Posts Tagged ‘Ta’ Ċenċ’

  • A life of prayer

    From left - Sr. Aloisia Bajada and Rev. Mother Abbess Sr. Michelina Mifsud.jpgThe monastery's garden that was originally a quarry.jpg

    The chapel adjacent to the monastery.jpgThe monastery's crypt.jpg

    The concept of life as a cloistered nun has often intrigued people. How could one choose to deny oneself the privilege of freedom and instead opt for a life locked up in a monastery, when the rest of humanity dreaded even the thought of it?

    As I knocked on the heavy door of the Monastery of the Augustinian Cloistered Nuns of St Catherine which is located in Republic Street, Valletta, I wondered how I was going to probe for an answer to this dilemma. Soon, a female voice responded from the intercom and when I identified myself, the door opened automatically and I stepped inside. The sight of three barred windows amid a thick white-washed wall bound me at a standstill and I stood there in silence and awe, unsure of what I was expected to do.

    Indeed, I was quite surprised when Rev. Mother Abbess Sr. Michelina Mifsud called me in, for I had believed that this interview would take place behind bars and that I would never have the opportunity to look at her face.

    “This would not have been possible if you had come to us about eight years ago,” responded Sr. Michelina as she read the question in my eyes. “At that time, you would have needed a special permit in order to contact us, and on your arrival, I would have sounded a bell so that all the other nuns would know that you’re here and they would retire to their rooms until you left.”

    “Necessary communication with people used to take place only behind those bars,” she continued to explain. “We could neither read newspapers, nor hear the radio or watch television. Our lives were meant to be completely shut from the rest of the world so that we could focus only on God and our prayers. None of the nuns could get out of this monastery except when they needed aid for serious health reasons. We could not even visit our parents when they were sick and if they died, we were not allowed to attend their funeral. However, at times, our close family members could come to see us at the monastery and we greeted each other from behind the bars.”

    I felt dumbfounded and looked down at the floor, searching for a way to question her how and why, until I could not resist no more and spoke out.

    “This style of life does not make us feel miserable because this was our choice,” responded gently Sr. Aloisia Bajada who had joined us silently. “Our faith keeps us strong and prevents us from feeling depressed. Certainly there are moments when life gets pretty hard but whose does not? I am sure that even though you did not choose to become a cloistered nun, you too have to make several sacrifices for your family. So, you see, there is not so much difference between us.”

    I watched them closely, trying to sense any strange move or reaction which might reveal a hint of unhappiness but instead I was met with sincere serene demeanour which was almost saintly.

    “Sometimes even we find it difficult to understand and explain our vocation,” expanded the nuns. “We tend to regard it as a gift from God.”

    We started to walk around the monastery and here I was in for another revelation. For the nuns did not live within some somber building but in a spacious and historical palace which was constructed during the period of the Knights of St John.

    “This monastery has a long and interesting history,” told me Sr. Aloisia as she watched me admire the old paintings hanging on the walls, the colourful painted floor tiles and the exquisite architecture. “In my earlier years, it was my joy to delve within this monastery’s ancient archives which go back to 1606. They narrate detailed incidents and engaging stories which took place in this building and in the lives of the nuns that lived here hundreds of years ago. Surely, it is a pity that very few people have ever laid eyes upon them!”

    At 88 years, Sr. Aloisia is the oldest of the remaining six nuns in this monastery. I was delighted by her passion towards the history of this place which has been her home for the last 70 years. As she led the way ahead, she informed me that originally this building was the residence of Marquis Giovanni and Katarina Vasco Oliviero, and it was known as Casa Vanilla. In 1576, this couple went through a rough time when their son contracted the plague, and in desperation, Katarina, who was a devotee of St Catherine, pledged to donate her house to the Church if her son survived. The boy did survive and Katarina was adamant to keep her word. However, when in 1611, she got to know of a group of girls known as ‘Orfanelle della Misericordia’ who had decided to become cloistered nuns and were taking care of children with family problems, she decided to give her property to them.

    In order to change this palace into a monastery, the couple had to buy some of the neighbouring properties so that they could accommodate about 45 nuns, 15 girls and a chapel. This is why today, this monastery stretches out into Republic Street, St Christopher Street, Strait Street and also a section of St Dominic Street. Incidentally, within a year from their testament this noble couple died and since their son had already died before them, the cloistered nuns of St Catherine inherited all that remained.

    By time, it became customary for some of the girls of the nobility to take their vows and join this monastery, and this included Grandmaster Manuel Pinto de Fonseca’s sister. Certainly, these girls brought with them generous dowries which supported a comfortable life. However, in 1714, the monastery required huge structural changes and much of the money ran out. Then, in 1798, when the French occupation took over Malta, the nuns found themselves in a dire state of poverty and they could not afford to take care of children any more. The number of nuns dwindled to eight but once the French left our islands, new nuns joined the monastery and life started afresh.

    We entered into a lift which took us straight up to the monastery’s huge roof. A breath-taking view of the splendid architecture of the other Valletta buildings welcomed us and a fresh breeze whirled around us. The nearby wide blue sea was shiny and tempting, and we could see sea-gulls gliding smoothly over its surface.

    “How can we feel restricted when we have all this to enjoy?” the two nuns asked me with a bright smile on their faces.

    We stood together in silence, relishing the stillness and the beautiful environment which surrounded us. Then, the nuns shared with me what had led them to make this particular choice in life.

    “Look down there,” asked me Sr. Aloisia as she indicated far below at the monastery’s garden which originally was the quarry from which the stone for this building was extracted. “During World War II, that garden suffered a direct hit and the nuns went to seek refuge at Ta’ Ċenċ in Gozo. I was 16 and from Xagħra and I did not even know what a cloistered nun was. One day, I saw some creative sewing which they had done and I felt curious to meet them. However, people told me that this was impossible, unless I wanted to join them. I felt terrified at the idea that they could keep me with them and yet finally some older friends accompanied me to see them and I liked the nuns’ company. As time went by, I continued to think about them and when I was 18, I was sure that I wanted to join those nuns who had in the meantime returned to their monastery in Malta. And here I am.”

    “I was also 18 when I took my vows and became a cloistered nun of this monastery,” told me Sr. Michelina. “Ironically when I was younger, a priest who often watched me visiting and praying daily in front of St Rita, had suggested to me that I should consider becoming a nun and I was furious! Oh, I want to enjoy life, I told him. The life of a nun is not for me! However, some time later, he convinced me to meet the Rev. Mother Abbess of St Monica who in turn invited me to spend some weekends with them whenever I wanted. Somehow, I liked the idea and little by little I got very close to these nuns until I could not imagine any other life but to stay with them. Then, one day, I went to visit Frenċ tal-Għarb and without even knowing me, he made a cross upon my forehead with some oil that was blessed by the Virgin Mary and he told me that I would soon become a cloistered nun in the Monastery of St Catherine and that eventually I would die there. When I returned home to my father and told him about this, he swore that I would not withstand the life of a cloistered nun for more than 15 days. And yet here I am still after 51 years!”

    We went down again and this time I was shown the crypt where all the cloistered nuns of this monastery get buried. Interestingly, in this crypt, one finds also the tomb of the son of the original owners of this building.

    From there, we moved on to the small chapel wherein the nuns attend to pray. “After 1963, we received new regulations and many things changed. One of these included the possibility of receiving the public in our monastery, even if we still stand behind bars. Indeed, within these last years, many individuals have sought us for spiritual help and advice. Many more have chosen to join us during mass and so people have grown more accustomed to our presence and I think that their respect towards us has increased, now that they know us better,” told me Sr. Michelina.

    “Through these encounters, we want to show people that life does not end when you become a cloistered nun. We simply start a new chapter of a life which is simpler and closer to God. We have our daily chores, we pray and help others, and we also enjoy developing our talents in sewing, crochet and art.”

    “We miss absolutely nothing here except the need for more nuns to join us as we are too few now and most of us are also too old,” admitted Sr. Aloisia.

