Christmas Tears of Joy

The true meaning of Christmas is often thought to be found in the fleeting happiness of life. Society tells us it exists in riches, well-being, fame, power, achievements, and many other temporal things.  This Christmas season, its meaning stares at me in its purest earthly form . . . tears.

Christmas tears that arise from the hearts of fear and loss bear strong witness to the great promise of Christmas. The news of a friend being thrown back onto the battlefield of life to take on the return of cancer; the sudden death of an inspirational father-in-law; the death of a wonderful brother-in-Christ; knowing young children are now father-less; the sudden death of an Igorota sister’s father; the recent loss of a dear uncle; the brokenness of unity within loved ones; all of these produce the tears that drown the flame of happiness during the Christmas season.

Why then do I feel the way I do? Why is my heart leaping in great joy?

Christ never promised us happiness. This is an emotion that comes and goes. Society markets and commercializes Christmas with smiles and laughter, but we all know too well the stark temporary nature of happiness. Where is it after the gifts are opened? More than often it disappears like the Christmas tree that is thrown out into the street mere hours after gifts are opened. This is temporary DNA of happiness.

God promised us something more substantive and everlasting: Joy.  Different from happiness, joy is the response of our soul to the great and wonderful discovery of God, and our communion with Him. The birth of Christ makes it possible for us to experience joy, and this is why one can experience it despite the puddles of tears that flow from our heart.

A successful surgery; the legacy my father-in-law left his son and grandchildren; my brother-in-Christ’s recent baptism and acceptance of Christ’s fullness; new found forgiveness and unity; these are real reasons for joy. So, if you know of anyone needing some joy in their life this Christmas season, remind them that Christ loves them and He wants nothing more than for them to experience His joy.

In the words of Chris Tomlin’s song, “Unspeakable Joy”:

"Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
That all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
 Repeat the sounding joy
Joy, unspeakable joy
And overflowing where no tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy
Rises in my soul, never lets me go." 

Legacies Built on Igorot Attributes

Originally published on BIBAKBOH 9/3/14

More than twenty years ago, I once stood in the midst of greatness; in between two men who made the decision to do great things with their lives. That day, they wore fluorescent green jackets with matching “snapback” hats, way before snapbacks were conceived. It was a time when their past business and personal achievements culminated into a moment of celebration for what they had accomplished. Both celebrated by raising their fists, which bore huge-gaudy gold rings the size of NFL Superbowl Championship rings. As their rings broke the atmosphere of complacency and laziness, the inscribed names of Delson and Longid glistened.

Ninteen years ago, I was deeply touched by the number of positive comments, testimonies, and stories about the first man shortly after his passing. They all seemed to repeat in one way or another, how he made a positive impact on their lives and those of so many. Recently, on August 25, 2014, the latter passed away.  Immediately after his death, stories about him began surfacing within the social media world. The first man was my father, Crisanto Delson, who died along with my mother and sister in a car accident in 1995. The second was Norman Longid, whom I always referred to as “Uncle Norm.”

It’s hard to talk about one without talking about the other. Anyone who knew them could tell you how they lived strong faith-based lies, valued their marriages and family, had positive attitudes, had a great sense of purpose in life, possessed excellent work ethics, inspired others to become better people, and loved their neighbors to the best of their abilities. There is, however, something very special about them that many people are not aware of; qualities and attributes that made up the backbone of their very identity.

Within the marrow of this backbone existed their true sense of identity. More than just ethnicity or culture, their identity was rooted in the DNA of being indigenous Igorots. For untold generations, Igorots have passed down certain attributes that are innate to their identity, more so than outside features. The following seven particular attributes always come to mind when I reflect on my ancestors.

Life Purpose

Unlike countless of people today, whose lives lack purpose; the daily lives of our ancestors were driven with purpose. Their sense of purpose was a selfless kind that focused on serving others in their family and community. Uncle Norm and dad managed to hold on to this dear attribute as they strove to help others through their spiritual, business, and everyday life. It was clear to them that they were put on this earth with certain gifts and talents, and that these things were meant to help others. For them, it was expected of them to contribute to the greater good of this world, to live with purpose, and to do something special with their lives in the eyes of God.

Virtue

From the stories I’ve heard about their childhood and adolescent years, it is clear that they strove to live lives of high moral standards. For example, both realized the dangers of falling into the corruption and immorality that surrounded them during the Marcos dictatorship. They were disillusioned with the government and knew that by staying in the Philippines, they too could succumb to things that would compromise their moral fiber. Yes, their upbringing in the Christian faith (Episcopalian for Norm and Catholicism for dad) had plenty to do with this, but what many don’t realize; their indigenous ancestry played the most important part.

It is the soil that nurtured their seeds of Christianty. Long before Christianity, a moral code or way for Igorots known as “inayan” existed (and still does). Doing things that are right, valuing marriage and family, selflessness, and treating others the way one wants to be treated all combine to make for fertile soil to cultivate higher spiritualities. Unfortunately, the portrayal of Igorots as savages by Filipino lowlanders and western cultures have overshadowed the true goodness and virtues of our people. Fortunately, there are those like Uncle Norm and dad who still exemplified our inayan.

Courage and Bravery

The ability to enter a known or unknown situation, despite whatever dangers may exist, is also innate to Igorots. This has well been documented by westerners during World War II, especially by General Douglas MacArthur when he was quoted as saying:

“Many desperate acts of courage and heroism have fallen under my observation on many fields of battle in many parts of the world. I have seen forlorn hopes become realities. I have seen last-ditch stands and innumerable acts of personal heroism that defy description. but for sheer breathtaking and heart stopping desperation, I have never known the equal of those Igorots riding the tanks. Gentlemen, when you tell the story stand in tribute to those gallant Igorots.”

Although Uncle Norm and dad did not fight on the battlefields of war, they fought on many other battlefields. One battlefield that comes to mind is their decision to enter the unknown world of entrepreneurialism. The decision to leave the “security” blanket of a steady job is one that many lack the courage and bravery to do.

Fortitude and Resilience

For more than 300 years, Spain colonized the archipelago and branded it with the name Philippines, which was named after King “Phillip.” Igorots, on the other hand were never colonized. They successfully fought off Spain’s attempts to conquer them, and as a result, their culture still remains intact.

