The Catholic Church in Hyewha-dong is a haven for Filipinos, mostly workers coming from outside of Seoul, every Sunday. Most of them come all the way from the provinces, travelling an hour or more than two hours, to attend mass or simply catch up with friends. It's good to know that the former parish head, Fr. Glen Jaron, provided a shoulder to lean on and a trustworthy face for the Filipinos here. He stayed here for nine years until December last year. There is a different parish head now but I forgot his name. They continue to have a Tagalog mass every Sunday at 1:30 pm (or 2pm yata hehe). Below is the facade of the Church.
My son and I went there yesterday and this is how it usually looks after the mass with people coming out of the church:
I went there because it had been a long time since I last saw Sister Angel Libron. She became a good friend when I was still pregnant. Yesterday was a good chance to see her again because she organized an ukay-ukay to support her current advocacy. From her work in the church helping abused Filipino women married to Koreans, she moved on to helping women AIDS victim. I donated some of my used (but still wearable) clothes and I brought it to the church yesterday. I hope the activity earned for them well.
Sister Angel, in pink, caught in action
Sister Angel was wearing layman's clothes yesterday. She is wearing layman's clothes these days because her current advocacy shouldn't associate her vocation (being a nun) with it.
Sister Angel was also the one who recommended another Filipina to help me when we transferred apartment last March. This time, I had another request from her. I need a part time nanny for LeRuof. That is the grandest idea from my husband. He suggested the other weekend that we will find a nanny for LeRuof so we could go out on our own, too (like dates? hehehe). Who else to ask but Sister Angel again? So there I was in Hyewha with LeRuof in tow and Sister Angel made the necessary introductions. I hope everything will be well when I meet the possible nanny tomorrow evening.
We had a souvenir photo before leaving the church. She just had too much on her hands yesterday that it would be insensitive to stay longer. But it was a good day and a good time to meet with her again.
Below is how Filipino goods are being displayed on the street leading to the church. This is a familiar site every Sunday. This is where Filipinos could go to if they miss some things from back home. It is so interesting to see familiar goods from the Philippines. They have Datu Puti soy sauce, vinegar, chips, cheez whiz, powdered fruit juices, goldilocks products, and balut! They have almost everything. Even Tilapia (of course, cultured here in Korea).
Little boy in brown hat is LeRuof playing with the canned goods
I bought cheez whiz and Tang pineapple juice. I was excited to let LeRuof taste it when we get home. Everything was going well save for a minor slip. I first bought the cheez whiz for 5,000 won. I paid with a 10,000 won bill. I was handed back a 5,000 won bill. Then I decided to buy the pineapple juice for 4,000 won. I was sure I gave back the 5,000 bill. But I was told that I didn't. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, despite not seeing any 5,000 bill in my wallet. I handed another 10,000 bill and got a 6,000 won change. When I got home, there was no 5,000 bill in my wallet nor in my bag. hehehe.
But that didn't ruin the day. I just would not go back there again, lest it's necessary.
