CAVINTI DIASPORA

Cavintinians have many traits and chracteristics that are worthy of mention and/or emulation. They practise these traits in dealing with their family members, relatives, friends, acquaintances, government officials and other persons in authority, elderly and other people. Hence,the admiration and high esteem of other people for us, Cavintininas.

Let us make a list of our attributes that are contributory in other people’s high regard for Cavintinians.

1. Cavintinians have close family ties. From cradle to grave, the family is the Cavintinian’s source of support and security; in adulthood, it is home in times of want and need; and then in old age, it is the hearth to where he would return, however far he may have wandered.

A Cavintinian may be in contact with other institutions, but first and foremost, his strivings are for his family. And by family is meant the so-called famiy tree that includes the husband, wife and children, as well as relatives up to the third degree relations and the in-laws brought about by a marriage.

Families get together often for a reunion even though the expected families live elsewhere.

As early as the 1960′s, because of lack of jobs and opportunities at home, many Cavinti families have left their homeland in search of greenner pastures. Then, not in the very distant past, thousands of Cavintinians have ventured to work abroad. They endured long years of labor and hardship to give their families more welfare and comfort. What they send or bring home from abroad runs in millions of pesos every year to a family in dire need of cash.

Many people believe that modernization, will diminish family ties and cut off the extensions of the Cavinti family. But stresses on family life are hardly unknown to Cavintinians. They have known their share of urbanization, colonization, modem lifestyles and broken marriages and desertions, but their basic family system and its values have survived. Amidst the challenges of a changing world, the Cavintinians strive to adapt and continue to make adjustments, proving our adaptability to the changing times.

2. Cavintinians are religious. Unlike the olden years, Cavintinians today differ in religious beliefs, but they believe in one God. They pray and ask God for His help and intercession. They thank Him for all His graces and blessings.

We pray before and after going to bed and before and after meals. Likewise, Cavintinians go to the church of their choice on Sundays and other holidays of obligation prescribed by their church.

Most Cvintinians have an altar or a shrine in their home. Besides, many have a rosary hanging from their car’s rear-view mirror.

Cavintinians, too, make the sign of the cross at their doorway before leaving their home, before the take-off and the landing of their plane, when they pass by their chuch and when they are in danger or there is a foreseen danger.

3. Cavintinians are respectful, polite and courteous. They, the children most specially, kiss the hands of the parents, relatives and elders or place the hands on their foreheads at Angelus, when they come into the house from school, from play or from a trip or travel, or even when they meet them on the street or elsewhere. In return, the parents and elderly bless them.

Cavintinians use “po, opo, ho or oho” when talking to parents and elders. They also use the third person instead of the first person, like siya for ka, ikaw, and  kanya for inyo, iyo.

They address older people as Tatay, Nanay, Tata, Nana, Amama, Inana, Amang, and Inang. Older brothers and sisters are addressed as Kaka and/or Ka Simeon, Ka Senyang. To erase traces of antiquity, Lolo Lola, and Grandpa, Grandma are used for grandparents; Papa, Mama. Dad, Mom and Daddy, Mommy for parents; Kuya and Ate for older brothers and sisters and Uncle, Auntie and Tito and Tita for uncles and aunts.

Cavintinians, too, bow low, put their hands together pointing to where they will go and saying “Makikiraan po,” (May I Pass) when passing between two or more persons who are engaged in a conversation.

These are three only of the numerous desirable traits of Cavintinians. Please add to this list and/or write some comments.

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