The fortitude and resilience that protected their culture for centuries also helped both men in their everyday challenges and struggles. When they decided to pass on social events because of the more important priorities of God, family, and business; it took both attributes to ignore criticisms and rumors. When my father was told he could not succeed in business because of his strong accent, these attributes kicked in. When Uncle Norm was diagnosed with cancer, it took the same to get as far as he did. When they decided to give up alcohol for the sake of their health and their families, the fortitude and resilience within enabled them to stay the course despite what others thought or said. For both, it’s impossible to hear stories about them without hearing about  their toughness, backbone, strong-mindedness, steadfastness, mettle, and endurance against adversity.

Cultural Heritage

The last time I spent with both men alone was at a restaurant twenty one years ago. It was over a casual lunch near the office. Naturally, I thought they would talk about their Primerica businesses because it was always the topic of the day. Surprisingly, as Uncle Norm cut into his liver and grilled onions plate, he started talking about an experience in his Igorot hometown of Sagada that somehow related to the food. This led to an exchange of more experiences from both about their hometowns, which turned into an imparting of their “Igorotness” to me. I recall my dad saying something about Filipino time versus Igorot time, in that if Igorots lived their lives always being late for things (which Filipinos are known to have adopted from Spain – the “manana” habit); the rice terraces wouldn’t be an eighth wonder of the world. They clearly wanted me to know how their Igorotness played a part in their daily lives.

Here in America, people rarely pay attention to their cultural heritage. It is often lost in the strong currents of assimilation. This was not the case for these men. Although it wasn’t always apparent on the outside, both men truly treasured their indigenous ancestry and would attribute who they were to where they came from.

In a book review of the novel, Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within, an American anthropologist captured my attention with these words:

“Alex's [main character] voyage of self discovery appeals to the Igorot in all of us, in that it appeals to the American search for our heritage. We're a young melting pot country, not yet old enough to have completely established our own cultural identity; and yet many of us derive from people of so many heritages that we're not sure what to call ourselves except "American." Add to that the fact that so many of our ancestors deliberately suppressed their origins in the effort to assimilate, and many of us feel lost at a deep level.”

Unlike many other cultures, Igorots have relied on passing down their culture by word of mouth. As more and more of the elders who possess such treasures die, countless amounts of indigenous knowledge also go with them. These days, Igorots are increasingly adopting the ways of lowlanders, westerners, and other cultures. As a result, the measure of an Igorot is often skewed. The measure of a great Igorot should not only be measured by their language, what they wear, how well they play gangsa instruments, the music they listen to, and any other outward features and characteristics. Rather, it needs to be measured by how they lived their lives. Next time you meet an Igorot, look at their relationship with God above all, then look at their marriages, families, and all the selfless good they have done. If you smile as a result, then you know you are in the presence of a great Igorot.

When you think about men mounted on tanks in the field of battle, think of Igorots. When you think of two men mounted on the above attributes in life’s fields of battle, think of these two Igorots and the legacy they have left behind. Both men are true enlightened warriors in the sense that they fought wrong doing and sacrificed themselves for the goodness of others. When you hear about how their businesses helped countless of widows and orphans with hundreds of millions of dollars, don’t just think about two great men. Instead, think about two great Igorots. When you think about the countless of people they inspired to become better in whatever they did, think of two great Igorots. When you think of all the less-than-fortunate they helped in many ways, think of these two great Igorots.

Nakashima Sensei: May She Rest In Peace

Nakashima sensei (center)

It was during the fall of 1996. After several months of looking for a credible person to teach me about Japanese gardens, a store owner of a local bonsai store gave me the phone number of a lady, who did a presentation about Japanese gardens at the University of Illinois. Her name was Dr. Ikka Nakashima.

I vividly remember my first conversation with her on the phone. Her Japanese accent was difficult to understand at first, but I managed to understand most of what she said. I was disappointed to hear she no longer did Japanese garden presentations at the university. Instead, she taught Chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) and Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) at her house. When she detected my disappointment, she told me I could learn much about the gardens through Chanoyu.

“Chanoyu and Chaniwa (tea garden) same spirt,” she told me several times. “Both are harmony,” she continued. “You come next week to see, I no charge tuition first time,okay?”

Without hesitation, I accepted her invitation and attended my first Chanoyu class that following week .

It took me a little more than an hour to reach her house in Chicago’s north side, but it seemed much shorter because of my combined excitement and anticipation. With my Zafu (Japanese Zen meditation cushion) under one arm and my Zabutan (meditation mat) rolled under the other, I pressed the doorbell. Nobody answered. After a minute or so, I pressed it again. Still nobody answered. I clenched my fist to knock on the door when suddenly, it slowly opened.

A short lady with dark black hair and very pale skin appeared as the door opened. She looked up at me with a big smile, bent forward and nodded. Awkwardly, I nodded in return.

    

“Hello Mrs. Nakashima,” I said. “I’m Rex, the one who talked with you on the phone last week.”

    

“Ahso, Hai,” she replied in Japanese. “Please come in Alex.”

“Did she not hear me correctly?” I thought.  It wasn’t until she repeated my name several times more that I realized she couldn’t pronounce the letter “R” with words that began with “R.”  Instead, she pronounced the letter “L” with a brief “Ah” in front of it, much like how Filipinos interchange their “F” and “P”s.

She looked at what I was holding under my arms and smiled. “You won’t need those,” she said. “Chanoyu is not zazen. Our meditation is not sitting. It is moving meditation,” she continued as she smiled.

She had me take my shoes off and instructed me to place them neatly against the wall facing outward so that I can easily slip back into them on my way out. We then entered the house and sat down as she gave me a brief introduction to Chanoyu. After about twenty minutes, her students began filtering in to attend class.

There were five people including myself that night. Four of us were the guests and the fifth person was the host. He was the person who performed the actual ceremony, which included the making and serving of tea.

Inside the tea room, us four guests sat on our knees next to each other as we watched the host carefully and gracefully prepare tea like I’ve never seen before. Every movement he made was precise and graceful. I knew right then that Chanoyu involved a great level of discipline. Unfortunately, just when I began experiencing the serenity of the ceremony, a million ants seemed to fill every crevice of my feet.

I was not used to sitting on my knees, so after only ten minutes, the discomfort associated with one’s legs falling asleep overtook me. Thankfully, I was allowed to sit cross legged for the remainder of that night. At the end of the evening, I was so impressed that I enrolled in her classes.

