On Aug. 12, 2023, multi-talented authors Bro. Karl Gaspar and Johanna Michelle Lim led a session of reading excerpts and signing books. The event led to a casual yet profound conversation, where people discussed Philippine history, focusing on the intertwining elements of the sea, nature and the Indigenous people.
In sharing about their books “Handumanan” and “Dagaton,” authors Gaspar and Lim sparked a dialogue of great depth.
“Handumanan” (Remem-
brance) - Digging for the
indigenous wellspring
Gaspar, a theologian-anthropologist renowned for his extensive literary analysis in his latest work centered on the Lumads, imparted his many years of empathetic encounters through the pages of a non-fiction masterpiece.
“A correlation exists between Indigenous culture and Christianity. Prior to embracing Westernization and Christianity, we were all rooted in our Indigenous identities. This truth predates even Lapulapu’s era, predating Magellan’s arrival. They were all Lumads, altered over the course of colonial history,” said Gaspar.
He further emphasized that the realization of interfaith dialogues, encompassing reparations and reconciliations for the ongoing tribulations faced by Indigenous communities, most especially the Lumads in Mindanao, could come to fruition once the Church acknowledges its past wrongdoings toward these vulnerable sectors.
“Handumanan” stands as an insightful book, making the invisible, visible and granting identity to those rendered nameless. It intricately fleshes out the many plights of the Lumads into a compassionate manuscript that often escapes the society’s attention. It establishes the premise that commemorating 500 years since Christianity’s arrival on Philippine shores requires the Catholic Church to engage in deep introspection, carefully assessing both its achievements and shortcomings in its interactions with Indigenous communities.
Through Gaspar’s literary masterpiece, the plight of the most victimized during the colonial era is illuminated, casting its long-forgotten shadows into the light of awareness.
“Dagaton” - Essays on
the Sea
Lim, a Cebuana essayist, described “Dagaton” as an evolving endeavor encompassing a quartet of essays. She referred to it as an unexpected creation, born from her substantial engagement in social work in Bantayan Island between 2014 and 2016, a period when 90 percent of the island was ravaged by typhoon Yolanda, adversely affecting local fishermen.
Driven by a desire to contribute to the collective initiative for recovery, Lim actively moved to Bantayan. She joined the restoration of 600 to 1,000 boats, and initiated a multitude of projects aimed at reparations and rehabilitation.
“One of the things that I did was to document the lives of fishermen in Bantayan because they have a great culture of the coast,” she said.
She recounted the story of Jonathan and Marilyn Alon, a documented fisher couple. Tragedy led Marilyn to step into her deceased husband’s shoes as a provider for their children, becoming a fisher herself. This narrative engrosses the writer in the ocean’s splendor, with the power to both devastate and bestow. What the waters can strip away, they also have the capacity to restore.
“Dagaton” stands as a platform where collective introspection finds its voice. Its purpose lies in advocating for a broader spectrum of narratives that revolve around the ocean. This is due to the profound connection humanity shares with its expenses, even though the stories of encounters with the sea remain somewhat elusive. The author, in turn, becomes entranced by the ocean’s diverse virtues, finding wonder in the plethora of strengths it imparts to individuals.
The deep conversation that kicked off between the two authors that Saturday afternoon wasn’t something one could wrap up in just one chat. But with their smart and empathetic way of telling stories, they managed to leave behind discussions that stick around. These talks not only make one think but also motivate to do something and see things differently.