Tuloy-tuloy hanggang lampas ng hatinggabi ang kunsiyerto ng mga palaka. Minsan may nagso-solo,pagkatapos pumapasok na parang background music. Ang galing. Talo si Ogie Alcasid at ang kanyang mga all-stars performers sa EDSA.
Sobra isang linggo na ako sa aming baryo sa Guisijan sa Antique at talaga namang nakaka-relax ang sariwang hangin, sariwang isda at sariwang gulay.
Nasubukan nyo na ba ang masaheng alon? ‘Yan ang nangyari sa akin noong isang linggo. Pinaghahampas kami ng alon. Masaya kaya lang masakit sa katawan.
Hindi masyadong damdam ng mga kapitbahay namin dito and selebrasyon ng EDSA1. Natutuwa lang ang mga bata dahil wala silang pasok kaya naligo kami sa dagat. Nang gabi nga nasalubong ko ang aming kapitbahay at sinabi niya makikinood daw siya kanyang katabing bahay ng “Willing-Willie.” Mukhang mas mabenta ang Willing-Willie kaysa EDSA1 na palabas.
Parang hindi masyadong ramdam ng mga tao sa baryo ang pamahalaang nasyunal.Nagpapatuloy ang buhay at wala namang pagkaka-iba ang kanilang buhay kahit sinong presidente.
Ngayon ang problema ng mga magsasaka sa amin ay ang hindi maintindihan na panahon. Apektado raw ang kanilang mga pananim. Malamig sa gabi ngunit maiinit sa araw. Sabi nila parang hindi na tumutugma ang mga dating kinaugali-an at ang panahon.
Kahit nga mga bulaklak na mabango katulad ng sanggumay at ilang-ilang hindi na masyadong mabango. Nagtataka ako na namumulaklak ang aking sanggumay at ilang-ilang ngunit hindi na humalimuyak katulad noon. Baka siguro sa insecticide na siyempre nahalo na rin sa hangin at kapaligiran.
Sabi n gaming kapitbahay, ang konsiyerto ng mga palaka daw ay nagpapahiwatig na uulan kinabukasan. Gabi-gabi maingay sila ngunit hindi naman umuulan. Nababahala ang mga magsasaka na baka tuloy-tuloy na itong init hanggang summer. Matutuyuan ang kanilang tinanim.
Ang isang problema pa ng mga magsasaka ay daga. Ang dami daw ng mga daga at kinakain nila ang mga palay at tubo. Yung isang kapitbahay namin, isang gabi lang inubos ng mga daga ang kanyang tinamin na palay. Wala na siyang aanihin.
Ang solusyon sa kanila pang araw-araw na problem ang gusto sana nilang marinig kay Pangulong Aquino at sa kanyang mga opisyal.Kaya hindi nila gets masyado ang EDSA1 na konsyerto. Mas pinapakinggan nila ang mga palaka.
***
Tingnan mo nga naman ang Pilipinas, sabi ng blogger na si Bayonic: “25 years ago, ang ating presidente ay si Ferdinand Marcos at isa sa mga senador ay si Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. Ngayon, ang ating presidente ay si Beningno Aquino III at ang isa sa mga senador ay si Sen. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.”
Kaya tanong ni Bayonic, “Ano ang umiba?
Kumuha si Bayonic ng mensahe sa kantang “Tatsulok.”
” Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban
Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan
Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan
At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman
Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo . . . ”
Totoy , kumilos ka , baliktarin ang tatsulok.”
Masarap talaga ang buhay sa probinsya. Sariwang hangin, sariwang isda, sariwang gulay at kung umuulan may chorus pang mga Palaka noon iyun ng bata pa ako. Ngayon bihira ng marinig ang kokak kahit na umuulan, inubos na yata nilang inadobo sa hirap ng buhay.
Noon magsiga ka lang ng dayami sa silong ng manga mamumulaklak at mamunga na, Sa silong ng manga ang “Fireplace” ng mga tao sa amin sa madaling araw pag maginaw at sabayan ng paghigop ng mainit na salabat,nilagang sabaw ng luya at asukal na pula at sabayan na rin ng hitit ng ginayat na nirolyo sa papel na pang grade one,ngayon kailangan ng sprayhan ng potassium ang manga para mamulaklak at mamunga pag minalas ng pesteng bangaw lahat ng bunga ng manga may uuod..