Two years into my training with her, she helped make it possible for me to travel to Kyoto, Japan to attend an intensive course on Japanese gardens geared specifically for international students. After returning from Japan, I continued with my Chanoyu training. After my third year of training, an opportunity to work for master gardener, Hoichi Kurisu, in Florida came my way. Naturally, I seized the opportunity and move my family to Florida.

With the new opportunity, also came the end of my Chanoyu training with Nakashima sensei. I kept touch with her through hand written letters and an occasional visit or phone call. Of the several people who made an impact in my life, she is definitely one I will never forget. Sadly, I learned today of her recent death.

She was more than a Chanoyu teacher to me, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for her. When we first met, I was still dealing with the fresh and heavy pains of losing my parents and sister. She was there to both comfort me and encourage me to move forward in life. She always referred to me as her “boy.” When she asked me how I was, she would say, “How’s my boy doing?” Even with others, I heard her refer to me as such.

She taught me about the importance of living what we believed through our actions, living each day in the present moment, choosing a path in life that serves others, selflessness, compassion, dedication, and discipline. She was a living example of someone who lived a life of vocation; a life that centered on helping others.

She will be missed, but never forgotten. Her spirit will continue to live on through the good things she passed onto me and many others. May eternal rest be granted upon her, and may perpetual light shine upon her forever.

Inspirational Artifacts for Today’s Generation

My debut novel, “Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within,” is based on the premise that one’s cultural heritage could be a catalyst for personal and spiritual development. It combines real historical events and fictional storytelling to inspire readers towards realizing this idea. Recently, these ideas of connecting cultural heritage to personal development found their way into the world of historical artifacts. 

A few days before my book’s release in November, I learned about 10,000 Filipino artifacts inside the hidden vaults of the Chicago Field museum.  To my amazement, I discovered that roughly 4,000 of them are of Cordillera / Igorot origin. It happened during an event at the Chicago Field Museum called “Marae Encounter,” where the Chicago Filipino-American community met with the museum staff in the tradition of a Maori Marae encounter. During the event, I met Nepia Mahuika, an indigenous Maori from New Zealand. I never met a Maori, but what I knew of them earned my utmost respect.

Last year I helped promote the fund-raising event to helpthe indigenous Ainu of Japan travel to New Zealand so they can learn from the Maori how to better revitalize and ensure the survival of their dying culture. The thought of one indigenous culture learning from another intrigued me so much that I began doing some research on the Maori. I quickly became impressed by the Maori and their successful efforts to preserve their culture.

After listening to Nepia Mahuika’s inspiring speech that night, I had a conversation with him that followed with a haka lesson. He complimented me on my efforts to promote my Igorot heritage. I was so moved that I gave him my very first signed copy of my book. Because of him I became inspired to take an active role in promoting the artifacts that came from the land of my ancestors. On my way home, I began mentally forming what is now the 4K Breaths of Heritage Crusade.

With the help of my cousin, Maria Luz Fang-asan, and friends from abroad; I steeped myself in researching the first few artifacts featured in our website’s first gallery. In the process, I was surprised to discover that many present-day Igorots either have little knowledge of old artifacts or lack the interest to learn about them. Though surprising, the first doesn’t bother me because I know ignorance is simple to solve through education. The latter, however, is quite disturbing simply because “interest” is the foundation of anything worthwhile.   

I believe the greatest obstacle this project has in gaining the interest of many Igorots is the fact that they come from and represent our “old ways.” In general, society discourages traditional ways by labeling them “old fashion.” As a result, people easily to fall into the false notion that there’s no room in our modern society for the old ways. To combat this, I created Alex, my book’s main character.

Alex was anything but old fashioned. He was a contemporary and progressive man surrounded by material success. It took head-on collisions with events of old for him to realize how unsuccessful he truly was. By connecting with the historical past, he discovers the enlightened warrior within him and thus, becomes a better person.

Like the historical events in Alex’s journey, the 4,000 Cordillera / Igorot artifacts posses valuable things that can also help individuals connect with something within, thus helping them become a better person. It’s this “inward” connection that counts most. On the “outside” one can appear connected to their culture by their ability to speak, eat, and dress the part, but if they are disconnected from the core values and virtues of their heritage; they are essentially disconnected.  The artifacts can help us discover and connect with new meanings in our lives.

For example, some of my favorite artifacts are those that relate to the art of weaving native textiles. Things like the enabel (backstrap looms) and lilidsan (cotton gin), and pinakpagan (blanket) speak of a culture in where identity and meaning are woven into the mere fabrics of their souls. This is what sets them apart from today’s textile world. Personally, I draw particular inspiration from the symbols woven into the Bontoc fabrics. In fact, these symbols are the primary inspiration behind the magic blanket that takes Alex through his journey in my book.

Historically, the eye, human figure, spear, lizard, snake, and star have their own traditional meanings, but I applied a fictional touch by having them represent certain characteristic traits of Igorots. The eye represents cultural heritage, the human figure – life purpose, shield – courage, lizard – resilience, spear – bravery, snake – fortitude, and star – virtue. All of these things are important in life, yet are all too often ignored or taken for granted.

Another artifact that inspires me is the simple farming tools such as the Tinguian planting stick. In my book, I describe a group of women turning soil and how they find joy in it. How many of us can truly say we enjoy our work? Statistics in America say that the majority of Americans hate their jobs. Forbes says that 70% of Americans hate their jobs. This shouldn’t be. We should all strive to work hard and enjoy doing what we do.

In addition, the simplicity of life that these planting tools imply is desperately needed in today’s society. How much material “stuff” do we really need? We keep collecting stuff upon stuff upon stuff. Parents work double jobs just to keep up with the payments of their stuff, while quality time for children and spouse are unnecessarily sacrificed. It’s sad to see how materialism often plays a major role in the number of broken families and marriages today.

Strangely, as a devout Catholic, I also find inspiration in the artifacts that relate to our pagan origins such as the carved anito, bulul spirits and deities.  Many Cordillerans have converted to Christianity since the turn of the twentieth century. My mother was one of them. In fact, she was the first Christian in her family. Her father, a pagan priest, was the second as he was converted by my mother just prior to his death.  She rejected the old pagan practices and wanted nothing to do with them.

