RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS

       At first, my son only wants a puppy. I refused to have, because for me, it will be too dangerous for him. But since child is a child, I had to set aside my negative thoughts on having pets. I allowed one, then two..then three and so on. Now we have three aspins, one terrier, couple of puddle, two shitsu , two cross breed puppies , and four cats. Time consuming for others, expensive and additional wasting of time...but the time I saw how these pets struggled...spend bonding time to each other, and the appreciation showed by them as they kisses me from time to time they saw me, as I shout their names to come with me and wagging their tails as they hear their given name. ...I learned to love them...as part of our family. I talked to them as they are human...personally walked with them in the community .
       Having big numbers of pets is like ahaving big numbers of members of family.the more ..the merrier...

       

EGONGOTS OLD TRADITION AND PRACTICES

1.       COURTING – The guy must passed all the trials given by the parents of the girl he loves to court and marry so he can proved his manhood  and worthy for the Egongot lady.

•             He needs to prove he is excellent in bow and arrow. The parents of the girl will watch how will you use the armors excellently. If he succeed, he can court the girl, but if not, he will never be given a chance to have the girl.

•             For the boy to be acceptable in the eyes of the girls parent, he will be tried to different works in farm, fishing, hunting and others.

·         The parents of the lady will ask the guy to offer atleast two heads of human he killed, as proof that he is a brave man. And by this, during the early times, they made head hunting an institution.

·         In some instances that the guy cannot express his love publicly, their parents will serve as mediator. If they agreed they have the same sentiments and feelings, then the girl can no longer accept other suitors. If may so, blood will shed.

2.       Marriage

·         Before the marriage, the guy needs to offer heads to the lady.

·         The family of the guy should respect the tradition of LANGO, wherein they have to offer things that the girl’s family will ask like guns, bolos, clothes, blankets and others.

·         The ceremony is conducted by the eldest in the community. They laid “banig” or woven mat as they held the ceremony. The elders give advice to the couple as they starts their family life.  After the ceremony, they eat, drink and dance as part of their celebration to the newly weds.

·         The community permitted the couple to live together first even without marriage . They will be married once the girl got pregnant.

·         They have also that tradition that once a girl had already bear their child, she will not be permitted to wear wedding gown.

3.       Giving Birth

    A girl who will give birth will be assisted by traditional midwife or hilot of the community. After giving birth, the infant will be bathed in the river. After several days , the mother will go to the farm and continue her work having her baby at the her back as they called it “ubba”.

4.       Head Hunting

As the fire tree bears it flowers, that is the crucial time for the non-tribe, for it is the time where Egongots take their head hunting.

*They held big celebration after hunting heads.

* In Christian world, head hunting is sinful act, but to them , it is a sign of bravery, part of their tradition and practice. The one who cut heads will have the right to be called a real brave man.

Part of their tradition is having amulets. Their elders have these during old times. They can sleep and live in the forest as long as they loved to or stay in the deep water as long as they like.

5.       TRADE

Barter is their system long time ago. They exchanged their products to others. For example, their wild pig meats  in exchange to blankets or bolos.

6.       BELIEFS

They believe to Cain and Abal as their gods. They have their anitos too like “palasekan” and Lampoy.

7.       THEIR LAWS

    Though it was not written, the following were part of their laws long time ago..

1.       Do not kill/murder your brother

2.       Do not covet your brothers wife

3.       Do not lie

4.       Do not disobey your husband

5.       Do not forget to pay your obligations

6.       Do not steal.

ANG MGA EGONGOT

Ayon sa literatura, ang baybay ng salitang “Egongot” ay nagmula sa unlapi na “e”  na nangangahulugang “galing o nagmula” at sa salitang ugat na “gongot” na nangangahulugang “gubat”. Sa kabuuan ang tagalog ng EGONGOT ay “taga gubat”. 

 Ilan sa mga manunulat at mga taga tala ng kasaysayan ay may kanya -kanyang paniniwala at eksplanasyon sa kung saan  nga ba nagmula ang mga Egongot. Ang iba ay naniniwala na ang tribong ito ay nagmula sa mga Indonesian na naglayag papuntang Pilipinas noong unang panahon at nanirahan sa kanluran ng Sierra Madre at sa kabundukan ng Caraballo. Mayroon naman sa kanila ang nagsasabing ang mga Egongot ay tulad sa mga Malay na may tradisyon ng pamumugot at may diyalekto na nagmula sa pamilya ng Austrinesian at sa Western-Malayo-Polinesian.

