CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Bohol Tribune

1 year ago

by Telly G. Ocampo

The Israelites I know

from Lola Danday’s bedtime stories

The current war between Israel and the Hamas brought me
back to my growing up years with my Lola Danday. That was
the time when we, the grandchildren, would sleep in the living
room we call our sala. Maglatad mi ug banig adtong
panahona aron magpahayay sa among paghigda-higda isip
mga bata. Only my brother Dodong who was the youngest,
then, among us – the first batch of three, slept with my mother
in the bedroom. My father, after the war here in our country,
was assigned to the Air Force at Lipa, Batangas. With this
picture, I could recall how I enjoyed staying beside my
grandmother especially with his bedtime stories.
Among my favorite bedrimte stories were those about
Christmas from the time Mary was betrothed to Joseph –
with the “No room in the inn” scene, the birth of Jesus at
the manger, the killing of the innocent children and the
plight to Egypt’s. I treasure all the memories of these stories.
Lola Danday’s story of the Ten Commandments came in later
and our understanding was deepened by the movie of the
same title that was sponsored for showing by the St. Joseph
College (now Holy Spirit School) Melrose Theater owned, at
that time, by the Garcias. If I am right, the movie was in
cinemascope and was produced and directed by Cecile B. De
Milles. It took him 10 years to finish the movie. Many of us saw
the movie, not only once, but more than once.
That was one of those rare moments when all of us students
from St. Joseph College trooped to the nearby Melrose Theatre
for the movie. It is still fresh in my mind how we, the college
girls, served as receptionists at the theatre – and we were in
uniform. It was a trademark for us, the girls, to be clad in
uniform, especially when we would parade outside the school
campus for celebrations and other activities. We were always
reminded to be well behaved, neat and orderly. Mother
Bellarmine. S.Sp.S., our Mother Directress, was always at the
front gate of the school to send us off for out of school activities

and to welcome us back after each event. The BIDSAL (Bohol
Interdiocesan Schools Athletic League – I hope I am right with
this) was one of those favorite activities that we attended as a
united group cheering for our contestants.
In one of the stories of my Lola Danday, she gave me a little
picture of the Jewish race and how we, as Christians, cannot
dissociate ourselves from the Jews. We know that Christianity
is an offshoot of Judaism. That’s why in the Holy Mass, we
have readings from the Old Testament. I really love reading the
Old Testament for our God is a God of History – from beginning
to end. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
Going back to the Jewish people, during the Biblical times they
were enslaved. That’s why they fled Egypt to go to their
Promised Land. Moses did not live long enough to stay in the
Promised Land. He simply had a glimpse of it. From slavery in
the olden times, the annihilation of the Jews from the Nazis and
the act now of stripping them off from that very little country
they call their own, is cruelty in its highest form.
There’s a book I read on Facebook entitled: “Son of Hamas”.
This had ignited my curiosity especially now that the war
between Israel and Hamas is still raging. From the news
coming from different media platforms, we have learned that
Mosab reveals about “the world’s most dangerous terrorist
organization and unveils the truth about his own secret role, his
agonizing separation from family and homeland, his dangerous
choices, and his belief that the mandate to ‘love your enemies’
is the only way to peace. . .”
And who is Hamas fighting? News accounts tell us that “Hamas
gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the
Gaza Strip on 7 October, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking
about 240 hostages.’ What’s next?
Please read the book “Son of Hamas”. With this book, I now
have a deeper understanding of the situation. I’m waiting for the
hardbound copy. I hope I can have it.