For a long time, I too shared her feelings, but the more I learn about our pagan ways; the more I appreciate the old adage “something is better than nothing.”  When I consider the rampant spread of narcissism, selfishness, and rejection of a supreme being in our society; I find consolation that my ancestors recognized something other than themselves. In fact, their beliefs and spiritual nature helps me appreciate the old ways while strengthening my personal Catholic faith.

If people allow themselves to appreciate these artifacts, they can discover new meaning and inspiration that not only draws them closer to their cultural heritage, but can ultimately help them become a better person. These 4,000 hidden Cordilleran / Igorot artifacts need the support of the generations that followed so that our indigenous cultural heritage can thrive as that of the Maori.

Kindly, take this moment to view the 4k Breaths of Heritage Crusade website to see how you can support their efforts.

The MLK of Igorotdo

When it comes to speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., most people only know his “I Have a Dream” speech.  They don’t know the other lesser-known, yet powerful ones. One of his most underrated speeches is the one about the “Three Dimensions of Life that Make Life Complete.” The three dimensions come from the twenty first chapter of the biblical book of Revelation. They are: 1) the length of life, 2) the breath of life, and 3) the height of life. 

MLK describes the length of life as “accepting ourselves and our tools.” The breath of life is the “outward concern for the welfare of others,” and finally, the height of life is the “upward reach for God.” In his words, “Now you got to have all three of these to have a complete life.”

Upon listening to his speech, which I’ve heard many years ago, I couldn’t help but reflect on my novel, “Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within.” Throughout the entire process of writing the book, MLK’s speech never came to mind. Yet, like the ebb and flow of tides; its words splash onto the literary shores of my story and pull its themes back into its body of meanings. When seen through the perspective of MLK’s speech, the novel bears strong similarities to the three dimensions of life.

In the book, Alex, the protagonist, encounters and inhabits various characters. These people help him re-connect to his estranged cultural heritage, resulting in the understanding of his “length of life.” These same characters, particularly the enlightened samurai, also help him discover the self-centeredness of his being and guide him to his “breath of life.” As both dimensions become a part of him, Alex’s “height of life” comes naturally, thus allowing him to become “complete.”

Read MLK's "Three Dimensions of a Complete Life" here.

The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life from Sweet Speeches on Vimeo.

Give the Gift of Culture and Positive Inspiration

Looking for something special to give to those special to you? Something other than the normal expected gift? How about a book that entertains, inspires and promotes the Igorot culture? This year, give "Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within."

Available online at:

Amazon.com (printed version)

Barnes & Noble .com (printed version)

Amazon.com (kindle eBook version)

Nook (eBook version)

Kobo (eBook version)

For more information about the book: 

www.rexcrisanto.com 

Reviews

"Part mystery, part moral tale and full-on adventure story . . . . unique read . . . a new and authentic genre-bending narrative: a spiritual adventure with a contemporary voice."

- Portland Book Review

Sometimes a book, no matter how well-written and easily read, is hard to pigeonhole. Is it a philosophical novel? A spiritual mystery? A fantasy? An examination of what it means to be human?

Rexcrisanto Delson's "Igorotdō: The Enlightened Warrior Within" is all of the above and more—a many-faceted character study of the value of cultural heritage and, ultimately, what it means to be a good person. It's an easy and fascinating read, which entertains as it broadens your mind.

- Anthropogist Floyd Largent Jr.

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A Trio of Inspiration

Ever since I began writing my book, Igorotdo: The Enlightened Warrior Within, I've wanted to inspire others to take stock in their own cultural heritage, whatever it may be.  When it comes to my own heritage, I've come to realize that many Igorots in America seem content with keeping our rich heritage to themselves or within their small Igorot circles of friends.  Every now and then, however, I am encouraged when organizations such as the BIBAK Youth San Diego organize events and activities that are geared to sharing their culture to the American public.  Knowing fully the difficulties involved in rallying others to share their cultural heritage; I find people such as those youth in San Diego more than inspiring.

The Trio behind The Connection Art Project:
Maggie Rife Ponce, Agustina Diez Sierra, Jaycee Gossett

I used to say, "What can be more inspiring than hearing about fellow Igorot-"Americans" sharing our culture with the world?"  Well, I stumbled upon an answer to that question two days ago when I attended the Connection Art Project cultural event by a group of three non-Igorot women.  I was simply amazed by their interest to promote both the Filipino and Igorot culture here in Chicago.

Can you imagine how I must have felt when I stepped out of the elevator to enter the event, only to receive the silent greetings of Kalinga Igorot women adorned in their tattoos and dressed in their native tapis? Even though they were on photo canvas, I still felt their welcoming greetings through their eyes and smiles.  As the event unfolded, I saw the Igorot culture through the eyes and vibrancy of these three women who traveled to Manila and Kalinga and put together the artistic documentary displayed that evening.

Two things impressed me most that night. First, I was taken by the story of Johann Oro, a Filipino-American, who like me, grew up in America and waited many years before connecting to his roots in the Philippines.  It's a story I know all too well.  Assimilation in America has a powerful way of ripping our roots out from under its indigenous soil. Every time I meet a Filipino kid here in America, I seem to always wonder if they would fall victim to the estrangement of their culture, like I once did.

The second most adoring thing was the pictures and video portraying the people of Kalinga.  As I watched a video of the three women with the tattooed Kalinga women dancing both native and Latin dances in their video documentary, the same ancestral feelings I once experienced back home in the Mountain Province resurfaced.  I was so inspired that evening that I immediately wrote a quick article on Examiner.com once I arrived at my home.

More information about The Connection Art Project can be found on their website and Facebook page.  Also, please help spread the word about their Kickstarter Fundraiser, of which a portion of the funds will go to the people in Kalinga.

 

Miss America 2014: Nina Davuluri - A Celebration of Cultural Heritage

The 92^nd Miss America pageant took place recently, and with it came the first Asian-American to ever win the crown.  Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, became the first Asian-American and Indian-American to hold such honor.  Not since Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America in 1983 did ethnicity make such headlines.  In fact, this year’s pageant included five Asian-Americans – the most in its history, including Chinese-American runner-up Crystal Lee. 

