ASINGAN JOURNAL PART 3

a Tale of Two Doggies

2010-01-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

Boppy, looking comfy in Sparky's warm bed..:)

Sparky, holding on to his temper, counting from 1 to 10...

Boppy climbing up Sparky's bed. He does not want Sparky to use it!

Sparky as if telling me : I want my bed back!

Boppy, enjoying his son's warm couch..

When Michelle, my daughter ( Emma's Mom ) went to Quebec yesterday ( Friday ) she asked me if I could take care of her dog for a few days. I said YES. Anyway her dog, named Boppy is the daddy of my dog Sparky. But since they did not spend much time together while growing up( thus no bonding ) they have this kind of unique Father-Son relationship. Something similar to Luks Skywalker and Darth Vader from STAR WARS.

Before Sparky was born, Boppy have stayed in our house several times. He is a small dog, a Pekingese and he has such soulful eyes that one look at them and you feel so good ( or so remorseful ). If you are having your meal and he has not eaten yet, your conscience starts eating you. But otherwise, you feel so happy to have such a cute friend around. We wanted later to have our own pet something that resembles Boppy.

As I have said, one time Michelle left Boppy to a good Filipina neighbour named Emma. She has also a poodle. The dog was in heat at that time I guess. To cut to the chase, the Poodle soon had a litter of puppies, thanks to Boppy. The puppies were all so cute. Emma asked Michelle if she likes to have one or two so she could dispose of the puppies which sometimes is not an easy thing to do. Michelle said "No Problem.." Anyway, it was Michelle's dog which sired them.. Thus, she selected a pup that resembles Boppy very closely. That pup became Sparky.

This is not the first time that Sparky and Boppy stayed under one roof. As before, they started barking at each other the first time they laid eyes on each other..

Sparky seems to say "What are you doing here??..THis is MY house, my space!!!"

Boppy would snarl back as if to say: "I have stayed here long before you! So this is also my HOUSE!!"

So arf-arf, bark-bark until my ears got tired and I screamed at both of them to shut up. Both did and they would retreat to opposite corners of the kitchesn.

When we go to the yard ( I bring out Sparky inspite of the weather anyway he has a thick coat of fur ) Sparky would go out first, visit his marking spot which is a huge flower vase, smell it, then mark it.

Boppy would visit it next. That WAS HIS MARKING SPOT before. Now he smells Sparky's mark and he would go to another part of the yard raise his leg and get over with it.

Sparky loves to run around around the yard like a racing dog. He takes off like a greased lightning and he could do several laps. Then he would make a stop in front of Boppy ( who is just watching ) barks at him as if to say "Why don't you run, you old fart! Look at me!"

Then Sparky would make a couple mroe laps. When he gets tired, he sits on a snow pile and eats some of it to slake his thirst!----#

to be continued...:)

more erap jokes...:)

2010-01-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Erap ordered a pizza. The waiter asked him..Shall I cut it into 4 or 8?

ERAP: 4 na lang. Baka di ko maubus kung 8..( Just make it 4. I may not finish it if it is 8..

&&&&&&&&

INTERVIEWER: Sir, what can you say about the violence in the Philippines?

ERAP: I can not even play the guitar. What more about violins? ( violence )

******

While in NYC, Erap almost bumped into a black guy..The guy said: "Watch where you are going, MADA FAKAH!"

ERAP said: MADAPA KA RIN SANA!

The black guy said in a scared tone: "Be Cool, man..Be cool!"

ERAP answered: "Ay taga Bicol ka pala, OK lang yun!"

^^^^^^^^

ERAP was translating a speech:
We must strive: Dapat tayo'y magsikap!

We must help others: Tumulong tayo sa iba.

In union there is strength: SA SIBUYAS MAY TIGAS!

*****

reporter: Mr.President, What are the Pollutants in the Philippines?

ERAP:Several! Example:bopis, sisig, sitsaron, liempo, daing at mani!

*********

Manila as i remember her...

2010-01-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

REMEMBERING THE OLD MANILA

Visiting Manila during my childhood days was just like spending a week end in Paradise. We would take a Pantranco bus from San Manuel which stopped at the PARADAAN ( BUS STOP ), a strip of stores under a towering canopy of very old Acacia trees in front of the South Central School.

For Asinganians with several luggage, the option was to take the ANGAT TRANSIT whose terminal then was stationed near the market place, northern gate of the sprawling Market. The good thing about the ANGAT BUS was it would pick up all baggage ( sacks of rice, livestock, bundles of firewood,) everything except the kitchen sink. Then upon reaching Manila it would patiently deliver you personally to your boarding house. Which was convenient but time consuming. What you save in taxi fare you would lose in the time you could have spent gallivanting in the city. The fare at that time was 2.50 pesos. I think the luggage were only 1.00 peso and it does not matter how pieces were there. ANGAT was just trying to attract many riders as possible. The bus would also pick up passengers in the barrios.

By the time the bus was already full, the clock is already about 10:00 am and that’s the time you would head for the city, sometimes via Carusucan.

But some Asinganians are smart. If they have one or two luggage, they would take the PANTRANCO. Otherwise, it is the ANGAT. Hey they are carrying quite a load, including some live chickens or a small goat which would be hauled up to the roof of the bus for the duration of the voyage.

***

Our boarding house before was a small unit in Quirino Homesite, Project 3 just long the Aurora Blvd going to Marikina. This 2 bedroom house was sometimes crammed with about 15 people, including the servants. Most of them were College students, my cousins ( I was still in the Elementary then ). When I reach Manila ( or in this case, Quezon City ) it would already be around 5 or 6 at night. The bus deliver first the Metro Manila passengers. We will be the last ones to be delivered. At least we have a free sightseeing of Manila sights.

