First year Student of AB-Philosophy of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.
The author is always praying that may he become a good and holy (and a Traditionalist) Priest in the near future.
un Tradicional Romano Catolico..
desde: Tagbuane, Alburquerque, Bohol, Filipinas (Diocesis de Tagbilaran)
but his family is based in Metro Manila..
*Until the time that I'll decide to create a Blogger account, this blog will accomodate Projects for English 101 Class.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
From the side of his faith: An afternoon conversation with father Juanito Arroco Jr.
Let me share to you our conversation with our beloved Parochial Vicar, Fr. Juanito “Juanits” Arroco Jr.
This afternoon i had the privileged to talk to our parochial vicar of our parish, (National Shrine of the Sacred Heart). And we talked about Filipino beliefs
And we started the conversation….
Gem: Father!, good afternoon kamusta na?
Fr. Arroco: Eto ok lang ikaw? pasensya na late ako, we just had lunch with father Vic at 2:00 pm
Gem: Ahmm.. ok lang po
Gem: Father, tanong ko lang po, I’m just curious about filipino superstitious beliefs
Fr. Arroco: like what? pamahiin?
Gem: Yeah you got it right! haha
Fr. Arroco: Jusko! no! ang tanda na niyan…
Gem: father, do you think dapat ba paniwalan ng mga katoloko ang pamahiin?
Fr. Arroco: HINDI! kasi hindi naman yan tinuro ni Hesus at lalong hindi turo ng simbahan.
Gem: Eh bakit po sa tingin ninyo, pinaniniwalaan ng mga pilipino hanggang nagyon ang pamahiin?
Fr. Arroco: Dahil, nakagsinan na nang kulturang Pilipino.
Gem: May koneksyon ba ang pamahiin sa buhay ng isang Kristiyano (o sa kanilang buhay ispiritual) kung ito ay nakagisnan na ng sinaunang henerasyon?
Fr. Arroco: wala. kaya lang naman nila pinaniniwalaan kasi their trying to purify themselves, sa maling pamamaraan na nakagisnan na like feng shui for example. and it has NO CONNECTION with our FAITH.
Gem: Kapag sinunod po ba ang mga pamahiin ito ba ay kasalanan sa Diyos?
Fr. Arroco: Oo! kasi hindi nga naman ito itinuro ni Hesus, actually ang pamahiin it was brought by the spaniards.
Gem: Ano ang pananaw ng simbahan ukol sa pamahiin?
Fr. Arroco: its not definite and its not totally the Christian way.
Gem: Sa modernong panahon ngayon dapat na ba itong putulin at bakit?
Fr. Arroco: Oo! dapat na itong putulin kasi wala itong patutunguhan.
Gem: Sa sariling pananaw, dapat na itong putulin?
Fr. Arroco: As i have said Oo, actually kasi, ang konsepto ng pamahiin ay pananakot lamang. Let’s say for example ahmm yung pag wawallis pag may naka burol, sabi nila pag nagwalis ka, may, isang mamatay sa miyembro ng pamilya, kita ,mo its just an example of ”Blackmail” or PANANAKOT. Yun nga ang hirap sa ating pilipino eh, ang bilis nating ma uto, o maniwala. lagi nilang sinasabi “wala naman mawawala kung susundin ito”, MERON, yung itinuturo sa atin ng simbahan.
At ang kamatayan naman ay pana-panahon lang, kung oras mo na eh, talagang oras mo na upang makapiling ang Panginoon. kaya, itigil o putulin na ito
Gem: Ahh..
Fr. Arroco: you have to remember this ang PAMAHIIN ay PANINIWALA LAMANG kaya putulin na ito habang maaga, kasi wala nga patutunguhan at ang naniniwala nito ay mga taong mababaw ang paniniwala sa Diyos, tinatakot lang natin ang ating mga sarili, sa Philosophy nga diba, when you do something weird your crazy or stupid. ganun yun, the pamahiin just fools us Filipino catholics
Gem: Ok!
Fr. Arroco: did you attend mass na ba? I’ll be saying children mass later.
Gem: Nope po.
Fr. Arroco: O sya magsimba ka na.
Gem: Ok!
Gem: Father, pahabol, salamat po ah…
Fr. Arroco: Sus! wala yun!
No wonder I’m not superstitious!!
If I’m doing a superstition (like that Bol-anon “Palina”, or taking a bath/changing clothes as soon as you arrive in your house if you come from a funeral), I just do it either because “for fun”; so that I won’t get scolded; and/or for hygenic reasons. And so as far as I can remember these are the only three superstitious beliefs that I practice..
Those superstitious people are just scaring themselves.. ehehe.. it implies that they’re lacking Faith in God..
PS: It was good that in this picture (probably taken before/after their conversation), Padre Juanits was wearing his clerical collar or “clerics”. But it could have been better if he’ll wear his clerics properly next time no? :)
