I happen to read this blog yesterday --- An Encounter With The Dumagat Tribe by Ms. Claire Madarang. Then I suddenly remembered Lea.
In a nutshell, the Dumagat's of Aurora Province needs our help.
What the kids need--- raincoats, umbrellas, slippers, bond papers, notebooks, ball pens, crayons, rice grains (bigas), beans/ munggo. canned goods and biscuits are also okay but rice and beans are preferred.
Please get in touch with the Ananda Marga Yoga Center and look for Vijay. Address is 46 Maamo St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Tel # (632) 9246068/ 0919-8618857. Thank you very much. :)
*** photo was from a quarry site in Lagawe, Bontoc Province.
Years ago, my mother opened our home to a Dumagat girl. This girl happened to study in my mother's school and she was also staying (sleeping) at the school premises that time. She came from Infanta, Quezon because a teacher who has a family there saw that this girl is intelligent and ambitious. I really can't recall the exact events nor what happened but here's what I recall:
The girl ended up staying at the Guidance Office (my mother was a guidance counselor) so that's where they met. I think she took pity on her so she brought her home, to our house.
She is called Lea America. A very unforgettable name, right? Being a Dumagat, her features is similar to that of the Aetas. But she is very beautiful, too--- in a chocolatey way. Her brown skin unblemished and glowing, she has intelligent eyes and easy laughter. And what I also remember about her also was her voice. She has a very sweet voice. She loves to sing, and sing, and sing. Our house was filled with her songs during the time that she stayed with us.
She also told me lots of tales, most of which I am trying to recall now. Tales about rivers, mountains, her tribe. She also brought with her a "tampipi" and some smooth flat stones that she said came from her mountain. I don't know what happened to the stones but the "tampipi" she gave it to me. I still have it with me now, it is filled with tales.
She only stayed with us for a year, though. I think her parents wants her back in the province, thus cutting her ambition to finish high school and go to college.
Thank you so much for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLea America - what a unique name indeed!
I feel sorry after reading your post. I hope your readers will respond for help. Thank you for sharing.
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