Dumaguete  City, May, 2011

Dear Sisters, Associates, friends and relatives,

The dramatic events that have occurred in Asia during the last several weeks forced all humanity to face the urgency of becoming a more compassionate and united human family. Japan, the nineteen provinces in the Philippines and the other islands -- first hit by the tsunami and then by the radioactive clouds -- cry out for help to overcome this terrible disaster and regain  the strength to rebuild -- especially to recover from the psychological, social, and ethical ruins. Natural disasters, old and new wars, tell us that the world and creation itself need healing which may bring justice and peace to our hearts, as well as among peoples and nations.

Many of you reached out to us with loving concern, asking for news about us and our environment. Thank you! This time too, we have been spared and, thanks to the Lord, are doing fine.  

We like the idea of thinking about our caring and healing presence here in Dumaguete City as building, as laying brick upon brick. Here are some highlights of our life. . . .

Hope and Joy – Celebrating our First Anniversary
On December 15, we celebrated our first year of ministry at  “LANDONG SA PAGLAUM” (SHELTER OF HOPE) Center. The day was devoted to thanking and praising God and Mother Frances, who, on her feast day, gathered all of us – friends, benefactors, and guests -- around the same table  for the Liturgy and for an abundant festive meal. There were about two hundred people present; about 120 are our usual guests at the soup kitchen. The others were friends, benefactors, and religious men and women. Our Bishop, Msgr. John Du, presided at the Liturgy, while the choir “White Dove” (the members are all without sight or visually impaired) made our feast truly solemn.

Our street children and adults arrived early so they could take a shower and wear new clothes and flip flops we had given them for the occasion. A group of children also received the white T-shirts with our Red Cross, sent from Brooklyn by our friends Elena and Melissa. You should have seen how proud and happy they were when they wore their T-shirts!   

Dinner was almost completely donated by our two friends; it was abundant and delicious. There was also the typical lechon (small pork) – there were actually two! Here there are no celebrations without the lechon and the pansettini (Chinese-style noodles). These are the staples of a celebration and a sign of good wishes.

We can say with joy that the Lord’s presence and his love for the poorest and the most vulnerable continues to perform the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. 

More Dumaguete Highlights
We also devoted  afternoons to the children. This was sponsored by the Province of Negros. There was transportation provided to the Province Palace where a group of young people was waiting and got the children involved in singing, playing games, and dancing. Everyone was happy because all the activities ended with dinner and ice cream! The same program was repeated for adults and elders who usually come to our soup kitchen. We are deeply grateful to the locals for these signs of solidarity shown toward those who are less fortunate.  

In December, we had the opportunity to visit along with our friend Helena Du a small mountain village. Dawis is an extremely poor place; and we brought a Christmas meal to the 250 children in the Parish, along with a small present for each. This was Christmas for them. After the meal, we gave each one a small package with their gifts. Their faces beamed with joy. These are almost all children of manual laborers, the Saccada, who work in the sugar cane fields – hard and ill-paid work. For us, who are still new to this country, this was a powerful and moving experience. Once more, we feel like crying against injustice, which is against God and human beings.

In January, we noticed a growing number of people coming to us. They numbered 65-70 children and young adults. We became sad when we discovered that after Christmas vacation many do not go back to school. Why? For the most obvious reasons: they don’t have shoes, the parents don’t have the money to purchase school supplies, and there is a lack of food. What can we do in these situations? We feel so powerless. The sad part is that these children do not have healthy families; the problem is serious and complex. As we approach the school year’s end, many are already on vacation. We hope that when school re-opens in June, we will be able to have in place an effective support system for the school year.

Chiny’s Experience of New Life
We are happy about the assistance we give to mothers in difficult situations . . .

Chiny Lovina was several months pregnant and already mother of an 18 month old. . . She was living on the streets. Her son, little John Michael, had not even been registered at the Town Hall. After encouraging her, Chiny placed her child in an orphanage so he could have a chance for a better future. After research and spending time in line at various officies, we obtained John Michael’s birth certificate.

Then Chiny went back to live with her mother and continues to come to our Center with her new baby John Yvonne, who weighed only four pounds at birth. After a week, he weighed even less. John and his mother could not be released from the hospital because they had no money. We went to the hospital with faith and courage and came back with her and the baby! Now Chiny comes to help us and teaches the children to wash their clothes, making some money and getting enough food. Here is what she wrote about her experience:

I was so happy to come to the Shelter of Hope. I suffered so much and felt lonely and abandoned. Now I am happy to spend time here and help others who are less fortunate. I am also able to help my baby grow well. I am happy to see that John Michael is also doing well though I suffer to have him far away from me at the orphanage.

Working at the Shelter of Hope part time allows me to earn a little money to pay for my food. In the past, I often had no food. Now I thank the Sisters for the food and for giving me the opportunity to work and be able to eat.  At times, it is my neighbor who gives me something to eat. I only ask to be able to live and have my child live well.

A Dramatic Healing
Thanks to the precious assistance of Dr. Jabines Donovant, an ophtalmologist who helps us, eyesight was given back to Ms. Aquilina Sebuco. Aquilina was coming to our Center and making some money by collecting plastic and other materials that could be recycled. In the last few months we didn’t see much of her.

We learned that Aquilina had gone completely blind. One of her cataracts was very thick and had become infected. She recovered sight in the right eye, while the left eye needed to first heal and later undergo surgery. There was not much hope for the left eye. You cannot imagine how moving and happy Aquilina was when six weeks after her first visit, she was able to see again – with both eyes! She is a tiny and skinny woman, full of life. Every time she sees us, she dances with joy and gratitude.

Expansion of our Mission
For part of February, we had the great joy of having Sr. Tiziana Merletti with us. Without exaggeration, this was truly a moment of grace and a sign of the Lord’s presence. These were simple, deep and concrete encounters that promoted the development of our mission. We were so happy to visit the plot of land where we hope our house will be built. The highlight of Sr. Tiziana’s visit was the blessing of the land by our Bishop with us. The family who is donating the land were also present. We thank the Lord for this new step and now ask God’s Providence to accelerate the beginning of the building and help us find the necessary funds. 

My dear ones, we say to all our Thank you. You are in our hearts and we pray for you every day – and your dear ones, both living and dead. Please remember us in your lives.  

With respect and love,
Your Sisters,
Armida Sison
Maria Atorino
Cristina Di Nocco

 Previous