Pioneering Laoag, Philippines - February 1979

An example of how one should not listen blindly to the spirit ancestors even if they have good intentions, especially given the confusion today among different understandings within True Father’s various movements.

Pioneering Laoag - February 1979

As soon as we set up the new mission center in Baguio, I needed to decide what city to pioneering next. Back in Manila, spirit ancestors started intensely giving messages to pioneer different cities; making it obvious that the ancestors of each different city in the Philippines would want me to send a team to their hometown city first. However I did not do my portion of responsibility and research on various choices, but I responded to the spirit ancestors that spoke up the strongest at that time (telepathically), and Laoag was chosen. At that time I had Nanette send a small team of our strongest members Eric and Orly to begin pioneering this city near President [Ferdinand] Marcos’ hometown. A few weeks later I brought a mobile team of about 15 members to expand their foundation.

To my shock and disappointment Laoag was the size of a small town, was very impoverished and the couple of members of the advance pioneering team appeared emaciated; I learnt they could only acquire a very limited amount of food by asking for donations as a missionary; this was because the local market was so small. Of course I quickly fatten them up, but then I simply had no choice but to close the center and make the long trip back to Manila with all the pioneering members, but not before I was embarrassed on my early morning prayer walk by the local citizens. After arising I was shocked to find out the banging I had heard on the tin roofs all night were ripe, juicy mangos, that were now laying all over the sides of the roads. When it became apparent no-one was picking them up I gathered as much as my removed shirt could hold as a pouch. The locals laugh at me naked from the waste up, thinking I looked so funny grabbing up the fruits that they view as garbage because there was just so many of them. Funny how things are, back in America just one mango was so expensive that I had not even tasted one before but apples are often left on the ground, but are so expensive in the Philippines.

Back in Cubao, I prayed and thought at length about my mistaken decision and concluded I should not follow blindly direct messages from spiritual ancestors, but use my own research and analysis to make decisions. My thoughtful reasoning then caused me to send our pioneering team to the 3rd largest city in the Philippines, famous for its intensity of Christian Ministers and religious atmosphere, Bacolod.