A SIA N HEA R T S SP EA K

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

SEPTEMBER 2009 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY
Lina Han, China
INTERCULTURAL 1
SENSITIVITY

If I want to live well with others, I Thirdly, when we learn and know
EDITORIAL: YOUNG 2
DISCIPLES FOR must know and learn to appreciate, accept more about different cultures, it can
MISSION and understand other people’s cultures and cultivate and enhance our international
way of life. This means that I myself must heart. If we just adhere to our own culture,
MESSAGE FROM 3
THE DIRECTOR understand my own culture. I must know our horizons become so limited and narrow
what are life-giving and death-dealing that we can no longer see beyond our own.
MY DECISION TO 4 elements/aspects of my own culture. Only We become so ethnocentric with the sole
ENTER IFFA then can I learn from others and help others focus on our own culture and not the
learn from me. Therefore, the art of other’s.
ENCOUNTERING 5
MY FATHER understanding others becomes very
We must see the whole world and
important in any situation because everyone
open our heart to everyone and everywhere.
CAN YOU DO THIS 6 wants to be understood and it is extremely
FOR ME? Unfortunately, every country also can not
important for us to know others’ culture. It is
avoid bad practices like corruption. We can
AN ENDLESS 6 necessary and a must!
correct ourselves from this shortcoming.
OVERFLOW OF
GOD’S LOVE AND Some points to reflect on: These negative elements can improve our
BLESSINGS own culture. You can help by avoiding falling
Firstly, if I can understand more
in the same situation. If you feel something
AM I BECOMING 7 about other people, I can avoid and lessen
MORE MATURE? is not right about what is being done or
some misunderstandings among us.
asked of you, you can stand by your
Sometimes, we judge people using our
CREATIVE 8 principles by doing what is right. Even
WORKSHOP perception because of our cultural biases.
though different cultures or countries have
This is a very big source of
different ways of life, they all have common
LIKE A BOY 8 misunderstanding and conflict. Unless we
ground – Love.
Love Love is for the whole world.
open ourselves to their perspective, we will
SUPPORT THE 9 Nobody can understand this world without it.
continue to have endless problems and
TRAINING OF Love can deal with anything. To love and to
YOUNG WORKERS unnecessary conflicts. Sometimes, gestures
FOR THE MISSION be loved is what matters. That’s what we
have different meanings in different
stand for as Christians, and humanity, for
countries.
VISION OF IFFA 10 the world!
Secondly, every country has its
distinct aspects. We can try to learn from
other people’s cultures by affirming the best
of their culture and focusing less on their
death-dealing aspects. Our goal is to
embrace the goodness in each culture so
that the light of life (Christ) can come out
and shine for all. This is the same with
individuals. We can learn to appreciate more
the giftedness of others and set aside their
shortcomings. The more we learn, the better
we become.
 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 2

YOUNG DISCIPLES FOR MISSION

Abraham S. Chongo, IFFA Formation Team

To train and form young people for mission is one endeavor that cannot go
without the support of a larger community involving the students themselves, formators,
collaborators and partners in mission. This community also includes the Sending
Organizations and Dioceses who make it possible for these young people to respond to
the call of God.

Response to God’s call requires an added commitment and sacrifice to go

beyond one’s familiar surroundings, comforts and way of doing and being as one
continues to relate with others.

In this first issue of our newsletter: “Asian Hearts Speak” you will read the
“Response to God’s call
testimonies of both students and staff on how they continue to respond to God’s
invitation of love and service. They all speak of the common call that binds together requires an added
people coming from different backgrounds. commitment and
We all have one thing in common regardless of our differences. It is this love sacrifice to go beyond
that lies deep within our hearts that makes us ONE. We Asian Hearts Speak! We invite one’s familiar
you to journey with us throughout this year.
surroundings...”
We are very grateful for the assistance of the following people; without their time
and contribution, this issue of our publication won’t be possible. For Amelia, our
volunteer from Malaysia, who has been helping our students in their English and initial
work on this newsletter. For Mary Thao, who did the final layout of this newsletter and
spent quite sometime on this work. For Mary Ann, one of our student interns, who helped
in collecting some of the articles from the students and encoding them. Last but not the
least, we thank you all for the contributions of your articles and reflections. To one and
all, thank you so much and God bless you!

