father Benjamin Inocencio, and the horrific hostage-taking by the rebel group, Abu Sayyaf, are signs that the wounds are growing deeper and that healing cannot begin until the violence stops. The war is waged mainly in the south of Mindanao where hundreds of families have fled for refuge in schools and tent cities, but it also affects all aspects of society on the entire island and throughout the country.

Sr. Margaret Walsh chats and rests awhile with local roadside vendors in Cagayan de Oro on the Philippine island of Mindanao.

This reality was brought home to me when the daughter of one of our campus ministers at Xavier University was kidnapped last November 19. She is still being held hostage. Richille Valmoria, a nurse, was deceived by the promise of a good paying job in Iligan, a nearby town. The only daughter of their four children, she was always a joy and a source of pride to her parents especially when she contributed her gift of music for our student recollections. When her brother asked their father what he could do to help, Henry told his son to read the book of Job. In their great distress and suffering, it is their faith that sustains them and gives them hope.

The wounds are personal and societal. Only when all voices are heard, especially those of the Muslims who are struggling for autonomy and self-determination, will a people of two faiths be able to live together in mutual respect and relationship with one another.

With the people, we feel a glimmer of hope in the new administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo. Can her good will along with the skills of her administration meet the challenge of bringing together the beautiful mosaic of the Filipino people?

Sr. Margaret Walsh, from Newfoundland, shares some of her insights on the recent events:

The closing of the Jubilee Year in January 2001 was marked in our Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro by an overnight prayer vigil at the city’s grandstand. In the midst of political and economic crisis, this great celebration was filled with faith and trust in God’s care for our future. As the stars in the heavens gave light to the gathering, our hearts echoed this trust in the guiding light of Christ to bring peace to this troubled nation and to all the Earth.

One evening the following week, we received word that there would be an ecumenical prayer gathering the next morning, and that the women religious of the archdiocese were scheduled to hold vigil at the cathedral between the hours of four and five in the morning. We arrived in the wee hours and found that many of our companion Sisters were already there. We joined together in morning praise and in saying the rosary. At sunrise there was a Mass followed by a procession around the plaza.

While on leave in Canada from the Philippines, Sr. Christine Gebel enjoyed spending time with her niece Nicole.

A few days later on a Saturday afternoon, another ecumenical service was scheduled. This time the gathering was for thanksgiving and celebration. Representatives of various groups expressed gratitude to God and to all, especially the youth, for the success of People Power Two. They also cautioned continued vigilance for the future of our country. This time we finished at sunset with singing and dancing. With joyful hearts we took our first steps into the future, walking home just as Mother Nature proclaimed that another day was done.

While history unfolded, and the Filipino people once more peacefully stood up against corruption and deception in their government, Sr. Christine Gebel, from Manitoba, was on home-leave in Canada:

As the calls for President Erap’s resignation intensified, and the impeachment trial began, I had to wind down my involvements and say my goodbyes. When I visited one church worker in Macabalan, the urban poor parish where I’m engaged in pastoral ministry, I mentioned that I felt torn between being with the people at this historic time and seeing my family in Canada, especially my new niece Nicole. Gently, he encouraged me to go saying, “Of course family is important.”

As People Power Two reached its climax and a new president was inaugurated, I was in Toronto and had to content myself with email messages and reading Philippine newspapers on the web. Still, I was grateful for being able to renew ties with Our Lady’s Missionaries who are visiting from other missions, and those who live out mission in Canada.

When I reached Winnipeg, my hometown, I noticed pride in the voices of Filipino people when they informed me that President Macapagal-Arroyo has cousins here. And today, I also felt proud as we celebrated Nicole’s first birthday. As I watched her enjoy being the centre of attention, I realized that most of the time I won’t be here for her birthdays. How lucky I am to be here now!

Saying goodbye to Nicole will be hard, but now that I have held her, loved her, and dreamed about who she might grow up to be, I feel a renewed desire to return to the people I have grown to love in the Philippines. I look forward to joining them in their struggle for justice and peace, and in their dream of living God’s Reign here and now.

It has been a privilege for us to witness the determined struggle of so many people who willingly sacrificed, risked and believed that peaceful change was possible, that their voices mattered and must be heard. Miracles still happen and no matter what tomorrow may bring, we continue to thank God!

Christine Gebel is involved in parish ministry at St. Peter’s Church in Macabalan, an urban-poor area located in the port area of Cagayan de Oro City. She also works in vocation awareness ministry, encouraging young people to be aware of God’s call in their lives, and the importance of prayerful discernment before making major life decisions.

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