Tag Archives: Benguet

How Do I Love Thee?

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I do not intend to tell the world about the second coming of Jesus in a way that most people know i. e. placards with those words written on it, preaching about how sinful men are, that our time is short, etc. for back when I was still a non believer, I used to treat them all nonchalantly with a little bit of contempt, cynicism and scorn. I may have received it that way but I didn’t know that the seed was already being implanted.

I believe those who preached the Good News this way in the past were God’s disciples called to do exactly that at that time. Now, I believe, God has a different set of tasks to the newly saved believers to continue the mission that those before us have left in our charge now. There was no social media at that time. 🙂

I don’t need to tell people anymore of what they already know – Jesus’ second coming is near. What I intend to do, on the other hand, is to share to people how it is to prepare for that second coming and the things that most people clearly do not understand. These are the things that are far too basic, far too common and yet most commonly misunderstood and oftentimes disregarded.

Which leads me to the concept of this very simple word: LOVE.

Love is the overused word in the dictionary that permeates with everything. It goes on with a lot of definitions, given in a whole lot of different contexts and manifested in a whole lot of different actions.

So why this word?

I may not understand how everything is interrelated in the following series of events that I will discuss but all I know is that they all centered on one common theme which is LOVE and I have to share them all because the Spirit has prodded me to.

Scenario 1

I lead a small bible study group in church of young, single, female professionals.

Scenario 2

I am in a relationship now and engaged to a fellow Christian. 

Scenario 3

Dreams, signs and wonders.

For Scenario 1, it started through my coaching group when our coaching leader assigned chapters of The Purpose Driven Life to each one of us to discuss. It was my first time to read the book. I believe God intended I read it just now. It is this book that spearheaded my passion in fulfilling the mission that Christ has left for us to do. I used the chapters on missions as our discussion platform for my small group. Which led me to buying my own copy of the book but I ended up buying a different but somehow similar book also by Pastor Rick Warren called “Better Together: What on Earth Are We Here For?“.

Tin Ginete

Better Together by Ptr. Rick Warren

And it was also through this book especially with the first few chapters that led me to the concept of LOVE and what it means in God’s eyes which I am now discussing with my bible study group. To quote some passages:

“Life is all about love and developing relationships – with God and with other people. You may succeed in many areas, but if you fail to love God and love others, you’ll have missed the reason God created you and placed you in this planet.”

“Real love is placing the needs of others before your own. It is making your problem, my problem…It is giving to another without any guarantee of getting anything back. It is giving others what they need, not what they deserve. Although love can create feelings, love is not a feeling. It is a choice, an action, a way of behaving, a commitment. Love is sacrificing for others.”

I remembered a few days back, I saw one status update on my Facebook news feed that really touched me. I wanted to share it at that time but something held me back so I just saved the link. I didn’t know that I would be needing it now to emphasize more of the passages I have written above. It is a short film entitled “Blind Devotion.”

And this will lead us to my Scenario 2, my relationship with my fiance. He is not as devoted as I am, but I can feel that the seed is already there. God gave him to me at a time that both of us did not expect. I was a patient due for eye surgery and he was the nurse. Our love story started there and the rest was history. But as times passed by, we went through what every couple would go through – conflicts, happiness, rage, patience, forgiveness, hurt, pain, joy, laughter…every emotion, every situation – we went through them as a couple. We have been together as a couple for only a year but we have learned so much about each other, how to value a relationship and having God in it except for this: LOVE as how God would define it.

Then came a point I wanted to give him up, he wanted to give up too. We talked but still ended up together. Then he asked me this question, “What is it that makes you stay with me though I have hurt you so many times, you have suffered so much for me, I have made so many mistakes, I keep on failing you and yet you always forgive me? I want to know why.”

I was silent for a time and this thought came to me and I explained why I am like that to him is because of God and my love for Him. God loved us so much He gave us His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins though we do not deserve it. I told him I want to honor my God that is why I want to honor the commitment and honor him by learning the art of God’s love expounded in 1 Corinthians 13.

