The World Cup & Development of the Poor

Since many of us are engrossed and excited with the ongoing Football World Cup '06 in Germany, might as well use the event as a reflection springboard.
There's this nice picture and tantalizing question in the Dropping Knowledge website. (your question.org)










"Can sports play a role in the development of poor nations?"
I believe it can. Many years back I found myself coaching and playing football with the poor kids in the slums of Tondo, Manila. This made me seriously ponder about their future: "are they just going to play football all the time; what's in this for them?"
Being good in the game, many of them got scholarships to pursue their studies in many universities who needed good footballers. Later on I saw others make a living by becoming professional football referees, while others became coaches and trainers. Football has certainly given them a good alternative to break the circle of poverty.
Football is but a drop in the bucket. I've seen others rise from poverty through other sports in my own backyard... I've seen it in other Don Bosco settings in many other countries, and I believe it's going to happen too here in Cambodia.

When I was a novice in this congregation, we used to tease jokingly (no offense intended) about other congregations too... like how it was a "sin" if the Franciscans and Augustinians missed their prayers, how it was a "sin" if the Dominicans missed their study period, and how it was a "sin" for us Salesians if we missed our daily scheduled games/sports. Now I begin to realize why Don Bosco emphasized on this for us.

"x-culturation"

There are a number of terms which ends in "-culturation" that I've been learning in my DL module from the University of the Philippines (Open University). The course is on the "Socio-cultural foundations of Education." It might be worth sharing.

Enculturation refers to the transmission of cultural traditions from one generation to the next. It is the process in which an individual from the time of his birth is taught the social norms, behavior and customs of the group where he belongs. For example in the western culture, when one faints or gets sick, only the doctor (expert) goes with the patient and everybody distances away to "give room." Here in Cambodia, when you faint, everybody tries to grab a part of your body (nose, ears, hands, feet, head) and massages it in order to keep you "alive" (conscious). This knowledge and behaviour seems to have been engrained in everyone since childhood. This must be probably due to the "compassionate" character of the culture where one should not be left alone especially in difficult times.

Acculturation is the transmission of cultural traditions from anybody who "knows" to anyone who does not know. This occurs when an individual or group which is aware of the existence of another culture adopts the said culture. A very good example is how the Khmers have adopted "French bread" in their diet and in their cuisine. They have also incorporated the chinese "Guay-thiow" or noodles in everyday life. Fashion trends from clothes to hairstyle are changing due to "global" influence. All that is acculturation.

(There'll be more -culturation terms like inculturation, intraculturation, interculturation, etc. but that will not be our focus.)

Thus one's culture (present tense) is a product of both enculturation and acculturation. Culture therefore evolves and is a dynamic reality.

These two concepts not only form my "national" culture but also my "religious" culture.
They also apply to the growth of my spiritual relationship with You. There are things I've learned about You from my parents, my teachers, my elders when I was young - "enculturation."
There are things I continue to learn about You from my own experiences
and from the examples and witness of people I've met, I've worked with and I've worked for, and from discussing these things with you in 'prayer'- "acculturation."
Hence my relationship with You is a product of the past and the now - it is dynamic just like you.... Hey, didn't they say that You are the God of the living and not the dead?

Pedagogical Upgrade

Twenty-five instructors/teachers from our school received their certificates from His Excellency Sabaong Sarat (governor of Sihanoukville). Mr. Keo Lay from the Ministry of Education Youth & Sports confirmed their worthiness after the teachers underwent a month-long training seminar given by the same Ministry (MOEYS). The two-hours a day hectic grind upgraded their knowledge on pedagogical skills and at the same time increased their awareness on the teacher's code of ethics.

There is a Cambodian saying which goes: "Jeh min chneah jong" (skill cannot defeat will). I believe that if we are experts in teaching only skills, then we will produce a generation of experts without a conscience - productive hands without a compassionate heart. True success is when our knowledge and skills are tempered by our right attitudes and values.

