By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD
Royal Taster
Fr. Augustine Villanueva, SVD from Baguio City, and our Acting Provincial Superior stopped at Kintampo. During breakfast, we were not sure whether the cheese was still good or not. “Let me taste it first,” I asked. I took first one piece, then another bigger piece, to which Gus remarked, “And what is that second piece for?” “The first is to taste it; the second is to confirm it.” Seeing how much the cheese had diminished, he raised an unbelieving eyebrow.
Chief of Yabraso
When I started developing a waterfall trying to convert it into a prayer park for private recollections, seminars, excursions, and the like, the Chief of Yabraso village to where the land belongs called me to a session of the elders. Aware I did not seek his permission, I brought drink to pour libation which by custom I should have done before I started the project. I knew well my offense but I was ready for it. Arriving at the meeting at the appointed time, we were waiting and waiting for the chief. I was getting uneasy. Finally the chief’s interpreter came carrying on his head the golden stool of the Odikro (Chief or land owner). He set it down and said, “The Chief told me that I should tell you, you may sit on it.” Really shocked, I urged the catechist to ascertain if they were kidding or not. No, they were serious. The interpreter explained that since the Chief could not come, I can use it. Honestly, as soon as I sat on it, the whole situation changed. It was completely reversed. I am now the judge not the culprit. Our old catechist who was my linguist was more surprised than me though he is an expert in their traditions. So, relaxed and with full confidence and control of the situation, I opened the session by asking why they want to see me. In the end, all they wanted to know was why I was taking an interest in developing the falls. We poured libations to ask the intercession of the good ancestors whom in the Church we call Saints. St. Joseph, St. Peter, St. Mary, et al were called upon to help.
Donations Please!
A medical Mission Sister from Kenya impressed by what she saw at the Water Falls which I have converted into a prayer park asked: “Fr. Joe, where do you get all the money for this?” “Well visitors, especially Sisters like you, come and they donate money,” I said to her. She stared at me as if she did not hear.
Crucifix Motivation
Though I brought enough food to motivate my co-workers, they were still showing signs of discouragement at midday for they kept looking at the big trees to be cut. Then below the cliff, one worker stealing a rest shouted, "Father, I saw something.” “What?” “Look, there is a cross formed crudely by a branch,” he continued solemnly. Indeed it was a beautiful wooden-cross formed. After cutting it to my likings, I said” “Behold! This is a clear sign from about that what we are doing is God’s will. He wants us to open this falls that people may come to praise and give Him glory.” After a hushed silence, my co-workers who discovered the cross shouted, “So then lets work”. And gee, I never saw men so inspired, working as if they were a hive of busy bees.
Pintado
After erecting a concrete cross at the Water Falls on top of a cliff, I set up two long benches on top of each other as scaffolding for me to stand on while I was painting. I painted first the back of the cross facing the mountain then I turned to the front facing the high cliff were the water flows gracefully into the depths below. It was almost finish when suddenly the benches shook little. So lest I fall, I embraced at once the whole cross forgetting completely that it was newly painted . when I stood back, my whole torso, face, arms, feet were all glued to the white paint, in fact, I looked as if the cross was painted one me. A new tribal decorations.