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Charles Bertille, IFFA

This year 2009-2010 we are called to strengthen community among us as we

place greater emphasis on mission. This means change for persons, the program and as
Institution. For each of us, we have to discern the little voice of God and the conversions
He invites us to. For the program, after listening to our former students and young
workers at the Penang Gathering in May 2009, and evaluations from Sending
Organizations over these past three years, we are affirmed in our program and the fruits
they are bearing in the local churches. 100% of our students are involved and are serving
full-time even when they are not obliged to. They have established structures, programs
and offices for youth, campus ministry and laity where none existed before. Others are
involved in social development, pastoral work, evangelization and Catechism. They are a “We will deepen
blessing for the Church in Asia.
mission formation to
We will deepen mission formation to continue to respond effectively to local
continue to respond
challenges. There is a greater emphasis on understanding the Asian realities of mission,
with a Spirit of stewardship, witnessing and prayer. We will dismantle some structures effectively to local
and rebuild a new way of being institute, with a community always at the heart of it. The challenges.”
year began with students and staff living in households and cooking meals together. The
students have taken on fundraising for their mission training projects this year and
helping find the shortfall of fellow students’ pocket allowances.

There are also three student interns who have returned to serve the institute
and further their own formation/studies. This is a healthy sign and they bring richness to
the students and institute. We will continue to build networks and partnerships inside
and outside the Church as we need the others. God is pruning us gently. He wants to
consolidate our efforts.

In jubilation and high spirits, for the joy of creative workshop

through the use of theater for mission and service. God
becomes fully present in each one’s heart and in the life of
the IFFA Community.

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK
MY DECISION TO ENTER IFFA
Mary Thanh Thao, Vietnam
My choice
My one-month stay at IFFA and in the Philippines
has been a great time of confronting myself in the deepest
core of my being. I have always asked God why I have to
stay here. Was my decision to come here right or wrong?
In front of all these questions, God spoke to me, and I too
spoke to my inner being; I need to decide to be here and
not anywhere else. If I am here, then there must be a
reason. Since then, I have tried my best to integrate myself
in the processes of IFFA and that of my friends.
Now I feel very much satisfied with my decision. I
feel happy living in IFFA. I have many new friends, who
come from different cultural backgrounds in Asia. Despite
our differences, I can dare say that we have a lot in
common, the Asian-ness of our culture and way of life. Day
by day, we continue to appreciate and understand each
other more than before in the sessions and the activities
we do at IFFA and at SVST. In each session, I learn many
meaningful things. These help me to adjust and transform
myself in many different ways, and always for the better.
Growing in confidence
I did not have self-confidence before. I did not
believe in myself and my giftedness But, now I know and
can affirm my uniqueness that I am a beautiful creation of
God and that I receive from Him many blessings which I
should share with others willingly. “II am special because
God made me.”
me. This is meaningful for me after the session
on “Self-Discovery and Affirming my Uniqueness” and I
have indeed discovered who I am in God.
God
Becoming agents of change in Asian Society
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 4
Before I joined this formation program at IFFA, I
was a closed person. I didn’t want anybody to know my
true feelings. Sometimes, I didn’t know how to talk with
others, so I often kept quiet. This way of carrying myself
made it difficult for others to talk with me freely. I was
afraid I would hurt others and lose my friends if I showed
my feelings, especially the negative ones. The sessions on
“Intercultural Sensitivity” and “Growth as a Relational
Being” changed my attitude and thinking about everything
else. If I kept my feelings to myself, this can help me to live
in peace with others. But I realized that I’m hurting myself
more because of the things I dare not say. Today, I am
invited to share and open myself more to understand
others and others to understand me.
“Looking at each other with LOVE”. Sometimes I
feel uncomfortable when someone makes a mistake or
someone does something I am not satisfied with. The
sessions have helped me to make connection with my daily
life situations here at IFFA. I am invited to look into myself
first before looking at, or putting blame on, others. Before,
for whatever good or bad that happened, I would not
accept that I had a part to play in it. Since then, I told
myself that I would try to develop a deeper awareness of
“self and others”, to love others and myself.
To do this, I need everybody to help me open up
my heart to them. Today, step by step, I am able to share
with others my hidden self. My covenant group is a place
where I can learn to be myself, trusting that they will take
care of me by understanding and just being there to listen.
They are like my brothers and sisters. I can share with
them everything and they help me to bring out all that I am.
I think this is what it means to be a Christian community,
living and sharing in the life of Christ.
Exposure to social realities
The activities at IFFA have also helped me to share
in the real-life situations of the people in different areas of
Metro Manila. Once, I visited a poor community in Paco,
where the people experience constant flooding each time
there is a heavy rainfall. They helped me to understand the
difficult lessons of life. I learned many things especially
when I saw their smile; I asked myself why they are still
happy even though they are in a desperate situation. Even
 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5

