SULADS J
o u r n a l June 2014
SULADS
reaching the unreached feature 8 BADJAOS,
THE PEACE LOVING PEOPLE
Jiffrey Silmaro
10 THE UNLIKELY
PRESCRIPTION Saceo Sabas
12 ADDICTED TO SERVE Junarey Duarte
14 THE PARALYZED CAN WALK Fema Silmaro
Editor Liz Darnelle Ang
columns 3 EDITOR’S NOTE
Bridges, Not Walls
4 NEWS 15 STAFF’S SPACE 16 H.E.A.L. CORNER
Discipline with Love
18 SULADS TONGUE 18 MR. CULTURE SAYS Left of Right?
19 PRAYER LIST 20 SNAPSHOT
Layout and Design Marveluz Blessie Ensencio
Contributors
Jiffrey Silmaro Saceo Sabas Junarey Duarte Fema Silmaro Vincent Baragona Ronnie dela Cruz Ranny De Vera Ephraim Baragona Martiniano Balagot, Jr. Rose Ann Cudal
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about the cover From the mountains, we take you to the beautiful islands of Tawi-Tawi as we share our waves of love to the Tausug, Sama, and Palao, our dear Muslim brothers and sisters.
EDITOR’S NOTE Bridges, Not Walls The SULADS Program started in 1969, focusing on the unreached tribes in the mountains. The organization later saw that unreached people do not just thrive in the mountains, but in the islands as well. With God’s opening in this new opportunity, the missionaries of SULADS hit the waves of Tawi-Tawi in 2003. Currently, we have 4 literacy centers there. It is fascinating to learn how to reach out to the people in this Muslim area, taking note of their different culture and diverse ethnic groups. It is also fascinating to observe that through the years, the disputes and prejudices among these Muslim ethnic groups slowly melted away as they learned the love of Allah, and as they understood what it is like to be a true Muslim–submitting to the will of Allah. After years of hatred, the islands are now bound in love though separated by waters. With that the SULADS came to build bridges, not walls. What is the greatest bridge ever made? It is the bridge that love built. “He who was one with the Father came to our world to bridge the gulf that sin had made, which separated man from God because of transgression.” -The Southwestern Work, page 26
SULADS Journal is published triannually by SULADS, Inc., a non-government and nonprofit charitable educational institution in the Philippines which aims to educate and inspire the unreached indigenous people. SULADS come from the Manobo term sulad which means brother or sister. It is also an acronym for Socio-ecomic Uplift, Literacy, Anthropological, and Developmental Services. SULADS, Inc. Mountain View College Mt. Nebo, Valencia City, Bukidnon 8709 info@suladsasia.org
(+63) 905-426-7637 info@suladsasia.org www.suladsasia.org
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NEWS SULADS Training Last April 1, 2014, students and professionals alike gathered at the SULADS Campus of Mountain View College to be trained as an elite of youth bringing the light to the unreached people groups of Mindanao. Among the 38 trainees, 14 belong to the Indigenous People (IP) group which gives an affirmation of the goal of the organization that the IP will serve their own people. The 56-day training provided the trainees lessons on dealing with people, culture, language, survival skills, educational strategies, Alternative Learning System (ALS), Integration of Faith and Learning (IFL), Adventist-Muslim Relations (AMR), modern agricultural methods, practical duties, health education, and spiritual enrichment. It was a comprehensive training preparing them for the different challenges that they will meet in their future mission fields. On May 27, 2014, they were sent off to their respective mission schools with hearts full of joy knowing they will meet and face those whom they will serve.
