filipino globe community
April 2008
21
KUWENTONIADAN
Ang sumusunod na salaysay ay tunay na pangyayari, bagama’t iniba ang mga pangalan. Maaaring naranasan mo na rin ito
M
agkasama sa iisang
bubong si Esther Omotoy
at ang anak niyang si
Grace. Magkaramay sa trabaho at
magkasalong kumain.
Tuwing day off lang
nagkakahiwalay, palibhasa hindi
puwedeng magsabay. Pangalawa na
nilang tahanan ang flat ng among ding iyon. Wala na umanong balak
duktor sa Mid-Levels. bumalik sa Hong Kong. Lakas ng
Dito pinaglapit ang mag-inang palahaw ni Esther. Magkahalong
nagkahiwalay ng maraming taon poot at hinanakit ang naramdaman.
bago pinalad maisama ni Esther Saka lang niya nalaman na gusto
si Grace sa pinagtatrabahuhan. na palang magpakasal ni Grace sa
Salamat kay duktor, dalawa na katipang naiwan sa Pinas. Hindi
silang kumikita ng dolyar at naman sana tutol si Esther dahil
tumutulong sa pamilyang naiwan nasa hustong edad na ang dalaga.
sa Pinas. Hindi lang niya inaasahang
Pangalawang pagkakataon na iiwanan siya nito ng walang
nilang maging magkatuwang sa kaabog-abog.
trabaho. Nauna pa rito, anim na Nahiya lang marahil magsabi sa
taong sinamahan ni Grace si Esther ina at takot na baka pigilan siya sa
sa paninilbihan sa pamilya ng plano.
duktor bago nagdesisyong umuwi Namumula pa ang mata sa walang
sanhi marahil ng pagkabagot. tigil na panangis, ipinaliwanag ni
Matapos ang dalawang taon, Esther sa amo kinagabihan ang
nagkaroon ng reunion ang mag-ina malungkot na pangyayari.
sa Hong Kong. Hiyang-hiya siya dahil kalahating
Magkaibigan ang turingan. taon pa lang mula nung bumalik sa
Walang iwanan. trabaho ang anak pero eto at nag-
“Malaking tulong siya sa akin. alsa-balutan na. Buti na lang mabait
Bumili kami ng hulugang bahay, ang duktor. Pinagbakasyon na lang
katulong kong magbayad,” ani muna si Grace.
Esther. Baka-sakaling magbago daw ng
“Ang saya-saya namin. Pasko o isip matapos ang isa o dalawang
birthday ko, binibigyan niya lagi buwan. Welcome itong bumalik.
ako ng gift. Mabait siyang anak.” Ngunit walang balikang nangyari.
Isang linggo ng umaga, gaya ng Tatlong taon na mula nang
nakagawian, nagpaalam si Grace sa mangyari ang kuwentong ito.
ina. Day off nito.
Abala si Esther sa pamamalantsa
nung hapong iyon nang WALANG IWANAN
Tulad ng isang mapagmahal at
maunawaing ina, napatawad na ni
Esther ang anak.
makatanggap ng tawag mula sa Sa kasalukuyan, si Grace ang
anak na lalaki na nakatira sa Cainta. nangangasiwa sa tindahang
Tinanong ng kanyang panganay
Tatlong taon na mula nang mangyari ang kuwentong
naipundar ni Esther sa Bacoor.
kung may problema ang mag-ina sa At tahimik na din ang kalooban
Hong Kong. ito. Tulad ng isang mapagmahal at maunawaing ina, ni Esther sa kaalamang hindi
Parang binuhusan ng malamig
na tubig si Esther nang ibalita ng
napatawad na ni Esther ang anak
nagkamali ang anak sa pagpili ng
lalaking pinakasalan. Mabait pala
anak na nagpapasundo si Grace sa ang kanyang manugang.
airport sa Maynila nung mga oras adan_magnaye@yahoo.com
Church visit yields an image of China few of us know
W
hat we imagined would here and according to a non-Chinese enhanced by stone mosaic adorn the
be an ordinary observance
CHINAHAND
priest friend, on a few occasions, he church. It’s here that we and most
of Holy Week in a non- letter from beijing was surprised to realize that most of of the expatriate community attend
Catholic country like Beijing turned the early-morning church-goers were English mass on Sundays.
out to be just as meaningful as the laborers and construction workers The usual one-hour mass stretches
ones we had in Hong Kong in the perhaps on their way to work. for a few more minutes because
past three years and back home in the Quite popular among tourists and the readings are both in English
Philippines.
Doris
locals, Wangfujing Church features a and French. One of the two choirs
Friends and colleagues from the sprawling front square adorned with during the 10 am Sunday mass is
Philippine Embassy organized a
Novicio
trees, plants and flowers. On that late comprised of Filipinos while the
Visita Iglesia, which, we thought was Perhaps, what makes this church afternoon, St.Joseph was almost half- choir, readers and servers in the
a timely chance for us to observe an really special, is, it’s home to the filled with worshippers and visitors, 4 pm mass are from the Couples
important Holy Week tradition and revered Our Lady of China. While with some, perhaps, waiting for the for Christ community here in
at the same time explore some of the we have seen several reproductions sun to set to take a good glimpse and Beijing. Nan Tang is also a popular
beautiful churches in Beijing we only of this painting hanging in most scenic photos of this lovely cathedral tourist destination because of its
heard about. homes of Chinese Catholic friends, which is well-lighted at night proximity to Tiananmen Square and
Our first stop was the North praying and paying homage to the We capped our church visits by is conveniently accessible via the
Church, commonly known as Mother and Child in their home
The North Church sits in an area
attending the Holy Thursday service subway.
Xishiku Catholic Church. Located made our visit truly meaningful.
where President Hu Jintao lives.
or the Lord’s Supper and Washing Indeed, there are much more to
in the vast area of Zhongnanhai From the biggest Catholic church of the Feet celebrated by the Rev explore and discover in Beijing.
(the official residence China’s top in Beijing, we proceeded to what
altar, the rest of the interior is a
Joseph Li Shan, bishop of Beijing at Beyond the beauty of the physical
leaders like President Hu Jintao) could be one of the smallest churches
reflection of a simple and intimate
the South Cathedral. churches and cathedrals is the
and the historic Forbidden City, here. St Michael’s or Dongjiaomin
house of worship.
Nan Tang, or the Cathedral of the growing devotion and piety amongst
Xishiku Church reminded me of our Catholic Church is also Gothic-style
St Joseph’s Church or the East
Immaculate Conception, is the oldest its people, as may be gleaned from
own San Sebastian Church. With and located in a gated compound. A
Church in Wangfujing Street
and first Catholic church in Beijing. their presence on Sunday masses and
its Gothic-inspired architecture, the statue of St Michael the Archangel
was our penultimate destination.
This French Renaissance-inspired from our experience during the Holy
interior of the church is also a sight stands in one of the church’s main
Built during the Qing Dynasty,
church was built during the Ming Week services. As a Chinese Catholic
to behold with its elegantly designed spires while a grotto of the Our Lady
Wangfujing Church, as it is now
Dynasty. friend intimated, she and her family
glass-stained windows, gleaming of Lourdes is located near the gate.
popularly known, was the second
A huge painting of the Virgin Mary are now more free to practice and
and lovely chandeliers and columns Save for the beautifully designed
Catholic church built in Beijing.
hangs behind the altar. Charming, express their faith without fear of
painted in hues of red and green. glass-stained windows and the lovely
Daily Chinese masses are celebrated
old chandeliers and sturdy pillars persecution.
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