MARINDUQUE and the LOST TRIBES of ISRAEL

Marinduque was the LAND of OPHIR and the Birth of TAGALOG Nation (A Theory by Rameses Medina Ney)

Marinduque: Center of OPHIR, the islands of gold.

Hello Filipinoes and Marinduquenos,

If the HEBREW were the chosen people, FILIPINOES as well are as we are the LEVITES?

 There are already researches that suggests that the Philippines is Ophir (Hebrew: ‫פִיר‬  ‫א ו‬ , Mode Modern rn Ofir   Tiberian ʼÔp̄ îr ) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.

In my research, I am going to present some facts about geography, culture, jewelry, architecture, weaponry and language that will suggest similaritie similarities s and link between Marinduque and Hebrew/Jewi Hebrew/Jewish. sh. This research is also a response to all the researches about OPHIR, TARSIS and Philippines as the PROMISE Land.

Marinduquenos, I know that most of you have encountered and feel how mystic and enchanting our island province is. I wish to hear your old folklore and stories that could possibly be an input on this continuous research. Enjoy reading and I hope to hear good feedback that will help this research.

I am Marinduqueno and very proud to be one. Please share it to all Filipinoes and Marinduquenos and the whole WORLD.

Birth of Tagalog Nation

MARINDUQUE: Birthplace and Center of OPHIR Birth Place of the TAGALOG Nation New Land of the LEVITES (A Theory by Rameses Medina Ney)

Introduction

 ‫א ו‬ , Mode Modern rn Ofir  Tiberian ʼÔp̄ îr ) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous Ophir (Hebrew: ‫פִיר‬ for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years. Ophir in Genesis 10 (the Table of Nations) is said to be the name of one of the sons of Joktan. Biblical references to the land of Ophir are also found in 1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:49; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; Book of Job 22:24; 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12. —John Masefield, "Cargoes"

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory,

 And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

CITATIONS

In a book found in Spain entitled Collecion General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas , the author has described how to locate Ophir. According to the section "Document No. 98", dated 15191522, Ophir can be found by travelling from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, to India, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to Borneo, to Sulu, to China, then finally Ophir. Ophir was said to be "[...] in front of China towards the sea, of many islands where the Moluccans, Chinese, and Lequios met to trade..." Jes Tirol asserts that this group of islands could not be Japan because the Moluccans did not get there, nor Taiwan, since it is not composed of "many islands." Only the present-day Philippines, he says, could fit the description. Spanish records also mention the presence of Lequious (big, bearded white men, probably descendants of the Phoenicians, whose ships were always laden with gold and silver) in the Islands to gather gold and silver. Other evidence has also been pointed out suggesting that the Philippines was the biblical Ophir.

Bellaroca (Elephant Island)

HYPOTHESES:

If the Philippines is the islands of OPHIR, which island did the descendants of Levites' Datu Gerson, Datu Merari and few descendants of Datu Cohat build their first settlement when they reached the islands of Ophir?

Why Marinduque as the center of OPHIR?

LOCATION:

Marinduque is the center of the Philippines. (Conclusive proof is the Luzon Datum of 1911 marker.  This shall put to rest other claims to the contrary).

 This heart-shaped island is also smack-center of the Philippine Archipelago. A 1911 American-built marker, known as Luzon Datum of 1911, would later confirm that within Marinduque lies the geodetic center of the Philippines.

Strategically, the island will be hard to find and conquer coming either coming from the any direction geographically.

Luzon Datum of 1911 Rock Marker

Sometime in 1906 the USCGS (now NOAA) establized a geodetic marker drilled in a cubic meter of  diorite rock atop this mountain formerly belongong to Balanacan, Mogpog but is at the bounderies of  Brgy. Argao, Hinanggayon and Silangan, Mogpog, Marinduque and another reference rock marker about 10 feet away. This important geodetic point marker is used as point number one for all map makers of the country.Besides the Luzon Datum of 1911 rock marker, the Philippine NAMRIA establized a concrete reference marker. This Luzon Datum of 1911 is at first level accuracy. The Luzon Datum of 1911 (a 1906 USGS marker signifying the center of the Philippines).

In view of this, Marinduque Island prides itself as the center of the Philippines.