Orihinal na Katutubo sa Maria Aurora

Bagamat simpleng-simple lang ang kanilang pananamit ( G-string sa lalaki na nakapulupot ng limang beses sa baywang at may isang piraso ng  balat ng punongkahoy bilang panakip sa pribadong parte ng katawan at sa babae ay saya na itinatapos mula baywang hanggang tuhod) mapaglagay naman sila ng kung anu-anong palamuti sa katawan.

Ang mga lalaki ay may mga kwintas ng pinagdugtong-dugtong na mga ngipin ng baboy ramo na kung tawagin ay panglao,mga hikaw kung tawagin ay batling at mga bilog na alambreng brass. Ang panglao at battling ay yari sa Beads. Napupuluputan ng brass wires ang baywang ng mga babae, maging ang pulso, at paa ng mga lalaki.  Ang kamay naman ay napupuluputan ng benda at fibers, pinaniniwalaang nakapagpapalakas ang mga ito. Bahagi   na ng gayak ng lalaking Egongot ang itak na nakasukbit sa baywang at maliit na basket na lalagyan ng nganga kung tawagin ay Kopel.ang mga binata ay naglalagay ng bulaklak sa itaas ng braso ngunit ito’y hindi bilang palamuti kundi  sagisag na siya’y isang binata.

Sa ngayon, nagiging modernisado na rin ang kasuotan ng mga ilang Egongot. Ang orihinal nilang damit ay kadalasang isinusuot nalang tuwing may espesyal na okasyon na noon ay nakapaa lang sila ngunit ngayon marami na sa kanila ang nakatsinelas at nakasapatos.

Kasaysayan ng Bayanihan

Sa matagal na kasama ang mga tribu, natutunan kong alamin ang mga munting kasaysayan ng lugar kung saan ako lumaki at kabilang na tribu. Ito ay nagpasalinsalin sa mga bibig ng mga matatanda at noong unang panahaon ay hindi uso ang pagsusulat o pagdodokumento ng mga pangyayari. Kaya nga napakahalaga ng gampanin ng mga nakakatanda ng lugar at tribu. 

Ayon sa magiting na historian na nakilalala ko na walang pangingiming nagbahagi ng kasaysayan ng lugar ng tribu. Ayon sa kanya , ang  Bayanihan bago pa lamang maging isang barangay ay pinamumugaran ng mga tribong Egongot na ang kaugalian ay hindi isang maka-kristiyano sapagkat noong panahong iyon ay manaka-naka pa rin nilang ginagawa ang minanang kaugalian sa mga ninuno na pamumugot ng ulo ng tao. Noon ay isa lamang sitio ng Kadayakan ang Bayanihan kung saan ito ay may limang kilometro ang layo mula sa bayan ng Maria Aurora.

Noong taong 1970, ang Bayanihan ay sakop pa lamang ng Barangay Kadayakan. Ang salitang Kadayakan ay nagmula sa salitang “DEZEK” na ang kahulugan nito ay matigas na kahoy. Ang lugar na ito ay maraming punong-kahoy na matitigas kung kaya’t tinawag ng mga  Egongot (ilongot) na “Kadezekan”, lugar na kung saan dito nagsisipagkuha ng troso ang mga Egongot  at mga magtotroso. Paglipas ng ilang taon ang salitang Kadezekan ay tinaguriang KADAYAKAN.

