A woman’s post about preaching during a public commute has sparked a wider conversation about consideration in shared spaces.
Evangelist Ronelyn Dela Fuente on August 21 lamented that a security guard did not allow her to preach inside the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 (LRT-1), saying that what she did was “not allowed.”
“NAKAKAAWA KA, PILIPINAS,” she wrote on Facebook, adding emojis.
Dela Fuente wrote that a guard approached her on the train a “few minutes” after she started preaching and told her that the activity was not allowed on public transportation.
She responded that she would just “pray,” but the guard was allegedly curt with her.
“Nauunawaan ko naman iyon dahil trabaho nila ito pero nakakalungkot ka, Pilipinas, Ang dami [ng] kaguluhan na nangyayari sa bansa, ang tao ay pasama na [nang] pasama, Word of God pa talaga ang ipinagbabawal niyo,” Dela Fuente wrote.
“Marami ang naiingayan sa Word of God, pero sa mga nangyayaring kasamaan sa paligid ay marami ang bulag. Nakakalungkot. The Word of God is alive and active — it can transform and [change] lives. Pero ‘yung pinaka-importante pa sa buhay ng isang tao ang bawal na ibahagi? NAKAKALUNGKOT KA, PILIPINAS,” the evangelist added.
Train management discourages passengers from talking loudly in such enclosed spaces to maintain a peaceful environment and allow passengers to hear announcements.
Her post sparked discussions about such activities in public spaces, particularly on public transport, which is enclosed and used by a range of people, including workers and students.
An online literary and arts community reminded Dela Fuente that commuters are mostly workers who are either thinking about their responsibilities or are already tired from their day.
“Ate, paalala lang na ang commuters na gumagamit ng tren at bus ay mga madalas pagod galing sa trabaho o papunta palang. ‘Wag ka nang dumagdag sa stress, kung gusto mong respetuhin ka namin as a ‘preacher,’ respetuhin mo rin karapatan namin magpahinga,” Betsin-artparasites said in a Facebook post.
“Pwede mo gawin ‘yan sa mga labas ng mall, gayahin mo ‘yung iba pang gumagawa niyan sa public places na ‘di ka nakakaistorbo totally,” the community added.
“May mga tamang lugar para sa ganyan, kaya nga may mga simbahan, mosque, kapilya, chapels, or places of worship para diyan. Hindi lahat ng nasa tren gusto ka mapakinggan magmaktol tungkol sa Diyos mo,” it continued.
Other online users also chimed in, sharing that they consider their commute an opportunity to rest after work and before facing household responsibilities.
Some also pointed out that not everyone shares her beliefs or religion. Other Filipinos are Catholic and Muslims, while others identify as agnostic or atheist.
“Hindi masama ang mangaral ng Salita ni Lord, pero dapat sa tamang lugar. Me, too, is a commuter before when I was working in Manila, sa pagod sa work ay ang pagsakay sa LRT/MRT ay ang nagiging panandaliang pahinga namin,” a Facebook user said.
“Pero kung may maingay or malakas na nagsasalita, hindi namin ma-a-achieve ang peaceful at quiet time. Preach in proper place and time,” the Facebook user added.
“I understand the sadness, but I have to disagree. The LRT is a shared public space. Many passengers are tired from work or school and just want some peace and silence during the trip. Not everyone wants to listen to someone preaching, and not everyone there shares the same beliefs,” another commented.
“I’m glad more and more people are calling out the sudden religious sermon on public transportation,” a Reddit user wrote, garnering 3,100 upvotes.
I’m glad more and more people are calling out the sudden religious sermon on public transportation
by
u/YourHighnessJing in
Philippines
“It’s disruptive. Walang pinagkaiba sa pagchi-chismisan nang malakas sa publiko o panonood ng reels nang loud speaker,” the Redditor added.
“Disrespectful sa ibang religion. Hindi lahat sa Pilipinas ay Christian,” the Reddit user continued.
“Imagine, gusto mo na lang umuwi after makipagsapalaran sa kurap na bansa, tapos bigla kang se-sermonan at sasabihin pa na makasalanan ka,” another Redditor wrote.
Some suggested that such activities should be held in other public spaces that are not enclosed to avoid disrupting others.
“If you preach in places where you have a captive audience, you are actively violating their consent. Walang respeto sa paniniwala ng ibang tao,” another said.
“Preaching in a park or along a street is fine. It is an open public space, so people still have the option to leave or stay. Preaching in a public utility vehicle where people don’t have the option to leave? Utterly disrespectful,” the Reddit user added.
Earlier this year, another woman was also criticized for preaching on an airplane, with some saying that her activity was disruptive to passengers who wanted to rest after completing pre-departure procedures.
RELATED: ‘Respect and consideration’: Video of preacher on flight to Manila sparks concerns