This happened just yesterday and when I woke up today, I read my devotion of the day in Our Daily Bread and I broke into tears, because it was an affirmation that I said the right thing to my fiance. This was the bible verse:

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” – Matthew 18: 21-22

Tin Ginete

March 6 Devotion: ODB

God has forgiven us. So we, too, should forgive those who sinned against us. To quote yet again passages from “Better Together”:

“Jesus says we are to be to one another what He is to us. The love of Christ is self-less, sacrificial, and submitted to the Father’s will. His standard of love is personal – reaching out to the undeserving, looking past their faults and into the desperate needs of their hearts.”

This kind of love now leads us to Scenario 3 – dreams, signs and wonders. I have been having dreams about me and my fiance the past several days which are bad dreams that dealt with my fears of him doing what he is not supposed to do and yet I felt they were all too real in those dreams. I always wake up with a heavy feeling until this morning.

My dream was about my fiance and I and we were supposed to board a bus headed for Baguio City but we got separated because of the huge crowd of commuters. I hopped in on a van instead and was surprised to see my ex boyfriend inside. We chatted for a while but then I noticed the destination name plate of the van and it was headed for Laguna (both my ex and my fiance now reside there). I asked the driver to stop then hurriedly went down the van and waited beside the road for a bus to come along headed towards Baguio City.

Then came a group of women who looked familiar walking towards me but I haven’t seen them yet in real life. Found out they were also headed for Baguio City so we waited for a bus then when one came, we boarded the bus, which was like a 12-seater, and there were only a few of us inside. Then that’s the time I woke up.

The night before, one of the verses in my devotion was Matthew 13:36. I read it but was too sleepy I didn’t understand it clearly. When I woke up today, I felt the urge to reread the verse but I forgot the verse so I randomly chose Matthew 13:3 which led me to the parables. It was all about the harvest and almost the entire chapter are highlighted in red which I don’t normally see in the bible app that I am using. So it means, the chapter I am reading is very significant.

Tin Ginete

The Parable of the Farmer

It is not a coincidence that my Discipleship 2015 training in church tomorrow has a key verse which is all about the harvest and the ministry that I volunteer in, which is a community outreach ministry, has a training on Urban Farming come this Sunday.

Neither it is a coincidence that after my devotion when I woke up today and checked my phone, I got a notification from a friend of mine regarding a video that she shared with me on Twitter. Here it is:

I cried after watching it. Because I now know the significance of it all. Everything is now crystal clear to me. It is indeed near. And what God was telling me the past days about love is that it is this kind of love that we need to exert to bring more people closer to Him despite of the conflicts and the differences.

“God says we must DECIDE to love one another. We’re to love other believers regardless of how we feel about them or how unlovable they may appear. No matter how difficult it may seem, we’re to actively, consistently, and deeply love the believers God brings into our lives, our congregations – and our small group.” – Better Together

“As members of God’s family, we must choose to love, not who to love.” – Better Together

And I believe this is the message that God wanted for us to understand now. The second coming is near, the more that we have to exemplify what Jesus did extending His love not just to His disciples but to those who are least likely to be loved. Just like the way that God is using my relationship with my fiance to master having that kind of love that is of God’s and not our worldly definition of it. I have been stumbling upon random verses from different books in the bible that have his name in it since last week, which is Joseph. I even joked my fiance our first baby boy will be named Zaphen derived from Zaphenath – Paneah which is the Egyptian name that the Pharaoh gave to Joseph when he appointed him as leader of his officials. This was one of the bible stories I read just a couple of days ago.

Tin Ginete

The story of Joseph, the dream interpreter.

I now understand why God gave him to me – I am being prepared for a mission and as my mate, he too is being prepared by God because the time is near for the harvesters to harvest this land. My interpretation of my dream today was very overwhelming, I wept. I wept because I know what it means – the message is very clear.