Noong nakaraang panahon, ang Barangay Kadayakan ay pinamumunuan ni G. Dengpag Ebenga( kilala ngayon sa pangalang Salvador Molina) na isang purong Egongot. Sa paglipas ng mahabang panahon ng kanyang pamumuno , binigyan niya ng pagkakataon ang kapwa niya kababaryo upang matutuhan at maranasan ng ibang matatanda na mamuno sa kanilang lugar. At ng sumunod na halalan ay hindi na kumandidato si G. Dengpag Ebenga bagkus ay hinimok na lang niya si G. Sixto Lupin-na , na isang tubong Igorot na lumaban siya sa halalan at kanyang susuportahan ito. Ang katunggali ni G. Sixto Lupin-na ay si G. Oscar Santos na isang Bininyagen(Tagalog). Nang sumapit ang bilangan , inaasahan ni G. Dengpag Ebenga na ang mananalo sa halalan ay si G. Sixto Lupin-na ngunit taliwas sa kanyang inaasahan. Nagalit si G. Dengpag Ebenga dahil naniniwala siya na ang bilangan ay may anomalyang naganap. Kung kaya’t ang pangyayaring ito ang nag-udyok sa kanya na lumapit at mag-apela sa kasalukuyang punong bayan  noon na si G. Leonardo T. Ong. Nagbigay pahayag siya at buong tapang na nagsabing  hindi siya papayag na ang Kadayakan ay pamunuan ng isang bininyagen , sa kabila na ang Kadayakan ay isang lugar ng katutubong Egongot at Igorot. Upang maalis ang napipintong galit mula sa mga katutubong ito, ay nagpasya ang mabait na punong bayan ng Maria Aurora na ang Kadayakan ay hatiin na lamang at gawing dalawang barangay. Kaya’t mula noon, isinilang ang Barangay Bayanihan , Maria Aurora, Aurora. Ang salitang “BAYANIHAN” ay nangangahulugan ng “Pagkakaisa”.  Noong ika-29 ng Mayo, 1972 ay ganap na naging isang barangay ang Bayanihan sa pamamagitan ng Provincial Board Resolution No. 253. Ito ay pinamunuan ni G. Salvador Molina bilang kapitan kasama ang kanyang konsehal na sina G. Watang Aliwak Sr., Mariano Campos, Prudencio Silvestre, Taingen Cawad, Eppoy Caanawan at William Sadaken.

Kasunod nito, dumami na ng dumami ang mga dayuhan . May mga Bikolano, Bisaya, Igorot, Ilocano, Tagalog at marami pang iba. Ang mga ito ay nagsipag-asawa ng mga Egongot na lalake at babae. Dahil dito, ang Barangay Bayanihan ay mabilis na napuno ng tao sapagkat noong panahong iyon ay kasagsagan ng logging.

Ang pangunahing hanapbuhay ng mga taga Bayanihan ay pagkakaingin sa lugar na nasasakupan lamang ng barangay. Sila ay nagtatanim ng mga lamang ugat  tulad ng gabi, ube, kamoteng kahoy, luya, kamoteng baging , mga prutas tulad ng papaya , saging, citrus, suha at niyog. Marami rin sa mga tribo ang masipag mag-alaga ng mga hayop tulad ng manok, bibe, kambing, baboy, baka at kalabaw. Dito nakasalalay ang lahat ng kanilang ikinabubuhay. May  ilan din sa  mga matatandang Egongot ang pinagkalooban ng karapatan na magmay-ari ng sariling area o lupain sa kabundukan na hanggang ngayo’y  patuloy na pinagkukunan ng kanilang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan.

Ayon sa mga kwento ng mga matatanda at ng ilang mamamayan ng Bayanihan, ang Bayanihan noon ay masasabing simple lang. Na ang pakiramdam ay tila nasa bukid ka lang , payapa ang pag-iisip at tila walang nakaambang mga problema.

Ang mga bahay noon ay halos yari sa kugon at sawali lamang. Tanging pagkakaingin at pangangaso ang pinagkukunan ng pagkain ng mga mamamayan dito. Wala pang mga pasilidad at imprastraktura kung kaya maging ang mga kalsada ay hindi pa rin sementado.

Sa kabila ng lahat, mababakas pa rin sa ngiti at kilos ng mamamayan dito and diwa ng pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan. Makikita mo ang mukha ng Bayanihan sa pagsasama-samang pagbubuhat ng bahay na kung saan maaaninag ang matatamis na ngiti ng mga mamamayan sa kabila ng hirap at bigat ng bahay na binubuhat. Maaalala rin ang sama-samang paglutas ng mga mamamayan kung ang isa sa kanila ay masuong sa problema. Ilan lamang ito sa napakagagandang bagay na dapat alalahanin,dapat ipagpatuloy at dapat pagyamanin sa mga nasimulang kaugalian at tradisyon ng mga mamamayan ng Bayanihan noong unang panahon.

