Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

Surprises from the Universe

I first met her in August of 2002, a few weeks before I left for the States to pursue graduate studies in sociology. She was then a community organizer for a non-government organization (NGO) that was doing some work with the Aeta Mission of a religious order, of which I was a volunteer. We spent five days together in the mountains of Tarucan, a resettlement area for Aetas in the heart of Tarlac. She gave a training session for the community leaders and facilitated the mapping of their ancestral domain. I had tagged along to help out one last time and say goodbye to the Aetas. I observed her at work, and I admired her not only for her expertise, but also the way she dealt with the leaders and the community in general. There was something about her that was just so grounded and genuine. Her passion for her work and concern for the people she served was both inspiring and contagious.

We got along immediately, and we had brief but interesting conversations in between her (our) work. However, it wasn't until August of 2004 that we really bonded. I was home for a vacation at that time, and I spent a week in the mountains of Kalangitan, another resettlement area in Tarlac. She had since moved on to do community organizing for the sisters in charge of the mission area. She had a training session for the community leaders, so she was in Kalangitan when I got there. We shared a room, and we talked till the wee hours of the morning. We talked about everything from our love lives to our political views to our spirituality. When we climbed the mountains of Bilad, a more remote resettlement area, and stayed the night there, the nuns had to separate us. Otherwise, we would have talked till the wee hours of dawn again.

It was in Bilad that I met her husband-to-be. He was, and still is, a community organizer for another NGO, and he was there to help set up a water system for the community. His simple lifestyle and dedication to his work immediately struck me. I found this really impressive, considering his background. You see, this guy isn't even a Filipino. He is an American by birth, but he has lived in the Philippines for most of his life. He speaks Tagalog fluently, and considers the Philippines his home. During conversations, he would refer to this country as our common native land ("sa atin"). He lived with the Mangyans for so many years, imbibing their ways, before moving on to serve the Aetas.

Once, I chanced upon him and my friend talking. I thought they would make a good match. After all, they were both community organizers and shared the same dedication to the cause of indigenous people. Being on the same wavelength, they would talk about anything under the sun, while remaining open to the members of the community who needed them. I wondered if they would end up together. And I hoped that would happen. just because I sensed that they would make a wonderful couple. Apparently, the nuns and the other people I was with felt the same way.

Fast forward to 2005: The year is about to come to a close. My dear friend, Ate Jane, and Bruce have been married for a little over a week now. On December 18th, they were married by a Methodist pastor in the Immanuel Bible School, in the mountains of Sta. Juliana, Tarlac. The Aeta community, which served as their link, was pretty much involved in the wedding; about 1,000 Aetas showed up. While reciting their vows, my friends mentioned that their union would strengthen their ties and service to the indigenous communities they were involved with. Awww...how sweet. Now that's my kind of wedding.

Congratulations and best wishes, Ate Jane and Kuya Bruce! Ito na nga, nagkatotoo ang mga kutob, hehe :)

found herself @ 5:17 AM