LANGUAGE:

Sri-Visjaya language Bisaya and Tagalog were Ancient-Hebrew

Marinduque dialect:

 The word Tagalog derived from tagailog , from tagá- meaning "native of" and ílog meaning "river."  Thus, it means "river dweller" whic which h can be referred to remnants of ancient Hebrew and Phoenicians which are the great sailors of the world . Very little is known about the history of the language and even the Tagalog ancestors don’t know how the language is being written before.

Marinduque Tagalog is the root from which modern Tagalog has sprung, the language which has been made the basis of Filipino, our national language. (A conclusive study on this has been made as early as 1914).

Perhaps the most divergent Tagalog dialects are those spoken in Marinduque. Linguist Rosa Soberano identifies two dialects, western and eastern with the former being closer to the Tagalog dialects spoken in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon.

One example are the verb conjugation paradigms. While some of the affixes are different, Marinduque also preserves the imperative affixes, also found in Visayan and Bikol languages, that have mostly disappeared from most Tagalog dialects by the early 20th century; they have since merged with the infinitive.

Ophir language:

 The language of Heber is the same language of Adam and when the language was confused, only Heber retained the original language of Adam and was called Hebrew from Heber’s name and therefore the language of his two sons Peleg and Yoktan will be Hebrew and the language of Ophir the son of Yoktan will be Hebrew also.

The language of Abraham

Peleg son is Reu, reu son is Serug, Serug son is Nachor, Nachor son is Thare, Thare had tree sons Abram become Abraham, Nahor and Haran the father of Lot.Abraham is Hebrew in Genesis 14:13.

Historians said about Ophir:

 The western writers garlanded the Philippine land with more names such as Maniolas, Ophir, Islas del Oriente, Islas del Poniente, Archipelago de San Lazaro, Islas de Luzones (Island of Mortars), Archipelago de Magallanes and Archipelago de Legaspi. The western writers and ocean navigators called the islands Ophir before the Western people arrived and re-named it as Felipinas from the name of King Felipe of Spain. When the first European historian set their foot in the land of Ophir, it was written by historian Gregorio F. Zaide in page 2 and page 24 of History of the Filipino People, that Padre Chirino an eminent Jesuit historian found in Tagalog language that “it has the Mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language”.

Therefore in the islands of Ophir the people speak Ancient-Hebrew language.

 The Tagalog language has 30,000 root words, 700 affixes, and the root words which are famous about 5,000 words from Spanish, 3,200 from Malay-Indonesia, 1,500 words from Hebrew, 1,300 words from English, 300 from Sanskrit, 250 words from

Arabic and very few words from Persian, Japanese, Russian.

If Marinduque Tagalog is the root of Filipino language and if Tagalog were AncientHebrew then Marinduque could possibly be the center of the land of OPHIR.

Below were just samples of Hebrew and Tagalog words which are very similar. More words can be found in a separate article.

TAGALOG HEBREW WORD MEANING IN HEBREW

ALILA Alilah to overdo

ALE ALE master , lady BALAM Balam to be held in

BALAK  Balaq to annihilate

BWISIT Bosheth shame, confusion

KABA Kabah to expire in heart

KABILA Khav-ee-law circular

10. KALAS Khaw-lash to overthrown

Maniwaya Island: Shape like a Dolphin

CULTURE

MARINDUQUE’s “TUBONG” is a traditional song-and-dance ritual performed by local folks as an expression of thanksgiving. Some versions could be traced from lines of the "Pasyon", the poetic narrative in Tagalog of the Passion of Christ that became popular here before the turn of the last century. "Putong" remains popular as a ritual that promotes good health, prosperity and success, and as a welcome ritual to honor visitors and guests to the island.

"Putong" (also called "Tubong" in some parts of the island), involves crowning the honoree with flowers or gaily-decorated crowns. The honoree is then handed a scepter of palm leaves to symbolize power. Coins are then tossed up in the air for luck; a shower of petals and leaves follows for good health amid shouts of "Viva!" or "Mabuhay!" Fiesta food (with the ever-present "pansit" noodles), and drinks (such as "tuba", coconut wine), are then served to everyone present.

People in the tiny, heart-shaped island of Marinduque welcome friends and visitors in a unique tradition befitting kings and queens in their own right. Literally meaning coronation or to crown, the

putong (also called tubong) is a song of thanksgiving and, at the same time, a wish and a prayer for a long, blessed life. It has remained one of the popular traditions in this deeply religious province.  The practice has been extended to visitors and guests as a gesture of hospitality. It is, in fact, a prayer for their success, health and prosperity, and has evolved into a song of love, respect, praise and thanksgiving.

