27 Nov THE STORY OF MARY FAITH/JAPAN
Mary Faith (not her real name), is a former religious and since 2010 is currently working in a prestigious Resto-Bar here in Japan as a singer. On another occasion, I again met Mary Faith at a gathering of the Filipino Community and we have a very profound conversation. I noticed that she is very refined; she was dressed beautifully and looked the part of a dignified lady.
In our conversation, she told me that Mary Faith is not her real name and she was formerly a religious. She is 43 years old, married and has three children. She is a native of Southern Mindanao, Philippines and has two siblings; she is the youngest and the only girl. Her two brothers are doing military service, her father has retired from the army, and her mother is a teacher. Their family is simple, very religious and well respected in their place.
It was in her fourth-year of high school when she discovered that she had vocation. Her religion teacher guided and accompanied her on her journey. After her graduation from high school, she wanted to enter the convent but her parents did not allow her. Her mother wanted her to become a teacher like her. So, she took the course in Education with a major in Music. She was very active in the school and became the leader of the glee club. She also organized concerts and Christmas carols in their place. It was in her third-year of college when she really felt the call to religious life and decided to enter the convent. At first, her family did not agree with her decision but in the end gave her their permission. She was happy inside the convent. After her first profession, her formator told her to continue her studies because they noticed that she has a good vocal voice and was talented musically, she could play different kinds of instruments. She finished the course in Education with honors and was immediately assigned to become the head of the music department in their school. Her community were happy with her performance especially when she introduced new innovations. A few months later their school became very competitive in music, they received many music awards. But together with her great work she said that she was experiencing many struggles within, especially in her spiritual life. She was very competitive and the school had higher expectations of her also. When she organized the new choir in the school, she included some of their young staff members.
Mary Faith became very close to one of the members of the choir who happened to be their gardener. He was a good-looking man but three years younger than her. But later on, they fell in love with each other. When the school administration and her community learned about it, she was taken out of the school and transferred to another community to save her vocation. But even though she was transferred they continued communicating and meeting in secret, until one day she found out that she was pregnant. Mary Faith have to leave the congregation and marry him. Her family was angry and against her decision. After they married, they rented a small apartment where no one knew them, to avoid criticism. Benny (fictitious name), her husband was undergraduate so it was difficult for him to find a permanent job. He had no choice but to work as a casual laborer with a construction firm, on a minimum daily wage of 280 pesos per day. After Mary Faith give birth, she tried to look for a job. All the schools she applied to had no vacancies for a music teacher so, she was forced to work in a night club as a singer. But her income was not enough to cover their daily expenses. When she learned that there was an opportunity to work as “entertainer” in Japan she applied and was hired. Mary Faith admitted that although she was over 30 years old, older than most of the entertainers in Japan. She nevertheless was asked by the company to remain since the customers enjoyed her singing. She told me that even now she was in great demand at the resto-bar (club). The night-club where she worked was frequented mostly by senior citizens who liked her way of singing. The income she earned, she told me, enabled her to send her children to a private school. Some of the women who work in the resto-bar told her their stories of how they came to be entertainers in Japan. They had work visas that provided a good salary and they were happy about their jobs.
Mary Faith also shared that some of her companions were actually teenagers, others were college students from universities in Mindanao who would miss half a semester in order to earn enough for their education. When they first arrived, these college students appeared to be at the peak their youth, fresh-faced and healthy. However, after six months, they looked like withered flowers. Mary Faith admired their courage to work as entertainers in order to continue their studies. Some said their huge sacrifices were necessary to help their younger siblings to go to school. It was poverty that forced Mary Faith and many of these young girls to leave home to look for greener pastures. Some of them took big risks to gain a better life for themselves and their families but some instead, lost their lives and left behind shattered families.
Mary Faith also shared that some of her companions were actually teenagers, others were college students from universities in Mindanao who would miss half a semester in order to earn enough for their education. When they first arrived, these college students appeared to be at the peak their youth, fresh-faced and healthy. However, after six months, they looked like withered flowers. Mary Faith admired their courage to work as entertainers in order to continue their studies. Some said their huge sacrifices were necessary to help their younger siblings to go to school. It was poverty that forced Mary Faith and many of these young girls to leave home to look for greener pastures. Some of them took big risks to gain a better life for themselves and their families but some instead, lost their lives and left behind shattered families.
This story, has really helped me to understand better the migrants women who have the same story, SACRED STORIES.
Nilda-Dhay Marqueses, aci
Nagano-Shi, Japón
