By Telly G. Ocampo
Ang Gabii sa Paghandum
November 17 is the foundation day of Baclayon town. My colleague in the Bohol Tribune, Eric Cañete, is more in a position to narrate the history of our hometown. He has researched on the subject well and he is the author of the ordinance about this in the Sangguniang Bayan when he was still one of our town councilors. He is now the secretary to the Baclayon Sangguniang Bayan aside from his being a sought after tour guide par excellence especially when one is interested in history. And aside from all these, music is in his soul.
As we celebrate Baclayon’s foundation day in the month of November, we from the Ramo-Villamor Clan also commemorate every 2nd Saturday of November, the death anniversary of our Oyang Tiva – Primitiva Villamor Ramo. So the clan decided that we spend the day to remember our ancestors as well as get know the many additions of the family from our great, great grand parents, Marcelo Tamayo Villamor and Silvina Iyog. It is our goal by next year to know the Iyog side of the family although we have known some. It’s in the archives of the Roman Catholic Church. What we want most to know is: who are the siblings of Silvina?
After two years of Covid we are missing very much our yearly get together at our ancestral house, Balay ni Tan Akoy. This time our theme will be: Gabii sa paghandum.
Knowing our roots was something we did before, so many many moons ago, with the tutelage of our very own Ms. Ardy Ines Araneta Batoy. In fact the her two sons, Chandy and Gerry, are related to us, they being the grandchildren (father side) of the late Gabriel “Gabi” Iyog. I learned from my grandmother Danday, that her cousins from Taguihon are: si Gabi, si Mandang ug si Bitoy. And those were her cousins from the Iyog side. We want our children and their children to know their roots.
Yes, we want to know our children and their children to know their roots no matter how far and distant the relationship is.
Sa among paghandum, gusto namo nga ipasundayag ang duha (2) ka kasaulugan sa Pasko: ang Pasko sa Pagkabuhi ni Hesus ug ang Pasko sa Pagkabanhaw sa atong Manunubos. They are equally important feasts in our Christian faith.
We want to transport ourselves back to the time when we celebrated Christmas with simple joys and with reverence.
When I joined the Immaculadian choir in 1995 with Eric as our choir master, I never missed the Easter vigil. Though the rites are quite long, they are all awe inspiring. The rites are from Genesis, meaning, the beginning and until the resurrection.
For two years, due to the lockdown caused by the pandemic, we missed the dawn masses and the hugos. As to the Wednesday procession, the pasos passed the whole streets of Baclayon including the inner barangays. This was the tradition when the epidemic happened.
So for our Paghandum, the Immaculadians will sing the joyous songs of Christmas. And the Regina Coeli, too. We, the girl members of the choir will wear white with flowers on our hair. Boys will act as the shepherds while Erwin Baquial and wife Siony will play the roles of Joseph and Mary.
Maayong Pasko ug maayong pagsalmot sa atong PAGHANDOM
