Good Morning mga Kalahi!
I am writing this article at International Institute of Rural Reconstruction here at Brgy. Biga 2, Silang, Cavite and it is my first morning here. Well i wont show you here how the place look likes but i will make time this day to take photo's and video as i roam around in this place. But if you look on my videos at youtube, there are many times in the past that i post videos in this place.
Why I am here? It is because tomorrow January 16 we will start again our Face-to-Face class on Hilot. Yes, for almost 2 years since Pandemic, we stay at home and did not allow any in person, Face-to-face Training, but we focus on giving lessons and conducting rituals online via Google Meet.
But this post is not about pandemic and the classes I hold but I want to share to everyone the importance of our words for our Ancestor as we have called it as Palabra De Honor which means Word of Honor.
https://www.youtube.com/live/ou-d_EVvQNk?feature=share
The video is in Tagalog, but I will explain here what I want to point out in this Video. In Hilot Academy, there is a teaching that a persons wellness can be seen not only in their deeds but also in their word such as been taught in our old patriotic oath that says: In mind, In words and In deed.
This means that whatever we think, we say; whatever we say, we do. Our Ancestors have taught us to do what we say. In Filipino Magick we see the importance of this practice of doing what we say as out of this practice, we align our nature to the universe that whatever we say it must happen such as in doing manifestation. Our words must bring out magick, it must be created in our mind and processed through our heart and speak out by our mouth. We should not be hasty when we speak. We should carefully think first what we want to say.
For me writing and speaking in English follows the process I mentioned above. Before typing it out or saying a word, I am thinking it first what i should say, if the words that I am going to use will make people understand what i really want to say. Because if you talk to the people and people did not understand what you really want to say, it will become frustration and disappointment for you. You just waste time and effort in delivering your speech but for the people who are listening they only perceive it as gibberish.
The next topic that I want to point out here is about Mercury Retrograde. It has been said that from December 28, 2022 to January 18, 2023 there is a Mercury Retrograde. I'm not an astrologer and was not able to study well about Astrology and these celestial Phenomena. But our Filipino Ancestors have a concept of Astrology specially our Ifugao Siblings in the Northern Philippines. Not only them, since most of our Ancestors are Fishermen and Farmers, they heavily rely on the positioning of the Stars, Moon and Sun in almost all of their activities such as on planting and harvesting and fishing. There are good timing when you are going to build a house so as on moving or transferring houses and so on. Here we know that our Ancestors have concept of Astrology even simple housewives know when it has dark clouds they need to bring in their loundry clothes that been hang under the sun to dry.
But for me the Concept of Mercury Retrograde so as the Zodiac Signs or Horoscopes are foreign. And was not able to spend time studying it as our Focus is on Filipino Indigenous Spiritual Beliefs and Practices.
But what is Mercury Retrrograde and what happens to us when it Occurs?
According to the Romans, Mercury is not just a planet but also a God that is known to rule over Financial Gain, Commerce, Eloquence, Messages, Communication, Divination, Travels, Luck, Trickery and Thieves. And during the retrograde his movements are backwards.
It is believed that when Mercury is in retrograde, there are many setbacks that will happen. Such as delays, miscommunication, lack of finances, poor business performance and so on.
and probably this is happening to us now at Hilot Philippines Development Center. If you will remember last December 16, 2022- we have launched and announced that we are going to start our face-to-face class tomorrow-January 16, 2023. But it seems our partner have this retrograde happening that she suggest to move the class by February.
But for me, I can not move the dates as it has been long planned. So instead of Riding the Wave, I stand firm and move forward.
Nasa Dios ang Awa, Nasa Tao ang Gawa!
This is an old saying taught to us by our Ancestors. It means that God is Merciful to those who persevere to do the work. If mercury retrograde tells that there will be set back, the Gods of our Ancestors tell that if We persevere and do the works that we need to accomplish, we should not worry because God is Almighty. And this is probably where the word Bahala Na comes from. It is a Trinity Blessings from the name of Bathala, Hanan and ApoLaki. As our Ancestors is not a Blind Follower of the Gods, Babaylang Haliya have fought Bakunawa the Serpent God. This shows that our Babaylan fought for what is right for us as Humans. Even if the God thinks that it is their Divine Will shall prevail, but we are not yet Diwata and our Sacred Babaylans have mediated unto us to the Diwata and tell them our capacity if the Diwata implements something that we might not be capable of. This is why our Ancestors have said that : "Nasa Dios ang Awa at nasa Tao ang Gawa". This statement affirms our teaching that we are the coworker of the Divine.