Andrew Miller is the International Director of DMI. When he’s not eating Caramello Koalas in Sydney, he’s travelling around the world raising funds and DMI’s profile in developed countries or visiting the fields we support to see what’s needed and how our funds are being managed. Either way, he works tirelessly to avoid unidentifiable food and meets lots of weird and wonderful people who he just can’t resist interviewing…

#24 Cristy

Cristy Buenaobra Olmeda is the head chef in our canteen at The Bicol Deaf Action school in Ligao, Philippines. A quiet young lady, she is a superb cook, often surprising me with her range of culinary skills. In this interview, she shares some other surprises and opens up about some of the terrible bullying that the Deaf can face, as well as the security and joy that she’s found working at BDA.

Andrew: I recently included you in my Burger Book* and I gave your burger an 8.5 out of 10. I thought it was a pretty good burger. Are you happy with that score?

Cristy: Yes.

I also wrote – have you read that page? – I also wrote that it felt like the burger was made with love. Is that true?

Of course!

Is all your food made with love like that or am I special? 

Everyone’s food is made like that.

I believe you were a student here at the school, is that right?

Yes.

At what age did you start here? Can you tell me about your schooling experience here? 

I started in kindergarten at the age of eight and studied through to grade 10.

And then you finished in grade 10 because that was the old curriculum and that’s when school finished?

Yes.

What did you like best about being a student here?

Studying with the Deaf was enjoyable. They are all very kind and I love being with them. The teachers were also so kind to me.

It’s interesting that you say ‘they’ were kind. Despite knowing you for years, I’ve only just found out that while you’re a part of the Deaf community, you’re not actually Deaf!

That’s right. I can hear fine but I have a problem with my speech.

Can you tell me about that? Why is it difficult for you to speak?

I was born with a cleft palate and an abnormally small voice box. It makes it very difficult – almost impossible – to speak. I should add that I chose to come to the school here where I was – and still am – treated very kindly. I was badly bullied at the hearing school and that was really upsetting. I couldn’t stand it. (Cristy starts to cry).

Are you okay?

(Cristy nods)

The people who bullied you when you were a child, are they still in your neighbourhood?

Yes. 

Do they still bully you?

(Cristy sobs) Even now sometimes, yes.

So you try to avoid them. That’s why you live at the school now?

(Cristy nods again.) When I go home, I don’t like to go outside in case I see them. So I just stay inside.

What do you think your life would have been like if the Fisherman of Christ Learning Center was not here and you had to go right through hearing school?

I would have stayed home and avoided going to school to stay away from the bullies. I was really so scared by them. So I just wouldn’t have got an education at all. So when my mother told me about the school here, I agreed to go and never looked back.

Can I ask you something? I don’t want to upset you and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want but how did/do they bully you? Is it verbal or physical? Can you share a bit about the bullying?

When I try to speak, they mock me and imitate my speech.  (Cristy breaks down in tears again.)

Who’s your best friend here at the school? Do you have one best friend?

(She sits up straight and collects herself.) Rowena is my best friend.

Yes, she’s lovely isn’t she? You work with Rowena, Jerah and Mary Joy. Are they good staff or do you have to whip them into shape?

They are all good staff and friends.

But I don’t think they cook as well as you.

They are improving.

Ha! Can you tell us about your responsibilities here at the school? What exactly do you do?

I do the cooking and cleaning in and around the canteen and the outside areas.

I don’t think you’re doing yourself justice. You’re not just cooking. You are the head chef and the leader of the canteen team. I think you’re being too humble. How did you become such a good cook?

Bing has been teaching me how to cook. But some of it I just learned at home from my mother. I also spent five years working at a kitchen in Manila so I picked up some skills there too. And I worked for two years in Manila as a housemaid.

I read in Arnel’s report and saw photos that you were baptised last year. Is that right?

Yes.

What led up to the baptism? Why did you decide to get baptised last year?

I like being in the church and I just want to understand the Bible more and learn more about Jesus and walk with him more.

Is there any reason you didn’t get baptised earlier?

I just wasn’t ready before.

I see. I was so happy when I saw the photos. What do you see for your future? Do you want to keep working in the canteen here or is there something else you’re thinking of in the future?

I have some other dreams.

Don’t be shy. Can you tell me what they are?

I want to have my own house and family.

We had a couple of weddings yesterday. Did that inspire you to want to get married and have a family?

(Cristy looks shy.) Yes.

Can I ask? Is there someone of special interest in your life?

Yes.

Oh, how exciting! Can you tell me his name? Or is that a secret?

It’s a secret.

But you’ve got me you’ve got me intrigued now. Is it someone here I might know?

No, and even if it was, I don’t think I’d tell you.

So do you have any plans to get married?

Not yet. He lives in an area far away.

Last time I was here I interviewed Aser and we were surprised to hear that he had a love interest and yesterday we married him so next time when I come back here, maybe I can marry you too! Is that a good idea?

(Cristy giggles.) Maybe.

Well, that would be my pleasure. You talked about how much you liked being a student at the school and how much you like working at the school. Have there been some challenges too?

I find it challenging when the mission teams and other foreign people come because I really want to cook delicious food for them, but I’m not always sure what they like or how to cook it.

Well, I can assure you that we all love your cooking and one of the reasons – maybe the number one reason – that we come here is actually not for mission work. It’s to eat your food!

(Cristy laughs.)

You know in the Bible, Paul talks about the body of Christ and how we all have a different role to play. When I think of the mission teams that come here, you know we have the preachers and that’s really important and we have the tradies who do the repair work and the people who are running the activities but you’re the one that sustains everyone. I think that’s so overlooked. You are so important. I hope you understand how much we appreciate what you do. If we don’t eat, we can’t function and we certainly can’t enjoy our time here so you’re really at the heart of the mission work. Do you understand that?

Yes. I also live at the dorm and I help Sarah Jane take care of the girls living there. If Sarah Jane goes out then they become my responsibility and I often help escort them back home.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me today. Now, what’s for dinner?

~

If you would like to support the staff and students at Bicol Deaf Action, click here or on the donate button below.

* The Burger Book is available now from Lulu. What a great gift! All profits go to DMI. Just click on the book image below and order your copies.