An appraisal of the Cebuano prayer of blessing for travelers: Towards a revised translation

• Main Author: Rondina, Genaro Jordan
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Prayers—Translating; Travelers—Philippines—Cebu Island—Prayers and devotions; Religion; Translation Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13598
• Institution: De La Salle University

In Davao Province, one can observe people's cultural beliefs and practices related to travel and/or migration. The Cebuano people manifest these in their daily lives through words, gestures, things, and celebration. One can truly affirm that this culture of travel is a religious ritual and not empty of intention. This religiosity is deeply embedded in the Cebuano people's lives. Hence, one cannot avoid but live out and appreciate more this culture of travel.This thesis tries to consider the culture of travel of the Cebuano people in the prayer of blessing for travelers (PBT). Chapter 1 deals with the phenomenon of migration in the lives of the Filipinos, in particular the Cebuano people. This is done in order to see the underlying deep worldview, meaning and cultural values related to travel for these people.Chapter 2 is an appraisal of the present Cebuano prayer of blessing for travelers. Its purpose is threefold: (1) establish its fidelity to the original Latin version; (2) determine its theological and liturgical quality in comparison to other PBT versions (English and Tagalog); and (3) to assess these different PBT versions to indicate how these translations fall short, in terms of fidelity, to the original Latin version of PBT.Chapter 3 explores the nature of the prayer of blessing for travelers, which original version is found in the Latin Editio Typica, The theological, liturgical, sacramental, and biblical backgrounds are briefly explored.Chapter 4 describes and clarifies the process of formulating the new Cebuano prayer of blessing for travelers by following and applying the existing guidelines on translations. In this task, one will see at first glance the opposing directions of the two liturgical instructions, the Comme le Prevoil and Liturgiam Authenticam. However, the researcher believes that both liturgical instructions are not contradictory. Instead, they convey a message that rootedness in tradition is necessary and openness to the needs of the culture makes the Church become more relevant at present times. This is what Sacrosanctum Concilium #36 simplicity states all about liturgical instructions.As conclusion, it presents the complete texts of the proposed new Cebuano translation of the prayer of blessing. It also recommends that this new Cebuano PBT, which is more expressive of the cultural values of companionship, hospitality, and God-centeredness of life, must be considered for more regular use if the ecclesiastical authority is serious enough in making the Church relevant in the lives of the Cebuano people today. More importantly, it establishes the theological and liturgical principles that could guide translators in their continuing work of rooting the prayers of the Church in the very culture of the people for whom they are intended.