tagabungtod

Melody Colita-Bautista Writes

2010-11-15T14:09:00.000+08:00

November 14, 2010 at 2:09pm

Hi and hello to Trino and other Tagabungtods.

Nahimuot gyud ko pagbasa sa mga Tagabungtod’s messages sa iyong blog. These brought back memories to old days when I was a young lady (I started teaching at NCES when I was 20) with all those trials and challenges, and yes happiness sab pud, both in my career and personal life. Those experiences made me a strong, prayerful and an empowered woman while living in the place, and helped me to understand people more whom I get acquainted with later, both in the workplace and in private life.

Until now, I consider Nabunturan as my second home, whether the original Tagabungtods like it or not. I live life, that includes warm and wonderful memories of Nabunturan.

Why I got my first job in Nabunturan? I did not want to teach in the city so I defied the policy then that a public school teacher should be a resident of the place. One of the daughters of one Tagabungtod insik, Ellen Chan ( may she rest in peace), and Lina Puig (whom I shared a room with during college) encouraged me to join them in their hometown. We all came from the same state college, and all assigned in NCES nga atbang sa NNPCHS ug kalsada padulong sa Alcantara and Sons.

How I love Nabunturan whose people I found so warm, accommodating, and friendly, dili plastic – datu man o simpleng tawo. I used to frequent the house of the very kind Mr. and Mrs. Puig, Lina’s parents at nobenta y dos, and yes tam-is ang ila red pomelo. Half-way from the poblacion to Lina’s place was a private memorial park, that I have bravely entered one night para ubanan a grieving close friend. Hadlok pud, but in Nabunturan it was so easy and fulfilling to share others’ sorrows. Like it was also easy to understand friends who left the place, including dreams and promises, for good and never visited again, by choice.

I was protected, and provided with a safe and comfortable place by my hosting families, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them again and again, namely Dr. and Mrs. Pet-Etang Layug, Mr. and Mrs. Ben-Babes Tomas, Mr. and Mrs. Indoy-Cris Pajaron, Mr .and Mrs. Jess-Ester Blanza, Engr.and Mrs. Miguel-Condring Cabrera, Mr. and Mrs. Quiel-Nene Labrador, Mr. and Mrs. Mandel-Deling Zabala, and Judge and Mrs. Betty Garette. Daghan kong nakaila ug nasuod nga Tagabungtod through them, dugangan pa sa taga-NCES teachers, parents, and students.

So you see, I almost have lived in all corners of the poblacion. I used to spend my free time with the family of the late Supt Arsenio Flores, composer of Nabunturan hymn, and a very smiling and thoughtful Nang Ason in their home. Linda“Babes” Flores and I spent nights magestoryahanay sa among kinabuhi. I really had wonderful time at my 20’s with lots of wonderful Tagabungtod. Kung balikon ang panahon, I would still choose the same, to teach in Nabunturan and to meet the same people. Wala koy i-edit, wala koy i-erase, wala koy usabun.

We went camping to Mainit hot spring with the girl and boy scouts. Going to places (bisan unsa kalayo nga barangay) for school and civic activities was always exciting even if it rained. I used to love rain in Nabunturan. Wherever I am, I still relate rain to Nabunturan, and remember some people dear to my heart. I pray and thank GOD for the Tagabungtods who have touched my life, and even for those who caused me stress, worries, and pain. Nabunturan is close to my heart, and no one can change that. I may not be there now, but the place lives in my heart.

Some recent messages made me sad, like the passing away of Congressman Prospero Amatong, and Mr. Max Roxas. Both were good leaders, and worked hard for good governance in their respective field. Max was then a good shop teacher in my group at NCES, and my partner in folk dancing. I danced sayaw sa bangko with Max only, we had that kind of chemistry in dancing. Together we pray for the Tagabungtods, including my best friend and confidante, Margie Gonzales Vinarao, who are now in the kingdom of GOD.

Regards and GOD BLESS.
This is Melo Colita Bautista

Meet Our New Mayor: ROMEO CALAMBA CLARIN

2010-07-21T14:43:00.007+08:00

Romeo Clarin first appeared in Nabunturan in the late '60s as the boyfriend of Marcelinda “Baby” Barrete, a very pretty and popular lass from barangay Cabacungan who was “crush ng bayan” during her high school days in Assumption. The pair was quite a perfect match because he was a gentlemanly, handsome young man who, like the Barrete family, came all the way from Sevilla, Bohol. Soon enough, after college, they would tie the knot and establish residence in Nabunturan. Romy wasted no time in earning a living for his family by establishing a fertilizer and chemical store. He would later branch out into the transportation business.

One child came after another, too. Presently, all their four children have finished college and are working. Neil (Boyet) is a physical therapist, Glenn (Jojit) is an occupational therapist, Romeo Jr. (Jun-Jun) is a business ad graduate and the youngest Myrocel (My-my) is a medical technologist.

In the early 1990's, Romy was persuaded to run for public office as councilor and he easily topped the winning slate. Romy is not the sociable, gung-ho, pat-your-back type of politician. But he is not new to politics either.

Aside from the many political Clarins in Bohol, his late father-in-law, Juan “Ondoy” Barrete, became a long-time councilor and vice-mayor; he missed becoming mayor by losing just by some 50 votes to then mayor Pros Amatong. Romy's mother-in-law, the late Andresa, was also barangay councilor and later captain of Cabacungan for some time. Furthermore, he also belongs to the big tagabungtod Calamba clan, his mother being a first cousin of the pioneering Calambas from Sevilla, Bohol.

Quiet, patient and sober by nature, Romy completed three terms as councilor and three terms as vice-mayor, a total of eighteen years. He assumed as mayor July 1, 2010.

Gemma

2010-07-21T11:50:00.005+08:00

This blog is taking the liberty of reprinting this full article from Hollywood Bulletin because it makes special mention of Gemma Sotto, a fullblooded tagabungtod. Gemma is the daughter of Milagros Mencidor and the late Cesar Sotto. She was a member of the provincial board of Compostela Valley before she decided to leave for the U.S. Gemma, her son, and a couple of her siblings, Jumilo and Marife, now reside in New York.

Going through the article, the report of the author appears rather inaccurate as she wrote that "...Gemma Sotto... was her nanny while she was in the Philippines." Gemma was already in the U.S. when she became nanny, not to Brook Shields, but to her child. If I recall correctly, Gemma told me that she took care of Brooke's little girl for almost three years.

Gemma's photo album is an interesting collection of pictures showing her posing with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Lou Diamond Philips, and a lot of other famous stars. The pictures were taken on different ocassions when she had to fly with Shields' family to Hollywood. When Brooke Shields and her husband, who also works in the film industry, decided to move permanently to L.A., Gemma chose to stay in New York.

Brooke Shields recalls her Filipina nanny and her trip to the Philippines

HOLLYWOOD BULLETIN

By JANET SUSAN NEPALES

April 26, 2010, 11:56am

“Every time I hear the Philippines, I am reminded of my Tita,” exclaimed the lovely and statuesque Brooke Shields in our recent encounter.

LOS ANGELES – “Every time I hear the Philippines, I am reminded of my Tita,” exclaimed the lovely and statuesque Brooke Shields in our recent encounter.

“Tita” for this former child actress and former Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) guest is Gemma Sotto who was her nanny while she was in the Philippines.

“She was a kind and caring woman,” she pointed out. Brooke was one of the special guests from Hollywood of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos in the controversial MIFF in 1982. That was also the first time I met and interviewed Brooke at the Manila Hotel.