As a daughter of parents who are originally from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, Nina Davuluri made it clear that her heritage is important to her by performing an Indian-fusion cultural dance on stage for the world to see.  she stood with Crystal Lee moments before the announcement of her victory and said, “We’re both so proud. We’re making history standing here as Asian-Americans.”

Davuluri, whose pageant platform was “celebrating diversity through cultural competency,” became a testament of ethnic pride when she was asked in her interview question what she thought about CBS’ Julie Chen’s admission of having plastic surgery to look “less Asian.”  She responded, “Unfortunately I don’t agree with plastic surgery, however, I can understand that from a standpoint, but more importantly, I’ve always viewed Miss American as the girl next door, and the girl next door is evolving as the diversity in America evolves.” She went on to say, “. . so I wouldn’t want to change someone’s looks or appearance, but definitely be confident in who you are.”

Unfortunately, her ethnicity and cultural platform is being rejected by many. Immediately after the announcement of victory, racism raised its ugly head in the social media world as people expressed their disapproval.  This is nothing new though.  The pageant has been down this road before when the first Jewish Miss America, Bess Meyerson, won it in 1945 and Vanessa Williams won it in 1983.  Nina Davuluri’s victory just goes to show how much more work needs to be done in America to rid it of hate. 

Nonetheless, her example and message is a great inspiration for countless of girls, the Asian-American community and most important – all ethnic backgrounds that make up the United States of America.  We should all be proud of being American, but we should never forget the positive aspects of ancestry that makes up our identity. 
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Photo Gallery of Nina Davuluri

This has been a cross publication from an original article published on Examiner.com

Important Lessons from the Ainu of Japan

At times it can be a challenge for Igorots who still live in the Philippines to maintain their ethnic identity, but their challenges are nothing compared to those who immigrated to America and other western nations. This is mainly because the assimilation factor for small ethnic groups that exists in these countries is two-fold.  For example, a Filipino from the major metropolitan city of Manila is faced with the challenge of assimilating into the American culture, whereas an Igorot not only faces the same challenge, but also faces the challenges of assimilating into the general Filipino populace without losing their connection to their true ethnic identity.

I thought about this recently when I was in a church filled with over a thousand Filipinos attending the Filipino Christmas tradition called Simbang Gabi.  I wore a traditional Igorot vest over my dress shirt to express my ethnicity, but more importantly so that my children could see that I am proud of being an Igorot.  There were also a handful of other Igorots there, but they wore the traditional Filipino dresses and Barong Tagalog shirts.  Since it was a Filipino event that called for Filipino tradition, it made sense to me.  There was also a time when I wore my Barong Tagalog to Simbang Gabi, but the more I learn about my heritage; the more I realize how important it is for me and my children not to lose our connection to it.  This is why a simple act of switching from the Barong Tagalog to my native attire makes so much sense.

Imagine a long-time Chicagoan who moves to another country and is asked by its people, “Where are you from?”  Does he emphasize Chicago or America?  Does he talk about the unparalleled pizza, hot dogs, sports teams, ethnic diversity, culture and all that make Chicago wonderful, or does he talk in general about America?    I realize comparing this to ethnic cultures is like comparing apples to oranges, but I think the point can be made that smaller ethnic groups are faced with more challenges when it comes to maintaining their ethnic heritage.

So how then can small ethnic groups successfully assimilate in western nations and still keep their heritage alive for many more generations to come?  The answer is both simple and difficult.  Simple in that all we need to do is practice and teach about the importance of our heritage to our children, but difficult because human nature tends to want to be part of mainstream society – in my case: Filipinos and Americans.  This is why it is important for people of smaller ethnic groups to form close bonds with others who share and practice the same cultural beliefs and practices.  

I recently learned about a small indigenous group in Japan known as the Ainu people.  As recent as 2008, the Japanese government officially recognized them as indigenous people.  Prior to that, they have been referred to as “former aboriginals,” according to the Aoteaora Ainumsor Exchange Program (AAEP).

Ainu dancing traditional Tapkaara Dance

The Ainu were forced to assimilate into the Japanese culture many years ago and as a result, many are no longer connected to their Ainu heritage because of deeply rooted discrimination that pervades the Japanese society, or the inability for people to discover meaning in being Ainu. Either way, there are still many people who have yet to assert their Ainu identity.  Surprisingly, a Hokkaido government survey points out that:

There are about 24,000 Ainu people, however in reality there are several times more Ainu people than that figure leads us to believe.  Out of 5,000 to 10,000 Ainu people living in the Tokyo metropolitan area alone, only around 100 of them are active as Ainu.

It’s sad that only 1 to 2% of the Ainu in Japan are active as Ainu.  Now just imagine how much less of a number that would be if they had to assimilate into two cultures like the Igorots in America.  Fortunately for the Ainu, there are many who are trying to revitalize their heritage.

I was inspired to learn about a campaign that is trying to raise funds to send Ainu students to Aoteroa (New Zealand) to learn how its indigenous Maori people have been working to ensure the survival of their culture.  The students will learn how the Maori have advanced their rights as indigenous people of New Zealand since the 1970s.  More important, they can see how the Maori are significantly contributing to the development of New Zealand’s economic, political, cultural and social landscapes.  It is a worthy cause that will raise the consciousness of the Ainu heritage and will help inspire more Ainus to re-connect with their estranged heritage.

The Ainu teaches us two very important lessons.  First, it teaches us that unless a conscious effort is made to preserve our own ethnic heritages, the dreadful decline of one’s heritage is certain.  Fortunately for them, it’s not too late. Second, we can always benefit by reaching out to another culture to better ourselves. We here in Chicago are fortunate to have so many different ethnic cultures that it would be a shame if we didn't try to take the time to learn something from any of them.

This post is cross-published from Examiner.com. Read full article HERE.

You can help send Ainu students to New Zealand by contributing to their fundraiser campaign:

Gangsa Style (not Gangnam Style)

With the help of BIBBAK Illinois members and family; we recently created the video, "Igorot GANGSA STYLE - PSY Gangnam Style Parody."  The following information expounds on its history, the filming process and its purposes.

History

Sometime in August, I received a facebook message from our present Vice-President of BIBBAK Illinois, Gerald Batanes, suggesting that we do the Gangnam Style dance at our BIBBAK-IL Christmas party.  The idea really didn't interest me at the time, but I kept it in the back of me head because we dads of BIBBAK-IL needed to come up with a performance that either met or exceeded last year's "Evolution of Dance" Christmas party performance.  Nearly three months passed and we still didn't have any ideas for the Christmas party, other than Gerald's suggestion.

