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All over the world, I find the community of CFCA on constant pilgrimage. I thank each of you for this encouraging example, which I believe reflects God’s loving plan for us. I invite you to travel with us now in the Philippines for two special events: our CFCA Mission Awareness Trip 2008 and a very special gift for CFCA’s family in the Philippines and the world, the concert in Zamboanga.
Legazpi
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Sponsor Susan Curtis holds hands with her sponsored child, Renz, before Mass in Legazpi.
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Early morning departure from Manila and short flight to Legazpi for more than 30 of us was well orchestrated by staff. Amid banners and welcomes at the small Legazpi airport, we boarded our caravan and headed out on a 40-minute ride to our gathering place for the day, called “Oh La La Paradise Resort,” a pleasant and colorful place with a toadstool motif. A group of soldiers toting M-16s showed up for a pretty soft-duty breakfast.
Later in the morning, I took the opportunity to reflect with everyone about the importance of our students and scholars prepared with formal and informal education to really care about their local communities and our natural world. Three moving testimonies by Donna Millena and Maricel Bernas (former scholars who are now professionals) and sponsored elderly Constancia deLaTorre speak inspiringly of that ideal.
Maricel’s moving story
Maricel, who has been sponsored 18 years, lost her father to a heart attack when she was 4 years old. Six children were raised by her mother: “a bitter struggle.” Part of her remarks:
“Through all of this CFCA has served not only as my own inspiration, but also for all the members of my family, who were also inspired to go on and find meaning in their lives. With God’s love, and through you my dear sponsors, the CFCA staff and the hard times, my much-coveted dream is slowly shining. I have finished my bachelor’s degree in elementary education and passed the licensure examination for teachers. I am now a kindergarten teacher.”
Visit to subproject
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CFCA families greet sponsors as they come ashore for Friendship Day following a boat ride to Talim Island.
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We met the sponsored family of Susan Curtis in subproject OLR—Our Lady of the Rosary. Susan started 10 years ago sponsoring Renz and now Susan and her husband sponsor all of Renz’s siblings. Renz performed a beautiful ethnic dance with drum help from her little brother, Renato.
Metro Manila
Today the team here has divided us into quite a few subgroups so as to visit the maximum number of families. My wife, Cristina, and I are accompanying sponsor Jerry Menard and his daughter, Renee, on their visit to Jonel in Quezon subproject BX. Jonel’s mother, Josela, can earn up to 200 pesos ($5) per day selling homemade food on her cart. The dad, Arnold, has seasonal work as a welder.
In the early afternoon, we visited the area of Navotas, where 80 of our sponsored families recently lost everything they owned in a fire. With a strong breeze coming in off Manila Bay, one can imagine how these kindling homes could catch fire and burn quickly. To protect their property rights, the people want to stay in the area. Within the project budget, the CFCA program is helping them to rebuild.
Friendship Day 2008
Perhaps 1,000 CFCA members rode outrigger boats to Talim
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Sponsor William “Denny” Sauers enjoys an animated conversation with a group of children in the Rizal neighborhood.
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Island for Friendship Day 2008 on Jan. 26. Each sponsor and visiting staff member was invited to plant one or more trees, which were then assigned to a local sponsored child to be nurtured and cared for in the future.
All of us trekked about 40 minutes through various island communities where we have sponsored children. This took us to the gymnasium of the Janos National High School, the venue of the 2008 Friendship Day celebration. Sponsors expressed how inspired they were by the hope, joy and spirit of community they experienced wherever they go in the CFCA subprojects.
Inspiration at Mass
Our celebrant was a Misionero de Jesus priest. His inspiring homily focused on mourning our recent Filipino martyrs, including OMI Father Reynaldo Roda, assassinated in Mindanao just before the beginning of this trip. Continued our homilist: “Some in the church think that we should discontinue sending missionaries to Mindanao … but we serve our people … not because they are Catholic … but because there is need ... Jesus did not die a meaningless death … He sought out the fishermen because they had the means and the heart to reach other shores … serving the last ... the lost … the least … the little.”
Mass was followed by a gathering of about 200 aging at the municipal basketball court.
Before our sponsors headed home or on to Zamboanga, we enjoyed a great old-fashioned sing-along at the Legend Hotel.
A loving Muslim family
Cristina and I feel a special bonding with our sponsored family in Zamboanga, including Mother Jean, Father Abbas, Shaima, 9, our sponsored child, and her seven brothers and sisters.
Paul Pearce, director of CFCA international programs, Kansas City musician Barclay Martin, Oregon filmmaker John Nosack and the entire Zamboanga team keep saying that Abbas and Jean have been a tremendous support during their time here preparing for an upcoming concert for the families of the Zamboanga region. Like us, they have been “taken in” by this simple loving family. We thank God for them, and we do our best to stay close in solidarity, in prayer, in correspondence.
The concert
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Kansas City musician Barclay Martin, who arranged the music for the concert in Zamboanga, performs the finale number with CFCA scholars.
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The concert began and continued with confidence and poise into the night. Its depth and beauty will continue to be revealed over time.
The deep joy and values will keep glowing like lanterns of hope and vision. We enjoyed the presence, the talents and the message of very renowned Filipino musicians and dancing troupes … El Pueblo Cultural Dance Troupe … Claretian Young Performing Artists of Lamitan … Mebuyan Peace Project … Eric Gancio … Kalumon Cultural Ensemble … Popong Landero Organization … Joey Ayala … CFCA Performers with Barclay Martin … Messages by me, Cristina and sponsors Jerry Menard and Samantha Freese … Melodies by me, Paul and Barclay … Concert finale with CFCA performers and Barclay.
Yet, the focus was really on developing and encouraging the potential of the CFCA scholars who performed. Paul told me that the night before the concert that the scholars were scared and nervous. I was in the front row during their performance and I say they “nailed it.” Very professional, very sincere and they were relaxed enough to keep everyone else relaxed. Barclay calls this experience a year’s worth of learning.
Gratitude
Our gratitude to God and our thanks to each of you for walking with us. God’s blessings.
Bob Hentzen
Zamboanga, Philippines
Jan. 31, 2008
Editor's note: The concert at Zamboanga was the finale for CFCA's first documentary film, which is expected to be released in mid-2008. For more information about the documentary, visit
www.zamboangathemovie.com
Concert in southern Philippines celebrates harmony among peoples
The making of the Zamboanga documentary
Sponsor a child in the Philippines
Read the notes from other mission awareness trips
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