In our neighbourhood in Project 3, there were 2 small movie houses near our boarding house. Upon arrival, the first thing I would do was to check the movies being shown in both theatres which were just a few minutes walk from our house. I usually select the American movies preferably action or war movies.

The next day, I would first look at the Manila Times movie page for the current downtown movie exhibitions.

When I was younger I was usually accompanied by my elder brother Donato. He would bring me to a 2nd run theater which were cheaper ( 85 centavos ) and we had the choice of TIMES THEATER , or MAIN, or BOULEVARD all along the same side of Quezon Blvd. Of course there are other theaters like SOCIETY, SCALA, PALACE, MAYFAIR, ESQUIRE, PEARL, HOLLYWOOD etc.

Some burlesque houses were INDAY, ASTOR or along Ongpin in Chinatown, you have KING’S or DRAGON. I discovered these adult theaters only when I was already a College student.

I only watched the first run exhibitions when I was already older ( I was already in High School ) and I can already take the Manila bound bus by myself..By then I already know the streets of Manila. Some of these streets were already Mean Streets ( like the film by Scorcese ) where a wary provinciano would be ripped off by some crooks who seemed to be able to spot a provinciano who was fresh off the bus (FOB )…#

******************
a BIG thank you for Sammy Antonio for sending the photos to me..Sammy is one of the more successful Asinganians abroad who was able to find work along his line: ( Fine Arts ). Sammy is also a good poet..I still have 4 more photos which I could use in the sequel. Send me more!..

*******************

To Sunrise, thank you for remembering me..I feel OK..Had a good sleep last night, felt soooo good!...:)Especially when I woke up this morning...:D

****************

ONE FILIPINO JOKE BOOK..

2010-01-26T03:48:00.000-08:00

Once in a while, I come across some books printed in the Phillipines.One is called PATAWANG PINOY( Philippine Humour ).

It is a paper back with a colored glossy cover. The book has the size of a Reader's Digest.

Most jokes are not really new anymore, for example the opening anecdote. It has gone around the world a few number of times and now it has been picked up by the editor of this pulp magazine. It tells about the story of a Filipina mother who died in the US, then the family in the US decided to send the corpse back to the Phil to be buried there.

The coffin was packed with US goods, perfume and what-nots just like a door to door box. Funny?. Maybe, to some. But I could not compare to the jokes of Jay Leno or David Letterman.

Next on the batch are the Estrada jokes..Some are old, some are new, some are funny, some are, mmm. now what could be a word that ryhmes with new and means not funny?

Here two samples of that genre. If he left a legacy, I guess the foremost would be these jokes which, even if it is repeated a gazillion times, are still funny depending on who is telling the joke and how he is telling it..There are quite a number of good story tellers in Asingan..

Okay, two ERAP jokes..

REPORTER: What do you think about sex in the movies?
PRESIDENT: I am totally against it.
REPORTER: Why?
PRESIDENT: Why in the movies?..There are so many motels in Manila!

***

Then there is this section entitled COMELEC and ERAP. I guess they are testing the his IQ or something..

COMELEC: Let us talk about Phil. History. Where was Dr. Jose Rizal shot? Starts with "B" ( Bagumbayan )

ERAP: On his Back!

COMELEC:No, no! OK, it has a new name now.Starts with an "L". ( Luneta )

ERAP: Sa Likod!

COMELEC:Wrong again..Okay, it is a nice place neat Manila Bay, with RP as initials RP..

ERAP:I know now! Rear Part!

*****

My copy has 120 pages. On the last page, the words THE END were marked with an inked stamp pad. Obviously the printer forgot to insert the two ending words, and one they have to use the stamp pad instead of setting up the document on the computer again.

This to me is the funniest joke of all..

flowers for Emma

2010-01-16T00:42:00.000-08:00

KODUS FOR EMMA...

What a talented little angel you have... thanks for sharing!!
---Tatang Pidong from Sta. Maria

You are so cute Emma. You feel relaxed while singing and I can see you

are going to be a star in the music industry. I will wait for you to

sing in the American Idol. You can make it.

What can you say, Arsenia? May nakakuha na ng title mo bilang videoke

Queen.---:)

---Polly Bautista

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Finally,

I had the time to watch your latest you tube entry. Emma is a natural.

She is such a darling. Pristine, unaffected innocence. She sings with

such a sweet, crystal voice - so unlike the child performers we watch

on tv who try to modulate their voices to sound like the mature singer

they’re covering; and emote things well beyond their age. >>>> Your

Song For A Princess is hauntingly familiar. You’ve given justice to

the piece. And it transported me back to memories of consorted royal

beauties marching on a long carpet leading to the throne in the

Asingan Auditorium. They walk with such a graceful cadence under a

roof of drawn sabers from two lines of snappy and handsome cadets

amidst the zips and booms of fireworks rocketing and exploding

overhead. All these time, the orchestra incessantly plays the charming

familiar melody, drown out sporadically by the ohhs and clapping of

the adoring crowd. Enthralling.---Icarus

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice voice you got there, Emma! way to go!...keep practicing and soon

you will be famous.... I am sure your grandpa Vic will support you all

the way to stardom!---Sunrise

-------------------------------------------------------------

TO ALL OF EMMA'S WELL WISHERS: A BIG THANK YOU !!!
THANKS ALSO TO JULIET AND ARSENIO...:)
PRAISES GO A LONG WAY IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO IS STARTING HER WAY ON THE LONG ROAD OF LIFE...GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

An after Christmas afterthought

2010-01-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

THE BEST GIFT OF ALL

SILENT NIGHT has lost its silence
The happy carols had stopped
The Christmas turkey turned history
All gifts had been unwrapped

The Christmas lights had all been pulled out
Only the nightsky lights are on
Christmas 2009 arrived and left
Frosty, Santa and Rudolph are gone

We should retain the best gift of all
Not the ones wrapped with Christmas paper,
What I treasure most is the gift of LOVE
For LOVE will shine forever.....

