“DON’T JUST GIVE THEM FISH; TEACH THEM HOW TO CATCH FISH”

That time, I still questioned “WHY?” The news about the death of a 21-year old student who joined a militant group came closely after I finished writing my homily for January 11. I felt so frustrated upon realizing that my words were too shallow compared to the real grounded immersions these people are experiencing. So I thought of changing the content of my homily in order to match the news event’s heavy impact as regards missiology. But after a deep reflection, I was able to conclude, “No, I will deliver this homily as is, except for just a basic yet significant group of words which I will add to the end part”. What was the bold word? FORMATION. And I quote the exact words: “Let us continue our advocacies and rescue more people through the very example of Jesus AND THROUGH THE FORMATION THAT WE LEARN FROM THE SEMINARY. Mao unta kana atong pukot o inspirasyon sa atong pagpanagat”; otherwise, people will misinterpret what Jesus intensively shared with the less fortunate, and thus become fundamentalists.
This experience is just one of the many realizations as to what my vision of PEACE in Mindanao is. And my keyword for peace is formation: EDUCATION. And here are more of my realizations:
The series and seemingly-never-ending killings and kidnappings by militant groups made me wish that an atomic bomb should have been dropped to exterminate ALL Muslims. Though the degree of my prejudice and bias was not that intense compared probably to those living in Basilan, I, an Iliganon, still grew up instilled with fear and biases possibly due to some elders’ and environment’s passed-on attitude against the Muslims. But thankfully, it never ended there. For just recently, a modular course on Islam and Inter-Religious Dialogue and a few personal experiences gradually cleared the log off my eyes. Experiencing life with the very kind and patient NGO social worker Asimah during our GY Pastoral Formation program was one transformative experience. Encountering a very generous and kind old Muslim woman who offered me a vacant seat in the bus added more flavor to the excellent re-evangelization our well-grounded professors shared with us during our Islam class sessions. Honestly and thankfully, my prejudices and biases against Muslims were gradually gone; for I soon realized that just as there are not-so-good Christians, there too are billions of kind Muslims. Knowledge and experience: they became my teachers. They formed me anew. EDUCATION.
I was given the privilege to give a recollection with the Umayamnon Tribe student scholars of Tatay Mat Sanchez, SJ during my Ministry Year as a teacher and kuya at Cabanglasan Bukidnon last 2007. Their presence at school with a majority of Bisaya innately affected their self-esteems. With a whole heart, God made me able to express to the young Lumads what our Church constantly advocates: “equality in dignity”…to go to school, to play, to enjoy their youthful life. Until now, it’s a process. They’ll soon grow, and we see hope. EDUCATION.
Since I was a child, I thought peace is merely an absence of war. Later, I realized, that in this universe, there will always be differences; as there are different parts in a body. That’s why Jesus calls for unity. It is on one’s failure or negligence to see what good is to be done in the midst of differences. How distressing will it then become for Muslim elementary pupils to grow with still the DISCRIMINATION in mind upon seeing on a poster of their classroom wall a very clear insensitive information: PAMBANSANG PAGKAIN: LECHON (As shared with us by Fr. Paul, and I affirm!). EDUCATION.
Part of the question I asked in prayer (following the news event of the young student who joined a militant group and was killed last December) was, “Up to what level do we give our whole selves to mission? What or who should be our root principle? How did Fr. Angel, SJ lived out his mission for 41 years at Ipil without becoming a revolutionist?” I could ask well-grounded missiologists like Sr. Fe for these. But in my reflection, I believe Fr. Angel have the mission basics that sustained him. On the FAITH part, Fr. Angel simply knew how to PRAY. Because when one prays, he knows that he can’t do everything. Beyond his human capacities, he has to submit his will, freedom, memories, all that he has to GOD’s will and love. Padre has experienced being forgiven, so he too learned how to forgive and love enemies. And on the GROUND part, I am sure padre underwent a wholistic formation long before he became a priest that transformed him into a more compassionate servant. He was taught. FAITH. EDUCATION.
Allow me to express my vision of peace in myself. This, I believe, may help in attaining PEACE in larger contexts if only individuals allow themselves to be formed from within first. I have personal issues; dates back to the hang-ups and deprivations I experienced as a child. But thanks to the Human Formation in the seminary, the Priestly Growth Accompaniment with Ate Venus G. helped me a lot in opening my whole self naked before the process of healing. Consequently, I was brought to the awareness of my issues, then beginning to accept them and still on the patient process of taming my wild issues. Without the formation, I could not see this and continue to be superficial to my very self. Without the formation, I could not learn that ASSERTIVENESS (as with the active non-violence of Christ and Gandhi) is the best tool for peace within me, and NOT AGGRESSION. If only each individual is given the chance to practice assertiveness, then PEACE in our place would no longer be that far to reach. See how EDUCATION matters.
I once thought of DEVELOPMENT as one of the best tools for peace: fighting poverty! Yes, in fact, I am an advocate for that. But if we go deeper to its roots; it still points out fundamentally to EDUCATION first. You can’t plant rice on an unearthed stiff soil.
Fundamentalists still want to claim what they strongly believe was lost from them: the land of MINDANAO. If only they were properly educated before, they would realize that lands are shared, not owned selfishly. I love to teach and so I see how badly-needed, essential and noble teachers are! Silsilah, pious NGOs, POs, academes, sincere government leaders, Church leaders – we may not be able to straighten “bent old trees” anymore, but there’s still so much brimming hope if we SOUNDLY educate our future Muslims, Christians and Lumads of Mindanao. EDUCATION goes beyond religion. Yes, differences are always there. Bullets will soon be history. The chalk, tongue, heart and good hands were, are, and will always be the armor of PEACE. And so we pray, may the fire of our passion to educate be not extinguished.
Mama Mary, Queen of Peace, PRAY FOR US.