.Dahil sa kasipagan at pagiging masigasig ng mga Egongot na namumuno sa Bayanihan, natatamasa na nito ang unti-unting pagbabago na kahit sa imahinasyon ay hindi nakita ng mga ninuno ng mga Egongot sa kanilang panahon.

           

Dumami na rin ang mga nakapag-aral na mga mamamayan ng Bayanihan at ngayon ay mga propesyonal na.

TRIBES' GAMES .....LARO NG LAHI...LARO NG TRIBU...

Pursuant to DepEd Memorandum No. 112, s. 2016, The Observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Day, Bayanihan National High School of Brgy. Bayanihan , Maria Aurora, Aurora celebrate tehe National Indigenous Peoples Day with the IP students and suppportive teachers and IP leaders.

The Provincial Chieftain of Egongot tribe and the Barangay Chieftain of Igorot Tribe of Brgy. Kadayakan, IP  and Non-IP students, other IP leaders, visitors and parents witnessed the amazing showcase of Indigenous Knowledge, System and Practices of both tribes, also playing the games our tribes used to play and at the same time the basketball which the youth nowadays love to play.

During the palaro, the players of the basketball, The Egongot Warriors went on the top scorers among the three teams who played during the game.
Another game played by the students was kadang-kadang for the boys and girls. For the boys, they used bamboo, and cocobut shell for the girls.
For "Tolakid" or bunong -binti , boys in partners will be test on their legs endurance. It is like bunong-braso, that the man who will defeat the others will be declared as amazing one.
Bengel is an Egongot game where in boys have their tops or trumpo, not with nail but pure wood. They are going to throw their wooden tops and should be hit by other tops. The one who will hit other's tops in five times will be declared as winner.

Polong of Egongot tribe is cross-bow game. It was originated in their hunting of wild pigs. Boys turned it to a game as part of their "libangan" . 

MOBILE TEACHERS OF 

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM OF

 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mobile teacher is the one who teach out of school youth, adults who did not finished studies in formal, nor began education at his/her early age.  A mobile teacher made his/her mapping to different barangays to know her/his possible learners.  She/He  communicate to Barangay officials for the possible learners. After mapping, he/she will conduct orientation and from that orientation, she /he will encourage or motivate his/her possible learners.

After orientation , from then, she/he will conduct sessions to all OSYs and Adults , including those who are physically disabled, who want to pursue their education. A lot of stories of success in ALS had. Lot of lives changed. Even in jail, mobile teachers reach out those detainee who want to use their time usefully during their stay at jail. Hoping that after jail, they can start a new life and pursue their dreams .

I’ve been to Provincial jail and had a chance to get inside and observe the detainees routine. There are some busy in doing crafts, others waiting for their love ones to visit them, and the others went to their sessions on their Volunteer teacher for Alternative Learning System.

I witnessed the eagerness of the learners to pass the A & E Test , hoping that as they receive their diploma after ten months of attending sessions, they will land a better opportunities. Some might pursue their college studies, some will try their future abroad, some plans to apply for jobs which asked diploma for better salary.

After ten months of waiting, graduation comes. Time to received the most awaited diploma, a piece of paper that can lead someone to a new chapter of better life. As a friend told me sometime ago, be careful of those piece of paper, because nobody knows what that piece of paper will lead you into. And I think it is very true, a paper now, document later.

I was amazed of this newly graduate servant of God from the heart of the mountainous Nagtipunan, Quirino . He is Ptr. Benson Aliwak who gave his touching message to everyone who attended  graduation ceremony of batch 2015. He said that he walked two days from his place to attend his class/sessions in ALS CLC, far from his place. Whoaaa.. two days walk to attend his class and another two days to go home. He is with the other two relatives who were also ALS students. Hearing their patience to attend their classes and being away from home for a month, it was a great sacrifice indeed. They have to stay a month and finish their modules for that month and went home for a week and walked again for their classes. This great man used his days in family, serving God and attending ALS sessions. For he was inspired by his nephew who was ALS graduate also and now taking Business Administration at Quirino Province. According to him, age and distance  doesn’t matter if you really ant change in your life.

