The other week I attened a seminar given by the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Naval on "micro-credit," unaware of the fact that by attending I would be required to "echo" this seminar back in our parish. So echo I did this past week to 50+ of our parishoners, albeit in the merchant tounge of my birthplace. Appropriate though given the topic. I invented some simple accounting method for our forthcoming "livelihood project:" swine fattening. The concept of the project is simple: provide a familiy with a piglet on loan basis and they feed it until it becomes fat and ready to be slaughtered. By that time the price of the pig will have more than doubled. When it's sold, the initial price of the piglet will be given back to the parish but almost all the profit will be kept by the family. I'm excited about this project because for me, at least in theory, microcredit embodies all that is good, combining justice and charity and applying it as a corrective to the market forces of our world which make it easy for the rich to get richer, while the poor continue to struggle to get past the threshold of mere survival. I think since everyone here is already busy, I will have a key role in this pig project. Much to learn methinks, but I'm greatful for the oppourtunity to learn as well as to help some folks earn a little more dough. The people here are poor indeed, at least materially, but more about that to come later I'm sure.
Youth ministry is going well also. Of the dozen or so separate barangays, two (Mapuyo and Burabod) have formed youth groups each with about 20 - 30 kids. I've been meeting with both groups weekly for several weeks now. Usually I play guitar and they sing Church songs, an activity which they really seem to like. It is a beautiful scene and I imagine God is pleased with this. They are all so pure, so full of joy and kindness! Yesterday they saw me swimming in the sea and then they surprised me by organizing a picnic at the beach, cooking sweetened casava balls and gathering mangos and bananas. We swam and ate and played like the Lost Boys in Neverland in this our tropical paradise, until dark clouds gathered in the West and told us to go home. But we were tired by then anyway. Everything in it's time. The wind thrashed as I went home on motorbike with guitar in hand but the downpour did not begin till I lay on my bed, tired and content.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Tales from my missionary days in the Philippines
3 comments:
Mendy,
Does it cost much to breed a pig? Seems that the experience is bridging many gaps (i.e. development via microcredit and human context via intimate power exchange etc.) Keep rockin friend. Come across any minor challenges?
I just viewed a doc on the orphans in the slums of manila. Some of them choose to go to jail cuz they'll at least be fed and escape the tougher times on the streets but later on end up as abused victimes in the cells...some rough stuff beyond what I imagined in the phlip side. Certain social malaise appear irrepearable especially from the perspective of grand policy schemes. But its good to see that the heart grows stronger with reason to hope and give thanks on the field. Esp. whilst serving for a mandate larger than anything institutional. Thanks for this important reminder brethren. Did you finally figure out the MD? Best regards to your parents.
You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased! Al said how about mating these pigs to make many piglets.
Animal Farm- sounds excellent.
Post a Comment