Many years later, we met again when I talked to her about her TV series, “Lipstick Jungle.” “I remember those glamorous days in Manila,” she recalled of her first visit to the Philippines.

Brooke and I recently met again when we had a chat for her upcoming comedy film, “Furry Vengeance,” with Brendan Fraser.
Now a mother of two girls (Rowan Francis, 6, and Grier Hammond, 4), Brooke said that it was indeed the birthday of Grier that day I interviewed her.

“I almost threw a whole premiere for her,” she said laughing. “She’s actually happy to see the movie so that’s a good thing and then afterward, we’re having all her friends, 20 kids, for a barbecue and swim party,” she disclosed.

The 44-year-old actress added, “I’m making my husband (Chris Henchy) do all the cooking and he’s cooking barbecue, burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, and big sheets of chocolate cake. He won’t be wearing a princess dress but my daughter will be (laughter). Well, maybe, after a couple of Tequilas… I don’t know, we’ll see.”

Asked how she manages to balance motherhood and career, the “Blue Lagoon” and “Endless Love” star revealed, “I don’t ever really feel like it’s balanced. I always feel like I’m deficient in one area. I maybe here but I’m thinking I hope they’ve got the right shoes on. I hope they’re fine. I hope they’re not giving their dad a hard time.

“When I tried to just be at home with them, I go absolutely stir crazy. I love them. But they make me crazy. I notice that when I have a job, I like to go and come back or bring them with me. But when I have something else that keeps my mind and my creative spirit nurtured, I am more patient with them. I have more fun with them. I’m clearer about my time with them because I’m able to focus on them. If I’m just with them, I’m thinking, God, I’ve got to get a job. That’s just the way I’m built.

“I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not but I do like the idea that I’m showing my girls the importance of having something in their life that is theirs and a vocation. I think it’s important for women to have that message growing up.”

• • •
On her co-star Brendan Fraser, the former Calvin Klein Jeans model said, “It was my first time ever working with Brendan. I had known him a little bit socially. Really nothing – not very much. I have always wanted to work with him. He is truly a hero of mine. I enjoy him so much and it was just such a thrill.

“You never knew what he was going to do. I sort of had to be the through-line through everything and he always said the script was a suggestion (laughing). So I’d be waiting for my cue but he’s very generous with other people around him and that is rare because he could easily steal any scene. He’s fearless. He’s so comfortable allowing other people to have their moment too which is also rare in comedy.”

• • •
The first time I met Lea Dizon, a budding filmmaker, was at a screening of a Filipino movie in LA. The exotic beauty later invited us to the screening of her directorial debut, a short comedy titled “How to Eat Bacon,” at the USC (University of Southern California) School of Cinematic Arts where she is taking her masters degree in film.

A University of the Philippines graduate, Lea is hard working, persistent and focused, especially when it comes to filmmaking. Very passionate and dedicated to her craft, Lea directed another short, a comedy-love story, “Angel’s Bread,” which was co-produced by another Filipina, Pia Chikiamco.

“I would love to be known as a Filipino filmmaker in Hollywood,” the Angeles City native disclosed.

After three years at USC, Lea is now set on doing her thesis film, “Delikadesa,” a short film in Tagalog that is set in the ’80s in Manila. “I need all the help – financial or otherwise – for this film and I am not embarrassed to ask for help,” she said.

Lea explained, “My thesis will be an earnest, charming, poignant movie set in Manila. Eighteen-year-old Paolo is about to go to his engagement dinner to his pregnant girlfriend. While the two families are going crazy trying to plan the wedding and his life, all Paolo wants to do is to tell them that he doesn’t want to get married. It’s for sure a family drama, a comedy of errors, and a coming-of-age film about learning that sometimes doing the wrong thing is the right thing to do.” Visit the website, www.leawdizon.com/delikadesa, to find out more about the film.

In order for Lea to make her thesis film, she will need to raise $20,000. Lea pointed out, “No donation is too small or too big. When you give $6 you are buying one of our crew members one of his or her ten meals during the shoot. About 30 people will be helping to make this film. $110 will enable me to buy a can of film – leaving me with just 16 cans left to purchase. $275 buys an hour of the eight hours that I need to transfer the movie from film to High Definition. $1,000 helps me rent the Super 16 camera.”

She stressed, “I will be grateful for anything that people can extend to me. I am certain that all together we can make this movie, a dollar at a time. Being able to make this film will be the best graduation gift I can ever receive.”

Lea added that they are targeting to be in production in the first week of May in LA. She said, “This film will be submitted to film festivals in the US and abroad. It is my hope that this film not only open doors for me as a filmmaker but will also give honor to my country. I am humbly and boldly asking you to invest in this dream and in myself and help me take this town by storm.”

Formerly a Manila journalist, Los Angeles-based Janet Susan R. Nepales is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

E-mail the writer at jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments and questions.

Edgar D. Savellano, 55

2009-06-28T10:07:00.008+08:00

He was born July 6, 1953.

He grew up in Mawab but he chose to reside in Nabunturan after he married his tagabungtod college sweetheart, Gilda Dimson. I first met Edgar during the early '70s when he joined DANECO as one of its pioneer employees. Wala pa'y koryente, naa na sya. A good-looking and amiable person, he easily won tagabungtod friends because he always displayed a very affable smile. The kind of person who loved to listen and exchange ideas and jokes with friends. The tennis court was the weekend hangout.

Edgar soon married Gilda, whom he described as his fierce academic rival for the top rank in their class during their college days . According to him, in order to ease the tension that was always brewing between them and to get even because she always excelled, he courted her and they became sweethearts. Both graduated with honors and became certified public accountants in no time. Gilda, who also got employed by DANECO, would later resign and join the municipal government of Nabunturan. She is presently the Municipal Accountant.

Meanwhile, Edgar became the Office Manager of the electric coop where he took the opportunity to finish his Masters in Business Administration. Having served DANECO as a board director, myself, I have seen how competent, hardworking, and even-tempered Edgar was. As soon as the late Atty. Jose Amacio retired as General Manager, it was not unexpected that Edgar would take his place.

At the helm of DANECO, he steered the electric coop to become a model of efficiency in the entire country. For example, in instances of power interruptions or brownouts, he was known to be the kind of manager whom consumers can call directly anytime of the day or night. He himself answers his phone, calls and dispatches his engineers and emergency crew to immediately attend to the problem.

A very bright, funny, and articulate guy who had a great knack for explaining accounting and financial gobbledygooks, Edgar shared his talent, together with Gilda, by teaching at the Assumption College for several years. He was known as a very good teacher and was very popular among students. It was at this time that the school introduced a business course with Accounting as a major. In a few years, ACN started producing its own certified public accountants.

As a resident of Nabunturan he immersed himself in community activities by becoming a member of the board of director of the Nabunturan Integrated Cooperative and the Nabunturan Water District, the latter he served for more than 29 straight years starting from its inception in 1981. He was NWD's chairman at the time of his death. He succeeded the late Dr. Rolando Layug in 1997, also a pioneer director who served as chairman of the board for about 17 years.

DANECO and its consumer-members throughout the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley lost a very competent general manager. Likewise, his immense contribution to the growth and development of Nabunturan is immeasurable. In my book, he was a true-blue tagabungtod we can always be proud of.