Sa Manila lang iyang celebration ng EDSA at mga pulitiko lang ang bida.Busy ang mga tao sa pagaasikaso ng sakahan at kabuhayan nila sa probinsya at pataya ng Jueting.
Noon daan daang metro ang pagitan ng mga magkakapitbahay. Pag mag igib sila sa jet matic ng kapoitbahay nila pagdating sa kanilang bahay kalahati na lang ang laman ng lata ng petrolyo, ngayon nag aabutan na lang sila ng baso sa bintana dahil dikit dikit na ang bahay.Ang problema kapag umulan at bumaha, lahat ng naipong tae sa hinukay nilang kubeta ay ginagawang sulpabida ng langam.
Noon ang bayan namin ay hindi lumulubog, ngayon pag umulan doon hangang baywang ang tubig kaya kawawa ang mga pandak dahil sa ilong na nila ang level ng tubig.
iyung bahay namin doon noon from flooring to ceiling ay 16 feet, ngayon 8 feet na lang dahil sa tuwing pagkatapos bumaha nagpapahakot ng gravel and sand pantambak para maitaas ang level ng flooring. Ganun pa rin baka five years from now mawala na ang first storey at magiging bungalow na lang.
Pag magreklamo ka naman sa munisipyo dahil hindi nila masolusyunan ang baha, syempre pagagalitan kunyare ni Mayor ang kanyang municipal engineer. Tapos sasabihin ng engineer kasalanan ko ba kung umulang nga malakas at bumaha.
Kami naman ay may konsyerto ng ubo sa bahay dahil din sa init a araw at lamig sa madaling araw. Tahimik din dito sa aming barrio, Ellen. Pasyal lang ako ng pasyal sa ilog na aking kinagisnan na hangga ngayon ay napakalinis pa rin ang sarap pakinggan ng daloy ng tubig na sinasabayan ng tweets ng mga ibon. Nalimutan ko na may Edsa celebration tuloy. 🙂
cocoy, maghapon akong namasyal sa Subic at Olongapo proper. Nag-grocery kami sa duty free daw. Sus, bakit ganun, triple ang mahal ng bilihin kesa dyan sa ‘merika e duty free nga! Nag-ice cream na lang tuloy kami. 🙂
Cocoy: “Noon ang bayan namin ay hindi lumulubog, ngayon pag umulan doon hangang baywang ang tubig kaya kawawa ang mga pandak dahil sa ilong na nila ang level ng tubig.”
Bagay na dyan tumira si Pandak Goyang lubog sya sa biomass!
Ang ganda ng sanggumay! Bakit kaya naiibsan ang bango dahil matanda na? 🙂
Sanggumay is an orchid (wild orchid, actually) so every flowering branch is new.
Illiterate me when it comes to orchids, Ellen. Dito ang dami ng orchids ng ate ko pero walang sanggumay. Ang ganda pati ng kulay ng wild orchid mo.
Ti… madamo guid nga salamat Maam Ellen 🙂
hindi din ako nanood ng EDSA celebrations/concerts kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang mga kantang pinakawalan ng mga mang-aawit doon .
ang nabilitaan ko lang ay masyado raw OA si Ka Freddie at seguro daw ay wala na iba pang makanta dahil dalawang beses yata inawit ang Pambansang Awit 🙂
ako’y isang simpleng Pinoy lamang at yan lang ang aking pampalipas oras – ang pakikinig sa mga kanta ,,, at siyempre , iba ang tugtuging atin at lalo na ang yong may makabuluhang mensahe.
doon sa barrio nila Ellen ang gumigising sa akin sa umaga ay ang tukturo-ok ng manok, ang almusal ko sa umaga ay “dulong” wrapped in banana leaves and steamed..ang merienda ko ay yong pinasugbo..bananacue dipped sa calamay fresh from the galingan but the best and I always ask for it..is lupo lupo with ulo kang bantalaan o tanguigue or dal-hog with monggo or tambo (labong)na guinat-an. looking forward to going home this August..
