500 years of Spanish colonization aside from Christianity, Spain have brought us a form of government that specifically defined the role of its citizens in nation building. With it's precise definition of the role of our people, it does not only give us our own identity but also have allowed too many discrimination in terms of our Gender, Tribal affiliation and Spiritual Beliefs and practices. The erection of the wooden cross and the first Catholic Mass of 1521 by the Spanish friars have shaken the world of our ancestors not only in terms of spirituality but also on the way of living. This might be the reason why some revivalist and reconstructionist hated so much the cross as it identifies domination and colonization.
It is exactly 500 years ago when Ferdinand Magellan name our Archipelago as Las Islas de San Lazaro that later on become Las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II. But what if Ferdinand Magellan did not arrive? And what if Rajah Humabon did not make alliance with Spain? Will we still become a Catholic Nation? Will our people still remember the names of our Old Gods instead of the Saints? What happen why Rajah Humabon made the Alliance and been converted to Catholicism? Let us find out why.
(DISCLAIMER: This article that i am writing here is just my personal opinion and the lessons which i am sharing here is what I adopt from the product of personal research as my own personal interpretation.)
MAGELLAN'S EXPLORATION
Ferdinand Magellan is not a Spanish but a Portuguese. He was an explorer from Spain and sailed around South America and discovered the Straight of Magellan across the Pacific Ocean. The purpose of Magellan's expedition is to find alternate route to the East and in finding new land, spices and gold as they will expand Spanish Territory and spreading Christianity. As Magellan Circumnavigate the Globe in finding valuable spices have brought immense wealth to European nations as they trade it. Though as I see this that discovering our Land is just an incident, but I see it through Historical records that our land has potential in enriching other nations out of the products and resources that we have. It is just that Foreign nation knows how to appreciate what we have in our land and use it to enrich themselves as Spain established a strong colony in our land. With this, it came up into my mind why not we claim what we already have and enrich ourselves with the resources that are currently available into our land?
Two years ago, i accompany a friend to inspect the land she bought from a farmer in Nasugbo, Batangas. The land was huge and can be planted with many fruit bearing tree. But due to poverty and lack of interest in caring for the land made this old man to sold his properties. Yes! I could not say lack of knowledge and uneducation, but just lack of interest. For them, it is easy to earn money if they sold the land and move out of their place and live in the city. It is too sad that many people now-a-days just see these forested land as a burden and liability instead of an asset. In the city when people see an empty piece of land they will think of it as a place where garbage should be dump and it is happening all around. People have forgotten that our land is alive and doing their job that we could stand still. People lose respect to other people and even to our land by continuesly desecrating the Land and our environment. This might be brought by their religious up bringing in loving the Lord their God which can be found in their church.
Colonization is still happening even today. It replaces our identity by their own brand of beliefs and style of living. People choose modern and upgraded social services such as in education and even on healthcare to say that they are at their own best. And even on Spirituality, people prefer to WorkShip the foreign gods as they find it easy as the information about them is readily available for them.
Like the old man selling his properties, if only he and his family develop interest in their own piece of land they will obtain great wealth and prosperity. So as in our Traditional Indigenous Spirituality and Healthcare, if we just put our interest to it we can find ways how to enrich our self with our own possessions and not be colonized by foreign gods.
Take time to appreciate your self. Do not let the modern time affect you to stop loving your self. Use every time of opportunity that comes to learn more about our selves and always connect our selves to our creator by calling their names. We will never get to know them if we do not talk to them in prayer. We will not know them well if we do not work with them. Call the Diwata to reveal themselves to you. Ask them even the impossible things to ask and they will respond. Praise them and they will show you the glory of their powers in your life.