Candice Jihan Uy: Transformed by God

Recently, Candice encountered a man who used his arms to peddle himself around in a bike.  That man suffered from polio, making it impossible to adequately provide for his wife and children…and that broke Candice’s heart.  Eventually, with the help of a friend, she presented the man’s story to a major television network that did a story on him resulting in an outpouring of generosity.  However, after the story, the television network and viewers quickly forgot about the man.

Filled with God’s Spirit, Candice still continues to look after this man and his family.  Her friendship is breaking down his misconception that Christians only look out for themselves and judge others in the process.  Her compassion and mercy can only be attributed to the life change she experience just a few years ago.

Looking out for “number one” was her priority.  Selfishly desiring to become a successful career woman and not exactly caring about those hurting around her sums up the way she once lived.  Though she admits that there is nothing wrong with trying to be successful, she believes that it created a big empty hole within her heart.  Wishing to please others for various reasons, she ended up searching for self-worth through the eyes of others.  Eventually, relationships meant to nourish life ended up draining her.  Candice was on the fast track to nowhere and each day that passed she grew more and more weary…trying to achieve some unknown goal.

Then, Candice had an experience with God.  Realizing that God saw her as His valuable creation, she decided to commit her life to Jesus Christ and to follow Him whole-heartedly.  Surrendering her desires of becoming successful and of pleasing people, she dedicated her life to the Lord.  After establishing a relationship with Him…after she prayed for Him to enter her life, things drastically changed.  All of a sudden, hope appeared.  Everything looked a lot brighter and the only way she could describe her life is with one word – JOY!

Though still a hard working career woman involved in graphic design, Candice’s priorities are to love God and to love people.  She’s heavily involved in church and seeks to change the world, one person at a time.  She knows she’s still a work in progress but this journey that she’s on has benefited the community around her.  Watch out world, Candice is in love with God!

Aris Tolentino: Transformed by God

Listening to Aristotle Tolentino play the piano is therapeutic.  He has the God-given ability to draw you closer to the Lord through music, compelling those within earshot to close their eyes and raise their hands straight into the air in worship to the Almighty Creator.  His current station in life is a sharp contrast to who he used to be not too long ago.

Though raised in a Christian home, his relationship with God was almost non-existent.  Attending church for the perks (friends, give-aways, and activities) and as commanded by his family, Aris was not committed to following Jesus.  He simply showed up to church.  He recognized his ability to play instruments and naturally gravitated to the music industry and it was that lifestyle that opened the door for a great many vices and temptations.  While playing in a band at different venues, the night scene was attractive and he eventually succumbed to drinking, smoking and inappropriate relationships while maintaining a presence at church.  To sum it up, his life didn’t mirror the God he believed in.

Then one day after searching his heart, Aris decided to surrender his life to Jesus Christ.  He realized that he needed to start a relationship with God…not just simply believe in His existence.  Only when he surrendered his life over to Jesus did his life turn around.  His ambitions heightened giving him motivation to finish school. Aris now has a Master’s degree and he owes it to God’s guidance.  He is currently a minister and still plays music for the Lord, whether in church or in the secular world.  Either way, his focus isn’t to please people or to lavish in sin but rather to put a smile on God’s face and partake in His unconditional love.  As a father, he dotes on his son and provides spiritual leadership for his family.  Never would this have been the case had Aris neglected to begin a relationship with his own Father in Heaven.

“I am a work in progress, but because of Jesus I have been changed for good,” declares Aris.  Knowing that he has been forgiven and is continually being guided by God, he daily basks in the blessing of being seen as a child of God.

Rufio and the Letre Boys: From Poverty to Abundance

It felt like I had an entourage…really, a massive band of bodyguards.  When a group reputed to have preyed upon the innocent and lurked within the shadows of the underworld accompanies you, fear fades quickly.  A good thing too because winding through those thin passageways deeper and deeper into the slum, I was an easy target and I knew it.  The leader of the group stuck close to my side, pointing out hazards such as hidden manholes, ill-protected electrical wiring, pick-pocketing children and suspiciously eyeing thieves.

“We’re almost there.  And soon, it will be time,” he grunted.