Hydrotherapy
The trainees holding their ALS certificates
Group discussion on a sundown worship
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Culture education for the trainees
Teaching the children of Pantaron during their field immersion
NEWS SULADS Reunion After forty-five years of SULADS’ existence, the first reunion was held where it all started, at Mountain View College. May 14-17 of this year was slated for the said reunion. Missionaries both current and past hailing from various generations gathered to reminisce their experiences in the field. They gave their insights, plans and golden recommendations for the improvement of the Organization. Opening Program
Datu ordination of Sulad Leonardo Asoy and Sulad Levi Baliton
Getting ready for the parade
Torch Lighting in the Opening Program
It is not an ordinary service to be ordained as datus. During the arrival of the missionaries on May 14, Sulad Leonardo Asoy and Sulad Levi Baliton were ordained as datus by the chief datu of Bukidnon because of their generosity and helpful support to SULADS. The opening salvo of the said Reunion program was a parade of the various Missionaries, grouped according to their cluster, and ended by a torchlighting ceremony led by Sulad Novo Sabas, tribal Chieftain of SULADS. That event surely rekindled the Missionary spirit among those that were in attendance. One interesting fact about this torch-lighting event is the local name of the president of SULADS, Alejandro Panes. He is locally known as Datu Tang-aw meaning “Torch”, a name given by the then Datu of Mahayag Mission School which means “bright”. What a great light indeed! SULADS | JUNE 2014 5
NEWS SULADS Reunion Vespers Program
Ordination of Sulad Alex Panes and Sulad Victor Paradero authorizing them to baptize Lumads
Reunion Testimonies
On May 16, 2014 two officers of SULADS Philippines were dedicated and ordained, authorizing them to baptize Lumads. The primary reason for the event was because of the inability of many a minister to hike through the jungles to officiate during baptismal services. Some of the distances require a length of ten hours to get to a village up the mountains. We thank God for this opportunity that these two leaders’ services will be able to provide in lieu of other ministers.
The SULADS reunion is awesome! It’s reconnecting and rejuvenating. Reminiscing that once upon a time we were in that mountain which other Sulads had been. Where miracles is our strength, life, and death experience is our courage. Reunion is recharging the dying spirit that “Once a Sulad, always a Sulad”. To those who were not able to come I strongly suggest to set aside time to come in the future. It surely is encouraging. -Ephraim Baragona, SULADS Canada President Assigned to Dampaan Mission School in 1980 Before the reunion, I was longing to see my batch mates, but my expectations failed when I did not see all of them during the event. Nevertheless, I was still blessed and inspired especially with the stories from the pioneers of the challenges and miracles they experienced during the opening of the mission schools. -Martiniano Balagot, Jr. Assigned to BT Literacy Center, Tawi-Tawi in 2013 My heart was gladdened to see the pioneers of SULADS coming from all over the Philippines as well as overseas just to reminisce their life as sulads, and be reunited once again with other fellow missionaries. -Rose Ann Cudal, SULADS Staff Assigned to Slong Literacy Center, Cotabato in 2012
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NEWS SULADS Reunion Sabbath Program
Chief Calvin Hyzims of SULADS Canada
Chief Calvin giving a token to SULADS
Dedication of the new SULADS Missionaries
Sulad Don Christensen speaks during the Hour of Worship
The SULADS Quartet singing “Ang Buhay ng SULADS”
The Sabbath program was filled with mission stories from the different areas where the organization have reached. In the morning, SULADS Canada gave a short report on the work in Canada headed by Ephraim Baragona. Along with him was Chief Calvin Hyzims, chieftain of British Columbia, who was one of the many people blessed by the work of SULADS Canada. In his gratitude, he gave a token because he felt that he was accepted as a sulad. They were blessed spiritually, as well as agriculturally, because SULADS Canada taught their tribe how to farm effectively so they would rely less on government assistance. A dedication program followed where thirty-eight volunteers that joined the SULADS training this year, accepted the challenge to go and educate the unreached people and to spread God’s love to them. During the Hour of Worship, Sulad Don Christensen shared about gold, emphasizing that the gold in the mountains are the people; so we should seek not for the earthly gold to be rich, but for the people who are thirsting for God’s Word. SULADS | JUNE 2014 7
Badjaos
The Peace-Loving People
Y
ou may have seen these people with blond hair, dark skin and with petite bodies that are excellent swimmers who live by the sea. The Badjao tribe is often looked down upon in society because they are poor and dirty, who seem to always beg for money. But I realized these people have hearts of gold. Across from our island was a community of Badjaos. All four of us teachers, decided to go and meet them. We also brought along our Tausug students, who have a certain prejudice against Badjaos. I told the students ahead of time not to make any complaints when we go to visit. “If they tell you to sit, sit down,” I instructed. The students just sat there even though they were reluctant to do so. The two other teachers were playing with the children as my wife was taking pictures. I was talking with the older folks when later they offered coke and soft drinks for us to drink. I politely told them, “Forgive us; we don’t drink this because we realize it can harm us. The bubbles you see inside are the poison that could kill you slowly. We’re sorry, but we want to thank you that even if you have very little, you offered us something to drink.” They gave us bread with Milo (hot chocolate) instead. So I asked permission if it would be alright for us to pray before we eat. When they allowed us, I offered a prayer of thanks to God for letting us meet these nice neighbors and to bless them and to bless the food.
