Contrasts and Contradictions

Feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, Franciscan and patron saint of the poor. Brother Francis from Vietnam took me to celebrate the Eucharist in Talayan--a gated "village" and the richest community of the parish. It was early in the AM just after sunrise when the sun is not yet scorching, and we walked there taking a shortcut through the squatter settlement that resides directly outside Talayan's walls and alongside a river of plastic bags and rotting dogs. We crossed this river Styxx via coconut tree trunk and paid the 1 peso toll to the bridge's guardian. On the other side we were greeted with filth and the stench of poverty on the one hand, and streets full of people talking and cooking and toothless children playing on the other. Walking around we were also greeted by Francis' friends who welcomed us into their homes to chat. So friendly and full of warmth and hospitality. Inside one of the homes I met Yeng, a college student who works also with disabled children. She showed us around her nieghborhood, pointing out the workers, also residents of the squatter settlement, who were building up the banks of the river in an effort to prevent it from flooding their community with its sickness when the rains come. It will flood undoubtably, however, as it does each year, and once again they will be forced to leave their homes for higher ground.

Before leaving we stopped by the Franciscan "inserted community" where brothers live undercover side by side with these, the poorest of the poor. Finally we passed strangely enough through an open gate in the massive barbed-wire wall that lets anyone pass freely to the Other Side--to wide spotless streets, mansions, and sweet smelling flowers. But no children playing or music or laughter or anyone to welcome us inside. Francis mentioned how sad he finds the place. These palaces that imprision.

After mass, a few parishoners, residents of Talayan took us in their tinted vehicles to breakfast at "Heaven 'n Eggs" where waiters in tight blue Euro shirts and angel wings served us a sumptuous feast of omelets and fluffy pancakes, probably worth more than one of their neighbor's weekly income.

It is a land of sharp contrasts my friends! Yet I hope not to demonize the rich and angelize the poor but merely point out that there are blessings and curses, burdens and responsibilities on both sides of the Wall.

I left Manila yesterday and now am in another smoggy metropolis, Cebu, hangin with my lola.