They were quick but I was curious.  My eyes wandered everywhere.  The group kept their stares to the front, ensuring progress.  I stopped every now and then to observe various gatherings gambling away their lives.  Next to the serious gamblers, children flung pesos to the ground in a sort of miniature form of the game being played by the adults.  Toddlers crossed my path, naked, running and still wet from their venture into the creek, which was actually an overflow of runoff water…sewage.  Every dark corner I turned, I seemed to trip over mothers nursing their babies, completely topless.  Deeper still we trekked, the alleys becoming more redolent of cooked meat, blurring my vision and uncomfortably interrupting my respirations.  For less than a penny you could consume an entire barbeque stick of intestines, chicken feet, cubes of solidified blood even the heads of roosters.  Every portion of edible animals used to propagate income and to fend off starvation.  Poverty.

“Hurry up and stop staring, you look out of place.” he instructed.

Finally, we made it to the group’s dwelling.  Ten boys between the ages of 17 and 24 called the thin, dilapidated structure their home.  Not even in the Philippines was it considered up to code, how much more for the U.S.?  Slowly I entered, removing my hiking sandals to keep the dirt and feces I stepped on from smearing their floors.  The tile was wet and dirty which was an uncomfortable feeling for bare feet.  The leader of the group ordered one of the boys to commence cooking while the rest were set to clean.

After welcoming me to their rubble-like abode, one of the boys notified the leader of the electricity, rather, the lack of it.  He muttered a few things and suddenly took to flight.  Noticing my shock, one of the boys explained that their power was “jumped” off of one main house.  Every shack that had power obtained energy from that house and the owner billed the squatter residents on a daily, weekly or monthly basis (the collection depended on the owner’s gambling losses). The proprietor was called “Nanay” and she was regarded as a crooked gambler hungry for money and power, even in the confines of a slum. She also controlled the water.  Countless hoses snaked away from her innumerable spigots and into various squatter shacks.  Water was given at an hourly rate. They were late for payment, so she literally cut their power cord.

I heard the leader pleading with her.  “Please!  We have a guest.  He’s a visitor to the entire community.  Don’t allow us to be embarrassed.”

“Sorry, I have no more cables.  You should’ve paid on time.  Give me two days,” she mumbled, seemingly in scorn.

Have you ever watched the movie “Hook” with Robin Williams?  Do you remember Rufio, Peter Pan’s replacement and rival?  Well, the leader of the group was like Rufio.  In fact, this band of brothers was like Peter Pan’s Lost Boys.  I called them the Letre Boys because that was the name of their community.  The leader, Rufio as I endearingly assigned him, brilliantly set his boys to task at obtaining electricity and within half an hour, the place was lit up once again.

“It’s almost time.  Are you ready?”  Rufio asked and then paused, looking about, “But first…”

Before I could answer he yelled to the group that it was time for dinner.  They sat me down at the head of the table.  I was the guest of honor and they set before me a plate of rice and a small bowl of their house specialty, “Chicken Adobo.”  They gave me the choicest meats and even the softest, sweetest portions of their rice.  At first I protested, wanting the scraps, but after being told that such a thing was considered an insult, I proceeded eating.

They devoured their food at twice my consumption speed and they waited for me to finish.  Rushing me upstairs, I wasn’t allowed to help clean.  Rufio ordered several boys to stay and do dishes.  It was time.

We gathered in a circle as the leader plugged in a radio.  Underneath a cabinet, he pulled out a rectangular box, kind of like a suitcase.  Wiping away the dirt, he unlatched it with care.  Opening it up, he unloaded the contents of the case.

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for this all day and with you here, things will finally make sense,” Rufio smiled.

The boys downstairs finished quickly, ran up the stairs and yelled, “Scrabble!  It’s time for scrabble!”

We played as worship music blasted through the small speakers.  The boys joyfully experimented with new English words, many of them made up through their imagination but somehow correct.  I was their Webster’s Dictionary as they incessantly questioned the validity of each word.  As we played, we talked and I learned of their past lives as gang members, drug addicts/dealers, thieves, muggers and street fighters.  They recounted in jubilation the day their lives were transformed…the day they surrendered to Jesus Christ.  Each one reminisced on his first moment at Onesimo (an honorable and God-led Christian organization aimed at changing the lives of street kids mainly living in slums).  It was this ministry that gave me the privilege to be with these boys and we were in their building as the house parent in charge was making his way back.  Can you believe that we played Scrabble until almost midnight!  I lost by the way.

