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Metaphors of hope

If everyone found it difficult during the pandemic, much more so with these widows and mothers

The widows and mothers of extrajudicial killing victims of Payatas have not met because of the restrictions during the pandemic. We used to come together and share our stories and struggles twice each month since their loved ones have been killed. But the lockdown forced them to stay home.

You can imagine how the problems multiplied – pain of loss, care and studies of the children, food and livelihood, everything. If everyone found it difficult during the pandemic, much more so with these widows and mothers.

We have met again after one year and five months. It was a joy to see each other. We asked them a simple question: “What are your symbols and stories of hope after tokhang and during the pandemic?” We asked them to draw or scribble their ideas. These are some of their responses in their own words.




LANGKA. “Habang sinusugatan ang katawan, lalong dumadami ang bunga. Dati ang konti pa natin, ang sakit ng pinagdaanan natin. Tapos may pandemya pa. Pero tuloy lang tayo at ngayon nandito na tayo.”

ARAW. “Didilim man ang gabi, bukas sisikat at sisikat din. Magliliwanag din. Ito yong aking simbolo ng pag-asa.”

IBON. “Ihihahalintulad ko ang sarili sa isang ibon na nakaupo sa isang barbed wire. Siempre pagkatapos ng bagyo ang ibon po ay mamayagpag. Titigil lang pansamantala. Pero lilipad din siya.”

KAWAYAN. “Minsan nakayuko. Minsan nakadapa. Pero kahit nakayuko man o nakadapa, talagang babangon. Kaya sa gitna ng hirap ng buhay, bumabangon din ako. Laban!”

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IBON. “Sa gitna ng pandemic, ang hirap ng buhay. Pero bilang ibon, kaya nating lumaya.”

TAO AT MAKINA. Binigyan ako ng trabaho sa papamagitan ng makinang ito. Nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa.”

PUSO. “Kasi noong nangyari sa akin yon, hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay pumasok sa puso ko. Sinabi ng Diyos: Huwag kang bibitaw sa akin. Manalangin ka lang. Kaya puso ang pinili ko, sagisag ng pag-ibig ng Diyos.”

MGA ANAK KO. “Sinabi sa akin may mga anak pa rin akong kasama sa buhay. Hindi lang sarili ang iniintindi ko. Sa kanila ako humuhugot ng lakas ng loob. Kung wala sila, siguro wala din ako.”

MGA TAONG TUMULONG SA AKIN. “Noong namatay ang anak ko, nawalan ako ng pag-asa. Pero may mga taong tumulong sa akin, kayo din po. Kaya ako nandito.”

ARAW. “May liwanag. Bawat isa sa atin may tinatahak na problema. Pero sa dami at bigat ng problema ko, sisikat pa rin ang araw. Sumikat din para sa akin. Dumaan sa atin ang bagyo. Nawalan tayo ng mahal sa buhay. Malaki ang problema ng ating bansa. Pero paggising natin, sisikat at sisikat pa rin ang araw.”

BIBLIA. Sa panahon ng pandemic, napakahirap. Walang masakyan. Kung papasok ako, lahat ng kita ko ay pumunta lang sa sasakayan. Nagpapasalamat na naturuan nyo kami ng tungkol sa psycho-spiritual. Natoto akong magbasa ng Bible. Sabi nga doon sa Mt. 11: 28: “Lapit kayong lahat na mga nahihirapan at kayo’y aking pagpapahingahin. Pasanin ang aking pamatok at ito’y magaan.” Kaya naisipan kong bumalik sa Panginoon, dahil sa kanya lang malagpasak. At sabi doon sa Santiago 1:2 “magalak kayong lahat na dumadaan sa pagsubok dahil papalakasin niya kayo.”

PAMILYA AT PANALANGIN. Kahit na anong pagsubok na dumating nagpapasalamat ako dahil intact po kami.”

LOLA AT ASAWA KO. “Simula po ng pandemia, ang lola ko lang po ang nalalapitan ko. Maaga po kasi ako nag-asawa. Natakot akong hindi ako tanggapin ng lola ko kasi nga maaga akong nag-asawa. Mali pala ako. Tinanggap pa rin ako. Ikalawa, yong mahal sa buhay ko ngayon.”

BULAKLAK. “Kahit na po ito malanta, bumabangon pa rin ito para ipakita ang isang magandang bukas.”

The youth and high school kids also met with other facilitators. And the small children with another group. Some of their workshop outputs are in the pictures shown here. We asked them the same question: “Ano o sino ang nagbibigay sa inyo ng pag-asa sa panahon ng pandemia?”

Their responses are down to earth and funny:

“Kumain, matulog, mag-module, lagging mag-isa, manood ng anime.”

“Laruan, manood po ng cartoons, si Mama, si Ate, si Papa, maglaro, kumain.”

“Guitar at anime.”

“My BFF is my happynes.”

“Pamilya ko. Sila ang nag-push sa akin para makapagtapos ako at maabot ko ang mga pangarap ko.”

“Si Mama yong pag-tapos si God. Kasi si Mama yong anjan sa amen. Tapos po si God ‘yong lagging naggagabay samen. Sige po siyang anjan para sa amin. I love yo Ma.”

I read the Gospel of the day. It says: “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6: 30-34).

They were like sheep without a shepherd. That was four year ago when the mothers and widows were totally lost and did not know what to do and where to go.

But despite the pandemic and all the troubles we are in, their metaphors tell me that they have transformed. Now, I see in them the shepherd Jesus whose heart went out to their children and families, to others who need their care, to be strong for them, to teach them many things, to let go of their needed rest so that the lost sheep may find their home.

They all agreed to meet again regularly to support each other, to go on a common recollection when the rules permit. But they also agreed to fight for justice for their loved ones whatever it takes.

Father Daniel Franklin Pilario, C.M. is a theologian, professor, and pastor of an urban poor community in the outskirts of the Philippine capital.

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