SULADS STORIES

MANOBO BAPTIST CHILDREN ATTEND CROSS ASSOCIATION FEDERATION

by Neil Tagarao

Basak Mission School

February, 1997

I never thought the Manobo children who have never gone to school could learn English songs so quickly!  Before I came to Basak, the children had only a few songs in the native dialect, a few in English and Cebuan but they sang in harmony.  God blessed their efforts and my prayers.  When I taught them to sing in soprano, alto, and tenor, they were able to learn it within one month. 

Many were blessed last December during our caroling because of their heaven-sent voices.  Even the parents were very impressed with the development of their children.  Because God blessed and developed the talents of the children, the neighboring barrios were so amazed at these barefooted carolers.  Even our SDA brethren in Kipolot, Kitaotao, Bukidnon during the association rally were amazed.

On January 29 to February 2, 1997, we attended the cross association Federation of Bukidnon at Lake View Academy.  The children had participated in every program through their singing.  Providentially, the union administrators attended, Elder Paternao M. Diaz, President of the South Philippine Union Conference (SPUC);  Dr. Remelito Tabingo, Secretary of SPUC; Elder Pleny Fondevilla, President of Northern Mindanao Conference (NMC) and Elder James Ramos, Secretary-Treasurer of NMC.  They witnessed the singing of these Manobo children and were impressed. 

I was supposed to ask for a love offering for repair of the roof of our teacher’s cottage, a water tank, and a school building but Elder Fondevilla prevented me from doing so.  He advised the president of the association to present it to the NMC executive committee during the church leader’s meeting.  Lake View Academy was asking for the offering to finish their administration building.

I was startled for a minute because i could not ask for a love offering.  Then I realized that it was God’s will.  It is God’s way.  It is God’s blessing.  There might be more blessing if the request is approved than if we had gotten the offering from the association.