I Am a Natural Born Son of Cabusao

I am proud to be Cabusawenio!

This year, 2011, Cabusao is celebrating its centenary. I could not give our town a superb or enormous act of praise. I am only a humble child of her earthly bosom. But my existence is obliging me to give due thanksgiving to her where my personality and maturity arose.

My existence started on the Diamond Year of Cabusao. Almost all the important beginnings of my life were catered by this beautiful town.  I was born and raised by Cabusawenio parents from the clans of Hernandez and Rebeta. My chilhood was developed initially  in barangay Camagong. My first education was given here through Camagong Day Care Center wherein my mother was my teacher. I spent my elementary education in Cabusao Central School. Afterwhich, I continued my secondary years in Sta. Lutgarda High School. Though my college education was not done here, this town served as the extension of such tertiary orientation especially  that my apostolate and service were rendered here.

On spritual aspect, my initiation to Christianity was performed in my beloved Parish of St. Bernardine of Siena. (By the way, in 2014, this parish will also celebrate its 100 years. This parish is one of the two parishes in Cabusao. The other one is the Parish of St. Anthony Padua) My baptism was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Oscar Paraiso. On the same hand, my first confession and communion and my confirmation were also blessed in this parish. Started from my fourth year in elementary, I served as acolyte. I continued to serve here up to my college year through my apostolate.

I also immersed myself into different civic and religious activities. My ability to follow and lead as a youth was developed through participating and organizing groups and activities that would enhance the youth power of Cabusao. I once became part of Camagong Youth Organization. To my colleagues, Parish Youth Council, who would forget the Dusayan Youth Formation (DYF) which was initiated by Rev. Fr. Mike dela Rosa? As I observed, at its time of existence, it was one of the active youth group in town not just in religious affair but civic, too. Last, 2009, Cabusao Youth Community emerged. Though, a seasonal group but was able to promote the talent and heart of young Cabusawenio. (I miss you guys!!!)..

Cabusao is maybe not known like of any other prominent town, but in the heart of its children, “No other beautiful place than HOME.” I always miss the golden ricefield at the back of our house where I usually waiting for the beautiful sunset. I think, sunset is the unnoticed site where Camagong could be proud of. I miss also the ride of our motorcycle at the silent road of Pandan. Just a little forward to Barcelonita, we can find the preserved aviary – the Cabusao Bird's Sanctuary. I miss those happy people of San Pedro at the time we had our caroling there. Unfortunately for me, I was never been in Biong which I also dream to. I miss also the Pagoda every fiesta happened in the shore of Castillo, Sta. Lutgarda and Sta. Cruz. I miss the beautiful site of New Poblacion and some part of the town that I have seen from the Church bell tower.

I am happy to my town. It is small but for me it is the largest and the deepest place in the world because on the same way, it contains the largest and deepest part of my humanity. Not just mine but also those people whose like me, were formed themselves from the initiative spirit of Cabusao Land.

I write this not to publish who I am but to pay tribute to my beloved town which shape me on who I am now. My place of existence, somehow, defined the kind of person that I am living now. For such, I gratefully give thanks to you, my beloved town.

I always praying for you. My hope is always enkindled by the continous existence of the good-hearted Cabusawenios. Where there are proud, active, determined and good citizen, progress is also there.

Again, I want to say “I am proud to be Cabusawenio!”

Happy 100th year Cabusao...

 The Libmanan-Cabusao IAD Project: Modified model and methods of analysis (ESIA/WID)

  

Trip-let's Trip Watched Manila Ocean Park Musical Fountain Show

This video was taken last February 20, 2011 when  Trip-let's Trip [KrAK-ers] went to Manila Ocean Park. Together with us (Krizta, Karen & I) was my cousin, Hazel Demesa. Have fun watching this video as we enjoyed it most during the show.

Click here for the Whole Story

Click for the Photo Gallery of the Trip to Manila Ocean Park
Click here for more of the trips of Trip-let's-Trip

  

An Supernatural na Kinaban kan mga Suanoy na Bikolano

         “Tabi Apo!” an sambit kan mga enot na Bikolano asin pati kan iba pa sa ngonyan, mantang naglalakaw sa sarong madiklom na agihan o maging sa kasuluksulukan. Ini simbolo nin pagtaong-galang sa mga espiritung dai nahihiling. An siring na pagtubod naabutan pa kan kagsiyasat na dai nya malikayan na mgamit man sagkod na ngonyan. Maski pa masabing nagbago sa paagi nin pagtalubo an kaisipang Bikolnon, dai na basta maihahali pa an mga pagtubod na nag-gamot na sa saindang lahi.

