DALLAS, Apr 5, 2008 —- The word Diaspora, when capitalized is usually associated with the settling of scattered colonies of Jews outside Palestine. But, when written in lower case, as in ‘diaspora’, it is defined as “the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland.”

The people of Cavinti are scattered all over the world – Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. Perhaps there is someone in South America and Antarctica, too, but as of this writing, there are no records of such.

Why does the Cavinti diaspora exist? According to legend or superstition (it is really hard to define which is which), the people of Cavinti are hardwired to migrate because of our patron saint, San Salvador or The Transfiguration.

According to the ‘pamahiin’, because the hands of San Salvador are open, signifying ‘wala’ or ‘none’, the people of Cavinti have to leave their hometown to make a living and/or improve their station in life.

Still according to the same ‘pamahiin’, a Cavintinian should not ever say that he or she is never coming back to Cavinti because San Salvador will make them come back to ask forgiveness from him In short, a Cavintinian should never forget the San Salvador.

Superstitions, legends and ‘pamahiin’ aside, The Transfiguration is one of the most powerful icons of Christendom. August 6, in the Roman Catholic calendar is the feast of The Transfiguration. The symbolism of The Transfiguration is so strong that Catholic monasteries around the world, including the Vatican celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration.

And though a lot of Cavintinians would probably not believe this, but because we grew up with San Salvador or The Transfiguration, our faith is very strong, so strong that although we are scattered all over the world, we celebrate our town fiesta.

Our belief has held us together as a group of people wherever we are, hence the name of this blog site, CAVINTI DIASPORA.
[MARI OBLENA DAVIS]