He is survived by his wife, Gilda, two daughters, Anna (now Meneses) and Jan Angelie and a grandson. In the early '90s they lost their second daughter who had a protracted battle with leukemia. On June 19, 2009 he, himself, would succumb to a tumor in his spinal column .

Our Generation

2009-06-19T11:45:00.007+08:00

(I am reprinting this "forward-forward" nga email because I find it very funny and full of truisms. Maayo pud ni pangtapal sa panahon nga dili ko kapost sa tagabungtod. I am sure the original author, who is apparently Sugbuanon, and whose memory of his and our generation's childhood is full of humor, would not mind. Read on!)

I was born on this era!

TO ALL FOLKS WHO WERE BORN IN THE

1950's, 60' s, 70's and early 80's !!

First, some of us survived being born to mothers who did not have an OB-Gyne and drank San Miguel Beer or tuba while they carried us.

While pregnant, they took cold or cough medicines, balikutsa, bukayo and didn't worry about diabetes..

Then after all that trauma, our baby cribs were made of hard wood covered with lead-based paints, ang uban kay duyan nga habol gihigtan ug pisi nga inigtabyog ug kusog mapakong intawon ta sa bongbong.

We had no soft cushy cribs that play music, no disposable diapers (lampin lang sa General Milling nga naa'y faded picture nga nag-salute), and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no kneepads, wala pa gyu'y brake ang bisikleta.

As children, we would ride in hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats (Bisaya Bus nga pultahan puros ang kilid, Corominas Bus nga senimana ang brake), or cars with no airconditioning & no seat belts (karon kay Minibus o van na nga nindot kaayo ug sounds or Ceres Bus nga bugnaw ug aircon, may dvd pa gyud).

Riding on the back of a carabao on a breezy summer day was considered a treat. (karon, ang mga bata wala na kaila ug Kabaw)

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT bottled mineral water sa Nature Spring or Viva, or Absolute mineral water (usahay gani, straight from the faucet or poso or Tabay!)

We shared one soft drink bottle with four of our friends, and NO ONE actually died from this. Or contracted hepatitis.

We ate rice with star margarine, bahaw nga gibutangan ug asin ug mantika sa baboy, drank raw eggs straight from the shell, and drank softdrinks with real sugar in it (dili diet coke or Pepsi Max), but we weren't sick or overweight kay......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, and get back when the streetlights came on. Syatong, Bato-Lata, Bagol, Dakop-Dakop, Tago-Tago, Ngita'g Kaka.

No one was able to reach us all day ( wala pa'y uso ang cellphone). And yes, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our wooden trolleys (katong bearing ang ligid) or Karitong Kawayan nga karaang tsinilas ang giporma nga ligid and then ride down the street , wala ma'y gidungog nga naligsan atoh! After hitting the sidewalk or falling into a canal (sewage channel) a few times, we learned to solve the problem ourselves with our bare & dirty hands .

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 100 channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround stereo, no IPOD's, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, no chat rooms, and no Friendsters. ........ ...WE HAD REAL FRIENDS and we went outside to actually talk and play with them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no stupid lawsuits from these accidents. The only rubbing we get is from our friends with the words..sakit bai ? pero kung kontra gani nimo ang imong kadula,,,,singgitan lang dayon ug..Mayra,Gabaan!

We played marbles (jolen) in the dirt , washed our hands just a little and ate Pan Bahug-bahug & Bagumbayan (recycled bread man diay to kay wala mahalin!) We were not afraid of getting germs in our stomachs.

We had to live with homemade guns (giporma nga kahoy, gihigtan ug garter ug lastiko) , saplong , tirador ug uban pa nga pwedeng magkasakitay. Pero lingaw gihapon kaayo ang tanan.

We made up games with sticks ( syatong ), and cans ( Bato-Lata )and although we were told they were dangerous, wala man gyud to'y actual nga nabuta bah, bukol lang nuon sa agtang naa.

We walked, rode bikes, or took tricycles to a friend's house and knocked on the door or batoon ug gagmay nga bato ang bungbong, or just yelled for them to jump out the window!

Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't pass had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Wala pa nang mga childhood depression ug damaged self esteem ek-ek ra na. Ang maglagot, pildi.

Ang mga Ginikanan naa ra sa daplin para motan-aw ra sa duwa sa mga bata, dili para manghilabot ug makig-away sa ubang parents.

That generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, creative thinkers and successful professionals ever! They are the CEO's, Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors and Military Generals of today.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had failure, success, and responsibility. We learned from our mistakes the hard way.

You might want to share this with others who've had the luck to grow up as real kids. We were lucky indeed.

And if you like, forward it to your kids too, so they will know how brave their parents were.

It kind of makes you wanna go out and climb a tree, doesn't it?!

PS - The big letters are because your eyes may not be able to read this if they were typed any smaller (at your age? Duh!).

From Mayor To Priest

2009-05-20T00:03:00.010+08:00

After the local elections in 1988, Mayor Joel O. Bugas, at age 21, became the youngest municipal mayor in the entire country--a position he won by an unprecedented 3-vote margin over his opponent.

Fresh from finishing his A.B. Political Science degree from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Joel Bugas was thrown into the political fray after his father, Zosimo Bugas, who was a mayoralty candidate at the time, was shot and killed by NPA hitmen right on the stage where they were holding a political rally.

As a town executive, Joel displayed such levelheadedness you could have concluded that he was like a turtle thrown into the water. Not so surprising to most tagabungtod considering that he came from a political family, his father having served as vice-mayor and later as mayor during the 70's. Lauro C. Arabejo, the first municipal mayor and one of the longest serving mayors of Nabunturan, was also his granduncle.

Joel won two more elections which made him mayor for a total of 10 years. When his term as mayor expired in 1998, he could have trained his sights on higher elective political positions and easily win. More so because the new province of Compostela Valley has just been created. But Joel rather chose not to run.

A few months after the 1998 elections, Joel quietly left for the U.S. Years later, he was rumored to have entered the seminary. It turned out to be true. He would be the second Bugas to enter the priesthood, the first one being his first cousin, Rev. Fr. Ricardo Bugas, who is now a missionary in New Zealand.

At 10:00 A.M. on May 30, 2009, Saturday, REV. FR. JOEL O. BUGAS, tagabungtod, third child of the late Zosimo Bugas and Corazon de Ono, will be ordained priest at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico by its Archbishop, the Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan.

He will celebrate his First Solemn Mass Of Thanksgiving on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 8:30 A.M. at the San Antonio de Padua Parish-Penasco, State Highway 75, Penasco, New Mexico and then to be followed by another Mass at St. Anthony Parish-Dixon at 10:30 A.M., State Highway 75, Dixon, New Mexico.

Prospero S. Amatong, 77

2009-05-16T22:50:00.012+08:00

Two days ago, text messages were flying around informing that former Congressman Prospero S. Amatong was hospitalized becaue of a bad fall while strolling in a New York park where he was vacationing with his family. I just got back from General Santos City when I got this sad message from good friend and fellow-tagabungtod, Mayor Rey B. Navarro, of Laak, Compostela Valley.

His short but catchy text message says it all about the long and significant political career of a pioneering tagabungtod:

The great man who "ENGINEERed" the "PROSPEROus" province of Davao del Norte, "FATHERed" Compostela Valley's creation and made the distinction as the only undefeated councilor, mayor, governor and congressman in this part of the country returned to his CREATOR this morning. Join me in praying for the eternal repose of the soul of HON. PROSPERO S. AMATONG.

Nanay

2009-05-10T15:10:00.025+08:00

She was a mother to her children for 50 years.