On November 3rd, the officers of BIBBAK-IL had a meeting to begin finalizing our plans for the December 1st Christmas party.  Gerald brought up the idea of us fathers doing a Gangnam Style parody dance, but the timing was bad.  The dads who were part of last year's performance had conflicting schedules and we simply didn't have the time to adequately prepare for such an endeavor.

A week passed and we dads were still without a performance.  Then one day I sat down to watch the Gangnam Style video on Youtube.  As I watched it, ideas of us dads doing crazy things in our wanes / bahag (g-strings) danced across my mind.  With less than 2 weeks before the Christmas party, the dads who were available met at various times and locations to film footage for the video.

Filming

The first attempt to film footage was suppose to take place on the Metra train going to Chicago from the Naperville suburb, but only one person was there at the train station to meet me.  Needless to say, it was cancelled.  However, the Igorot in me refused to give up so I threw my wanes into my backpack, hopped on my bicycle, boarded the train by myself and headed out to downtown Chicago.  

It was 42 degrees at the time, but the lakefront winds made it seem much colder.  My first stop was at our famous Buckingham Fountain where I failed in getting strangers to participate in the video mainly because there were so few people out that day.  I biked 13 kilometer to the Jackson Park Pier where I changed into my wanes.

Only a fisherman and I were crazy enough to be out on the pier that day.  I set up the tripod and camcorder and waited for an opportunity to shoot some footage.  Eventually a man walked by me and I asked him if he had a moment to spare.  When I told him I would drop my pants down in front of him to reveal my native attire, his eyes opened wide as he looked at me like I was crazy.  Thankfully, he saw the humor in it and volunteered to stand there while I did my thing.  

The second attempt to film turned out much better.  Five of us dads, my son and his friend drove out to the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, IL.  When I asked staff member inside the stables if we could film footage, she had us wait until she could get approval over the phone from her superior.  When she asked me who we were and what we were filming, I told her we were a group of native Indians who were doing a short documentary.

Fortunately, they had no problem with it.  In fact, one of the staff members engaged one of the other dads and I in a short conversation about our "tribe."  

"Oh, I love the native Indians," she began.  "What tribe are you from?"

"We're not as well known as the Appache or Mohicans, but we're from a small scattered tribe called Igorot," I quickly responded.

The conversation eventually led to whether we rode our horses with saddles or bare back.  That's when I had to come clean and tell her we were actually native highlanders from the Philippines.  Luckily, she became more amused and wanted to know more about us.

After filming at Danada, we drove to the Navistar corporate building in Warrenville, IL.  Knowing there were cameras and security guards inside watching our every move, we quickly darted out our cars and ran to the front where we shot some short but funny footage.  We all laughed as cars passed us on the road and honked their horns.  The day ended at the Korean Chodung Tofu Village restaurant, where we enjoyed great Korean food and more filming.

Our third opportunity to film took place on Thanksgiving Day where we BIBBAK-IL members participated in the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Chicago.  It was another cold morning in the mid 40's and it felt even colder wearing my wanes.  It was an opportunity we didn't want to miss especially since we knew there would be approximately 400,000 pedestrians watching from the the streets and nearly 7 million from their televisions.  

We were lucky to have had the opportunity to film footage with the well renowned Jesse White Tumblers, Barefoot Hawaiian dancers, a Star Wars Stormtrooper from the 501st Legion Midwest Garrison and fellow Highlanders from Poland; not to mention pictures with Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White.

We eventually made it to Buckingham Fountain to film more footage.  Other places included the IKEA store in Bolingbrook, IL, Bolingbrook Public Library and the VFW Hall in Berwyn, IL.

Music & Video

A couple weeks prior to our first filming of footage, I watched many Gangnam Style parodies on Youtube.  One after another, people were using the original Korean version of the song.  I really began scratching my head when a group of southern men, who calls themselves Rednecks, were also using the Korean version.  It just didn't seem right to be wearing our wanes / bahags and dancing to a Korean song. 

I contacted my cousin's son in California, Sam Malabato, to ask if he would create the lyrics of a new song in our native language, Kankanaey.  He not only wanted to do the writing, but he was also excited to sing.  According to him, it was a difficult task.  One night he messaged me on facebook saying, "Uncle it's hard!!!"  This didn't worry me because I knew he possessed the Igorot in him to persevere as he does in football. 

While Sam worked on the lyrics and vocals, I tried contacting a local friend, who is a professional sound engineer, to help with the music and sounds.  He was unable to help so I reached out to my son, Josh, to help.  He's only a senior in high school, but the things he can do with sound, video and graphics  just amazes me!

Not Just a Parody

If you watch all of the Gangnam Style parodies on Youtube, you won't see any that actually promotes something with substance; something that sends a good message out to people that will help them become the best they can be.  The closest one I saw was the one done by the U.S. Naval Academy.

I wanted to do something that can help people connect to their heritage, especially us Igorots.  All too often, I see young Igorots here in America get too caught up with trying to be "American" that they either forget or never connect to their heritage.  Those of you who know me by now, know that I feel strongly about drawing from the intangible and tangible qualities of our ethnic origins so that we can become the best we can be in all aspects of our lives.  

Even though, our video is filled with querky and funny footage, I hope it sends a message out to all Igorots that we have a wonderful culture that we can learn from and incorporate into our everyday modern lives.  I also hope it does the same to all ethnic groups.  

Igorot GANGSA STYLE (click on lower bottom right corner to watch on Youtube/full screen)

 

Outreach to Donna

Northeast America was recently pummeled by Hurricane Sandy.  New York and New Jersey continue to suffer greatly.  According to Reuters:

"At least 121 people have perished in the storm, which caused an estimated $50 billion in property damage and economic losses and ranks as on of the most destructive natural disasters to hit the U.S. Northeast."

People from as far as California have left their hometowns to help those devastated by the storm.  When I hear about these acts of love & compassion, I am reminded about what ties many of us Americans together - our citizenship as Americans.    I am also reminded of how little my personal challenges in life are compared to the thousands in the Northeast.  With all of the havoc Sandy has caused, it's hard to think about others in need elsewhere.

