Two days ago, i made a Donation Drive Campaign in order to help Brgy. Esperanza in the Municipality of Del Carmen which is part of Siargao Islands in the Province of Surigao Del Norte. This exact Barangay is the home town of my Father which is our Ancestral Land.
Barangay Esperanza according to 2020 census that is a small town that consist of 1142 population which is 5.67% of the entire population of the Municipality of Del Carmen in Siargao Islands, Surigao Del Norte.
This place is a Sacred Land for me as this is the Place where my paternal ancestors walked once upon a time. I remember going to this place when i was a child and during those days we do not have cellphone yet nor a hand held camera unlike today. So i failed to capture that moment except reminiscing the memories that i have that time. The elder cousin that i know that time is kuya ritchie and ate sally and younger to me is puthaw rolly and daday rose baleleng. It was Mano Lalo and Auntie Linda who lives together with Papa Mede and Mama Vasing in that house where my father’s siblings grow together.
I remember that my Papa Mede is a well known Binisaya or Traditional Healer in the area, but according to the story of my Father it was my great grand mother who is the best indigenous healer and keeper of Magical orasyon that could even tame a crocodile that lives in the mangrove area.
From my experience of interacting with my uncle and auntie. Magick was instilled into my mind. It was Tito Boy who amazed me when he pointed into a Flying Maya birth and landed on his forefinger. And Tita Vicky who gave me magick Marble that tells me that is has the Magick Rabbit that dwells on the Full Moon. While Tita Edit used to take care of me as I grew up teach me prayers of the catholic church that up to now she led her own family devout to the faith in the Catholic Church.
I might be the rebellious one that have shifted religion in the family both from mother and father side. I explore spirituality that lead me founding this new Shrine that focus on indigenous Spirituality, beliefs and practices. But even that I have different faith from the rest of my family and relative, i am so happy that they are very accepting to who I am today.
In our Shrine we emphasize on the importance of working with the Spirits of the Ancestors as indicated in our Shrine By Laws and Constitution under Article 2 Section 7 Members Code of Conduct paragraph d that says:
We see our parents to be the inheritor of our ancestor’s role as the Divine co-creator thus passing to us the responsibilities and duties of this Divine Mission.
So how we can apply the teaching on Working with the Ancestors?
Many might be thinking that working with the ancestors are just praying for the souls of the dead relatives. But once a upon a time, these souls of the dead are living individual that give birth to us and help us how to live. So working with the Spirits of our Ancestors mean also to work with the living spirits of their offspring which is our living relatives. And at this point, my living relatives needs help from me as a grandchild of my Holy Ancestors. Though the spirits does not need help to be kept on a roofed shelter but the spirit of their offspring that still has a body needs caring.
As a Chief Priest of the Shrine I work full time in the ministry. We do not earn that much to give financial support to anyone, unless there are time that need to ask in order to help someone and that time is Now!
I am asking everyone to send financial help for the people of Brgy. Esperanza, Del Carmen in Siargao Island that they may have food to eat while the men are working to rebuild their homes to protect the young children and the Elderly.
You can make your Donation to Paypal by clicking this link: DONATE NOW! or sending it through Gcash at Rolando Comon with account number 09952467040 or at Cebuana account number 001100846701
Dambana ng Luntiang Aghama 