    I cherished their warm hug when they embraced me before I left, and for a moment I felt a distinct sense of happinness. Yet once the monastery’s door closed behind me, I was concerned about how these nuns will live, once they will be too old to take care of each other? And what will be this monastery’s destiny if one day these nuns will all fade away?

    (This article was published in Focus Valletta Supplement in The Times of Malta dated 1st October 2014)

    2014.10.01 / no responses / Category: Times of Malta

  • IS-SEĦER TA’ FILFLA

    Ilni niftakarha minn dejjem… tgħid hi kemm ilha tiftakru lil pajjiżna? Remota, solitarja, f’nofs ta’ baħar, f’distanza biżżejjed kemm ma nilħquhiex, imma fl-istess ħin, Filflatefgħa ta’ ġebla ‘l bogħod, kemm naqbdu dgħajsa u nsibu ruħna fuqha. Uħud isostnu li mhiex ħlief ġebla insinifikanti u aċċettawha bħala parti mix-xenarju Malti, bħal kif draw wiċċ is-sieħeb jew is-sieħba tagħhom wara tletin sena żwieġ. Iżda oħrajn bħali jsibuha affaxxinanti u akkost li jafu li fir-realtà mhiex ħlief gżira ċkejkna ferm, konxji li fuqha hemm il-ħajja, saħansitra endemika, u infatti l-gżira hija riserva naturali. Filfla!

    Kemm il-darba xtaqt inżurha imma mhux la kemm issib min jieħdok  ħdejha għax biex tersaq qribha teħtieġ il-permess u neħħieha minn rasek jekk taħseb li qatt tista’ tinżel fuqha illum ħlief jekk tkun qed tagħmel xi riċerka jew għal raġunijiet edukattivi. Għalhekk il-kilba li mqar għal darba naraha wiċċ’imbwiċċ aktar żdiedet u naturalment ħtaft l-opportunità hekk kif dan l-aħħar, Heritage Malta organizzat mawra sa ħdejha. Fuq kollox, kien ser jakkompanjana wkoll il-Kuratur Prinċipali tal-Mużew tal-Istorja Naturali, John Joseph Borg, li għal dawn l-aħħar tletin sena wettaq riċerka siewja dwar din il-gżira u l-ekoloġija tagħha. Ċertament individwu hekk ma kontx ser inħallih jaħrabli kif ġieb u laħaq, għallinqas mhux qabel itarraffli dak kollu li jaf dwar Filfla. U bdejna….

    “Meta kont żgħir, sikwit kont immur nistad ma’ missieri u allura n-natura minn dejjem kont inħobbha. Maż-żmien niftakarni niffoka aktar fuq l-għasafar fejn għamilt tliet snin nistudja l-barbaġann,John Joseph Borg sakemm darba inqerdu kollha minn pajjiżna! Minn hemm bdejt ninteressa ruħi aktar fl-għasafar tal-baħar hekk kif kont narahom jittajjru madwarna waqt li nkunu għaddejjin bid-dgħajsa. Bdejt nitħarreġ biex insir bird-ringer u fl-1980 ingħaqadt ma’ grupp li kellu l-għan li jagħmel bird-ringing fuq l-għasafar li kienu jinsabu fuq Filfla. Ħassejtni eċċitat ħafna għax qatt ma kont irfist fuq dil-gżira qabel u hekk kif dħalt fid-dgħajsa li kellha twassalna sa ħdejha, kelli kurżità kbira x’kont ser insib. L-esperjenza kienet inkredibbli speċjalment hekk kif bdejna nersqu lejha u ntbaħt li fil-fatt il-gżira kienet ħafna akbar minn kemm kont immaġinajtha oriġinarjament. Il-ġebel tagħha kien imponenti ferm, qisek għandek ħajt quddiemek. Madwarha kien hemm qabda blat imfarrak. Imma l-aktar li laqgħatni kien l-għajjat tal-gawwi li qatt ma smajt imkien bħalu f’inħawi oħra fil-gżejjer tagħna. Nistqarr li Filfla serqitli qalbi mill-ewwel darba li rajtha u ma’ l-ewwel passi li meddejt fuqha. Dakinhar sibna madwar 400 kanġu ta’ Filfla u minn dik il-ġurnata bqajt niġbor kemm niflaħ materjal dwar din il-gżira u waħħaltha f’rasi li nidħol aktar fil-fond fl-istudju tal-għasafar tal-baħar li jinsabu fuqha.”