(Continued from page 4)

as I consider myself to be so lucky with all the little ENCOUNTERING MY FATHER

necessities and comforts that I have, I can not help but Theresa Hoang Anh, Vietnam
ask: “What about these people? Is any one concerned and
doing something to make their lives a little bearable? How
can I thank God for my life with this in front of me?” My prayer life begins to consume every part of
Another time, I visited an elderly community in my life with God. I always ask Him for his guidance before
Marikina. When I heard the elder people share their stories I speak or in any decision that I want to make. I give Him
of life, about who they are, how they can be that way and full control of my life. He is ever present in my mind and
how they found themselves where they are right now, I felt heart. For me, the reality of prayer is really the fruit of
sad and angry. I did not understand how someone can faith. As I look back, there are moments when I pray and
leave behind his or her mother or father. Even as I talked, ask God for a lot of things, but when I receive them I am
sang and danced with them, feeling happy, I could feel dissatisfied. Sometimes, I receive a sweet gift, but
myself being confronted with my own reality, of what it sometimes it turns out to be bitter. I get disappointed,
would mean for me to grow old. Despite their different
and I tend to think that maybe God doesn’t know what I
situations, these people feel they’re one big happy family
want. As time passes by, I come to realise that God,
together. I remember one elder person telling us in her
indeed, knows my needs. He may not give me there and
sharing: “Love
Love parents and study hard”.
hard When I heard that,
I said to myself that I will try not to make my parents heavy- then when I ask, but He surely does know what is best
hearted. First and foremost, I will say to them “I love you so and when is the best time for it.
much”.
Now at IFFA, I think that I can do everything
because I have a lot of friends who are ready to support
and help me grow. At the same time, I know and believe
that God is always with me and gives me more than I need
or can ask for.
Thank God I came here! I can discover and change
myself. I can learn many new things to help the young
people in my country, especially in my diocese.
“Don’t be afraid; I am with you…”

Prayer is really my energy source in all that I do.

Sometimes, my human weakness gets hold of the best of
me, and I feel lazy and tired, and I seem not able to
concentrate during prayer. Yet my only consolation is my
trust that God understands. I feel that in order to have a
good relationship with God I need to learn to let go of my
worries and just simply trust. I have a wonderful
experience each time I meet God in prayer. I speak to
Him first and He listens. Next, He speaks and I listen as
his daughter. And the last step is where we both wrap
ourselves in the silence of each other. I look forward to
encountering my Father everyday in all that I do.
Elderly community in Marikina

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 6

REFLECTIONS: CAN YOU DO THIS FOR ME?

