I remember during the time of the Greek Philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, when the knowledge and wisdom has been very important, there were two schools that have been established, ‘the academy,’ founded by Plato, and ‘the lyceum,’ of Aristotle. Plato’s system of learning then was the traditional classroom setting the present schools have now. Aristotle’s was different because his learning ground for his students was outside of classroom similar to Socrates’ style. Aristotle when he was teaching, he roam the land together with his students and conducted his lessons about different bodies of knowledge. Aristotle’s style seemed to be very interesting than that of Plato, although inside a school there are also many things that can be learned but much learning can be gained outside of school because the subjects are real and actual, visible and tangible.

Being a missionary is like that of Aristotle’s school. Missionaries resemble to the students of the philosopher because they learn more outside of the convent. Although they do preparations inside of their community house such as studying the mission area, learning the culture, the language, and the traditions; plus reviewing the modules for catechizing, community organizing, or in short spreading the Word of God to the people, however, much is learned when they are in the actual mission.

Much more they learn the language, the culture and the tradition of the people. By learning those, the missionaries are able to improve their modules and schemes for the missionary work because they have done the right things and that is to be with the people first before ‘serving what they have prepared.’

I can attest to these things because I have been given the opportunity to become a missionary. I have been in the seminary more than two years. During that short span of time, I have tasted a bit the “icing on top of the cake” of the mission. During my first year, I experienced living in an institution for street children during weekends. There, I saw children that had been abandoned by their parents due to various reasons. For some poverty is the reason, for others because of unwanted pregnancy and etc. In the same year level, the transition from first year to second year, during summer vacation, I experienced living in an island located in Masbate, with the fisher folks and island villagers. There, I taught catechism to some youth, and facilitated bible sharing sessions. Then, during the second year, I experienced living in a slum area during weekends again in Smoky Mountain 2 located in Tondo, Manila, with the mananambakan or garbage scavengers. I experienced scavenging garbage, picking up ‘valuable items’ which can still be recycled and eventually earn a little money from the pieces of scrap materials. Earning money was very difficult; working from seven in the morning until eleven o’clock, combining altogether the materials gathered by twelve young lads, we just earned forty pesos. That was enough to buy three 800 ml softdrink to quench our thirst. Just try to imagine that, although we were just beginners then, however, forty pesos for half day is equivalent almost to a 1 kilo of rice today; not enough for a liter of gasoline for jeepney, taxi and tricycle drivers .
At present, I am in the third year, the Postulancy stage of the seminary’s formation program which is titled “Intensive Immersion Program.” ‘Intensive’ indeed, as the name expresses it. In this stage, like the students of Aristotle, I and my batchmates are not enrolled in a school to continue the course we have taken since the first two years. However, we are schooled in a different manner. We are studying intensively how to become good missionaries in the future and we learn it the hard way. We are given with seminars such as about planning and programming, module making, community organizing, facilitating retreats, recollection and seminars, and aside from these, we are sometimes immersed in poor communities such as farmers’ and fisher folks communities, so that we can actually see, hear, smell, touch and ‘taste’ the subjects. In other words, we can empathize with the people; we can know their real situation, problems, concerns, and therefore, contribute in their search for solution/s, which eventually we shall be serving them.

I hope, in the Philippines at present, people may become also like ‘missionaries’ in their own special way, especially the government. I hope, the government won’t be just depending to their ‘pre-fabricated facts and data’ that the Philippines is getting better. Instead, they must immerse also so that they may know the actual situation of the people, which however is contrary to their ‘facts,’ especially the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed. And in the long run, they may help finding the right solutions to the people’s problem of poverty and hunger; solutions which are ‘long-term’ and not temporary.
Instead of giving small subsidies, stop corruption, give to the people what is due to the people. Stop all the deceits and lying; be truthful and transparent. Taxes must be put to proper allocations especially for the poor, considering that taxes’ amount is already extended very much and the people are gravely suffering. Industries such as mining and related business operations should not be allowed to operate where natural resources are endangered such as in Rapu-rapu Island. The people may be poor but the island and its vicinity is gifted by God with very rich resources which are enough to sustain the needs of the inhabitants. However, their sources of living were devastated by the mining industry established in that area. Rice fields and fields allotted for other food crops should not be converted into airports and other unnecessary infrastructures which the poor farmers and consumers can’t gain benefit from.
I don’t boast that because I’m an aspiring missionary and I do not ‘wash my hands’ from sin. However, in the time of crisis such as the situation of the Philippines, wherein the crisis is not only economic and political in nature but much of a moral and social one, the above suggested solutions need not to be expressed by a simple young lad like me. Considering that the government officials are ‘highly educated,’ most of them if not all. Some hold doctorate degrees in philosophy, humanities (be it honoris causa or finished studying), law, economics, and other big bodies of knowledge suitable for their job as ‘public servants.’ These educated people suppose to have high ‘moral values’ within their personhood. However, it is the contrary that is seen. It is even shameful for them, because uneducated people seem to have a tougher moral fiber and more sensitive social concern than these “schooled people.” It is very basic not to put mining industry where fishing is suppose to be the primary source of living, or else that might destroy the livelihood of the people, which is happening in Rapu-rapu Island. The same way, it is a very basic moral principle that “if it is not yours, you do not steal” and “Honesty is the best policy.” Then, the questions would be “Why does the government do not seem to know and understand?” “Why still practice corruption even though the greater majority are suffering?” The government can’t even differentiate what is ‘legal’ from ‘good.’ Morally good may not be always legal and what is legal may not be always good. Yes, sidewalk vendors and street dwellers are illegal because they block the pathways however, it is illegal also and immoral to summon them inappropriately and unmercifully, destroy their small huts and small sources of income or seizing there materials for earning money. The same issue of summoning and arresting law violators, why is it that the laws do not apply to big time culprits? Why is it that plunderers and cheaters in the government are not arrested and detained inside prison cell? Does this mean because they are in power they may disregard the law of the land? Is it because they have means to twist and turn the letters of each of the constitution they may be acquitted from their crime? If these are the case, a clear injustice and partiality is seen. The implementation of the laws is not fair and not equal for every invidual.

I really pray and wish that the time will come that when I and my batchmates will become missionary priests someday; hopefully, the Philippines would have a new face by that time. May the country be renewed from being a “den of thieves” (as being the no.1 most corrupt nation in Asia at the same time the “only Christian” nation in this region of the globe) into a “haven of peace,” where the “Kingdom of God” might be realized. May Mary, the Virgin Mother of God and our Mother of Perpetual Help, intercede for us to his Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ, which “in him there is plentiful redemption.