And who shall receive one little child in my name receiveth me. -Matthew 18:5
Today, October 2 is my birthday. It is a very special day that makes me think about where I am and what I have done with my life. I wonder what I have done in the last 67 years that have made this world better than when I arrived in it. Let me share the past and the present.
As a teenager, I was a benevolent bum. I was the leader of my gang because I was the thinker and I wrote the best love letters for my buddies. I grew up at a time when you had to write love letters to express liking someone. I wrote their love letters. We collected "tong" money from jeepney and calesa drivers. We exacted donations from businesses. What did we do with the proceeds? Unbelievable, but true. We spent them on constructing a softball diamond, basketball court and volleyball court...all on dirt...and conducting tournaments for our barrio. We also spent money on marrying off in church those who had been living together as common-law couples because they could not afford the culturally mandatory "feast" that goes with a wedding. We provided the "feast" after the mass wedding. We also visited prisoners in the provincial jail and gave them soap and toothbrush, particularly those who had no relatives visiting them because the relatives lived in far-flung towns.
Bums that we were, we all were religious and all belonged to the Legion of Mary. It's amazing that we came out of those "years" better persons. Two became lawyers, one a celebrated singer, two teachers, one priest, one Boy Scout of the Philippines Executive Director, one business executive and one town mayor for 25 years. All, except the priest, are still alive and hopefully doing something good for their respective communities.
Me? I went into teaching and dabbled in some consulting work in later life. It is my ardent hope that I have contributed to the development of my former pupils and students and that they, in turn, are contributing to making their communities a better place to live in. I pray that I have multiplied myself through them. My former students at the International School in Manila who have remained in touch have given me the impression that Idid something right as a teacher. Former students in San Bernardino who are now lawyers, teachers, businessmen and wage earners have given me joy in their acknowledgment of my contribution in their development.
One moment of joy stands out in a recent encounter with a former student who made life as a teacher a never-ending challenge. He said, "Mr. Miyagi (they fondly called me this in San Bernardino, CA), remember how I always made you climb the wall angry? Look, here's a picture of my beautiful wife and two lovely children. I am about to graduate from CalState with a BS in Business Management...and you know what? I am the Assistant Store Manager here!" He gave me a hug and whispered, "...and you thought I did not listen to you!"
What is an old man to do, but feel tears of joy running down his cheeks!
Today, I continue to do social amelioration projects in the Philippines that I started in the year 2000. I have teamed up the Knights of Columbus Council 9636 in Las Pinas City, Philippines and Council 4488 in San Bernardino, CA. Through my efforts, Council 4488 raises funds and sends it to Council 9636 which implements five major projects:
1. Feeding of homeless street children ages 4-8 years old every Friday morning. We feed them rice porridge with chicken. One Friday a month, they get an additional hamburger, sandals, shirts, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. Sometimes, they get all of these "extras;" sometimes just one or two, depending on funds availability. Many times, the children keep the hamburger to eat at a later time of the day.
2. Catechism class for some 200 children from the streets and from the squatter area every Sunday afternoon. We teach them belief in God and to hope. We give them paper and pencils to write on and catechism books to work from.
3. Visiting Prisoners every month at the highly congested national penitentiary in Muntinglupa, particularly those who have no relatives visiting them because they come from far-flung provinces and could not afford transportation. We give them soap, towels, toothbrush and toothpaste and give them hope that there are people who still care about their well-being.
4. Eradication of dengue-carrying mosquitoes in the squatter areas. We fumigate these areas every quarter and do the best in eradicating these mosquitoes that carry the deadly dengue fever.
5. TESDA Scholarship sponsorship of two students from the squatter area to gain skills from the government-run Technical and Educational Skills Development Authority every semester term. We pay the tuition fee and give students materials required of their skills classes and transportation money.
My friends and I focus our efforts, because of limited funds, on the first two projects that involve children. We do not want our children to ever lose hope despite the seemingly insurmountable hunger pangs and lack of direction in their lives.
It is my ardent prayer that my friends who read this blog will find it in their hearts to touch the lives of these innocent children with some donations. Every cent you send is all directly spent on them with no overhead costs. Your donation is tax deductible, too. If you want to help, give hope to these children whom you have never seen but who long for your love by writing your check to: Our Lady of Fatima 9636 and mail it to: 828 Sweeping Vine Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89183.
Please join me in making Christmas a happy one for them. God bless you.