Lattana (Noi), Laos

Whatever circumstance I find myself in (with all the my life for!

concerns, issues, problems and struggles of my life), I find God
asking me: “Can you do this for me?”
This is what I feel continuously and I keep asking
myself, “Can I trust in Him and in His divine promise for me? Am I
willing to give my life to Him and for Him? If yes, then why do I find
myself resisting? Why do I feel that I cannot really give in to Him?”
It’s through asking myself these questions, meditatively
pondering upon what it means for me to respond to His call, that I
realize how He is drawing me to grow and develop a close
relationship with Him. It makes me
understand why He seems to
disturb me and make me
experience all kinds of conflicting
situations and struggles. It is for
this reason that I dare to say,
“Lord, disturb me even more”,
because then, I get to know what
it is I have to offer and sacrifice
What this means for me is that my prayer life is, indeed,
a way of communicating with God. And each and every time I start
to pray and ask God’s intervention in the day-to-day events and
happenings of my life, I ask for His constant faithfulness so that I
can remain in Him as He remains in me all the time. I do not have
to question anymore what happens to/in my life, and why it is
happening. God has His own reason which is beyond my human
comprehension; He is the one who gives meaning to everything.
This becomes my guiding principle about God’s assuring
presence and intervention in my life and the whole of life. He
Himself has spoken to us through His Son Jesus Christ: “I have
come that you may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
If I have this assuring presence of God in Jesus Christ,
what then is preventing me to go deep in prayer and build a close
relationship with Him? I have come to realize that, many times,
my attitude, limitations, weaknesses, and of course, my laziness
lead me into darkness, thus I become unfaithful in the little steps
I know I am supposed to take and do for the good of all.

AN ENDLESS OVERFLOW OF GOD’S LOVE AND BLESSINGS

Pale Phyu, Myanmar

Three months is just enough time to initially settle down discovery that I am blessed and that I am God’s gift to others is
and enter into a way of life which I call spiritual journey. This is an one of the most significant realizations for me. I am indeed a
experience I carry in my heart as I look at another phase of blessing from God. This has never dawned on me before, and I
formation this year at IFFA. thank God for IFFA and the yes to the process.

When I reflect on each of the various “The discovery that I am Sometimes when I face difficulties I can
sessions, I realize that each has been designed not stand up by myself. I even forget to pray to
blessed and that I am
in such a way that it makes me sigh and say to Him, the author of my life. Yet, His blessing is
myself: how meaningful and useful this is for God’s gift to others is one never-ending; it continuously overflows, flowing
me and for my life! It is very important to know of the most significant re- like a river. I know, and I can feel that this is not of
the beauty that it brings to my life and to the life alizations for me.” human making, but a divine blessing and
of the others. sanctification. It is the same thing with his love. It
is when I believe that God’s love is endless in my life and I can
I can say that this journey of discovery through sessions
not even afford to pay with the efforts that I am making. And I
and daily encounters with people and realities is valuable for me
start growing in his likeness, appreciating his embrace for me and
and for my mission. I am not only acquiring knowledge and skills,
the rest of humanity. Such is the wonder of God, our Father!
but it also helps me to change my attitude towards life and to
have a greater appreciation of the wider needs of society. The

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7

AM I BECOMING MORE MATURE?