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Later, we gathered all of them together and I asked, “Where did humans come from? Is there a God?” I explained to them that it is hard to imagine a person to split into two and make another person, neither can a person come from a tree; or even harder to believe that humans came from animals. By using Bible Stories Vol. 1, I then described how great and powerful God is in creating us and all of nature. They were happy to hear stories and were shocked at the information given them about soft drinks during our visit. They do not believe, worship, or pray to God before we came. But as we were leaving we prayed with them, and to our surprise they also exclaimed, “Amen” at the end of the prayer. I told them, “I know the Tausug tribe has been picking on you, but we do not treat you in the same way. We may speak in a different language and dress differently because of our education, but we are all brothers! So do not feel embarrassed before us because it is not shameful for us to approach you either.” I remembered an incident. Strong winds blew for several days, the Badjaos were not able to fish so they had nothing to eat. They sent a small child over to our cottage to ask us for rice. I gave him some rice, but I also The actual letter given by the Badjao told him not to let the Tausugs know about it because they might be upset. Then I added that knowing the difficulty of the situation we are willing to share what we have, but they should not ask for help every time because it is not good either. We always emphasized the importance of working for anyone’s survival. The kid left happy about the rice. Moments later, a big paper was sent to us with the inscription at the back “SALAMAT” (Thank you). (Inset: The actual paper that was sent) My heart is inspired by how humble and kind-hearted the Badjaos are. Even if they have no money, they will go out of their way so that they can feed their visitors, asking for nothing in return. They never fight back no matter how badly they are treated. Their peace-loving, meek characters remind me of Matthew 18:4, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Jiffrey D. Silmaro was assigned in BT, Panglima Sugala, Bato-bato, Tawi-tawi. SULADS | JUNE 2014 9
The Unlikely Prescription
I
got sick with “malaria by-box”, or that’s how my partner pronounces malaria vivax. It really came at me full blown like having heaps of the bacteria filling my whole body. I also was experiencing agonizing pain in my abdomen from having amoeba. When we gathered together for reporting, my pain was more bearable; but I was really struggling physically. The other SULADS missionaries would say, “Hey, what happened to one of us in the group? Come on…” I thought to myself, “That’s true. Why am I feeling weak? There’s work to do.” Upon returning to Punduhan from the reporting, my student told me, “Teacher, there is only one cure for your sickness.” “What is it?” I questioned. To my surprise, he exclaimed, “Repent!” His comment intrigued me so I prayed, “God, every day I would sin against You. So please forgive me if I’ve misrepresented You to the children or any other thing I’ve done. If this sickness was caused by my wrong doings, God I ask for forgiveness.” Even though it seems really like a joke, my student meant to say repellant to ward off the mosquitos, instead of repent. I’ve realized in every situation of my life, God indeed has a purpose. My partner saw me every few minutes curling up from the excruciating abdominal pain. I felt like my insides were going to come out. My partner would be up all night watching over me as I felt cold, shivers, fever, and sweat. The malaria cycle would have kept on going were it not for the medications given. I drank the medicine and had terrible nightmares while speaking all kinds of nonsense as I tossed through the night.
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My partner would call others to ask information on what else he can do to help me with this disease. After a few days when we got to Bongao, I got better. Although my student had given me a funny, unlikely prescription for malaria, to repent, I see that there’s truth in what he said. “Just such a work and message as that of John will be carried on in these last days. The Lord has been giving messages to His people, through the instruments He has chosen, and He would have all take heed to the admonitions and warnings He sends. Repent! Repent! The message preceding the public ministry of the Son of God was, Repent, publicans, repent, Pharisees and Sadducees, ‘for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Our message is not to be one of ‘peace and safety.’ As a people who believe in Christ’s soon appearing, we have a work to do, a message to bear –‘Prepare to meet thy God.’ We are to lift up the standard, and bear the third angel’s message-the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, Vol.1 (1945), p.103
Saceo M. Sabas was assigned in Punduhan Mission School, Panglima Sugala, Bato-bato, Tawi-tawi.
