Philippines Immersion
Although it seems like it was some time ago now, during the Term 3 school holidays, I was given the opportunity to undertake an extraordinary opportunity of professional development courtesy of the College and Catholic Education Sandhurst. It was the opportunity to travel to Cebu in the Philippines to experience a social justice immersion with colleagues from other Sandhurst diocesan primary and secondary schools.
Throughout the trip, we visited many places and sites which demonstrated to us the hardships that many of our fellow human beings have to endure. These included visiting dumpsite communities in Umapad, as well as two cemetery communities in downtown Cebu, where families live inside tombs and mausoleums just to have a roof over their heads. At times, some of these places were confronting, especially coming from an Australian perspective, where doing the hokey-pokey inside a family’s tomb where the makeshift kindergarten was being held felt uncomfortable to begin with. However, what it taught me was the enduring nature of the human spirit, as well as how the Catholic Church in the Philippines, as well as the charity whose work we followed whilst there (JPIC) were working towards ensuring that these people and families achieved the level of human dignity and support that they were entitled to.
Also as part of the trip, we visited housing co-operatives that had been established to support families who had been relocated out of the dumpsites and cemeteries. This was great to see, as well as how people living in these communities had now been able to branch out and establish their own small businesses which sold anything from craft and baggage products to folded banana leaves which could be used for cooking rice in for restaurants.
Apart from the sightseeing, which also included seeing the tourist sights of both Cebu and the island of Bohol, a special part of the immersion was forming relationships with the people that we met along the way. We mightn’t have always been able to speak the same language, but we got to know each other and share our journeys one in the same. A highlight of meeting new people for me was in the village of Compostela (a remote mountainous region of rural Cebu) where I was able to teach about 20 young children how to play the card game of Uno. It’s surprising how quickly they picked the knack of the game up and began beating me!
It was an amazing privilege to be able to take part in the Philippines Social Justice Immersion this September, and I know that it has already been beneficial to my own understanding of the world, but also in the way in which I will be able to teach Catholic Social Teaching and other aspects of Religious Education to the students at our school into the future.
I am thankful for the opportunity of being able to have taken part in this year’s Immersion experience.
Matthew Scott
A Prayer for Social Justice:
Our Father,
who is in us here on earth.
Holy is your name
in the hungry who share their bread and their song.
Your Kingdom come,
a generous land where confidence and truth reign.
Let us do your will
and be a cool breeze for those who sweat.
You are giving us our daily bread
When we manage to ensure a fair wage and a fair distribution of land.
Forgive us
for keeping silent in the face of injustice and for burying our dreams.
Don't let us fall into the temptation
of taking up the same arms as the enemy,
But deliver us
from the fear that disunites us.
For we have believed in humanity and in life, and we shall have known your kingdom, which is being built forever and ever.
Amen.