Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Father Tropa and his Spaceship2000

I bet you heard about Tropa and his famous Spaceship2000? I'd visited the headquarters of the Lamplighters, the group Father Tropa created. 

(Many thanks to Jun Vergara and the late sis Doming for their hospitality.)

Here's an info about Father Tropa I'd submitted to wikipedia (but was deleted for lack of nobility).


Biography
Father Eleuterio J. Tropa(date of birth unknown, died in 1993) was a former Filipino priest, conservationist, modern philosopher, scientist and environmentalist. He was the international founder and president of The Lamplighter, World Peace Mission now SpaceShip 2000 in LongBeach California, USA in 1947.

Tropa also served as the general director of Cebu Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Cebu City, Philippines.
He led a very simple life with only the basic amenities with hardly ever a room for luxuries. His members are spread throughout the Philippines but the main headquarters is located in Sanglan, Negros Oriental. He was also buried there.

When Father Tropa died in the year 1993, all of his personal effects and memorabilia became added an element of interest in the zoo. Also preserved are stuffed wild animals that are larger than life. The zoo has a small shop where you can find handmade odds and ends that make for souvenir items. At present, the surviving relatives of Father Tropa have taken on the operations of the zoo and have continued to uphold the legacy that he has left behind.




Preamble of The Lamplighter
During gatherings, the members of The Lamplighter recite this preamble:

For Humanity and World we bind ourselves for the ultimate Salvation of Mankind in preparing a better and peaceful; life for our children; to devote our life through service and sacrifice in propagating the messages of Goodwill, Unity, and Peace for all men regardless of Religion, Creed, Race or Nationality; and to uphold natural and simple life; to reawaken and enlighten the morals of men towards spiritual and human brotherhood; that the real love to God is to Love Humanity through service, that such love not only belongs to one but belongs to all, to uphold the world as our true home, the earth our Mother and all men being the children are brothers; that HARMONY is the LAW of life; and all things and life looks toward the same sublime life of light, truth and peace; to act in the example of good and righteous; that we do to ourselves what we do to the others; to forgive those who have done anything wrong for they know not what they do and the last Hope of Humanity lies in this:" UNITED WE SURVIVE DIVIDED WE PERISH.

Philosophy
There is a little book which compiled the original concepts and modern philosphies of life.

Some of Tropa's original philosophies are:

Go on living. Loving and serving your fellowmen selflessly, without expecting any reward, and without malice or bad intent, then you have found the true eternal fountain of youth.

Love is pace. Understanding is order, order is harmony, harmony is freedom, freedom is peace, peace is happiness and this is love, love for all.

Zoo Paradise of the World
Tropa was always in this bohemian outfit and he carried this huge boa around his neck. He would roam around the zoo and ask the kids to touch the snake because according to him: “Snakes are gentle creatures.” He would also tell guests some random trivia about the animals in the zoo.

Father Tropa was also a staunch believer in the healing properties of nature such that he and his members concocted herbal medicines to treat whatever ailments they suffered from. The Zoo Paradise of the World was his personal mission. It is a unique manifestation of the life that he had chosen to live – one that was far from civilization.

The Zoo Paradise of the world is situated in Barangay Salngan in the town of Zamboangita, Negros Oriental. It was spearheaded by the late Eleuterio Tropa, a former Catholic priest who formed his own religious sect cum environmentalist group who called themselves “The Lamplighters”.

The mission and motto of their organization is to “love one another and love nature”. All members were once required to don black shirts paired with red and green striped pants. Cutting of hair was prohibited for both men and women and nobody was allowed to wear slippers. They all actually walked around barefoot even when they visited the city, catching the attention of many.

The zoo, also called Spaceship 2000 ET is an extensive ipil-ipil forested area enclosed by a perimeter fence. Inside you can find birds of varied species and zoo animals such as a snake, a tiger, crocodile and some monkeys. Members of the sect walk around freely to feed and pet the animals.

23 comments:

  1. Thank you for your post, I had been searching Father Tropa's biograpy in wiki, but can't find it, at least I find your post, It sad though that Father Tropa Zoos now a day lack proper maintenance, I hope the government will give support on the Zoo

    ReplyDelete
  2. does Sanglan the exact name of the Barrio where the Zoo located?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's exact address is Salngan, Zamboanguita Negros Oriental. not Sanglan....