--Rain

my letter to Carolyn

2010-01-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Carolyn,

This is a reply to your 2nd letter although I am using the e-mail address of the first letter..When I use the email addy of the 2nd one, it does not go! Sometimes technology is not that perfect..

Anyways,back to more details re: Dr. Ireneo..Maybe I told you already before hand he is a dentist, but dentists also have medical background because the teeth is still a part of the human body...So I guess he has ample knowledge of medicine to be able to help your dad..

He was also a good friend of my dad. They went to the same church, the Roman Catholic church in our town and they call each other brod because they belong to the same church society,,I think the photo that you saw several months ago in mt Blog was my birthday party and he is the one with a short hair and glasses..The priest is Fr. Ferrer, also a good friend of the family...

Dr. Tanwanco never changed his short hair cut..They lived in a house beside the Asingan market. At that time they run a drugstore in the ground floor of their residence. Being across the marketside helped in the sales of medicine and other related stuff.

They shared the house with another family, a physician named Dr. Lopez, and his wife and 2 daughters. They stayed together until Dr. Tanwanco and his wife died. Dr, Lopez and his wife also passed away so the house is now owned by the two daughters of Dr, Lopez and they still run the drugstore. The elder daughter was my former teacher when I was still in high school..

I only talked with Dr. Tanwanco a few times. But I e-mailed a nurse who was a neighbour when she was still a child. I believe Mrs. Tanwanco was also her GodMother. So think she would know a lot of stories re: the Tanwanco family since they were neighbours then. Her name ( the Godaughter ) is Vicky and she is now in Sacramento, California. When she replies, I will be able to tell you more stories re: her Godparents, Dr. & Mrs. Tanwanco.

I was born 1942..I have not heard any thing like the story you told me about the clearing of the land, but at that time, Asingan was still a small forest ( I think ) with lots of trees and bushes..

The Japanese also came to town. In fact, they established an office in our house..Weeks before the arrival of the Japs, my parents went into hiding. I was born during the first year of the Pacific War. In 1945, the Yankees arrived!..Hurray!..

I remember a camp right in front of our house ( it was an open ground ) which is a stone's throw away from the Roman Catholic church. But I heard that the soldiers were a boisterous lot and when a few of them got drunk, they would come knocking at our door.

Fortunately, there are two American GIs who boarded in our house. I seem to remember 2 cot beds in our living room. When they left, they gave my Mom several cans of GI rations and also several cans of bacon. Did they ever smell so good!

One of the 2 GIs also corresponded with my Mon for a bit. I saw a wedding photo of one of them. He married his girl friend when he went back to the US..

THis is all for now. More next time...

Thanks again,

Vic

*********************

I received a letter from a good friend, Lito Domaoan who is now in Jersey City..It is somewhat related to Carolyn's letter content..

Hi Vic: Very interesting true story. My Aunt Adriana Alberto received a letter coming from a service man from world War II who was assigned in Asingan. She received the letter when she and her husband were still living here in New Jersey with there son Ency. The letter was received in Asingan forwarded here in New Jersey: I did not read the letter. I learn about the letter thru my aunt but did not elaborate about the content of the letter.

another letter from Carolyn

2010-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Costes,

Thank you for your welcome letter. There is much I do not know of my father's time in Asingan, as he would rarely talk of the war. He was in the 32nd 127th, Co. G. He had malaria, of course, and survived Scrub Typhus earlier in Buna, New Guinea. He arrived in the Phillipines, after his sickness, to rejoin his company. He found that his friends were dead, as his company G had been directly bombed on the Villa Verde trail by friendly fire. He went through a survivors guilt, plus they later found that the malaria drug atabrine caused depression. Also while in he mountains in P.I., there was some sort of mud slide that somehow drowned men in my fathers squad and he felt responsible as he was the sargent. A doctor in the Phillipines talked to my father and basically pulled him out of his depression, by giving him a fatherly talk and became a mentor to my father. I believe it was Dr. Tanwangco. My grandmother stated that the doctor also saved my fathers life when he was ill.

(In letters Dr. Tanwangco also mentions that when he receives letters from my father, it brings back memories of another soldier, Johnnie Williams who he has not heard from).

A few stories my father did tell, were of a Village he stayed at between missions into the hills. I am unsure if it was Asingan. One story was about the villagers wanting room for a larger garden area and so he surprised them, found a bulldozer and made a huge 5 acre plot out of the jungle. He used to smile about how happy this made them and how when he came back from missions, the villagers would feed his soldiers and him huge garden meals of vegetables.
He also designed a hot shower system on paper and was going to rig it up for the village. He came back from a mission and the village surprised him with the shower made, from his design.
I'm unsure how this would be possible.
I'm also unsure if these were stories of Asingan, as would believe possibly these were stories of a smaller village??
Regardless, he greatly respected and loved the people of the Phillipines.
If you know of any stories of Asingan or Dr. Tangwanco, during WWII, I would greatly appreciate it. I enjoy history and would like to learn more.

Thank You,
Carolyn

an interesting e-mail I want to share

2010-01-04T06:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Costes,

I have a picture of a Dr. Irineo Tanwangco of Asingan, Pangasinan (Dec. 19, 1947) from my father (US Army Soldier WWII, now deceased), Roger Lewis. I also have a few letters, as the Dr. and my father wrote to each other after the war for a while. I'm unsure if he was the Dr. you have listed in one of your postings as being in a picture you have. I could not see the picture (on your site) to be able to tell if he was the same Dr. that was instrumental in helping my father during his wartime in the Phillipines. Do you know if the Dr. Tanwangco you have on your site had the first name of Irineo?

