REACHING OUT
We should not forget the pain we had in the past, for the sake of those who are still there struggling with the same pain of poverty not only physically or financially, but spiritually.
Love is not only for one kind of person but for all kinds of language. "Love in any language" a song that reminds us of how we can unite in that common thing.
"Je t'aime
Te amo
Aishiteru
Ani ohevet othka, I love you
The sounds are all as different
As the lands from which they came
And though our words are all unique
Our hearts are still the same
Love in any language, straight from the heart
Pulls us all together, never apart
And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear
Love in any language, fluently spoken here."
Maketa loves this song. She sings this with Ruthie, and sometimes with Jacky or both.
"We teach the young our differences
Yet look how we're the same
We love to laugh, to dream our dreams
We know the sting of pain
From Leningrad to Lexington
The farmer loves his land
And daddies all get misty-eyed
To give their daughter's hand
Oh, maybe when we realize
How much there is to share
We'll find too much in common
To pretend it isn't there
Love in any language, straight from the heart
Pulls us all together, never apart
And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear
Love in any language, fluently spoken here"
Yes, we have that in our hearts, if we can only express that also in action. We are being seen in action by the world but God sees our hearts, our motives, our intention, what moves us, and God judges us with that and rewards us with that. This is what Maketa thinks and she has that as her guide to help others.
Tugaya Mission House was intended to be a short term project just to bring the poor to their feet and that they grow as people capable of helping themselves and helping others. Taguya people succeeded but they don't want to close the mission house, they continue it, they funded it, and they will help more people by Maketa's legacy. It reached other provinces with their initiative. Maketa continued to support them with marketing, and promotions.
"I'm proud of your accomplishments in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. People's letters are not stopping to thank you, from students to old folks and even from community leaders." Tony kissed her.
"I'm going to Jolo, Sulu, as my next project." Maketa preparing for the trip.
"Is that not a dangerous place to go? we here bombs and war there." Tony a bit worried.
"We will be careful. We have the Mayor's permission and support. God will protect us." Maketa said.
"I will go with you this time," Tony said.
"You just visit me in Zamboanga when we are finished with the set up there, "Maketa said.
Maketa and her staff arrived at Jolo Airport. They rented a place near the airport, at Judge Garcia Street as their staff house and office base.
The target community is Barangay Simbahan with seven hundred thirty-four households in Pangutaran Island.
Maketa Googled products from Sulu:
Pis Siyabit or Pis Syabit is the prized handwoven cloth of the Tausugs of Sulu. Usually used as head covering, it is made from cotton or silk, square in shape, and provided with geometric patterns. It can also be worn on the shoulder, knotted around the hilt of the sword, or tied around the head among the Tausug men. Pis Siyabit is usually seen being worn during weddings and other Tausug occasions as a symbol of colorful history and rank. In modern times, pis siyabit is also used to decorate households such as frames, curtains, and giveaways.
Community: Tausug
Origin: Sulu Archipelago
The Tausug women are experts in tapestry weaving and embroidery, while men do the large hanings in appliqué. They specialize in the production of pis syabit (headscarf) and kambot/kandit.
The pis syabit is traditionally worn by men and warriors. A most complicated design technique, the pis syabit tapestry weaving of Tausug has no preset pattern sticks or pre-designed warp yarns into which the weaver inserts the desert yarn.
The weaver has to clearly imagine the pattern in her mind as she inserts one colored weft yarn one at a time to fill up the space in the warp, in a sequence her mind only knows. The weaver creates a perfectly symmetrical composition of squares and Xs with hooks, and in seven to eight colors.
How to reach this island?
Pangutaran Island can be reached by a 3-hour motorized boat ride from Jolo Pier, Jolo, Sulu. Pangutaran Municipality comprises of two (2) islands, Pangutaran and Panducan Islands. There are 12 barangays in Pangutaran Island while four (4) are in Panducan Island.
The Internet makes things easy in some ways, but it's still good to meet real people with real problems and real joy. Maketa now misses her family.
She made a video call in their family group chat.
Everybody is online now at 6:30 PM.
" Hello, Dad, Mom, Tony, Jacky, Juan, Luz, Joel, Ely, Ruthie. (Waving)Where's Paulo?" Maketa said.
"He is still painting, Paulo, come here, man!" Tony called.
"Hi, sorry Mom, I just finished. I miss you, Mom!" Paulo said.
"Are you safe there child?" Katsuo said.
"Yes, father, I'm just fine. How is Ruthie there?" Maketa asked.
"I'm fine Mama, our business is going strong," Ruthie said.
"Wow, good to hear that," Maketa said.
" I called because I miss you all" Maketa said.
"We will go to Pangutaran, Sulu tomorrow. We will ride a motorized boat for three hours. Pray for us, that we can help this community" Maketa said.
The pump boat is their ride. They rented two pump boats to carry three staff and extra luggage because there is no electricity there, they also bring a generator and solar power supply.
Maketa had approval from the Municipal Mayor and Barangay Officials to conduct a survey on children's health and the business potential of the community.
Maketa hired a doctor, a dentist, and two nurses from Jolo and Zamboanga.
"Mother I want also to go there at Pangutaran, Sulu. We have no class for one week because of a school intramurals, I will bring some solar power so we can set up a satellite link for your internet there because your signal is not good." Juan said.
"Be careful son! I'll be happy to have you here" Maketa said.
The Medical and Dental mission was started with the help of some Pastors of Jolo, they help in the spiritual needs.
Juan arrived amazed by the experience. The pump boat ride was exciting, he sees various kind of dolphins, stingrays, turtles, they passed some fishermen catching giant squids. Squids as big as two to three feet. The clear water in some parts makes the colorful coral so clear. Juan was accompanied by a Tausog guard of the Rollo agency, he knows the place and the language.
Juan observed that Pangutaran is progressing. They had now a Diesel Power Plant providing electricity. Their roads are cemented on major roads.
They had a District Hospital, they had a National High School, it is an updated school with a new covered court, sets of computers. Many students are excelling in sports and academics. it is a beautiful place if peaceful people.
They had also good leaders, that bring development.
As he traveled by Motorcycle and toured the area, with his guard friend Abdul, he observed that Pangutaran had beautiful white beaches. Boats lined in the shores, they are producing the best kind of dried fish in volume.
The Pangutaran language and people:
The Sama is a maritime people, with fishing being their major economic activity. They also engage in seafaring trade and some farming. Throughout much of the area, copra (dried coconut meat yielding coconut oil) is the major cash crop. However, copra holdings are small, and most families are unable to support themselves entirely from copra sales. Thus, trade also occupies a central place in Sama society. Maritime groups were historically valued for their navigational skills as seafarers and suppliers of dried fish, trepang (sea cucumbers), pearls, pearl shells, and other items.
Households are grouped into larger units called tumpuks (clusters), which are located near one another and are related by close kinship ties. Within the village, one household head is acknowledged as the tumpuk spokesman. In some instances, the tumpuks coincide with the parishes, whose members belong to a single mosque.
Fishing, boat building, and ironworking are primarily male occupations, while weaving mats and marketing pottery are jobs for women. Both men and women engage in farming and trade. The Sama is known for its traditional dances, songs, percussion and xylophone music, dyed mats and food covers, and wood carvings.
"It's good to see you, Juan! Thank God you had safe travel" Maketa said.
"Mom, this is a beautiful place. I heard Malikut Island is a beautiful white sand beach. Let's go there before I go home." Juan said.
"Let's do that. We will visit the Pangutaran National High School and find some qualified scholars there that we can bring to Tondo Angel University when they graduate in high school. Let's make a free medical and dental mission."Maketa said.
"Ok, I will just set up the solar panels in the roof and the satellite dish for our internet," Juan said.
"Ok that's good, and we will have a meeting before we met Mr. Amar Taludjog, the Principal," Maketa said.
They went to the National High School and met the principal, they bring food and let all the teachers eat with them. The Mayor also arrived. They enjoyed the meeting and Maketa had given new two fifty inches Smart TV to the school received by the Mayor and School Principal for the Conference room of the school instead of a projector. She declared her intention of giving free medical and dental services to the students and teachers and will do some interviews and surveys to find out what is needed and appropriate help for the community.
After the meeting, they invited Maketa's group for a tour and they decided to bring her to the white sands of Malikut Island.
"Wow! truly this is white sand, not yellowish, but really white, and the water is very clean" Juan said.
Ten teachers went with them, four ladies and six men. Maketa had bought a goat that the staff cooked and grilled some. They had the best party. friendship was developed and Maketa won their hearts by her sincere intentions to reach out and help.
"Jacky, did you see the beautiful white beach here in Pangutaran, Sulu?" Juan said in his satellite phone.
"Wow, it's really beautiful, I want to go there too. And the ladies are also beautiful, what do you think Juan?" Jacky teasing him.
"Yes, but you are more beautiful," Juan said.
"Yea, hahaha! Be safe there. I will have surgery going, I will prepare, miss you" Jacky said.
"Ok, I will send you videos of the place later. Love you" Juan replied.