My fiance and I are due for a road trip with his childhood friend and his girlfriend to Baguio City over the weekend. I have visited the place countless of times and it was during one of my hikes at La Trinidad in Benguet, a province in Baguio City, that I was completely amazed by God’s bountiful and beautiful creations at its best. I was on top of a very high mountain after a treacherous hike and what I saw in front me was what I called in my previous article as “heaven here on Earth” because you see nothing else but a sea of clouds. And for me, it was very symbolic of my faith. The treacherous hike, wherein I almost fell off a cliff, was a matter of pain, suffering, life and death. But if you were able to overcome it all, the Kingdom of Heaven is waiting for you above, on top of it and no amount of words could describe how it feels to be there.

You can refer to this article for my hiking experience: https://thejourneymansmoments.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/benguet-the-trip-up-north/

Last 3/3 marked my 3rd year since I got saved as a Christian last 3/3/13. The movie Son of God was released on that date too. And this coming 3/13, which falls on a Friday, I have a great feeling it is going to be a significant date as well. The verse regarding the parables can be found in Matthew 13:3 too. Most of my daily verses that I encounter came from the Gospel of Matthew. I did my research and the Gospel of Matthew is considered by scholars as the summary of Jesus’ ministry. It tells of Jesus sending His disciples to preach His Gospel to the whole world. It is also one of the four canonical gospels and it connects the old and the new testament. (wikipedia.org) I know for a non believer you will say it is all coincidence. But I say, as a believer, they are all signs from the Spirit.

Which led me to wonder on these passages written in that chapter:

“That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear but they don’t really listen or understand.” – Matthew 13:13

After these revelations, I only wept. And in between sobs, this was all I could utter in prayer:

“Lord help me to make them understand. Teach me to love them like how You have loved us.”

My brother is one of my spiritual mentors. He was the one who introduced me to the church and eventually to my faith. I know God appointed him to be that and I can attest through the role that my brother is playing in my life right now. He gave me a planner last year by Paulo Coehlo which contains quotations on life and faith. Each month has a designated character trait and last Christmas, he gave me the same planner. And now I know why. For this month, the character trait is this: COURAGE.

Tin Ginete

March: COURAGE

And this is the quotation for today:

“The only sin is a lack of LOVE. Be brave, be capable of LOVE, even if LOVE seems a treacherous, terrible thing. Take pleasure in LOVE. Take pleasure in VICTORY.”

Tin Ginete

The Valkyries by Paulo Coehlo

This may be the longest post I have written here on WordPress but I know every word here is all God’s plan because the mission for us all is starting to get clearer and He requires us to act on that mission. 🙂

Tin Ginete

Paulo Coehlo Planner 2015, The Holy Bible, Our Daily Bread, Better Together – my daily meal. 🙂

The Quest In A Vast Space

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The Quest: A Vast Space

Naguilian, La Union, Philippines (May 27, 2013)

If only the stars shone the brightest when I met you,
Then I can tell that they’ve aligned for me and you.
If only the skies were as clear and as vast,
Then I could have rejoiced gladly and at last.

But things suddenly changed,
Perspectives here and there were exchanged.
I didn’t realize too as days dragged on,
All the multitudes of emotions I have to ride on.

I could care less if the moments were never the sweetest,
Nor were they precious moments to attest.
But feelings I care not but for what I have learned,
I sure am glad how the cards have turned.

Yes, I did cry.
For yes, I did try.
Funny, how ironic life can be.
A happy ending is not usually what you see.

But should I always be the cynic that I always am?
With a fear to go through yet another sham?
But I hoped for gray skies to clear,
Moments I know I always will hold dear.

So when skies start to become blue,
Believe, for always, they are true.
For though I may have lost you,
Space tells me I will find you.

(Written by: Christine Lailani G. Ginete)

Benguet: The Trip Up North

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La Trinidad, Benguet
La Trinidad, Benguet

“Heaven here on Earth….”

Yes, that is exactly what I had in mind when I saw clouds hovering over the city of Baguio from Beckel. Beckel is located at La Trinidad, Benguet, a province in Baguio City, here in the Philippines. The weather in this part of the country is comparatively cooler than the rest. In fact, it is the coolest part of the Philippines with a temperature range of 15 degrees Celsius – 26 degrees Celsius.

