Reflections on Living with the Mangyans

"Nagpapasalamat ako dahil nakakapagtanim ako ng saging at sa kalabaw."

-Gerry, 10 years old Mangyan

Mangyan kids singing songs

I'm still reflecting on the things that happened to me last week, on the mountains of Mindoro Oriental amidst the Mangyans.


In our church (and I believe in many of our churches) we are expected to dress up, put a smile on our face (even we are still sleepy), shake hands, and say hi, pray and look good and okay (even though you are not). When there is an event, everyone is happy and there is food- lots of it. This is good, BUT...


Living with the Mangyan community in the San Teodoro mountains for 4 days I learned


1. Humility and Self-evaluation. Because of the muddy trail, I have no choice but to climb barefoot. My feet feeling every rock and muds on the ground. I can feel what the Mangyans feel at least for a while. I feel humbled. More than that, I learned to evaluate myself. I looked at myself and found that there are things that I that I really don't need. How about you?

Playing Snakes and Ladders

2. Patience and More Patience. The busy Manila streets and city life would pressure you to do more in less time; multi-task; and spread yourself too thinly in the stuffs you committed yourself to. The Mangyans are laid back, the young people play basketball the whole day, kids play. They don't worry about the things they need to do, or the food they will eat. They are patient, they now how to wait. Mind you, they know how to fall in line too! I saw this during the feeding we did.

3. Justice and Equality. On our way to the mountain, about 3 hours climb we met some natives going down with their carabao-drawn sledges carrying rambutans and lanzones to be sold in the market. They would sell those for P60 a kilo. Then those products will be sold by the middlemen at a higher price without any labor. So unfair!

Then we gave some old clothes, again so unfair! Why do we give old clothes to them and buy new clothes for us. Isn't just to satisfy our ego? Just to say that we did help. I am guilty! My heart is crying with this fact. Lord, have mercy and forgive me of my injustice. Can we call is charity if the things that we give the are the things they well deserve?
One thing more, the White Beach in Puerto Galera is their true home. They own that but who are those people who enjoy the benefits, the businesses, hotels and income? We have become to engrossed with ourselves getting rich and we forget equality and justice. Isn't that our Father, our God is a God of justice and equality. Then if I don't exhibit justice and equality, can I call myself His 'son'?
Thank God He is also the God of love and patience and mercy.

4. Contentment and Gratefulness. I eat 4-5 times a day in my house. They eat 2 times a day but I never heard them beg for food or ask for something. They just continue with their lives. I tried eating twice on our 3rd day just feel them and I am grateful to God for I can enjoy eating 3 or more times a day. Whatever food on the table is, I am thankful.

Rambutan

5. The Best Things in Life are Free. Edible ferns, banana, lanzones, rambutan, marang, papaya, ang many more. The Mangyan pastor said, "dito sa amin kapag may bunga/prutas hindi mo sya kailangang bilihin, hinihingi lang lahat yan." (here, when you saw some fruits and you like it, you don't have to buy it, just wask for it and we will give it to you). I think it a no-no to buy from them because they want to give it freely. Now, let me ask you as I asked myself, "Who is richer?" They or I?


Thanks to Doc Francis for the photos.

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.

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