KH: It is so wonderful that you agreed to take the time to participate in this Correllian Spotlight Project interview. We have not met personally, however I have been following you from afar and truly admire you and the work you are doing. So, let us begin.
AA: Merry Meet! First of all I want to congratulate all who received the most covetous awards from the Correllian Tradition during the Spring Lustration and especially to you Rev. Kent for achieving the Golden Wand Awards. It is because of your effort and hard work in the Correllian Membership Hub Department and now here at the Correllian Spotlight Project at the Temple of Heilen, you make all Correllian across the globe connected to one another, and being connected to one another across the distance is an amazing experience. I am very thankful for all your hard work.
KH: Thank you, Brother, your words mean a lot to me.
KH: What would you say is your primary spiritual motivation?
AA: My love to God is my motivation towards my spiritual workings. Ever since I am a believer of God; and in my quest in searching for religion to find true God I’ve been stumbled on a tiny stone of Faith which I found in the Correllian Tradition.
As I study Correllian Materials in the First and Second Degree, I realize this in all Correllian Rituals that our Tradition teach that there is One Power in the Universe… though only One Power , to my Self, this Power has Multiple Manifestation. As I study more, I found that there is no One right Religion in the World. For Religion is just made of Man like the Shrine that I found and legally Incorported in the Philippines which is Luntiang Aghama Natural Divine Arts Shrine of Healing, Inc. which is also a recognized personal Shrine by the Correllian Tradition. But God is much bigger than any religion in the World. And I am happy that I found God in the form of the Goddess and the God within our tradition.
KH: It is refreshing to find another kindred spirit. If we were to all grasp that concept, that religion and spirituality are not the same, then more people would be happier on their chosen path to Deity.
KH: With so much happening on our dear Mother Earth, especially in your area, and the recent disasters that struck your beautiful country, do you find that your fellow citizens have changed spiritually?
AA: My countrymen the Filipino People are widely known for our religious. Prior to the Super Typhoon Haiyan a.k.a. Yolanda that struck the Visayas Region specially Tacloban, Leyte which all of these Disasters our Faith in God makes us hope to live our life to survive. I feel very sorry to some of fellow Filipino, but the Calamity that happened to our land becomes a wakeup call to everyone to become responsible in taking care of Mother Earth. Because of these, our local Chapter in Bacolod been now-a-days reported to have more attendees during our public rituals and prayers, the same in Manila and Davao Area.
KH: I would like to personally congratulate you on your recent Order of Tslav award. From what I have seen of you, you are a very humble and caring man. How does this recognition make you feel knowing that your fellow Correllians and Tradition Leadership hold you in such high esteem?
AA: I want to give all the merits of this award to all the people who help us in reaching out with my fellow men in the Philippines.
Thanks to Rev. John Snodgrass, Lady Liz Hamilton and Lady Alyssa Maxon and to all of the Temple of the Dancers of Shakti and to our Aghamic Priest in Bacolod, Bae Ulang Udig.
I did not expect to have this award. What in my mind is that im just a voice and a hand. My hands is not enough to reach other million hands who are suffering. But with a tiny voice that I posted in the hub with the deepest concern of all of my Correllian Family, our people have been saved though we lost one soul and now honor him as one of our Anito / Ancestor.
KH: Knowing that we are on the cusp of the next evolutionary jump of humankind – how do you see this affecting the Tradition over the next twenty years?
AA: Before distance and language became my personal limitation in studying the craft. But with the Correllian Tradition, the wall and barriers have been broken down because of modern technology and cyber ministry of the Correllian Tradition.
Today, Filipino Pagans are struggling with Brands. We are struggling of the name we as practitioners should carry before the World. Filipino Practitioners are cautious enough in bearing themselves with a name. The tie that binds them with the old dominant tradition/ religion are still limiting us. But with the rise of the Correllian Doctrine, inclusivity will be in the mainstream. Names and brand will does not matter anymore. Acting our Faith and Beliefs will be in trend. Practitioners will really practice in action and not just in words.
Religion is just a man made organization. But Faith in the Goddess and God does matter for the individual evolution. We all shall return to the Goddess in time.
KH: Changing the pace and subject a little, let us play a little comparison game. Which of the colors of the rainbow best represents you? Why?
AA: The Color of the rainbow that best represent me is Green; since I am the founder of Luntiang Aghama, which means Green Knowledge and Spirituality. For me Green is the color that is in the middle. I am not in the Right Path Hand nor in the Left Hand Path. I stand between the Path in the middle of the Crossroad of Life.
KH: Let us do another one. Which of the Elements best represents you? Why?
AA: I usually have been represented by the Element of Earth. It has positive and negative characteristics for me. Earth has been a caring element of growth and productivity. A nurturing element but also a disciplinarian.
KH: How is Rev Apu Aghama different from Rolando G. Comon?
AA: Roland Gomez Comon is the Name that I received from my parents and ancestors. It is the legal name which I always bear in documents. While Adman Aghama is my spiritual name revealed to me as a practitioner. This name is what now become popular.
Both name in person is simple nature. Quiet and funny.
Rolando and Adman loves nature and animals. Both the Mundane and Spiritual meets In one body which is me. Same as in my work as Hilot Therapist and Trainer the mundane work showcases my spirituality.
Apu means reverend in Filipino. So it is enough to mention Apu Aghama and omitting the Rev. part. Hehehe!
KH: I had no Idea that Apu means reverend. I have added to my knowledge base, thank you.
I appreciate you taking the time to do this interview. In closing, is there anything you would like to say to your fellow Correllians?
AA: Thank you for inviting me to be featured in the Correllian Spotlight Project. I am very honored to be interviewed here. In closing, I want to encourage all the Correllians and even Pagans around the world who are reading this, that name doesn’t matter in our spiritual path. Distance, Time and Language should not limit us in getting in touch with one another.
All of us are one Spirit. All are the Same Children of the Earth. We are all fellow caretakers of this lovely Universe we have.
Blessed Be!
KH: Apu Aghama, thank you so much. Your insights are wonderful and I am confident that everyone will enjoy hearing from you here.
So, now we close this Correllian Spotlight Project interview. I hope everyone enjoys reading this article and learning more about one of our dear Correllian Family Members.