Religion, in fact, was already “a dominant feature of Filipino society and culture when the Spaniards came in 1565.” This religion, however, was not an institutionalized one; it was a belief system from which the rationale of behavior of ancient Filipinos emanated.[1]

Naipapasa pa man giraray ini sa mga masurunod pang mga henerasyon. Nagtutubod an mga suanoy na mga Bikolano sa dai nahihiling na kinaban. Nagbago man an relihiyon kan mga Bikolano, dai man ini taliwas sa saiyang presenting pagtubod lalo pa sa relihiyon.

“The Bikol world of the supernatural, with its fantastic mixture of horror, beauty, color, and wonder, speaks of the rich culture of the early Ibálnongs.”[2] Kun kaya ngani an siring na pagtubod dai na lang basta maipapasipara nin huli ta nag-agi na ini sa saindang pag-iisip na nakakaapekto sa saindang pakikipamuhay sa kapalibotan. Asin nin huli ta an siring na pagtubod orihinal sa sainda na mayo pang inpluwensya kan makadayuhang pag-iisip. “As to faith in the supernatural, the early Bikols had a fantastic pre-Spanish religion of their own – colorful and mystifying, a system of beliefs that captured whimsically the wild imagination of the race at its infant stage in what then was their exciting encounter with the virginal land.”[3] Siirisay baga an pinagtutubudan nindang mga dyos?

The early Bikols were polytheists.. Highest in rank were Gugurang, the god of good, and Aswáng, the god of evil. Today aswáng is commonly understood as “witch,” the human devotee of Aswáng. But anciently it simply stood for the Devil, the evil element, as opposed to Gugurang. Below them was a system of lower supernatural beings who might be good or evil, depending on whether they served Gugurang or Aswáng.[4]

Pwera kina Gugurang asin Aswáng, dakul pang dyos-dyosan an saindang pinagtutubudan.[5] Kabali na igdi an mga batalá, katambáy, si Okót, asin si Mangindang, na nasa kaalyado ni Gugurang o kan karahayan.

Dagdag pa igdi, nagtutubod man sinda sa mga marhay na anito. Pinagtutubudab ninda na an kalag nin saindang mga ninuno padagos na nagbabantay sa mga buhay asin nagtatabang sa sainda sa saindang mga pangangaipo.[6] Kaya, an kagadanan sa sainda bako pa an katapusan.

Regarding death, the ancient Bikols believed that when a human being died, its soul lingered in the woods. For sometime, it would reappear tom people, especially at night, then finally leave this earth to wander forever into another realm that was either Heaven (Kamurawayan), where the valiant and the just eventually passed into glory, or Hell (Gagámban), where the soul of the wicked and the cowardly were tossed into everlasting torture and fire. Only as an anito would the soul occasionally meddle again in the affairs of its living descendants. Whether in Kamurawayan or in Gagámban, the ancestors, once dead, become powerful anito. Where the good anito watched over their living descendants, the evil anito brought fear. This led to a two-way ancestor worship: to placate the evil anito and to implore the good ones.[7]

An siring na pananaw nagpapasabot na an suanoy na pag-iisip kan mga tawo kaidto binubuo nin duwang entidad – hawak asin kalag. Nagpapahiling man ini kan pagtubod sa pagiging immortal kan kalag o kan sarong katawohan. Dagdag pa sa aspektong dapat ikonsidera iyo an katotoohan na an mga ini nabuo na sa isip kan mga Bikolano mayo pa man an Kristyanismo sa Bikol. Igdi na man nagluwas an konsepto ninda kun pano mabuhay nin may padudumanan. Nasa indibidwal na pagpili nakadepende kun sain nya dinadara an saiyang sadiring buhay sa katapusan nin saiyang panahon digdi sa daga - sa Kamurawayan o sa Gagámban.