Being an ALS Mobile Teacher is not easy. In formal school, teachers have their school building, a room allotted to each teacher where their students wait for them. In Alternative Learning System,  the teacher went to their houses or by the permission of Barangay officials, he/she use the Barangay hall for the meantime. I witnessed also a mobile teacher who is almost bitten by dog because of conducting classes and visitation to his/her learners residence. Most of the time, after giving information, teaching the lessons, this mobile teacher needs to nanny his/her learners children for them to be able to work on his /her given activity. Sometimes she/he have to sleep in the community because the place is too far. But because of the program of the DEPED to bring education in more accessible way, ALS mobile teachers reach coastal areas to conduct classes.  

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM: BRIDGE TO NEW HOPE

     The Alternative Learning System or popularly  known ALS  is unconventional or non-traditional method of learning that provides equal opportunities similar to formal school.  Alternative Learning System contributes to solving problems  in illiteracy among children, youth and adults at lessen drop-outs. It has three programs and projects carrying out, 1) Basic Literacy Program is an intensive community –based training for illiterate out of school youth  and adults who are willing to learn basic literacy like basic reading, computing , creative thinking and problem solving ; 2) Elementary Level  which is the transition to self –learning level: 3) Secondary Level which is self- learning level.

PETS ARE NOT JUST FRIEND; THEY ARE FAMILY TOO : Goofy becomes Mommy Already!

Remember Goofy on my  post? A dog from my wife’s officemate. A very aloof puppy at first. If we call her, the more she will go away from us.  Last December 2015, she has this what we called  “she’s in heat”. Since we have four male dogs in our compound, LA,Alex, Wacky and Nigel, we did not encountered hard to find a male dog for her. After more than two months, Last February 22, around 11:55 in the evening, anew born puppy came out. Very thin and small creature.

Before my wife went to work, she fed the dogs first She even talk to Goofy why she did not eat all her food, very unusual for Goofy. Goofy’s appetite is not a problem from the very start we had her in our home. But that day, February 22, morning, she did not ate all her food.  In the afternoon, I noticed that she dig a hole in the ground. She’s so very noisy then, I even shout to her why she reacted that way.

After office hour, my wife came home and while she had her coffee, she noticed the hole and the same noise Goofy created. She came closer to the dog and massage her, asking what makes her uncomfortable, and why she’s uneasy. The dog became comfortable for a while, like having comforted by a mother. After dinner, while watching TV, around 10:00 in the evening, Goofy sounds like she’s uneasy once again. We became worried then. My wife again touch Goofy if she’s not feeling well, but while touching Goofy’s body to comfort her, my wife asked what if she’s not feeling well, or having stomach ache? How can she gave Goofy a medicine for the pain in case she’s suffering stomach pain? She’s pregnant. Worried of what is happening, my wife called her officemate who gave the puppy , and asked her what is supposed to do of Goofy’s pain. The original owner of the dog told us that may be Goofy is giving birth already. That is the reaction of a dog who is supposed to give birth, uneasy because she’s looking for a dark place for her to give birth of her puppy.  

Around 11:55 in the evening when my wife heard a puppy sound. We hurriedly went to other room where we put Goofy, and a big Ooh! Goofy had gave birth already of a puppy boy. We  waited for what will be the next step of our dog after seeing her baby. She patiently licked the small puppy until she cleaned all the puppy’s blood. We’re so amazed of Goofy’s being responsible of her baby. So we put them in a cloth and there Goofy continuously licked her baby until totally cleaned. The baby’s eye were still closed, brown in color with a little white at his nape, very tiny puppy.

The next morning we excitedly inform our son on Goofy’s baby, he hurriedly went to the room where the dog and puppy were placed by my wife and felt so happy of the new family member. He fed the dog before he went to school.

Observing Goofy’s way of nurturing and caring her puppy, I was so amazed. She always clean her puppy by licking the puppy’s body now and then, as if a mother don’t want her son to get dirty or smell bad. She put her baby near to her always, assuring the puppy can have his milk from her. What a very responsible mother Goofy is. After eating, she hurriedly go back to her place because her baby is waiting for her body’s heat to make the puppy body heat.

Observing Nigel and our cat Angel reaction on Goofy’s baby, they had just staring to the puppy and Goofy. They may be wondering why their sister had this another creature, from time to time licking on the puppy’s body.

Every morning before going to school and work, my wife and son went first to goofy and kissed the dog for they will see her on the afternoon already. 

K to 12 and Indigenous Peoples Education )IPEd)

Bridge to Empower Philippines Education

                Education is one of the major concerns of almost all government of the world. It is an acceptable fact that through education and individual capable of learning can be taught to become a useful citizen. The progress towards development goals in the Philippines education expressed in many ways, the community and its immediate environment must be correlated and integrated.

