Kampuchea
With God's grace, we are now in Cambodia and then Vietnam from Tuesday afternoon, September 16-18. With Toyo University Professor Gaku Manago, who is here with our students to do water quality and hygiene field work, we are also here to learn about the plight of women and children, especially working children in these two countries.
Truly Asian. That is the very first impression that I got upon arriving at the airports of Vietnam and Cambodia. Although separated by language, there are many similarities that Filipinos will find so commonly familiar upon arrival.
There is the usual friendliness. "Oh, Filipino?" With a smile, no visa needed. I answer back with a smile, "yes, we are brothers and sisters." That solicited an even wider smile.
As one leaves the airport and heads for the hotel, more similarities greet the eyes. There are the familiar foreign imported vehicles, cars and motorcycles. There are the densely populated areas of the less privileged, then the smooth roads coupled with bumpy ones.
Then the differences stand out. There are more motorcycles here, used by the young and old, the males and females for commuting. Blended with the cars in 2 lane roads, we get surprised upon seeing some vehicles bound for the opposite direction different from ours, taking the same lane as our vehicle!!!
But hardly does one hear the horns angrily sounded, or loud angry voices exchanged. The Cambodians seem to be more patient and so relaxed in trying to maneuver their way through the rather unpredictable flow of cars, motorcycles, Tuktuk (their version of the tricycle or trisikad), bicycles, and pedestrians even.
As one moves on to the rural areas, towards the express road that can take one as far as Vietnam, more similarities can be observed along the road. There are the usual street vendors selling familiar fruits like pineapple, banana, papaya, atis, and more. There are more dragon fruits here and similar-tasting but different-looking guava-like fruit. The sampaguita or jasmine flowers exude their wonderful fragrance as street children try to convince drivers and commuters to buy their garlands.
Then a unique difference stand out. So much French bread is peddled out in the streets! The colonial experience is one that we share as well with the Cambodians who were under the rule of the French. One seems remnants of French terms and architecture through the city and rural areas of this country.
Cambodians, however, have their killing fields, the torture chambers as reminders of their sad historical period under a megalomaniac whose name does not merit mentioning here. This megalomaniac tried to convince the Cambodians to help build a better society for them but he ended up killing millions (about 3 million) during his short reign. He tried to silence his suspected "enemies"— most of the Cambodian people. They succeeded to continue to be heard until now by millions of tourists and locals beyond their killing fields.
They continue to be honored by those who visit the sites of their torture and massacre and their voices strongly resonate until now to the rest of Cambodia and the world to never, never again allow any megalomaniac to massacre anyone or millions anywhere else in the world.
It was Moon Festival when we arrived in this country. After that, they celebrated their feast for their dead by bringing food to the gods in pagodas or offering food on their altars. Cambodians share this month to honor their ancestors like the Japanese' Obon Festival. We celebrate ours in November.
On a personal note, we take this opportunity to ask you all please to join us celebrate our parents, Leoncio and Materna Piquero, with prayers and gratitude to God for sharing them with us and for sharing eternal rest and peace and love with them. Thank you very much!
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