The Jewish Ketubah

 Traditional Hebrew wedding ceremonies begin with the bride and groom signing a marriage contract, called the Ketubah. The agreement, which once assured the bride's legal status, states the expectations and duties of the couple once they are married. This beautiful, ornate document will be framed and displayed in the couples' home. After the couple have signed the Ketubah, the groom lowers his bride's wedding veil after studying her face. This wedding custom recalls the biblical story of Jacob, who married the wrong woman when she covered her face with a veil. In the Jewish tradition, the wedding ring should be simple, a band with no details, no stones, and nothing engraved, with nothing to distinguish the beginning from the end. The rabbi, groom, groomsmen, and Jewish male guests traditionally wear a white-colored cap called a yamulkes. The Traditional Jewish Wedding Ceremony

 The wedding ceremony begins with a procession of the wedding party members. At the wedding site, both sets of parents escort the bride and groom down the aisle. The marriage ceremony is performed under a special canopy, called a huppah, which represents God's presence, shelter and protection. After exchanging wedding vows, seven marriage blessings are read. The groom then steps on a wine glass, to symbolize the fragility of human happiness, a hallmark of Jewish history. It is also traditional for the bride and groom to be alone together for a few moments immediately after the ceremony. This tradition, called yichud, originated so that the marriage could be consummated, but now it is observed as a lovely time to be together before the reception. There is rarely, therefore, a receiving line at a Jewish wedding.

Favorite Jewish Wedding Dances

Wedding receptions are joyous celebrations, with much singing and many traditional dances. A lively Israeli dance called the Hora is performed at the wedding reception. While they hold on to either end of a handkerchief, bride and groom are lifted into the air on chairs by their joyful guests, as they are celebrated as 'king and queen of the night'. A lovely Jewish custom called the "Krenzl" -- which means 'crowning' honors the bride's mother when her last daughter is wed. The mother is seated in the center of the room and is crowned with a wreath of flowers, then all her daughters dance around her to a very lively Yiddish song. The Mizinke is a dance of celebration reserved for both parents who have just seen their last son or daughter married. The guests encircle the mother and father, while bestowing them with wedding flowers and kisses. - This tradition is similar to Marinduque’s Tubong – RMN.

Another traditional dance is called "gladdening of the bride." All of the guests at the reception circle the bride while they dance and sing praises about her.

A Jewish wedding would not be complete without a sumptuous meal to satisfy the entire wedding party and guests. – Same as Marinduque’s wedding celebrations – RMN.

I believe and suggest that the tradition TUBONG (‘Putong’) was the evolution of the Hebrew tradition ‘Ketubah’. Notice that it seems that ‘tubong’ is the tagalized ketubah and the same time both word literally meaning coronation or to crown while singing a song of thanksgiving and, at the same time, a wish and a prayer for a long, blessed life.

Do you know that the TUBONG is only done in Marinduque? That is why Marinduquenos are considered to be the most hospitable people in the Philippines, if not in the world.

CIRCUMCISION (TULI)

Genesis 17:12-13 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

UNCIRCUMCISED MAN BROKEN THE EVERLASTING COVENANT OF ABRAM AND YAHWEH Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

How circumcision circumcision reached the Far East Philippines? We are the only nation in Asia where circumcision is part of our culture.

Mt. Malindig and White Beach

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROOF

 The beginnings of archaeology in the Philippines began right here in Marinduque and holds the key to understanding the country's pre-colonial history. (A. Ocampo). Prior to 1900, only one important archaeological investigation had been carried out in the country: Alfred Marche’s exploration of Marinduque from April to July 1881. While many other accidental finds have been recorded from time to time, and a few burial caves and sites had been casually explored by European or local scientists, no systematic work had been done anywhere else prior to these

explorations. After Marche, the next important archaeological work was undertaken by Dr. Carl Gunthe in the Central Visayan Islands in 1922. (Beyer)

"An abundant yield of Chinese urns, vases, gold ornaments, skulls and other ornaments of preSpanish origin,” was what the Marche finds represented. He brought back to France in 40 crates the Marinduque artifacts he uncovered. Part of it now said to be housed at the Musee de l’Homme in France. (Solheim). The finds also included a wooden image of the Marinduque anito called ‘Pastores’ by the natives.

