Association of Filipino Catholic Missionaries in Korea

YOBOSEYO

(Picture, L-R: Mayra San Juan: Co-Coordinator, Fr. Alvin Parantar:

Coordinator, Sr. Ester: Treasurer, Violeta Villaraiz: Secretary)

I thank fellow members for giving me a chance to

Newsletter of the

serve the association. Though my hands are already full with

concerns for the Filipino migrants, I would take the new task
with willingness, and hope that there is something worthy that I
can contribute for the furtherance of the association’s objectives.
My sincerest gratitude goes to Fr. Willy and his
officers for the job well done in sustaining the fellowship
and missionary zeal of the members. With your achieve-
ments, we have something to build on; with your example
we have a path to follow.
To all, let us continue to move together in facing
the challenges of migrant ministry, in the spirit of collabo-
ration and the constant joy of self-giving, as we share in
the mission of our Lord. - - - Fr. Alvin, MSP

Dear Companions in Mission,

As we are now entering the heart of summer, we
are feeling the heat that sometimes slows us down. We
wear comfortable clothes, enjoy eating “patpingsu,” or
go for vacation.
Our summer gathering is a break from the minis-
try, where we relax, enjoy each other’s company, share
experiences, and celebrate,
May we use this God-given opportunity of time
and space where we can give each other a gift of just-
being-together. May God bless each one of us.

SUMMER 2009 - - - Maimai, Co-Coordinator

Dear companion missionaries,

Peace and blessings ! I believe we did not have much time to ex-
change "thank you" before we ended our last reunion. So it is good to have
this opportunity to say it in print. We had many opportunities in the last two
years to come together in big and small groups, to spend time with one an-
other and refresh our missionary enthusiasm. Without your cooperation and
generosity nothing much could have been accomplished. So together with my
partner-president , Emily, we simply feel so grateful to each and everyone of
you. This gratitude goes in a special way to our fellow officers who did a lot
of work to pursue our planned activities and promote our good relationship to
one another. These fellow officers, too, I am sure, join Emily and me in ex-
pressing our deep gratitude.
As our new officers begin their service to our association, let us
give them our whole hearted cooperation . Our prompt response to messages
and requests from our leadership contribute much to the smooth and happy
achievement of our activities and bond of friendship. “Mabuhay ang mga
bagong leaders natin !” May God continue to hold us in His love....

With warm affection,

Fr. Willy

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 Serving the Diaspora
Migrants
By Fr. Cedric Alimbuyong, MSP
Chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Community-
Diocese of Uijeongbu
(Picture: L-R, Bp. Joseph Lee of Uijeongbu,
Fr. Cedric, Fr. Haein Cho Paul )

My work as chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Communities in the Dio-

cese of Uijeongbu (FCC-DU) is like doing mission for a community in
Diaspora. I have four Filipino communities, namely: Maseok, Guri,
Dongducheon and Paju-Pong Ilcheon. I see them regularly at the cele-
bration of the Holy Eucharist, the center of our Christian life.

I celebrate Mass in Pong Ilcheon Church every first Sunday; on Thurs-

days in Dongducheon church at 3:00pm; on Saturdays in Guri at
7:30pm (anticipated Mass). In Maseok, Chonma church, we gather
every second and fourth Sunday for the Mass. From time to time, I also
say Mass for the El Shaddai Prayer Partners in Seoul, depending on the
availability of schedule.

My pastoral work with the Filipino migrants consists of the following:

to assist them in labor related problems; transport their baggage and
visit them at the Immigration detention centers; escort them to the hos-
pital when they are sick; give them counseling and spiritual direction;
organize sports during weekends; and pray for all of them. I make my-
self available for their various needs by working at the Exodus Migrant
Centers of the Diocese.

In the Diocese, I am blessed with the support of three Korean priests,

who are working full time for the migrants, namely: Fr. John (Guri) Fr.
Joe (Uijeongbu) and Fr. Anselmo (Pong Ilcheon). Their assistance
makes my otherwise difficult apostolate more manageable and fruitful.
Ito lang po muna ang updates ko. Thanks!

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4
 We are all called to love but we respond differently. The experiences I’ve
had in life since childhood lead me to respond to the call of mission. I was called by
my name and was nurtured by people, events, places and experiences of God’s un-
conditional love, which in the process brought me to where I am now, a Columban
lay missionary. I said “Yes” to share in the mission of Christ, a mission to love out
of love, crossing boundaries of culture, gender, creed and race.
Learning the language of the people in a foreign country is not easy, but an
essential step. It’s more than just learning how to speak, read and write. It’s learning
how to communicate with the local people; hearing and understanding what they are
saying and not saying, and be able to respond accordingly. It is also a time to listen
to oneself in a new culture.
Once when I got sick, during my first assignment in Korea, it was very diffi-
cult to fully express my condition with the little Korean I knew. I felt like a child
again. I had to learn to entrust myself to other people to get a treatment. Since I
have allergies to some medicine, it was difficult to entirely put my trust on the doc-
tors who did not know my medical history and the pharmacists who gave me medi-
cines I did not know. I simply followed what I was told, and trusted that the God
who sent me was there with me all the way. He knew best.
I am now in Myanmar, and I am back to being a child again. I thought it
would be easier this time. However, it’s not totally the case. I have to unlearn and
learn again with a heart set in Myanmar, trying to understand the heart and mind of
the Burmese. I have to see and experience them as they are without judgment or
comparison, and know where they are coming from.
In studying the Burmese language, sometimes Korean words come into
play. When English, Pilipino and Cebuano words join the mix-up in my mind, I have
to simply stop. Then, I either smile or sigh, just when I thought I was already mov-
ing ahead with my Burmese language! Humor and a positive outlook have been a
good help. I need to be a child again lest I get lost in the world of the ego.
Being on mission is a process. In walking with the people, I’m also being
processed internally by the experiences that purify my intentions, motivations, my
thoughts and my heart. It is only with God’s grace that all these things can hap-
pen. He needs me to be open to receive Him so that He can work in me and through
me; and He can reach out to others and they to me.
When realities, idealism and values clash, and the urge to do something is
strong. I feel the need, at times, to sit back and see things from the perspective of
God’s boundless love and learn again to trust in His goodness. “He makes all things
beautiful in His time,” as the lyrics of a song goes. Oftentimes, it is easier to do than
to be. But it is in the ministry of presence, walking with the people in their joys and
pains where I learn to understand and reach out to them in compassion.

With love and prayers,

Arlenne
COLUMBAN LAY MISSIONARY in Myanmnar

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Cita is back from the Philippines. She’s been away for 10 months for holiday and studies on
Women Migration. She also participated in Columban meetings in Japan and Taiwan on Mi-
gration issues. At the moment she is doing language refresher course and hopes to do ministry
focusing on women and international marriage after summer. The photos below are from her
long-term contract signing as a Columban Lay Missionary, Taiwan Migrants Exposure, and
vocation campaign in Mindanao.

Sr. Ellen M. Ducusin, a Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart (SFSC), is doing her apostolate
in caring for the aged at Hangwon City. She says her best regards to us all missionaries.

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 My Journey at the Emmaus Center
Sr. Ester

