Be faithful, humble, pray, says Archbishop to IP couples
By Myrna S. Bermudo
“God is present in the life of married couples. Sa buhay kan mag-agom yaon an presencia kan Dios. Pano magiging mabunga an relasyon kan mag-agom asin magayon sa mata kan Dios? Be faithful, be humble and pray together.” This is the fatherly advice given by Caceres Archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, in his homily on October 3 during the “Kasalan Bayan” held at Tambo, Buhi.
Twenty-one Agta Tabagnon couples received the sacrament of marriage, solemnized by Fr. Antonio Rex Palaya in the Parish of Our Lady of Solitude in Tambo, an advance celebration of Indigenous People’s Sunday.
“Magin maimbod. Be faithful. An agom, habang buhay mo siyang best friend. Habang buhay mo siyang paniniwalaan at ipagtatanggol. No secrets sa mag best friend. Iniisip mo an karahayan kan saimong agom. Yan an pagiging tapat sa pag-ibig,” explains Archbishop Tria Tirona.
“An ikaduwa, pagpapakumbaba asin pagpatawad. Matutong magpakumbaba, andam magpatawad at mag-unawa. Si Jesus, Aki nin Dios, nagpakumbaba para ipahiling an dakulang pagkamoot. Sabi kan psychologists, mas mature an enot na nagpapatawad. Be humble and be sorry for your faults. Bahagi yan kan relasyon nin mag-agom.”
The Archbishop adds that prayer life is important in married life: “Para maging mabunga an saindong relasyon, magpangadie kamo. Arogon nindo si Santa Maria asin San Jose. An mag-agom, nagpapangadie. Dai masupog na magpangadie. Pagmata asin bago magturog, magpangadie. Ini pagromdom na igwa kang Dios na sinasamba asin tinutubod. Ini pagpatotoo na an Dios namomoot saindo. “
“Married life is a work in progress. Tawo pa man giraray kita. Igwa kita nin kanya-kanyang pagkatawo o personalidad. Kun kaya habang buhay ipapahiling an pagkamoot sa lambang saro,” he added.
The twenty-one (21) couples of the Agta Tabagnon community in Buhi, who received the Sacrament of Marriage through “Kasalang Bayan” on October 3, were part of the second batch of Indigenous People (IP) couples who went to the parish. More than forty (40) IP couples joined and availed of the sacrament on the first of September. The third batch of couples will be wed on October 19. Fr. Palaya said that there will be a total of ninety (90) IP couples who will benefit from the pastoral ministry project.
The marriage rite was solemnized by Fr. Antonio Rex M. Palaya, Director of the Archdiocese of Caceres Ministry on Indigenous People (ACMIP) and parish priest of Our Lady of Solitude in Tambo, Buhi.
“Gusto ko po matabangan an mga tugang tang mga miembros kan IPs na makasal sinda sa simbahan. Pig-alok ko sinda na magpabonyag asin magpakumpil bilang paghanda sa pagpapakasal. Libreng serbisyo ini para sa mga tugang tang IPs,“ Fr. Palaya explained. He said that volunteer members of ACMIP visited IP homes, invited them to avail of the “Kasalan Bayan,” helped them secure necessary documents, and gave catechesis on the sacrament.
Archbishop Tirona requested the parishioners to give thanks to God for the blessings received: “Magpasalamat kita sa Dios sa bendisyon na tinao saindo gabos na mga mag-aragom na ngunian kinasal sa atubang kan altar nin Dios. “
After the mass, each of the IP couples were given the opportunity to have a picture with the Archbishop. A celebratory meal called “budol fight” was served to all at the parish grounds.
Art works, wooden craft and colourful woven cloth made by members of the Agta Tabanganën were displayed in the exhibit to showcase their arts and culture.
In their July 1978 assembly, the CBCP decided that every second Sunday of October would be celebrated as IP Sunday.
Agta- Tabanganën IPs of Buhi are joined by Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona after the later officiated a thanksgiving mass to celebrate Indigenous People’s Sunday on October 3 at the Parish of Our Lady of Solitude, Tambo, Buhi. Colorful artworks, woven cloth and wood crafts were displayed in the exhibit to showcase IP culture. (MSB) Photo Credit: Fr. Antonio Rex Palaya