                In education, new approaches are tried; appropriate and relevant strategies are used for effective learning. The continuous  innovations and changes in curriculum, the K to 12 and Indigenous Peoples Education are adapted to meet the challenges of modern times and bridge to empower Philippines education.

                As what Secretary of Education Bro. Armin A. Luistro said,” I don’t know how critical we are of the education system… but that is the heart of the  K to 12 reform. We have been miseducated by a system that perpetuates cultural oppression which we need to change to undertake reforms. The heart of the K to 12 reforms  is about one’s culture, one’s sense of itself. The K to 12 is grounded on a conviction-IPs carry with wisdom mostly misunderstood. The K to 12 takes culture as a bedrock of education.”

                Ethnocide”… the loss of identity of a group of people with a distinct culture and identity because of policies that destroy their sources of livelihood, use of language, practice of their own system, traditions and crafts , religion, and beliefs. Looking back IPs and the school system, IPs perceived as having “no education”, indigenous knowledge seen as inferior, concerning school knowledge, the separation of learning from life.

                Sadly, general education system in the Philippines continues to the alienation of IPs to their roots, cultures and communities, and discrimination continues. Indigenous Peoples Knowledge System and Practices (IKSPs) are ignored, dismissed; or becoming worse, schooling erases IKSPs or contribute to its end. In many cases, schooling seen in conflict with life and community activities that are actually knotted with indigenous learning systems themselves.

                Listening to aspirations and assertions , education that is culturally-rooted, nurturing the identity, maintaining intergenerational ties aligned with maintaining the well-being of the ancestral domain. With ancestral domain and community at the center, in harmony with the community and life cycle seems to bridge to empower our educational system. K to 12 is culture-responsive and culture-sensitive moves on educational system that enables the stability and development of learning systems of and for IPs from within. This will be difficult unless we bring back the community and the learner at the center.

                The flexibility of the k to 12 Program is in keeping with the constitutional mandate of schools to encourage non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly that those respond to community needs (Article XIV, sec. 2). It is integrative and contextualized, for holistic learning, subjects are taught using the interdisciplinary  and multidisciplinary approach that learners do not learn isolated facts and theories separated from their lives.

                In line with the country/s commitment to achieve its Education for All (EFA) targets and the Millennium  Development  Goals (MDGs), and in the chase of the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA), the DepEd is adopting the enclosed National Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Policy Framework (DedpEd  Order No. 6, s.2011). The policy framework is intended to be a tool and eye opener for promoting shared accountability, engagement, and collaborative partnership among government. DepEd urges the strengthening of its policy on IP education and develop and implement an IP Education Program. This program subscribes to the rights-based approached, which gives primary importance to the principles of participation, inclusion, and empowerment.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE?

It is very controversial nowadays  the opinion of Pacquiao about marriage of the same sex. I don’t want to hurt someone’s ego, but let us see it by God’s word. Let us start with Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads”.

The truth really hurts. John 8: 32 says” Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. The word of God is sweet, comforting, giving hope and sharp. We sometimes tend or misled by other’s opinion, personality and life style. Some has misled to an idea that if we did good things, we are good in the eyes of the Lord. Yes, we are, really. But it not a guarantee that if we do good things to our neighbors, we will be saved. That is not the Bible says. If we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, then we will be saved. To be real Christian is debatable. But as a Christian, we should battle on who among us will be saved, what religion will be saved? It is just a matter of how far is our relation to our creator?. Are we just Christians by word or by Faith? Doing goodto others are not the main passes of going to heaven. The word of God is our guide and light, so we must follow it for us not to be misled by the enemy.

Romans 2:5-11 enlightens me “ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteousness judgment  will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who  by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who REJECTED THE TRUTH and follow the evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress from every human being who does evil. First for the Jew, then for the Gentile, but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew , then for the Gentile. FOR GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM. (NIV)

The same  for those who judge against goodness or badness of others. Roman 2:1-4 says “ You therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV)

For me, we should not argue for whom is wrong and right. Let us be sensitive on the message we can get from it.  No religion can saved us, it is only Christ who will save us. Let us not discuss whom we will in favor. Let us meditate the word of God and be guided by Holy Spirit. According to Elder Rusell M. Nelson,” Remember: Sin , even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God”.

