“In separateness lies the world's great misery,
in compassion lays the world's true strength."
~Buddha
Once upon a time, there were two huts that were built in separate villages.
They were
mountain
ranges
apart,
too
far away
from
each other.
Neither knew
each one,
until one day
when they were
boarded
plank by plank
plank by plank
and reconstructed
side by side each other
on a cool
and exquisite place
they called
and exquisite place
they called
Brent Cordillera Hill.
and the other Ifugao.
Each one regarded
the other as a stranger.
They resented
each other’s
encroachment
in what
they thought
They did not talk.
They lived
in silence.
Years went by, and both felt no contentment and happiness in their hearts.
Both Sagada and Ifugao knew that their
posts would soon
give way,
and their roofs
would soon
crumble
and
fall.
They expected
that they
get inhabited
so that their hearths
get fired and
the smoke could
warm their
walls.
The
warmth
of the
fire and
the pine
smoke
would
make
them
sturdy.
But
no
one
came
to
walk
their
floors.
The passing
storms
got them
withered
and
left
them
in misery.
They
had
no
one,
but
each
other.
They
felt
each
other’s
loss.
That feeling
of compassion strengthened
them not just
to exist
where they were reconstructed,
but to
live again.
So, they made
their peace pact.
They became the
best of friends.
Their world
became
bright and
beautiful.
Sagada and Ifugao
realized that as
they moved through their physical life,
the encounter with
another hut different
from how they
were built
is inevitable.
In time,
they
came
to
appreciate
each
other’s
differences.
They exuded
joy.
They
welcomed
all creatures
great and small
to take
shelter
in their roofs.
They
made
those
weary
from
their
long
journey
happy.
Birds
made
their nests
in their
roofs.
They deposited
seeds
as they fed
their young.
The limping ants
carrying spores
stopped by
to rest,
leaving some
of their load
as they
trudged
along.
Butterflies
and bees
came
to rest
scattering
pollens
stuck
in their
feet.
Too
many
bugs
and
all kinds
of insects
partied
on their
roofs.
They
all
respected
the peace pact
made by
the two
huts.
The
warring
insects
ceased
their
fights.
The roofs of Sagada and Ifugao became their neutral grounds.
The peaceful
interaction they experienced
brought
them
good
energy.
They
thanked
the two huts
for planting
the
seeds of kindness
which
they were able
to emulate.
All the friends
of Sagada and Ifugao
celebrated.
celebrated.
Enchantingly,
the
roofs
of
Sagada
and
Ifugao
got inhabited.
All
the seeds
their friends
brought
in their
roofs
grew
abundantly.
They
brimmed
brimmed
with
joy.
joy.
The dramatic
cultivation
of friendship
bore gardens
of paradise.
From then on, the friends of Sagada and Ifugao fondly called them
THE HUTS OF COMPASSION.
And the huts lived happily ever after.
The end.
☻
Photos were taken at the
Cordillera Hill, Brent International School, Baguio City, Philippines
Creative Picture Story by
~Lepan ♥ July 2012
with Richard D. Egmalis
Postscript:
Walking the Magic Mountain
The two traditional houses were once home to ancestors from Sagada and Ifugao. These are two different tribes, geographically distant from each other. Their cultural ways also differ. Hence, their houses vary. During the ancient times, these two houses could not be built near each other. People from the different tribes then were territorial and they led an exclusive community life. Hence, the apathy towards each other was made apparent in the story. However, with the changes in time, the practices were neutralized. The animated lives of the two huts in the story are metaphors of the tribes as they slowly assimilated with the other peoples in the world. And that happened with COMPASSION.
Houses are valued in the Cordilleras. Rituals were done when they were put up, and the rites continued to be practiced inside and outside the dwellings. So much so that these traditional houses are believed to be habitations of ancient spirits. Believe it or not☺
"The two traditional houses
were donated in 1984
by Mr. Wilson Capuyan (MANCOM member)
and lawyer Zosimo Paredes (Brent parent) to commemorate the Jubilee year of Brent School, Baguio. The houses in their original form were transported plank by plank straight from Sagada, Mountain Province and from Ifugao. They were reassembled at the Cordillera Hill under the scrutiny of Sagada and Ifugao elders.These huts are currently used by the students for studies in Art, Music, Social, Studies, Math, and Philippine Cultural Studies."
Posted at the traditional houses, Cordillera Hill, Brent School, Baguio