I'm looking to find out what happened to Dr. Irineo Tanwangco. If he had a good life after the war. I am Roger Lewis' dau. My grandmother said that Roger and the Dr. lost touch with each other, after life went on, after the war. That the Dr., in essence, saved my fathers life when he was quite ill. My father greatly respected Dr. Tanwangco. I would like to thank the family if any are still living.

Thank You,
Carolyn (Lewis) Denson

******************************

Hello Carolyn,

Yes, Dr. Ireneo Tanwanco was a family friend. In fact he was our town dentist for so many years until he died. He and his wife ( they never had any children ) stayed in our hometown Asingan all their lives..

Financially and socially, they had a very good life, ..The Tanwancos are very well known in Asingan and most of the relatives sought and found their fortunes elsewhere.

But every now and then, they would come home and renew their ties with the place where they grew up..

Thanks for your letter!

Vic

MALINAK video went beyond 1,000 hits..

2010-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Some of my videos are still garnering some hits, but the highest of them all is the Pangasinan video featuring a song ( I bought this audio tape from Dagupan in 1988 ) and the photos came from Dahman's party last April 2009...

I have no clue why some videos get high viewer hits...And I am so happy it is that particular video that had gone up..The 2nd one of course is my TRISTEZAS DEL ALMA again I do not know why....

I am just happy many of my 150 plus creations are still being watched or rewatched. It is a good incentive for me to go on making them as more materials come in----#

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-01-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

January 3...

A steady snowfall with some winds arrived just this morning. But good weather or bad, I have to take out Sparky for his regular routine in our backyard...Otherwise, we would be listening to his whining, barking and yelping the whole day..

Missed church too, and the last time to sing Carols during the service. Anyhow, there are 11 months more to go before going to the same round again..

Yesterday Jan. 2, Miggie worked the first time for the year 2010. Me? I went to the Mall ( what else is new?) to check what they got.. The box sets of DVDs went down real low, like they seem to be clearing space in their warehouse..I picked up just 1 item: a box set of Jane Austen novels dramatized for BBC..The set includes EMMA, NORTHANGER ABBEY, PRIDE AND PREDJUDICE, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, PERSUASION,etc. Price is too low to pass by, one almost had it but I beat her just for a few seconds..Even the HMV cashier when she punched in the sales receipts said to a fellow worker.."I did not know we are carrying the whole set.I love the novels...And such a good price."

At the same store last Dec. 31, I bought another set of R&H Musicals: South Pacific, Sound of Music, The King and I ( plus 3 more ) at the price of 49 $ Can. with a 40% discount on top of it. So many cheap movies to buy, so little money left in the bank account..:)

Last January 1 was a very quiet day, as quiet as the night before. We watched the ceremonies in New York Times Square, and every now and then we flicked the remote to show the equivalent here in Toronto. There was a less crowd, but with the same enthusiasm while waiting for the changing of the year at the Nathan Philips Square. The boisterous crowd consisted mostly of YPs ( young people ) who has still the drive and vitality to intermingle with the other revelers.

Us?..Not anymore!..Heck, they do not even sell firecrackers here in Toronto. Nothing like the New Year in old Asingan...

letter from Van, plus other stuff

2010-01-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

Mabait,

I enjoyed staying in your house ..You played the the song I'll be home for Christhmas".I was mesmerized by that classical inimitable voice of Pilita Corrales but most of all the warmth of your hospitality.I enjoyed looking at the Cymbidium orchid that I love so much and all the paintngs and the glass belen.I saw the picture of Jesus christ ---.our saviour.

I wanted to stay a little bit more but I have to be with my family.Thank you so much for the invitation.When I knocked on the door of 19 Dixon I saw your smile glowing. I felt so welcomed.

Now i am home with the fleeting mmemory with you & your precious family.Happy New
year.Till we meet again.,mabait

--Van

***********************

2009 is a year of meeting new friends. This Yuletide season, I received so many mail and online greetings from all over..I wish I could print all their names, but I am afraid to do just that for fear I might omit some..

I treasure each thought, greeting and forwards I receive from friends I met thru the Board and in actual life when I visited the Philippines, Vancouver, California ( previous years ) and just recently, Maui.I remember the Asinganians I met there in a Farmer's market with Marcie. They belong to a small association of townmates. I sensed a common feeling with them, and that is a longing for the old hometown.

"Even if our number is very small compared to the other associations in our places, we love each other,"they told me. "When someone needs a helping hand, we pitch in to help.." It is the real Barangay spirit found only in Asingan...

**********************
Well, we spent most of the last hours of 2009 in our house watching television and talking with friends over the phone. It was a cold, gloomy day yesterday. I went out to buy some rice to fill up our rice bin. An old Asingan belief..Superstition?..Maybe, maybe not. But I do not want to take the chance!!

One of movies we saw was a 3 hour epic which I first saw at the ARO theatre in Urdaneta when I was still teaching at the DWA. It was entitled HAWAII based on a long novel by James Michener. The main stars are Max Von Sydow ( a very fine Swedish actor ), Julie Andrews ( from Sound of Music ) Gene Hackman ( an Oscar awardee for his work in THE FRENCH CONNECTION ) and Richard Harris ( who was last seen in the Harry Potter series ).

What surprised me was the setting of the story. It took place in Lahaina, Maui during the early missionary days. But for some reasons, the set that was supposed to be Lahaina was constructed in Oahu, and there most of the filming was made.

The story is very touching. Some early Hawaiian mores and customs were depicted.For example incest was common among the natives during the pre Christian era. And they do not call it adultery.