Why to choose sin, choose God.

PETS ARE NOT JUST FRIEND...THEY ARE MEMBER OF THE FAMILY TOO...

Pets are not just a decoration or guard, best friend… they are member of the family.

At first, I never wanted to have pets at home, for me, they are just expenses, stress and hindrance to our outings.

Having only one child, I am used of a quiet home. We are only three at home. One time, we visited my wife’s parents in a barrio. My son was just 2 years old then. He saw their puppy and he did not stop begging his grandparents to have one. Being the only grandson , they gave that puppy to him and we went  home with this brown puppy. I say nothing for that matter, though if I will be to decide, I don’t want to have a dog. But as father , I can’t  stand his decision if it is for my son’s happiness.

He gave name to that puppy ,sound as his name, LA. He even gave the puppy a birthday as his. I thought that will make him satisfied, to have at least a puppy.

Again as we visited his grandparents, my son picked another puppy, a combination f white and black and called him Wacky. This puppy is very fat and cute, I can’t help but to like this new members of the family. Members of the family as I say it because we can talk to and  laugh and eat  with  them. Until one time, we never found wacky in the neighborhood. My son was so sad and even cried at night, looking and asking where is his puppy Wacky. What if his puppy is not in good hand, do wacky still eating, take a bath and so on? For two weeks , my son’s routine before he sleep is crying and wishing that Wacky will be back to him.(wacky)

My wife was so worried on our son, so he bought another puppy, a terrier. When she brought it home, my son’s smile was seen again. But still a hope that wacky will be with us again. Before wacky lost, he had a picture with him and we went to a yearly celebration of our tribe, the Panagyaman or thanks giving”. His puppy was last seen in our neighbor eating something. We concluded that the visitors had wanted the puppy and get it away with him/her.

That time we have that Terrier, he named the puppy Wacky again, as replacement of his lost pet. That begins with coming of more pets. Until my wife's cousin offered a shit zu named NIGEL OF ALOE MARCON. Another boy, but my wife really wanted to have that cute dog again. He has a birth date (November 1, 2014) as shown on his paper.This dog is amazing, and more showy on his emotions. He sleep with us in bed. Since we have three male dogs, my wife have to look for a girl.

One day.  her office mate had puppies too and she wanted it to be disposed some. So she went home one time with this puppy girl and we named her Goofy.

One time, goofy got sick. Goofy is a kind of a dog they called askal (asong kalye-street dog) and usually, if a dog like her got sick, the owner asked someone to have it killed and make as food. But Goofy will never experience that to us. My wife and I rushed her to an animal doctor. The vet (veterinarian) had checked her and gave us the list of medicine we have to buy. Though we are not a well to do family, as a worried parent to his/her child, the parent have to make way on how to make their child well, no matter what.
      What we did that time is to borrow money for Goofy's medicine. That time, we felt Goofy fighting to survive. She drank a lot of water. But her body was too weak. My wife had to sponge our dog from time to time. The whole day and night , every 30  minutes, she had to check the temperature, sponge and let her drink dextrose ( powdered solution given by vet as help for goofy's gain her strength). Sponge help Goofy to survive. After 2 days, she got up and return to be playing. From then, she always managed to kissed us, as if she really knows that we helped her to survive. every morning she got up, she's with us in bed too, she wake us up by kisses, maybe her way to say thank you.

Then one afternoon, my son went home with a very cute kitten, a month old may be. So we have to give her milk to survive. A blue-eyed and pure white kitten was named Angel.

We treated them as part of our family, for they gave us lessons, not only for their being witty, but these animals have feelings and discernment too. They so very quiet when I and my wife argued. They don’t eat and we are not used of that attitude. So we have to control our temper so that they will not be affected too. Since then, arguments between us with my wife is not that often as before. We don’t want them to be stressed of animosity at home. They teach us a lot of lesson. Pets are blessings. Pets are family member. 

EGONGOT AND IGOROT LEADERS FEAR

   

  The elders of the Ilongot or Egongot and Igorot Tribes here in Aurora  are now afraid that their tradition might vanish because their children today are not raise as how they raised by their parents during their time . They don’t speak their language. They are just wear g-string if there is only occasions that needs their tribe image.

