LA COMUNIDAD MEXICANA EN FILIPINAS
FR. BALTAZAR SANCHES SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES

My name is Baltazar Sanchez Alonzo, I was born in Canitas de Felipe Pescador in Zacatecas State, Mexico. I belong to the Order of the Piarist Fathers, "Escolapios", in Spanish. This is a Religious Order founded by St. Joseph Calasanz in the year 1597 in Rome. In 1913 the Piarists arrived in Mexico. Our main mission in the Church and in the Society is to evangelize through education, especially the poor children and youth.


EL SENADO DE LA REPUBLICA AND THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES

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In 2002 I was sent by my Superiors to India, to the South State of Kerala, where I worked for three years. My main objective was the formation of our Piarist Indians. While in India, I lived wonderful experiences with our seminarians, as part of our mission and formation. India is a mystical country. At the moment I arrived there, I felt myself as a missionary, even though I experienced some difficulties. The goal for what I was sent there helped me to overcome the difficulties: language, cultural differences, food, climate.


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Aside from my work at the seminary, I was helping in a leprosarium for a year. Once a week, I would go there to clean and wash the wounds of the sick, shave their faces, clean their rooms and wash their clothes. At the beginning it was hard. I was scared, but little by little I realized that what I was doing, was a service to them in the name of God, so this encouraged me to do it with love. 

Finally, we became friends and all of them were so lovely that every week when I arrived at the leprosarium they ran to embrace and welcome me. India is a beautiful country, yet it has harsh realities as poverty, ignorance, and illnesses that sometimes we question life as we see it unfold.

I was transferred to Manila, Philippines in 2005, where I continued working for the formation of the future Asian Piarists. The main group has been Filipinos, although, I have also been in charge of the vocational promotion in other countries of Asia. As a Religious Order we have a project: the extension of our Piarist Mission in other countries of the Asian continent, thus I have been visiting Indonesia, East Timor, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, looking for young people who are interested in our mission and ministry. It has not been an easy task, but at the same time it was really a great opportunity to come across different cultures of the Asian continent. In the formation house where I actually reside are seven nationalities. Apart from the day to day complexity, cultural differences, language, we have created an atmosphere that has helped each one of us to grow, as persons, and as a community.

In line with the plan of formation of all these young people, to live a pastoral experience within the poor, we have been working with the squatters of Metro Manila offering different kinds of formation to the children and the youth like catechism, tutorial, youth ministry, scholarships. We organized summer camps, wherein they experience a learning process that help them grow as individuals this improving their lives.


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Living in these two countries, and my travels to other countries of Asia, have made me realize the richness of this continent. First of all, are their people. Without any doubt I can mention some of the qualities that as Asian I have perceived. Respect, submissive, sensible, hospitable, spiritual, responsible, hard working, dedicated, with clear life options, adventurous, committed, loyal, faithful, and most of all their simplicity of life. The Asian people always have a smile in their faces, smile that welcomes you, smile that makes you feel at home. 

Asia has a rich culture. The great thing is that up to now we can feel it, through their lifestyle, architecture, museums, manner of dressing, languages, and gastronomy. So as I travelled in these cities, it seemed like going through ancient times, full of cultural magnificence like entering into another world.


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Richness in their religions, Asia is the continent with the earliest religions in the world, - Hinduism, Buddhism, Islamism, Jingoism, and Christianity. I could appreciate it in their temples, pagodas, mosques, churches, in their religious expressions and prayers. I visited and prayed in Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, and Buddhist pagodas. It has been a great experience to talk and share experiences, points of view with people from other religions, and to enrich our knowledge and most of all our experiences in life. 

As my tour of duty comes to an end, I will be leaving for my country, Mexico, soon, but I can say that I will not go home empty handed. I return with countless experiences that undeniably will help me in my future ministry with my people, in Mexico. I can only express my gratitude to these countries, India and Philippines and to this continent that always had an open door for me. Thanks to all those who made this experience of eight years possible in this beautiful land. Muchas gracias, Maraming Salamat, Nanni.