    Skoprejt li aktarx l-isem Filfla ġej mill-kelma filfel li hija l-kelma Għarbija għaż-żerriegħa tal-bżar. Probabbilment ingħatat dan l-isem peress li l-forma tal-gżira kienet tixbaħ lil diż-żerriegħa, jew inkella dari kienu jikbru l-pjanti tal-bżar fuqha. Bħalha hemm il-gżira ta’ Kemmuna li hija msemmija għaż-żerriegħa tal-kemmun (cumin-seed). Filfla tinsab 5km ‘l bogħod mill-kosta tan-nofsinhar ta’ Malta. Il-wiċċ tagħha għandu l-wesgħa ta’ 2.5 ettaru u ċ-ċirkomferenza tagħha hija madwar 800 metru. Il-ġnub tagħha huma irdumijiet għoljin 60 metru li jiffurmaw medda ta’ art watja fuq nett.

    “Dokument antik li ltqajt miegħu dwar Filfla huwa datat għall-1575 u jikkonsisti f’manuskritt relatat maż-żjara pastorali tal-Isqof Pietro Dusina f’Malta. Il-kitbaIl-kwadru tal-Assunzjoni li kien jintuża fuq Filfla tikkonċerna t-talba tal-kappillan biex jitneħħa l-benefiċju li kien hemm fuq il-kappella li kienet tinsab fuq dil-gżira. Skont ir-rapport jingħad li l-qassis responsabbli sikwit kien qiegħed jiltaqa’ ma’ diffikultà kbira biex jinżel fuq il-gżira ta’ Filfla minħabba l-baħar imqalleb. Imma jiena aktar nemmen illi s-sajjieda kienu tilfu l-interess li jaqdfu lejn il-gżira kull nhar ta’ Ħadd biex jisimgħu l-quddies biex imbagħad ikollhom jaqdfu mill-ġdid lura ‘l barra fejn kienu qed jistadu. Hi x’inhi r-raġuni, it-talba tal-kappillan ġiet milqugħa u l-kappella ma baqgħetx ikkonsagrata. Ta’ min jgħid illi akkost illi fuq xi mapep antiki naraw lil din il-kappella mpinġija b’ħafna kobor u dettalji, fir-realtà ma kinetx ħlief għar, b’ħajt imtella’ quddiemha. Aktarx li l-qassis ma kien iħalli xejn hemm, lanqas il-kwadru tal-Assunzjoni li għaliha kienet iddedikata il-kappella. Kien jieħu kollox miegħu biex jiċċelebra l-quddiesa u mbagħad iniżżilhom lura miegħu mill-ġdid. Illum ma fadal xejn ħlief dan il-kwadru triptiku li wieħed jista’ jara fis-sagristija tal-parroċċa taż-Żurrieq. Aktarx li din il-kappella kienet inbniet bħala wegħda minn xi individwu li kien salva minn tempesta qalila li ħakmet lill-gżejjer fl-1343. Eventwalment il-kappella ġġarrfet waqt terremot li seħħ fl-1856 u llum ma fadal xejn minnha.”

    Fuq Filfla kienu jinżammu xi provvisti tal-ikel ħalli f’każ ta’ emerġenza, s-sajjieda jkunu jistgħu jinżlu hemm. Imma mhux huma biss kienu jagħmlu użu minn dil-gżira. Kienu jużawha anki l-pirati!

