Pierre Samson, p.m.é. Philippines, August 2010

 

Hello there, 

         After the nice summer months, I am beginning to think that your students will go back to school in a few weeks. Ours are back already in the classrooms since the beginning of June. I would like to give a brief description in pictures and in words of our literacy program named TRIBAL SCHOOLS. This year, we are supporting 8 of them, always thanks to the generosity of individuals and groups. Those schools are located in far away places and because of our young teachers whom I have already introduced to you, we are reaching a population of 152 boys and 165 girls.  Since 1985, that small school network was capable of educating many thousands of young natives in our area.

Around the tribal school, we find the residence of the teacher and a kind of platform for outside activities.		Young students posing with their teacher in front of their simple school built by their parents.
The mission supports their learning efforts by offering them on certain days the noon meal.		It is always a pleasure to have something to eat, is it not?
Take a look at this picture: these young people are living on the hillsides … no schoolbus!		A small typical house where resides the teacher in charge of a tribal school.

 

IN JAIL !

         Following some events that took place in Little Baguio a few weeks ago.  2 men were arrested by the military, suspected of belonging to a rebel group. Since I knew those people and the circumstances related to their arrest, I still have difficulty to believe in the truth of the accusations, but justice must follow its normal course. As they were not to be seen for a few days, we were able to locate them, thanks to the International Red Cross. They were housed in a small municipal jail where they are waiting for whatever. I was able to visit them… 

I have no picture to show you of the prison or of my interviews, but try to imagine 38 persons living in a room of 12 x 12 feet! I would need more than one chronicle to describe to you all I have seen and lived during my few visits. There is something of everything, a bit like in the movie and the novel PAPILLON where that life behind bars is described…Our many interventions have made their way so that they will have the right to a legal defence. For the time being, thanks to regular visits, we can bring them necessary food supplies, since they cannot afford the “local services” as a supplement to their daily intake. 

 

To make it sure of getting out of that place, I had to leave to the guard all that I had in my pockets,  and accept to be «tattooed» (temporarily!)  with an ink mark, a sign that I was really a free man who had the right to leave that place. You know why?  Someone could have had the idea of pretending to be Fr. Samson  and gently get out instead of me. Really !!!

My tatoo!

 

CABURAN: where I began to learn to be a pastor! 

It seems that all missionaries remember very well their first post where their missionary life begun. For me, that place is called CABURAN, a small village located along the sea.  In 1971, I initially traveled on a small boat. Recently, I went back to that place, this time by a road still difficult to travel on, but happily suitable at the time of my visit. I was invited as an «oldie», since the parish was celebrating its 50th foundation day. The pictures that follow reveal at the same time the traces of the past and the new realities of the present. 

Il semble que tous les missionnaires se souviennent très bien de leur premier poste où leur vie missionnaire a débuté. Pour moi, cet endroit se nomme CABURAN, petit village situé sur le bord de la mer. En 1971, j’ai fait le voyage initial par petit bateau. J’y suis retourné récemment, cette fois par une route encore assez difficile, mais heureusement carrossable au moment de ma visite. On m’y avait invité comme un « ancien », car on fêtait le 50^ième anniversaire de fondation de la Paroisse. Les quelques photos suivantes révèlent à la fois les traces du passé, et les nouveautés du présent.

This building, my past residence and our offices, has now become the residence of a group of Sisters in charge of the secondary school.		This high school, the HOLY CROSS OF CABURAN, is still standing after all those years… but some walls are beginning to crumble…
I met up with a few old faces: our former companions and pastoral in-charge.		Inside the church: so many happy and sad events lived in that sacred place until up to 1983.
I found at my side one of the first Filipino priests who took over the work of the PMEs after 25 ans.		How good it was to see that small church filled with people of all ages, tribes and different backgrounds.
There are always generous ladies to welcome us at their table!		I was able to rapidly gather around me those young people of the Manobo tribe, inquisitive as they were hearing me speaking their dialect!

 

ASKING FOR HELP: 

         « Father, we are asking for you. » I meet with those unknown people who wish to talk to me in secret. I find a peaceful place. Heads are looking right and left to make sure that nobody can listen to our conversation. « It is said that you have the power to detect hidden teasures. » I smile and let the conversation go on. They would need my services; they are convinced that a fortune is buried in some lot that they have purchased. To end this conversation in a nice way, I had to admit that my «power» was only good to find places where there is water. A big deception is written on their faces when they rise and leave. Being curious, I then ask them, « Who spoke to you about me like that? » And the answer came, « A good Sister who was convinced that you had that power! »  Wow! I will have to explain to her the difference between a « water-diviner » and a « sorcerer »… 

Enjoy the end of summer!