FR. RONALD DOLOSO MAGBANUA
As told to NEGROS WEEKLY
The writer, a native of Silay City, has been a missionary priest in Mongolia, for 19 years now. He is an AB Philosophy graduate of the University of St. La Salle and earned his Theology degree from the Maryhill School of Theology in Quezon City.
He is the son of the late Jaime Magbanua and wife Ofelia, whom he describes as “a hardworking mother, who did everything to support us to reach our dreams and believes that education is key to success”.
Fr. Ronald, 45, has a sister, Sheilla Magbanua-Trajera, USLS director of Center for Linkages and International Affairs, and two brothers, Marlon and Stephen, both businessmen.
He spent his basic education at Silay North Elementary School and Silay Institute.
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“Mongolia” evokes the thought of an exotic and faraway land. It is not really a distant place, only that many Filipinos are not too familiar with the country, because of not-so-common cultural and trade relations between it and our country.
What brought me to Mongolia?
In our congregation, we are given three mission places to choose from. My first choice was Mongolia. Why Mongolia? Because, I want to work in a place where Christianity is not known or heard yet. A place where you have to start from zero.
I have been here for 19 years now. I arrived here July 6, 2002.
My City, Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is a fast- developing city. It is the capital city of Mongolia and it is the coldest capital in the whole world. I remember when I arrived here, I could still recall, that there were cows, sheeps and goats in the Sukhbaatar Square grazing. But after 19 years, the whole city is modernized, showcasing its skyscrapers all over the city.
The famous attraction here is their Naadam Festival. It usually happens from July 11- 15. It is a Festival for the three manly sports, namely wrestling, archery and horse racing. Since, it is summer by that time, many tourists would come and celebrate the festival with the Mongolians.
Mongolia is a land of steppes. One would be attracted to the many beautiful scenic views all over the country. If one loves nature, he will surely enjoy here.
The people are friendly and hospitable. They love celebrations, no wonder we have so many holidays here in Mongolia.
Our Mission
We are here to start the mission. Our pioneers came in 1992 after the Government of Mongolia asked the Vatican to send social workers to help alleviate the lives of the people. From then, on our congregation (CICM) started building orphanages, schools, clinic, library, churches, etc. All these are to answer the call of Jesus: Food for the hungry, cloth to the naked, health care for the sick, etc.
Challenges Encountered
It is difficult here in terms of church related work because the government is not very supportive of religious activities. Every year, we have to renew our churches permits. It takes a lot of time waiting for the permit to be renewed. Worst is sometimes, we have to leave the country because our visas have already expired but our church permit is not yet renewed. Our visas are connected to our church permits.
Our schools, clinic, orphanages, etc. do not have crucifixes or images of saints. The government does not allow it. The religious sisters who are working in schools are forced to take off their veils for it is not allowed here.
Breakthroughs
Every Mission area has its own unique way of doing Mission. Talking about breakthrough, maybe I would say that in just some years of doing Mission, we already have two local Mongolian priests.
As of now there are already 8 churches and 1 chaplaincy established here in the Mission. 5 parishes and 1 chaplaincy are located in the capital. And three others are located in the countryside.
Sowing the Seeds
The Story of Christ came a bit later in the reception of the people. People get to know us first from the many charitable works that we do. And as time goes on, they started to ask why are these people doing these? What inspired them to do these charitable works? Who sent them? Etc. And from there, we started to explain to them that we came because of our faith. We did not just come out of our own. But we came because of our “Calling”; God sent us here.
I could still recall when one day while we were walking in the felt tent area (like our squatters’ area maybe) of the city, the children who saw us were shouting, Esus! Esus! Esus! (Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!) The children saw Jesus in us. The children felt the love of Jesus through us. We used to give meals to the people there.
Our churches have embraced the “Come and See” method of inviting people. The Mongolians would come and observed our celebrations and rituals. Many of them are attracted to church music. They like it very much. With this method many of them stay and join our catechism classes and are baptized.
Christmas in Mongolia
Mongolia is predominantly Buddhist, so people here do not celebrate Christmas. And some of them do not believe in God.
