Boundaries

Part II: The Omega Friar I

There was talk in the town that an Omega Friar was settling at the church. He was the one I had seen during the parade: he had a beautiful face, a charismatic appearance, and light-colored eyes that captivated everyone. Being an Omega and a friar was a significant conflict for the conservatives. I learned his name from the townspeople; they called him Saint Emmanuel.

Saint Emmanuel came from a wealthy family with a lineage of priests. He would spend most of his time at the orphanage, reading, praying, and thinking, embodying the good friar that he was.

One time, I visited the orphanage because the farmers we were helping had given me gifts of fruits and vegetables, which I donated to the church despite not being Catholic. The nuns and children welcomed me with smiles on their faces.

One nun told me that I had a beautiful appearance and that she thought I was an Omega. I laughed it off; I often received such compliments when I was 25 years old. Friar Emmanuel was there at that time and approached me with eager cheerfulness.

He was taller than me and had the height of an Alpha, yet he smelled sweet and flowery like sampaguita. He was kind towards me, holding a Bible, and asked me in a soft manner, "Do you pray?"

"I do," I replied.

"That's a good trait to have in this generation. People are losing their faith and wouldn't believe that there is a God now."

"Life hits, I guess," I said, sweating from the country's heat. I couldn't tell him directly that I didn't go to church. At that time, he was entertaining me as a guest and a donor of the church, which wasn't surprising.

"A friar is one to guide lost souls to redirect them to the path of spirituality," he said with a gentle smile. "God loves the children, the lost people, and so on."

Saint Emmanuel then began to talk about the nearby brothel. "I always want to perform miracles on them," he said earnestly. "I want them to be clean and to live life with God in their hearts, to leave the Red Light District." In his own mind, people who are sex workers are deemed dirty by the town, excluded; thus, he wanted to 'save' them with his miracles and faith, which he called a miracle to exorcise the bad spirit.

But for me, it's rather a deep reason why people would fall to such depths-for their survival, having no education, or lack of opportunities, which made them vulnerable to jobs that compromise their dignity.

"What do you think drives them to such jobs?" I asked, genuinely curious about his perspective.

His eyes lit up with hope, but his answer was not what I expected. "It's the lack of faith and trust in the divine, especially in this modern world. Religion is vanishing," he said.

"I believe that's just one aspect," I replied cautiously, trying not to dismiss his beliefs outright. "I think the lack of opportunities, particularly for Omegas, plays a significant role."

He appeared contemplative for a moment before nodding slowly. "I think you're right. It never occurred to me," he admitted. Contrary to my initial impression of him as a conservative, he was open to dialogue and willing to consider alternative viewpoints. "Perhaps my perception has been too narrow."

"It's understandable," I said, smiling at him despite the stifling heat in the room. "I grew up in a society where people lacking opportunities often end up in such positions later in life. While faith can be a motivating factor, practicality and the need for survival can sometimes challenge faith and spirituality."

Saint Emmanuel smiled softly, "You make a valid point, Lois. I should be more accepting and open to different perspectives, even if they challenge my faith."

Having such a meaningful conversation with the friar made me realize that people hold diverse beliefs, yet it's possible to approach them with respect and understanding, regardless of our differences.

We conversed as if we were old colleagues, and he was not hesitant to delve into challenging topics concerning the church. Given that religion deeply influences our culture and country, it's no surprise that our nation has been perceived as one of the least open to accepting the government's proposed changes, especially when they oppose the church. Additionally, our country tends to be resistant to both local laws and international laws that contradict the church's teachings. While friars and the church are held in high regard, those of us who do not attend their teachings are often perceived as immoral by the citizens, which is far from the truth.