what I saw sa ceremonnies…when the National anthem was the flag was not raised kasi wala atang flag pole kaya may retake ang pagkanta…unbelievable na walang flagpole a true case of “believe it or not”..but only in the Pilipins ang sabi nga..maka simba na nga para hindi pa madagdagan ang kasalanan.
this is another favorite song from Gary Granada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dreE0wuwb1U
I spliced a music video using footages from a BBC Documentary ” The Toughest Place To Be A Bus Driver ”
In the documentary a London bus driver spent 10 days with a Jeepney driver from San Andres Bukid in Manila. The Londoner braved the chaos of Manila streets, the farcical lectures of a Driving School instructor and eventually plied the same jeepney route on his own.
In between he learns about the incredible over-crowding and devastating poverty of Manila, the decade long attempt to pass the Reproductive Health Bill, the harsh reality of “pag-pag” and on a trip to the jeepney driver’s hometown; why there are now roughly 20 million souls in the Metropolitan Manila area. He forms a strong bond with the jeepney driver and is moved by the daily struggle of an ordinary Filipino working to feed his family. It’s an emotional roller coaster and he returns to London a changed man, aware that all that separates his life from Rogelio’s is the country he happened to be born in.
The entire 6 part series is not available on the BBC iPlayer if viewed from the Philippines but fortunately, it can be viewed on Youtube.
Bayonic, is tatsulok a Gary Granada song?
“…when the National anthem was the flag was not raised kasi wala atang flag pole kaya may retake ang pagkanta…unbelievable…”
Rose,
Yet the celebration is supposed to show the LOVE for the Country, the PATRIOTISM! Mas atat sa concert, sa pagpapabongga at pagyayabang! Haaaaay! Mahilig lang ba tayo sa mga PIYESTAHAN?
Nais kong makarating dyan kina Ellen, sa Antique. Dun sa amin wala na ang palayan, ang lawa na dati rati ay lampas tao ang lalim, ngayon eh ganon parin kalalim pero kalahati ay burak.
@Ellen – Sorry for the confusion. Tatsulok was released by Noel Cabangon’s old band Buklod in the early 90’s. It was also covered by Bamboo , a mainstream rock band in 2007.
Chi @ # 6
Siguro kaya tinawag na Duty Free kasi walang tax.Hehehehehe!
Mamili ka na ng bahay mo diyan sa SBMA na ipinagawa ni FVR noong nakaraang Asean Summit.From 50- 20M lang daw yata.
Cocoy, nakita ko nga ang mansions, pautang ng pambili! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mahina ka kasi Chi, sana kung kinaibigan mo si Mrs. Ligot, Mrs.Garcia at Mrs. Reyes sana may mansion ka na ngayon diyan sa SBMA.Makipag ballroom dancing ka lang sa kanila at frendz na kayo.Hehehehe!
Hahaha! Sila na lang, cocoy, ayaw kong mag-TNT!
Chi,
HEHEHEHEHE!
Its not enough that we bash every one in sight, critiquing is very easy, comparing is very easy, we can come up with all the complaints in the world – as it easy to say what we don’t like, we are experts in knowing what we don’t like, and we are experts in telling others what they are doing wrong! but have we ever bothered to ask ourselves what specifically should be done? Have you ever had a problem with a 3 year old who doesn’t seem to want to eat anything, and everytime you show him something all he says is “I don’t like!” – thats precisely how we sound like!
We ourselves don’t know what we want, just what we don’t want, its like talking to a child.
Imagine, 90 million people saying “i don’t like, i don’t like, i don’t like, i don’t like…” nonstop, its really a concert of frogs. Frogs have the same sound year in and year out, same with us, every generation, the same sound…and we don’t seem to be be aware, we do the same thing over and over again and expect different results, in come circles thats considered insanity.
“I don’t like, I don’t like, I don’t like…”
When people say the don’t like liars, it only means they want the truth.
When they say they don’t like cheats, it means put cheaters like Garci and his bosses in jail.
When they say they don’t like officials stealing the people’s money, they really mean jail those caught.
