The Government and Church of the Streets

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid…(Mark 10:32)

            I met the new Consul General of Hong Kong last Saturday morning.  It was an ordinary meeting between two ordinary people.  The conversation though was far from ordinary.  I was pleasantly surprised at how the new Consul General warmed up to the idea of how important the streets of Hong Kong are for OFWs.  He talked about his work with OFWs in Abu Dhabi.  He shared about how important it is for an Embassy or Consulate to reach out to as many Filipinos living in the host country.  OFWs are fond of associating themselves.  There are several registered Filipino organizations in Hong Kong but there are also several that are not.  Congen Noel foresees a rather busy schedule of reaching out not only to the registered, but to the unregistered as well.

            On Sundays and other off days, Filipinos in Hong Kong are either in specific shelters or somewhere in the many streets, corridors, fast food outlets, parks, etc. of Hong Kong.  While visiting shelters may be simpler than walking around all the places where Filipinos congregate, the latter are no less important than the former.  The streets are ordinary and seemingly ordinary people stay in the streets but what is not seen are the many not too ordinary experiences and situations that take place in them. It was through the advocacy of street evangelization or bringing the good news directly to people wherever they are that I met many unique and important sectors or sub-groups of OFWs in Hong Kong.  Walking through the streets of Hong Kong led me to the first group of cancer survivors that eventually grew into Buhay Ka, a vibrant organization that reaches out to and cares for the sick, especially cancer survivors in Hong Kong.

            Reach out is  very personal. It involves going out to meet individual persons or small groups.  While I did not walk around with a portable PA system and stand at street corners to preach, I nonetheless went around relating and listening to those I meet.  Rather than stand and be the center of attention, I would sit and listen.  I realized how simply listening was already an act of evangelizing (bringing the gospel of Jesus to others).  From my many running advocacies (Patakbotakbo), I slowly learned the art of listening in the streets of Hong Kong (Paupoupo).  Thus was also born a small group of OFWs which called themselves “Lakbay Lingap.” Lakbay Lingap simply went around on a Sunday to sit with OFWs to simply listen and get to know them. The listening of course eventually became two-way.  Gradually, the small group gained more and more friends Sunday after Sunday.  The members of the group would meet before and after an hour or so of walking and talking to different  groups and individuals.  The stories were rich and most challenging.  There was a lot of life and from the eyes of faith, a lot of grace in the streets of Hong Kong.  I was not only evangelizing, I and members of Lakbay Dangal were being evangelized as well.

            It is no coincidence that my first meeting with Consul General Noel Sevigon was not in his office at the United Center in Admiralty but in the wide open space of  Chater Garden.  He was talking to members of  Jehovah’s Witnesses when I approached him.  It did not take long to warm up to Congen Noel.  In fact, seeing a Consul General of the Philippines in Chater Garden made an otherwise cold winter morning rather warm.  We started talking about the importance of the streets and outreach programs.  He told me how interested he is in the concept of the Church of the Streets.  I forgot to mention to him how interested I am as well in the Government of the Streets.  An initial insight and impression stayed with me since that meeting with Congen Noel.  Aside from the Church of the Streets, there is also the Government of the Streets.  I am glad to see not only an ordinary Consulate officer in the streets of Hong Kong.  No less than the Consul General of the Philippines in Hong Kong walks the streets of Hong Kong.  Thank you Congen Noel for the warm encounter last Saturday.

            Thank you for the willingness to be part of the Church and Government of the Streets.

Continuity

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

            We met in a student leadership program in Tagaytay during Martial Law.  Students from various colleges and universities in Metro Manila attended the Buklod leadership workshop sometime in 1980.  That was also the first time I met Among Ed Panlilio who was then also a seminarian studying for the priesthood.  Soosot was a young, energetic and very idealistic lady from Maryknoll.  She was popular and an instant leader in the group. Her unique name was and continues to be a useful and even vital feature in crystallizing her unique identity. Sonia Zerudo is Soosot.  Sonia is Soosot.  Soosot is Soosot. 

            We lost touch shortly after that. Soosot went to Vienna and I became a priest and began my colorful journey as a priest in search of God in a country ruled by the gods of violence, corruption and oppression.  About two years ago I received an email from Vice Consul Joy Banagodos that a certain Sonia Zerudo wanted to speak to me.  The name did not quite register.  Somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind a faint and weak echo began its slow ascent into a more discernible sound.  Slowly, slowly, I remember Sonia Zerudo….So…nia….Soo…sot.  Soosot is still alive.

            Thanks to Joy, I was immediately able to email Soosot.  In a few days we agreed to meet in Central. Soosot suggested a Belgian restaurant somewhere along the Travelator.  It was a happy reunion.  A quick flashback to Buklod and fast forward to Hong Kong. 1980 to 2010 was quite a journey through time.  Soosot has gone through a colorful and adventurous life of an OFW.  I also shared my OFW journey with this lady with whom I shared the passions and idealism of the 70’s and 80’s.  Our youthful idealism was still there and surprisingly alive.  While we ate a typical Belgian meal, we began talking about the idea of forming a group of OFWs who will be trained to be historico-cultural guides along what was to become the Philippine Historical Trail in Hong Kong.

            Our happy reunion and engaging recollection of a dangerous and exciting past did not end there.  On March 14, 2010, after thirty years during another workshop similar to Buklod, Lakbay Dangal was born.  This little organization after a series of training workshops with Professor Vim Nadera, has gone a long way to where it is now . Two years later Soosot walks the streets of Hong Kong with members of Lakbay Dangal guiding various groups and individuals along the Philippine Historical/Rizal Trail of Hong Kong.

            Because of Lakbay Dangal, the spirit of Rizal and the spirit of the Philippine revolution of 1898 is alive in Hong Kong.  Perhaps, it is also because of the same spirit that Soosot and I met and began this exciting and meaningful collaboration.  God’s spirit never tires.  The truth and those who pursue it will be given the strength and the fire to seek and ultimately embrace it.