The Benguet Community

The Place

Astounding. That is the word that would closely describe how my first encounter with the community was. The serene ambiance, accentuated by the fresh scent of the pine trees surrounding the place and the stunning overlooking view, is beyond perfect. No other words best fit Beckel, but this description – the off-grid country life that most have imagined and wanted. The place was far from the city, and yet I can describe it as rich and bountiful in terms of nature-inspired simplicity. Truly an escape from the bustling metro, a sanctuary for tired souls.

The place is such a breather and definitely a lovely sight after a tiring 6-hour trip of winding roads and steep slopes. If I can describe it in another way, with just one word, I’d say it would be none other than the word “basic.” Why “basic”? What they have is enough to supply their basic needs without any extravagant luxuries.

Basic commodities are available at the shops downhill, which include the mini grocery store owned by the very generous Kagawad Vicky, who welcomed us into the community and helped us get acquainted with the locals. Then there’s the small internet cafe, the karinderya, a water refilling station, a panaderya, and an ukay ukay store, along with two other stalls that mainly sell essential goods.

If there was one thing, though, that captured my attention most, it’s a scene that I don’t see often in other places here in the Philippines. That of coffins situated beside the house or in the backyard. If someone were to ask me what the most significant landmark in Beckel is that separates it from all the other communities I have visited, it would be the coffins.

As an outsider, I have to admit that seeing the coffins for the first time was a bit disturbing. It didn’t help much that the room where Ate Nina and I occupied is overlooking a neighbor’s backyard full of coffins. But good enough for us, we slept quite like a log, oblivious of any eerie sounds in the background at night, if there are any.

Coffins at the Backyard
Coffins at the Backyard

Speaking of our room, we stayed at the Parish house under the care of Father Joseph Pumihic, with the help of Ate Lisa and Ate Josie. It’s a very beautiful and humble abode, and a very special place for guests. It is this quaint little Parish house that actually made my entire Beckelian experience nothing of the ordinary. The house, perched atop the hill, offers an above-the-clouds experience when the temperature drops and fog starts to cover everything below us.

The Parish
The Parish

It’s not a typical guest house because it’s got a very “homey” vibe to it. The faded varnish of the wooden door reveals intricate wood grains, adding a subtle vintage touch to it. Upon entering the house, guests are ushered into the living room that also serves as the dining area. It provided just the right amount of space for the entire group to fit in and huddle for the discussion nights. My “little house” impression didn’t meet my expectations; it exceeded them.

The house was very spacious inside – there are two bedrooms, a kitchen, a laundry area, and a bathroom downstairs. On the second level, there are two more bedrooms, one bathroom, and more open spaces which can be converted to another living room or an extra sleeping area if there are more guests. The balcony is another great feature of the house that complements the warm ambiance and is the perfect nook for relaxing and contemplating.

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The Parish House Door

The atmosphere, weather-wise, is very suitable for traveling. Plus, the scent of pine trees and the cool breeze instantly lightens up anyone’s mood. Indeed, nature basking in this place is the best breather. Though daily walks from the barangay to the Parish house and back to the community are so different from city walks in Manila or even in my province in Bicol.

Walking here in Benguet can be exhausting if you’re not used to walking uphill and downhill on steep and winding roads. But with good company and a laidback community, I must say “exhaustion” is just a word. When we headed to Lamut, I realized this is the reason why people in Beckel are physically fit. They had to tread these roads regularly when doing their daily activities. But for visitors, like us, it would take quite a long time to adapt to these strenuous walks.

Lamut Community
Lamut Community
Children of Lamut
Children of Lamut
Carabao Skull
Carabao Skull
Skulls of the pigs used in the festivals are displayed outside the houses as a symbol of social status.
Skulls of the pigs and other animals used in the festivals are displayed outside the houses as a symbol of social status.

One of the major contributors to making my Beckelian experience worthwhile would be the hike to Mt. Camiling. Mt. Camiling is located outside Beckel. And I must agree with Ate Rose, one of the charity workers and our tour guide, that going to Mt. Camiling is one of the most difficult and treacherous hikes. This is mainly the reason why mass was held only once a month there in Mt. Camiling. I wasn’t geared up for the climb – very thin socks inside a pair of Chuck shoes (definitely a no-no for hiking), a heavy camera, and a backpack. I got shaking knees, aching feet with calluses all over, and a sweating, weary body during our trek.

