the deported one.

What happened to me last March 1, 2009 turned upside down or downside up.

I was on my way to Manila from Singapore aboard Cebu pacific flight #5J802 when I wrote this.

Never was I so excited to see Manila again! Yeah, 9 hours detention in a foreign land does that to you.

Iris, my mission partner, and I arrived in the Mactan International Airport (Cebu City, Philippines) two hours earlier for our departure. Later did we realize the reason why God wanted us to be early. Iris had a problem with her OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) and they did not allow her to leave (Just ask her to tell her fair share of the story, for this is my blog I’m the main man here.). We tried everything but they just wouldn't allow her, so I ended up flying without her. It will be a smooth trip, or so I thought.

When I was passing thru immigration, they asked me the usual questions: What's my purpose for visiting, why and who am I visiting there? Then they saw my Employment Pass application had been denied. They asked me about it. I explained that now I was coming back to visit a family friend. The immigration officer said ok, but his last question caught me off-guard. He asked me how much money I had in my pocket. I was stunned. He was looking for 1,000SgD cash when I only had 1,000Php. So much for the idea that my good-looking face and my cute smile would be enough. I wasn't prepared for it, I tried to explain that Uncle Theodore, my sponsor was waiting for me outside the airport. But they wouldn't allow me to talk to him, and he said something like locals cannot sponsor me. From there, they raised so many questions and I ended up in a small room with cameras all over it. (You know the feeling of being watched by somebody you can't see? I felt like I was inside Big Brother’s house and like an action star with stalkers watching every move I made).

So there I was, tired, alone and waiting... No calls, no visitors... (I was able to sms and update uncle Theodore though, I just had to make sure nobody was watching, uh, I think, at least.)

While waiting for immigration officers to interrogate me (worst case, strip search me or something) the following transpired:

1)
Since I can't do something stupid like running around naked because of the cameras (I'm camera shy by the way), I picked up one book from my carry-on bag, opened it in the middle and read the Apostles' Prayer (Philippians 1:9-11). Why? I dunno, I just did).  It's funny when the story was about St. Paul's letter to the Philippians while he was in PRISON. Coincidence? Perhaps.

Here’s a quote from there: "St. Paul had been jailed for spreading the preaching the message of Christ, but he doesn't bemoan his own situation. Instead he finds good in it."

Compared to the things he had done, I am nowhere near to what St. Paul had achieved so who am I to complain?

Also, I was reminded of the realization I had few months back (I never thought it was actually a preparation for me for something like this). No matter how good things are in our life, there will always be something bad that we can complain about and no matter how bad things are, there will always be something good that we can thank the Lord for. In challenging times, we always have two options; we can either be happy or be bitter. But will our bitterness change anything? In difficult situations the trick is to choose to be happy no matter what. Not only will it make us feel better, it actually helps others too. It brings hope to those who have none. Want proof? Read on

2)
After that, I read another book (Yeah, I got a library inside my carry-on luggage.): AWESOME GOD, a daily devotional (the day after 28 is 29, but it is not applicable for February(2009) but I read the 29th still, confused? Me too, alright, I'm a bit disoriented.)

Anyway, it was a story of a youth who went on mission that had gone awry. Things turned out to be not what he expected. Speaking of coincidences.

Here’s his realization: "Just because God calls you to do something, however, doesn't mean that everything will be easy. But you can choose to hang in there, and walk with faith, knowing that He will be there with you."

I don't have to add anything, I rest my case.

3) With St. Paul's attitude and God's assurance through one person’s sharing, I decided to write my prayer: (For those curious, here is it, unedited, raw.)

*****************************************************************

Lord, I thank you for the love you have shown

and for blessing my life over-abundantly for the past 25 years.

You have allowed me to experience victories upon victories

and I marveled at you goodness.

I thank you for your love and your grace.

Everything I have is an undeserved gift.

We both know that I am a sinner,

I deserve condemnation but you gave me hope instead.

You showed your great compassion, your mercy.

Yet even with these, I continued to betray you,

I continued to ignore all of these blessings, turned my back against you and deny you.

I am very much sorry for those...

Though I've been telling you this a thousand times already, I know and I admit I still fall with the same situation again and again.

But almighty father, my life belongs to you, I submit now to you.

Being here I know is part of your plan...

May you guide me o God to realize and hear you amidst these concerns.

I am afraid o God, very much afraid...

Help me calm my heart...

Allow me to meet you in the eye of the storm.

Allow me to see you in the people I'll be with.

My heart will rest now in you my God,

be with me as I go through all of these...

Amen.

****************************************************************************

It has been quite some time now and still no officer (Aren't they interested to see my body? My one-pack abs? Haha.. Just trying to make fun of myself, conditioning, just in case, it will really happen)...

While waiting for the officer, I resolved to keep on writing "i'm sorry" on a post it and on another post it "i love you". I wrote on every inch of space back to back, until finally somebody opened the door. Two days after, out of curiosity, I counted them all. The "i love you"  totaled 149, which has no significance what so ever. (Nothing that I can think of at the moment, perhaps you can help?) What’s surprising and amazing was that the "I'm sorry" totaled 143. Indeed saying sorry is the greatest manifestation of love.

When the smiling lady officer came in (Beautiful she is, I have to admit), I thought that she was it, an angel sent by God to release me from my captivity, freedom is at hand… but nah, God is not done with me yet. I was just transported to another detention room where I could no longer use my mobile phone, we had to put all my things (Yes, including my carry-on library.) inside a locker with two keys, one for me, one for her (Wooooh, she’s fast, we have conjugal properties already). It was a nice place to rest though. Well, way better than what I had in mind. After clearing everything up, we were told that we would be deported, they would be sending us straight to Manila on the first flight the following day. Then, we went to sleep (with the other deportees, not with the officer. too bad.)

We're for the 10am flight but I was out of bed at around 9am+ (no thanks to the aircon). Because we were late, very late (as always), I had no shower, no toothbrush, no breakfast. They rushed us to the departure area.  (Nah, ok they gave me something to eat, but for a Filipino guy who had  had no dinner and is in danger of not having lunch, sandwich is NOT acceptable for BREAKFAST! )

I was with these two Filipina deportees who since last night had been crying.

Remember my statement: "The trick is to choose to be happy no matter what. Not only will it make you feel better, it actually helps others too. It brings hope to those who have none."? Here's the proof:

Throughout the ordeal, I was calm and peaceful even smiling to the officer who interrogated us and those who detained me (and I owe it all to God). One of the Filipinas asked me: Paano mo nakukuhang ngumiti sa ganitong sitwasyun? (How are you able to smile with this ordeal?)

The question made me think.

While they were complaining that they were treated like criminals when we were escorted by men in uniform, I was thanking the Lord for allowing me to feel how it is to be a dignitary with bodyguards around me (not mentioning the 'A' Pass to the airport that not so many Filipinos are privileged to hold.)

While they were crying because we were locked up in the room for 3 hours and detained for another 6 hours, I saw it as an opportunity to have a moment with God.

While others spent the whole night worrying and were murmuring the following day that they weren't able to sleep, I had peace with the Lord giving me one thing that I never had for the past weeks, a good rest.

And the list goes on...

With her question: Paano mo nakukuhang ngumiti sa ganitong sitwasyun?

I smiled at her saying: Paano mo nakuhang hindi?

I don’t know if she was able to understand what I meant (I don’t want to assume she did) but she smiled back at me... For me, that is more than enough.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking back to that incident never fails to give me goosebumps, I can’t believe how I was able to go through it all. Forever I will praise God for the experience and for being there with me.

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM...