Francisco De Jesus and Family

Because I have always been exposed to the urban poor setting but yet I would always want to grapple with issues of poverty, I decided to make an outreach ministry exposure to the metal workers in Canumay, Valenzuela City. It is my hope to explore the struggles in their working condition and reflect the relevance of the gospel in that specific context. In my search I have contacted a former church mate who works as the supervisor of a small machine shop with 12 workers under him. He agreed to allow me not only observe and visit this people but also to work as a volunteer (as helper so that I can have a more personal interaction with them. Because I am already familiar with the place and prepared early I also arrive early.  The warehouse is located amid large factories like Plastic City and Splash Philippines. It was just about a 1,000-sq. meter lot covered with galvanized roofing.  Inside the warehouse are located several power tools and heavy equipment’s like grinders, welding machines, metal benders, cutters and a large basin of chemicals (which get into the way of my breathing).  Scattered in the building are rusty metals, oily trash and pieces of fabric, and sharp iron wirings that I need to watch out for me not to be bruised.  I was able to talk to my former church mate and oriented me on some work I can help.  As I sit quietly and waiting for the workers to arrive, I thought that the work should be very physical and exhausting and it would even be a health hazard work because of the chemical that’s been bothering me.

One by one I saw the workers arrived. There were only 7 out of the 12 workers who were present. I was told that the other 5 were assigned somewhere in Bulacan for some steel fencing work. The workers changed to their working robes and in to my surprised, they put on the oily shirts and pants that I thought of trash. I was assigned to assist Milo small framed guy with stiffed muscles that to me as hard as the steel he worked on. He is a welder assembling different tubes and sockets as a chassis for small bicycles. I was advised not to get to close to him and the smoke of his welding work, he said that it would be a painful eyesore for me as a first timer. True enough my eyes seemed like pierced by several needles when one time caught a smoke while I am handling steel tubes to Mio. It is indeed painful. I asked Mio if he still experience the pain he said that he is already used to it. For such kind of smoke I figured that if an eye is used to such pain there must be something wrong with that eye. There must be already something wrong with Mio’s eyes. I want to tell him to have his eyes checked but I did not, I reckon that he would not bother and he might think that it is just another impractical expense.

Hours passed by when I noticed that I am getting perspiration and my shirt is getting dirty. My hands were also full of rust and dirt from the metal tubes that I handled. Looking forward for the lunch break I start to feel the hunger and pain in the back. Maybe I am not really that used of doing manual work. At last lunchtime was announced. I took the time to eat with Mio to know him better. Mio asked me why I am working there. He asked me if I am looking for an employment. Not to create am impression of intrusion I answered that I need to gain some experience for some academic purposes. Afterwards he doesn’t ask me anymore like in he didn’t know what it is all about and didn’t bother to ask more. Mio is 31 years old basically as old as I am but seemed to be older in his looks. He has five children already supposed to be six but his eldest died. He introduced to me his youngest son Moy-Moy a 4-year-old boy whom he brought along the boy I hardly noticed sitting near us that morning (of whom, I believe was also exposed with the harmful elements inside the factory). According to Him he brought Moy-Moy because there was no one in the house to attend to him. His wife went out to some important errands for the family and his other kids are all in the school.

For some time that I was able to talk to him, I’ve learned that the factory (Small bike spare parts assembly he is presently working) has many problems. He said that he is only receiving P. 250 a day and their work is unpredictable. There are times were in they were vacant for weeks because there is no materials available from Taiwan. When that time came they also don’t have earnings. He also told me that their material for work would only last until next month. They are still waiting for the announcement if they will still work for the rest of the month. He said that they badly need a work because they need money for the many dept they have to pay because of the several weeks they are not able to work . He disgustingly erupted with words, “You know here in our work, no materials no work no work no pay, even holidays.” 

I discovered that there is no regular worker in that small warehouse. All of them are contractual and on a “Pakyawan basis” (means that they are only paid for the items they finished working on). So no security of tenure, no rights to fight for, no thirteenth month pay and no benefits.

The Gospel for the oppressed

With such response I, tried to comfort him of course with bible promises like:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer.33:3)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4:6-7)

Along with this I recognize that their context can’t just be taken simplistically by reciting bible verses. It is a very hard life situation that biblical promises must not only be heard off but be demonstrated to. With spending almost 8 hours in this farctory meeting, Lito, Edgar, and highlighted by my interaction with Mio, I arrived into a thinking that our presentation of the gospel needs to be re-thought. Here I am looking forward for an opportunity to share the good news but the reality of pain and suffering that confronts me demands further illumination with regards to sin, justice and God’s love in their own situation. Indeed an individual needs to repent from his/ her individual sin in order to follow and accept the reign of Christ but speaking of the same the gospel also addresses structural sins that needs to be denounced in light of the rule of  Christ. That the gospel does not only save a person from the sting and consequences of his/ her individual sins but also to the oppressions of structural sins. In line with this God’s justice demands to destroy all forms of sins in the world. It is God’s justice that demands the death of Christ on the cross for the whole world. Christ death on the cross also calls to follow Christ in His identification and solidarity with the suffering people. And it is the Love of God I think that we can find the rational for all of this, that it is because of God love the world that we need to share the Good news to all people as Christ himself stated;

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4: 18-19)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2005 at 1:13 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.