    “Il-pirati kellhom ħabta jinżlu fuq Filfla u jużawha bħala moħba biex minn fuqha jattakkaw ix-xwieni li jersqu qrib. Fuq kollox dak iż-żmien il-gżira kienet mogħnija b’nixxiegħa naturali li kienet tfeġġ Filfla 1930sminn bejn saff tafli u għalhekk kienet anki mfittxija għall-ilma. Is-sitwazzjoni tant gravat li fl-1761 il-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann iddeċidew li jeqirdu l-fonti billi jisploduwha bil-porvli u hekk sar. Imma l-ilma baqa’ ħiereġ xorta waħda.”

    Il-kavallieri ma rnexxielhomx jeqirduha imma ħaddieħor warajhom irnexxielu – illum għadu jnixxi daqsxejn ilma mit-tafal li fadal! Sfortunatament minn informazzjoni li ġbart sibt illi matul is-snin, Filfla kienet sfat letteralment il-mira ta’ diversi ġnus barranin fosthom dawk Franċiżi, Ingliżi, Taljani, Torok u anki Amerikani li kollha, b’xi skuża jew oħra ħassew li setgħu jifqgħu l-armi tagħhom f’din il-‘blata’ tagħna. Infatti l-akbar ħsara fuqha seħħet matul l-aħħar gwerra dinjija meta minħabba li l-Ingliżi dehrilhom li l-gżira tixbaħ lil aircraft carrier, huma użawha biex jeżerċitaw il-forzi militari tagħhom.

    “Għal 200 sena sħaħ, Filfla kienet tigi bbumbardjata mill-Ingliżi u aktar tard mill-forzi tan-NATO kemm mill-art, mill-baħar u kif ukoll mill-ajru. Mill-art l-eżerċizzji kienu jsiru permezz tal-batterija tal-Bombi fuq l-art ta' FilflaQrendi u mbaghad kienu anki ppruvaw kanun ġdid minn Bengħajsa. Sa ċertu punt jiena nifhem dak il-perjodu u n-neċessitajiet fi żmien il-gwerra li wieħed jipprattika għal kull eventwalità li tista’ tinqala’. Iżda min-naħa l-oħra nirrabja meta akkost li nġibdet l-attenzjoni tal-awtoritajiet dwar l-importanza tal-għasafar li kienu qed ibejtu fuq Filfla, dawn xorta baqgħu jibbumbardjawha għal snin wara. It-tkissir li hemm madwarha huwa riżultat ta’ dan. Barra minn hekk, meta fis-sebgħinijiet kien twaqqaf il-ħbit fuqha u xi għaxar snin wara ġew iżuruna xi uffiċċjali tan-Navy, l-FAM kienu marru fuq Filfla u splodew xi bombi li kienu sabu. Riżultat t’hekk il-ġebel li kien laħaq straħ reġa’ ċċaqlaq u mill-ġdid beda l-proċess ta’ deterjorament. Sal-ġurnata ta’ llum il-ġebel għadu nstabbli ħafna u din hija waħda mir-raġunijiet prinċipali għala ħadd ma jista’ jinżel fuq din il-gżira mingħajr permess. Dan biex ma nsemmux il-bombi mhux sploduti li wieħed għadu jiltaqa’ magħhom, kemm fuq l-art u kif ukoll taħt il-baħar.”

    Jingħad x’jingħad l-insensittività tal-ħakkiema lejn il-Maltin tixgħel bil-qawwi u dar-rakkont li ġej huwa wieħed mill-eżempji, meta bi żball, bombi li ġew sparati minn fuq il-baħar, flok laqtu l-Filfla, baqgħu deħlin l-art!