Traversing Mt. Camiling

Halfway through the climb, I almost felt the urge to back out and head back to the guest house. But seeing the two nuns who are with us, Sister Maxene, who is 65 years old, and Sister Bina, treading on the cliff with difficulty but with patience, I thought otherwise. I am younger than them, stronger even, but do I have such strong faith and motivation to reach the community as them? It came to a point where I almost felt my life was hanging by a thread when I slipped and was only holding on to a bunch of wild grass to keep myself from falling and sliding down the cliff.

Thanks to Ate Rose, who grabbed me when I slipped and helped me get back on the trail. After walking for hours, we were physically spent out, were catching our breaths, and I had already emptied my water bottle – it was indeed the hike of the year for me. Not even my hiking experiences from Girl Scout days were a match for the challenging hike in Mt. Camiling. I must say I was hurled back to being a newbie in hiking. But seeing the community surrounded by rolling hills, lush mountains, and fresh pine trees — the view was spectacular.

Mt. Camiling
Mt. Camiling
L-R: Me, Ate Josie, our guide, the missionary sisters and my friend Leo
L-R: Me, Ate Josie, our guide, the missionary sisters, and my friend and classmate, Leo

The People of Benguet

All the effort of going up Mt. Camiling is worth it when the locals welcomed us with smiling, exuberant faces. They were so glad and very thankful that Father Joseph and the sisters, as well as people from neighboring communities, paid them a visit. Aside from the warm greetings, they also extended their appreciation by preparing a celebration – a feast was waiting. They offered boiled saba and brewed coffee for snacks while we were resting. Then, mass started a couple of minutes after that, followed by “the feast.”

The vase (tapayan) contains rice wine and the meat dish is called “igado.”

A short program was conducted after everyone had already eaten. If there is one character trait that I have noticed with the people of Mt. Camiling, it is their hospitality – a simple gesture of extending what they can offer or provide to visitors in their community. I have also witnessed the same character trait in Beckel.

Girl in Camiling practicing for the "tayao" using a traditional musical instrument.
Girl in Mt. Camiling practicing for the “tayao” using a traditional musical instrument.
Before the "tayao" starts.
Before the “tayao” starts.
Me and Leo along with the people of Mt. Camiling dancing the “tayao.”
Growing fresh flowers is the main source of livelihood in Benguet.

The spirit of bayanihan is still very much alive in this community. Every local is intentional in actively participating in every important occasion or festivity. They share responsibility for making a festival or occasion as grand as possible. When it comes to becoming a solid community, I must say that the communities I have visited in rural areas and provinces are very much tight-knit compared to city life.

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One of the Oldest People in Benguet (100+ years old)

They are also closely attuned to nature and their surroundings. Aside from the fact that it is through nature that they get their source of livelihood, they have somehow perceived nature as part of who they are as individuals.  One observation that I can make from the entire duration of our stay in Benguet is that there was never an instance where I felt awkward in dealing and communicating with the people in Mt. Camiling, Lamut, and Beckel.

They never held an arrogant attitude and were just willing to share what they knew through storytelling. They have no reservations, so to speak, when it comes to their life and culture as a Kankana-ey or an Ibaloi. Yes, gossips are part of storytelling too, but they deal with it nonchalantly. This, I think, is reflective of how peacefully the dwellers of the Benguet community have lived alongside one another. I must say that to acquaint oneself with the people from Beckel, Mt. Camiling, and Lamut isn’t as difficult as acquainting oneself with the place itself.

The People of Mt. Camiling
Child in Camiling
Child in Mt. Camiling

And of course, the trip won’t be complete without trying Benguet’s very own specialty: strawberry taho (soya/beancurd). So YES, if given another opportunity to go back, I definitely would. It’s one worthwhile experience that one should never, ever miss out on.

Benguet's Strawberries
Benguet’s Strawberries
Benguet’s Specialty: Strawberry Taho