We would be glad to read your mission stories, comments and suggestions! You can share it with us at pub@suladsasia.org. SULADS | JUNE 2014 11
Addicted to Serve
T
wo years ago, I wanted to go to a party. I was running late, so I took the multi-cab from our house and drove it off to meet up with my friends. I lost track of time as I was having fun. Vices controlled me for many years although I come from an Adventist family. My parents were calling me as I was heading home. I thought, “That’s it, I’m dead.” I packed everyone in the multi-cab and the tube-less tire went flat. Because the road was so rough and rocky, the tire became like a rotten fruit. Reaching the tire repair shop, they said that they couldn’t fix it and that I had to buy a new tire. I had no money, and it was already 7pm. Good thing they found a replacement and placed it on. That was how we were able to get home. When my father opened the door of the multi-cab and was about to punish me, I quickly knelt and begged him for mercy and said, “Pa, forgive me please. I can’t change. Pa, please, this is the way I am. Forgive me.” He then slammed the multi-cab door shut on me. My mother was outside yelling, “Get out of there, Jo! I’m going to beat you with this stone. You’re such a waste!” I’m used to being scolded so I just relaxed inside the multi-cab not letting her in. After a while, she calmed down and started to cry and plead with me. I began to feel sleepy, so I slowly opened the door on the other side and escaped to the mango tree where I hung the hammock and slept. Papa later opened up the door to check up on me. I was gone. So he said to mom, “What’s with you talking to nobody here?” Mama was fuming with anger. “Where’s that boy? Bring
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him out!” I didn’t come home for several days, until I started to feel homesick; so I decided to face my parents. To my surprise, my clothes were washed clean when I got home. I saw two packed bags with my things, and I knew they wanted me to leave the house. Then Mama said, “Jo, get ready you’ll be brought to MVC (Mountain View College).” When Papa came home, he offered me to take a pick at his branded clothes to bring and gave me 100 pesos to use. I felt happy that they gave so much attention to help me go to the SULADS seminar/training. Finally reaching the SULADS campus, I quietly listened and joined the lectures. But I noticed this seminar was really different than the other seminars I had attended before. They would welcome different people to share their experiences from places I’ve never heard of before. I thought after this seminar training, I would go back home again and enjoy my life of vices not knowing we would be sent out to the boondocks. When I realized they were going to send me off to the mountains after the training, I thought, “No way, I’m going to find a way to go home after this.” I felt a strange change of heart as the training was coming to an end. All the children were excited and grabbed my hand to be blessed when I eventually got to the mission school. I was shocked when even the adults and datu (chief) came to do the same. The people, huts, and language were so strange to me. For the first few months, I grudgingly did my task thinking what kind of place is this. But once I started to teach the kids, the negative thoughts would vanish away. I learned to love educating the children. I was addicted to my vices in the past; but now, I’m addicted to serve in the SULADS work. I learned how to worship God daily in the morning and evening with my partner and in mingling with the children. I find it quite humorous that God could change me while doing His work with the beautiful indigenous people in the mountains last year and in the islands as I offered another year of service to the unreached people. Junarey A. Duarte was assigned in BT, Panglima Sugala, Bato-bato, Tawi-tawi. SULADS | JUNE 2014 13
The Paralyzed Can Walk
Image: www .carci.com.b r
F
ifteen year old Regina had not walked for the past three years. During the jamboree, there was a medical team that came to visit our island. We told them about her condition and how her arms and legs had become like skin and bones with absolutely no muscles. Last year people said that we should bring her to get some medicines so she would get better, but we did not have the funds or way to help her. Dr. Curameng & Ma’am Myrna visited her. Dr. Curameng called me over and said, “I want to show you what to do. She can still walk. Just make sure you do “range of motion” (ROM) for her legs and give her lots of positive motivation to walk. She should be able to walk in three months’ time.” Satan knew the great work ahead of me, so I became sick. Later, Ma’am Myrna called and asked how Regina’s condition was. I was too shy to tell her so I prayed, “God, I’m sick. I can’t get out of the house and help her.” But thankfully my husband went instead to give her massage every day. I’m glad he went because he was able to give enough pressure to massage her legs and arms compared to my weak physical ability. Before the treatment, he would pray with her. We had nothing to offer to heal her unless she understood a little more of how merciful the Great Physician is. We encouraged her to walk, because at graduation she’ll be the one to give her sibling the medals. A few days later, we were surprised to see her try walking around with a cane. We then asked her to try walking without the cane after several days. Praise God for by His grace in February 2014, she was able to walk around the school without any help. It’s so beautiful how God works! Regina wants to start going back to school next year. She had a reaction to the medications she was taking before which caused her to be paralyzed. Thank God last year they stopped her from taking those medications. She used to be a sad, paralyzed girl in the community, but now she’s so upbeat looking forward to walk to school as she takes up third or fourth grade.
