Bontoc elders go 'ghostbusters'

The following is the leading story of this week's local newspaper, Mountain Province Exponent:

"Who are you gonna call?"

"Ghostbusters!"

But they surely came not with high-tech equipment but with prayers and rituals to drive the spirits away.

Elders from the four central barangays of Bontoc performed a "mang-mang" whole day of Friday to start the last rites in the community's effort to rid the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School (MPGCHS) of what is believed to be unwanted spirits that has plagued the school since July 29.

Amidst a raging storm, old folks from barangays Bontoc Ili, Samoki, Caluttit and Poblacion came to the school and participated in the native rites meant to ward off the spirits. It involved the butchering of a pig with designated "shamans" directed to certain places to perform prayers and come back for further ceremonies.

A "tengao" by the different "ato" in Bontoc will follow on Friday, August 8 to be concluded by the last rite of butchering a chicken at the school grounds Sunday.

It will be recalled that in five separate days, starting July 29, some students in 105 recorded cases fell into various forms of "spirit possession," ranging from fainting spells to hysterical fits.

This led the community to allow the performance of native rites, purposely to exorcise the school premises off the influence of what are believed as unwanted spirits.

In the late afternoon of July 30, the elders carried out the changtey at the school quadrangle. A chicken was butchered and the bile was interpreted as ekeb (good luck). The chicken meat with etag (salted meat) was cooked.

While the food was being cooked, lakay Posot spewed from his mouth tapey (rice wine) on the branches of tikem, an indigenous tree, that were laid on the ground before these were hung at the center of the municipal quadrangle and two entrances of the school compound.

Some elders from Bontoc Ili and Samoki went back to their respective ato to perform the same ritual.

This was followed by drinking of rice wine, basi (sugar cane) and san miguel gin while reminiscing stories which were related to the previous incident and finalizing their plans for the succeeding ritual the following day.

Before the folks left for home at about 7:30 in the evening after partaking of the food, the unconsumed wine was placed properly near the ritual site and the firewood left after the cooking was put in the ember of the cooking until it turns to ashes.

At about 6:00 to 7:00 in the morning of the second day the elders met and shared together at the school main gate if everything was in order or any untoward event had happened after the first ritual. Since everything was fine the next ritual, the pa-ang, was performed.

During the pa-ang, the head bones of pigs were suspended in the two entrances of the school compound simultaneous with the burning (chenet) of bones of animals. This ritual is believed to drive away bad spirits.

The same ritual was simultaneously done in all the entrances of the villages of Samoki and Bontoc Ili where they have atos. Barangays Caluttit and Poblacion did only the chenet.

According to Councilor Alexander Fakat who is among the respected elders, the interpretation of the butchered pig last Friday starting the last rites went well and that it is on this note that the situation will normalize immediately thereafter.

FRANCIS DEGAY/AGUEDA AMBASING

Degay, Francis and Agueda Ambasing. "Bontoc elders go 'ghostbusters'." Mountain Province Exponent 9 Aug. 2009:Vol.5 No. 19.

No Waver Zone

Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
But the people said nothing.

1 Kings 18:21

In our Christian Education class at church this morning, I taught about how God is unique. I am using a curriculum, What We Believe, from Mission Arlington. (This church has an unusual concept: develop quality teaching resources and instead of shrink wrapping and marketing them, offering them free on the internet.) The topic was perfect for what has been happening in our community. Since our congregation is made up of high school and college students (we are the only family or married couple in our church), they all know someone who has been affected by the events at the high school.

The two main illustrations I used were snowflakes and Mount Carmel. I first had to give some perspective about snowflakes and showed a short video clip of a blizzard. Snowflakes are not part of the common knowledge held by Filipinos, after all. Then we made paper snowflakes as we talked about how each one is different from another - even among the trillions of snowflakes that fall. But while each snowflake may be different, they are not unique. There are countless others that are similar in substance and shape. God, however, is unique. There is nothing like Him in shape, substance, thought, power, time, etc, etc.