Well, just this evening I received a message from a fellow writer/blogger, Christian Aligo, back home in the Philippines about a young lady in need.  I didn't take it seriously at first.  In fact, my knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss it because it seems like everyone is in need these days.  Then I read the post he wrote and suddenly I felt like a Californian wanting to help a New Yorker thousands of miles away.

I say this because she happens to be Igorot, and her family is from Guinzadan, Bauko, Mountain Province in the Philippines; the same place my parents and relatives are from.  I don't know her or her family, but there's that sense of citizenship that compels me to write this hoping that it will reach others who are in a position to help this young lady.

Source: Christian Lizardo Aligo Blog

The name of the young lady is Donna Canuto Cuaresma, but rather than tell you about her myself, I will share what my friend Christian Aligo wrote about her in his blog post.  It reads:

"Donna Canuto Cuaresma, 20, was once a dance trainer of the youth in Isabela, Philippines. She was also president of a religious youth organization in her community.

"Donna was an active athlete in the field of dancing while high school," added Rufina Canuto Kilip, Donna's aunt, on crowd-sourcing site Indegogo. 

However her liveliness turned gray when she was diagnosed with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney disease secondary to Lupus Nephritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks normal body tissues.  The illness has already affected her heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Donna's kidneys have deteriorated and a transplant is needed to save her life.

She is having a regular dialysis at St. John Biocare and at the Dialysis Center in Quezon City.  She also does workups for the needed transplant at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

According to her aunt, Donna is undergoing dialysis three times a week and each session costs P3, 400 [$82.67].  Moreover, she needs P20,500/month [$498.48] for her medicines.  For her kidney transplant, she needs at least P150,000 [$3647.41]. 

Donna's mother Maximina Babtoog Canuto-Cuaresma is originally from Bagnen and Guinsadan, Bauko, Mountain Province.  She teaches at Quezon Public High School.

"We have spent all our savings and not to mention of the number of debts we have, shared Rugina who manages the online fund-raising event.  We also solicited financial help from friends and relatives."

In an update posted November 12, rufina narrated that "Her sister is the one with her now in the hospital to look after her while it's her school semestrar break for her mom is going back to work starting today.  When Donna's sister goes back to school next week, their dad will take over to look after her."

I come to knock at the door of people with open heart to give," appeals Rufina. 

For more information, including where to send financial support, please go directly to Christian Lizardo Aligo's original blog post at:  http://goo.gl/Qy2J9

Tim Tebow: Understanding the Spin and Seeing the Bigger Picture

This is a re-published article originally published on Yahoo

On the morning of February 03, 2012, ESPN aired an interview that featured Tim Tebow. In it, ESPN's Skip Bayless did not focus on Tebow's highly criticized throwing motion or his ability as an NFL quarterback. Given the limited amount of air time the interview was allotted, he knew he needed to cut through these superficial topics and get right down to what has made Tebow the most polarizing athlete of 2011. Next to politics, there's nothing more that polarizes Americans than the topic of religion. Recognizing this fact, ESPN chose a snippet of the interview in its thirty one second teaser commercial that featured Skip Bayless asking Tebow, "How much of a role does God play in winning or losing a football game?"

In the interview, Tebow responded by saying, "That's a good question. I think for me . . . when I'm praying before games and during games, when I get on my knees in what's become Tebowing . . . I'm asking the Lord for strength whether I win or I lose, whether I'm the hero or the goat; I'm still gonna be the same person. I'm gonna treat others the way I want to be treated. I'm gonna do my best and I'm gonna do what's right and regardless, I'm gonna give Him the glory, and part of taking a knee is humbling yourself and it's a form of showing humility where you're putting someone else first and putting the Lord first, and that's why I do it. . . More than anything, more than asking for wins and losses - I'm asking that I have a platform to honor Him."

Bayless went on to say, "So bottom line, you don't think that God decides football games," and Tebow responded, "You know, I think God is involved in every aspect of our life." Bayless continued, "Or is it beyond you to know?"

"It's absolutely beyond me to know," replied Tebow. "I think God's in every aspect of our life, regardless, and I think the greatest thing is if we are honoring Him with what we do."

This was the best piece of media I've seen about Tim Tebow all year. Skip Bayless did a remarkable job, especially with the way he conducted the interview with a sense of fairness that hasn't been given to Tebow since entering the NFL. Rather than talk about all of his great attributes, mainstream society has preferred to surround him with controversy, which has been spearheaded by the media. Nobody understands controversy better than the media. Instead of taking an objective look at Tebow's admirable character traits and promote him as a great role model for people, the media chose to bask in the controversy surrounding "Tebowmania" and "Tebowing."

Wherever there is controversy, be sure that a trail of money follows it. For the media and profiteers to create a win-win scenario for themselves, they knew that it is as simple as igniting controversy by creating a love-him or hate-him attitude toward Tebow and fueling it with anything they can dig up on him. Knowing that there needs to always be a catalyst provoking both extreme feelings, the media remains relentless on spinning the public's mind. The more people they can spin to either extreme, the more money there is to be made.

Whether people realize it or not, they fuel the media's spin cycle by choosing either sides of the Tebow spectrum. Even I realize that by writing this article; I too am feeding the flames of controversy. In order for people to keep from fueling the media's spin, they would have to totally cut themselves off from the media or find the middle ground. Neither is something the media would like to see happen, especially the latter. When someone chooses the middle ground, they realize that there is neither hate nor love, but rather a sincere appreciation for the man and his character. This can be damaging for the media because they and their ulterior motives are exposed, and when this happens, their flaming profits begin to smolder; all the more reason why they continuously need to find good and bad things to spin.

Take for example, Tebowing, which is one of the biggest things fueling their spin. Just so you know, Tim Tebow isn't the first football player to kneel and pray in public or on a football field. During his February 01, 2012 appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show, he made this same statement to everyone watching. Interestingly enough, NFL.com also released recent a video called "The Book of Tebow," which clearly points this out.

Personally speaking, I have seen players do this long before Tebow. My first recollection of this happening was sometime during the 1978 NFL season when I saw Roger Staubach kneel and pray on the sideline during one of their games. As an elementary school kid, I was captivated by the sight of number 12 praying. There was something about seeing one of the best quarterbacks of that time praying on the field that shed a positive light on the act of praying. I remember how my love for the Cowboys immediately shifted to my admiration for Roger Staubach because of it.