    “L-eżerċizzji ta’ bumbardamenti li saru fuq Filfla kollha ġew reġistrati b’dettall kbir mill-awtoritajiet barranin fejn saħansitra ġie mniżżel kemm ġew sploduti bombi kuljum u liema tip ta’ azzjoni twettqet. Bombi fuq l-art ta' Filfla - 2Fost korrispondenza u dokumenti li kont sibt, iltqajt ma’ każ interessanti li kien jiddeskrivi kif frejgata li kienet qed tipprattika fl-inħawi, meta sparat il-kanuni tagħha minn wara Filfla, flok laqtet il-gżira ċkejkna kif kien pjanat, il-bombi tagħha baqgħu sejrin il-ġewwa u laqtu razzett fil-Baħrija fejn qatlu xi bhejjem u għasafar. B’xorti tajba ma weġġa’ ħadd min-nies tal-post. Madanakollu s-sidien xtaqu xi forma ta’ kumpens u marru jieħdu parir mingħand membru parlamentari tal-fiduċja tagħhom. Min-naħa tiegħu dan il-membru parlamentari kiteb lill-ammiraljat fejn talab l-ewwelnett li dawn il-prattiċi militari kellhom jitwettqu b’aktar responsabbiltà u t-tieni li almenu s-sidien kellhom jingħataw xi forma ta’ kumpens għall-ħsara li ġarrbu. Il-korrispondenza tkompli bil-kaptan jistaqsi lill-ammirall “Who does this young upstart think he is, ordering his majesty’s navy around?” Sfortunatament ma sibtx aktar dokumenti biex nara kif spiċċat dil-biċċa. Iżda dak l-MP ma kien ħadd ħlief il-Perit Duminku Mintoff u l-istorja kulħadd jaf kif tkompli.”

    Ma stajtx nirreżisti milli taħrabli tbissima mqarba u ta’ sodisfazzjon… John kompla jirrakkuntali kif fiż-żminijiet antiki, Filfla kienet għadha tagħmel parti mill-gżira prinċipali.

    “Il-qasma ġeografika magħrufa bħala l-Magħlaq probabbilment kienet il-kaġun li Filfla sfat gżira. F’dak il-perjodu kienu qed iseħħu katakliżmi kbar. Jista’ jkun li dan seħħ meta diġà kien hawn il-bniedem għax nafu sewwa illi f’ċertu nħawi f’Malta, fit-tarf tal-irdumijiet, insibu cart-ruts li jaqtgħu direttament għal fuq il-baħar. Teżisti medda ta’ mijiet ta’ snin fi Żmien il-Bronż f’Malta fejn m’hemm l-ebda sinjali tal-bniedem ta’ dak iż-żmien. Immaġinak qed tara madwar 500 kilometru art lejn in-naħa tax-Xlokk ta’ Malta nieżla kollha taħt il-baħar! X’tagħmel kieku? Mhux iddabbar rasek? Jekk dak kien il-każ, meta l-bniedem irritorna lejn Malta sab illi f’dawk l-inħawi, il-baħar kien mela d-differenza bejn iċ-ċaqliq tal-art u l-partijiet għoljin tal-inħawi ta’ Filfla li issa kienet saret gżira.”

    Minn rapport li kien kiteb il-Kuratur tal-Arkeoloġija F.S. Mallia skoprejt illi kienu nstabu tliet fdalijiet arkeoloġiċi fuq Filfla li kienu jikkonsistu f’xi fuħħar u għadma ta’ Il-bebbuxu ta' Filflaannimal. Waqt riċerka oħra sirt naf illi waqt il-pesta ħarxa tal-1813 ċertu Ġanni Attard kien sab rifuġju fuq Filfla flimkien mal-familja tiegħu, fejn minn żmien għal żmien, qarib tiegħu kien jibgħatlu xi provvisti u b’hekk dawn  irnexxielhom isalvaw minn din l-epidemija. Lil dil-biċċa blata jafulha ħajjithom ukoll bosta sajjieda li waqt xi maltempata qasmu jew għamu lejha, hekk kif jixhdu xi ex-voto li hemm fil-knisja tal-Qrendi. Minn għadd ta’ materjal miġbur dwar Filfla, John urieni wkoll intervista fuq gazzetta li kienet saret lill-pilota Ġermaniż li kien twaqqa’ bl-ajruplan tiegħu viċin Filfla waqt it-tieni gwerra dinjija u dan għam sa fuqha sakemm ajruplan ieħor salvah u ħadu miegħu. Fl-1818 Filfla kienet tappartjeni lill-familja De Noto, filwaqt li llum hija proprjetà tal-gvern Malti.