Rodrigo B. Babiera Jr., Philippines

As I grow older day by day, I become more mature if I know inside me that the feeling is burning like fire. This
physically and mentally. My body changes in structure, my suppression of my feeling has always been my coping
muscles begin to form, and my mind continues to acquire mechanism. In my childhood days, I would always tend to
and accumulate more knowledge. I begin to see with a be quiet about things within and around me. One thing
wider perspective. However, there is one area of my being which was very clear even until now is that I really do not
human that I somehow have forgotten to pay attention to – want to hurt the feelings of others. But, I realize that by
my emotions. avoiding this, the more I hurt myself, and in turn, hurt
others. The two sessions have brought redemption and
I cannot really understand and explain why
relief to my life and taught me how I should carry myself.
oftentimes I have a hard time articulating exactly what I
These have helped me to develop a better attitude on how
feel. If someone asks me: “what do you feel right now?” I
to deal with my own and others’ emotions, so that in my
wouldn’t know what to say. At some instances, I am forced
way of relating with others, I won’t make them
to say something about how I really feel. I have been
uncomfortable by my not being able to express freely what
endowed by God with a heart that feels. But, my safest way
may be disturbing or going on
to escape this inability to express
within me.
my feelings is simply to say that I
am happy or sad, even though I To develop good
know deep within me that I feel relationships with others is, first,
something different. to take care of our own emotions,
to be responsible for our own
With the in-house
actions in total freedom and
formation sessions “Growth as a
choice. There is no need to be
Relational Being” and “My
afraid or shy about how we feel.
Affective Life”, I was made aware
But, we have to make sure that
that it is very important to look
we express it in the right place
into, and pay attention to, our
and time, and with the right
emotions and the dynamics involved. The two sessions
person involved. Second, it is good for us not to allow
have helped me to look back in my past and re-live my
ourselves to be affected by the feelings of others and our
feelings during my significant experiences, including the
own past, especially negative experiences. They say
good and not-so-good ones. In all these, I have come to
“Experience is the best teacher”; we can all learn from our
realize that I am still very much attached and rooted to my
own experiences and those of others. We can also
past negative experiences. As a result of this, a lot of times
remember that “Pain is the teacher from whom we can
today, I have been reacting to certain things based on
learn much”. These are hard lessons in life, and our
these past experiences and not on the actual present
negative experiences are meant to help us develop a more
situation itself.
positive outlook in life. We can learn from them so that we
Until now, I find it difficult to show that I am angry do not commit the same mistakes in life again and again.
or to even give a feedback (fraternal correction) to my
classmate or friend. I tend to keep all these to myself even

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 8

CREATIVE WORKSHOP
Maribel Castillo, IFFA Formation Team

“Live life, love God!”
This is the motto of the students of the Institute of
Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA) in their creativity workshop with
their very humble, yet so creative, instructor, Mr. Bryan Villas
Maliglig, every Wednesday and some Sundays from July to
September.
methods used in the workshop such as Symbolic Prayer, Tadashi
Suzuki Actors Training Method, Texts, Group Activities and
Stanislavski Method of Acting.
Since the students started their training, very visible
signs of changes happen in them through the workshop. They

Mr. Maliglig is using the module entitled “THE STAIRS”,

the vision of which is to establish a nation of well-driven youth
leaders and missionaries with greater spiritual, social and
environmental awareness.

The Creativity Workshop

increases the students’ passion for
learning and discovery. It helps them
realize their capabilities and talents
through performing arts workshops and
utilize their potentials as tools for their
future mission. The core values being
developed are as follows: creativity, became more confident and more in touch with their feelings.
integrity, independence and objectivity, They are inspired to learn more because they know that through
leadership, innovation, God-driven, this workshop they can witness the love of God for others through
mutual respect, trust, openness and their Theatre Project. Let us support them as they have their first
The man behind the
students’ creative teamwork. These core values are Theater Presentation on September 27 and October 3.
performances being developed through the different

LIKE A BOY
Johya Paul Kijima, Japan

After participating in some of the sessions
offered here at IFFA, I have come to realize that, really,
the Holy Spirit is inside me, working within me.
I had my encounter with the Holy Spirit in
February. This was indeed very personal. When I was
praying during the retreat, someone
approached me and told me: “Don’t
use ‘I’; don’t use ‘you’!” After some
time, I realized that it was the Holy
Spirit talking to me.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me
like a child. He never used difficult
words. And I felt HE looked like a boy.
Through that encounter and some other sessions I
have attended, I now start thinking and making a deci-
sion to be HONEST to myself like a boy. I want to de-
pend on the Father like Jesus. My poem expresses this
better:
There is a small boy in a small village,
He wants to grow like a little flower
He uses blue water,
The water is lighter than air
His dress shines brighter than sunshine,
His name is SHIRO
Now he is dancing to grow like a little flower.

