Confessional Article - Losses

1 Dionisio de Jesus Lopes Title: LOSSES Confessional Article Every time I look at my present dormitory (Garcia Dormitory, P.Santos), I recall some instances when I became fidgety and restless. I lost my money, beddings, a sun glasses and a 2-GB flash drive last September, October and November. I complained a lot and called for a series of meetings with my fellow occupants in the dormitory. A month later, in December, one of the Ateneo de Naga University and Jesuit Trust Fund Scholars thru Jesuit Mission in East Timor, Valdano A. Lopes, a second year Information Technology (IT) student of Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), Naga City, Philippines lost his brand new laptop. It was exactly on the first day of Simbang Gabi, December 16, one of the traditions of the Roman Catholics here in the Philippines. As it was his first time to experience it, he was very excited to attend it in the AdNU’s Church with our fellow countrymen and some occupants of that said dormitory. Without having a clear orientation of the culture and practices of the Simbang Gabi, he woke up at 3:45 in the morning and took a bath. After he had showered, he knocked at my door and asked if I wanted to join him. I rejected his invitation. I immediately went back to my cute bed and enjoyed my snores. It was between 4:30-6:15 in the morning when three muscular guys from our neighborhood broke the windows and entered the room of Mr. Lopes. His brand new laptop, Logitech speakers, a 4GB MP4, a portable TV and 8 GB Flash Drive were stolen. Neither I nor his roommate was aware of that incident during that time. During the Simbang Gabi, he felt a strange surge of emotion thus he immediately went back to the apartment soon after the Mass ended. He thought that as a practice during the week of Simbang Gabi, every main gate and door shall be opened widely so that grace will enter the house. Thus when he arrived at the apartment and found the main gate and door widely open, he did not mind at all. With a mixed feeling of joy and sleepiness, he went immediately to his room to sleep. It was when one of his roommates asked to borrow his speakers then he noticed that his valuables were missing. He screamed until he caught the attention of everyone in the dormitory. As an IT major who really wants to excel in his major in order to serve people and his country better thru forming men and women in Colégio de São José (St. Joseph High School), the Jesuit High School based in Balide, Dili after acquiring more knowledge and skills here. I cannot bear to see him restless even till now because of the pressures of the different projects related to his major subjects. I realized that my lost items are nothing compared with what have been stolen from him. Every time he sees my laptop, it reminds him of his month-old laptop. Seeing that he really wanted to find out who the thieves are, I tried to approach the kids of my

2 neighborhood every afternoon after my classes and activities. Believing that most of the kids are honest and are not secretive, I tried to ask them if they might know the “magnanakaw” (thief) in our area. The truth slipped from one kid, who is the youngest brother of the three thieves. He confessed that his brother Roland has entered my dormitory and took my laptop and that it was sold to a neighbor. Wanting more details, I tried to win his heart by giving him candies and cigarettes. After he ate candies and enjoyed puffing cigarette one stick after another, he told me “Dino, my brother told me that in case you are looking for him, I should tell you that I don’t know where he is” (He said this in the Bicol language, which a five year old kid translated for me in English). I have visited the houses of the three thieves and discussed the matter with their families since they are out of town now. Their parents were very cooperative to settle this case without sending their sons to jail, hoping that there will be a peaceful solution to this case. In case, this legal case could not be settled due to the financial crises that these families are encountering; Mr. Lopes’ dreams of being excellent in his major may take longer to reach because of the lack of Material resources such as Desktop or Laptop and etc. Furthermore, he is worried because he left his country, family, relatives and friends to pursue his dream to become a "knowledgeable person who possesses global understanding." Knowing that the thieves and their families are very poor, jobless, single mothers, and then questions remain unanswered; if he will not be able to get back either payment or laptop from them, would he still learn that much as being expected? Shall he just take everything (study) as it is though he is fully aware that he has to share his learning here to those who are in need?