by Telly G. Ocampo

Ang Pamukaw – Makamingaw

Electricity in our town, when I was very young, was provided
from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. So, every time the month of
October hopped in, we had to pray the three (3) mysteries of
the Holy Rosary because we had to make use of the power
supply at the early part of the designated hours. Most often, I
had to sleep over at the karaang balay under the watch of my
Oyang Tiva, in order for me to take part in saying the three (3)
mysteries of the Rosary: Himaya, Kalipay ug Kasakit. At that
time, the luminous mystery was not yet part of the Rosary.
Even up to now, I could not yet memorize the mystery of light. I
still opt for what was prayed when we were young.
During our younger days, we all prayed the rosary kneeling
down from the first to the third decade. On the fourth and fifth
decades, we sat on the floor and would kneel down again as
we prayed the “Hail Holy Qeen”, “Oh Mahal Uyamot. . .”, until
the “Bendito Alabado”. Again, up to now, I really do not know
what the Latin prayer means.
My favorite place during prayer time was behind the big
lounging chair. It was a very comfortable area and very
conducive to my sleeping as we sat on the floor for the third
and fourth decades of the mystery. But, I was very quick in
kneeling down again, as we would recite the ”Bendito
Alabado”. That prayer was a signal for me that we were almost
done with the Rosary.
Then, at 4:00 o’clock dawn, pukawon na pud mi aron
mangadje sa Rosaryo, pero usa ra ka misteryo. For a very
young child like me at that time, dawn was the best time to
sleep. During prayer time at dawn, I always stayed at my
favorite place near the lounging chair (nga buhi ug lig-on pa
hangtud karon), as I considered it a refuge when I felt very
sleepy. The size of the chair would hide my small body as I laid
flat on the floor fast asleep. If I do the sleeping today, under

that upholstered seat, mabuking na gyud ko kay dili na man
ko “cute” pareha sa bata pa ko. Our dawn prayer was called
the Pamukaw sa Kaadlawon.
Our local chapel, during those days, had its own version of the
Pamukaw sa Kaadlawon during the month of October. Like a
public crier, the chapel stewards would go around the streets
and sing the Pamukaw sa Kaadlawon song. I still remember
some few lines of the song that go this way:
Mga amigo, mga amiga
Nga nahikatulog sa higdaan,
Bangon na kamo, mga kristianos,
Mangadje sa rosario sa simbahan.
Viva, Viva si Maria,
Maria La Concepcion.
When I came home to Bohol in 1992, the members of the
Landican chapel of Triumfo were very active in their
“Pamukaw”. Nahinangup man lagi ko sa “Pamukaw”,
maoy hinungdan nga inig labay gyud nila sa balay, gakugi
gyud ko kaniadto ug dalit nila ug mainit nga higupon aron
pagbuntog sa katugnaw sa kaadlawon. Pero karon, mao
nay gitawag ug “By appointment” na lang. hi hi hi.
Most chapels, then, had their own set of tulonggon – a musical
instrument and most boys at that time knew how to play such
instrument. It is so sad that our young people now want to
have the most convenient way of doing things. They have their
karaokes, smartphones and the likes. Everything is done just
by the click of the fingers. What could be next to artificial
intelligence?
I am happy that my two grandchildren, Amber and Magenta,
are with me. They are the younger ones of my mga apo, and
they are the daughters of my youngest child, Irene. They have
a feel of how to pray the Rosary. At times, they take turns in
leading the Rosary prayer. What a blessing to join them and
listen to them pray the Rosary.

I miss my Lola Danday and I miss the Pamukaw sa
Kaadlawon. Makamingaw ang Pamukaw. .