À Bato, on m'a parlé de la vie et du décès de Nanay et Tatay Trani, les gens chez qui j'habitais. On m'a raconté que pour rire, ils parlaient en anglais avec les gens du village - comme contaminé par le Canada.....
On m'a dit que souvent, on se racontait de petites histoires, des anecdotes de mon séjour à Bato. Il paraît qu'on a apprécié le fait que je sois ouverte à parler aux gens de l'endroit, quel que soit leur statut social, simplement. Que je sois intéressée à connaître leur monde, avec un sourire.
Les enfants Trani étaient persuadés que Manny et moi avions séjournés près de 2 ans chez eux, à cause de l'abondance de leurs souvenirs. Certains sont même toujours capables de dire quelques mots de français (!) tout comme Manuel, mon homologue, qui par moments intenses, me glisse, encore aujourd'hui, un "mon ami" réconfortant ou quelques mots dans ma langue. Une surprise est l'intensité et la facilité de la reprise de contact. Le lien est bien vivant! C'est époustouflant comment il est facile de reprendre le contact... avec des gens qu'on a appréciés et bien connus !
Ce qui m'a le plus touché, c'est de savoir que Tatay, lors de ces tous derniers moments, demandait encore de mes nouvelles, "une de ses filles" disait-il... après plus de 20 ans passés par là... Manuel a su graver un impact éternel dans la famille Trani, celui qui restera à jamais leur grand frère (Kuya Manny), le fils aîné de la famille.
Ce qui est à ce point troublant, c'est qu'un séjour de quelques mois à un endroit ait eu un tel impact dans autant de vies. Moi qui croyais qu'on ne se souviendrait plus de moi…
Tout cela grâce au programme de Jeunesse Canada Monde (qui vivote de quelques subventions du gouvernement). Tout cela, en partageant un peu de la réalité d'autrui.
Je ne me serais jamais douté que la venue du premier groupe d'étrangers accompagnés de philippins sur une petite île du Pacifique aurait, après presque trois décennies, occupe encore une place dans le coeur des gens de l'endroit.
Que le nom de "Sunshine" (pour Jacinthe) résonne encore à Biliran, qu'on veuille reprendre contact instantanément avec Marie-Hope, qu'on me parle de Pierre (qui ressemblait à Jésus avec sa barbe et ses cheveux longs), qu'on m'aborde dans le baranguay où vivait Chuck et Rolland pour avoir de leurs nouvelles, qu'on me dise toute la fierté du lien intime qui relie Ronnie jusqu'à ce jour à leur famille, qu'on pense encore à Claudio, Marie-Helen, Venus, Bob, Jill, Noel, Sancho et Jean-Marie.
C'est un peu ça un programme de Jeunesse Canada Monde, près de 30 ans plus tard.
What Canada World Youth is all about
In Bato, I talked about the life and death of Nanay and Tatay Trani, the couple with whom I lived back in 1981. I was told that to stir up some laughter, they spoke in English with village people - as if they were "contaminated" by Canadians…
I was told that often, anecdotes were exchanges from the time when I stayed in Bato. It seems that they appreciated the fact that I was open to talk villagers, whatever their status, in a simple manner, the fact that I was interested in their world, with a smile.
Trani children were convinced that Manny and I had stayed almost 2 years with them, because of the abundance of their memories. Some are still able to say a few words in French (!) just like Manuel, my counterpart, who can, even now, during an intense moment, slip a comforting French expression to me such as "mon amie", or a few other words in my language. Another surprise is the intensity and ease with which contacts are established again. The relationship is still alive! It's amazing how easy it is to resume contact… with people we knew well and were fond of!
What touched me the most is learning that Tatay, during his last moments, was still asking about me; "One of his daughters" he said ... after more than 20 years… Manuel also made an ever-lasting impression on the Trani family. He will stay forever their big brother (Kuya Manny), the eldest son of the family.
What is so troubling is that a few months stay in one place has had such an impact on so many lives. To think that I thought they might not remember me…
All this took place because of the Canada World Youth program, which,
I hear, is still barely alive with dwindling government subsidies. This took place by sharing a bit of the reality of others.
I would never have guessed that the arrival of the first group of foreigners, accompanied by their Filipino counterparts, on a small island in the Pacific would, after almost three decades, still hold a place in the hearts of the people of this place.
That the name "Sunshine" (for Jacinthe) still resonates in Biliran, that we want to reconnect instantly with Mary-Hope, that I spoke to Pierre (who looked like Jesus with his beard and long hair), that I would be approached in Baranguay where Chuck and Rolland had stayed, in order to get some news of them, that they would tell me of the pride they still have of the intimate bond that links them to Ronnie, that someone is still thinking of Claudio, Marie-Helen, Venus, Bob, Jill, Noel, Sancho and Jean-Marie.
That is what the Canada World Youth program fostered, nearly 30 years later.
In Bato, I talked about the life and death of Nanay and Tatay Trani, the couple with whom I lived back in 1981. I was told that to stir up some laughter, they spoke in English with village people - as if they were "contaminated" by Canadians…
I was told that often, anecdotes were exchanges from the time when I stayed in Bato. It seems that they appreciated the fact that I was open to talk villagers, whatever their status, in a simple manner, the fact that I was interested in their world, with a smile.
Trani children were convinced that Manny and I had stayed almost 2 years with them, because of the abundance of their memories. Some are still able to say a few words in French (!) just like Manuel, my counterpart, who can, even now, during an intense moment, slip a comforting French expression to me such as "mon amie", or a few other words in my language. Another surprise is the intensity and ease with which contacts are established again. The relationship is still alive! It's amazing how easy it is to resume contact… with people we knew well and were fond of!
What touched me the most is learning that Tatay, during his last moments, was still asking about me; "One of his daughters" he said ... after more than 20 years… Manuel also made an ever-lasting impression on the Trani family. He will stay forever their big brother (Kuya Manny), the eldest son of the family.
What is so troubling is that a few months stay in one place has had such an impact on so many lives. To think that I thought they might not remember me…
All this took place because of the Canada World Youth program, which,
I hear, is still barely alive with dwindling government subsidies. This took place by sharing a bit of the reality of others.
I would never have guessed that the arrival of the first group of foreigners, accompanied by their Filipino counterparts, on a small island in the Pacific would, after almost three decades, still hold a place in the hearts of the people of this place.
That the name "Sunshine" (for Jacinthe) still resonates in Biliran, that we want to reconnect instantly with Mary-Hope, that I spoke to Pierre (who looked like Jesus with his beard and long hair), that I would be approached in Baranguay where Chuck and Rolland had stayed, in order to get some news of them, that they would tell me of the pride they still have of the intimate bond that links them to Ronnie, that someone is still thinking of Claudio, Marie-Helen, Venus, Bob, Jill, Noel, Sancho and Jean-Marie.
That is what the Canada World Youth program fostered, nearly 30 years later.
This is Mary Hope and it's June 28, 2009. I am now here in Manila for the purpose of seeing Elise. We were together the whole day yesterday and we had so much fun. I am going back to Bacolod this afternoon bringing with me fond memories that has spanned for the last 28 years til today. Life had been good to all of us per our deep sharing with Elise til 2 a.m. in the morning. But it did not mean, we were spared of life's pains and trials. I am privileged to meet Elise again, and this is because of Zaida.True friend indeed last a lifetime. Cheers to all of us. I am so grateful that I was a participant of RP-CWYE. (shhh, a lot of secrets were revealed...It's for u to find out!! Who had a crush on who...etc!!!)
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