We were blessed yesterday to have participated in a mass presided by our very own Bishop Ongtioco in concelebrating the 40th Sacerdotal Anniversary of our parish priest, Monsignor Dominic Erfe. Waiting on the front steps of Victoria Towers in front of Mang Inasal restaurant along Timog Avenue, we were approached by an American foreigner who started by asking us if we could speak and understand his native tongue, English. He was frantic in asking the direction of a nearby church he went to earlier for help and from the looks of it, he seemed tired from walking around helplessly.
He said he was from Malate and her wife just gave birth 4 days ago. He was broke, has no job, and completely worn out to find any means of having money for his new-born child’s clothes and medicine. What we heard next melted my heart in complete awe and fascination. He was so desperate that he was actually begging us to give him some spare change if we have any. Though we don’t really have much, my mom got a bill and tucked it quietly in the hands of the foreigner who was honest enough to admit that he was very, very embarrassed of having to beg like that. It was the first time in my life that I have experienced something like this.
After we told him the direction of our parish, he went on in his way thanking us with all his heart. It was uplifting to have been of help to a soul in distress. But what I have been contemplating after all that was the courage it took that American to swallow his pride in a foreign land and stand up for his wife and child.
I have just witnessed what perfect attitude of a loving protector and provider ought to be. This image of a father-figure is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
He said he was from Malate and her wife just gave birth 4 days ago. He was broke, has no job, and completely worn out to find any means of having money for his new-born child’s clothes and medicine. What we heard next melted my heart in complete awe and fascination. He was so desperate that he was actually begging us to give him some spare change if we have any. Though we don’t really have much, my mom got a bill and tucked it quietly in the hands of the foreigner who was honest enough to admit that he was very, very embarrassed of having to beg like that. It was the first time in my life that I have experienced something like this.
After we told him the direction of our parish, he went on in his way thanking us with all his heart. It was uplifting to have been of help to a soul in distress. But what I have been contemplating after all that was the courage it took that American to swallow his pride in a foreign land and stand up for his wife and child.
I have just witnessed what perfect attitude of a loving protector and provider ought to be. This image of a father-figure is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
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