The Prophecy of Besiko

In the community rooted in the mountain Cerro Cucaracha near Soloy, a beautiful Ngobe girl was born into a humble home, to Christian parents who baptized her with the name Delia Bejerano, and in the native language was called Besiko.

From a young age Besiko was a studious child and lived through the calamities and trails of her people at the side of her family. She was steeped in the customs and traditions of her culture, and from a young age distinguished right from wrong. She removed herself from the customs she deemed wrong and practiced what she felt was right. In this time the Ngobe people frequently engaged in parties with combinations of promiscuity, balsaria (a sport based on fighting with sticks), dances and fighting.

One night when she was deep asleep she had a dream, where there appeared an old man who revealed a prophecy that signaled the path that the Ngobe people should take to achieve prosperity, peace on earth, and heaven after death. The message revealed that the Ngobe were running a risk, and if they did not stop the practice of partying and Balseria there would be severe punishment, as such behavior was not appropriate for the people of God, and if they didn't change it would lead to the destruction and damnation of the people.

Besiko took the responsibility to educate and change the way of thinking of her people. She attracted with her revelation a great number of people that came to fill the plaza of Boca de Balsa where many repented and converted to the religion of Mama Tata (Mom and Dad), created by Besiko. The religion spread to the three provinces of Boca del Toro, Veraguas, and Chiriqui, and the practice of this religion spiritually unified the Ngobe people. They say that in every meeting that Besiko organized, the majority of which were in Boca de Balsa, more than 3,000 people came from all over to participate.

The name of this prophet has been immortalized. The District of Besiko that includes the communities of Soloy, Boca de Balsa, Cerro Banco, Emplanada de Chorcha, Niba, Patena, camaron, and Namnoni is named after this woman who embarked to save the people.

Besiko, as a Ngobe woman, always desired the best for her people in the Ngobe Bugle Comarca, and should be an example for all the generations who fight to improve the lives of their brothers and sisters.