Bethany

The compound was located near the end of the barrio dirt road which we were hiking. Through the rusty steel gate we were able to see the grass-filed surroundings that seem to have been trimmed a few days back. The lot area is roughly 400 square meters. The dorm-like hall has small beds and the kitchen has one small rectangular table and a few chairs.

After introduction and exchanges of pleasantries with the nun caretakers, the kids numbering about 12, aged between 3 and 8, came rushing out of their room to see who their visitors were.

Bethany is a small orphanage center we never thought existed a few hundred meters away from our school. Their funding comes from the diocese-in-charge and from well meaning sponsors.

It was the first apostolate duty of our class. Honestly, we were a bit apprehensive on what to do during our visit that our spiritual director has arranged. We brought along some candies and snacks which orphans gladly partook with each other. We introduced each other and the kids did the same. We had "ice-breaker" games and sang some songs. What a sight to behold! Kids running and playing around, laughing with gusto, and adolescent students reading books or telling stories to those who preferred to sit down amidst the mini-festivity going around. No formal programs or modules to follow.

Some of us opted to chat with the nuns, learning a story or two about the orphans they were caring for. Mostly left for adoption by parents who simply cannot feed another mouth in their jobless states, some stories are more heart-breaking to hear particularly about children who ran away from home to avoid the physical harm they were suffering from the hands of their very own parents. One orphan has physical and mental disability caused by an illness when he was still a baby.

It was a short 2-hour stay for us. Even so, we all can feel the sad mood of the orphans when we announced that we have to go. One kid was embracing my classmate and would not like to let go despite the nun's persuasion. Only after re-assuring him that we will be back again did he let go.

Many of us were misty-eyed after we left.

This once-a-week apostolate lasted for a few months more with the cycle of fun and hard-to-say good byes. The nuns were aptly right to remind us to avoid spoiling the children with "food-gifts" because they might not be able to keep the practice after we leave for good, so we all focused on spending more quality time with them instead.

More apostolate and catechetical activities were assigned to us in the following months but Bethany left an indelible mark in our young hearts.

Another 21 years have passed since and I cannot remember anymore the names of the nuns or children of Bethany. All I can recall now are the smiles and laughter of those days. My eyes still get misty whenever I remember those sad innocent looks of the children who were deprived of their own family. In a deeper sense, nobody is really an orphan under God's Fatherhood. And it is our brotherly duty to help them feel that way.

I just have to go and visit Bethany once more.

This time, I will tag my family along so Zek can meet his other brothers and sisters while he is still young.