Greetings from Manila

Our annual Subanen Christmas party and reunion was on Dec 20. About 16 past and present Subanen crafters showed up with family members – about 90 souls in all.

Greetings from Manila
After years of organizing this event we have come to know what things are most important and what are less important. Food is the number one concern, and it must be heaps of grilled chickens and grilled pork. A roasted whole pig is most preferable. And to go with the grilled meats there must be piles of cooked rice. In other words the Subanens want a bountiful meal that is delightfully different to their usual meager diet of edible leaves, root crops, stringy vegetables, dried salted fish, bananas, and corn grits.

Greetings from Manila
The second most important concern is that there be hours of skits and games that provoke riotous laughter.

The third concern is that there are simple presents for everyone. It is essential that each present be beautifully wrapped even if what is inside is only a small bar of soap.

Greetings from Manila
After the games, gifts, and grub the families settled down for the night on every inch of floor and porch space inside and outside my rented house. I surrendered my small room to two families and took a room in a nearby hotel. But my night’s sleep abruptly ended at 3am when I received a text message from Mercy who was left in charge of accommodations back at the house. She said that homes across the street were ablaze, and everyone at the house was afraid that the flames might ignite a nearby gas station. Mercy had called the fire department but got no response.

The Ozamiz fire truck eventually arrived, but it had no water. I’m not making this up. It was only after a fire truck arrived from a nearby town that the fire was finally contained. Fortunately, my house was spared – the road between us and the fire was wide enough to keep the flames at bay. Nine family abodes were destroyed. I took some photos when daylight came. Most of the burnt structures were rented rooms strung together. No one was injured but people lost any belongings they could not carry out quickly.

Greetings from Manila
The Subanens spent the rest of the pre-dawn hours gathering their bundles, gifts, and children before beginning their five-hour trek by buses, jeeps, motor cycles, horses, and foot paths back to their remote mountain homes. The rest of my day was spent cleaning the house with a core group of Subanens crafters.

May the New Year bring us all peace.Greetings from Manila

Fr Vincent Busch SSC has been a missionary in the Philippines since 1974.


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