For 53 years, Filipina nun serves underprivileged

Filipina nun Sister Miguela Santiago, right, continues to help the Filipino community in Korea, alongside Father Alvin Parantar, center, and long-time Korean volunteer Stefano Yang, at the Philippine Catholic Center in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Over the last five decades, a Filipina Catholic nun has quietly helped thousands of people in Korea ― from poor refugees and war orphans to young Korean students and Filipino migrant workers.

Sister Miguela Santiago has been living and working in Korea for 53 years, as one of the five missionary nuns first sent by the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco from Japan to Korea in 1957.

Fondly called the ``godmother’’ of the Filipino community in Korea, the 77- year-old nun shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to devote her time and energy helping Filipinos working and living in Korea.

When The Korea Times visited the Philippine Catholic Community center in Seongbuk-dong last week, Santiago was busy with paperwork.

Wearing a dark gray habit and an apron, Santiago appeared initially reluctant to be interviewed, although she has been featured several times in Korean language publications. But soon she warmed up, eagerly talking about her experiences living in Korea.

Becoming a nun

Santiago grew up with eight siblings in Tarlac, a city in central Luzon, Philippines. As a child, she was always religious and went to mass every day. Even at a young age, there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to enter the convent and become a nun.

``Since I was small, I wanted to become a sister. I never thought of anything else,’’ she said.

In 1953, Santiago went to Tokyo to study and was trained to become a nun with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. In 1957, she was sent to Seoul along with a Korean nun and three Italian nuns, to be part of the first Salesian Missionary Sisters Congregation to Korea.

She even remembers the exact date, April 24, 1957. ``It’s been exactly 53 years,’’ she smiled, as if not believing it has been that long.

The nuns worked in Dolim-dong, Yeongdeungpo, taking care of North Korean refugees in the aftermath of the Korean War (1950-53). As the youngest of the five nuns, Santiago would go out every day to get milk and bread from the U.S. military camp and later distribute it among the poor children.

``Every day, maybe around 200 children would come to our convent and they were very hungry. They had nothing to eat. No electricity, no transportation, no water, no market, no store. We were always going to the military camps. Even if you had money, there was no place to buy anything,’’ she recalled.

Because of her Japanese, Korean and English language skills, Santiago was fondly referred to as the ``Ministry of Foreign Affairs’’ by the other nuns. ``I was the only one who could communicate with the locals. I don’t even remember what language I spoke, but many people could speak Japanese at that time too,’’ she added.

One of the hardest moments for her at that time was going hungry because of the scarcity of food. ``There was nothing here. In the Philippines, we ate meat every day but here, I was always hungry every day,’’ she laughed.

The Salesian nun did not miss the Philippines much because she met many Filipinos who were working as engineers, doctors, nurses and construction crew for the reconstruction efforts. ``There were a lot of international volunteers and everywhere you go there were Filipinos helping in Korea,’’ she said.

A few years later, Santiago moved to Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, where the congregation opened a school. She was in charge of overseeing the school, where she taught English and catechism to young Korean students.

In 1970, Santiago was asked if she wanted to go back to the Philippines, but she declined.

``I said I will stay in Korea. It's very hard to learn Korean and then if I change countries again, it will be hard,’’ she said. ``Besides, it's very interesting for me to stay here. They have been very good to me, and I’m very grateful to them until now.’’

Of the original five Salesian nuns that first came to Korea, only Santiago remains here. One Italian and Korean nun have died, while the other two Italian nuns have returned home due to health reasons.

There were times when there were feelings of homesickness, but Santiago found comfort and solace in the Lord.

``I was very busy with work. Sometimes I wanted to see my mother and brothers, but it is okay because I’m religious. It’s all for the Lord. It was the Lord who called me and I have to obey. He sent me to Korea, so I have to stay here,’’ she said.

`Godmother of Filipinos in Korea’

Being the only Filipino in the Salesian congregation in Korea, Santiago did not have much chance to interact with Filipinos. But while she was shopping in a market in Masan, Gangwon Province in 1993, she met some Filipino workers.

``I was happy to meet Filipinos since I haven’t been back to the Philippines for a long time... That’s when I started helping the community. Many of them cannot speak Korean. There were a lot of problems, like unpaid salaries, abuse and discrimination. So we had to meet their boss or accompany them to the immigration office. I am happy to help them because I can speak Korean,’’ she said.

Santiago tried her best to help the community, counseling and assisting Filipino workers in any way possible. With her fluent Korean, Santiago is often asked to help translate for Filipino workers, who encountered problems with their employers or with the law. She felt sad and disappointed whenever some Koreans would complain to her that Filipinos were making some areas dirtier, like at the Hyehwa market.

``Filipinos work very well, and that’s why Koreans hire them. But when they are outside, some are fighting and drinking and making places dirty... I feel very bad when I hear these complaints. I wish some Filipinos would try to respect the place and do good things,’’ she said.

Her work with the community has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. In 2007, Santiago became the first winner of the Korea’s Ilga Awards. The Ilga awards, established in the memory of the late rural community leader and Pastor Kim Yong-ki, honors two individuals who achieved outstanding work helping society.

Korea is home

As a teacher, Santiago must have been a very memorable figure to many of her students. Some of her old students, who are now in their 50s and 60s, would call and visit her.

``Everywhere I go to do my work, I have former students coming up to me and saying, `Do you remember me, Sister? I'm your former student.' There are so many of them, of course I don't remember. But it's nice to have them remember me,’’ she said.

Santiago, who still exudes a youthful vigor, continues to work almost every day.

Even though the mission office has been urging her to take a break from her duties, she still volunteers at the Philippine Catholic Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, and on Sundays, she goes to Daerim-dong to help another Filipino community.

Many Filipinos marvel at how Santiago has stayed here for so long, but she believes she has to stay to fulfill God’s plan.

``It was the Lord who sent me here, and I have to stay. I want to plant seeds and bear fruit where the Lord planted me. He planted me in Korea, so he must have wanted me to grow and blossom here,’’ she said.

``I’m still happy with the mission the Lord gave me. He gave me the strength to do it. I feel at home here, although they might not feel at home with me,’’ Santiago quipped.

Looking at her petite frame, some might mistake Santiago as a kindly Korean ``halmoni’’ or grandmother. But even though she has spent most of her life in Korea and she speaks better Korean than Tagalog, the Salesian nun remains proudly Filipino.

``Everyone asks me why I won’t change my citizenship. I always say `no, I will not change.’ Even if I change my citizenship, it will only be on paper. I don’t want to be a Korean. I love being a Filipino,’’ she said, her face lighting up with a smile.