In the past two trips to the Philippines that I made in 2013 and 2015, before I made the journey to the motherland I have encountered or have been visited by a centipede that would come across my path. It was this Monday morning that we have met again.
“Lane Wilcken explains that the segments of the centipede’s legs represent the chain of ancestors extending back in time, with each pair of legs representing a paternal and maternal line. The centipede suggests the continuity of life and responsibility of perpetuating lineage.” (p.84, Apostal)
Although I may not be of Kalinga descent; as far as I know, I’ve found this as a prelude symbol of my journey.
Out of coincidence or superstition, this may be some sort of sign for my past trips and my upcoming trip as I continue to document the next segment of my journey of as a Filipino adoptee, or what I call a “FilAmpon” – A play on the words Filpino American and the Filipino word “ampon,” which translates to adoption.
Join me on my journey as I learn more about my biological family and our collective narrative of where I came from at my latest film project, “Once Upon An Ochia”.
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I invite you to join me on the rest of this journey to reach back as I move forward.
–> Visit my Indiegogo campaign at https://igg.me/at/OnceUponAnOchia-/x
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–> Join our Facebook community at http://www.facebook.com/binitaydocumentary
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Apostol, Virgil Mayor. “Chapter Two: Shamanic and Spiritual Practices and Beliefs.” Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic, 2010. 84. Print.
By unknown, published by Harper & Brothers of New York, written by Thomas Wallace Know (1835-1896) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons