...hOw tRANSLaTion gOT mE!

written February 28,2007.

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord. I would like to share you two things here: 1) how I got into translation and 2) how I am doing now in my study here at the Alliance Graduate School.

Ibaloi Translation team!


L-R: Michelle Saingan, Sherwin Cadate, Wilfred Villase and Jean Behis in their office.

In the year 2002, I graduated of my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. A few months of looking for a related job was unsuccessful. I landed a as a sales clerk in a department store. But I had to resign after a few months for a teaching job but that did not pushed through either. A year later, when I was the province, jobless for several months already, my mom remembered a job offered to her before. It was something like of related to a secretarial job such as filing papers. When I asked (through text) the person if the job was still open the answer came as a surprise to me. That Sunday, the pastor that came to preach in our church handed me a brown envelope with the instruction of translating what is inside. It turned out that the material is the book of Ruth of the Old Testament. That was it. I wasn’t briefed of what was I am to do but I am aware of the Bible translation that is on-going in our language. And that pastor was one of them. I was so obedient and didn’t even ask questions, I just did what was instructed of me since I was tired of my idyllic life. He also told me that in two weeks time, we are to attend a Peer Checking Seminar-Workshop somewhere (it was in CFM, Bambang). That was in August 2003. That was the start of my involvement in translation. I can’t say that I totally enjoyed that seminar workshop but when another one came in November, I was still there. I was hooked! I am thrilled! I was excited to do this thing and by the grace of God. I am still here! And at present there are now four of us in our Team. One of the pioneer members of the team had gone ahead to be with our creator.

After a year of being in the team, an opportunity was given to us. This was through our mother organization, NPMTTA which is in partnership with SIL of training mother tongue translators. I was one of those who came in the school year 2004-2005 for our Diploma in Applied Linguistics and graduated. Afterwards, we are suppose to go back to out team for at least a year. During that one year, I helped facilitate at least three LMTTT workshops that were held in SIL Center, Bagabag. I also had the opportunity of finishing the translation of the book of Ruth, having it consultant checked and ready for printing. After a year of working with my team, I am now back here again taking up a 2 year MA in Applied Linguistics – Bible Translation. Studying here at AGS is really a great experience. It has its ups and downs. Life here is totally different as compared in the province. Although, I had my share of complaints I also have a lot of jubilations. And even my complaints turned out to be things to be joyful about! I had built friendships that would transcend time having spent at least 10 months with different people (this was during my first year). I was also able to meet people from across the world and be able to work with them. It was fun really.

Now, I am experiencing the same thing. With a new set of friends we embark into the challenging life of Applied Linguistics. And by the grace of God we are victoriously finishing each phase together. I want share of a particular experience that had impacted me. There was this course which I dread so much because of the gravity of requirements and all. At the onset of that phase, I was about to take it on audit but the encouragements from my friends along with the sunny disposition and encouraging facilitators of that course made me forget to do so. And when I remembered to do it, well, it was far too late. The facilitators made the course fun despite its enormity and I am proud to say that I finished that course in flying colors along with the whole class. (May it be the same in all my other courses!) On top of that are the encouragements that I receive from classmates, friends and from our Growth Group classes.

Life at AGS is not at all work, I am also having fun meeting new people from other programs during the school’s activity such as the family camp and the sport’s fest. In all these things, praise be to our God. Do continue praying for us as we finish our program. Include our families back in the province, our team mates and community we will be serving when we get back.

Some of the ALP students during the school's family camp at Rizal Re-Creation Center taken onDecember 15, 2006.

A visit at a friend of Kuya Dalmas' friend at Cavite.

Thank you for your prayers and your assistance. May the Lord bless and keep you always.


Your partner in His Ministry,
Jean Behis

These are a few additions for prayers requests.

1. Intertribal Single's Fellowship (ITSF) - April 1, 2007 (Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet)

- please pray for the delegates from each tribe (Ibaloi, Kalanguya, Ilongot, Kankanaey)

- finances for the delegates

- host tribe: Ibaloi - preparations, finances, venue

- speakers, lecturers and facilitators and ITSF officers

2. Songwritng workshop on April 16-20 that I will attend along with some of fellow translators from Northern Philippines.

3. Agta-Ayta Workshop on May 28-June 1. I will be one of the facilitators. Pray as we work together with this group.

Thank you and God bless!

More to come... (sana nga..lolz)

Updated on March 28, 2007.