Immanuel 29: Why the New Year is Always Happy...

Monday, December 31, 2007

Why the New Year is Always Happy...

As I write and ponder on the title of this reflection, my son, Attorney Samuel Jonathan called long distance from Butuan City, Philippines greeting us "Masaba nga bag-ong tuig" ("Noisy New Year")."What can you see beyond the noises?" Yes. What can you see beyond the noises of firecrackers, church bells ringing, blowing of horns, and banging of empty cans, barking of dogs and a cacophony of cries from scared animals? Above all the loud noises is the ringing of the church bells. The ringing of the bells is a promise of hope and joy and prosperity to men of good-will. It is an assurance of the continuous presence of God among His people and a reminder of His promise "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

"Happy New Year" is best celebrated with thanksgiving, praise and worship to God with His holy congregation in a church or with the family at home followed with a thanksgiving dinner. There are no demons to drive away. Only the wonderful peace of the presence of God. The wonderful proclamation that God is still the only Sovereign over the whole creation.

"Hallelujah!" God is with us.

Immanuel reigns!

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ESCAPE

November 1944. The American Liberation Forces have arrived in Leyte on October20 2004. Gen Douglas Macarthur has returned .Three years ago before he left Manila for the great escape to Australia he promised the Filipinos that shall return to drive away the Japanese Imperial forces. There was much jubilation as Macarthur and President Sergio Osmena landed on the shores of Leyte on that day Of October 20, 2004.

Faraway in the island of Negros we witnessed daily sorties of USAF P38 and the Japanese warplanes. We also witness the dogfight between aa Japanese plane and the US Navy PT boat. Our joys were mingled with fear of sudden appearance of Japanese patrols. The Japanese were holed up in the Central Azucarrera de San Carlos., about 12 kilometers south of our evacuation village.

Since early July or August 1944 US submarines delivered tons of weapons and ammunitions to the Filipino Guerillas. The Guerillas with more firepower became more aggressive in making daily ambushes on Japanese patrols. The Japanese soldiers became more brutal, cruel, and wanton as they ravaged helpless civilians hiding in villages supposed to be safe and out of the way of Japanese patrols. They massacred everything they found along their way.

We found refuge and shelter in a small village called Tigbahi . Tigbahi is close to the sea and to the foothills of Banderahan. When the Japanese came from the sea we escape to the hils of Banderahan. When they come along the National Road we find refuge in the thick bakhaw groves along the shores.

In Mid-November it became extremely dangerous to be found by the Japanese patrols on land and on sea. We prayed hard for God’s guidance on what to do and where to go. Papa believe it is better to risk the dangers of crossing the sea on a stormy weather than to stay and be a victim of Japanese atrocities as well as the deadly pestilence ravaging the people. Malaria, dysentery, dengue were claiming the lives of countless civilians.

Papa found a boat owner who will sail and deliver us to Carigara, Leyte where the American Armed forces were. For the priced of one Singer sewing Machine, Felix, the owner of the sailboat agreed to transport us and the few belonging we had to Carigara, Leyte. We made ready and chose a most inauspicious day for our departure. A north wind blew all afternoon. In the evening we were all in the boat, Mama, Papa, Felix and two helpers some chickens, five weanling pigs, 500 loaves of cassava cakes, faith and prayers for God’s blessings on our voyage. The north wind blew mightily and steadily the whole evening and morning. The evening of the second day we entered the safety of the bay of Bantayan Island. The sails of the sailboat were badly tattered. They mast was broken in half. Several outriggers had to be replaced

Mama who was sick with Malaria when we left became very ill. The parents of Felix fortunately were some sort of faith healers. They attended to Mama. Thanks to them Mama recovered the next day. On the third day at twilight and on a stormy weather we set sail for Leyte. We sailed on a northerly direction rounding Bantayan Island.. There was no Japanese Garrison in Bantayan Island. However word came warning us that the Japanese will cross the channel early the next day. The people provided us with vituals and plenty of fresh water for our voyage,.

Big sharks followed our sailboat. scaring the daylights out of the boatmen who kept the balance of the boat by riding on the tilting outriggers. Papa was very angry at me when I pointed my fingers toward a flying devil fish. We saw a big whale jumped out of the water and blew water from its nose.. An unusually huge wave struck our frail sailboat broadside. It swamped the boat full of water. Cries of “hinubig, hinubig! Pas pas! came from Papa and the helmsman. Though weakened by sleeplessness, hungry and tired I hurriedly dip my pail into the water in the boat. I bailed out the water as fast as I can. Miracle! The boat did not capsize. Another miracle I was able to bail out all the water in the hold.. Then a huge fish sidled close to the outriggers were the boatmen were seesawing to keep the balance of the boat. Fear overcame then. They rushed dangerously to the boat. The full sail caused the boat to dip towards the portside, almost capsizing it. The skill of the helmsman kept the boat from capsizing and tragedy.

At mid-afternoon we were becalmed. The boatmen splashed water at the sail. The cried “San Lorenzo give us wind.” The swift currents were carrying us back to the Visayan Sea. We prayed that there be no Japanese patrol. Then gently and steadily the South wind blew filling our sail with air and carrying us forward rapidly towards the Maripipi Channel in Northern Leyte. The strong south wing carried us swiftly south towards our destination. Night time we were sailing close to shore and red tracer bullets were coming at us. We were in danger of getting killed guerilla forces who may suspect us as enemies.
The helmsman all lights in our boat to be extinguished.. He sailed us farther away from the seacoast , faraway beyond the reach of the bullets fired toward us from the shore.

By dawn we entered the Biliran-Naval channel. The current was so strong the boatmen have to go ashore and dragged the boat through the raging current of the channel. Beyond this channel to the South is Carigara Bay. We sailed full sail towards the town of Carigara, safety, and freedom. Strong smell of diesel fuel from the amphibious vehicles
Running from their shore installations to the big ships anchored in the deep waters of the Bay was suffocating. We sailed on and allowed the boat to plow through the sandy shore.
People crowded around us. “Where did you come from?” they asked..

The voyage took seven or eight days. We weathered the storms. The storm was our .protection and shield against the Japanese air and sea patrol. The mighty power of the LORD Jesus brought us safely towards our destination – Carigara, Leyte. P:raise the LORD we were all together as a family. My father, my mother, my sisters Remedios and Mercedes, and my kid brother George. We praise and thank the LORD for our safe voyage.

End; Inocencio T Hiponia, jr
November 24, 1944