Filipinos abroad: A Jesuit's eye-opening journey in HK

By Bro. Lito G. Ocon, SJ

Going to Hongkong would mean many things to different people. When I was still young it always means to me as shopping, or vacation. Lately, I realized that it depends on what kind of people is going there. For those who “have” it means shopping and vacation. But for those who “have not” it means something else---it means work as domestic helpers. These are the two types of Filipinos who regularly visit Hongkong.

However, my visit to Hongkong last April 26- May 9 was not for a vacation, shopping nor work as a domestic helper. I went there for an exposure to the apostolic work of taking care the seafarers. I was with Fr. Roland Doriol, SJ, the acting chaplain of the Apostleship of the Sea in the Port of Hongkong. When Fr. Roland opened up to me the idea of going to Hongkong for an exposure, I immediately responded with an open heart knowing that this could be a good opportunity for me to know more about the maritime apostolate. Because for me, to prepare this kind of apostolate means more exposures, more work. Thus, I immediately said yes to Fr. Roland and thanks God that our superior Fr. Danny also said yes to me when I asked for his permission.

My first contact with seafarers was in Japan when I was still working in a shipbuilding company. We shared a lot of stories at night after our work. Some were good stories, good experiences, but many are horrible.  But since I don't have any first-hand experience of their stories, it does not have much effect on me. I just said well, “mao sad na ilang swerte.” I was not bothered at all. But while listening to them telling stories on their struggles and difficulties, more and more I felt like saying, “kalooy sab nila.” But then what all I can do is just to listen, I started asking myself what should be done? At that time I have no idea at all.

When I started thinking about joining the Society of Jesus, I heard the name of Fr. Roland who is doing an apostolic work to seafarers. In fact, I have visited his small office at the pier in Cebu when I was still a novice. It was then that I realized that maybe I can contribute something. I am getting attracted to it specially when our former superior asked me to consider this as possible apostolate. I said to my self, “maybe God is bringing me back to the ship.” From then on I keep my self always open to wherever God wants me to be and whatever God wants me to do. I know it is not going to be easy.

Upon arrival in Hongkong, I felt good and I said, “Wow nice place, beautiful!” But to work in the maritime apostolate is not always to stay in the “Wow places.” Most of the time you will be in places where you need to do physical exercise of climbing the ships and most probably in places where you are not so comfortable. Not only places but sometimes people whom you are not comfortable with. But you need to work and relate with them in order for you to enter into their world.

After one week of staying and passing by in those “Wow places” in Hongkong on our way to visit ships, what was so beautiful became ordinary. While at sea what were slowly becoming beautiful were the waves that give life to seafarers. These are the waves that give life to their families and their love-ones despite the dangers.

Their life is not easy. And that is why to work with and for them, as I said, is also far from simply walking in the park. However, I found it interesting and challenging. It was as challenging as any other missionary work. It was thought provoking because we also encountered lots of difficulties—sweats in climbing the ships, complexity in talking to the officers and crew. There are times when they have to reject us because they are too engaged with their work. There was a time when they refused to talk to us simply because English is Greek to them. But it was also interesting because deep inside me, I also experienced the joy that at the end of the day I have done something for God's people at sea—the seafarers.

Our daily routine is to ride on the waves with a small boat on our way to visit the large cargo ships, tankers, bulk carriers, and practically all kinds of ships. We brought them magazines, books, and newspapers from different countries. We also brought phone cards for those who want to call their families but have no time to go ashore. We talked to them about anything, most of the time we chatted about their life and sometimes they open up topics on faith and religion.

One morning an Indian crew asked me, “What can you get from doing all these things?” I said, “We expect nothing, we just want to visit the crew and offer some services.” It is interesting to note that his next question was, “Are you a Christian?” He identified us as Christians not through preaching and not even through any form of prayer but through our actions.  True to the saying: actions speak louder than words.

We may not be able to provide everything they need on board but our presence is more than enough. I saw it in their faces. I saw in them the joy of being visited by somebody who is so concerned on them.

As I observed them, I saw how they struggled to live with homesickness, loneliness, and danger at sea. They work away from home, away from their families, away from their love ones, traveling in a far deep sea with life always threatened by hostile waves. They travel from place to place with varying temperatures and climates. They are put together in an abnormal environment with crew members speaking different languages, belonging to different cultures, varied religions, having different ways of life, with problems in understanding commands and enormous amount of insecurity. Could there be other forms of struggle more difficult than this? I will not anymore mention about the effects of an absentee father to his family. Good that the Apostleship of the Sea is also helping seafarers' wives in their own little ways such as giving counsels and, sometimes, facilitate domestic concerns.

Yes, our apostolate is not easy but the dilemma will never stop us from helping others. So long as the sea continue to exist, the work at sea goes on. The angst of the waves will keep on perturbing us for it is alive and kicking. Thus, it is just proper that we need be stronger and more sincere to our faith and vocation to serve.

After my exposure to the waves at sea, I was also exposed to the waves in the land—the waves of Filipino domestic helpers in the streets of Hongkong. I cannot imagine how many they are… so many. When I saw them going out on the parks and streets on weekends, oh my God—it's like Divisoria. More so, they flock in churches. At St. Joseph church, I was told that there are nine masses on Sundays (with masses in Tagalog in the afternoon). It is surprisingly full that some are already on their feet. Imagine, the authorities have to stop some faithfuls from entering the church for fear that the building might collapse due to the sardine-like crowd. With this, some Filipinos fall in line for one hour just to get inside the church for the next mass. I was deeply touched listening to the choir who are all Filipinos. I never experience such a big crowd in an ordinary Sunday even here in the Philippines!

While hearing them singing during the mass I felt proud of them. But I can't also stop the feeling of shame and pity to them and to our country. The crowd does not only represent Filipino religiosity. It is also a sad portrait of Filipino poverty and misery. It tells us something about our failure to provide better opportunities, failure to provide jobs and failure to solve this perpetual struggle against poverty in the country. But, despite the struggles and difficulties these Filipinos continue to believe and they continue to hope. The more they struggle, the more they hold on to their faith. They let their faith shine in a place darkened by secularization, consumerism and moral degeneration. They practice their faith boldly without fear and shame. The whole world might look down at them. They may be called “atchays” or “chimays” to connote slavery, inferiority or anything in between. They might not be perfect or holy as the saints, but they are more Christian than to most of us. They hold on to their faith despite the struggles, the sufferings and difficulties they come across.

After attending the mass, the Pinoys in Hongkong went directly to the streets and parks of Hongkong Central. They gathered together, brought some food and eat as one Filipino community. Many were just lying down, talking and sharing stories. Some were doing pedicure jobs, even pulling-up white hairs. Some were busy packing up things to be sent home. This is how they spend their day-off. They will gather together in a place to relax from a week of hard work.

Whether we accept it or not, they are, in many ways, missionaries. They are indirectly spreading the good news—spreading the Catholic faith in a highly secularized world.

As I observed them, there was one question that keeps on coming back to my mind, “What can we do to contribute something to address their growing spiritual needs?” I feel that this concern is valid, and urgent.

As a Jesuit in formation, indeed it was a good and meaningful trip for me. When I left for Hongkong many friends wished me a happy trip. And when I came back, many were asking me, “How was your trip?” I simply told them, “It was not just a trip, but an eye-opening journey.”

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Note: Bro. Lito Ocon, Jr. is a Jesuit missionary and a licensed civil engineer. He also teaches Christian Living Education at Ateneo de Iloilo High School Department.