Ikaw ang Dios ng mga Mangyan

I just came down from the San Teodoro Mountain, Oriental, Mindoro- in Sipit-Saburan, Villaflor, Puerto Galera to be exact. It is a 3-hour ride and hike from White Beach, Puerto Galera were most tourist are found.

The 2nd team who went up the muddy trails

I decided to join this trip at the last moment with 2 simple reasons: to be with the community and to see again my some friends in the field- Paul, JM, Pre and Julius.

A typical Mangyan house

Some realizations during this mission exposure trip:

Mangyan community at Sipit-Saburan

1. I'm rich. I do not have a full-time paying job right now. By choice, I resigned form my work as a faculty member and prefect of a private HS in Los Banos. The money I used during this trip was given by my loving Ninang who loves to help missions-oriented endeavors. Anyway, looking on the situation of the Mangyans in the area, it broke my heart. On our way up, we met a lot of Mangyans bringing down their produce (rambutan and lanzones) with their carabao-drawn sledges, they are barefoot. And they would only sell the fruits P60 or less in the market. Thats hard work. I saw their houses which are bare with basic necessities- no bathroom, living room, dining area- just one room for everyone. One thing more, they don't eat 3x a day because they don't have something to feed on. Then you don't want to be close to them because they smell real bad. Still, God loves them and there are people willing to care. Kudos to Doc Francis, Paul B and Nikki. God loves the Mangyan through your hands and feet.

Feel them with your hearts and hands.

2. God is richer than I can think of. I wasn't that expectant that I can join this hike because I don't have money. But God provided at the right time. On the first realization, I told you that the Mangyans are to be pitied on, but God provides for them. They enjoy the fresh water for free. They don't have to buy 'mineral' water. God owns that stream from the mountains. God provides them with lots of fruits. During our last day, some young people gave us bananas which tastes better than DOLE bananas we buy at SM. Then after I taught basic guitar chords to Ariel (a 15-year old Mangyan), he gave me 4 pcs of Uloy or Marang. God has blesed them with a large natural plantation of edible ferns. It would take you years to harvest all the ferns available.

He loves what I cooked for him.

3. There are 7 kinds of Mangyan, 7 different tribes and God is the Lord of them all. If you haven't listened to Chris Tomlin's "God of this City," google it on the net and try listening (research too how was is written). Anyway, this song has a Sipit version that goes like this, 


"Ikaw ang Dios ng Sipit, Ikaw ang Hari ng Mangyan, Ikaw ang Dios ng kabundukan, Ikaw...
Walang katulad mo, wala ng hihigit Sa'Yo...
Marami pang magagawa, maraming pang mangyayari sa Sipit..."


My heart cried when I heard this version. True enough God showed that He is King of the Mangyan tribe when we learned that many believed in Christ as their Lord and Savior during the mission trip. And thats not all, more stories of changed lives and personal conversion stories not only from the Mangyan tribe but even to the volunteers. There is none like you Our Lord and Our God.

JM and Nikki teaching kids some action songs, let you small light shine!

Before I end this post, I would like to thank Ninang Oyie for sponsoring my expenses on this 5-day missions trip and Medical Ambassadors Philippines for leting me experience this journey. Thanks din pala Precious for putting the info on your Wall, that's how I learned about the trip. I'll join the trip to Tarlac next month ha. I want my heart to be broken again.


Pictures from Doc Francis, MAP Photos and mine.

Share |

My Working Theme (What to expect in the future posts?)

JeepneyJesus or jeep ni Jesus aims to know more of the Jesus who walked and lived among us (John 1:14) 2000 years ago. 

The owner of this blog believes that Jesus can be known when viewed from an Asian perspective, applying our Oriental eyes and learning from the culture of His day. 

He himself is the Way in this crooked generation, the Truth in this pretentious world and the Life in this hopeless planet (John 14:6).  

Jesus is a rabbi, a prophet, a son, a brother, a carpenter, a friend, a simple man with a powerful life and message that turned the world upside down. The King who spoke of a Kingdom which cannot be seen with human eyes, a revolutionary leader who made his followers stout in sharing the good news that Jesus is the Savior, God of all. 

His uniqueness is unquestionable, his character irrefutable, his message unfathomable, his reign indisputable, his power immeasurable, his truth undeniable, his blessings uncontainable, his grace overwhelming, his love irresistible, and his kingdom unending.

got Jesus?