Sa alyado man ni Aswáng, nagkakapira man an mga dyos-dyosan na saindang pinagtutubudan. Kabali igdi an mga bongô, koró-koró, inongók, yasáw, tambalúslús, ongló, sarimáo, bakunawa, ibingan, naga, popô, patyanak, kikik, korokóy, angongolood, buring, Oryól, Rabót, daruanák, asin onós. Kaidto pa man, nasasabotan na ninda an duwang pwersa na magkalaban. “A Bicol myth recounts the conflict between the good god Gugurang and the evil god Asuang when the latter attempts to steal the fire from the former.”[8] “The Bikol gods are forever vanquishing one another in the attempt to replace the good by the evil, or a god by a man, and even a goddess by a man.”[9] Kaya ngani, dai na maidadahilan pa na mayo sindang pakiaram kun an ginagibo ninda maninigo o sala.

In Bikol ancient religion tha awareness of evil and the identification of Aswang with evil are key beliefs. Moreover, evil or Aswang is considered as a necessary force and as something to be worshipped even if it cannot be controlled. The Bikol cult of Aswang, in cognizance ot its power, consists of a number of demon rites which are among the most eerie and wild in Philippine demonology.[10]

Hali igdi, maririsa na kaidto pa man nasasabotan na kan mga ninunong Bikolano kun ano an maraot asin an epekto man kaini sa pagkabuhay nin sarong tao. Nasa sa saiya nakadepende kun pano nya ini kakapotan - kun mapasairarom sya igdi o tatalikdan nya ini.

An mga suanoy na Bikolano nagtutubod man sa kakayahan kan mga anting-anting (amulets) asin lumáy (potions).[11] Kaiba igdi an mga kabal, hinay, tagahopá, tagóbalín, tagólipód, laaw, banay, lumáy, tagalpó, barát, asin tawák. An mga ini nagpapatotoo asin nagpapasabot na aram ninda na an saindang kusog para atubangon an buhay kulang asin dai kumpleto. Kaipuhan nin katabang o pampakusog nin boot sa pagsabat sa buhay na pano nin pagsubok. An anting-anting nagpapakahulugan kan saindang pagkasabot sa pangangaipo nin panluwas na tabang.  

Nagpoon sanang mabago an siring na mga kaugalian kaidtong uminabot an mga Kastila. “Christianity, introduced in 1569, found easy acceptance among the lowlanders, but in the hill country, among the Agtâ, the old beliefs held sway.” Siguro nangyari an pagbabago, alagad an sarong mas importanteng masabotan iyo na an pangyayaring ini pagbabago sana kan paagi nin pagtubod alagad bako kan kaisipan o kadunungan mismo sa likod kan mga nasambitan na pagtubod. Maski pa masabi na dikit-dikit nang nawawara an importansya kan agimat, alagad an kaisipan na katakod kaini yaon pa man giraray – arog na sana kan pangangaipo kan panluwas na tabang sosog sa nasambitan na. Sa katotoohan, maski ngani an mga paagi ninda igwa pa man giraray minagibo sagkod ngonyan na dai na lang basta maisusuway sa kaugaliang Bikolano.

---

[1] Quito, “Structuralism and the Filipino Volksgeist”, 279.

[2] Ibálong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment, 101.

[3] Ibid., 89.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Para sa kahulugan asin pagsasaladawan kan mga supernatural na nilalang asin pagtubod, hilingon an “The Supernatural World of the Ancient Bikols” sa libro ni Merito B. Espinas, Merito B. Espinas, Ibálong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment, 89-104.

[6] Cf. Ibid.

[7] Ibid., 94.

[8] CCP Encyclopedia, Vol.IX, Philippine Literature, s.v. “Myth – Folk Narrative.”

[9] Bikols of the Philippines, 133.

[10] Ibid., 148.

[11] Cf. Ibálong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment, 93.

  

The Trip-let's Trip [KrAK-ers]

Krizta Beth "Tabeth" Angeles, Karen "Kah" Balela, Arjanmar "Gab" Rebeta

We are the crews of the Trip-let's Trip. We are called KrAK-ers as we aim to "KrAK" the road to every places. Join us as we travel along.

