Days before the event, the villagers were rushing here and there to prepare the materials needed for the Kubo-making contest, the tribal dances where four groups representing Kulambo, Tanag, Magalang and Katutubo Village vied for prizes. The school children busied themselves practicing songs and dances even to the late hours of the night for the numbers in the program. The Sisters and MINSAC Porac Staff were also busy planning for a drama on the Life of Mother Ignacia.
There was a long discussion as to what and how to depict the life of Mother Foundress in so short and limited a time considering that it would not be easy for the participating pupils to memorize Tagalog lines for the play. For the first night’s practice, the staff decided to have a role-playing mime. On the second night’s practice, a revision was made with a short play with few lines uttered to open the play and in-between a narration. But the final show was a disarray of a pantomime or a monologue or any ad lib or alteration when the sound systems malfunctioned that prevented us from hearing one another. Laughter ensued from the audience. When the pictures were developed we realized after all that there was a story delivered. Deo Gratias! The tribal leaders were not spared of their participation. From Apo Carlos’ talk, a rough extract – “Pasalamat po ako sa Panginoon (points above) sa mga RVM Sisters sa kanilang walang sawang tulong sa amin, bagamat minsan kami po ay lumalabag sa kanilang patakaran at pagbigay ng magagandang asal, hindi nila kami iniwan. Malaking pasalamat din po sa inyong pagtitiyaga sa aming kahinaan na nagpapahirap sa inyo. Pagpalain nawa kayo ng Panginoong Diyos at sana humaba pa ang inyong buhay at kalusugan. Pasalamatan din po namin si Mama Mary at Mother Ignacia (points to the picture displayed on the stage). Maraming salamat din po sa taga-COA ng Maynila. Pagpalain kayong lahat ng Panginoong Diyos. Maraming, maraming salamat!
The games however stole the show. The children, the youth, the adults, and even the elderly came out to the open and participated in the festival to their hearts delight. What is with the Hatawan ng palayok, the Palo Sebo, the Pabitin, atbp. All gave their share!
The Salu-Salo Together tendered by the COA of Manila group enlivened the activity as everybody partook of it with gusto. The hearts of those God-sent people went out with utter generosity to the villagers. The inconveniences they experienced on their way from Manila with the drizzles that might have tested their faith go beyond imagining!