From that point on, I made it a point to always look for magazines that featured Staubach whenever I was at a grocery store with my parents or at the public library. One day, I scrounged up a dollar and some change to buy my first and most memorable magazine - the September 04, 1978 edition of Sports Illustrated that featured Staubach on its cover with the words "Roger Staubach, Straight Arrow of the Cowboys."

It was the first thing I had ever read that made an inspirational impact on my life. I read it over and over again. I admired the kind of man he was because of how he always went to church, performed good deeds for others, served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, was a Heisman Trophy winner and one of the better quarterbacks at the time who kept winning games, often times coming from behind in the last quarter. Sound familiar? As a kid, I wanted to be like Staubach. When my friends and I played street football, I always pretended to be Staubach. Although football never became a vocational occupation for me, the image of Staubach and what he meant to me as a kid still resonates with me today.

When Tim Tebow was captured on film doing what Roger Staubach and many others before and after him did on their knee, such as Reggie White, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees (to name a few), Tebow was unfairly deemed as the creator of the popularized "Tebowing" act. I use the word unfairly because Tebowing, as most people understand it, is probably far from what Tebow would like it to be portrayed as. On the recent Jimmy Fallon show, he admitted that he is flattered by the sight of people imitating him on his knee, but I seriously doubt that it was his intent to make it into the novelty it is today. Kudos to those who actually pray when Tebowing in a picture, but I seriously doubt most people whose Tebowing pictures appear in the media and internet are actually praying. Also, I highly doubt that the people who coined the term and image of "Tebowing" were trying to encourage and promote prayer. There's a big difference between the conversations Tebow has with God on his knee and the superficial act of imitating him for any other reason than to pray.

The controversy surrounding Tebowing is unparalleled in the sporting world because it not only provokes controversy from non-believers, but it also rubs many Christians the wrong way. It's not unusual to see comments from Christians who attack and chastise Tebow with scriptures like Mathew 6:5-6, which speaks against public prayer. Such attacks are an added bonus for the media. After all, what could be better than having Christians and non-believers going at it? That's right, Christians fighting amongst themselves. Again, people tend to miss the bigger picture when they're caught up in the spin.

After the interview first aired on ESPN's First Take show, Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and Jay Crawford had a discussion in where Smith, a huge critic of Tebow, came close to seeing the bigger picture, but managed to miss it in the end. After sincerely stating his appreciation for Tebow, Smith went on to say, "They're using him. When you talk about Tebowmania and the critics per say, what they're talking about is - you want us to be just like him. And a lot of people ain't. They could feel their love for God is sincere and it's deep, but they ain't him . . . When you look at a guy like Tim Tebow, you understand that he is legitimate with how he approaches it, but you fear that the public at large that supports him, support him not just because they like him, but because they want to use him as an example of what they want the rest of us to be. . . and so when Tim Tebow is out there and he's Tebowing and things of that nature, I'm not faulting him for it, but I don't want him to think that he has critics because of him. He has critics because of what his supporters want everyone else to be, and that's where the resistance comes because a lot of people on their best day cannot be that young man. They can't be him."

Then almost instantly, Skip Bayless brought Smith closer to the bigger picture by quickly responding, "But he is a pretty good role model." At which Smith replied, "Yeah great - fantastic - no doubt."

Only when one removes himself or herself from the spin of it all can one come to a middle ground, which is an understanding about Tebow that earns a true sense of appreciation, no matter how one feels about him as a football player. In order to come to this level of appreciation, all one has to do is learn more about him as a person, and people can do this by simply reading his book, "Through my Eyes." Those who have read it will see why people like Chuck Norris, Tony Dungy, Urban Meyer and Darius Rucker have rave reviews for it, but most importantly, they will come to know that there is much more about him than what the media portrays.

Times have drastically changed since Roger Staubach's days. Back then, families weren't as fragmented, role models were much more sought after, social Marxism and political correctness were at its infancy stages and a person's faith wasn't attacked in such a frequent and hostile manner as these days. If Tim Tebow were to have played in the NFL back then, he wouldn't have had the level of controversy surrounding him because of Staubach. The similarities that they share would not have diluted Tebow's uniqueness.

Both are known for their fourth quarter comebacks (Staubach was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" and the Broncos' fourth quarter is known as "Tebow time"); both ran headfirst into their opponents, both of their lives don't end at the goal line, both have a global perspective on life thanks to their experiences oversees (Vietnam for Staubach and Philippines for Tebow), both are incredible humanitarians and most importantly - they both are strong in their Christian faith and they aren't afraid to share it with others. These similarities would have likely resulted in the absence of Tebowing and what is now known as the Tebow phenomenon. Also, Tebow would have probably been surrounded with miniscule controversy compared to that which surrounds him today. At the most, he would have been placed alongside Staubach as another NFL quarterback that contrasted the womanizing and overly egotistical likes of Joe Namath.

Unfortunately for Tebow, he isn't afforded such luxury of playing football in the 1970's. Instead, he has to live in an era where Christian values are constantly threatened, and greed, vanity and selfishness are at an all time high.

If more people would step outside of the spin and remove their love-him or hate-him lens; they will realize how wrong the media is for trying to get people to think that they have to be just like Tebow to be a good person and how wrong they are for attacking him because he tries to honor God in whatever he does. They will also see that the scriptures used to persecute him actually share the same realm with the likes of Mathew 5:14-16, which tells us to be the light, and Mathew 7:1-5, which tells us not to judge. Without the tainted lenses, controversy can be replaced with clarity.

Clearly, not everyone is suppose to be just like Tebow by doing goodwill acts of grandeur, such as missionary work oversees or building hospitals, but it doesn't hurt to strive for such things. The bigger picture about Tebow has to do with heart and character - something the world needs more of. True appreciation for him comes when we realized that the world can become a better place when people, especially children, have someone to look up to as a role model who inspires them to choose good over bad and to use their own God given talents and gifts for the greater good.

In the end, everyone has their own platform; there are those who have much smaller and simpler platforms and there are those with bigger platforms than Tebow's. The most important thing about Tebow is that he is helping people discover their platform and then encourages them to use it to help others by living an exemplary life.