Philippines: The Youth Rally

I know I left you all hanging for too long. So here it is:

We rattled and jumped along the bumpy poorly paved streets holding onto our unbolted benches crammed in the back of the church-owned Jeepnie. We stopped at huts, shacks, and houses fitting more and more youth into the over packed vehicle. We were gathering young Filipinos from all over the city and outskirts of Lapu-Lapu for a Youth Rally downtown. We reached the covered concrete basketball court and all piled out of the backside of the old army vehicle grateful we could breath again. As we all looked up we could see young people arriving from all over the city:

The youth from the dumpsite village came crammed in a similar Jeepnie tighter than we had packed in ours. The city youth came on foot in groups or on colorful trykes honking as they came down the road.
We all walked into the outdoor auditorium and faced the plastic chairs neatly lined for the event. On the stage: sound equipment and band instruments ready to be used.

As we all sat down the divide became clear:
On the right the city and suburb youth sat in their bright colored clothes, white powdered and pale faces, oiled and shinned black hair, with book bags, flip flops, hats or barrettes in their air.

To the left the outcasts: the dumpsite youth in their faded thin shirts contrasted by their dark complexions and short frizzed hair. Having nothing to bring with them, they wear dirt covered and duck taped plastic flip-flops no accessories to boast.
The two sides dared not look at each other. They dared not speak across river that was the aisle separating their chairs.

The City folk with brightness in their eyes would with caution dare to take a peek and ‘the others”. “
The “Others” feeling uncomfortable in this concrete city cage were out of their league.
They were out of their world, their slang language, gangs, and rough behavior. Squirming in their seats afraid to look up to see the curious stares or glares of the city side.

I sat next to a young Filipina girl wearing a white shirt and purple clips in her hair on the city folk side. Other students sat on the left. The rally began and we sang Filipino worship songs all together. Although we were one in voice the social divide was great, staring us in the face. Awkwardness in the air.

After worship ended and everyone settled into their previous stances, and the same glances, our trip leader took the mic and took up a challenge. He called on the young Filipino people to help devote themselves to changing the poverty and oppression in their country. Like Moses when he was called to lead his oppressed people that they will have God’s help to bring this change.

Then he pointed out the elephant in the room: The dumpsite people were segregated from the city and suburb youth. To this separation he made it clear: we are all made equal in Christ –and that all Filipinos needed to work together to bring hope to their country. With this we prayed God would call these Filipino young people to reach their own -to instill hope in their hearts.

After such a sober event silence filled the building. Until it was announced that it was time for the youth groups to present their songs, dramas, and human videos. Each youth group did their song and dance, which was followed by clapping and smiles.
But the Dumpsite youth group was by far the most popular. As I watched I realized I had seen this before-they had practiced in their tin roofed church on the outskirts of their village everyday since we had begun visiting them. They wanted to make an impression, to prove themselves,and they did. In these young Filipinos moves you could see the truth of emotion and meaning.

In this interaction- a small shift occurred in the looks and attitudes of the city youth sitting and watching in their chairs. A change-less nervous glances- and then encouraged clapping for their performance. These poor young Filipinos walked back to their chairs with smiles on their faces.

It all ended in prayer. As we crossed the aisles grabbing one another’s hands-the river gap of the aisle was breached -hesitantly. It lasted only a moment but there was a hint of the hope. A joining of young Filipino Christians together encouraged to bring hope to their country.