Patria Villafuerte Gella, was 22 when she met and married my father who was a 38-year old bachelor helping the guerillas as an army medical officer in the island of Panay. After the war, he forthwith brought her to the fertile hinterlands of Compostela Valley in Mindanao. In a span of 14 years, one child came after another. Six boys in a row and later, two girls. I was the fourth.

My father, in his rumination as a government worker, practically left the care of all the children to my mother. In my father's absence, and in her effort to take control of the situation, more often than not, her only appropriate and convenient response to any breach of conduct was anger.

During my childhood, together with friends, I would always wander into the nearby forest or take a dip in the Cabalinan River where I learned how to swim. She always feared I would either get lost, meet an accident or drown.

As a result of my stubbornness, I was the primary beneficiary of her wrath. She devised so many forms of discouragements and deterrents in her effort to keep me home. One very early weekend morning, she discovered I was gone. When she caught up with me, she tied my leg to a bedpost with a sewing thread! Break it and God knows.....

She even developed a special ability to pinch where it hurts the most. Believe me, my cry of "Aray!" came even before her pinch hits the mark. She somehow got tired of doing it so she tried another tack.

Very early each morning, she assigned me the duty of buying the morning's hot pandesal from Pua's bakery. I loved the errand because I had the privilege to eat a few pieces on my way back home. And on Saturdays when my father would be home, she'd ask me to bring a wicker basket to the market with a list of things to buy. I'd hand the list to her kumadre, Irene Bautista-Fuentes or her sister Lourdes "Dondit" Bautista who did the buying. Meanwhile I would be left to sit with a merienda until the marketing's done. I would then bring the goods home for her to prepare and cook. Being the errand boy and the kitchen assistant, I always get first crack at all the delicious food that resulted from her exceptional culinary ability.

For quite a while I was her aide-de-camp. She was satisfied she finally found an effective way of keeping me home. To strengthen our partnership, she bought two pigs which I would feed every morning and afternoon with a bucketful of tahop and shredded tangkong. When it was time to sell the fattened pigs, we both cried. For my effort and good behavior, she brought me with her on a trip to her home province of Antique. I love to think that I was one of her favorites.

An unforgettable experience happened one summer day which would cement our bond of friendship forever. She asked me to wait for the Coca-Cola "panel" so I could purchase a case of the softdrink. She gave me a P5.00 bill, a fortune at that time, with which to pay the salesman. During the '50s, a case of Coke would cost only P1.80 per case. I placed the money in my pocket. While waiting for the truck to pass by, I took time out to play with neighborhood friends.

Finally the truck came late in the afternoon. After they unloaded a case of the softdrink, I reached for the money in my pocket. It was gone! The salesman reloaded his case of Coke and put back the case of empties beside the road and left. I frantically looked for the P5 and it was getting dark. I told my mother I lost the money. She and my playmates helped me look for it in the grassy field where we were playing. It was a futile search.

When my father knew about it, he was so livid with anger. He didn't believe I lost it. He believed I must have spent it on something else like lastiko, candies etc. All hell broke loose in my very young life that evening. I got the worst thrashing I ever received from him. My mother cried for me. All my brothers cried for me.

Later that night, when everybody else was asleep, my mother roused me from a painful slumber and brought me downstairs to my father's clinic. There, in the dim and flickering light of a kerosene lamp, and with tears welling from her eyes, she carefully and tenderly treated all the welts and bruises all over my back, my buttocks and my legs.

No, I never hated my father for what he did to me. We knew the rules. He was always very strict with all his children. And his goodness as a father far outweighed his sometimes mean temper.

What stuck in my mind that evening though, was not the physical pain that was inflicted on me. What I will forever remember and cherish in my memory was my mother's manifestation of maternal kindness, love, and compassion that I saw through the tears streaming down her face.

Years after our father died, we would get to talking about our individual disciplinary experiences with him. We have learned to laugh about those experiences. But insofar as that incident involving me was concerned, our mother would not contribute a single word. She would only listen with a wistful smile.

In her advanced years, she would be in and out of the hospital. One day there was only the two of us in her hospital room. At one point, while we were talking, she said, if I don't mind at all, she wanted to ask me a question which has been left unanswered in her mind. I told her to go ahead.

For the first time, after that painful night, she tearfully discussed and recalled the "Coca-Cola" incident. She told me how she sensed that my father felt contrite for treating me so harshly that night.

And then she asked the question, "Did you really lose that P5.00?"

I said, "Yes, I did. Why, did you ever doubt me?"

And with more tears in her eyes she said, "No, I always believed you".

That was the last time I saw my Nanay cry for me.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

TREES

2009-04-25T23:20:00.012+08:00

I must have been in Grade 1 or Grade 2 when we were taught to sing the song “TREES” which was actually a poem written by Joyce Kilmer. As very young children are wont to do, we memorized the first few lines, mumbled through the middle lines and again memorized the last two lines. That was about all I could remember about that song or poem.

A few days ago I was searching the YouTube. I was looking for songs sang by American-Canadian actor/singer Robert Goulet who died in October 2007 at age 73. He was the one who immortalized with his beautiful baritone voice movie and broadway songs like If Ever I Would Leave You, On The Street Where You Live, Impossible Dream, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, My Love Forgive Me, This Is All I Ask, and many more.

To my astonishment and delight, I saw a very old and very rare video clip of a very young Robert Goulet singing Joyce Kilmer's 'TREES”! Yes, the same song taught to us more than half a century ago by our gradeschool teachers! I never ever thought there was a recording of such a song. What makes it more special is that it was sang by Robert Goulet! And here he sang it so beautifully. I would like to share this with all my fellow tagabungtod, classmates, and friends. Play the video clip, watch and listen, sing along, reminisce and enjoy.

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a Tree.

A Tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A Tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A Tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a Tree.

Corrections from Ed Diva

2009-03-01T17:51:00.003+08:00

Feb 5, 2009 / Thursday / 8:30 pm ; Hi 9 Lo 4 deg C and Sunny

Trino, et.al.,

Warm Christian greetings from all of us here in BC....

Por vida, bai Trino, ka nindot pud imong introduction nako dah! Anyway, thanks hugely for the generous introduction.

To set the "records" straight, may I correct you on some of the things you mentioned in your blog:

My father was not a preacher but was one time barangay councilor nato and treasurer of the NPHS-PTA who, together with PTA president Baking Tupas, et.al. were instrumental in making NPHS converted to NNCHS thru a congressional act. . Dili cya pastor sa United Church of Christ in the Philippines (most organized Evangelical Church in the Philippines -- with roots at Silliman University -- where Pres Fidel Ramos and his sister Amb. Letty R. Shahani, Sen. Osias, Speaker Sonny Belmonte , Senate Pres Jovy Salonga are national members) diha sa ato-a sa Nabunturan or kong hain man. My late Dad was member of the Ruling Board of Elders, though, in the local Church at Nabunturan.

I was in the blog picture you posted (Bay Ed, asa ka man diri? Nagtago ka man tingali sa likod sa imong Mama -- tgt), but I was not under my Mom's Grade II class officially as I was under Mrs. Holazo then.

