Sep 10
1
Our Trip to Pampanga
The jeepney ride was just about as unremarkable as you would think, as we headed on our way towards the Cubao bus station. Same routine, “bayad po” Katy said as she paid the driver. We didn’t really know where the bus station was so naturally we began to ask people where we could find the victory liner bus station. As usual we got a very over used response of a hand halfway pointed in the direction with a gesture at the end indicating which way to eventually turn.
Finally we got off and made our way to the victory liner bus station. Katy got in line and I sat with our belongings in the waiting area. Sitting there watching the tv everything was pretty much standard. A stack of glass bottles sitting near by waiting to be recycled gathering more trash as a woman nearby threw some sort of plastic bag on the pile. Meanwhile the rat that apparently lives behind the refrigerator on the other side of the jumble ran out from its cover to gather something dropped by a passenger and then scurried quickly back to its hiding spot.
We got on the bus and headed on our way. Shortly after leaving the bay we began to see the change in scenery develop quickly from skyscrapers to warehouses to rice fields. After only a short time we arrived at Robinsons San Fernando where our guide would be meeting us.
Being told the trip would take 3 hours we left at 1 pm. Since it only took 2 hours we had some time to kill so we grabbed a bite to eat. I sent our guide a text relaying that we had arrived early and they came and scooped us up shortly afterward.
Directly from Robinsons we headed to one of the University of Assumption’s Outreach Program’s adopted neighborhoods, and inside the community to their livelihood program. The women of the community showed us how they handcrafted doormats of very high quality.
We also visited their chapel on a road called St. Josephs Straight (named because the road had no turns). There we visited the one of the oldest churches in Pampanga. Afterward we left and went the mall and grabbed another bite to eat with our Filipino friends from the UA (outreach program). Then we went to UA and retired for the night.
The next morning we awoke late and hurried to get dressed and headed downstairs. We met our new friends and got on the bus. Then we proceeded to a children’s home. The home was set up for children with special needs; mentally and physically challenged children and adults lived there, although most of the residents were kids.
Arriving just in time for mass we quickly sat down and began. The conclusion of the mass came and then the students in the outreach program had a special event planned and choreographed for the kids which we watched; all the kids had a blast. Then the residents had a program which they performed for us which was awesome! One of the kids was an amazing singer who sang some famous songs including artists like Chicago.
Then we proceeded to the actual home and they were served lunch and we hung out with them for a while before we left. That experience really made think about how many people sit around and mope about nothing really when there are people who have things to be upset about and all they do is smile and want to see you smile.
We left and ate lunch then went back to the UA for what is called ciesta which is where you take a nap after you eat. Being used to waking up much later we accidentally passed out and of course we woke up late again! Waiting on us downstairs was Weslee, one of our PAS scholars, and a few others, including our board member, Charles Espiritu, and a man named Allen.
We then headed out to the Children’s Joy Foundation’s home. When we arrived we saw the kids gathering their instruments and they began to play some songs for us. They were very talented playing the beat box, guitars and violins. At the end they played Dancing Queen by Abba; I was definitely impressed. The children sometimes perform at weddings and other activities as such to raise money for the home. We had a great time hanging out with the kids and listening to them. Afterward we met the home’s mother, as they called her. She was very nice; we talked for a little while and then one of the kids came in and gave us a plate of mirianda prepared by the UAOP. The kids really enjoyed it.
After dinner at the mall we headed back to UA and slept. The next morning as we were leaving, Fr. Aris caught us on the way out and introduced us to the bishop! Then we left and met Charles downstairs who instructed Allen to take us to this really old church. The church was more that 450 years old and still had its original wooden supports! However the most interesting thing about it was that when we entered, we walked through what we thought were doors but actually we were walking through the second story windows where the choir loft used to be. About 15 years ago a volcanic eruption, in fact the largest eruption in recent history we were told, took place and what they called hard flow covered up half of the church. its still being used today for regular masses.
Then we went back to the mall and hopped on a bus headed for Cubao. The trip was really something we will remember for the rest of our lives. I hope you all will pray for these ministries and for PAS that we can support and partner with them. They are very needed here in such impoverished areas of the world. So long for now God bless and as always Ingat!!