Before bedding down, children from the neighborhood came to visit, curious as to whom the visitor was.  The Letre Boys were proud to introduce me as their American missionary friend even though I was as Filipino as they were.  The children occasionally took hold of my face, staring into my eyes and exclaimed, “See, his eyes are black because he’s American.” (Yeah, I am still confused.)

We slept on the floor in various positions.  Someone gave up his mat for me, and of course protesting was an insult.  The mosquitoes devoured my body as I reflected on all the advice they gave me on how to keep from getting mugged…an activity they can be deemed experts at.

I left after an embarrassing game of basketball the next day.  My regular commitment to these boys was simple:  to love and value them.  It was something they rarely received, except from the house parent and the volunteers at the main teaching center that Onesimo ran.  I had to take my leave due to another ministry commitment.  In a few hours I would be dining with a group of upper class friends talking things spiritual.  In a few minutes I would be walking into the middle class subdivision I lived in.  In a few days I would be leading a group of lawyers and judges in a Bible Study at the Department of Justice.  Each a stark contrast from the extreme poverty I, at that moment, was standing in the middle of.

When I say that ministry takes an emotional toll on my soul, this is why.

Wish Ko Lang

Thanks to the efforts of Candice Uy (one of our storytellers) this man’s dream, in the video below, has come true.  Actually, initial footage and photos taken of Mang Alfredo came from a good friend of Candice’s.  Once I find out her name, I will mention her.

Mang Alfredo is a man who has suffered from polio and cannot walk.  He spends all day traveling on a bicycle.  He peddles with one arm as he rides on the side cart attached to the bike.  After a full days work, he is able to collect enough recyclables to earn 70 pesos (about $1.50).  He uses that to feed a wife and two children.  His wish is to start a small store selling small goods such as packets of coffee, soup, soap and other things.  Candice submitted his story to a television station and within a few days a reporter interviewed the man and his story was aired shortly after.  The television network made his wish come true and he now runs a store.

And it doesn’t stop here.  Candice and her friend continue to visit this man hoping that the light of the Gospel will shine forth.  Pray that he establishes a relationship with Jesus Christ in the weeks to come.

Salome Megdaraog

She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen…and the most cheerful. Salome Arcilla Megdaraog, called “Oming,” moves with efficiency and energy in a way that makes one think she’s younger than she is. But she has two grown children. Her husband works in construction in a province south of here. While he’s on this job, for the next 4 or 5 months, she’ll see him for one day at a time, twice a month.

She has worked for missionaries for years, and works in our home now. I feel so blessed to know her, as she not only teaches me about Filipino culture, language and cooking, but also about what it is to live a life of Christian perseverance and endurance.

Her life has not been one without struggle, and she admittedly feels the oppression of living in a country of corrupt government and classism: she feels neglected by the government. If she could change one thing about the Philippines, it would be the lack of equality here. For her, she feels an inequality based on financial status. She says, “If you don’t have money, the government doesn’t care about you. If you have a lot of money, they will come to your aid quickly.” Yet she sees hope in the Filipino people, who care for each other and help in times of need. And after knowing her for a few months, I imagine she’s one of the first to pitch in when someone needs.

by Amy Samson

Lita Sandoval

Lita Sandoval is an amicable person whose smile penetrates the smog-induced haze hovering over Tandang Sora everyday.  Her friendly exterior is quite inviting, an important trait for prospective business owners wishing to peddle their goods.  And what delicious goods they are!  Aling Lita specializes in authentic Filipino dishes.  They’re good enough to feature in a cookbook but affordable enough to cater to the interminable line of tricycle drivers anticipating lunch.  My recommendations – try her Mongo and Pork Afritada.

Born in November, 1942, this accomplished cook has been employed in various capacities.  However, the career she is most proud to boast includes a wonderful stint at Malacanang Palace, serving the President of the Philippines and her staff.  In fact, it wasn’t long ago when she decided to retire…political reasoning she refuses to discuss with just about everyone.  However, with enough prodding, she opened up (sorry, for my ears only).