    “Sad-19-il seklu kien għad hemm il-fniek slavaġ jiġru fuq il-gżira li kienu tħallew fuqha fis-snin l-imgħoddija bl-iskop tal-kaċċa. Uħud mill-ħlejqiet li hemm illum fuq Filfla saru endemiċi fosthom: il-Il-gremxula ta' Filflagremxula magħrufa bħala Podarcis filfolensis filfolensis li għall-kuntrarju ta’ x’jaħsbu bosta, għandha denb wieħed biss. Għandha qies aktar kabbari minn dak li naraw fuq il-gżejjer l-oħra (madwar 30 ċentimetru) u hija ta’ kulur sewdieni bi tbajja ħodor jew koħol. Tip ta’ bebbuxu magħruf bħala Helicella spratti var. despotti huwa wkoll endemiku għal dil-gżira. Fuq Filfla wieħed isib ukoll numru ta’ għasafar ibejjtu bħaċ-ċiefa u l-gawwija. Imma ċertament l-aktar għal qalbi huwa l-Kanġu ta’ Filfla magħruf ukoll bħala Storm Petrel jew Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis.

    Dokumenti antiki dwar Filfla ftit li xejn insibu u ħafna minnhom huma miktuba minn ornitoloġisti li marru jistudjaw l-ekoloġija tal-post. Fl-1954 l-ornitoloġista E.L Roberts, fil-ktieb tiegħu The Birds of Malta iddikkjara illi fuq Filfla kien għad fadal biss żewġ pari kanġi. Għaldaqstant tista’ timmaġina l-ferħ ta’ sħabi tal-Malta Ornithological Society (illum BirdLife Malta) meta marru jinvestigaw fl-1968 u sabu li kien għad hemm kolonja ta’ elf kanġu fuqha akkost li l-gżira kienet għadha qed tiġi bbumbardjata! Kien minn daż-żmien li din is-Soċjetà flimkien mal-Kunsill Ċiviku taż-Żurrieq għamlet talba biex jieqfu l-bumbardamenti fuq il-gżira. Imma dawn waqfu biss fl-1971.”

    John urieni xi ritratti tal-kanġu ta’ Filfla. Kemm kien jixbaħ lill-ħamiema! Imma saqajh kienu qishom ta’ papra ċkejkna.

    “Fit-18-il seklu Giovanni Pietro Agius de Soldanis, storiku magħruf Għawdxi, kien kiteb li sab tmien għasafar ġo għar ġewwa Għawdex li jixbħu lill-beċċun imma ma għarafhomx bħala kanġi. Matul is-sninIl-kanġu ta' Filfla kienu saru diversi riċerki minn bosta studjużi biex isibu din il-kolonja imma ħadd ma kien irnexxielu. Fl-1987 dan l-għasfur li minn rixu jarmi riħa qawwija ta’ żejt tal-ħuta, tani waħda mill-isbaħ ġranet ta’ ħajti meta jien irnexxieli nsib kolonja ta’ kanġi f’għar ġewwa Ta’ Ċenċ f’Għawdex li wisq probabbli kienet l-istess waħda li tkellem dwarha De Soldanis!”

    Minn fuq il-ktieb Bird Studies on Filfla ta’ Joe Sultana u Charles Gauci (li t-tnejn kienu hemm waqt l-ewwel żjara li saret fuq Filfla fis-snin sittin), John beda l-bażi tar-riċerka tiegħu u maż-żmien kompla jibni fuqha. Eventwalment huwa beda jaħdem flimkien ma’ Joe Sultana fejn qed jirriċerkaw il-gżira ta’ Filfla u l-ekoloġija tagħha.

    “Darba fis-sena ninżlu fuq il-quċċata ta’ Filfla permezz ta’ helicopter biex nispezzjonaw il-popolazzjoni tal-gawwi. Imbagħad darbtejn jew tlieta fis-sena immorru nqattgħu lejl fuq Filfla biex insegwu l-popolazzjoni taċ-ċief u tal-kanġu. Illum hemm madwar 200 par ċief, 150 par gawwi u bejn 5000 u 8000 par kanġi jbejtu fuq Filfla.”