Fema E. Silmaro was assigned in BT, Panglima Sugala, Bato-bato, Tawi-tawi.
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STAFF’S SPACE
O
n March 3, 2014, our staff went to Tawi-Tawi to get stories, videos, and reports from the work in the islands. The week-long stay was filled with colorful experiences that they will bring back to the headquarters.
During our visit in Punduhan Literacy Center, Tawi-Tawi, the missionaries shared how the children were amazed to see a picture of a worm in the book for they had not seen it before in their landless “island”. They viewed a video on the different kinds of animals. As a horse was running in the video, they thought that it was heading towards them, so they moved backwards. Oh, what innocence! We also did the same thing for the children in BT Literacy Center as seen in this next photo. Notice the 2 blonde-headed children. This scene brought joy to our hearts because the Tausugs, Badjaos, and Cebuanos were gathered together in one place to learn together without fighting. There is prejudice against the Badjaos; they are treated badly by the Tausugs because they are poor, dirty, and stinky. But through the service of the missionaries, this prejudice slowly faded away. One important lesson that we learned when we got stuck in the middle of the big waves was that all things are not within our control. On land we can travel from place to place with ease. But in the islands, there are many things to consider: a good weather, calm seas, and a reliable boat engine. The balance of nature at work such as: fair weather, rainfall for drinking water, and other pertinent matters are all in God’s hands. Certainly He is in control over all things.
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H.E.A.L. CORNER
Health | Education Agriculture | Livelihood
I
Discipline with Love
t is a challenge to manage a classroom full of disruptive primary children who have never been educated before. Vincent Baragona found it difficult to train these children who behave like “Tarzans”, but his experience working with the Muslim children has helped him find 4 steps in disciplining them.
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Observe and Be Aware As a teacher (mastal) relating to the students, I realized I need to be aware as to what kind of barriers there might be in associating with them. I found three things that brought me challenges: 1) Language, 2) Culture, and 3) Family background. The teachers in the past had resorted to spanking the children to discipline their unruly behavior. The leader of the community, Ama Pude, agreed to use this method in discipline since he came from a school that had teachers who spanked him. As a result, the students were afraid of us, teachers. When we would come close to the students and asked them where their assignments were, they would start to cry thinking they would be beaten for not doing their work.