It is a very long movie ( more than 3 hours ) but one is captivated by the story, settings, acting and yes, there is also nudity. But it is not so blatant because this was made during the early '70s.----#

A LITTLE POETRY

2009-10-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

THE LITTLE GIRL WITH THE LONG BROWN HAIR

There was a little girl with long, brown hair

Her face was cute, with such lovely eyes

She stayed in a store under a big, green house

That place for me is paradise

Aside from the girl inside this store

Were jars of pastries, biscuits and rice cakes too

Each time I go to church with my Mom

I begged to her "Oh please, let's see what's new"

So every Sunday morning we would go

And I stared at the wonders inside

I would see her there in the corner

She was silent but to me she always smiled

Then we dropped by again one time

And I asked the owner on that Sunday

"Where is that little girl that always sit here

Why is she not here today?"

"Somebody came and took her away

"The man in the store explained to me

"Why did she go, I love her so."

" Its her I really want to see!"

I broke in tears and begged my Mom

Let's go home now I am so sad

"I never told her I saved some coins

Now its too late, and then I felt so bad"

My Mom said, "My dear little girl

Do not be silly, there are other toys around"

"Yes, but she's the special doll for me

I saved for her, and now she's gone..."

POEM AND ARTWORK BY

vdc

NOTE: artwork was done on PAINT using a BAMBOO TABLET

an article from a Pangasinan.Org scholar..

2009-10-11T03:32:00.000-07:00

TOUCHING LIVES VIA THE INTERNET

Thousands of miles across oceans make no difference for people who love each other.

Many Pangasinenses have decided to leave the Philippines to look for greener pastures abroad. They found better jobs and made new homes of their own in foreign lands. They are now enjoying a higher quality of living for themselves and their families which our native country could not offer.

Even though continents have separated them, they can still connect with their loved ones or anyone in the Philippines and abroad through the http://www.pangasinan.org/ (formerly known as tayug.com) This website was founded in 1991 by Mr. Fernando Marinas, a Pangasinense from Tayug and currently a resident of San Diego, California.
The said website was designed not only to connect bridges of communications but also to play a vital rol e in bringing benefits and blessings to Pangasinenses, particularly the less fortunate ones.

One of the website’s programs is to appeal to generous kababayans residing abroad for financial or material donations intended for families and other townmates in dire need of help. The aims of the http://www.pangasinan.org/ are based on a desire to help people from every town and city of our province especially the youth who are going to school.

Many works of charity have already been accomplished through this website. Aside from the construction of school libraries, donation of school supplies, slippers to the school children, the Samaritans through this website have also been granting scholarships to students ( who are poor but deserving ) in the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels.. If you want to make yourselves well known in this website, to study its accomplishments, and to get acquainted with the other persons working behind it , feel free to visit http://www.pangasinan.org/, an online connection which builds hope and touches lives.

DO NOT HESITATE. VISIT US NOW!

---written by Christine Prestoza

christineprestoza@yahoo.com

a Pang.Org scholar from Mangaldan

ASINGAN FLOOD VIDEOS ..

2009-10-09T02:24:00.000-07:00

You can watch some video clips I received yesterday in one shot..just click the links below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgbcMBV9A0s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGq1pMhcFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3aVtSexjPY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0myX3Nhg8CA

4th PART OF MY NEW STORY

2009-09-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

THE REVOLUTION

“I have a daughter, Val. .” Liana said with a trembling voice. “ She is yours too, believe me or not, ..”

Val’s eyes widened and he turned utterly speechless.

“She came out of our love making. When I did not see you anymore at the Spanish grotto, I told a few close friends of my plight. Thanks God, they helped me with my pregnancy, then before the birth of the baby, I went home to Ilocos. My parents accepted me with open arms. I gave birth to this beautiful baby girl. When I was strong enough to travel, I went back to Manila. My heart almost broke when I left her but there is no way I can bring and raise her in Manila..”
“Liana, oh Liana,” exclaimed Val..” I am so sorry for my misgiving..”

“Don’t be sorry. At least you know already that you have a daughter... She is now 5 years old. I named her Valeria, after you..When I returned to Manila I worked again with the help of my friends and sent part of my earnings to my parents for the baby. Life hard in Manila during these perilous times, but God blessed me with generous and good friends. We helped each other, looking for work and sharing a small dwelling place.. God is good to me Val.. And my parents are doing a good job raising her.. so far..”

Val said silently I now have a boy and a girl..How could I tell this to Marrieta? And how could I tell this to Liana too?

One confession led to another.

“Another thing happened to me too, Val..I can not keep anything from you anymore. because I love you very, very much. My love for you is beyond bounds. I can never love any other man anymore.

Then, she started to weep and said, “One night, I was walking home late,.Two men abducted me, bound, gagged me and blindfolded me..They brought me to a certain place and when they removed my blindfold, I found myself inside a room with a Spanish friar!. He raped me..!!!”

Her voice broke into sobs. When she gained control of herself, she said, “He sees me at church regularly and I knew from his looks that he lusted for me. I think he paid the two men to abduct me. Before the night was over, the same men brought me out again and left me half conscious in a street alley. I walked home weakly in the early dawn. Passers by stared at me and nobody even asked what happened to me. They looked at me as if I was a leper. There were a few blood stains in my skirt. When I saw my friends again, I told them what happened …

“They took care of me, Val and after one week, I was back on my feet again. Only the thought of having a daughter who needs me made me strong.

“I never went to church anymore…Fortunately, I did not get pregnant. And the hatred for the person who who raped me became so strong that nothing but revenge dominated my consciousness for days without end…..

“Six months ago, my friends and I joined the secret society founded by Andres Bonifacio..The society’s aim is to free our country from the rule of Spain through a violent revolution. But the only reason why I joined it is to seek revenge from that priest who of all people, was promoted to a Bishop..

Val maintained his silence as Liana continued her story..”One night, I told some of the male members of the society what happened to me, and who did it..”

Again Liana broke into tears..”The next day, 3 of them said, they will pay him a visit..I wanted to stop them but I relished the feeling of revenge, of extracting an eye for an eye..I told them to go and do what they want to do with him. One of those men love me, but he knows that I can not love him back..

