TACLOBAN CITY – Philippine tribal leaders on Friday conferred on Pope Francis the title Apô (Elder) Edsila during a ceremony in Tacloban City in eastern Visayas region.
The ceremony, dubbed as “Gathering of the Poor,” was witnessed by Catholic nuns and Typhoon Haiyan survivors.
“We are bestowing on him the title Apô Edsila since he is worthy of high esteem with his love for us, indigenous peoples, and for his respect for the values and beliefs that we have held sacred since time immemorial,” said Dulphing Ogan, Secretary-General of the Mindanao-wide indigenous peoples’ group called Kalumaran.
Edsila literally means light or sunrise, or dawn of a new day, according to Ogan.
He said Edsila – a term used by Higaonon and Talaandig tribes inhabiting the mountains around the Pulangi River in central Mindanao – signifies hope, newness, and change.
The honor was solemnized in a ritual led by by Ogan and 5 other Lumad leaders from the Bagobo, Manobo, and Higaonon tribes. Some 50 Catholic nuns belonging to the Sisters’ Association in Mindanao and hundreds of typhoon survivors witnessed the event.
Pope Francis is visiting Tacloban on January 17 where he will say mass and speak to selected typhoon victims.
Ogan said: “The Pope’s anticipated encyclical on climate change is a breath of fresh air for indigenous peoples because it will bring the issue of ancestral domains and the violation of our human rights from the margins to the center. The Pope’s indictment of the pitfalls of capitalism is an affirmation of our indigenous values of collectivism and stewardship of Mother Earth.”
“We look up to the Pope to usher in newness and transformation in this global system that perpetuates greed, exploitation, and oppression, the very opposite of mercy and compassion. Pope Francis, you are truly worthy to be called our Apô Edsila.”
Bagobo chieftain Monico Cayog, 77, speaking in Visayan, said: “I see in Pope Francis the qualities of an elder who is down-to-earth and breaks barriers dividing his esteemed position and the realities of his people. These are characteristics of a true elder. The Pope’s pro-poor and pro-environment principles are akin to an elder’s teachings and wisdom which is centered on people and the Earth.”
The Alliance of Recruitment Agencies of the Philippines-OFW Foundation, represented by its president, Raisonel Datu Magangcong, earlier launched a signature campaign among recruitment agencies in support of the Pope’s four-day historical visit in the country.
Various Muslim groups in the Philippines also offered their support to authorities to ensure the safety and success of the Papal visit from January 15 to 19.
A technical working group composed of different religious and civic organizations from Mindanao also coordinated with the Imam Council of the Philippines to draw out plans on how Muslims can contribute to the historical visit of Pope Francis.
Magangcong also appealed to Pope Francis to intercede and help Filipino workers languishing in jails abroad, especially those in death row, particularly in the Middle East.
He is also supporting the global campaign against human trafficking and modern-day slavery and led the signing of the manifesto on “Declaration with the Global Freedom Network: United to end slavery,” which the Pontiff is also a signatory.
The campaign is “committed to the dignity and freedom that is the birth right of all humankind.”
The Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Orthodox leaders signed the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery at the Vatican on World Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
Among those who also signed the joint declaration were Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong (representing Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh), The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia; Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka, Rabbi Dr. David Rosen, Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif (representing Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar).
And Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah (representing Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi); Sheikh Omar Abboud, Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; and His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (representing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew).
Magangcong said the ARAP-OFW Foundation and other stakeholders have affirmed its commitment in bridging gaps and linking resources for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. (Cebu Examiner)
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