Almost two years ago since I started to be a part of Su-

won Emmaus Center. This Center provides services for the Migrant
Workers coming from different countries. At present, the staff is com-
posed of nine (9) members; three (3) Religious Sisters, five (5) Lay Part-
ners (all Social Workers) and a Korean priest as our Director.
Actually, Suwon Emmaus is the main Center of the Diocesan
apostolate for migrants, with its different branches in Ansan, Anyang-
Gunpo, Gwangju, Baran, Pyeongtaek, Songtan and Yong-in. Our pro-
grams at the Center consists of Korean and English classes, computer lit-
eracy, Korean history, and skills training such as cooking, accessories
making and arts that can be useful for their daily married life. There is
also a nursery, where the mothers leave their babies while attending their
classes, shelter for men and women who are released from job, and a noo-
dle restaurant that opens from Monday to Friday.
We have Spanish mass once a month. A Vietnamese SVD priest comes
for the Sunday mass of the Vietnamese. English mass is also celebrated every
Sunday where the choir, commentators and readers are Filipino migrants. We also
facilitate recollections and retreats for the migrant workers and intermarriage
couples during longer vacation. These activities promote their spiritual nourish-
ment and deepen their faith. We also have recreational programs, quarterly, for
free, to promote cultural appreciation and solidarity.
Those who usually come to the Center fondly called me “the Welcoming
Nun." I enjoy spending time listening to their litany of problems, and their un-
ending stories regarding their spouses, in-laws and children. I also do Catechism
for those who will receive Baptism and Pre-Cana conference for the Intermar-
riage. Sometimes, I help in cooking, and cleaning of the Center. At times, we
visit the Migrant workers in their factories or working areas. I am happy being
one of them and be part of their lives.
I have come to accept the differences in culture, relig-
ion, language, and even their customs and practices; and realized that no
culture is superior to another. Learning from other cultures is already a
growth-promoting process. And I am very grateful for every event that
comes my way. At the end of the day when I go home, though physically
tired, I feel a deep sense of happiness being a missionary. Thus, my daily
service is doing the ordinary things in an extraordinary manner. ***

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Sr. Luz Olalia,SJBP, will start full time ministry in Kasan Migrant Workers' Center
on June 14, 2009. She will be a probinsiyana from then on and is looking forward to
a more quiet place to bask in the love of God, when there are no cases to attend to.
She has served at the Catholic International Parish of Seoul in Hannam - dong for
almost 8 years. She is grateful for her experiences there especially to the parish priest
- Rev. Fr. Giancarlo Faldani, OFM Conventual.

Sr. Sue Villaverde, SJBP, will arrive on June 4 and will take the place of Sr. Luz at
the Catholic International Parish of Seoul in Hannam - dong. Actually, Sr. Sue is a
"balik Korea” missionary. Sr. Sue and Sr. Luz will live in the same community of
their Congregation in Mubong 1 ri, Pocheon -si, Gyeonggi-do. Warm welcome to Sr.
Sue.

Fr. Bobby Cahilig, OMI. The Filipino Catholic Community of Pyeongtaek city
celebrated Migrants' Day last May 10, 2009.The festival started with the celebration
of the Eucharist which was held at the Pyeongtaek Parish hall.
It was presided by Fr.Bobby G.Cahilig, OMI, the acting chaplain of the Catholic Mi-
grants of Pyeongtaek. A Basketball tournament, which was the main event of the
festival, started with the presentation of the players. Everybody was enjoying the day,
even their children were having fun with each other at the park. The festival was
graced by the two seminarians, Bro Johan, OMI, from Bangladesh, who is here for
pastoral exposure for two years and Bro.Samuel, OMI, our Korean seminarian.

Frs. Froilan, OFM and Basty, OFM who were officially assigned by their congre-
gation just the second week of February this year to the city of Jinju, are now doing
their pastoral and sacramental services not only to the Filipinos there but to other
migrants and to some Koreans as well, as they continue studying the Korean Lan-
guage. Admitting that they can not still deliver their homilies in Korean, they are
happy, though, that somehow they can at least read the Gospel and say the Holy
Mass in Korean. Nowadays, they are taking care of Sunday English Masses for mi-
grants in Changwon and Jinju City in the Diocese of Masan, where most of the mass
goers are Filipinos. In the Parish of Chiram, Jinju City, an office for the migrants has
been put up, recently, through the collaborative efforts of the OFM , FMM and the
parishioners of Chiram Catholic Church. This new office is now the working base of
two friars minor.