Click here for our trips:

Unexpected & Unplanned Trip To Starbucks Tagaytay
Race At the Bus (Trip-let's-Trip to Starbucks-Tagaytay)
Treat Ni Tabeth (Kenny Roger's - SM North Edsa)
Trip-let’s-Trip-pers (KrAK-ers) Goes to Manila Ocean Park
Photo Gallery of Trip to Manila Ocean Park
Trip-let's Trip Watched Manila Ocean Park Musical Fountain Show

The Inaugural: An Exhibit at SM North Edsa

I visited the “The Inaugural – An Exhibit” at The Block Atrium, SM North EDSA. It will run from February 17 – 28, 2011. It is presented by the EDSA People Power Commission in cooperation with the SM Supermalls.

The exhibit highlights and introduces the book entitled “The Inaugural” - an 181-page hardbound coffee table book which published by Maria Montelibano. This book details the inside story of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s road to the presidency as documented by several chroniclers. “The Inaugural” has over 100 photographs and portraits of President Aquino captured by top lensmen, and contains stories and accounts written by various journalists, campaign volunteers and friends of the President.” (Source).

The exhibit introduces some of the contents of the book such as THE TIMES (Ang Panahon), THE SYMBOLS (Ang Tanda), THE VOLUNTEER (Ang Nagkusa), THE CELEBRATION (Ang Pasinaya), and THE PRESIDENT (Ang Pangulo).

I am proud to be part of such history though not so directly. My existence begins in the year when the history of yellow symbols started. And somehow, I proud to be part of the 15,208,678 votes garnered by Benigno S. Aquino III in the 10 May 2010 elections which won for him the seat of the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

I just wish that that powerful votes would turn into realistic hope to lead the country into progress.

  

 

Preparing an Exotic Food (Snake)

Last year, I took vacation in our province. I used my time to rest from my job. Eventually, one 'kumpare' of my father gave him a dead snake yet still fresh that, according to him, was trapped in his fishnet causing it to be suffocated. So my father prepared and cooked it and made it as their 'pulutan'. I watched him and even helped him as he prepared the dish. 

Hope you like it. I invite you to join me in my table... 

  

An Katukduan sa Kantang “Si Nanay, Si Tatay”

Ini kabtang kan pag-adal kan 

PILOSOPIYA NIN BUHAY SA LITERATURANG BIKOLNON

            An kantang “Si Ninay, Si Tatay”, pinaghohona na pinakabantog na kantang Bikolnon asin pwera kan kantang “Sarung Banggi”, ini iyo man an pinakanamomotan na himnong Bikolnon.[1] Ini an liriko kan kantang Sarung Banggi sa Bikol:<![2]

Si Nanay, si tatay di ko babayaan,

Balaquid na boot an sakuyang utang

Si pagdara sako nin siyam na bulan,

Gatas kong sinoso di ko mabayadan.

Ay Nanay, ay Tatay kon ako humale,

Hihdawon mo man sa gabos mong aki;

Maski makakoa nin makakasangle,

Dai makaarog kan sakong ugale.

Ay Nanay, ay Tatay kon ako maraot,

Pogotan nin payo ibontog sa lawod,

Kon maheling nindo na naganod-anod,

Ay Nanay, ay Tatay sapoda man tolos.

Si Nanay, si Tatay daing pagkaherak,

Gustong agomon ko an sarong may kuyap.

Ay Nanay ay Tatay, kon kami mamogtak

Iloho ko siya tanganing matigbak.

            Sa titulo pa lang kan kanta, masasabotan na kun anong pagpapahalaga an mawot itukdo. Sosog sa nasabi na sa kalilihis pa lang na kapitulo manunungod sa esensya kan gurang sa mga Bikolano, siring man an mawot ipahayag kan kantang ini. Paggalang, pag-ataman, pagkamoot o maninigong balos nin boot sa mga magurang. Bilang ekstensyon kan Kagurangnan, sinda man parti kan prinsipyo kan buhay nin sarong tawo. Utang na boot sa sainda kun tano nagkahawak an sarong tawo sa partikular nyang kinamumugtakan bilang parti kan pamilya. Sinda an nagpadakula asin nagtukdo man sa saindang mga kapag-arakian. Sinda an enot na nagtanom nin kaaraman sa isip nin sarong tawo sa paagi kan saindang ginigibong disiplina. Kun kaya man dakula an papel ninda sa pagtalubo kan isip asin disposisyon kan tawo.

