A World Day of Prayer service was held in Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church on March 3.
The service was written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of The Philippines and it depicted life in the Republika ng Pilipinas, which is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia, situated in the western Pacific Ocean.
The capital city of Manila has a population of 1.78 million, said information from the Committee. The Philippines has an area of 300,000 square kilometres (115,831 sq. mi), and a population of approximately 100 million. It is the eighth-most populated country in Asia and the 12th most populated country in the world. It is composed of 7,641 islands, which are prone to earthquakes and typhoons due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Christianity is the major religion of the Philippines due to the Spanish influence, the information said. Eighty per cent of the population is Roman Catholic. It has had two female presidents and a constitution that provides for equal rights, yet Filipino women are discriminated against and treated as subordinates in the home, church and society.
The majority of women are poor and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, it said. “The service gives us a glimpse of the lives of these women, their daily life and what they must endure.”
Readings spoke of women working without receiving the pay they were entitled to as well as some who had lost their home and business in the typhoon, but received no compensation to rebuild.
“Many of the Pilipino members of our community took part in the service, as did several churches,” said Audrey Hrycak. Churches, which took part in the readings, were: Gateway Community Church; Seventh Day Adventist; Roman Catholic Church; United Church and the Benediction by Rev. M. Watson of Parkland Christian Centre.
Melinda Sevilla, a member of the community who had immigrated from the Philippines in 2003, “led us through the service and spoke about what it was like to teach in the Philippines.
“She talked about some of the children in the school that would walk five miles to school in barefeet, but came, because they felt it was a privilege to go to school,” Hrycak said. “Another student worked at home from 4 a.m. until 7 a.m., assisting his family with meat cutting for market, then he would get ready and walk to school.
“Melinda gave us insight as to the reality of life in the Philippines.
“We were also entertained with songs from the Philippines as well as a presentation of rice, water, scales and a basket of produce, offerings that are traditional in this culture,” she said.
Food from the Philippine culture was shared in the hall after the service.
