SULADS STORIES

LOWLANDER IN ACTION

By Jonar

Catalawan Mission School

February, 2000

There was a lowlander, Joscoro by name, who came to the villages of Taucocan and Catalawan. Just last October, Floridimae and Gigi had been assigned as SULADS to Taucocan and Ricky and I were assigned to Catalawan. At first we knew Joscoro as an ordinary man looking for satisfaction in life. He planned to marry one our people because he realized that these people are true to their principles and they do not betray their husbands.

As we contemplated all these things, God gave us understanding. He showed us that Joscoro would be destructive to our program. He was trying to discourage us that we would leave the villages. Joscoro set about gaining the confidence of the people, including the datu, by providing alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and gambling opportunities. He also told about how he would supply them all the rice they needed.

The people of the villages were confused regarding who they should follow, Joscoro or the SULADS. We decided to gather the people for a discussion about the matter. We first let them talk, telling what they thought of Joscoro. Then I began telling them about the SULADSprogram and the objectives and purposes we pursue. I told them that we SULADS could be enjoying the relative comfort of living at Mountain View College but had rather chosen to spend this year with them in the mountains to help them to learn to read and write and to learn a better way of life. Then I asked them to choose who they wanted to have the major influence in their villages, Joscoro or the SULADS. If they chose Joscoro, we, the SULADS, were prepared to leave the villages.

After the meeting, one of the old women came to me and asked, “Sir, can we learn, too, just like the children?” I replied, “Yes! This is what we have been looking for! We want to teach all of you to read!”

I then went to the datu and proposed that each evening, we would have worship together. Anyone who wanted to learn to read could attend the worship and we would study together. Each evening, now, the datucalls all the people together and we learn together. We sing songs and memorize scripture to develop vocabulary. They at first had problems learning to pronounce the unfamiliar words but they are learning quickly. We spend about two hours each day.

Several weeks went by. The datu conferred with the leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA). Now the NPA is a group of Filipinos in rebellion against the legitimate government of the Philippines. They seem to gain the most adherents among the primitive tribes in the mountains. The NPA has become acquainted with the work of the SULADS and is happy with the work done by SULADS. They have pledged to protect the SULADS as they work in the various villages in the mountains. While there is mutual respect between the NPA and SULADS, the basic rebellious philosophy of the NPA is not accepted by the SULADS. The datu asked the leaders of the NPA to drive Joscoro from their village. Since the NPA had also observed Joscoro and the influence he was having in the village, they were willing to give assistance to the datu in driving Joscoro from the village so that the SULADScould continue their work.

One evening, between seven and eight o’clock, the datu was eating his evening meal with his family and had invited the NPA leaders (husband and wife) to join him. What happened next is interpreted differently by different people. The witnesses who reported the matter to us gave the following story.

Joscoro secretly approached the place where the group was eating their evening meal. Aiming his revolver, he shot the NPA wife and then turned the revolver on the husband. Then picking up the M-16 rifle from the dead NPA leader, he shot the datu, killing all three.

The official story as investigated by the military is somewhat different. According to their story, the NPA shot the datu and then, Joscoro shot and killed the twoNPAs. Regardless of which story is true, three persons were shot dead.

Joscoro then beheaded the two NPAs and ordered two villagers to accompany him down the mountain to deliver the heads to the military. The military were pleased to see that these two NPA rebels were dead.

Ricky had been ill and had been at MVC for treatment when this incident took place. He was traveling back up the mountain to Catalawan when he met Joscoro and the two villagers carrying the heads of the NPA. Ricky was shocked by what he heard and saw. He turned back and came back down the mountain with Joscoro and company. Joscoro told Ricky that the SULADS would likely be the next target. Ricky was shaken. The next morning, Ricky returned toCatalawan.

Immediately after the incident, Floridimae and I proceeded to MVC to report the incident to the SULADS leaders.

As we work with God, as we join our forces, giving all we have of our abilities and talents, the enemy is also working. He is trying to discourage us and stop our work. In spite of this, the work will continue. God has a way and I’m sure He will intervene. With your support and with your prayers, we will be able to reach the unreached in the mountains ofBukidnon. Please pray for us.