adapted from a Dawn Watch message by Ptr. Joey Geronimo

When was the last time you reached for someone’s hand and said, “Mano po?” Or, if you’re a bit older, how do you respond when someone says, “Mano po,” to you?

With regard to this practice, I’ve observed three attitudes that are common nowadays.

1. Godchildren use it to remind their godparents to give them gifts. “Ninong, ninang – you owe me a little something.”
2. Elders use it to coerce younger people into respect. “If you don’t kiss my hand, you don’t get a Christmas gift.”
3. Elders refuse to extend their hands because it calls attention to their age. “Don’t say ‘mano’ to me; I’m not that old!”

Attitudes like these have helped put “mano po” out of style. Is there a way to redeem this traditional sign of respect?

“Mano po” is actually a Malayan adaptation of the impartation of a blessing by the older to the younger, or by a person of authority to a subordinate. It’s present in many cultures — even in that of the ancient Hebrews. Jacob the patriarch blessed two of his grandsons by laying his hands upon them with this blessing:

“Bless the lads and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth” (Genesis 48:14-16).

In effect, the twin pronouncements of Jacob for his grandsons were for their posterity. This is not a simple blessing.

My grandfather had two sons, an uncle and my father. But three generations later, my son will be the only one who, by God’s grace, will be able to carry our surname to succeeding generations. Deaths among male members of the clan, singlehood, and a cousin’s not having male children all contributed to this situation.

Jacob’s prayer for his grandsons included blessings of health, protection, and that they would have the right wives, the right balance of male and female children, etc. As we look at the nation Israel today, we see that his blessings indeed came true!

There are other accounts of laying on hands and invoking blessings in both the Old and the New Testaments. They are followed by many Christian communities today.
- Healing, in James 5:14
- Commissioning for service, in Acts 13:3, and
- Praying for children and those with child-like faith, in Matthew 19:13-15

From those accounts we see that “laying on of hands” symbolizes the impartation of something — healing, power for service, protection or wisdom — from one person to another.

As a pastor, I have laid my hands on people as I prayed for them. But I seldom laid hands on my family members — only when someone was sick.

One time, my wife read an article about spiritual leadership in the family. It suggested that the head of the family should make it a practice to lay hands on his children and invoke blessings of wisdom, good careers, godly partners, children of their own, etc. My wife asked me, “Why don’t you lay hands on our children when you bless them and pray for them?”

I thought about that and said, “Okay, I’ll start blessing you and the kids.”

That week, my son was scheduled to compete in Math and Science for the Ateneo High School. He had been a representative for the Ateneo since his second year, but he had always come home empty-handed. Just before he left the car for this competition, I laid my hands on him and imparted blessings of wisdom and success.

He came home with a bronze medal! For the next competition, I blessed him again, and he came home a second-placer. The third time I blessed my son before a competition, he came home the top individual awardee. Praise the Lord, indeed!

I’m not saying that laying on of hands is required for God to act. In the same way, we do not say that fasting is a requirement for God to answer our prayers. But there are two possible extremes to the practice of laying on of hands:

1. To make more of the practice than God intends.
2. To ignore the practice altogether.

I believe that the practice of laying hands can have a useful place among us Christians: in our D-Groups, our church, and certainly in our families. After all, the Bible says we are “a royal priesthood.”

So, I believe we can use “mano po” as a way to bless one another with good health, peace, and God’s grace. The next time a godchild, grandchild, or nephew/niece comes to you and says, “Mano po,” maybe you can respond with, “I bless you with wisdom in your studies.” These blessings — bestowed upon family members, someone at church, and even the sick and the less fortunate — tell a person that you value them and that God does too.