TRUTH IS A MILLION TIMES STRONGER THAN LIES

The blogger  as a journalist in Singapore

     This writer was a member of a 7-man ecumenical group in the Philippines that translated the Bible into Ilokano. Technically speaking, it was translating the Scriptures  from the original languages of Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament.) The only layman in the group, the blogger was given the imprimatur to sit with the Ilokano "Naimbag a Damag" project committee by Bishop Mario Baltazar of Batanes. The project was under the aegis of the US-based United Bible Societies through the Manila-based Philippine Bible Society.
     I never knew how PBS knew about me as an Ilokano writer and how they located me (it was a woman who came with a letter inviting me to attend a seminar for translators in Baguio in November) in the house along Coromina street in Quiapo. 
     It was in the late 1970s and the other mannurat boarding at the house included Terry Tugade, Prescy Bermudez, Genaro Sumaoang, Benjamin Chua, Jaime Luzano, Lorenzo Tabin and his brother Herman.
     The translators' seminar, held at Westminster Hill along Bokawkan Road, was attended by priests, pastors and deaconesses of different religious denominations in Northern Luzon. We were observed closely for our intellectual and social abilities. The person may be intelligent and "wise" but can he or she work in a committee? 
     Finally, the selection of the Ilokano Bible committe was announced on the third day. They were: Fr. Godofredo Albano of the Roman Catholic Church, Pastor Gervacio Tovera, Jr. (Nazarene Church), Rev. Juan Marigza (United Church of Christ in the Philipines), Mrs. Patrocinia Tayaban (United Methodist Church), Pastor Anacleto G. Guerrero (UMC) and Peter La. Julian, Roman Catholic layman. 
     The recording secretary was Prof.Rosalind Rusgal Camat of St. Louis University, Baguio.
     Coordinator was Dr. Noel Osborn of UBS, and a native of Illinois, USA.
    I stayed in the translation project longer than my colleagues because I had to do the Iluko version of the Apocrypha.
    As a Bible translator, the blogger hobnobbed with archbishops, priests, nuns, pastors, deaconesses and other religious persons including Filipino and American linguistic experts, who trained us in linguistics, the dynamic equivalence kind of translation and gave crash courses in Hebrew and Greek. 
    The Ilokano New Testament was launched at then Baguio Colleges Foundation (now University of the Cordilleras)  in the early 1970s while the whole Biblia was launched at the St. Paul Cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur in early 1980s. 
    It was a job that exposed me to Biblical truths, the world of antiquity, of prophets and kings and the ways of men. It was the most satisfying job in my whole life. 
     As a Bible translator, the blogger believes that truth shall make us free, that truth is stronger than lies. Yes, truth is much, much stronger than lies. 
     And so remain optimistic that the lies concocted against you will strike them back with the force of a million bombs.