Every morning, before the crack of dawn (the sun rises way too early for my American eyes to stand), she prepares her income producing meals actually cooked the night before.  Loading it into her portable rolling cart along with various utensils, plates, pots and pans she walks to the closest gathering of Jeepnies.  Armed with a large, straw-nit purse, as colorful as her long summer dress, she begins her grueling journey to the wooden shack she calls her store.  Actually, it’s just an old, unstable stand on the corner of two well trodden streets.  She’s there by 7:30am and packs up by 2pm.  Hours given to her by the owner of the stand.

Aling Lita can’t stay past 2pm anyways, her other responsibilities at home beckoning her presence.  Unfortunately, family life isn’t something she necessarily looks forward to nowadays.  Troubled with marital problems, stressed out college-aged children and other tensions to remain unmentioned, going home is not a highlight.  So my prayers for her continue for the things most important to most people – family.

Before leaving, I give her a large developed picture taken of her and a new found love, Josiah.  After giving me a plethora of snacks, Josiah gives her a smile, I give her a hug and we begin marching down the street.  But before we get out of earshot, she yells, “Next time I’ll come over to your house and make something special!”

Jeffrey Talibutab

There’s a guard for almost every establishment, building and event that takes root in the Philippines.  Sure, almost every developed city in the world employs these protectors, but not as abundantly as this archipelago nation.  The Philippines provides jobs for literally hundreds of thousands of men to help bring order to places that would otherwise thrive with crime.

Jeffrey Talibutab started his position at the St. Jude subdivision less than a year ago.  Venturing outside of his province in Iloilo was a very easy decision.  Most young men his age find it difficult to find any form of income in rural places.  But leaving his beloved town of Cabutuan was a painful experience.  Saying goodbye to family and friends, he knew that he would only embrace them again after a year.  And though his province is only half a day’s travel away, requesting vacation is next to impossible.  Almost all of his income goes back home to provide for his mother and three sisters and taking any type of leave would jeopardize that.

The twenty-year old rarely sits down.  He is constantly walking to and from his guard shack.  Greeting vehicles that enter and exit his gate, calling tricycle drivers for others, assisting residents in just about everything and patrolling the neighborhood are just a few of his visible duties.  Jeff lives in a two-bedroom shanty shack close to the gate.  It’s tucked away behind foliage and a couple of large trees and is hidden well enough to prevent any unsightly scenery.  Unfortunately, the fact that nobody can see his poverty-ridden shack does not mean that it’s not there.  The houses that he guards are middle class homes belonging to nurses, contractors, business owners and retirees.  The cars that pass him by are mostly brand new.  However, instead of feeling down and depressed about his situation, Jeffrey dreams of his future.

One day, he hopes to finish school.  Back in the province, he started college but never finished due to family financial hardship.  Unlike the United States, loans cannot be taken out easily and if a family is starving, the able bodied men of the family must venture out to help sustain.  Jeff is the only man in his family.  He has a dream to finish his degree and to join the Philippine National Police force.  Another one of his dreams includes marrying his girlfriend, starting a family and continuing his financial support to his mother.

Jeff loves the beauty that the Philippines exude…from the urban, concrete jungle to the paradise-like fauna of the provincial white sand beaches.  Though he encounters people who look down on him and don’t treat him with the respect he deserves, Jeff feels that one of the Philippines’ strong points is the pleasant, hard working and helpful people that call the islands home.  However, he despises the corruption that pervades every aspect of society, coming from the top up and trickling down to the poor.  And it is precisely this problem that forces him to look up to God and ask, “Why are so many people living in poverty?”

Mr. Talibutab gives the people who sleep in his subdivision a comforting peace every night because of his service as a guard.  I appreciate his kindness and hope to meet more young men like him.

Guillermo M. Icban

After our discussion, I shut the door to his green gate pausing for a moment to let it all sink in.  What do you do next after hearing the adventures of an Overseas Filipino Worker? Especially one who had called a tiny island in the middle of the ocean home for 17 years?  When he was in his 40’s, Guillermo M. Icban Jr. was recruited by the United States Navy to work as a government contractor on Diego Garcia, a secluded island owned by the British but leased by the U.S.  Already employed as a successful auditor for a local military installation, choosing him to be in charge of the Finance Department was a no-brainer.  But for Mr. Guillermo, taking the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was a struggle.  The position was deemed “unaccompanied” meaning that he would have to leave his family behind.  Save for the frequent visits back to the Philippines, a lifetime of loneliness awaited.