In high school at "Probinsyal" (dili pud "Promdi" ("from the Province") kung kang Cebu Gov Lito Osmena pa), our class valedictorian was Francis Vinluan Castro, M.D. of Vigan, Ilocos Norte(?). Modesty aside, I was relegated to salutatorian ra, though, mora ako man unta toh, he he he. Hapit ra ba ko ma-nguyab ato nya pag 1st Class '65 Reunion namo sa Davao City.... joke only, coz naa ra ba ko ato uyab nabilin Cebu.....
Mora cge man ta kita ato (?) when I was at the University of Mindanao for my 2 years basic Engineering as a full-academic Scholar/Vice President of the whole freshman organization (again, modesty aside). If my memory serves me right ka batch nako mga Mesiona brothers and even Ruben Flores...... (Koreksyon sa koreksyon: The Mesionas were not brothers. Conrado is the uncle of Venerando but they are of the same age that is why they grew up and went to school together. Conrado is the civil engineer while Venerando became a mechanical engineer. Re: Ruben Flores, from my personal knowledge, he never went to UM for his college studies. He started his Pre-Med in ADDU, transferred to ACN for a semester, and completed it in Southwestern University in Cebu. He finished his medical course in the same university – tgt)
Yeah, I am an alumnae of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (the Recollects are the richest Order in the Philippines (headquarters in Spain) with business interest at San Miguel and BPI, etc.; the SVD Fathers of the University of San Carlos borrowed some money from the Recollects to build their new Campus in Talamban, Cebu City). I have been fortunate to be PRO of the Josenians, Inc. for many terms and chairs these constitutional bodies : Recognition and Awards Committee, Special Projects (medical missions, etc.), Publicity and Promotion during grand alumni homecoming every 2 years, Scholarship Committee. Till now I have maintain my close relations with the Recollect Fathers and at many ordinary occasions invited to eat in the convent with them maski "Protestant" ko..... Among my alma maters are: UM, USJ-R, USC, RMC and National Defense College of the Phils in Fort Bonifacio....
6. Ug uban pa ....sa sunod instalment.

Best regards, as usual, to all "tagabungtod".

ed diva

More From Luz

2009-03-01T17:36:00.002+08:00

Hello to Tagabungtod (esp . to Trino)

You are right. Roger Puig is my first cousin and Agnes is my niece. The old Puigs (my aunt & uncle) were the original settler in Bugak so with the Paspe Family. My late aunt was really fond of gardening especially flowers but the place is also planted with lots of fruit trees especially pomelos.

I do still remember how I cried a lot everytime my mom brings me to the doctor in downtown Nabunturan. The family doctor was your father. You see I can still recall how he smiled to me and kept on talking to my mom about life & etc.etc..I can also remember how I loved to look at your younger sister's long hair (because her hair looked so different from the rests of the girls, a blond hair).

Remembering the past & the place where we grew up is really nice and makes us smile..but sometimes it makes us sad because we always wanted to go back and bring back the past.

Regards and more power to Tagabungtod.

Sincerely..

LUZ

A Letter From Julie

2009-02-09T23:02:00.009+08:00

February 6, 2009

Dear mga Tagabungtod,

How could I keep my silence here when I know every person mentioned in this site. I was also one of the tagabungtod. I finished my elementary at Nabunturan Central Elementary School and my high school at NPHS "probinsyal". Ka batch nako sila Luz Pedroso, Recto Bote, Isabelo Navales, Esterlita Lumanas, Vilma Bandong and her brother Freddie sa elementary ug HS. Luz is my best friend. I also know most of the people in Nabunturan, mga dato ug pobre. Of course I know Annie Diva and her mother Mrs. Diva, Mrs. Amatong, Mrs. Abanto, Mr. & Mrs. Paculanan, Mrs. Birondo, Mrs. Ador ( the two Cesars , Birondo and Ador are my classmates in elementary). Mrs. Tulio (among principal sa una sa HS), etc. Daghan pod ko kaila sa mga taga Assumption kay pirme ko sa simbahan ug close family friend namo ang mga Dacuno. I have a vivid memory of Nabunturan kay dinhi namatay akong papa and a younger brother.

Ako tong bata nga tig-lukdo ug saging nga dalahon sa canteen diha sa central on my way to school. Kung Sat and Sun manuroy pod ko ug nilung-ag saging diha sa palengke, sa terminal ug uban pang suok sa poblacion. Life was hard then. Maayo nalang kay nanigkamot ug mi-asenso pod gamay akong kinabuhi.

I am here in Davao City working with Del Monte Fresh Produce since 1970, after high school. Luyo sa akong mga pangingkamot kay unta maka gawas pod sa laing nasod sama sa akong mga classmates, the winds were against me at the time when I am still highly productive. Seguro mao pod akong kapalaran nga mo serbisyo gyud sa atong yutang natawhan.

I earned college degree after marriage thru hard work. Then I went thru graduate school. I am happily married to my co-employee and we are blessed with two sons now a dentist and an engineer, both are on their own. I am so happy to be able to find this site which I claimed to be a part of tagabungtod family.

I still visit Nabunturan from time to time kay naa man mi gipamaligya nga residential lots diha sa dati namong gipuy-an diha sa Veneracion property sa dili pa maka-abot sa sementeryo, duol diha sa rice mill. My husband was given the SPA by the heir of Veneracion.

Dako gyud ug kahimuan ning "tagabungtod" kay ma update man ta sa mga tao ug paghitabo sa atong pinalangga nga lungsod. Thanks to Trino Tirol who took his time and worked hard for this.

Ang inyong ka-tagabungtod,

Julie Josol Maranga

Cell# 09189398441

Email:Jmaranga@freshdelmonte.com

Dear Julie,

Daghan kaayong salamat sa imong sulat. Malipayon pud ko nga pinaagi niining atong blog ang atong ubang mga kaigsoonan ug kahigalaan nagsugod na ug pakighimamat sa usag-usa. I'm sure a lot of your friends and classmates will get in touch with you soon.

tagabungtod

A Message From Eddie Diva

2009-02-05T21:51:00.008+08:00

Dear Luz,

Ed Diva here.

Ernie Diva is my younger brother; Annie Diva is also my younger sister.

I am now here in Vancouver since almost 3 years now.

Where are you in Canada?

I might be home to Cebu and Davao come Dec 2009/

Rex Bote , I know him so well. They rented a place in my parents house with their Uncle. What's Rex e-mail address diay?

Pls keep in touch and stay in touch.

Blessings,

eddie diva

(Ed Diva was a classmate during our elementary years. He is the eldest son of our Grade II teacher, Mrs. Paz Diva. She was one gentle teacher who did not have any streak of violence in her. Buot pasabot, dili mamunal ug dili pud mangusi bisan si-aw mi kaayo. What I remember most about her is that she cried and cried the whole day when the news came out that President Ramon Magsaysay died in a plane crash in Mt. Manunggal in Cebu on March 1957. In my innocence and because of the grief she showed, I thought she was related to that someone named Magsaysay. Ed's father was also a very gentle, soft-spoken and handsome fellow who I believe was a preacher.

Ma'am Diva is shown in the class picture on the right side of this blog. Eddie is not in the picture. Tingali the school administration found it improper that Ed should be in a class which is handled by her own mother. Naa pa'y delicadeza sa unang panahon, no? Ed is one of the smartest boys in our batch. He finished high school sa "probinsyal" and completed his engineering degree from the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu. --tgt)

Getting To Know Each Other

2009-01-28T04:24:00.004+08:00

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

Sulat Gikan Sa Usa Ka Tagabungtod Sa Canada

2009-01-05T13:24:00.006+08:00

(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

When Will We Ever Learn?

2009-01-04T19:43:00.011+08:00

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.