The other part of the discussion was about Elijah on Mount Carmel from 1 Kings 18. The people stood by waiting to see who would prevail, God or Baal. This is very similar to what is happening here. But a difference was that they closed the door to multiple options in the future. I am not suggesting that the people of Bontoc execute the spiritists. But as long as people continue to waver between God and the spirits, they will never have freedom. The Bible shows that the hand of God moves when He is recognized as the only option.

I wish this wavering opinion about who God is was limited to the spirits. Too often, we (I) put ourselves in competition for that title. ...but this is starting to sound like a sermon and I am not scheduled to preach until next Sunday.

Thank you for your prayers as we continue to proclaim that God alone, is God.

Grace,
Tom

Ooo-la-la! Annalise is 7

Inspired by Annalise's favorite Fancy Nancy books, we had a spectacular soiree (That's a fancy word for party!)

Manicures with polish her favorite color

Designed beaded bracelets...Accessories are a must for every posh girl.

Tea sandwiches and pink lemonade

Crafting some scrapbooks

Sharing the fun of the day with Filipino amies

Happy Birthday to our very fancy girl, Annalise Joy

The grand finale was cake and parfaits. (That's a fancy word for ice cream. Annalise was delighted we were able to find her favorite flavor, strawberry.)

Poetry in Our School Day

Throughout the school day, usually as we sit together at meal time, we read poetry. This term, we are enjoying the poems of A.A. Milne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter De La Mare, and Robert Frost. We talk about them, sharing the thoughts and images the poems create in our minds. Sometimes the girls write their favorites for copywork. One or two of these favorites are chosen to memorize for recitation. Since Annalise's career of being a six-year-old will soon be coming to an end, she is the first to share her selection from A.A. Milne's Now We Are Six.

Values Education Class 2009-2010

My fair-skinned beauty, Alayna, with her classmates

A game called "Water the Camels" following the lesson on Isaac and Rebekah

Carrying items on your head is not new to a Filipino

The boys vs. girls round involved even more enthusiasm

so much that it got a bit out of control

The students' energy succeeded in soaking the classroom floor so some tidying up was needed before dismissal.

Friendship - a precious sight

This year I am teaching Values Education to grade 5 at Bontoc Central School. When I go to the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Alayna joins me for the lessons.

When I first started going to the class, the students were very disrespectful and disruptive. They talked while I was teaching and some even walked out of the classroom. Sometimes some of the students would fight with each other. There were many distractions that made it difficult for me.

I was very discouraged but continued to pray for the class and ask God to help me teach them His Word. After six classes like this, the teacher came in and I talked with her about the students’ behavior.(She is not in the classroom while I am teaching more than a few minutes.)She scolded the class and held them late as a discipline. At her insistence, they apologized and promised to behave better. I am so thankful that since that time, the students have been very attentive and respectful.

I continue to pray for all the students. I am emphasizing that God's Word is true, God keeps His promises, and He loves them very much. It is so important that they learn God's Word. Especially with the events at the high school recently, it is vital that they know the truth and apply this to their lives.

Lisa

The Battle Rages On

I am the Lord; That is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.

Isaiah 42:8

This morning I planned on sharing God's truth with the officers of the municipal PNP. Instead, God led me to another group of people. He brought me to my first direct encounter with the spirits that plague this community.

During the flag ceremony this morning at the municipal plaza, the events of last week were talked about. Various officials discussed the response to the high school by official and unofficial responders.

I was there with my companion, Steve, so that we could present for the Philippine National Police during the Moral Recovery Program. As the flag ceremony continued, many of the police and health care workers began leaving in vehicles parked at the plaza. When I asked if everything was okay, one of the officers told me that things were once again happening at the high school.

I accompanied several people to the high school in an ambulance. When we arrived, I went to the grandstands where several students were once again shaking and screaming out.

As I understand it, the 7 affected students were all among those who had been affected last week. I began praying for J. She was placed on a stretcher and driven across the field to a classroom in the back of a pickup truck with several attendants. The two other students who were at the grandstands were also taken to classrooms.