“Two days later, they came to me and told me my honour was avenged..They were able to kidnap him, bring him to a secluded part of the city..They removed all his clothes, tied him to a tree, mutilated his genitals and left him there to die as most of his blood flow through his wounds…

“I am now very remorseful of what I did, telling my friends of what happened to me. It seems I have committed murder the same way as they did..I am so sorry!!!I do not know now how to seek forgiveness from God for what I have done!”

Val found the courage to speak at last. “Liana, oh Liana!! Again I am sorry to hear all of these..Yes, that incident was the talk of the other guards in my outfit during that time..It remains an unsolved case.

“I am a Civil Guard, but I did not hear anything you said..Now, I am also breaking my oath …I will not arrest you, even if it is my duty to do so…”

“ Since you have poured out all your heart’s secrets to me, I want to tell you also, although I am not married, I am living with a woman who bore me a son. He is almost the same age as our daughter..”

“I know that,Val” Liana said with a faint smile. I asked you that question a while ago, because I want to test how far you could go in telling the truth..At least you did not lie to me. You just did not tell me everything..

“One of my friends told me she saw you with the mother of your son, and you looked very happy. So I left you alone. Many times I wanted to come to you and ask you why you did not show up at our meeting place..

But now, now that I found you again. I feel very happy, Val..But, at the same time, my heart grieves..I am very much afraid of what will happen next…

“Tommorow, Dec. 30, you and some other Civil Guards will execute a man who is loved by so many of our people…He is a fearless writer whose writings angered the Spanish priests. “

Liana took out a small poster lithographed poster of an announcement of an execution. It showed the picture of Jose P. Rizal..

“I met this man already Liana“, Val said... “Just a few days ago.. In fact he saved the life of my son..I did not know then that he is Dr. Rizal, until I saw this poster in the municipio near our office..”

Then he related to her also the whole incident..

Liana listened with astonishment and then he said to Val. “ I am also breaking my vow of secrecy to our society by telling you the following..The start of our revolution will commence with a bold plan to save the life of Jose Rizal..I think we can do it, without the knowledge of the Spanish authorities…Eight provinces in Luzon have pledged to join our cause…

“But we need your help.. We need an insider, and you are the only one I know who can help us….”

“What is your plan?” asked Val.

To be continued….

part 3 my new story

2009-09-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

JULIANA DE VERA

“JULIANA De Vera!” Val exclaimed..” For 4 years, I have been looking for you all over the city”

Juliana’s face changed from surprise to anger…“Liar!” She answered angrily. “You stood me up..I waited for you at the Spanish Grotto in Bagumbayan..You did not show up!”

Val approached her but she turned around. If this is not only 1896, he said silently, I could have grabbed you and kissed you on the lips.

But the Spanish friars who are the real power in the government had spies everywhere. He did not want to lose his job if someone will report to his Commandant he commited a lascivous act.

Kissing in public is considered one of them. Especially he is a police officer, a guardia civil…

He continued talking with her while following her in a crowd of pedestrians..“Please, Liana! I even visited your town in Ilocos just to look for you. It took me a week to travel by horseback . I met your parents, but they did not know where you are living in Manila. I slept in your house for 2 nights before riding back again for Manila.

Liana stopped. “Yes, I heard about that. I thought my parents were lying.”

She wiped her eyes. “Yes, I started hating you when you did not show up. Why ?..”

“I was in a hospital..Our company made a surprise raid to a group of fanatics who called themselves Colorum. They did not not believe in the church or in the government. They have a leader whom they believe have supernatural powers. They had this small camp at the base of Arayat. They had a few guns..”
　
“What??” exclaimed “Liana . “Wait, let us go to that wall beside Manila Bay.. Let us talk. …”

“Okay,” said Val..He took out his pocket watch. Three more hours left before the steamship from Zamboanga arrives.

Shall I tell her about Marrieta? He asked himself silently.

“So Val, “ said Liana. “Are you already married?”

“No, I am not yet married,” he said. Which was true. He was waiting for her next question. He did not want to tell her more than necessary--at the moment. Both stopped when they reached the low wall at the edge of the Bay.

The water was calm. Is it the calm before the storm? Val asked himself..But his heart started to palpitate.

After they sat down, Val asked her. “How about you?. Are you still single?”

“Didn’t I promised you before that I will never fall in love again with any other man? You are my first and only love, you know that..”

“How could I forget that? You whispered that to my ear after the first time we made love..” said Val.

“ You look haggard and worried, but you still look beautiful..”

“I was sad for a long time. But I have to go on with my life. I went from one lousy job to another…But I survived. Now, having met you again, I feel much better.” She smiled sweetly. “ God must love us both. He allowed us to see each other again..”

“Yes,” answered Val while looking at the sea gulls hovering above and diving into the water like carefree children.
　
“I thought you were assigned in another town. I did not know you were hospitalized. I am sorry for getting mad at you..”

“It’s all right. I am so happy to see you again..”

“Yeah?” He wanted to embrace and kiss ther there and then. But they knew the rules of society under the strict Spanish regime.

Liana was also Val’s first love. She was so young and pretty then, and she was very intelligent. There are many Espaniolas and Mestizas but they were so haughty and arrogant. Most of them brag about their parents or houses in Mother Spain. They look upon Filipinos as Indios. Many of them treat their dogs better than their Filipino servants.

“You are still my true love, Liana. I still carry the handkerchief you gave me. It kept me company in so many skirmishes. Life is dangerous during these times. There is a rumour of an impending revolution. It will start here in Manila. A man named Bonifacio founded a secret Society..”