Going the Full Circle

I needed to go to Bangkok for a medical check-up. This time instead of taking the plane (costs more than $100 RT), I decided to take the full circle journey: "To Bangkok and Back."
Monday, 29 March - took the bus from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh ($3)
Tuesday, 30 March - took the bus from Phnom Penh to Poipet border ($7)
Wednesday, 31 March - crossed the border and off to Bangkok ($7)
I went for my check-up at the Hospital- Thursday, 1st of June. I then contacted a van that goes to Khlong Yaay (Thailand)- Koh Kong (Cambodia) which left the house at 3AM Friday ($15). I arrived early morning at 8am at the port of Koh Kong to take the boat ($15) to Sihanoukville. At around 1PM the boat docks at the Sihanoukville port.
Home Sweet Home on 2nd of June. A coming full circle journey!

They say that: all things in life travel a full circle. My origin is where I shall return. My source will be my destination. This is what I believe in. This is what I hope for. My journey today reminded me of that (and so does the scientist's yo-yo in my profile).

Parlor Game Certification

On 24th May we celebrated the Feast of Mary Help of Christians... the religious service like the Mass and the Procession was optional (religious tolerance and sensistivity reasons)... problem is they all like to participate. Perhaps a Marian festivity always generates much interest not because of religion but rather it personifies and celebrates motherhood - something which we all dearly adhere to regardless of social status, nationality/race/color, or creed.

Afterwards we had some games to cap off the day. Every student has to complete six parlor games to be able to get their prize. In short they have to show that they're "parlor-game certified."

The answer's not "wrong" only "incorrect"

Cultural sensitivity is something we should really, really strive for (that means anywhere we are). I'm so used to correcting my students in terms of: "Oh that's good, that's bad. This one is correct and the other is wrong. And that one is really intelligent and the other seems stupid."
Little did I realize that they were using a different set of English vocabulary from mine, like... "this answer is not so good, the other is incorrect, and that last one is not clever at all."
I thought we were speaking the same language until I realized that we were using different words to express the same thing.... so I reflected on this and found out the reason.

Laurence Mills wrote something like this: "Buddhists try to avoid the use of 'good' or 'bad' and prefer to talk instead of the categories of 'wholesome'and 'unwholesome' in terms of actions and their consequences."

From hindsight I think this is because in the buddhist philosophy (very much like the Christian one) only actions which are willfull, conscious, and deliberate leads to 'karma' - meaning potentially productive of a future result. Hence could be termed as good or evil.
But the innocent mistake of my student for example, is unintentional and thus bears no future result in the future. Even though I am the teacher I think my students have taught me the importance of kindness through choice of words through this little episode.

When I was younger a teacher of mine once quoted to me a line: "Little acts of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heaven above." Mercy and compassion do make sense. It's definitely a way of getting up there to You!

Something funny happened on my way out of school

Today I picked up from our school my much-awaited and long-overdue MBA diploma and transcript. It took longer than usual because they have added documentary requirements like High School diploma/document (Form 137 in the Philippines). Problem is… the high school I went to is now buried in lahar together with all the documents. The irony was that I couldn’t prove that I studied and finished my high school studies in a school of which I later became its HS principal.

As I was driving our van out through a narrow exit passage, there was this coed student who was trying to fit in her motorcycle to park in a small space along the turn. As a result I hit its back side and damaged the park lights. Here in Cambodia with a little incident like this, everybody becomes curious. Before you could spell “hello” a big crowd has gathered around the poor motorcycle and the girl. The girl was probably more shocked of the crowd rather than of the incident.

I parked my car a few meters from the “accident” and approached the girl for the “negotiation process.” Along with the curious onlookers we surveyed the damage to the park lights. I asked the girl how much I could offer to settle in order for her to buy a new set. The shy girl was more confused than ever because it was probably her first time to be put on a “limelight.” In the end, I gave her $5 so that she could replace the park lights. And a smile lit everyone’s faces. Luckily, I was among I was among cool headed and kind persons. But if are a foreigner amongst a rowdy group, you’ll have to shell out $20 on a situation like this. So that’s how I got to "flee the crime scene."

I remember now that You have two friends Micah (6:8) and Ezekiel (18:23) and they once wrote on what to do in a situation like this: “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk (drive) humbly!" Hope I learned my lesson.

A Ship's Last Voyage

Many things could happen to a ship in its last voyage: for the luxury steamship Titanic it was tragedy; for Blackbeard the pirate’s Queen Anne’s Revenge it was notoriety; for the slave schooner Amistad it was freedom; for Cook’s exploratory ship Bark Endeavor and Columbus’ Santa Maria it was glory. What future awaits Coco Explorer II?

Last week, on the 16th of April, I celebrated Easter Sunday mass with the crew of Coco Explorer II. This was to be their final voyage. Feelings of thanksgiving for the past voyages mixed with anxious expectation over what awaits are painted over their faces as we joined together in the liturgy of Christ’s resurrection. After this last voyage, the crew members will be headed back home to see the faces they’ve long missed. And although the crew may never see each other again, they are full of hope to meet others in another voyage, in another ship.

They have taught me the meaning of Easter. Although Your earthly voyage of dying and rising has given us victory over evil, I must with a continued faith and hope sail towards the high seas over life’s daily battles knowing that in the end that last voyage will ultimately lead to You. And your parting words to me: "Fear not, I have conquered the world!" will see me through.

Khmer New Year celebrations

The Khmer New year technically lasts for three days (although celebrating this festival usually lasts for a week - we closed school on the 11th and we'll resume on the 19th).

The first day of New Year is called as Moha Sangkran, and it when the New Angels (Thevada) come to take charge of the world for a one-year period. This year Moha Sangkran of the New Year will begin on April 13th. People have to clean and decorate their houses and prepare fruits and drinks to welcome the New Angels at their homes. The elederly often meditate and pray so that any angel who comes to their houses at that time will stay with them and take care of their family for the whole year. In the morning at the first day of New Year, most Khmer people prepare food to offer the monks at Khmer temple to get their blessings. It is also a time for boys and girls to play traditional games together at the temple or any field or playground in their village because it is only at the New Year period that boys and girls are allowed to play or to get together traditionally. Also it is an opportune time for single people to search for the special partner to get married in the future. We must remember that in the past 30 years, "dating" did not exist in Cambodia.

The second day of New Year is called Wanabot, which means day of offering gifts to the parents, grandparents and elders. Usually, Cambodians like to share gifts or presents to employees and also donate money or clothes to poor people. In the evening, people go to temple to build a mountain of sand and ask the monks to give them a blessing of happiness and peace.

The third day is called Leung Sakk - this means the new year starts to be counted from this day, for example as the international year 2005 begins to be 2006 after December 31, the Buddhist year of 2549 becomes 2550 after this day. To complete the New Year festival, Khmer people need to perform the last ceremony, called "Pithi Srang Preah", which means giving a special bath or a special shower to Buddha statues, the monks, elders, parents, grand parents to apologize for any mistake done to them and to show gratitude to them also (Our students and teachers performed our version of this in school before they left for the holidays).
Every one has a wonderful time during this ceremony because it is an occasion for every one to enjoy themselves by sprinking or throwing water at each other. Happiness is everyone's wish for each other during these days as people treat each other extra-kindly. Let our wishes be that the joy & kindness-filled spirit of the New Year extends throughout the entire year.

For more information and pictures on Khmer New Year, click on this link: http://www.mot.gov.kh/event_festival/khmer_new_year.htm

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the opening of the much revered Holy Week for Christians. Of interest is the fact that this year's Good Friday will coincide with Khmer New Year (same as Thai New Year). And so for pastoral reasons, fasting will be on Wednesday instead of Friday, so as to join the entire nation in its most important celebration which lasts for a week.

Today as I watched the people (me included) raise and wave their palm branches in a symbolic gesture of welcoming Jesus triumphantly to Jerusalem with joyful shouts of "Hosanna."
Ironically, a few minutes later as the gospel was dramatized by the youth, I found myself one of those shouting this time "Crucify him."

How inconsistent are my thoughts and how confused are my ways. That is why I'm always in need of conversion. Conversion - a metanoia, an internal turnabout, a change of heart; yet for me, simply put it's a "coming to my senses" and "remembering what I am here for?" and basking once again in the experience of Your love.