RCSC Partner Communities – SOW

As we started to process the experiences of grieving mothers and wives of tokhang victims, we also try our best to help the children make sense of this painful reality of their lives. Some of these innocent faces have seen with their own eyes how their fathers were murdered. Looking at Taken during the SOW Meeting in Payatas B, Quezon City on April 22, 2017. This is our 8th meeting. In these sessions, the widows share their stories of deep pain and joy, of everyday struggles and hope after the death of their beloved. Each one tries to help the other in finding a job, taking care of the children, in managing a small business to make both ends meet. We only see “the linen in the tomb” but their stories tell us that Jesus is risen. We thank those who are helping us. You have helped them rebuild their lives.

EJK families had their summer excursion today – a time to play, laugh, eat and enjoy. A short break from pain helps people imagine that a different world is possible. One encouraging development: we gave one mother a little amount in micro-credit and she decided to take care of piglets three months ago. Today, we bought one of her pigs for our lechon. And she has two other pigs left to sell. She is earning! The rest too with their little businesses: sari-sari store, meat and vegetables sale; one mother was accepted in a job just today. A different world is possible! Thanks to those who are helping us. We are deeply grateful.

As the orphans are beginning to dance and sing and excited to go to school, as widows are starting to move on with their lives, the killings continue in Payatas. They are no longer in the limelight since these events are drowned by other events like Resorts World and Marawi, but we are still counting the victims almost everyday. Emery Brian, is a 37-year old father, went to buy food in the nearby market. He did not come back and the family waited for days. They looked for him in police stations. After searching everywhere, they found his name in one of the stations in Manila more than 10 days after (this was last week of May). The police record says, he fought back and engaged 25 policemen (“nanlaban”). Wow! 25 policemen against one poor unarmed person! His autopsy says that he was shot point blank in the head and chest. And before we left after our meeting with the widows, we heard that two others were killed last night in a street near the chapel where we celebrate Mass. I still have to visit them tomorrow. God help us!

Taken during the culmination of the Payatas Chidlren’s Camp 2017 facilitated by the Profesionales en Mision – our partner in the rehabilitation of EJK families. Children who had only blank stares months ago due the death of their fathers now begin to smile as they are excited to prepare for the new school year. Once stigmatized by neighbors, they now begin to mingle with other kids, dance, sing, laugh and play with them. Thanks to Carol Daria Ferly Delos Santos Mangilit Milarose Bechaida and Nelson and their collaborators Allan T. Tura Jocelyn Tena-Francia and many others for helping us in this work. Thanks also to our benefactors here and abroad for making this work possible and giving hope to the victims.

I just came from Payatas today for our regular meeting and Mass with EJK widows and orphans. Thanks to Noel and Tet Medina and kids for visiting us. This week, we welcome three new widows whose husbands were killed recently. We also welcome their children, the new orphans.

Another new development on the ground: barangay officials and purok leaders accompanied by policemen go the rounds of the houses and shanties, pressure people to undergo drug test, and include them in the list. If a house does not have drug users in them, they are cleared. Those who test positive are asked to report to the barangay hall. They now fear for their lives. For you know what happens to those who find themselves in the list.

One remembers the command of the Pharaoh to the midwives of Egypt: go house to house, seek for Israelite boys and report them to him. In our times, this is a grave violation of basic human rights against coercion. But of course, this administration does not believe in human rights! What else is new? May God help us.

At a time when human rights are intently neglected and brutally silenced, the victims (members of the SOW – EJK orphans and widows), silently but courageously pray and learn about their rights as persons and as victims despite the culture of impunity that surrounds us. Thanks to the FLAG lawyers who helped explain what are the necessary processes for seeking justice, and what it entails to do it. Thanks to TFDP (Task Force Detainees of the Philippines) who helped us empower these brave mothers and widows. May God help us.

Taken during the SOW (Support for Orphans and Widows) session on September 2, 2017. Today, our partners Diding Taer Libao introduced the widows and mothers to bible sharing for the first time. While another partner Elizabeth Hilado Barquilla guided the orphans to express themselves in color. What comes out are beautiful and hopeful visions from both mothers and children. “To resolve to live and survive is in itself an act of resistance and defiance.”