I was told to do the assignments before I was opted to have my family emersion. Where I should go south, more particularly to the damping site of Cebu City which air is filled with golden dust and the defusing smell of dirth from the city. At first I was very hesitant to accept the task, because I am not really that physically and spiritually“prepared” but as what my mentor said that the only thing which I can do for the good of myself is to say “yes”. There I heed on. That moment, I was thinking that the fortune falls on earth and the God of heaven wanted to kiss the earth where hungry people came to feed their stomach. And giving like snowflakes coming from heaven and people scattered and started picking these up. It was not a happy decision at all. I was forced to do it because I need to obey what he has said.
I stayed with them for a month and there I was trying to live out and enjoy for quite some time the credits, which I believe that I will get it back. So I headed on this so called “promised” land with high hopes and aspirations that someday I could lead the way and inspire the people not to give up and not to be discouraged what ever life leads on
I stayed with the family of 6 and like the rest of the families, the parents were working on the smokey mountain. They depended solely to the heaps of garbage inside the reclaimed lot of the government and to make my stay there more valuable I helped them on their daily routine.
I accompanied them early in the morning going to the dumping site, doing the same job- carrying sack full of scraps, scavenging and sometimes, because of hunger we ate some left-over food from that garbage also and after this daily routine, we have had a good conversation and sharing regarding the Bible and also catechism classes to the children. The tasks were quite challenging because, like other people who were living and enjoying the city lights, these people have also their ideals, and it was my task how to fit on it. I admitted that these smokey mountain farm folks with nothing more than high hopes that someday they will be out of this garbage pile - that was a dream which they have to work out in order to materialize.
I wonder how the old folks thought and felt when they were on their way back home but I knew that they all loved the ones whom they relied on- their children, friends and the garbage itself, which nothing more than I thought which I was thinking the whole lot lately. It takes all they've got to give what life demands even they their precious lives. How strong were their love to those whom they cared much, they even took risks and ready to die just to have a parcel of food to be served for a dinner on their table.
These memories taught me on how to become more human and how I fight for survival. The world is not only composed of elite individuals but also these people who are trying to enjoy the things which life could give. Seeing and living with them was somehow a great experience that I have ever encountered - this taught me to be more compassionate and that life has a real purpose that which I should fulfill. It is so easy to say and to describe what life intakes, but when time comes that I have to give up and let go of the things which I loved most, I felt strong pain indeed because I can't even let go a small pain inside, and how much more if the situation requires a valid reason that points me to give up the things which I loved most?
