By MARY LOU MARIGZA
www.nordis.net

Last week we travelled to Cagayan Valley for Earth Day celebrations. First we went to Tuguegarao, the hot city of the north. Archbishop Sergio Utleg was meeting with the Federation of Environmental Advocates of Cagayan on the issue of mining. It is always a great honor to listen to an esteemed Servant of the Cross and see him walking and taking the side of the people on many issues. Cagayan is truly blessed by his return to the province.

We also met with Sr. Minie, a small Franciscan nun with a big big heart and still bigger commitment to be with the people of Cagayan. Monsignor Gary Agcaoili, who is one of the bravest Social Action directors I have met was also there to give strength to the people.

The people of Cagayan have gone through many struggles and issues and in many instances, they have had a strong ally in the presence of the religious sector in their midst, carrying their crosses with them.

We next visited the Shrine of Guibang in Isabela where the priest, Fr. Dave Albano was teaching children some choir songs for the Sunday mass for Earth Day. It is such a joy to see the intellectual seminary teacher coaching the young ones in pronunciation, enunciation, breathing, projection and notes. This is one side of priests and pastors I love to see – their music ministry.

Fr Albano proudly told us the children have sang in other churches apart from the Guibang Shrine and they are hoping one day they could do a recording of Gospel songs. If you happen to travel to Isabela, drop by on a Sunday at the Shrine so you can hear the children sing. Or maybe you would also be lucky to hear the good father sing an aria. The nuns of the RGS were in Manila so we missed their company on this visit. The Cagayan river at the back of the Shrine is now low on water and you can see the sand bars on the river this summer.

Like in Cagayan, the religious of Isabela have been companions in the journey of the people against logging, landgrabbing, human rights violations and disasters. Like in Cagayan, their social action was rooted in the daily lives of their flock even to the extent of then Bishop Purugganan cancelling Misa de Gallo in sympathy with the people whose lands were being denied.

The religious of Isabela and Cagayan have braved a lot of threats, harassment and vilification over the years but they have remained precious and loyal friends, and may I say, “saviors” of the needy people in the valley. They have always stood by the people even in the darkest of days.

We had mass for Earth Sunday with the Episcopal congregation in the Diocese of Santiago. Bishop Alex Wandag was present as they were getting ready to go to Dinapigue for an ordination and marriage ceremony of one of their priests the next Monday. Here we saw how the Bishop was one in the congregation as we listened to Fr Clarence Olat’s sermon on the third Sunday after Easter.

Like Fr Albano, Bishop Wandag was the pastor-musician, he led the singing of the hymns with his guitar playing. It is not often that I get to see Bishops and priests sing, play instruments and conduct choirs even if I have had been around them since childhood. Like their Roman Catholic counterparts, the Episcopal community has also been with the people of Cagayan in their struggles for life and dignity.

Sunday, Earth Night saw us in Bayombong for the Earth Day concert at the Capitol Grounds prior to a picket at the NCIP (for disregarding or disrespecting FPIC) and presentation of petition to the provincial government. The organizer of the event is ANNVIK (Alyansa ng mga Nagkakaisang Novo Vizcayanos para sa Kalikasan). The petition by ANNVIK was asking the provincial and national government to declare Nueva Vizcaya as a watershed and agriforestry area and a NO MINING zone. Again like their counterparts in the valley, the priests of Vizcaya were one with the people in their determination to save the province from further environmental degradation and plunder by big mining companies.

Bishop Villena as well as the chairperson of ANNVIK, Fr Vic Tiam spoke at the Monday flag raising ceremony at the capitol where they presented their petition. Fr Tinong was also there joining the people in the dancing and the march. We heard the Episcopal priests also had a celebration of Earth Day in Kasibu.

What makes the case of the Vizcayanos more painful is that many of those now affected by mining have been dislocated from their former homes due to big projects like the Ambuklao and Binga dams. They are going to be dislocated again if mining will be openly permitted in the province.

The people of the valley are indeed “lucky” to have the religious march with them in their struggles and issues. In these critical times, we need the Servants of the Cross to take the side of the people. I have always placed in high esteem religious people who are marching with the people not only because my father and brothers are pastors but more because their hearts are in the right place.

We have also seen this in the struggles of the Cordillera people where side by side, the people marched with the religious sector. The earth and its fullness will be full of glory and remain nurturing to the people if the Shepherds are with the flock. # nordis.net