My grandparents passed away few years back. I quite missed them a lot that I found myself scrubbing some of their old stuff and found it indeed worthwhile.
Several old photos were discovered revealing somewhat passive early lives of my family. Strange but I somehow is melancholic about all I had seen in those pictures. My family’s lives were a constant bombardment of family issues and struggles. Sad, that not all of us had seen how far we have reached to these days. Not in my life have I known a family reunion was held for this family. I wish in my generation there will be.
I was once told my grandfather and his family lived in Samal Island in Mindanao. He was the youngest of the family back then. They were members of this religious group founded by Moncado way back in the 1940s.
Hilario Camino Moncado (1898-1956) was the founder and supreme commander-in chief of the Filipino Crusaders World Army (FCWA). At the age of nine, he graduated with honors from the College of Mystery and Psychics in Calcutta, India.
During those days, especially after World War II, Samal was a well known island of the Moncadistas. In the late 1930's, Moncado and his leaders, after a long search, decided to build a Moncado colony in the Island of Samal. The island was peaceful and beautiful. It was going to be a new paradise. The followers of Moncado were known to have eaten only raw or uncooked foods. Not even fish or meat. At that time, many of the adult male members sported long hairs and flowing beards. I think that did stop nowadays.
In 1956, Hilario Camino Moncado died young. However, during his lifetime he had touched the lives of many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. He was a teacher, a leader, and a healer to his followers. He was the source of their spiritual strength including that of my grandfather and his family.
His passing however did not stop his followers to strive further the founded community. Nowadays, the Moncadistas are still in Samal. They are a small community of peace, culture and unique religious principles. Some had relocated to the US and other country carrying with them the life of a Moncadista.
Photo from Ms. Luna Miranda’s blog. Those people above including that of my grandfather’s family would have seen the same view shown in this picture.
3 comments:
so your back in blogging am I right? good to know there's a very interesting history in Samal island.
Yeah! There always have been... :D Residente ka na talaga nga blogosphere ha?! :D Hehehe.. Musta Doctora?
yes, there is some 2 to 3,000 members of the Moncadista still in Samal, according to Jesus Acedillo, spiritual director of the group. There is, however, some 20,00 more members not affiliated with the Moncado colony there in Samal. It is only one of numerous colonies established by our spritual leader, Dr. Hilario Camino Moncado, which includes colonies in Cebu, Mindanao and Bohol.
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