I do not know if it is right to say that Christmas happens only inside the church. But yes, indeed, it happens only inside our churches. Our parishioners would come for Mass and after the Christmas Mass we have gift giving to children and the poor in the society.
Little by little, we have introduced to them the tradition of Caroling. We teach our youths Christmas songs and we would visit the houses of our religious priests and sisters and sing Christmas Carols for them.
With the Filipinos who are working here in Mongolia, we gather here in our church for Noche Buena and exchange gifts. We are far from our families back home but the Christmas Spirit is pretty much alive among us.
Difficulties Encountered
I have to admit our church is the poorest church in Mongolia. Our Sunday Collection is less the 2 USD. We could only do much with what we have. Expansion in terms of construction, not really. But expansion on evangelization, yes, we will try all our best to work hard once this pandemic is over.
When we were just beginning with our church, we were just renting two rooms in an apartment building. We used to pay 350 USD per month. Then the following year, the landlord came and said the rent will be 450 USD per month. We have less than 2 USD for our Sunday Collection but here you are the expenses just for the rental.
I was expecting that the following year the rent will be 550 USD. But the landlord said, No, it will be 1,000 USD per month. I was so surprised with what he said that immediately, I thought of how can I pay it? That is 12,000 USD per year; Where will I get that money for rent? I would rather spend that money for our social works rather than spent it just for a rent.
I told him immediately that if the rent will be 1,000 USD, we would rather leave the place and look for other place where we can afford the rent. The landlord said, let us talk about it. Let us meet again this coming Friday.
Every Friday, I celebrate Mass with the Mother Teresa’s sister (Missionaries of Charity). I went to celebrate Mass with them that day and immediately after Mass I went back to our church. When I park our car, he came out and padlocked the gate of the apartment. I asked him why did you padlocked the gate? He answered, because you are running away!
From then on, he started threatening me, saying I will shoot you if you run away.
I told him why will I run away? He said because you still have a debt to pay to me.
That whole day was terrible. In the evening the policemen came because he accused me of not paying the rent. I explained to the policemen that I have no debt, I paid always ahead of time. The landlord and his children were attacking me. So the policemen brought us all to the police station. I was imprisoned that night in a prison cell that is very dirty and very cold.
I remember what our mother was telling us before when we were still small. She said, “Do not commit a crime on a Friday night, because you will come out only on a Monday.” That night was the eve of the Lunar New Year. And Lunar New Year here is celebrated for one month. That means I will be imprisoned for one month!
The officer in charged asked if what the landlord was saying is true? I told him that I paid full already and I have no debt. This is really a blessing in disguise. The landlord was forcing me to pay cash but I always insisted on paying through the bank. I asked our secretary to bring the bank receipts of our payments and she showed it to the officer in charge.
The officer in charge was convinced that I have no debt to pay to the landlord. He sided with me that night. But the landlord was still insisting that I should pay my debt. Finally, the landlord asked if we could re-paint the apartment. It was already 4:00 AM. I agreed to re-paint the apartment that is why the police released me from prison.
Missing These…
We always say Christmas is in the air! Everywhere you go in the Philippines you will feel that spirit of Christmas. The salu-salo, the reunions, etc. That I miss, a lot.
I miss everything in Silay. I miss my family, my friends, my classmates. I miss everybody. Of course, the beautiful people of Silay.
For Negros, but still in Silay, the kakanin- piaya, butong-butong, batchoy, inasal, tubo, etc.
Pray for Us
I feel shy to say, please donate to our Mission here in Mongolia and help build our churches and spread the Good News of Christ. But I would say please pray for us missionaries.
My Christmas Message
Even though I have been here for 19 years now, I am still a Negrense and a Silaynon by heart. I love our island and the people living in the island.
I am more worried about the news lately of floods in Negros. Mga utod ko nga mga Negrense, let us take care of our natural resources especially our forest. Let us plant trees this Christmas. We may not benefit it now but for sure the future Negrenses will enjoy and be proud of what we have done for them. Planting a tree or trees could be the greatest gift you can gift this Christmas for humanity. Wishing and praying for you: prosperity, Good Health and Happiness this Christmas Season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
