SULADS STORIES

The Datu’s Morning Message

By Lowell Limbagan

Langilan Mission School

 

“Wake up everybody!  Wake up!  Listen my brothers to what I say!”  These were the words I heard in my dream.  “Those of you who don’t have houses yet please start building now!”  The voice grew louder and louder.  But was I dreaming?  I rubbed my eyes.  No, I was not dreaming.  It was real.  I checked my watch, it was 4 o’clock in the morning of our first Sabbath in the village.

 

Datu Balite (pronounced Ba-lee-tee) was standing in the center of the village shouting aloud his message to his people.  “What is that noise all about sir?” my partner asked.  “The Datu is giving a message to his people,” I whispered.  “What message?” he asked again, “I can’t understand Manobo yet.”  “Let’s listen first and I’ll tell you later,” I replied.  I calmed him down as we coiled inside our sleeping bags to resist the cold in the village, and we continued to listen.  The Datu spoke for about thirty minutes.

 

I explained to my partner that the Datu was encouraging the people to work hard and finish their houses because despite the nearly two years that have passed since they transferred to the new village, many families still have no houses.  They just squeeze themselves in other houses.  The Datu also stressed that they need to finish our (teachers’) cottage as soon as possible.

 

He was telling the people how great Langilan was before.  They used to be known anywhere in the Manobo villages for their cooperative, united, and brave warriors.  He stressed further that if Langilan before was great let us make it greater now that we have new teachers from the SULADS of MVC.

 

“We are brave fighters,” he continued, “and all Manobo tribes tremble before us. But now let me stress this—we will no longer seek blood.  Let us now put an end to this killing.  Let us copy the way of life of the Lapangan people who live in peace, progressing forward because of education brought about by MVC SULADS.” 

 

He also emphasized the advantages for having teachers.  “I’ve been to MVC,” (the Datu stressed that line) “and people there have no weapons but they live peacefully and happily.”  He wants Langilan to be known to other villages not as brave warriors and illiterates but educated, God fearing, and peace loving people.  He said, “We should take care of our new teachers because they were sent here by God to make our villages and people great.”

 

During the Sabbath School that morning, almost all of the people in the village came together under the morning clouds in a roofless skeleton house to worship with us.  They were very happy worshipping with us for the first time.  The Manobo songs we sang to them moved them to tears.  Some of them brought their native instruments and played them before us.  One mother brought her salory (bamboo musical instrument) and chanted beautifully giving praises to God.  She sang about the teachers who will sacrifice so much to live with them.  One father played his kobing (a piece of thin carved bamboo similar to a jaw harp) with a message that they need to obey their teachers.

 

On that Sabbath day we were full of joy and praising our God.  On Sunday we had our first bayanihan or work bee.  The chief threw away the ball the boys were playing with and said, “let us all help finish the teachers’ cottage.”  With that, the whole village joined together to put a roof on the house of worship and to complete the teacher’s cottage. 

 

Pray with us that this attitude of cooperation will continue and the villagers will come to know more  and more about Jesus, their Savior.