We had our vicarial gathering yesterday in celebration of the feast of our patron, San Lorenzo Ruiz, at ICST. It coincided with their Kapihan (their occasional community party). It was sponsored by the Nuestra Señora de Caridad (Ilocandia) Formation Community led by Fr. Ramelo Somera and Fr. Marlon Belmonte. The theme was Kaandingay. We expected it to be a night to showcase and enjoy the best of the Ilocos - buridubud, sapsapuriket, tinola, tinuno and basi; kankanta, daniw and sala.
According to Fr. Marlon, kaandingay could mean three human values - (1) camaraderie - to be with another in friendship; (2) brotherhood - to be with one with another in respect and concern; and (3) comfort - to be with and for the other in time of need and difficulty. These three, he said are to be valued and practiced by every seminarian and priest - for each other, and for the people entrusted to them. The first nuance of kaandingay however is comfort - one is in sorrow, or pain because maybe of loss, or frustration, or disappointment, or disregard, or anything else - and the other comes as a kaandingay, comforting the earlier with his presence - mangan-andingay.
Fr. Ramelo added, that though his priesthood is always a source of deep joy and fulfillment, there are also times of difficulty, doubt, frustration and aloneness - even a priest needs a kaandingay. We are reminded to be available for each other.
Come to think of it, they are right. We all need a kaandingay. And who has been our most faithful and reliable kaandingay? God himself. I think this is what God exactly did when he became man - he came to be with us in camaraderie and brotherhood, and he comforts us with his presence. This I think is the full extent of innandingay - that God became one of us to comfort us in our human condition of finiteness by allowing us to experience brotherhood without bounds and camaraderie without conditions. And it is by these that he invites us to enter into God's infinity. It is by these that he restores us in our dignity and self-worth.
Innandingay then is a call and challenge for all in all relationships - marriage, family, community, friendships, work places, Church.
The night indeed was a showcase of the best of Ilocos - not simply the good food and the sweet basi, but the real best of Ilocos - the gift and openness to be kaandingay.
According to Fr. Marlon, kaandingay could mean three human values - (1) camaraderie - to be with another in friendship; (2) brotherhood - to be with one with another in respect and concern; and (3) comfort - to be with and for the other in time of need and difficulty. These three, he said are to be valued and practiced by every seminarian and priest - for each other, and for the people entrusted to them. The first nuance of kaandingay however is comfort - one is in sorrow, or pain because maybe of loss, or frustration, or disappointment, or disregard, or anything else - and the other comes as a kaandingay, comforting the earlier with his presence - mangan-andingay.
Fr. Ramelo added, that though his priesthood is always a source of deep joy and fulfillment, there are also times of difficulty, doubt, frustration and aloneness - even a priest needs a kaandingay. We are reminded to be available for each other.
Come to think of it, they are right. We all need a kaandingay. And who has been our most faithful and reliable kaandingay? God himself. I think this is what God exactly did when he became man - he came to be with us in camaraderie and brotherhood, and he comforts us with his presence. This I think is the full extent of innandingay - that God became one of us to comfort us in our human condition of finiteness by allowing us to experience brotherhood without bounds and camaraderie without conditions. And it is by these that he invites us to enter into God's infinity. It is by these that he restores us in our dignity and self-worth.
Innandingay then is a call and challenge for all in all relationships - marriage, family, community, friendships, work places, Church.
The night indeed was a showcase of the best of Ilocos - not simply the good food and the sweet basi, but the real best of Ilocos - the gift and openness to be kaandingay.
4 comments:
Wow. Amazing how Ilocano is transformed from a language that we take for granted to a vibrant medium that captures our collective aspirations. This post on "kaandingay" and its derivatives made me even more determined to study our language and to one day blog in Ilocano.
With that aside, adda kam laeng ditoy, apo, a sisasagana a mang-andingay kadakayo. (Tsk, tsk. Looks like learning Ilocano would be a very tall order.)
Wen, pudno a napusek ti kaipapanan ti pagsasao nga Ilokano, ti pagsasao tayo - kas met lang iti ania man a pagsasao - ta isu la ngarud iti agtultuloy a pakaibuksilan ti biag, kinasiasino, arapaap, tarigagay ken pammatitayo.
I look forward to your blog in Ilocano.
Pagyamananmi, Apo Abogada iti sidadaan a panakian-andingaymo.
Ah, that was a sweet exchange.
We all need a "kaandingay" in "innandingay" times. If that weren't important, we wouldnt't be put in each others' ways. God is the ultimate "kaandingay" though.
Sometimes other languages were much easier said and learned than our own dialect. And some finds it odd and corny.
I was challenged when a man asked me what samtoy means while in his hand was the samtoy mag..
I was tongue-tied then and what a shameful moment. He left me w/ a word "ilokano ka haanmo pay ammo". Well, what can i do? Am not a genuine iloko(am a race of bago). From then learning iloko was an agenda. But being in a foreign land now is less chances at all.
It was joy knowing that some are still transcending those customs which are worth doing/keeping.
I am looking forward too of your Ilocano blogs.
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