tagabungtod

Lately, much of my time have been diverted to some personal pursuits which I hope would still give me some time to manage this blog. Thank God for fellow-tagabungtods who write to us and give us some very interesting updates and "getting-to-know-you" letters. I will post some of those letters here so that friends, relatives and other tagabungtods may get some news about them and their whereabouts, . Besides, it will help me minimize the gap between blogposts, right? To all our other readers, please write. Let us get to know each other better.

Here is one from Luz Pedroso-Akiatan again. It came as a surprise that she comes from the Puig family. I've been closely acquainted with Roger Puig who for a long time worked with the Nabunturan Integrated Cooperative (NICO) and the municipal government as SB Secretary. I was also quite familiar with Agnes Puig who belonged to one of the smartest and prettiest class in ACN that came a few years later after our batch. (Pero, of course, wala gyuy makalupig sa kabright ug kaguwapa sa HS Class '65.)

During the '50s, my mother would walk all the way to Km. 92 just to talk to the old Puigs and their daughters about the beautiful flowers that they always had then--and until now-- in their frontyard. She would come home very happy because the pretty Puig girls always loved to share stalks and cuttings of "semilla" with her para pud sa iyang garden sa among balay duol sa sapa.

If you happen to be in Km.92 or what we used to know as Bugak (the place is now called Recto and it has become a thriving community), drop by and visit the beautiful gardens of the Puigs.

Dear Trino,

Kamusta ka na..Salamat sa response.

I am from the Pedroso and Puig clans of Km. 92 (Bugak). Am so sure you know the place. The lands situated on the opposite side of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is where our house is, so with my brothers and relatives. I don't know if you are aware that the land where the office and the fish pond are was donated by the Paspe Family. I grew up in the place, so just figure it out how was life before then! I used to walk two kilometers everyday to go to school. One of my classmates in elementary was Cesar Birondo (his mom was our teacher in Grade One). Flora Secuya, Lucila Flores & Laarni Evangelio were my classmates as well.

I found out about your website through Recto Bote who was my classmate in high school. He told me he also spotted my name in names data base. What a small world! I know Rex Bote is already living in Sydney, Australia. Of course I am familiar with Felisa Chan, a very cute girl but very talented. You mentioned Ernie Diva..I can remember him vaguely and I believed am one year ahead of him.

I've been here in Canada for almost eleven years already. My husband came here first in 1997 and we followed one year later. We have three children (all girls), two finished university here and are already working while my youngest is still in first year university. Living in another place is really hard. Our settling here is just a sheer luck (unintentional) but my husband wants to try it, so far its worth it for the sake of the children.

I am glad to see how you feature those articles and the photos of B.C. You are right on how we manage our environment and resources.

Okey, thanks and talk to you later. Regards to all Tagabungtod and sorry for the saksak sinagol language.

LUZ Pedroso AKIATAN

(Nakadawat ko ug sulat pinaagi sa email gikan sa usa ka Tagabungtod nga karon lumulupyo na sa Vancouver, Canada. Giganahan ko kay kinasingkasing gyud ang pagkasulat ug gihan-ay gyud sa pulong nga binisaya ug may ginagmay'ng pinisik nga tagalog ug pulong nga inglis. Ang iyang gisulat adunay dakong kahilambigitan sa pinakabag-ong tala nga akong gisulat kagahapong adlawa. tgt)

December 31, 2008

Dear Tagabungtod,

Ako tagabungtod gayud ug dinha gipanganak, mi graduate ug elementary sa Nabunturan Central Elem (1966) ug high school sa Nabunturan National Comp High (1970). Apan lagi kay kitang mga Pinoy mangita man gayod ug maayong pangabuhian (greener pastures) so naa na ko karon dinhi sa Canada (lower mainland Vancouver).

Makaguol gayod nga hunahunaon ang akong nabasa ug nakita sa mga kahoy nga gipamutol. Unsa man ang gihunahuna sa atong gobyerno nga wala man lang timbang timbanga kung unsa ang kapuslanan sa mga kahoy sa atong palibot?

Dinhi sa Canada maski pagputol sa kahoy sa imong kaugalingon nga yuta ug lote dili gayud itugot sa gobyerno. Multahan ka ug presohon pa maski naa na ang punong kahoy sa imong luna. Kung duna may mga development ginakuralan gayud ang puno sa kahoy para dili man lang masamad ang puno ug maputol ang mga sanga.

Pwede man unta to nga i-trim lang o buhinan ug gamay ang mga sanga, nganong giputol man gayud? Wa ba sila kahibalo nga dugay pa kaayong mga panahon ang paabuton para lang modaku ang isa ka punuan sa kahoy?

Daghan pa ang dapat tun-an sa atong mga kababayan kung "greener earth" ug sustainability and atong estoryahan. Kanus-a pa kita makakat-on niini. Tingali panahon na para pag-isipan kini sa atong gobyerno. Daghang salamat sa tagabungtod! & mabuhay!---

LUZ Pedroso Akiatan

May we all have a happy 2009!

More than two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Canadians unabashedly and proudly promote their country as “the most beautiful place on earth”. Judging from what I have seen and observed, limited though they were, and based on my own prejudices, I would concede that indeed their place is the most beautiful place on earth. My agreement is simply anchored on one aspect: the ubiquitous TREES that you see everywhere. Canadians love their trees so much that they protect them as if their entire lives and the lives of so many generations to come depended on it.

One day, on our way to Victoria Island, we drove to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. While waiting to board the ferry boat, I took the chance to stroll inside the terminal building where they have coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores, fast foods, souvenir stores, etc. Just like any other places you go to in Vancouver, the terminal was spotlessly clean. But what struck me most were these pieces of information which I instantly and unhesitatingly took pictures of. These reminders were prominently displayed at the information center for all the visitors to read and appreciate:





Talking about our forests, I can only paraphrase a popular '60s song:

Where have all our forests gone
Long time passing
Where have all our forests gone
Long time ago......

When will we ever learn
Oh, when will we ever learn.