Traffic

I'm getting a lot of web traffic after posting this article about "pamahiin." Hmmm, marami pa rin ba naniniwala sa mga pamahiin? Or maybe I'm getting the traffic from students researching if there's indeed a scientific basis for these superstitious beliefs.

Rather than look for scientific basis, it would be best to look for biblical basis. "Oh, c'mon that's being too religious!" some might argue. Well, it's not and I believe it's the best way to gain wisdom about life's principle :)

Anyway, speaking of traffic, konting tiis na lang daw at mababawasan na ang traffic sa South! The SLEX rehabilitation is expected to finish this 2009! Really huh?!? hehe. I really hope it will help reduce the traffic.

That's all folks! God bless!

ciao! c",)

Superstitions (Mga Pamahiin)

Ang kwentuhan ni Juanito at ang matalik na kaibigan nyang si Pidro.

Pidro: Uy Pari! anditu ka na pala sa Pinas! Kilan ka pa dumating?
Juanito: Nung isang linggo, mga Biernes Santo ako dumating pre, yun kase nakuha ko pinakamurang flight. Whew! Ang init pala talaga dito, kaya naligo nga agad ako pagdating ko eh.
Pidro: Naku! masama maligu ng ganong araw ah! At alam mu ba pag nagkasogat ka sa araw na yon ih matagal gagaling!
Juanito: Ganun ba? Awa ng Dyos eh wala naman nangyari masama sakin. Anyway, alam mo ba nagulat ako nung naglalakad ako dun sa kalye papunta ako rito, kase bigla ba naman may tumawid na itim na pusa sa harapan ko.
Pidro: Naku! delikadu yon ah. sana domora ka, kase baka may masamang mangyari sayu sa mga darating na araw. Kasi aku non may makita itim na posa, karipas aku ng takbu para omiwas sabay dora. Kaya ligtas aku sa panganib! Kasu nadapa aku nun at somobsub sa dinoraan ku. Piru yon posa lumihis ng daan ba, kaya hayon nasagasaan.
Juanito: Talaga? Salamat sa paalala pre. O sya, heto pala pasalubong ko sayo.. sapatos! at para sa mahal kong pinsan mo na si Petra, heto naman ang magarang mga panyo!
Pidro: Pari naman, gostu mu ba akung underin? Masama magrigalu ng sapatus! Tika, mokhang maganda yan ah. Samahan mu na lang ng barya para ndi magkatutuu. Tsaka tika, eewanan at paeyakin mu lang ba si Pitra? Kase bebigyan mu ng panyu ih!
Juanito: Naku, pre nde! Pasensya na, nde ko kase alam na masama pala magbigay ng mga ganitong bagay. Sige, etong mga tsokolate na lang. Eto ba nde masama ipamigay?
Pidro: Ang alam ku masama kung nde ka mamemigay nyan!

Juanito: Nga pala, ikaw ang bestman ko sa kasal namin ni Petra ha, kaya dapat may pictyur din tayong tatlo para may suvenir. Ano sa tingin mo?
Pidro: Ay ndi aku payag! kasi masama daw magpapectyur ng tatlu, isa daw mamamatay! Madami pa ku planu sa bohay, ikaw ba?
Juanito: (galit na) Pare, matanong nga kita, andami mong alam na pamahiin, alam mo ba kung pano at san nagsimula yang mga yan?
Pidro: uu nga pari, ang tutuu nyan ndi ku rin alam ih. Basta sinosonud ku lang ba. Wala naman masama at walang mawawala kung sosundin ih. Sabi nga ng matatanda, masama kung ndi mu sosundin.


As a child, I've always wondered how these superstitions came to be. As noypis, we grew up in a culture where elders will tell us not to do certain things for fear that it might lead to misfortune. Even without scientific findings or logical reasons, we follow simply because they are the elders whom we look up to for guidance. Actually, I've experimented on some of these a long time back to observe how true and what will happen if I did not follow them (of course without the elders knowing, hehe). Like cutting my finger nails on a Friday, then sweeping the floor in the evening. Did something happen after I did those things? Well, absolutely nothing occurred that night and the succeeding days, except ending up with a fairly trimmed nails and a clean floor!

There's no definite report about the origins of these superstitious beliefs. As I know, they were just inherited from our religious ancestors, to which our grand grandparents passes them on as well to the next generation, and the cycle continues. In my observation, and if you will agree, here are some of the probable reasons why some people follow these superstitions:

1. They are in fact afraid that something bad might actually happen to them. It's somewhat interwoven into their consciousness, or maybe due to coincidental confirmations.
2. They respect their elders. And part of that respect is to follow what was passed on to them, embracing what their ancestors were giving credence to. Thus becoming a tradition.
3. Some are not sure what to believe in, so they just go with the flow. Fitting in was given more importance than the lack of knowledge.

No offense meant to the devout followers of these superstitious beliefs, but IMHO, believing in superstitions means agreeing or allowing the power of darkness to rule over you.

But hear and acknowledge this, believing Only to our loving and sovereign God gives us complete rest over these things (or in anything!). No one needs to worry whether one will die if someone joined in a photograph in groups of 3, or if something bad might happen after bathing on a Friday. Whether you belong to No.1, 2, or 3 in my aforesaid observations, it's always best to know the source if you sense obscurity why you need to adhere to certain belief. Or better yet, seek to know if there's a biblical basis. Biblical teaching is universal, it's not just for any established culture or races.

While I respect other people's beliefs, I just wanna pose this question. Is there really something wrong or are we losing something if we continue to believe in superstitions? Gaya nga ng sinabi ni Pidro in my short story above, "Wala naman masama at walang mawawala kung sosundin ih"

But looking at the scene in Matthew 15:1-3, you'll find that Jesus gave less credit to the tradition. Following the same milieu, we can construe that superstitious beliefs isn't pleasing in the sight of God.

And what we might probably lose is.. our dependence on Him. You see, if God said He will protect us (please see Psalm 91:10-16), then why fear that misfortune could occur by not observing a belief passed on to us? Just give it some thought.

I'll close with this encouraging words from Paul in his letter to Colossians (Col.2:6-8), and a short prayer.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Lord, we declare that You have all the authority in this world. Thank you that Your promises of protection have a clear indication of the origin, as recorded in your Holy Book. Teach us to abide in your Word only, and not on any unsupported belief. Grant us wisdom and understanding so we may know the truth. The truth about your salvation and your love. So that we can also learn to pass on to our succeeding generations.. the good news instead.

Thanks for reading. God bless you all!

ciao! c",)

Some Suggested Reading:
*What is Superstition, really?
*God's Protection

Just For Your Info:
*Mga Pamahiin (Folk Beliefs)