The Trees Are Gone

2008-12-28T14:07:00.010+08:00

Three weeks ago, I went to Tindalo, Mainit at the invitation of Ago Maglana who was "soft-opening" a farmhouse. Made of bamboo and other indigenous materials, this is a farmhouse which he shares with brother Nelson. It has an open living/dining area, a kitchen, a small pahuwayan bedroom, a loft, toilet and bath and two sets of stairs with perfectly measured steps on both sides of the house. Aside from the usual coconut trees, several fruit trees like mangosteen, lanzones and rambutan surround the house (click picture to enlarge).

While you may enjoy this very cute and elegant farmhouse, here is a sad story:

Driving with a couple of friends on our way to Tindalo, upon nearing Mainit poblacion, we were aghast and horrified when we found out that the trees that the late Eloy Secuya planted on both sides of the road have ALL been cut!! Telltale signs indicate it was very recent because branches and drying leaves were still strewn all over both sides of the road. A very sickening feeling overcame me because it was only three months back that I wrote about these trees in this blog (“Want To Live Another One Hundred Years?”, posted September 10, 2008). The idea of taking a picture of the “mass murder” of hundreds of 20 year-old mahogany trees immediately came to mind. But I did not have the heart anymore to stop and do it. The tree stumps were a very sorry and unconscionable sight to behold.

“Naunsa man!!”....”Buanga oy!!”.... “Sayanga ato, oy!”....”Nganong gipamutol man intawon to?” were all the incredulous questions most of us in the car could only ask. Nobody among us could provide an answer.

When we got to the farmhouse, Nab mayor Dodong Humol was there so that was the first question we asked of him. He himself did not know why those trees were cut and who might be responsible. When he passed by earlier, he said he was just as sorry and surprised as we were to find out the trees were all gone.

A week later, through a text message from Nelson who is married to Judith, eldest daughter of Eloy Secuya, we got to learn why the trees were cut. This same message is posted on the comments section of the blog article:

“Bro,

You are right, that portion of the road in Mainit lined on both sides by mahogany trees planted by Tay Eloy WAS really landong, bugnaw and very refreshing mao daghan motorists didto magpahulay/mokaon.

"WAS" because the trees had to be cut by Transco kay it was getting in the way daw sa transmission lines nila sa koryente, fyi.Bro.”

(Nelson provided this low res picture of the trees when they were still “alive”. I believe this picture was taken around noontime. See, how beautifully they shade the highway? What you don't see here in this picture is mas baga pa gyud ang kahoy sa pikas sa highway.)

Questions: Couldn’t have Transco (formerly Napocor or National Power Coporation) moved their power lines instead if only to save those trees? Couldn’t they have just trimmed those mahogany trees instead of cutting them altogether? Those trees have been standing there majestically for maybe more than 20 years, why complain about them getting in the way only now?

Is the right of government agencies, like Transco, to cut trees so absolute that it cannot be contested by private individuals? Couldn’t the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which oversees these trees, or the Department of Public Works and Highways which maintains the national road like that one going to Mainit, file a test case against Transco just so there will be a clear interpretation and implementation of the law against tree-cutting? Where do we draw the line between saving our trees and the need of government to maintain its infrastructures?

O di ba kaha giputol to kay naay taga-gobyerno nga gusto himoon tong kahoy nga negosyo? It is not an uncommon practice that some people in government make business out of our regulatory laws.

Daghang pangutana. Sa atong klaseng panggobyerno, ambot kung naay tubag..

December 25, 2008

2008-12-24T19:01:00.004+08:00

Malipayong Pasko sa tanang Tagabungtod!

Pedicab ug Habal-Habal

2008-12-22T21:25:00.008+08:00

The last few days, people here in Davao City have been rushing everywhere to go shopping for christmas gifts and attending parties. So many vehicles are clogging the streets. Maayo na lang gani, traffic lights have been installed and activated this year. Driving is no longer as nerve-wracking as it was before. Still you have to stretch your patience insofar as jeepney and taxi drivers are concerned. They have the habit nga mohunong sa tunga, mosingit, dili molugar, kalit ug liko, etc. Wala gyud sa ilang bokabularyo ning road courtesy and discipline.

Naa pa gyud ning mga motorcycle nga pwerteng daghana na kaayo. Unya hawod ug hambog pa gyud nga magpaikis-ikis sa karsada nga murag wala'y kamatayon. An orthopedic surgeon friend told me last month nga since these motorcycles proliferated, everyday, repeat, everyday, he gets at least two cases of broken and shattered bones from these motorcycle daredevils. Makalagot ug makalingaw daw. Makalagot kay ang iyang time tua na tanan sa hospital sige ug sinumpay sa mga nabali nga bukog ug tinapak sa mga nabuak nga mga ulo. Makalingaw pud daw kay samot daw kadaghan iyang kwarta (he was not so serious when he said this but I am sure he was not joking either).

Ang sitwasyon sa Nab, mao-mao na pud. Pwerteng daghana na ang pedicab sa poblacion. Dugangan pa gyud aning mga habal-habal (kanang motorcycle nga moangkas ug tulo ka pasahero ug isa sa atubangan.) nga midaghan na pud. Kanang naay paryente all ober da world (Amerika, Australia, Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan, Middle East, Europe, Africa ug uban pa) ug makadawat gani ug "remittance" kay ang unang paliton: jeep, pedicab o motorcycle. Panginabuhi lagi kuno.

Dunay mga gabii nga gina-extend sa mga habal-habal drivers ang ilang livelihood. Pinaagi sa pag pustaanay. Believe it or not, naga drag race ning mga tonto gikan sa kanto duol sa amoang balay hangtud didto sa tulay sa Sta. Maria! (Dili ka katulog kay tungang gabii man ni sila mag karera.) Mao na nga ubay-ubay na pud ang nangadakdak. Daghan-daghan na pud atong nacontribute sa mga hospital ug sa punerarya.

Karong panahona we just hope and pray nga kining atong mga kaigsoonan maghinay-hinay unta gamay aron makalikay sa disgrasya. Ug para malipayon pud ang ilang pasko.

Landmarks - Old Buildings

2008-12-17T21:09:00.011+08:00

After the war, as soon as the pioneers settled in Nabunturan, they began to clear their lands of forest and trees, particularly in the plains, to give way to agricultural farming. Many of them came in pursuit of abaca as Manila hemp, after World War II, fetched a very lucrative price. To these enterprising pioneers, the promise of a better life was close to reality.

Systematically, the settlers felled the trees with the use of a kortador, which is a saw about eight to twelve feet long, each end pushed and pulled by two operators (jokingly called "imo-akon”). This was the settler’s version of the modern-day chainsaw. Most of the trees were of the hardwood species like yakal, guijo, sambulawan, dao, lawaan, etc. These were processed into lumber and would provide their families and workers with new, safe and permanent homes.

Also, because there was ample supply of lumber, buildings began sprouting which accommodated thriving businesses, commerce and institutions. Later, a sawmill owned by the Guinoos was established in town near the curbada.

After about 60 years only very few of these wooden structures remain. These are landmarks which will soon disappear, together with the rest, as they are by nature suffering from material fatigue and decay. They are our only reminders of how Nabunturan looked like when it was started by these brave pioneers several decades ago. Very, very few are left. Here are some of them today:
Bagaipo Traveller's Inn. Among the Bagaipo children, only Boni and Aida are left to manage the business.
The old Superior Trading. Blue-roofed yellow building was where Insoy was. It is now a bakery. Our family's clinic and drugstore were somewhere in between.
Shanghai Bakery on the far left, now owned by Teresita "Daday" Palay-Daculos. Next to it is where the Monforte's used to reside. They have since sold it to Tony Jao which owns the hardware below. Then the Yu Diets (Koy Lim with a record 19 children) and Tan Sing.