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF YOUNG WORKERS FOR THE MISSION
The Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), is
a school of discipleship that proposes to potential young
leaders and professionals in their early 20’s to 30’s a ten-
month formation program.
Our vision is to be a hub of formation for young
adults and laity for a renewed church in Asia and Society.
This school year, 2009-2010, there are 15
students from 7 countries - China, Malaysia, Japan,
Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines. They are
being trained and formed as young Christian disciples for
the Church in Asia and Society. They are from the emerging
Churches in Asia, mostly from countries that are
experiencing hard times in terms of socio-economic
situation and political stability.
IFFA’s community of staff and students is trying to
raise funds to cover the shortfall in the students’ pocket
money and visa needs. In addition, they have to find
resources for their mission training projects, as shown
below. This is part of their training to trust in God’s
providence and learning to be good stew
For this reason, we have come up with eight major
mission projects for this year of formation. These are:
• Pocket money and visa fees
• Student newsletter, which will enable you, our partners
and sponsors, to be updated with what is going on here
at IFFA in the life of students and staff, and as an
institute.
• Weekly visits to communities and exposure to realities,
to enable students to get in touch with, and
understand, the actual situation and concerns people
are grappling with in their efforts to make ends meet.
• Coffee talks or encounters with witnesses, dialogue
with persons who can conscientize us about social
realities in the church and society, thus inspiring us
with their life to act.
• Three weeks of social immersion, stay in a local diocese
or area to experience life from the point of view of the
poor by living with them in families and communities.
Becoming agents of change in Asian Society
PAGE 9
• Asian Youth Day 2009,
2009 to participate and be enriched
by the experiences of other young people from all over
Asia.
• Christmas fundraising through theatre presentations, to
witness about Christ’s love and service, and raise funds
for mission projects.
• Pastoral internship,
internship to learn how organizations or
dioceses are initiating change in the life of the people in
society.
While students and staff are taking their steps to
find sponsors, we appeal to you reading this newsletter to
help us sponsor these projects. They need to raise US$
20,000.
You can send your donations and contributions to:
Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia
(IFFA)
#12 Martina cor. Reynaldo Sts.
Reymar Subdivision, Tandang Sora
1116 Quezon Cit y, Philippines
You can also make deposits or fund transfers to
our account at:
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Met ro
Bank)
Acct. Name: Fondacio Asia, Inc.
Acct. No. (Peso): 7 - 326 - 50450 - 1
Acct. No. (US Dollar): 326 - 2 - 32600602 - 0
Routing Code (SWIFT): MBTC PHMM
Tandang Sora Avenue Branch,
185 Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City,
Philippines
 ASIAN HEARTS SPEAK VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 10

VISION OF IFFA

We, at IFFA, are committed to proclaiming the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ by opting to be an active pres-
ence in the Church and Society, especially in the life of the people we encounter each and every day.

Since the beginning of this formation year, our life could not have been so colorful as you see it in these pictures,
had it not been for the solidarity among us and the constant support from each one of you!

We will continue to be much more present to each other, especially to those who most need our presence.

We want to invite you, young people of Asia, who want to make a difference in your life and in those of others, to
come and spend a year at the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), and discover more about your mission and pur-
pose in life.

We are Christians for the World and in the world!

For Inquiries, please write to:

Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), #12 Martina cor. Reynaldo Sts., Reymar Subdivision, Tandang Sora, Quezon
City 1116, Philippines. Tel: +63-2-456-2066, Website: www.fondacio-asia.org