    John stqarr miegħi li huwa jħossu tassew ixxurtjat illi xogħolu u l-passatempi tiegħu huma l-istess ħaġa.

    “Anki meta nsiefer, suppost għal vaganza, tista’ tgħid li nkun xogħol. Infatti nippreferi nżur il-gżejjer sabiex inkun nista’ nikkompara t-tajr tal-baħar ta’ pajjiżi barranin ma’ dawk ta’ Malta. B’mod speċifikuFriegħ tal-gawwi fuq Filfla fir-rigward tal-kanġu, f’dawn l-aħħar snin qiegħed nikkompara il-popolazzjoni ta’ kanġi li hemm f’Filfla ma’ dawk li hemm f’Ta’ Ċenċ u anki ma’ kolonji barranin bħal ngħidu aħna l-kolonja ta’ kanġi li hemm fuq il-gżira ċkejkna Marittimo li tinsab fil-punent ta’ Sqallija, fejn hemm jgħixu 2000 par, jew il-kolonja li tgħix f’għar faċċata tal-belt ta’ Benidorm fi Spanja. Interessanti nsemmi li f’kull każ l-esperjenza hija totalment differenti hekk kif l-ambjent jaffetwa ħafna l-aġir ta’ dawn l-għasafar, b’mod speċjali kif ibejtu.”

    Għalkemm Filfla kienet tiġbidni ħafna, qatt ma kont bsart li kien hemm daqshekk tagħrif x’tiġbor dwarha! Fil-fatt John qiegħedXiutu l-Kbir (Filfla) jipprepara biex jippublika ktieb dwar dil-gżira li dwarha ilu jirriċerka tant. Hekk kif kont qed nisma’ dar-rakkonti, minn taħt il-għajn kont qed insegwi d-dgħajsa tagħna toqrob dejjem aktar lejha. U hemm intbaħt li ħdejn Filfla kien hemm żewġ blatiet kbar li kienu magħrufa bħala Xiutu l-Kbir u Xiutu ż-Żgħir. Sfortunatament hekk kif ersaqna qrib Filfla, il-baħar tqawwa f’daqqa, tant li kien impossibli li nduru magħha kif kien maħsub. Għaldaqstant inxtħett nieħu r-ritratti ta’ Filfla bla heda hekk kif sibt ruħi daqstant viċin tagħha.

    “Għall-ornitoloġisti Filfla hija ġawhra u infatti meta nattendi għal xi konferenza u nuri r-ritratti ta’ dak li hemm fuqha, nogħxa nara l-barranin jgħiru għalina. Infatti jkollna diversi talbiet minn għandFriegħ tal-gawwi qed ifaqqas fuq Filfla bosta studjużi li jkunu jixtiequ jakkumpanjawna meta ninżlu fuqha. Ormaj żort ħafna gżejjer oħra imma Filfla hija unika għalija. Meta nkun fuqha, l-atmosfera ta’ x’ħin ikun qed jidlam u tkun qed tistenna l-ewwel kanġu jew l-ewwel ċiefa dieħla, ma nibdilha ma’ xejn!”

    Għajnejja ma stajtx naqlagħhom minn fuqha daqs kemm kont ilni nixxennaq għaliha. U ta’ belha li jien, akkost li bdew iwiddbuna biex inpoġġu bil-qiegħda, saqajja bħal weħlu mal-art u bqajt hemm b’għajnejja nixrob sa l-inqas dettall tagħha. Kont irrabbjata għal dak il-baħar li ma ħallinix ingawdiha ftit aktar iżda fl-istess ħin iggustajtu hekk kif stħajjiltu l-protettur tagħha, jżommna ‘l bogħod mill-maħbuba tiegħu Filfla. Forsi bħali, kien xeba’ jara ‘l min jagħmlilha l-ħsara!

    (Nota: Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tas-17 ta’ Lulju 2011)

    2011.07.17 / 1 response / Category: Torca - Perspettivi