How to do it? They left for their elected leaders the how, when, and where to do it, that’s why it’s called representative democracy.
To illustrate the inverse of your postulate – 90 million people saying, I want this, I want this, I want this… is just as noisy as a concert of frogs.
Slip of The TonGuE:
“The converse of your postulate…”
Speaking clearly would be a lot better.
To finally hunker down and make a clear cut, properly outlined, black and white contract between the people and its leaders of what we do like specifically, put a time line on it, cost and benefit analysis, and gauge our leaders on their ability to follow it.
Otherwise, we get so many rhetorics and “I don’t likes” forever.
besides, you must admit, an “I like” is a hell of a lot easier to address that a whole bunch of “I don’t like.”
Yeah, but of the 90M, how many can actually articulate a specific direction much less a detailed plan of action? They have surrendered the most part of it to their reps.
Sadly, the choice of the rep is that of a failed exercise, largely made so by the system that allows loopholes and tolerates wrongdoings coupled with the dictates of the grumblings of an empty stomach and the idiosyncratic shortsightedness of the common rural Pinoy; further exploited by pseudo-religious leaders in a lopsided system that favors only the elite, there is not much improvement to expect.
To me, there are only three areas that need to be addressed starting this very second – economy, justice, and education. And everything else falls in their rightful places.
Have you ever experienced massage by the waves?
Click on the thumbnail photos in the post.
I had that when we went swimming in our barrio last week. The sea was a little rough but my swimming buddies and I went into the water anyway.
We could not do much swimming so we just rode on the waves. It was fun. You learn timing or else ihahampas ka ng alon. Several times, I got clobbered by the waves. My body ached the next day. But it felt good.
wow Ellen u=you just reminded me that I need to take a vacation. I’m filing a for a whole week leave, thanks!
Ay talaga, Jug. Kaya lang busy rin with the cellphone and internet. Okay lang, that’s how life is. At least you are able to take a vacation while working.
Ellen,
I have put Antique (your barrio if possible) on my list of TO VISIT 🙂 Our problem is that our summer holidays here (which are vacation or leave times for us) are July and August… 🙁 which I suppose are rainy season months in Antique? It’s virtually next to impossible for us to take a month’s holiday other than during one of those months… 🙁
Absolutely fabulous those pictures are, Ellen! Would like to be there already and do baby surf if possible!!!! I used to surf decades ago 🙂 🙂 🙂 learned to do it in Biarritz, Basque country in France, and some in Figueroa in Portugal (where I almost died because of the gigantic waves 😀
Need a month because there are a few places I’d like to visit in Pinas:
Baguio
Chocolate Hills (that’s in Bohol, isn’t it?
Palawan
Antique
Cebu (to visit friends and play a bit of golf)
Batangas (to visit my farm)
Will probably not linger in Manila area at all, check in, check out sort of thing only…
anna,
there’s no place like the Philippines when it comes to the beach, europe is still freezing for me even on their supposed “beautiful summer weather” last time I heard that I learned the hard way, their “beautiful summer weather” is 20 degrees!
yes, chocolate hills is in carmen, bohol. they actually have some nice tour packages that include a boat ride with meals (delicious seafood) on the boat and of course you get to see the famous, Philippine president’s favorite animal – the tarsier.
not much to see in Baguio, unless you really like to see PMA, the Banaue rice terraces would be better, Batangas has some pretty nice beaches too, Palawan, they also have nice tour packages, Coron, the underground river, jsut don’t forget to bring your OFF lotion.
Now Antique, last time I went there ages ago was to set up some demo farms for a new fertilizer brand, so I saw mostly rice farms. Ellen is Antique the place they say there are many manananggals?
of course, Palawan has El Nido and Calauit (zoo of some sorts), but if you really want to spend serious money there’s Amangpulo, that is it you don’t mind sharing the beach with Jack Nicholson or Tom Cruise. and yes, they have a shangrila there too, probably the most beautiful one?
Jug,
I know!!! You are preaching to the converted 🙂 am a sun worshipper and a beach girl at heart!
