In many places in the Philippines, rivers remain a source of daily life for washing, cleaning and gathering together as a community. - Photo: Ana Flores
As a missionary in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, I came to understand in a deeply personal way how difficult life can be without something as basic as water. What I once considered ordinary, I began to recognise as a daily struggle for many.
During my first years there, a woman told me that “rain was a blessing”. At the time, I didn’t fully understand. But later, I witnessed their reality. When it rained, families rushed to collect water for bathing, washing clothes and cleaning their homes. However, for drinking and cooking, they still had to source water from afar and pay for it. Their water system functioned only once a week and during those few hours, they had to store enough to last the rest of the week.
One of the moments that stayed with me most was seeing the children’s reaction to the rain. They ran outside, laughing and bathing under the falling water. At first, I didn’t understand their joy. But over time, I realised that for them, rain meant freedom - the chance to bathe without limits. What seemed ordinary to me was, for them, a moment of pure happiness.
Not every family can afford a water connection in their homes. Some walk to the nearest river to wash clothes, clean kitchen utensils and carry water back. I remember watching them balance heavy containers as they made their way home. Even when the water wasn’t clean, they were grateful simply to have it. In places without a nearby river, they built wells. These wells became more than just a source of water- they became gathering places. Families washed clothes and bathed together, talking and laughing as they worked. I realised that water, while a necessity, also connects people and creates a sense of community.
Clean water is a precious gift and brings hope to communities each day. - Photo: Ana Flores
Sometimes I joined them to collect water or sat by the riverside while they did their laundry. We shared stories from our lives and spoke about our meetings. Washing clothes could take hours, but for me it became a beautiful experience - time filled with simplicity, connection and meaning. During my house visits, I saw children suffering from
skin infections and other health problems. When I asked their parents, I learned that these illnesses were often caused by unclean water and that many families could not afford medicine.
Pope Francis reminds us that access to safe drinking water is a basic human right, calling its absence a “disgrace to humanity”. Still, many cannot afford to have water in their homes - or even nearby.
What I witnessed is not just one story; it is the reality for millions of people. And it leaves us with a question: if we truly understand the value of water, can we remain indifferent to those who struggle to have it?
These experiences changed me. They opened both my eyes and my heart. Water is no longer something I use without thinking - it is something I now see as precious, fragile and deeply connected to human dignity. Water is life and yet not everyone has access to it.
Columban lay missionary Ana Flores, lives and works in the Philippines.
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- Read more from The Far East - June 2026
