Metropolitan Community Church Philippines
Fulfilling God's Promise
By Mikee dela Cruz

But Luna is happy that “mapagtagumpayan namin ang lahat ng ito sa loob ng 17 years sa pamamagitan ng aming mga panalangin, lingguhang misa, pagsasama-sama sa aming mga support groups at Biblestudies, at sa aming mga retreats at pamamasyal sa iba’t-ibang lugar ng magkakasama.  Sa awa at biyaya ng Dios nakaabot na kami ng 17 years dito sa Pilipinas (We have overcome these challengez in the past 17 years through our prayers, weekly Masses, togetherness in support groups and Bible studies, and occasional retreats and get-togethers.  Because of God’s mercy, we’ve reached 17 years in the Philippines),” he says.

SPREADING HOPE

The GLBTQI community, for Luna, can be disappointing.

For one, there’s the internal homophobia (within the community).  “Ang division sa pagitan ng mga gays, straight-acting gays, effeminate gays, lesbians, bisexuals, at transgenders.  Tayo-tayo nagaaway, tayo-tayo naguukrayan; tayo-tayo nagmamagandahan at nagtatarayan.  Hindi tulad sa America ang GLBTQI community ay united kaya sila ay nagtatagumpay sa kanilang bansa (There’s the division among the members of our community – we fight among ourselves; unlike in the US, they are united, so they gain some grounds),” he notes.

Secondly, there’s the distancing of many with their faiths.  “Hindi ko sila masisisi kasi marami talagang simbahan ang nanakit sa ating community (na) itinuturo nila na hindi tayo pagpasok sa langit kaya marami sa atin nagpakasama na lang.  Kaya kami rin nahihirapan na ibahagi ang Mabuting Balita sa kanila kasi talagang malalim ang sugat na binigay ng mga religious groups sa kanila; samahan pa ng mga religious groups na nagpapagaling daw ng homosexuality.  Hindi nila alam mas matinding harm ang ginagawa nila sa halip na makatulong ayon sa Psychology (I don’t blame them because they are told that they will not go to heaven, so many just choose to be bad.  This is why we find it difficult to spread the Good News because a lot have been hurt deeply; couple that with the pain caused by religious groups that want to heal homosexuality, but cause more trauma to the psychology of people),” Luna says.

And thirdly, “’Yung pagiging promiscuous ng karamihan na kahit saan na lang nakikipag-sex na parang wala ng bukas.  Parang hindi na natin iginagalang ang ating mga katawan.  Sabagay, karapatan natin kung anong gagawin natin sa kanya, pero sana gawin natin ito inside a loving, committed, monogamous, responsible homosexual relationship na ‘yun naman talaga ang aming advocacy.  Dahil tuloy sa pagiging promiscuous, talaga namang may label na tayong mga addict sa sex “Promiscuity, having sex like there’s no tomorrow.  While it’s our individual right to do what we want with our bodies, we hope for sex to be done in a loving, committed, monogamous, responsible homosexual relationship, which is really our advocacy.  Because of promiscuity, we are labeled as sex addicts),” Luna adds.

Nonetheless, Luna finds it inspiring that there are many GLBTQIs now “na nagsusumikap na tanggapin sila… sa pamilya, sa simbahan, sa pamahalaan at sa bansang ating minamahal.  ‘Yung mga batang bading na nakikita kong nagdadalaga, kapag nakikita ko sila, lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na hindi sayang ang ginagawa ko para sa kanila.  Nagtatanim kami ngayon para pagdating ng panahon sila ang makikinabang sa bunga ng aming mga paghihirap para sa community (who try to be accepted by their families, their churches, their government, and the country that they love.  When I see young GLBTQIs now, I tell myself that all my efforts are not wasted.  We plant the seeds now, and the community will benefit from the fruits later).”

With approximately 300 churchgoers in the Philippines, MCC is already looking forward to expand, including in Cebu City and in Davao City.  “Ang challenge namin ngayon ay ang makapagtayo pa ng maraming support groups at MCC (churches) sa buong Pilipinas kahit na maliit lang ang aming budget – ‘yan at makapagpaaral pa ng maraming clergy, pastor o pari sa seminaryo upang maikalat namin ang Mabuting Balita (Our challenge now is to establish more churches and support groups in the country – that, and to educate more clergy, pastor or priests (at the Union Theological Seminary) to help us spread the Good News,” Luna says.
Luna, of course, sees positive.

For as long as “napakarami pang mga teachings na makakapagpamulat sa (mga tao) sa nalalaman naming katotohanan (there are still many teachings that will enlighten people),” MCCP will be there to offer the same.

And for believers, or those wanting to believe, particularly GLBTQIs, there’s a lot of comfort in that.