By: Telly G. Ocampo
Strengthening our Devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
My Lola Danday was a devotee to Our Lady of Mt Carmel. As one, she never missed to include me, during my growing up years, as a member of her “staff” in preparing the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
I treasured those moments when my Lola Danday would spread the brown vestment of the statue of our Lady of Mt. Carmel on the table, for us to embellish it with tiny beads and sequins to come up with an elegant attire sans all the splashing colours. Dili gyud to ganahan si Lola Danday ug mga siga-siga ra kaayo nga bulok nga mawala ang pagka desente sa usa ka panamit. She had her notebook that records her collection of mga ginagmay nga amot from the other devotees who were religiously helping out for the expenses in the yearly celebration
From her oral narrative, Lola Danday told us that the devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel started from her grandmother (Agripina Buhi-on Villamor), and handed down to her older sister (Guadalupe “ Lola Upe” Villamor Oppus). When my Lola Upe was advancing in old age and became frail, she bequeathed the responsibility to my Lola Danday. And when my Lola Danday died, the responsibility was given to my mother.
When my mother took over the stewardship of the statue, I could remember her saying that the devotees in brown to our Lady of Mt. Carmel became fewer and fewer. And these devotees were fortunate to have Nong Tekyo Caballo around for he was always ready to help in the preparation of almost everything.
My role, then, was to remind the devotees of their pledge sa ilang mga amot. Mrs. Julia Revil Oppus would always call for her 500 pesos and the scapulars (necklaces) she wanted to distribute to those who attended the mass in their devotion to our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We had Nang Poying Ginete Ayaay and Nang Mameng Gatal (named after our Lady of Mt. Carmel) and birthday celebrator during the event. There is another celebrator – our very own Gardy Luza Labad. Inig tapok namo sa simbahan adto mi magkitakita unya himoon namo ang prosisyon sulod ra sa simbahan ug sa church patio. The statue of the Lady of Mt. Carmel was placed in our church at the Andas fronting the altar near the communion rail. .
It’s been the tradition that during the fiesta celebration, mass is in the morning since there is another fiesta celebration in Triumfo (Landican, Baclayon, Bohol). This is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. And the day is also the fiesta of the town of Balilihan, a town which used to be a part of Baclayon and very close to the hearts of the parishioners. Our very own Padre Juan Talaid Villamor was part in laying the foundation of the Parish, the church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Ang tunog sa mga lingganay sa Baclayon madungog adtong mga panahuna hangtud sa Balilihan.
I’m simply feeling nostalgic of those days in my youth. Community life was centered on the church and school. Most of the devotees are now gone, with just a few surviving and advancing in years. Times have changed. And we are not even sure if our children would follow our footsteps. And we must pray they will. I’m happy that Betty Aya-ay is here to carry on the tradition of her mother-in-law, Flores Ginete Aya-ay.
I just hope that with this article, in one way or another, we can strengthen our devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Happy fiesta to all devotees of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel!
