A dose of spirituality keeps 'spirits' away

Yo! Wanna kick drinking or drugs out from your system? Here is an honest to goodness reflection of an alcoholic at age 13 who managed to kick the deadly habit in his 20s. Oscar Bamuhigire knew he had to get alcoholism out from his system otherwise he will not see the morning light just like what happened to his drinking buddies. How did he do it? Follow this link here or here .

Some excerpts in his book:

"With the rare exception of that brand of psychopathological human species, which derives extreme pleasure out of being flogged on a regular basis, the natural tendency of Homo sapiens and other species is to avoid pain/ suffering, and to seek out pleasure. We are biologically programmed to avoid pain as a means of self-preservation. Because of this, we naturally seek out those experiences which bring us pleasure, and refrain from those that cause pain or suffering. We eat, drink, sleep, dress, get married, study, work, get involved in charitable activities, smoke, have sex, steal, lie, commit suicide, pray, indulge in crime, meditate, exercise, and read, among many other activities, so that we may avoid pain and suffering."

Songkran in Thailand!

Get wet! Literally wet in Thailand. It’s the Songkran (Water) Festival and everyone is practically out in the streets to celebrate the New Year from April 13 to 15.

Splashing and pouring water on you means a blessing for this Buddhist country, so thank the gods and Gods for blessings that come this year.

Children and adults position themselves in front of their houses and shops and splash water on everyone passing by. No one is an exception to be splashed with water, be this lukewarm or icy water. People are kind and there is no hot water to come splashing on your face.

Songkran is a three –day traditional New Year starting every April 13th of the year in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Lao. April 13 is Maha Songkran Day to mark the end of the old year. April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which begins the New
Year.

Songkran is Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. That is, when the sun enters the sign of Aries or Ram. Songkran is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. It is a special time when people clean their houses, public places and buildings.

It is a time when people pay their respects to Buddha in their respective
temples for good luck and good health the whole year round. It is a time to give merit or offerings to the monks and receive and give joint merits too.

The Songkran also happens at a time when the Boi Sabi festival is simultaneously held in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Boi Sabi festival is New Year for the Buddhist indigenous peoples of the southern part of the country. Although the new year Boishakh is also held by the Bengalis of Bangladesh on April 14.

LINKS

1st pic link

2nd pic link

Lang-ay in Mountain Province

Yes, yes yo! The crowd drawing Lang-ay Festival of Mountain Province is now being celebrated in this capital town of the province from March 29 to April 7. Now In its 5th year, the culture-rich event is observed with performances from five ethno-linguistic tribes of the ten towns of the provinces. Dances and songs cap presentations fromthe the ethnic tribes- Applai from Sagada, and Besao; Kankanaey from Bauko, Tadian, and Sabangan; Baliwon from Paracelis; Balangao from Barlig and Natonin; and the Bontoc tribe from Bontoc and Sadanga.

As early as March 29, coronation of the winning contestants for the Anap di Bangan de Montanosa (Search for Ms Mountain Province) was observed. In tune with the culture of the place, the coronation is a resemblance of the cultural ceremonies in the western part of the province where Bangan in her red - striped “gateng” (local woven skirt) is the first to plant the rice seedlings to start rice planting before folks follow.

The celebration of the culture-studded event also includes the holding of an ecumenical mass officiated by newly installed Episcopal Bishop Brent Alawas at the Provincial Plaza grounds. While some few remaining elders of this province chose to remain unbaptized, some 95% of the people are either Roman Catholics or Episcopalians which shows the strong influence of the Roman Catholic influence in the late 1800s and the American Episcopal Missionaries in the early1900s. Some are Baptists and some are with charismatic fellowships including the Free Believers.

The event is not only about showing the people’s culture on dances and rituals though. It is also about promoting its basic source of livelihood from agriculture and locally made products such as woven materials and wines. The agro-industrial fair opened with the judging of Pinaka (best) among the agricultural products displayed in booths by delegates from the ten towns supervised by the agricultural unit of the provincial administration.

Rice, roots crops, highland vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, onions) and fruits (citrus and bananas) are among the major crops planted here. Coffee is now strongly promoted with its promising economic returns. Sagada Coffee Arabica is famous for its exotic aroma. Coffee drinking is available at the provincial grounds and especially promoted on April 1.

And so with locally made fruit and rice wines. Lang-ay wines are best known to come from Bauko. Though other wine entrepreneurs are now doing the home made product in almost all over the ten towns of the province.

Woven products shall also be specially promoted by the Governor’s spouse, Ms Cecilia Dalog. In Lang-ay weaves and Designs on April 4. This event showcases fashion trends on the province’s finely made woven products including the traditional tapis and G-string for men, bags and purses in varied sizes and designs.

The culture-rich province sees the spectacular performance of ethnic tribes during the street dancing event during the culminating day on April 7. As Governor Maximo Dalog said, the Lang-ay Festival shall be relevantly observed with the basic and usual presentation of culture and tradition. Although for this year’s event, the participation of children and youth is more pronounced. It is also expected that people from Mountain Province who went to other places and now categorized to belong to the 11th municipality will have visible presence during the event.

The Lang-ay Festival now is expected to draw more than 30,000 people to include visitors and residents. Be one among the 30,000 plus participants. Join and enjoy the Lang-ay Festival!

For recent pics, go to Lang-ay Mountain Province