Of Municipal Buildings and Parks

2008-12-16T20:10:00.005+08:00

Mao ni’y dagway sa atong 50 years old nga munisipyo karon. Pink!!! Pink nga hagdanan!!! Ingon ani ba kaha ang dalan pasaka sa langit? Pink nga hagdanan? Stairway to heaven. Murag color sa gulaman. And look a little closer: Pink!!! Pink nga mga poste!!! Peste!

After this building was constructed, the image that has been permanently etched in my mind was always of a whitewashed municipal building. Ambot. Nahutdan siguro'g pinturang puti ang Nabunturan. Pink pa gyud......ug gituyo ni, nganong dili na man lang violet.....o electric blue ba kaha!

Did you know that once upon a time, some political retard named the building “WHITE HOUSE”?! No joke! It was emblazoned in bold black letters right where it now reads in the picture: “Municipality of Nabunturan” (he was probably the same guy who named our main street Hot River Avenue sa kaniadto. We did have village idiots and they were voted into office! More to follow.) Maayo gani duha ka tuig lang and iyang termino. Gipa-erase ug dali-dali ni kanhi mayor Prospero S. Amatong tong "WHITE HOUSE" as soon as he assumed office for the first time.

During the late '40s to the early '50s, the first municipal building---made of inak-ak---was at the back of the Espinos sa may crossing. It is now known as Purok 2, the biggest of 19 puroks in the poblacion. It was to be the first temporary home of my father when he first came to Nabunturan in 1947. In the mid '50s the munisipyo was later transferred to a building owned by Dr. Gonzalo dela Paz (natung-an ni Secuya ug ni Pahate). The building became his private clinic after the present municipal building was completed.

Did you ever notice that the municipal building is beautifully perched on a low hill? The family of Mariano O. Fuentes, who once served as the town’s chief of police and later as municipal secretary donated this two-hectare property to the local government during the '50s to support the efforts of then mayor Lauro C. Arabejo to create a new municipality out of Nabunturan. One of the prerequisites for the creation of a municipality, then as now, is a piece of land where the municipal building will be erected. Officially, Nabunturan became a municipality on July 23, 1957.

Former mayor Antonio Tulio* once told me, that when he became mayor, together with his vice-mayor, Gregorio E. Echavez, they wanted that expanse of land, which stretches from the street fronting the present municipal building, going all the way to the national highway, to be acquired by the municipal government. It was not so difficult to do at the time because most lands in Nabunturan did not have clear ownership and there werenot so many settlers then. With the help of the local government, these claimants or occupants could have easily been persuaded to transfer elsewhere as unclaimed lands were still plentiful in the town.

Their vision? --to build a municipal park that runs from the munisipyo to the highway. An unobstructed view of the municipal building on top of the hill would have been a beautiful and magnificent sight from the national highway. Gwapo unta no? Kung natuman pa tong ilang gihandum, makita unta karon gikan sa highway ang pink nga hagdanan ug pink nga mga poste. Lingaw.

The turn of political events did not favor the “visionaries” and during the early ‘60s, a cadastral court presided by CFI Judge Jose Cusi was set up in Nabunturan. So lands---which included that which they wanted to become a park--- were distributed and awarded to claimants. Except for that small portion right in front of the municipal building which former mayor Joel O. Bugas developed, hasta karon walay park ang Nabunturan nga capital town man unta sa bag-ong probinsya.

*P.S. When Nong Tony had some financial success in logging, he tasked and funded his friend, Ireneo Salarda to convert his 4-hectare property in Nabunturan into a private park. Salarda was a former schoolteacher who was responsible during the early ‘70s for making the Sto. Niño (Kao) Elementary School win a national award for having the most beautiful barangay school grounds in the entire country.

This park, which Salarda slowly developed through the years, was fondly known as Tulio’s Park. And Nong Tony generously shared it for the tagabungtod to visit and enjoy. Unfortunately, the slump in the logging industry later caused him severe financial distress from which he never recovered. He was forced to sell the property later on. After that the only park that the tagabungtod ever came to know was no more.

Sulat Gikan sa mga tagabungtod

2008-12-15T09:03:00.004+08:00

I was sorting out and making sense of my emails when I got to reread some of the letters I received. (To those who have not received a reply yet, I am very sorry. I will do better next time.) I am posting some of those email letters here today. Felisa Chan or Peling told me nga dili i-post ang iyang sulat but I am sure she would not mind if I post this one. This is very informative about Nabunturan and its scattered children. I just wish I had pictures nila to accompany these articles.

Hi Trino:

Someone told me that the late Mayor Arsenio Flores requested Mr. Jesus Birondo to write the history of Nabunturan. Obviously he was not able to do it. So while reading your blog I was asking myself: "who could be writing this?. He must be in his 70's or 80's". I was so surprised when I learned that it's you! Be sure to keep a copy because we do not know how long you could have that free "space" in the cyberspace. (oh, this is a custom domain. tagabungtod paid google for this space so we own it ...renewable every year; for as long as we pay-- dili man pud dako kaayo-- so there’s no fear they will bump us off anytime they wish. Thanks for reminding me to keep a backup copy kay my biggest fear is kung mo-crash ang akong hard disk -- tgt.)

There should be a website of Nabunturan. Overseas Pinoys should be able to contribute for its maintenance. They could also be tapped to help in some community projects, render technical advice, etc.

I'll send you my photo with some tagabungtod- mga Avila (father was Municipal agriculturist, and mother was an elementary school teacher) and a Quismundo. Three Avila sisters, all nurses, are living in Nashville, Tennessee . One of them, aside from working as a nurse owns a Filipino store...dagsaan ng mga Pinoy performers, e.g. Gary V and Nora Aunor. My former classmate, Miriam (very shy kaayo kaniadto) told me: "Peling wala gyod ko magdahum nga ako, taga Nabunturan will be putting a lipstick on Nora Aunor". LOL. Nashville is the music capital of the US . I visited them last March.

I am in Fredericton , NB , working as a Researcher (member of Faculty too, sa Faculty of Forestry and Env. Mgt) at U of New Brunswick . Been here five years na...before coming here, I was at Universite Laval in Quebec City . Oui, je parle francais (gamay lang kaayo...tourist french I would say). Living here is a challenge because I am on soft money. When I was in the Philippines (sa LBanos, with a DOST org), gikapoy ko ug pangayo ug funding..mas grabe diay dinhi. I have to write project proposals not only for gov’t (fed and provincial) funding but for private companies as well...oops, my area of research is on wood products. The sector is heavily affected with the meltdown of the economy in the US .

Do you know how the Mainit river disappeared? I was really shocked to see those small Toyuzo pools. I thought the river is still there (it is still there pero lubog na kaayo and all the more getting worse because of unabated mining upstream. Ug wala na ang pool---tgt) ..Any updates on Dr. Maglana's NGO? There should be plan/proposal, a technical one how to rehabilitate or preserve the springs. Overseas tagabungtod could be tapped to contribute/help.

Trino, unsa may lingaw nimo ron? (one sentence omitted... sa amo ra tong duha ni Peling)

Talk to you later.

BTW, I sent your email ad to Ed Diva. He now lives in Vancouver .