       “Taong Bukel” as we call Mr. Romeo Cawad, the current Provincial Ilongot Tribe Chieftain shared his fear to us. What if these youth of today (Ilongot) will not be informed of their fathers and forefather’s history of brevity? What if in their home, they use tagalog in conversation? What if these children of today will become shy in wearing their attire, the G-string? What will happen to the new generations of the tribe? 

         One time of our conversation, Taong Bukel said he is envisioning that their language and their traditions will be once again recall to their youth. For how many years of trying to seek ways on how that vision of this leader be in reality, the K to 12 of our DEPEd Curriculum somehow give clarity for the fulfillment of this simple prayer and vision of the tribe’s historian. The secondary school in the community started inserting teaching their traditions before K to 12 starts implementation. It was started by the School Head during that year (2013), Dr. Charlaw G. Quiben. With the effort of the Elders and leaders of the tribe, school head, teachers and the community, they started teaching Ilongot traditions and language. The IPEd teachers and elders came into sessions and interviews for community history of the tribe. In this way, at least even in short hour once a week, the youth of the tribes recall the traditions and language of their fathers and forefathers. It is their simple way to revive the Ilongot way of living…except their old tradition of head hunting. In this matter, on their classes the teacher explained why in the old times their elders hunted heads. 
    The teachers made innovations to help in recalling and reviving the culture to the students by making modules where in the leaders, life and traditions of their forefathers will be unveiled to them. Hoping that they will find pride for their origin is. In addition to this, the Egongot-Tagalog/Engish Dictionary had made though it is still under development.

           They are now using their language and accessories with out inhibitions. From feeling humiliated, the tribe’s youth today are more confident than before. PROUD TO BE AN EGONGOT/ILONGOT

FROM HEAD HUNTERS TO SOUL HUNTERS

 I grown up in a community of this what they called Head Hunters” This tribe usually found at Quirino province, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora. They are “Ilongots” as they called. According to the elders, during the time that they had not yet experiencing discrimination, they live abundantly. Bounty of fishes on the river, root crops, native animals in the forest. When it comes to rivers and forest, they have their own territories (by  clans). No one of them invade others' area. They don’t put any wall of fences  to identify each territories, they knew where are their boundaries naturally. They have their own means of determining their own area, which they agreed. They respects each areas, never trying to grab to add to their own.

    In their way to their “kaingin” or upland farm or what they call “uma”, the women have to bring everything by themselves, and men a bolo or “sundang”  on their waist. Why women have to bring all the stuff and let men to just carry that sharp bolo. May be some of those who can witness that practice will react that men of the tribe are very disrespectful to their ladies. No, in that way , they can protect their ladies if enemies attacks. During that time, they consider strangers on their area an enemy. They did not let anyone to just enter on their territory without their permission. Strangers were so afraid during that time, because they know they will not go out alive anymore if they try to enter without the tribes permission. If they have to bring what their ladies had, they cannot response immediately to the enemies attack because they have to put down first their things. While in fact , if they have only the bolo alone, they can easily bring it out and response to the needs of their ladies.

                Head hunting was done before by the Ilongot tribes in two reason. They felt honored if they had cut head of their enemies or strangers who did not ask permission from them entering to their territory. The second one, according to elders, if a man want to marry their lady, that man need to head hunt. The guy can never go near to the lady until he can offer a head of enemies. If the man had fulfill the condition, that will be the time the parents of the girl allow a man to court their girl. The man need to court her over years before the parents permit them to live as husband and wife.

  

In Quirino Province, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora, the sign when the tribe Ilongot become aggressive in head hunting is during the flowering of what they called “Sablang”. It is a tree flowering red. So if a courting man have to show his intention to court the lady Ilongot, this is the proper time for him to start. Head hunting that time is not just to protect their territory but as a sign of love.

                But time had passed, these head hunters became soul hunters. They become Christians, peace –loving, from a brave head hunters. Most of elders, if someone will ask them, they don’t want to go back on head hunting again. They have now to hunt souls. They are now preaching the Gospel, The Word of Salvation. But if they will be discriminated again, and their territories will put on danger, they will bring back that old tradition they tried to keep as part of their history. They are the nature’s keeper of their ancestral domain, but if the someone or group will violate their rights…they are prepared to fight for it, even head hunting will be back on this generation.