Re European beach, come and see us when you visit next, will take you to a beach (by our country house) that’s never below 30° — you’ll die of heat 🙂
Need to see Baguio to visit my friends and relatives — we have a family house there. I grew up there as a child 😉
Palawan is to go to a private white sandy beach — have got a house there so need to check that it’s still there 🙂
private white sandy beach? now thats more of my preferences, too bad I don’t have the Marc Nelson physique anymore. 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂 You forgotten how to lift weights — forgotten your old drills at PMA???
ADB: it would be nice and our honor if you visit Antique….and if I may suggest you could go to Boracay and from there it’s about 2-3 hours (by van) to Antique via Pandan and go around to go to Iloilo…just don’t miss to drop by Nogas Island..a sanctuary for birds and fish..it maybe a long way to take a van to go around but you would love the rural scenic experience..and if you can, visit our local sugar mill and the “patadyong” weaving. we also have the gemstones but I don’t know if it still exists..and during the last week of Dec. we have the Binarayan..the re-enactment of the story of the Ten Datus of Borneo..I think there is a plane to Antique…but I never tried it…I always pass by Iloilo via Guimbal and Miagao (where the oldest church is)..now I am getting nostalgic..but hopefully I will be going home in August…
jug: you had been to Antique? have you been to Sibalom (the rice granary)) and San Remigio..
Anna, all the time.
Jug, tell me when you want to go to Antique.
Thank you very much Rose!
I would be so pleased to finally visit Antique soon… Have been reading so much about it over the years in Ellen’s blog. Kiddies are excited.
We in the family love going on holiday to places where adventure awaits us and don’t really relish the ultra-sophisticated places where foreigners usually go. My sons who are the outdoor types are happy to set up tents and do camp cooking provided the sea is around. They both dive, sail and fish and like to meet and fiesta with the locals.
Perhaps if you are there when we visit, we could all have a drink of tuba? 😉
Thanks, Ellen… will definitely let you know if plans push through.
Ang aming bahay sa Bataan ay ilang hakbang lang sa aplaya ng China Sea kung saan ako nakikipagtitigan sa haring-araw tuwing dapit-hapon.
Bukas, maliligo naman ako sa ilog sa loob ng bundok kung saan noong araw ay naghahabulan kaming mga bata, lundagan sa naglalakihang bato. Kaya kung ako ay nagbabakasyon, tulad ni Ellen ay kuntento na sa sariling kapaligiran. Napakaganda ng Pilipinas sa dako dito at sa dako-doon. 🙂
I just got back to the US and I am homesick again. Gusto ko nanamng umuwi.
Jug, where is Calauit in Palawan. My sister and kids are going there the end of May. I can suggest that they swing by Calauit.
Anna, Jug, Chi and Rose, have you been up north? Ilocos and Cagayan? Pass through scenic Pagudpud and you will have a great time! In La union too, San Juan is a favorite surfers destination. And if you wish you can pass by Laoag ang see Apo Marcos (Jug probably wont go…heh,heh,heh). On the way. swing by Vigan. If there is anything that I appreciate in what Chavit Singson did, it is the preservation of Vigan! You can still see all the 600 yr old homes.
Sagada I heard is a better destination for nature lovers. My American born niece (mom a Filipina and dad an American)had so much fun in Sagada (or is it Sacada?). Better than Baguio which is now so crowded.
psb: been to Ifugao but not as far as the rice terraces..just as far as Mt. Data way back in the late 68..wala pang mga rest areas..kaya when mother nature would call we stop by the bank of a river at kanyang kanyang hanapan ng malalaking bato…for the men hindi problema pero sa mga babae kailangan may dala kang patadyong o sarong..I was told that the view of the terraces is better from Tuguegarao..I would like to go to Bohol too and the Ilocos (del Norte and Sur)..I understand there are tours available from Manila…hindi ba you pass by Tirad Pass gpong to Viscaya?..would love to see that too.
Rose, Sagada is more beautiful daw than the rice terraces na hindi na na-preserve. Bungi bungi na daw ngayon ang rice terraces.
..Jolo is another place to go..Zamboanga too.