When we got into the classroom, J was attended by a doctor. As the doctor attended her physical symptoms and whispered prayers, I continued to pray for her. After a while, J calmed down.

Later, my friend, Steve, joined me and we were left in the room with just J and her mother B. Steve spoke with J in dialect. As the discussion progressed J chose to ask Jesus to be her Lord. When I asked B if Jesus is her Lord she said that He is. But when we asked her if she and her family also followed the pagan traditions and sacrifices, she admitted that they do. I told her how important it is that they abandon those practices. The spirits just destroy and never bring life. She has seen how the spirits have treated her daughter this past week. Steve and I tried to emphasize that she cannot serve Christ and continue in those traditions. She chose to rededicate her life to Christ. I talked with her to help her understand that she would face many difficult decisions because of her renewed walk with Christ. I am hopeful that Lisa and I may be able to walk with J and B as they learn to make Jesus their Lord.

Afterwards we were invited to a meeting at the school. The governor of the province as well as other local officials were there to meet with the teachers to plan a course of action. I was so disappointed at the plan. It was decided to continue with a dual-approach, having a mass (and perhaps an exorcism at the school) and having the elders perform more of their rites. As the meeting progressed, I prayed that God would either give me a request from the leaders of the meeting to speak and boldness to do so or that He would prevent anyone from asking my opinion and restraint on my part. Although I was hoping for the first, He gave me the grace to keep my mouth shut at that time.

Later in the day, Lisa and I were on our way to the market when the police officers at the assistance center (a small police outpost at the main crossroads in town) called to us. We had a great opportunity to share with them. At the meeting today, God did not open the door to share with the leaders. But with J and B and with these officers we were able to talk about how God will not share His glory with another. You cannot call on God and the spirits and expect Him to respond. He is not an option.

Throughout the day's events, two images came to mind about the situation in Bontoc. The first is that Bontoc the community of Bontoc is responding to a heart attack with two band-aids. One band-aid represents the pagan traditions of sacrifice and such. The other band-aid is a watered-down, and powerless Christianity where God is little more than another option with which to deal with problems in the spiritual realm. So the community applies both band-aids in the hopes that one will solve the problem. In reality, the heart attack may not be immediately fatal and the symptoms will likely subside for a time, but it has little to do with the application of either band-aid. Until the people recognize God as the only option, the only solution, there will be no real healing.

The other image is of an annoying dog. The dog represents the spirits which are so bothersome here. The dog keeps following the people around looking for handouts and generally being irritating. In response, they give the dog food and hope it will go away. They are concerned because the dog never goes away for long, but have accepted it as how life is. They can't see that as long as you continue to leave the door open and give the dog what it wants, it will never go away.

Continue to pray for our community.

The Spirit vs. the spirits

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Matthew 8:16

We have mentioned before that the traditions of the Igorot people include worship and sacrifices to various spirits. Yesterday began a series of reminders that we are, indeed, in a culture steeped in animistic practices.

At the local high school yesterday, a large number of students began acting strangely: screaming, speaking in other voices, and taking on the persona of former teachers that have died. We understand that 48 students were described as demon possessed. They were taken to the church across the street where pastors met to pray with them. Several were taken to the hospital due to difficulty breathing and because it was unclear how to respond.

This morning a mass was held at the beginning of the school day. During the mass, the same type of things began to happen. One person who was there described it as contagious; it began with a few and spread. The activity and confusion became so great that the mass was discontinued. School was dismissed and teachers gathered to discuss the day's events.

Just a little while ago, an announcement was made by the police requesting that people not be out in the morning tomorrow (many walk and jog in the early morning). This is related to the fact that the elders (community leaders, not church leaders) are performing traditional, cultural rites in an effort to address the situation.

Some of the YWAM staff has been involved in praying and being with the students at the hospital. Saturday evening, the pastors are meeting at the high school to pray. Until then, we pray where we are.

Please pray that through this situation, people will come to understand there is only one true God. And that He is a jealous God who will not share the dedication of His people with other gods. Open their eyes to the bondage that their traditions have brought upon them and their children.