SULADS STORIES

WE ARE NOT NPA’S

by Nelson Decina

Dampaan Mission School

January, 1997

It was December 18 when the Bright Light Association program started and all members of our gymnaires were there to show some of their talents they had learned in the mountains.  People were happy when they saw these very young people riding a roller coaster balancing (balancing on a board on a cylindrical roller on a stand) and other acts.  They were so proud that children from the mountain had talents and they offered some old clothes as our pinoskohan or reward.

When the program ended, we went directly home and to work again.  By this time, the NPA rebel group was active in the mountains.  Sometimes they would visit in Dampaan and the people were afraid because they carried guns on their shoulders.  These NPA’s were from other sitios and would not do us any harm but they just liked to ask for food.

On January 6, I heard from another barrio that they were accusing us of being members of the NPA.  The parents were afraid and went directly to the person who accused us.  The person said the members of the gymnaires were members of the NPA because the day before, young people who looked like the gymnaires had come to their house.  He ordered all the members of the gymnaires to report to him so that he could identify which ones they were.  I went to Datu Tibalawan and told him that we should not be afraid because the truth will set us free.

We asked all members of the gymnaires to be there so that the person could see their faces.  As the gymnaires lined up in front of the person, he could not identify even one as being one of the NPA that had come to his house.  The person was very ashamed because all his accusations were a big lie. 

The gymnaires are not rebels.  They are part of the Dampaan Mission School which represents Jesus to all those who see them.  Pray that Satan will not be successful in bringing ill repute on the activities of our mission schools.