Liana’s face became more serious and he turned her face towards the sea.. “I know. The Spanish authorities are getting worse every day. Many crazy laws being passed. They are stealing so much money from the poor. The jails are now full of innocent people and many could never be free anymore..Bonifacio seems to be a good leader. But he needs also the help of Filipinos”

“I have to tell you something, and I want to ask from you a favour..” she said.
　
“I will do anything for you....What is it?”---#
　
　
　(to be continued)

PART 2 OF MY NEW STORY

2009-08-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

A WOMAN FROM YESTERDAY

Val woke up as the sun was just starting to paint a canvas of warm colours on the eastern horizon. He wanted to arrive early in the docks where the steamer from Zamboanga would drop anchor. Traveling in Manila streets at about 5:30 or 6:00 am would help him avoid the rush of pedestrians and vehicles. Pier no. 1 was a walking distance from his home and he knew the shortcuts in order to save time and legwork.

While walking, he recollected his last day in Zamboanga and why his family was left behind…

On the morning of his last day, he invited Cris to visit his hideaway in the woods near the Durian Plantation. And what child could not relish an outdoor expedition with his Father?
After saying a short good bye to Marrieta, Father and Son walked towards a clump of trees, consisting mostly of acacia, narra, palm trees ( used for extracting tuba ) and other wild fruit bearing ones. When they reached the canopy of intertwining branches, they heard a cacophony of chattering tropical birds in an endless chatter coming from the lofty branches. Each bird seem to be able to communicate to another one of the same feather.
After 20 minutes, they arrived at the clearing. The nipa hut which was built by his father during his youth was still there. Then Val challenged his son to a race. Naturally Cris won because he could run like a rabbit being chased by a dog.
The interior of the hut was well maintained. There must be a worker taking care of it. In a small kitchen with wide windows were clay cooking utensils: pots, pans stoves and a big vat for boiling water. A supply of dried firewood was neatly piled on one side.
“Can I go to the woods, Father?” asked Cris.
“Yes,just be careful of the king cobra. It is rampant in this parts. “Do not worry,I will be careful..” he said without any fear. Then he took off again towards some underbrush.
Val continued examining the nipa hut. The floor was made of split bamboo, the walls were sawali, the roof was made of thatches of cogon grass. He jumped up and down, and the building hardly shook.
Then came a shrill scream from Cris..
Val jumped out of an open window into the ground and called out very loud, “Cris!! Where are you?”
When he answered, Val followed the direction of the voice. His blood ran cold when he saw him lying on the grass, writhing and clutching his tummy..
Val kneeled beside him and Cris confessed he has just eaten a fruit he picked from a bush. Minutes later, the felt a pain like his stomach is being squeezed by an iron hand. Two more fruits were beside him..
Suddenly another figure appeared. He was about 30 years old, neatly dressed, carrying a leather satchel and a basket of basket of leaves and flowers.
He rushed to the boy, examined the fruit beside him and said: “This fruit is poisonous to both animals and humans. But do not worry, I think I have an antidote in my satchel.”
He took put a bottle and poured some of its contents into the boy’s mouth.
Immediately, Cris gagged, coughed and puked out the contents of his stomach, including the breakfast he just had that morning.
When he stopped vomiting, he closed his eyes again. “Feel better?” the man asked and the boy nodded..
“What’s your name, sir?” Val asked the man.
“Just call me Pepe,” was his answer. “He is okay now. Just let him rest for two days.”
“Thank you, Pepe.” said Val. “I guess he will stay behind. I am supposed to go back to Manila with him and my wife this afternoon. My work is urgently waiting for me there.”
“How much do I owe you,?” asked Val.
“I can not accept your payment. But thank you, anyway. I did not do much. Tell you what, just raise him to be a strong upright man. The youth is the hope of our country. Its future is in their hands.”
“What is his name?,” asked Pepe.
　
“Cris. My name is Valerio or Val. His full name is Crisostomo.”
Pepe smiled. “That is a very good name,” he said with a smile.
“What are you doing in these parts?” asked Val.
Pepe answered: “My hobby is studying plants, especially the medicinal ones. People need medicine and the safest ones come from plants..”
　

Then Val’s walk and thoughts were interrupted by a voice who called from his left as he was crossing an intersection. Pier 1 is just a few minutes away.
“Valerio Costales. Is that you?” called out a woman’s voice.
He turned to his left and saw a woman standing , looking at him with a extremely surprised look.---#
( to be continued )
　

a new short story

2009-08-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

fiction by VDC

A CHILD OF THE SUN RETURNS

Valerio Costales felt like dancing on the streets when he learned from a newly arrived neighbour that his wife Marrieta and his son Cris are already aboard a steamer on their way to Manila from Zamboanga.
For he has just spent a very lonely Christmas. His family was left in his parents house in Zamboanga in . But he had to leave because his furlough was about to end and he did not want to lose his job in Manila.

His parents owned a wide hacienda surrounding an enormous house managed by several servants. He knew that they were in good hands. But sleeping alone in their small rented house in Plaza Santa Cruz could be a nightmare. He would wake up every half hour after dreaming of his son Cris playing in that clearing beside his parents’ plantation of Durian trees. The Costales family in Zamboanga was known by many merchants because of the variety of fruits which were harvested all year round.

Valerio or Val grew up in this affluent household, never doing any kind of manual work. Aside from the workers who worked in the plantation, there were so many servants who would cook, do the laundry scrub the house clean and during the hot, humid months, they would make you feel cool with some huge fans while the family are having lunch .

But inspite of such comfort in his surroundings, He decided to leave someday for Manila. And that day came when he turned 21.

. He wanted adventure, a job with which he can earn his own money. Plus he want to see the sights which we can never see in Zamboanga. Unwillingly, his father give him his blessings and a few days after, he already found himself in Manila after several days aboard a small steamer.

AH MANILA!..He was not dissapointed. It has the glitz and excitement of a cosmopolitan community. There were many foreigners and there were tall buildings which sold all kinds of goodies.

