“Go home and plant kamote!”
If you’re a Filipino, you know what this means.
If you’re a Filipino, it’s now time to take this seriously.
If you’re a Filipino, it’s now time to take this literally!
It’s very moving to see people angry as they exchange points to authorities just to allow them to pass through checkpoints to go to their work. Obviously, without working, they cannot earn. At the end, “how can I feed my family?!!” They explained with teary eyes.
There is even one rider who wish to pass through so he can collect his salary from his employer. Half of the 13th month pay are also being suggested. And yesterday, someone drop-by the house to ask assistance because her husband (a painter) was also laid from work due to community quarantine.
My prayer goes to these people today.
And I invite you to pray for them too.
Let us pray. (Silence)
Generous Father,
Thank you for today.
Thank you for sustaining us with food and health.
In a special way, we remember those people who can’t work these days. Sustain their family with enough nutritious food in their table. Guide us also, especially our government leaders, so they can come up with plans and resources to distribute, so those who are in great need will be assisted well. In Jesus name. Amen.
Thank you for praying with me.
Today, let us also offer our activities for them.
If we will really pay attention to what we’re experiencing now,
COVID is teaching us to till the soil.
To grow food in and from our backyards (and share them to our neighbors).
To bring back gardening in the activities of our students.
And not to convert agricultural lands to malls and condominiums (instead we should do the reverse)
Yes, to give natural resources on top of our priorities.
Yes, to love our most closest neighbor – The Mother Earth.
Why COVID wants us to learn this?
Because COVID wants us to understand that
Money CANNOT give us security. Food CAN! (Nutritious food)
Without FOOD SECURITY, all kinds of security are INSECURITIES!
The bible said:
“And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” Ez. 47:12
If you go back to situations I shared to you above,
The lesson is hidden from their (and our) predicament.
We need to go out from our homes to work.
We need to go out from our homes to earn money.
We need to go out from our homes to buy food.
So there’s the problem why there are still people trying to violate authorities. Why still social distancing is difficult to observe. Why still we all need to go out!
Go home and plant kamote!
Imagine if all of us will grow food inside our backyards.
(Just sing “Bahay Kubo” for you to have an idea what to plant)
Yes, we will don’t depend much on our money!
Yes, we will don’t depend much on our employers!
Yes, we will don’t depend much on malls, supermarkets and gasoline!
Yes, we will find more time to enjoy our family in safety and abundance of our homes!
(And still observe bayanihan, panunulungan, tumbang preso at taguan)
I know what you’re thinking.
"Is this still possible?"
"Or you’re absurd bro!" (I guess the second is more true)
Maybe yes.
But is this not the kind of society we have before we welcome much industrialization and commercialization into our agricultural country? We were cheated! And we keep allowing money makers to continuously cheat us!
Listen, and think about this well.
They make money, we lost our lands.
We lost our lands, we lost our food/water. (they still make money – and get much of our food/water)
We lost our food, we depend much on their money (to buy “Fake foods”)
When we depend much on their money, (they become our “lords”
We find ourselves working outside our home. (because they have our lands)
Go home and plant Kamote!
Open your eyes, open your heart. (and let dirt touch your hands also)
“And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” Ez. 47:12
If you go back to situations I shared to you above,
The lesson is hidden from their (and our) predicament.
We need to go out from our homes to work.
We need to go out from our homes to earn money.
We need to go out from our homes to buy food.
So there’s the problem why there are still people trying to violate authorities. Why still social distancing is difficult to observe. Why still we all need to go out!
Go home and plant kamote!
Imagine if all of us will grow food inside our backyards.
(Just sing “Bahay Kubo” for you to have an idea what to plant)
Yes, we will don’t depend much on our money!
Yes, we will don’t depend much on our employers!
Yes, we will don’t depend much on malls, supermarkets and gasoline!
Yes, we will find more time to enjoy our family in safety and abundance of our homes!
(And still observe bayanihan, panunulungan, tumbang preso at taguan)
I know what you’re thinking.
"Is this still possible?"
"Or you’re absurd bro!" (I guess the second is more true)
Maybe yes.
But is this not the kind of society we have before we welcome much industrialization and commercialization into our agricultural country? We were cheated! And we keep allowing money makers to continuously cheat us!
Listen, and think about this well.
They make money, we lost our lands.
We lost our lands, we lost our food/water. (they still make money – and get much of our food/water)
We lost our food, we depend much on their money (to buy “Fake foods”)
When we depend much on their money, (they become our “lords”
We find ourselves working outside our home. (because they have our lands)
Go home and plant Kamote!
Open your eyes, open your heart. (and let dirt touch your hands also)
We cannot eat our money.
What we really need is why we keep on earning money, and improving business and salaries- Food! Nutritious food!
This is what we really need!
That is why Jesus taught us to pray - give us this day our daily bread! - Mt. 6:11
What we really need is why we keep on earning money, and improving business and salaries- Food! Nutritious food!
This is what we really need!
That is why Jesus taught us to pray - give us this day our daily bread! - Mt. 6:11
Let’s really pay attention! COVID is a voice from our Mother Earth, telling us to not only to see what’s happening now but also to learn from the past so still we can save the future. The future of our children’s children.
Let’s us now learn the COVID lesson well.
Go home and plant kamote!
Let us pray. (Silence)
Generous Father,
Again, thank you for today.
Thank you for giving us a good weather.
Help us to examine our conscience, if there are times we hurt our Mother Earth. Help us to regain our being Filipino by protecting our agricultural lands.
Starting from our backyards to our farm lands and fishery waters. In Jesus name. Amen.
Guide questions for reflections
1. How do I take care of my Mother Earth?
2. Is there a way I can plant fruits or vegetable in my backyard or near my place? What fruit/vegetables will I plant? How can I sustain it?
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