Part of these artifacts have also found their way into the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

“Imagine these fragile jarlets traveling from China to the pre-colonial Philippines. Buried in a cave in Marinduque for centuries, they were excavated in the late 19th century, brought to Paris and eventually ended up in a museum bodega outside Washington, D.C. Part of our history lies in museums abroad and it will take sometime to analyze these artifacts to piece together our precolonial past” (A. Ocampo)

WEAPONRY 

Although contemporary paintings exist of some Filipino forts, few remains exist. Strangely, in the far eastern corner of Ifugao Province remains of a very ancient fortress have been discovered. The fort had stone walls that averaged several meters in width and about two to three times the width in height. At first it was thought that these were the remains of an unknown Spanish fortress, but advanced dating methods and analysis of the tools, utensils and other artifacts showed that the most likely dating was about 2,000 B.C. Some of the weaponry concocted by the Filipino was quite unusual. For instance, one weapon was the prototype of the modern yoyo, and it returned to is owner after being flung at an opponent.

 Jewelry, Metal Work and Mining

Mines dating back to at least 1,000 B.C. have been found in the Philippines. When the Spanish arrived the Filipinos worked various mines of gold, silver, copper and iron. They also seemed to have worked in brass using tin that was likely imported from the Malay Peninsula. The iron work in particular was said to be of very high quality in some cases, and occassionaly in some areas, even better than that found in Europe. When the Spanish arrived, the Philippines was so gilded with gold that most of the gold mines had been neglected.

According to De Morga: "... the natives proceed more slowly in this ,and content themselves with what they already possess in jewels and gold ingots handed down from antiquity and inherited from their ancestors. This is considerable, for he must be poor and wretched who has no gold chains, calombigas, and earrings." However, things seem to already diminished from Pigafetta's time:

"On the island [Butuan] where the king came to the ship, pieces of gold as large as walnuts or eggs are to be found, by sifting the earth. All the dishes of the king are of gold, and his whole house is very well set up." Pigafetta goes on to describe the huge gold ornaments, gold dagger handles, tooth plating and even gold that was used to decorate the outside of houses! On the gold work of the Filipinos is this description of the people of Mindoro: "...they possess great skill in mixing it [gold] with other metals. They give it an outside appearance so natural and perfect, and so fine a ring, that unless it is melted they can deceive all men, even the best of silversmiths." Apparently, even foreigners desired Filipino gold products.

Recent discoveries show that gold jewelry of Philippine origin was found in Egypt near the beginning of the era. These finds are mentioned in Laszlo Legeza's "Tantric elements in preHispanic Philippines Gold Art," ( Arts of Asia, Jul-Aug 1988, p. 131) along a discussion of Philippine  Tantric art. Some outstanding examples of Philippine jewelry, which included necklaces, belts, armlets and rings placed around the waist, are showcased in J. T. Peralta's "Prehistoric gold ornaments from the Central Bank of the Philippines,"  Arts of Asia 1981, no.4, p.54.

 The Filipinos also made jewelry of carnelian, agate and other precious stones, and of course, they were known for their coveted pearl industry.

Chryse

Chryse is often coupled with another island  Argyre the "Island of Silver" and placed beyond the Ganges. Ptolemy locates both islands east of the Khruses Kersonenson the "Golden Peninsula" i.e. the Malaya Penisula. North of Chryse in the Periplus was Thin, which some consider the first European reference to China. Chryse, the "Golden One," is the name given by ancient Greek writers to an island rich in gold to the east of India.

Pomponius Mela, Marinos of Tyre and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mention Chryse in the first century CE. It is basically the equivalent of the Indian Suvarnadvipa the "Island of Gold." Josephus calls it in Latin Aurea, and equates the island with biblical Ophir, from where the ships of Tyre and Solomon brought back gold and other trade items.

Chryse is often coupled with another island  Argyre the "Island of Silver" and placed beyond the Ganges. Ptolemy locates both islands east of the Khruses Kersonenson the "Golden Peninsula" i.e. the Malaya Penisula. North of Chryse in the Periplus was Thin, which some consider the first European reference to China.

In addition to gold, Chryse was also famed for having the finest tortoise shell in the world according to the Periplus. Large ships brought trade goods back and forth between Chryse and the markets at the mouth of the Ganges.

Chin-lin

In ancient Chinese literature, a mysterious region beyond their southern border in Annam was known as Chin-lin "Golden Neighbor" and the Southeast Asian border was also called the "Golden Frontier."