As the story goes, June (his nickname) took the job in order to ensure a stable income for his family.  It proved profitable, allowing all of his children to finish college and earning him a sizeable pension, something many Filipinos know nothing about.  As we talked, he sat in front of me somehow enjoying the heat of the midday.  He basked in the peace of knowing that his entire family was taken care of.  In fact, he is the patriarch of four households located in his subdivision alone, his daughter holding the title of housing association president.  Being retired for the better part of 5 years certainly has its perks, one of them enjoying the raucous laughter and joy of his many grandchildren running around us in the midst of our conversation.

Born in 1943 in the little town of Hermosa in the province of Bataan, June has seen a lot.  From military coups, presidential fall-outs, a World War and several other global military conflicts, the man is a brewing pot of wisdom.  I had the privilege of hearing his desire to see the Philippines united as brothers and sisters.  As it were, the thing he loves the most about the islands is the fact that he feels close to the people, even strangers who pass by.  He has the gift of gab and his desire to talk to others is easily quenched in his neighborhood.  June describes his 67 years of life as peaceful…only when in the Philippines of course.  He is grateful for the freedom of religion that is offered to the people but admits hating the fighting occurring in the South.  “Whether it’s Muslims seeking political separation or rebels kidnapping for money, I hate it because those are my brothers…my fellow Filipinos.”

He desires to see peace and unity and believes that God will grant it as long as the nation prays.  We ended our time together reading out of Genesis chapter 2 – a wonderful end to an amazing conversation.

Dani Sorriano

Dominador Sorriano, or Kuya Dani for short, humbly expressed his gratitude to God for his current living situation in one simple sentence: No money, no problem.

A taxi driver in the Philippines, he routinely works 24 hours per shift every other day. He shares his cab with a partner who works the other days.  Though not his own boss, Dani certainly has the freedom to go where he wants to go or to travel as far as his gas takes him.  But, with money as tight as it is, he pretty much takes anyone that waves him down.

Naps come at intervals throughout the night but admittedly Dani only sleeps 2 hours.  Life gets easier when the sun goes down, traffic understandably lessening but transportation still in demand due to the call centers that function on Western time zones.  Taxi fares are cheap here so after paying his boss (the Operator who owns his car) take home wages are next to nothing.  But Kuya Dani loves his job, rather, is extremely thankful that he has money to pay for rent.

Born in Pangasinan he grew up in San Carlos.  His seven brothers and two sisters highlight his life, bringing meaning to the mundane but stressful traffic of Metro Manila.  They give him something to look forward to.  Currently living in Cainta, the minute he steps out of his door, the meter starts and work officially begins.

Kuya Dani loves the Philippines.  He would call himself a devout nationalist.  Describing the people as friendly and personable, he definitely exhibited the stereotypical demeanor of a hard working and amiable Filipino.  He wants to see his people come up from the poverty that oppresses the majority of his closest friends and relatives.  But he believes that as long as there is corruption in the government, there will always be people living in hardship.

Some of the things that get on his nerve:  high living expenses, working with no benefits, the current state of politics, and the weather.  Jokingly, Dani describes people who rub him the wrong way as being just like the weather.  “One minute their cool as the rain, the next their hot as the sun.”

He thanks God for the opportunities that have brought him to his current state of being.  Having traveled the world as an Overseas Filipino Worker, he has had the privilege of providing for his family, gaining work experience and meeting new and exciting people.  Kuya Dani is certainly a person that will brighten your day from the start of your cab ride to the arrival of your destination.

It Begins…

Changing the world…a cliche maybe.  But it is a hope that lies within the hearts of many inhabitants on this planet.  Sometimes we forget that making a positive impact on society is best actualized in the context of community.  By remaining encapsulated in our own personal bubble, too fearful or selfish to venture out into the world that surrounds us, we forgo the amazing phenomenon called unity.  Every person has a story.  If we somehow knew each others stories, I believe unity has a greater chance of succeeding.  My goal then…to marry community and story-telling as one.  The purpose:  To change the world.  I won’t tell you how that’s going to happen, we’ll just have to wait and see.