by Gideon C. Corgue
“Natandog ko pag-ayo sa akong nabasa nga Christmas message sa usa ka bata nga mibati ug dakong kalooy sa mga nabiktima sa bagyong Sendong sa mga dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro ug Iligan (I am deeply touched by the Christmas message that I’ve read from a child who feels great compassion to the victims of typhoon Sendong in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Ilgan).”
Thus said Pagadian bishop Emmanuel Cabajar in his message on Saturday during the concelebrated mass at wharf area which marked the end of nine (9) day afternoon’s novena mass at Sto. Nino cathedral as part of the week-long activities of the annual parochial fiesta of the city.
Speaking before thousands of Sto. Nino devotees, Cabajar who used Cebuano language in his entire homily and who emphasized God’s love and compassion, said when he visited redemptorist convent in Cebu City on December 22, his attention was invited on the Christmas card posted in a bulletin board from a 12 year old Leam, an elementary student.
“Akong gipakopya ang maong card kay natandog ko kaayo sa akong pagbasa (I photo copied the card because I was deeply touched when I read it),” Cabajar said.
“Mao kini ang unod sa card nga iyang gipadala(This is the content of the card that she sent),” Cabajar narrated.
“Dear redemptorist fathers. Last Sunday our family attended the mass and we heard the priests appealing for help for the typhoon Sendong victims. In answer to the appeal, my brothers and I had a garage sale of all our precious things. From the garage sale, we earned P30,000 and we are giving this thru you for the typhoon victims in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. May God help them recover from the unfortunate event . Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I am Leam, 12 years old and my brothers are: Andrew and Niko,” the message said.
Cabajar praised the letter sent by Leam.
“Dili ba nindot kaayo ug makadasig kining sulat sa usa ka bata nga mibati ug gugma ug kalooy bisan wala niya mailhi ang mga biktima sa bagyong Sendong?( How beautiful and inspiring the letter sent by the child who feels love and compassion even she didn’t know who the victims of ‘Sendong’ are?),” Cabajar challenged.
”Tataw kaayo alang kanako ang gugma ug kalooy sa Diyos nagpuyo sa kasing-kasing sa mga bata(It is very clear to me that the love and compassion from God dwelt in the hearts of these children),” Cabajar added.
“Nasayud usab ako nga daghang mga tawo sa diocese sa Pagadian sama kang Leam ug iyang mga igsoon nga miila, mibati ug milihok usab isip mga igsoon alang sa mga nangihanglan ug tabang. Gani sila ang mitubag pinaagi sa ilang mga hinabang( I knew that many people in the diocese of Pagadian like Leam and her brothers, who felt sympathy and offered help as brothers for those who are needing help),” Cabajar stressed.
The bishop urged the people to love and care for the environment.
“Kung ang gugma sa Diyos anaa sa atong kasingkasing, atong tahuron ug mahalon ang kinaiyahan. Dili gayud kita moako pagdagmal, pagdaut ug pagtampalas niini tungod kay kini ang bililhong gasa nga gihatag sa Ginoo kanato(If the love of God is in our hearts, we will respect and love our environment. We won’t allow ourselves to destroy it because this is the precious gift from God to us), Cabajar appealed.
The same call was done in the homily of the priests during 9-day novena mass at the Sto. Nino cathedral to make people aware that illegal logging and mining activities will cause great destruction of our environment and to our people.