I am not that young...kabatch ko si Josephine, your sister, although I think she is younger than most of us. I went to Compre...Arthur B and I have the same birthdate: year, month and day! Batchmate ko si Makaw, Father David, Merlita Opeña, the Gorospe twins...BTW, the Executive Director of Katakus Inc (Kababayen-an alang sa Teknolohiya nga Haum sa Kinaiyahan ug Kauswagan), Betty More (nee Marfil) is tagabungtod. We were classmates.

O sige...sa sunod na pod...please keep up the tagabungtod..salamat kaayo for doing it.

Peling
October 14, 2008

• • • • •

Father Ricardo Bugas wrote to us too. He is the first Bugas from Nab to become a priest. I am not sure whether his first cousin, former Nabunturan municipal mayor, Joel Bugas, has been ordained already. While in U.S., Joel entered a seminary in Connecticut. Last I heard, he will be ordained a priest this year.

ako pud tagabungtod...the only place in the world i can proudly say my home. i like the way you depicted the beauty and grandeur of mainit way back long, long years ago-lantaw ta sa nindot nga kagahapon. daku ang kasubo sa nahibilin karon....tsk..tsk..tsk.. so sad. after gold what's next? tama dyud ka! some sort of awareness, or maybe just a pinch of it might change a fraction of the attitudes of our people....keep going! I am here in new zealand working now with maori people. my parish is located in panguru-far north. google earth might help you locate my place... mabuhay tagabungtod.

fr. doods bugas
September 9, 2008

Setting the Records Straight

2008-12-13T10:08:00.005+08:00

More often historical information written from memory are subject to inaccuracies and speculations simply because of the absence of factual references compounded by aging and long-dormant or nearing-extinction brain cells. I am very happy that some tagabungtod readers are coming forward to correct and straighten out facts. For posterity’s sake, please continue to provide this blog with more accurate information. It is quite inspiring to know that this blogspot is being visited and read.

From the comments section of the blog entries I got this information from my friend, fellow-tagabungtod and fraternity brother Atty./Engr. Nelson P. Maglana:

Bro,
This morning my daughter in Singapore, Cel, sent me a message about the "Maglana bond" article. thanks to you she says she is all the more proud of being a product of the Maglana's and Secuya's!!
Anyway,dili tawon ko valedictorian sa ACN HS, si Bebeth Echavez tawon. I think gihimo lang ko ato honorable mention para naa pud honor sa mga boys!! Hehehe. I graduated cum laude sa ADDU law school though in 1989.
Congrats for initiating this very laudable project!! Lipay au mi Bro.
December 12, 2008 4:34 PM

My apologies to Elizabeth “Bebeth” Echavez-Mendez and to Nelson “Bobot” (his nickname) Maglana for the inaccuracy. This reminds me that this ACN HS’69 class, indeed, turned out to be one of the brightest batch Assumption has produced---after Class ‘65, of course (an indisputable fact. LOL).

Some information about Bebeth: She used to head the Research Department of the Lapanday Group of Companies but she preferred to retire early so she could take care of her children who are now professionals. Still very cute and very pretty, Bebeth says she is now a proud grandmother. Her husband, Noli (shown here in the picture taken two months ago), works as an executive of the same company.

• • • • •

Through the email, here is another from one of Nabunturan’s best and brightest, Felisa Chan, Ph.D., (NNCHS ‘72) who is a Research Associate, Wood Science and Technology Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Environment Management, University of New Brunswick:

Ang galing galing ng blog mo! You are still young (Peling, at my age, I blush from embarrassment everytime I read this line---tgt) to write about the Chinese community in Nabunturan and it looks perfect to me. Who helped you write about it?

hmm, Mrs. Pahate is the godmother of my brother. I thought the late Mr. Pahate was a musician/band member in Shanghai?? (Emphasis mine) (You are right. Thanks. ) Maybe he was a merchant marine too.

I'll send more comments later. Thanks for starting the blog.

I'll inform our tagabungtod friends about your blog...gimingaw noon ko sa Nabunturan... thanks.

Peling

Felisa Chan of New Look (the other Chan in Nabunturan)
New Brunswick, Canada
October 12, 2008

Tagabungtod Pound4Pound

2008-12-12T20:18:00.011+08:00

Tagabungtod is back! The only excuse I can offer for the long absence is the euphoria brought about by the US presidential election. I grew up watching, knowing and listening to politicians and was, myself, bitten by the political bug for a few years. All that is in the past now but I still follow with both keen interest and disdain goings-on in politics. Here and abroad. Am I glad Obama won!

And then it was followed by another euphoria: the “Dream Match” between Paquiao and dela Hoya. Boxing? Opkors, I paid P500 as early as October to get a seat and cheer lustily for the world's best Pound Por Pound Payter Pakyaw Pram di Pelepens during the December 7 PPV in one of the SM theaters!

When I was a very young boy growing up near the tulay, there would be occasional boxing fight nights in the crossing labi na kung duol na ang fiesta. Atubangan sa tindahan ni Insoy ang ring the floor of which was made of wood slabs from the Guinoo sawmill, Unya tabunan lang ug trapal. Pasensya ang mahapla kay may bonus nga bukol ug mapakog ang ulo sa salog. The ropes were made of real abaca ropes (kadtong panghikot sa kabaw). Ug ang ginabagting to signal the start and end of the round is a piece of bali nga mulye o di gani yantas sa truck nga gibitay sa alambre o kable. (Ang praktisanan nga punching bag sa mga boxer was usually made of interior sa ligid nga sudlan ug balas o bagaso unya ibitay) Kung walay koryente panahon sa away, naay binitay nga petromax sa kada corner. Kada human sa usa ka bout, ang referee mao puy mobomba sa petromax aron mohayag na pud ang ring.

Even if my parents strictly prohibited us from watching these “violent” sport, there were more than a few nights in my childhood that I sneaked out of the house and hied off to the crossing to watch round after round of local boxing. It was fun watching and cheering while the pair of protagonists pummelled each other red, black and blue. These escapades paid off the following day in school because I get to contribute firsthand information as to what happened the night before. Bilib intawon kaayo tong wa kaadto.

Donnie Kid, Lightning Villanueva, Jesus Resma, Erning Barque, Corcino, Oskik Fuentes, Medio Pabilona and many others whose names I can’t remember anymore. All the boys in school talked about them the next day. Their boxing prowess garnished with tall-tales (apil na anting-anting mao nang di maigo ug di mabuklan).

In a few years Nabunturan would have its glorydays in boxing when the children of Jesus, the Resma brothers from Cabidianan, Jun and Sammy, became boxing sensations in their own right. Jun slowly rose to become the Philippine lightweight champion. He could have gone on to greater heights in international boxing but after winning a lotto jackpot he decided to train his own stable of young boxers instead. He was quite admired by many for remaining his usual humble self despite his new bun-og-free fortune and his new boxing promotion business. One day, after bringing his boxers to a bout in Bukidnon, and while on a bus on their way home, he died of a heart attack. That is probably why younger brother Sammy*, who was already making a name for himself, would lose interest in the sport.

During the late 80s, boxing tournaments in Nab would be attended by shadiness, sleaze and cheats which one night resulted in a boxing melee and violent free-for-all among boxers, referees, judges and the audience. Nabunturan's interest in local boxing came to a halt after that.

(*Sammy is happily married to my dear classmate, Alipia Ramirez)

tagabungtod

2008-12-03T21:28:00.000+08:00

tagabungtod