LOGARTA
On Tuesdays and Fridays I pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary using my cellphone or the computer.
I have to confess that at first I got carried away by the visuals. In the flight to Egypt, I checked on which painting had the angels who are said to have accompanied the Holy Family; some paintings had bigger angels, or more angels.
In the encounter of Mary and Jesus on the way of the cross, I try to choose which best depicts the anguish of that encounter. In another version with audio-reflections, the focus is shifted to listening. For instance the reflections declare that the Holy Family was living in poverty in Egypt.
In this sorrow, I pray for the migrant refugees. I recall how scary it must be to enter a strange culture and to be in need due to very limited provisions.
At this time, maybe, I should look closer at the sorrows in my women exposures. Poverty is a day-to-day reality of many women in our country. Mona lives in a “kakha tuka” situation, she’s not really sure of the availability of food the next day. But she shares whatever there is when a neighbor asks for some food.
One day she told the group that at times she hesitates to go to church because she brings her son along and he usually begs her to buy him a balloon. Juliet went all the way to Redemptorist Church to participate in the Mother of Perpetual Help novena. She dropped her last few coins in the collection. She was just hoping that she can get a ride home from a jeepney driver friend.
In our country, the mothers are honored with the task of being the family treasurer; this is good if there are indeed treasures to manage. Many of our women workers are in unskilled labor category; many are also in the informal sector because of their rejection in the formal sector. Such conditions provide low and insecure income, no benefits, no social security.
In fact, there are women doing unpaid work for as long as they will get something for their children. It is very painful for a mother to have to ask one of her children to stop schooling for the sake of another child.
We are also familiar with the many overseas contract workers who dare to risk the danger both out there and in here for the education of her children. Mimi, a client of LAW Center, Inc., was a victim of economic violence (husband did not provide support for the children).
But she sent her earnings to her husband. When the children asked for money from their father, he told them to stop schooling.
This caused Mimi to approach LAW Center, Inc. for assistance (From OJT report in Linkages).
Another client, a hardworking woman carried the burden of a husband who indulged in various forms of gambling. She took on several jobs to support the family, especially to send the children to school. Whenever she asked her husband for support, he would say that she was being too “ambitious.”
She succeeded in supporting her children through college; they completed degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Nursing Aide and Nautical. She herself finished her secondary schooling and completed a TESDA training.
The agonizing pain inflicted by infidelity is incomparable. This beautiful young woman always came with her young son to our Bible sharing sessions. One day, she arrived very sad and as we sat down she revealed in tears that her husband had found “another one.” My first reaction was to hug her tightly. Then, I provided assurance I would be with her all the way no matter what we needed to do.
In many cases LAW Center, Inc. has provided not only assurance but actual action. In UPCC intern, Glennie Khryss G., Janayon’s account in Linkages there is Corazon’s experience of infidelity. In the beginning of their relationship, “God was the center” for they were in a Charismatic group.
But several months after their marriage, Corazon noticed that her husband often came home late. One night, she found out from his cellphone that he had a relationship with another woman.
She approached him and threatened him with legal action if he doesn’t end the relationship. Her husband scolded her for what she did and ordered her to stop “meddling.”
When her husband’s job caused his transfer to Samar, she hoped this would end the extramarital affair. She found out that they were living together out there. So she brought her case to LAW Center, Inc. The case was brought to court and she got child support and protection.
Many avenues of coping with deprivation, anguish and rejection have been opened for women. Desiree Balota and Malou Alorro of Women in the Literary Arts in a passionate discussion in “Sa Mata sa Kababayen-an, on Women and the Literary Arts and their poems showed how one can learn to reflect about their condition and share this through art.
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