            Ini nagpapahiling nin makamundong pangyayari sa sarong pamilya. May pagkasuwayan o pagkaarangutan o minsan igwang nagkakasala. Lagad sa likod kan mga ini dai mainenegar an danay na pagkayaon kan pagkamoot sa lambang saro lalo na an pagkamoot kan magurang sa aki. Magkasala man nin pirang ulit, maako na maako man giraray sya sa saiyang aki.

            Nin huli ngani sa labing pagkonsidera kan mga tawo sa magurang, minsan pa maski dai ninda boot nauyon n asana nin huli ta mas makakarahay daa an kabotan nin magurang. Tala-tala an siring na kaisipan sa kanta. Garo inilaag na lang ninda sa pasuba o pangirit. “The humor in the last stanza should relieve whatever oversentimentality may be objected to in the preceding ones.”[3] Alagad, dai kaini matatago an kaisipan na naglalataw. Ini man nagpapasabot na dikit-dikit nang nagkakaisip an sarong tawo. Narereyalisar nya na an saiyang katalingkasan asin nasasabotan nya na an saiyang pangiturugan. Alagad, dai man giraray ini masasabing marhay o maraot ta dai man matatawadan an kaaraman kan magurang manunungod sa ikararahay kan saindang mga aki.

            Dakul pa an laog kan kantang ini. Paghorop-horop lang an kaipuhan.

---

[1] Cf. Benjamin A. Claveria, “Sarung Banggi.”

[2] “Si Nanay, Si Tatay”, Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

  

Unexpected & Unplanned Trip To Starbucks Tagaytay

It was the feast day of Sto. Niño that day – January 16, 2011 (Sunday). We were invited to the house of our friend to have some lunch and bonding session with my former workmates. After few hours of jamming, we took our own separate ways.

Krizta, Karen and I (Gab)  went to Luneta for some winding trip just to see the Dancing Fountain and to visit Gat Jose Rizal and Lapu-Lapu.  We stayed there until 9 pm.  After a humurous conversation, we decided to go back home and planned to just buy pizza and drinks for us to eat while chatting in the house. We unanimously agree, however, to our surprize, one bus going to Tagaytay passed by on our sight. And guess what?! This Krizta Beth Angeles, hailed the bus. And of course, what sort of things that Karen and I should do?... We then started the UNEXPECTED TRIP TO STARBUCKS TAGAYTAY.

While on the road, we played in the bus. But not a cellphone game, nor newspaper puzzle. Guess what again?! A race inside a public bus. Yes, I repeat, A RACE INSIDE A PUBLIC BUS. Krizta and I had our race not on the hallway of the bus but over the seats from the back going to front. While, Karen was taking the video at the back while LOL-ing (laughing-out-loud). We had released our children in us. It seemed that we rent the bus on our own. Actually, we took a video of that crazy thing that the we did. (Click here to watch the video and by the way, kindly bear with the resolution of our video and pictures. Just understand that this was an unexpected trip thus we have no digital camera on us – just cellphone camera)

A few minutes after, the bus conductor said that it was already Tagaytay. We hurriedly gone from the bus. To our next surprize, it was almost a 16-degree temperature there that night. Wind was so cold and strong. And again, because that was unexpected trip, we have no comforter jackets with us. We felt frozen that time thus we immediately searched for a store to buy that “Jacket-With-Absolute-Necessity” just to warm our “starting-to-be-frozen-body”. Grrrrh... Wooooh...

After that unexpected shopping, we went to our target place – the Starbucks Tagaytay. We had our orders. (By the way, I am giving salute to the service crew there. Your costumer service is a “must-to-visit again.”) (WM) We had our table at the second floor and experienced there the total coldness that even  hotness of our coffee did not last so long. But atleast, we had enjoyed our stay there with laughter. Even the wind laughed so loud as it made noises on the roof. We had sipped our coffee as if we had found the “Unexpected-Found-Aromatic-Coffee” of all time. HmmmmH.   We encountered there many people. Some were foreign folks and some were fellow Pinoys. I just thought that maybe some of them were also like us that took the way to Tagaytay just to have there Starbucks Coffee being served there – UNEXPECTEDLY, TOO. Haha... 

We just stayed there in about 1 ½ hour. After, the coffee soaked to our system, we had took our way back home again.

To end the journey, we had our stop to Baclaran Church. We prayed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and give thanks to the Lord.