FOOLS FOR CHRIST, a homily

I would like you now to re-imagine the gruesome, heartless, inhumane November 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao. Heads were shot. There were women; harmless yet slaughtered and buried like pigs. Then suddenly, we would just learn few weeks from now that the case is dissolved or the real murderers are found NOT guilty. Nah! What if that happens? Will you still continue advocating for truth and justice given the obvious dim situation? If yes, then expect someone will tell you “FOOL! Gahago-hagu ra ka!”
Allow me to use again these radical yet valid words which I believe are not new to us – i.e., to become a FOOL FOR CHRIST (I know these words sound harsh, and I’m really sorry if I’m going to use them again. I simply just would like to emphasize how radical and deep God’s love is).
In the first place, who initiated all these “foolishness”? Who went down from the glorious heavens just to be born like one of his vulnerable and weak creations? Who was the one who said that if someone slaps you on one cheek, you also give your other cheek? Who was the one who still chose a humiliating death rather than practically leading a revolution with the Jews? No other than JESUS! And see how this “foolishness” spread like bacteria into the lives of his first disciples: The fishermen chose to become even poorer (or poorest) by leaving their nets (their only little livelihood) and followed Jesus. And see how this “foolishness” spread even faster and wider like a Trojan virus into the lives of people living 2009 years after his birth: Let us remember the very striking heroism of an unrecognized 18-year old Muelmar Magallanes who saved over 30 people from Ondoy’s raging floods in Quezon City. Finally, he heard a scream: a mother and her baby on a Styrofoam box slowly being swept away. He was able to save the mother and the baby, but ended up not being able to save himself due to exhaustion. See his generosity! See his “foolishness”! Pobre na syang daan; he could have stopped doing such things after securing the safety of his family, but still ended up embracing death. He was not given a CNN hero award like Peñaflorida. We believe that his reward will be great in heaven. The word in our Gospel today: “This is the time of FULFILLMENT” (Fulfillment, meaning, that the salvific plan of the Father has been FULFILLED in His Son through His birth. Or Jesus as LIGHT over darkness) is Muelmar’s most valuable trophy.
We too have foolish hearts. I heard some of us said, “Kulang kaayo bakasyon bai. Nakulangan siguro sa kaon ug inom sessions.” How foolish we are! The world is still offering us amounts of pleasure to satisfy our very human longings. And here we are, MOBALIK gyud! Even though our coming back to the seminary requires us to continue making our pending or piling-up reflection papers. Si Dongkoy nga sa iyang pangidarong 31 anyos mobangon pa’g sayo, manghugas pa’g plato, mohawid pa’g silhig. And we’ll soon be facing naughty students in our catechisms and recollections; and here we are, staying humble and patient. Some of our FY5 brothers will again continue preaching about good elections in parishes despite the seemingly-dili-na-matambalan nga corruption sa nasud.
Why do the 34-year old RicBacs and the 31-year old Cliffy still want to stay in the seminary? Why do they still want to become priests for Jolo and Basilan? I think, we don’t essentially need Good Seminarian Awards or CNN Hero Awards to inspire us to stay here. I believe this is our one great fundamental reason: If we are going to re-phrase the last sentence of our 1st reading today, then this is what Jesus will surely assure us, “Bong, why is your heart sad? Am I not MORE to you than the very powerful forces of the world?
My brothers and sister, let us stay FOOLS for Christ. Let us continue our advocacies and RESCUE more people through the very example of Jesus and through the formation that we learn from the seminary. Mao unta kana atong pukot o inspirasyon sa atong pagpanagat.