      Delete
    2. No it is not Sanglan, it's Salngan.

      Delete
    3. The exact name of the place is sitio Salngan, Brgy. Mayabon, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental

      Delete
  3. i like father tropa co'z he love the world without any return. e. flores, cabatuan, iloilo





















































































































































    flores of cabatuan. iloilo

    ReplyDelete
  4. I traveled around with Father Tropa on and off between 1984-1989.His story begins with the Battan death march during WW2.Having started his peace mission in 1948,I don't see how he would have had time to become a Catholic priest.We called him "Father" because he was the "Father" of the movement.He was a man of great vision.Wish I'd spent more time with him. Cheers,Brother Curtis

    ReplyDelete
  5. thanx for your post, I was there at sanglan last day, sept.8 sad to say halos lahat ng gusto kong makita patay n pala. So meaning ba yong mga nag alaga don ngayon are members of his sect? I am curious about Father Tropa's biography kaya I'm searching here. Tinanong ko kung priest b c Father Tropa bakit father yong tawag nila, they answered me "no" father lng dw tlaga tawag nila.But over all, it was great nahawakan ko c "Baby Boy".:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ok...maintindihan ko...at least buhay pa ni baby boy...I have an old photo holding him on facebook.Just search "curtis kano",my pics with Father Tropa are public. BTW...is there a photo of John Woosly (not sure about the spelling)at Sanglan? He's the American solder who survived the battan death march and arranged for Father Tropa along with 20 other Filipinos to go to California back in 1948. Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its great to read information's about our organization, My Grand Parents are believer and a member of this community (THE LAMPLIGHTER)and we (me and my sister) grew up in Lamplighter too. We experienced going school na nakapaa lang (no sleepers, not that we can't buy one but it's part of our belief that in order to connect with the mother nature we don't need to put "sapin" under our feet) thought some of our classmates catch our attention about it but we are happy to be one of the new bloom lamplighter by that time, because people in our neighbors or anyone in this town knew that lamplighters are pure hearted people and we where teach great manners.
    I can still remember when Fr. Tropa arrives from his travel, he surely calls all children (son & daugther's of the members) and make sure to give his inspiring message to us. He might be lost in our eyes but surely his legacy and beautiful memories always ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for posting this online, I'm so glad that the facts were posted here, unfortunately, bad to hear that it was deleted in the wikipedia due to its lack of nobility. But anyways, we had a great adventure with a good friend there. Since childhood years, 20yrs ago, until now we found time to go back again at the Lamplighter's Spaceship2000. Now, Im going to write a feature article about Fr. Tropas mission. The legacy and love of nature will still be in everyone's mind and heart forever. Thank you!

    Love,

    Eugene Jamandron

    ReplyDelete
  9. A friend just told me about Fr. Tropa. Thank you so much for this ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  10. 40+ years ago (am now 63 yo), we used to watch Fr Tropa's "show" in our hometown in Pozorrubio Pangasinan- he was such a sight then with his long flowing hair and moustache with the matching flowery robe (i also thought then that they were those 'hippies' of the time :) ). only now did i realize that he was one of the original and staunch defender of nature and environment concerns. salute to him and his vision for the world (Y)...

    ReplyDelete
  11. i want to go back to that place.......

    i miss the people there...

    I am a LAMPLIGHTER...and

    Proud LAMPLIGHTER...

    ReplyDelete
  12. I spent my grade school years in Dumaguete before relocating to Ateneo de Manila. I did visit Father Tropa's place in Sanglan, Zamboanguita in Oriental Negros four times, the first when I was in grade school in Silliman during a summer tour. The last time was when I was a college freshman in Ateneo. Unfortunately, during those visits I was totally immature when environmentalism was the issue at hand. I was totally detached! Maybe because I was too engrossed on becoming a good businessperson in the metropolis. But thanks to this eye-opening blog/article. Hopefully, one day, I could revisit the place and become a small benefactor of sort in my own little ways. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Where are the lamplighters now? Is this religion still exist?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have lamplighters here also in Dumalneg Ilocos Norte.Come and visit

      Delete
  14. You are wrong about the founding date and other details. He was never been a priest.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The Zoo in Cebu and Zamboangita Negros Oriental now is not as glory when Father Tropa still live

    tourist spot in pagadian city

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just found an old letter from Father Tropa dated Feb.27,1993.. guess he passed away later on that year

    ReplyDelete