When China invaded Annam (northern Vietnam) in the first century BCE, the kingdom of Champa fortified villages along the old caravan trail. This path became Route Colonial 9 during the French colonial period, and it was used by the Americans to build the McNamara Line of fortified bases during the Vietnam War.

With this fortified line, the rugged Central Highlands and a policy of constant piracy, the Champa kingdom held the Chinese at bay for a thousand years. After the fall of the Chin dynasty in the 5th century, Cham raids on Tongking became so frequent that the governor appealed to the emperor for assistance. A war of attrition between China and Champa began that lasted until the rise of the  T'ang dynasty.

During this time though, China was well aware of the golden lands far to the south. The Buddhist pilgrim I-Tsing mentions Chin-Chou "Isle of Gold" in the archipelago south of China on his way back from India.

Zabag and Wakwak 

Zabag was based in what would later become the kingdom of Lusung.

In this sense, the Philippines fits the bill as a gold-rich realm.

 The country has consistently ranked second in the world behind only South Africa in gold deposits per land area. The Philippines has historically been the largest producer of gold in Asia despite its relatively small size and the fact that until 1980 most gold was obtained only through small alluvial deposits.

Although some ancient gold artifacts have been found in this region, they don't match the age suggested by linguistic reconstruction. Gold may have been mostly handed down from generation to generation rather than being used as a burial good item.

In about the second century CE, there arose a practice of using gold eye covers, and then, gold facial orifice covers to adorn the dead resulting in an increase of ancient gold finds. More than a millennium later, the popularity of dental gold to decorate the teeth significantly increased the amount of gold found at archaeological sites.

When the Spanish came they discovered an abundance of gold used among the people of the Philippine islands. Here are some relevant quotes: Pieces of gold, the size of walnuts and eggs are found by sifting the earth in the island of that king who came to our ships. All the dishes of that king are of gold and also some portion of his house as we were told by that king himself...He had a covering of silk on his head, and wore two large golden earrings fastened in his ears...At his side hung a dagger, the haft of which was somewhat long and all of gold, and its scabbard of carved wood. He had three spots of gold on every tooth, and his teeth appeared as if bound with gold.

--- Pigafetta on Raja Siaui of Butuan during Magellan's voyage

For brass, iron and other weighty articles, they gave us gold in exchange...For 14 pounds of iron we received 10 pieces of gold, of the value of a ducat and a half. The Captain General forbade too great an anxiety for receiving gold, without which order every sailor would have parted with all he had to obtain this metal, which would have ruined our commerce forever.

--- Pigafetta on gold trade in Cebu

Sailing in this manner, for some time, in 16° of north latitude, they were obliged by continual contrary winds, to bear up again for the Philippine islands, and in their way back, had sight of six or seven additional islands, but did not anchor at any of them. They found also an archipelago, or numerous cluster of islands, in 15 or 16 degrees of north latitude, well inhabited by a white people, with beautiful well-proportioned women, and much better clothed than in any other of the islands of  these parts; and they had many golden ornaments, which was a sure sign that there was some of  that metal in their country.

--- Antonio Galvão in 1555 describing the journey of Bartholomew de la Torre in 1548

"...the ore is so rich that I will not write any more about it, as I might possibly come under a suspicion of exaggerating; but I swear by Christ that there is more gold on this island than there is iron in all Biscay."

--- Hernando Riquel et al., 1574

In this island, there are many gold mines, some of which have been inspected by the Spaniards, who say that the natives work them as is done in Nueva Espana with the mines of silver; and, as in these mines, the vein of ore here is continouus. Assays have been made, yielding so great wealth that I shall not endeavor to describe them, lest I be suspected of lying. Time will prove the truth.

--- Hernando Riquel et al. on island of Luzon, 1574

 There are some chiefs in this island who have on their persons ten or twelve thousand ducats' worth of gold in jewels--to say nothing of the lands, slaves, and mines that they own. There are so many of  these chiefs that they are innumerable. Likewise the individual subjects of these chiefs have a great quantity of the said jewels of gold, which they wear on their persons--bracelets, chains, and earrings of solid gold, daggers of gold, and other very rich trinkets. These are generally seen among them, and not only the chiefs and freemen have plenty of these jewels, but even slaves possess and wear golden trinkets upon their persons, openly and freely.