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Fr. Willy has been in contact with some members of the Association. He made a
5-day retreat with Violie and Sr. Maria Teresa at the Suwon Catholic Educational
Center. It was a very good scripture-inspired rest facilitated by Fr. Gio-
vanni,OMI. On Saturdays, he meets Sr. Virginia in the Missionary of Charity's
convent at Kojan, Ansan City . He celebrates Mass regularly there with the
grandmothers and the Sisters. He has also met at the RGS convent, Sr. Rita who
came back recently from Pinas. He welcomed back Sr. Sue (Pastorelle) by phone
few days ago. Sr. Sue now works in Hannam -dong International Church. He
also talked with Sr. Luz in her Gasan Migrant Workers office where she is work-
ing now full time. He had conversation with Sr. Ester the other day about Sister's
busy schedule at Emmaus Center. He welcomed Pres. Gloria Arroyo at Lotte
Hotel with Srs. Michaela, Luz, Rosa, Frs. Jun (OSA), Mandy, Baste and Froilan.
They had the Eucharist and a big meal together with hundreds of Pinoys to
honor her Excellency and her entourage. He serves three Filipino communities:
Taerim, Jeongeup City, and Kunsan City. His regular daily duty is to accompany
the Redemptorist seminarians in their formation. He is happy with his mission-
ary engagements.

Doc Emely finally said “YES” to God by openly allowing her son, Reinier Josef,
to enter the St. Mary's Seminary in Laoag on June 1st. She personally accompa-
nied him to his new home. But even before this, the Lord has been so generous to
her and her family for she was unexpectedly accepted as the first Filipino profes-
sor to join The Catholic University of Korea (CUK), under the Theology Depart-
ment and part of the recruitment staff of Filipino professors and students to the
CUK. She will officially start on September (Fall Semester). She is also happy
that she is with her children as her eldest daughter enters freshman at the Univer-
sity of the Philippines, Los Banos. She is staying longer in the Philippines to fin-
ish a Religion Textbook Series she is writing with some friends. Her inspirational
book, "And God Smiled Back" is finally out at the St. Paul Bookstores by the end
of this month, and will be launched on September 18, 2009 on the occasion of the
International Book Fair in Manila. Doc Emely is looking forward to the new life
ahead of her. But one thing is for sure, she will always be a missionary by heart.

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 On Mondays and Thursdays in the morning, I teach English to some
Korean mothers. On Wednesdays I go to Paran Emmaus to teach English to
another group. I love my work. It's one way of sharing with the needy what
God has given me. I use the Scriptures for the reading exercises and ask them
to share with the group what sentence or phrase that captures their attention
and I give them a homework to memorize the same sentence or phrase. As of
now, they are not yet ready to do the "Lectio Divina," that's why I ask them
to do these. I am preparing them little by little for LD. They need to have
more grammar knowledge, not to mention, free talking exercises. I am con-
tented with how they response to this challenge.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, I attend class in Korean. My
classmates are foreign women married to Korean men, most of them are Chi-
nese and Japanese. This term will end on June 30. I have decided to quit for
the next level because of some community needs that are waiting to be at-
tended to.
On Sundays, together with some Filipinos who willingly do the ser-
vice of Mary's domiciliary visit, I go to the houses of the Pinoy migrant
workers. Together, we pray the Holy Rosary. Before we start the prayer, I
give them some catechesis on varied topics that go with the liturgical feast.
There are times that we read the Gospel because most of them don't go to
Mass. Mga "artista" kasi sila. Mahaba na ito kaya, end na muna. Thanks and
regards!

Sr. Maria Teresa

***

(Picture: Bro. Dominic, farthest right,

with his community)

Bro. Dominic. He started his apostolate at the Catholic Center for the International
Migrants, by giving Bible reflection with the Filipinos once a week. He is involve in
the choir, and attends the prayer meetings of the EL Shaddai group in Pusan. He still
studies Korean language (self-study), sometimes with someone willing to spend
time to teach him Korean. He started counseling for the Filipinos, and he hopes to
really start regular counseling for everybody, especially for those who really need it.
We can join him through our prayers.

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Sr. Susie shares her experience in Talibon, Bohol: "Guess what? We finally set up
the altar for Our Mother of Perpetual Help. We had it framed here in Talibon and for
some reasons we can not pick up the frame. Finally, we made the trip and brought
her home and that day was also the birthday of our founder. So we call it a gift from
our founder.