Ellen: I would like to experience a Sky lift ride to go up the mountain but was told nakakatakot daw..Would Sept. or Oct. be a better time to go up the top of the moountain? we used to sing “I was poorly born on the top of the mount- ains” and “Ati ati sa bukid sa diin si Nanay mo, rugto sa may dapog nakatikamo..napaso ang bibig nataltal ang unto. nagsinggit ay abaw Ginoo”.
psb, been to Cagayan at nagala ko ang Cagayan at Isabela. Callao Caves is superb in beauty. Gala ko hanggang Sitangkai pati Bongao kung saan nagtago si Garci, :).
Galing na rin ako ng Antique, nakipaghala-bira! Nakagala ako sa mga dalawang baryo pero hindi na matandaan kung saan. Sa Sagaga, maraming beses na…pero sa Vigan ay hindi pa. Just the other day I was inside The wildlife reserve in Subic. Ganda pala dun.
Kung meron ako na gustong puntahan ay Palawan pero saka na lang kasi ang main purpose ko ng pag-uwi ngayon ay mag-alaga ng matandang tatay. 🙂
This is a classic case of politicians trying to become entertainers, when it should be the entertainers who should be vying for political posts.
Would they get an Oscar, too?
Like i said before, there’s a thin line between politics and entertainment, and it’s not red.
I’ve seen more outside of Pinas so next time I’m there, I’ll go to Baguio first and see PMA, Wright Park, Imelda Park (heard it’s a different name now), Mansion House, the two dams.
Maybe go to Banaue and see the rice terraces, the Caves of Sagada (my late mom’s hometown), never been there.
Down the visayas, will check out Antique first and look for their main attraction (the escalator…wink!), and Bohol. Then if Goyang is a member of the Leper Colony, I’ll visit Palawan too. My son wanted to dive the coral reefs of Palawan since he’s into corals, especially the miniature ones. Always wanted to go to Davao since I was a teenager and if it materializes…I can gloat I’ve been to LuzViMinda.
TB ,sayang, you know that 100 islands in Panagasinan had beautiful and colorful corals in the 60s but the local folks took them all and sold them on the streets. It was such fun when my father used to dip my tiny feet in water and I could actually feel the corals. The colorful fishes loved the corals too. The water was so clear and you can see the beauty down under. Now, the water is so murky. I was just there again less than a year ago and it was not as inviting as it was before.
Pilipinas Kay Gandah!
PSB,
Been to Laoag and guess what? It was Chavit who brought the group I was with there from Isabela hahahah – he was doing it for Lu Antonino and hubby in fact. I didn’t know it was his plane until Lu told me! But haven’t been back.
Anna, was Chavit the pilot too? Bilib na ako sa yaman ni Chavit. He can afford to have a private plane. Iba na talaga ang may access sa “kaban ng bayan”.
trublue: if you like bird-watching Nogas Island is the place..at ang gaganda ng mga sea shells and stones pero bawal ang mamulot kasi baka magalit ang Goddess of the Island hindi ka na makakaalis..I was told that in Tibiao, Antique (the town next to Ellen’s place) ang ganda daw ng falls..Mt. Madiaas is also around the area kina Ellen. Also in the area of Nogas Island is the Siraan Hot Spring..marami pang places sa Antique (by the beach)na hindi na commercialized.
PSB, no, it wasn’t him… there was a proper pilot. Not only access sa “kaban ng bayan” but I also learned that he had huge smuggling operations on his private island too, motorcycles, cigarettes, other goods, etc.
“Karma” is what happened to his son Ronald. Is Ronald his favorite son?
Those motorcycles are called “chop chop”. He too gets cigarette taxes, I heard. And if you are NOT on his good graces, you can just dissapear or go 6 ft under ground and become fertizers for the tobacco plantation.
PSB,
Was told that he had not only one but 2 private aircraft.
The pictures remind me of Mactan Island 30 years ago, wala pang mga resorts, you can go biking in any direction and you’re int he beach in 15 minutes, it was a paradise, and for free. Now you have to to to these resorts, hotels, etc, and they’ve lost that “natural” look already.
Hope I can take my kids to this place Ellen…
Usap tayo, Jug.