Edmund Rice Brothers, Philippines Mission Diary - 25
19th December 2008
 REGISTERED NAME: Edmund Rice Brothers, The Philippines, Inc. CN200825020 |
Quote of the Month: Eleanor Roosevelt
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
This is the last diary for the year as we make our way to Cebu for our long awaited get together with the Kabankalan Brothers. We wish all our readers a happy and holy Christmas and God’s choicest blessing for the New Year. 2008 has been to some extent a sticking to the tried and true as we focussed our energies on teaching in an established school. Our decision to spend the first year teaching at Saint Teresa Catholic School Hilongos was predicable yet the way we accepted the difficult challenges which this School presented us was refreshing. The decision proved a wise one in the end as we had our hands full establishing ourselves in our new surroundings.
This month’s quote, shown above, takes on a personal meaning for me as I endeavour to branch out and do something more daring and even more challenging in the weeks to come. We are looking outwards and away from the established schools to a new venture which will tax our resources and our 
missionary zeal. The project I am speaking of is certainly attempting to help the real needy who find themselves without any schooling at all for various reasons. I hope to articulate more fully, at a later date, what we have in mind and what we have been doing in the way of preparation for starting this dream of ours. My research will keep me busy, but I do hope to quantify the numbers that might be involved and gather enough information to hopefully help us actually start this project in early March 2009. At the moment we have 50 families who are interested in getting involved so it’s looking promising. We have had one meeting with the local Captain and his council and they are very keen for us to move forward on this project. Please pray for its success.
My first speaking engagement: |
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Last week I was asked to talk to 1400 students from the local State Central School, which was a little intimidating but I saw it as a challenge and a worthwhile experience. My subject matter was “Encouraging a love for reading” as it was English month this was a most appropriate topic and I was asked to speak in English, thank goodness. It went well enough and I was presented with a lovely 
plaque in appreciation. Frank and Carl have each given little talks at various functions also. This sort of activity helps us get known in the town and in the final analysis helps us become more accepted into the Hilongos community.
Offer of land:
Just recently we were informed by the Villaflor family that they would like to donate some land to the Brothers here in Hilongos. It is a one hectare plot (100m × 100m) which is under rice cultivation at the moment and is about two kilometres from the centre of Town. The idea in the minds of the donors is that we would eventually build a permanent home there and some other sort of educational facility. There would be enough land left to put it under cultivation and thus be in a position to teach some basic survival skills to the students. We will have to go slowly or as they say here”Hinay hinay basta kanunay” and not rush into something like this. We have sent off a letter of appreciation to the Villaflor family letting them know that we are a long way from being able to accept such an offer at this stage in our journey. We are also 
aware that the Oceania Leadership Team would need to be involved in any decision to accept such a donation should we at any time choose to take up this generous offer. I guess it could be looked on as a vote of confidence in our abilities and confirms the desire this community has for us to remain here at Hilongos. (The hectare plot shown here has been offered to us and is under rice cultivation at the present time.)
Missionary Visa:
Unfortunately, we still don’t have one but we are making progress. Frank and I were called to Cebu to have our finger prints taken and our passports have gone to Manila for the sixth time. Carl has yet to be called to Cebu so he thinks he has been forgotten. “I think I’ll be off to China” is his reaction to this visa merry-go-round.
New look:
I shouted myself a Christmas haircut, army style, which everyone says makes me look younger. I wish! If you’re a little curious click on Reflections.
Until next time: Peter Thrupp Hilongos.
Kabankalan News:
Our big news is that Joe and Anne Steyns of Goulburn are coming to be our first ERN Volunteers. Joe has been Principal of Trinity College and Anne a senior English teacher there. They will fly to Manila on 12th February. John Moodie will fly to Manila to greet them and take them to the Columban House to facilitate Visas. They will fly to Bacolod and thence to Kabankalan on 14th February and have committed to stay until December 2009. Joe and Anne will have as their task to identify needs and implement programs to improve the quality of English in our 19 diocesan schools. Part of this task will be professional development for teachers. They will begin by identifying what is happening well, where the weaknesses exist and developing programs for improving the overall situation. It is hoped they can build a base on which our Filipino teachers can build, perhaps supported by future ERN Volunteers.
English is nominally the medium of instruction in all schools. However it is very normal that teachers find the students not able to grasp the concepts in English, so they ‘explain’ in the local language. Out of class time both the teachers and the students generally use the vernacular as the normal means of communication. Add to this the fact that some teachers’ own grasp of English is deficient and it becomes quite a huge area with which to grapple.
Back in August, on urging from Rod, one school really took to using English with enthusiasm. After three days the students and teachers were quite literally exhausted, and lapsed back into their comfort zone. More recently they agreed to try stressing the use of English one day per week. A mastery of English is essential for those advancing to further education and for the better levels of employment.
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On December 6th we had our house blessed and ‘warmed’. There were two stages. The blessing was done (thoroughly) at 10.00 am by Fr. Ramon Florete, a most wonderful supporter, followed by a few words by Rod, by Mrs. Doboy representing the Zayco Family from whom we purchased the land, and by Fr. Florete representing the diocese. We then fed the multitudes – literally. We had invited friends and colleagues and our new street neighbours. Most of them came; fortunately not all at once. There were about forty present for the blessing. By the time we had finished we reckoned we had fed 105 people. Mind you a few managed to garner more than one food pack. But we were happy. The local neighbours were last in but we were very happy they came. In the evening we had a most relaxed meal with Bishop Pat Buzon and six of his priests. We now have a permanent home in Kabankalan. Our new address is: Christian Brothers, Jesusa M Zayco Street, AR Zayco Subdivision, Kabankalan 6111, Negros Occidental, Philippines. |