The day after the temporary profession of our novices, Sr. Eva got sick and was hos-
pitalized in Tagbilaran. It was my first experience of keeping watch in the hospital,
and now I know why people die or left to die. The amount of medication is very ex-
pensive. The hospital sends you out to buy medicine 3 to 4 times a day. Take
care. God bless!"

Message from Cris (an excerpt of a letter sent to Fr. Willy):

Greetings! I’m, starting a small business near the maritime school here in Bacolod.
Small “Karinderia lang muna.” And I’ll be taking up a 1-unit teaching load on CPE
for the nursing students of CSA-B, starting august. For one semester lang. How is the
association?

FR. Arlon, OSA. Greetings from the Philippines. I am here with my mother in Bi-
col. I have tried to get ticket for Korea but it is too expensive. So I will be missing
you and our friends. Maybe I will try to plan it for next year. I heard you have en-
joyed the visit of Pres. Arroyo during the last week of May on the Phil-
Korea Diplomatic Relation anniversary. Give my regards to all. God bless you. I
will be returning to the US on June 29.

Message from Arlenne (excerpt of the e-mail she sent to Fr. Willy). "I just finished
my language studies last May 29. When I go back to Myanmar (Salamat sa Diyos,
'Dre, I got my visa!), I'll spend a few days in Yangon with my group and then we go
up to Banmaw, where we are officially assigned. Up to now, Dre, wala pa mi kahi-
balo kung unsa among buhaton, but the bishop has given us a list of possibili-
ties. Maayo kaayo siya, 'Dre, kay he's giving us almost the rest of the year to go
around, get some exposure and then when the parish council meets sometime towards
the end of the year, we sit down with them and then decide kung unsa among gustong
buhaton. I continue to pray for God's leadings and for the grace for me to discern
and know his thoughts and plans for me.... and the love to follow them in accordance
with his will. ''

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 WELCOME! MABUHAY!
A woman gets on a bus with her baby.
The bus driver says, "That's the ugliest Sr. Diana Madulara, RGS, a Junior Sister
baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!” The from RGS Juniorate in Aurora, Q.C. Before
woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits she entered religious life, she was a Secondary
down, fuming. She says to a man next to School Teacher in Iligan. She entered RGS in
2001, and arrived in Korea on May 19, 2009
her, "The driver just insulted me." The under the RGS program for International-
man says "You go right up there and tell Missionary experience. This program regu-
him off. Go a head, I'll hold your monkey larly takes 5 months, but because of unex-
for you." * * * pected visa difficulties she will only be here
until August 2009. Her first impressions in
Korea: she enjoys fellowship with the Filipino
A man and a friend are playing golf one community, but she is frustrated with the real-
day at their local golf course. One of the ity of many Filipina women who married
guys is about to chip onto the green when Koreans, and falling victims to domestic vio-
lence and injustice. This experience however
he sees a long funeral procession on the challenges her to commit herself to serve the
road next to the course. He stops in mid- cause of migrant women. * * *
swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his
eyes, and bows down in prayer. His
friend says: "Wow.. that is the most Ms. Marlene G. Lim is
thoughtful and touching gesture I have the newest staff of the
ever seen. You truly are a kind man. The Philippine Catholic
man replies "Yeah, well... we were mar- Center. She is a well
ried 35 years. * * * trained community
organizer, environmen-
talist and a promoter of
women rights. She
Lunch time at a table, a man looks sad decided to leave her post as an Administrative
and eating very slowly. His missionary Officer of the National Commission on the
friend was sitting across the table. Role of Filipino Women under the Office of
the President of the Philippines to come to
man: you know the Han river? Korea to serve the community.
missionary: yes I know.
man: I feel so sad. My life is useless. I The Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP)
is also close to her heart. She worked as secre-
like to end it all by committing suicide. I tary at the MSP Central Office. She was one
have to jump into the Han river. of the pioneer organizers and implementers of
missionary: (after some thoughts) It is the PCP II at the Parish of Our Lady of the
winter time. The Han river is frozen. You Abandoned (POLA) in Mandaluyong City,
can wait until spring if you like. * * * under the MSP Fathers. * * *

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