--- Guido de Lavezaris at al., 1574

About their necks they wear gold necklaces, wrought like spun wax, and with links in our fashion, some larger than others. On their arms they wear armlets of wrought gold, which they call calombigas, and which are very large and made in different patterns. Some wear strings of precious stones--cornelians and agates; and other blue and white stones, which they esteem highly. They wear around the legs some strings of these stones, and certain cords, covered with black pitch in many foldings, as garters.

-- Antonio de Morga, 1609

"... the natives proceed more slowly in this ,and content themselves with what they already possess in jewels and gold ingots handed down from antiquity and inherited from their ancestors.  This is considerable, for he must be poor and wrethced who has no gold chains, calombigas, and earrings."

-- Antonio de Morga, 1609

 The Portugese explorer Pedro Fidalgo in 1545 found gold so abundant on Luzon the inhabitants were willing to trade two pezoes of gold for one pezo of silver.

When the Portuguese first arrived, most of the gold traded into Brunei came from Luzon. That island was known as Lusung Dao or "Golden Luzon" to the Chinese who also traded for gold in this region.

Architecture

 The Banaue Rice Terraces (Tagalog: Hagdan-hagda Hagdan-hagdang ng Palayan ng Banawe) are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".[1][2][3] It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.[4]  The Banaue Terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras , ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old.  The stone walls, canals, dams and reservoirs of the Igorots can also be considered as type of  architecture, or at least stone engineering. The amount of stones used by the Igorots in their hydraulic engineering works is estimated to far exceed in bulk those used in building the Pyramids or the Great Wall of China . Many of these walls and canals are thousands of years old and have withstood countless typhoons and the effects of Sun, wind and time.

CONCLUSION and SUGGESTIONS: I suggest that: MARINDUQUE was LAND of OPHIR and the rest of the TAGALOG nation. BOHOL (Bo-ol) was TARSIS and the rest of the VISAYAN nation. PHILIPPINES as the PROMISED LAND.

CURRENT FACTS ABOUT Filipinoes:

Do you know that there are 1.2 million Filipino sailors? It makes 20 percent of world's seafarers. Fact: The word Tagalog derived from tagailog, from tagá- meaning "native of" and ílog meaning "river." Thus, it means "river dweller" which can be referred to remnants of ancient Hebrew and Phoenicians which are the great sailors of the world. FACT: There are about 8.7 to 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of  the total population of the Philippines.

Each year, more than a million Filipinos leave to work abroad through overseas employment agencies and ......other programs, including government sponsored ones. Domestic helpers and personal service workers are the majority of positions filled by women. Others emigrate and become permanent residents of other countries. Overseas Filipinos often work as doctors, physical therapists, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, engineers, architects,entertainers, architects,entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, seafarers, students, caregivers, domestic helpers and household maids. Check this data:  Total OFW population: 8,726,520-11,000,000 estimates

Regions with significant populations

United States 2,802,586 Saudi Arabia 1,066,401 UAE 529,114 Canada 462,935 Australia 270,347 Malaysia 244,967 United Kingdom 203,035  Japan 202,557 Qatar 195,558 Singapore 156,466 Kuwait 139,802 Hong Kong 130,537 Italy 120,192 South Korea 80,715  Taiwan 74,010 Germany 54,336 France 47,075 Bahrain 44,703 Spain 41,780 Israel 36,880 Austria 30,000 Greece 29,344 Lebanon 25,818 Macau 23,348 New Zealand 23,023 Guam 22,567 Norway 20,035 Netherlands 19,163 Sweden 18,435 Ireland 16,832

Papua New Guinea 12,932

ASK YOURSELF: 1. Do you think this is the reason why FILIPINOES are scattered all around the world? Because that is our service to every man?  THE SONS OF LEVI CALLED LEVITES TO DO SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLES OF CONGREGATION ... Numbers 7:5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

References

 Tirol, Jes.Bo-ol (Bohol) was a Land of Ophir: A Theory. The Bohol Chronicle Vol.LIII No.062 December 21, 2008. http://www.scribd.com/doc/18240080/The-Philippines-is-the-Ophir-of-the-Bible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophir http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/tourism.html http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/ethnic_wedding_traditions/jewish_traditions.html www.vedicempire.com Ancient Filipino Garuda Dagger Contributed by Paul Kekai Manansala http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Filipino#Countries_with_Filipino_populations