Work With the Poor

In the 19^th and early 20^th century, on the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range that span the northeast corner of Luzon, in a place now called Sitio Pariir, San Mariano, Isabela, stood a few magnificent Narra trees - that seemed to beckon the higher altitude dense forest which aesthetically painted a dark green mountain cover. This portrayal of natural splendor has been handed down by word of mouth to local residents from generations past.

 

In the account of the first few verses of the book of Genesis, God created dry land and the trees, and He saw that it was good. The foothills of the Sierra Madre became part of the beauty and goodness of that creation.

 

For the past hundred years however, this beauty has slowly faded away. The once dense mountain forest was denuded by illegal logging, and the foothills (Sitio Pariir) were stripped of the few Narra trees for the various needs of nearby inhabitants.

 

By the mid-1900’s in Pariir, abundant banana plant life soon replaced the Narra trees. But several strong typhoons then ravaged northeastern Luzon, and destroyed much of these banana trees.

 

By twist of fate, as if God wanted man to participate in restoring the beauty and goodness of His creation and endow him with His provisions, residents of nearby Barangay Sevillana evacuated to Sitio Pariir to escape military operations of government troops against the New People’s Army in the 1970’s. The settlers, though initially dwelling in houses constructed from native materials, were soon blessed with a variety of food crops (banana, corn, rice, peanut, cassava and “gabi”) for their consumption and livelihood.

 

In 1999, the Couples for Christ (now CFC-FFL) conducted the first Christian Life Program seminar in Pariir at the small Chapel of San Pablo. Today, this CFC-FFL community is composed of 23 couples, 8 handmaids, 3 servants and 12 singles.

 

The history of the land and the people of the area is much like the story of the conversion of St. Paul – who persecuted and destroyed the beauty and goodness of those which were God’s, but later was to be one of the most effective witnesses of God’s power and guidance over His land and His people.

 

Once ruined by man and the destructive forces of nature, Sitio Pariir became a Christian community, and is currently the site of one of the Restoration Villages (RV’s) of CFC-FFL Work with the Poor (WWP). Originally named St. Thomas Aquinas Restoration Village (in honor of the patron saint of the parish that covers the area), it has been renamed to St. Paul Restoration Village (in honor of the village patron saint).

 

Groundbreaking for a Community Center (multi-purpose hall) and a first house was held at the site last January 17, 2009. See related story (Back)

 

With this, the conversion of the land and the spiritual journey of the people of St. Paul RV now continue on a next episode.

 

On the road to Damascus, God said to Saul:

 

“But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.” – Acts 26:16

 

Soon, the St. Paul RV will rise and stand on its feet as a witness of the loving presence of God. In the following words, Bro. Rene Evidente (CFC-FFL WWP National Coordinator) describes a vision inspired by the Spirit:

 

“I always feel joy when I go to a place like that of Pariir. I always feel uplifted when I see a place that does not conform to God’s vision of how His people should live, because it gives our Lord a great opportunity to show His power and demonstrate His love. I feel uplifted because we are going to be part of that process. And then you see a vision of how the Lord will transform it. A place of order and simple beauty where God’s presence is so tangible, you can almost touch Him with your hands. As you turn right to enter the community, where St. Paul’s chapel now stands, there is a sign proclaiming the place as the Lord’s. The road is of pressed gravel and no more muddy patches. The road is lined with decorative fence made of bamboo on either side, not to fend off intruders but to display symmetrical lines that define the village. The landscaping and simple flowers in front of the houses serve to break the flow of corn plants and other crops grown by the resident farmers. The Community Center is visible, indicating unity and order in the community’s life. One knows that God is in the midst.”

 

Yes, God is certainly in the midst of all these. In the conversion of His land and His people, God is making CFC-FFL ministers and witnesses…  ”of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.” (Acts 26:16b).

 

 

 

Contributed by Jett Reyes

Photos courtesy of Robert Lim

 

 

 

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