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Connect to God My partner and I soon realized we could not handle the children without God’s guidance. We read, for our devotional from Christian Service, and prayed, “God, we surrender all into your hands today including all the things that will happen in the classroom.” Connecting with the Lord has helped us understand the bigger picture as to how we are just instruments of God to reach the children. Implement Classroom Rules We decided to change the style of teaching these students so that they will not study with fear but will do their tasks as students with love for learning. I explained to my students that when they are boisterous
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and rowdy, I’ll count to 10. If they continue to be uncontrollable, then the boys would have to do 5 push-ups, and the girls would do 5 pumps. There would be an increase of 5 more push-ups or pumps if there was a violation. At the end of the day, they would have been doing 60 pushups or pumps for disrespecting class rules. Instead of striking them, we established classroom rules and used exercises for their punishment. Show Love and Care I required all my students to go up to the front and recite the 10 commandments. But when I asked a good student, Aljemar, to stand before his classmates, he resisted. I told him, “If you don’t stand, your classmates will be punished. Please stand.” He continued to stare down on the floor and not move. I, then, told the boys to do pushups and the girls their pumps. “Aljemar, your classmates won’t stop unless you stand,” I explained. After doing several sessions of pushups and pumps the boys complained, “Sir, our hands are shaking. We’re really tired.” I instructed the students to all stand, and I’ll do the pumps instead. “I won’t stop until you stand even if it is until lunch time. I’ll be here doing the pumps,” I exclaimed. I must have done about a hundred, and my legs were shaking like the reed in the wind. I was sweating up a storm when the students began to cry. They realized how my suffering, being their teacher, was caused by their mistake. The girls sympathized with my pain as their tears started to flow. The boys said, “Sir, let me do it.” I replied, “No, I’ll continue on until Aljemar will stand and do as he’s been told to do. I’m not doing this to punish you, but because I want you all to be educated and for you to learn more.” Aljemar’s sister came to her brother and yelled, “This is all your fault!” She tried slapping him on his back. He finally set aside his pride and went to the front. It took me 2 days to recover from my shaking legs, but the result was priceless. My partner supported me and was willing to help in doing the pushups if I couldn’t handle it anymore. Now when we tell the students to do something, they obey because they saw how much we love and care for them. God gave me a privilege to witness a transformation of behavior in my students. I hope in the long run they will understand the love of God for them in sending Someone to take their penalty for their sins. This experience brought not only a closer bond between the kids and I, but has also changed my concept of God’s love for me.
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SULADS TONGUE Confused what to say when you encounter our Muslim brethren? Here’s some helpful greetings that you may use. TAUSUG Assalamu alaikum! Good day! What is your name? Ono en ngan mu? Ako en bagay mu. I am your friend.
Image: http://iamfancypants.com/
MR. CULTURE SAYS
mind this important cultural factor.
SAMA/PALAO Assalamu alaikum! Ay un no? Bagay kitam.
Left or Right? In Traditional Muslim culture worldwide, a prevailing cultural practice that has a connection with religious practices is the preference over the Left and Right. According to some religious, traditional writings (hadith), Satan or the Devil is symbolized as belonging to the left side versus Allah (God) on the right side. Hence, whenever you accept anything from a Muslim, or hand something using your hand, it may be well to keep in
Should you, unknowingly give something to a Muslim using your left, do not be surprised why such may not be readily accepted by the Muslim. By doing so, the Muslim may think you are giving something that may have any semblance of evil. Likewise, when you receive something from a Muslim, do not fail to consider using your right hand, not the left. The Muslim will feel bad should you receive anything using your left. Thus is a friendly reminder to show that we need to be culturally sensitive if we are to be ambassadors of God. Remember that our message is important, but the messenger is equally important. If the messenger is not acceptable, how else shall Muslims accept the Message?
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PRAYER LIST Prayer of Praise • SULADS Reunion - Precious time spent with old friends • SULADS Training success - 38 missionaries deployed in the field • Support of the Leaders -Pastor Leonardo Asoy, Chairman of SULADS board -Don Christensen, President of SULADS International -Ephraim Baragona, President of SULADS Canada -Chief Calvin Hyzims of Wolf Clan, Canada -Chlowie Mantalaba, President of SULADS Thailand • SULADS declared as Most Outstanding Literacy Program in Region X
Prayer Request • Outpouring of the Holy Spirit to kindle the fire of missions within all • Opportunity to share SULADS stories through the yearly devotional book of PPH • Miracles in Lapangon (SULADS book translated in Korean) will be read and will bring inspiration to the Koreans • SULADS in tithe column in every conference of SPUC will be realized • 16 horsepower boat engine for Tawi-Tawi - Php 30, 000.00 YOU TOO CAN HELP! Banco de Oro (BDO) Dollar Account Account Name: SULADS, INC Account Number: 103-2100-35355 Swift Code: BNORPHMM Banco de Oro (BDO) Peso Account Account Name: SULADS, INC Account Number: 321-001-8337 Kindly notify us at care@suladsasia.org about your donation details.
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SNAPSHOT
In this tranquil scene, the rescuer took a picture of Ronnie dela Cruz while he was stranded at sea due to engine malfunction. He didn’t know that Ronnie had just prayed, “Lord, save me from this snake!” Battling with the black and yellow poisonous sea snake with his paddle, God had an immediate and timely answer.
You can also share your photo in the mission field with us and the story behind it. Send it to pub@suladsasia.org.