He went to an address given to him by his father. He was a close family friend. With a few connections, Val found a job in the local police force, because keeping peace and order is always an issue in Manila, or in any other big city in the world. His robust physique ( he grew up doing swimming, hunting and other kinds of sports in Zamboanga ) got him a job 2 days after his arrival. He learned within a week hand to hand combat as well as the use of small and big firearms.

After getting his first pay, he looked for his own dwelling place somewhere in Plaza Santa Cruz which is close to his station in Intramuros. Everyday he is assigned to specific duty together with another officer. His take home pay was always supplemented by money from his parents who were just too happy to help him out. He promised them that someday, he would be returning to Zamboanga to take care of the family business.

After two weeks, he met a beautiful girl from Pangasinan. She was well mannered, of the right age and they seem to be good for each other. She has also a steady job as a cashier in a restaurant which catered to the rich folks in Manila.

They dated for a while and then they decided to live together in order to save on the rental money. She moved in to his pad in Plaza Sta. Cruz. They did not care whether they were together without marriage. They were in Manila, where many couples are living together well, without the benefit of marriage.

Both of them were in the right age and they love each other.

He told his parents about his decision and informed them too that someday, they will visit them ( with their children if they will be blessed with any ) and they might have the proper marriage ceremony there in Zamboanga.---#

( to be continued )

Marcie's photos with the late Cory Aquino

2009-08-19T04:17:00.000-07:00

REMEMBERING CORY AQUINO

Marcie Uson-Wise, in a group photo with the late Cory Aquino's entourage and guests...

Marcie, Cory and David Wise, Marcie's husband...

David and Cory..Talking about politics, maybe? David works as a diplomat for the US government..

One for the camera...and posterity...

Hawaiian photos

2009-08-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS FROM MY HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY

A view from the bottom..Hawaii is abundant with trees, all shapes, sizes and species!

There was this dog who loved surfing..The board is being pushed by his master..

Diamond head as seen from the air ( during our departure )

Mr. Pogi! These wahines are dying to meet ya!!

The surfing dog, on shore at last..Nice view, don't you think?..I am refering to the shoreline...:)

more to come...

a short poem by VDC

2009-08-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Midnight

Midnight comes, it is the bewitching hour when
Dreams become real, and love unfolds
Like a rose opening its wet petals, to sip
Hungrily the nectar from another flower..

Dreams claw to reach the hand of a loved one
Eager to clasp it tightly like a living vine
Winding its snake like fingers, unwilling to
Release its grasp, unwilling to let go

My eyes searched for the glowing orbs
That shone like two blue diamonds
Illuminating the ebony mantle of a fleeting hour,

An excitement that throbs like a fresh wound

Because true love can never be suppressed
It wriggles out of the rock that tries
To crush it, Rising like a Phoenix ,

reviving from the burning coals

Of dripping Passion….

night trip AROUND VANCOUVER....

2009-08-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

....WITH VANCE NORIEGA

Vance is a long time resident in Vancouver. He is an Accountant but presently he went on his own to operate an agency supplying Tagalog media materials ( DVDs, books, magazines ) to various libraries all over Canada.. Toronto Public Library is his biggest account where DVD is concerned. He said he met Rudy Antonio a long time ago..

Here are a few night shots around Vancouver when we went riding around with Vance..We went to Stanley Park, to Lion's Gate Bridge, then up to WestVancouver to visit Rain's old "home" ( which we never saw because it was getting dark ). But the British Properties, the original home of the BCs founding Fathers all Brits, is on top of a hill and it boasts of big houses and big lots..Jeez, only those who are really crapping money can afford a residence here..

Then we passed by these streets on our way to the English bay, then UBC and finally back to Vancouver at Susan's boarding house....

( click the photos to enlarge them... )

Among the Canadian cities, Vancouver seems to be the one with the most Asian population. It is not surprising because it is the gateway to Canada for most airlines coming from the Far East. Public transportation within the city is quite simple to follow: the streets are laid out in a simple grid pattern. Unlike London or maybe New York, the skytrain comes in two coaches linked together and in frequent intervals ( maybe 2 minutes ).

The weather is also a boon. Gardeners can tend their flowers or vegetables almost all year round. Unlike Toronto which offers only a few months of Spring-Summer weather.

It is not surprising that Miggie and I are now looking at the MLS listings for Vancouver. Maybe we will pull out our stakes here in Toronto and acquire a modest property here in this verdant city along the Pacific coast.---#

the unforgettable KARAOKE NIGHT

2009-08-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

( CLICK THE PHOTOS WITH YOUR MOUSE TO ENLARGE THEM.....)

The Karaoke night started as just a simple sing along session..When it ended several hours later, it bonded the singers.. It shows how strong the power of music can be. It helps you listen with your heart, understand with your mind and believe with your whole being in the love for people, especially with whom you spent some happy moments together..

I was so happy to be a part of it. I did not have to sing very well ( seemed I lost the " musical urge" this night.).But all of the ladies sang very well! During the last song, someone suggested they sing as a group and they did it so beautifully. They sang as one.

I am not trying to win points here. I was a choirmaster for a long time, and I can tell whether a group could sing or not!..Music unlock certain hidden emotions and when after it creeps out, the others sort of emphatized..Can not tell everything..You have to be there to know what I am talking about!..I punched in the numbers of my favorite songs, ones which are too high or too hard for me to do.

When I asked some of the singers to do it, they obliged.Yes, they did the best they could to interprete the song, and the voices that night is still in my memory. Songs like HOW COULD I TELL HER ABOUT YOU by LOBO, SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH ( Dan Hill ) WORDS ( BeeGees ) GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME ( sang by Miggie ). My biggest delight of all is when I punched the numbers of HOTEL CALIFORNIA and someone sang it doing the melody so well. Edgar and his wife obliged us also with one song

Rain finally volunteered to do WHEN I NEED YOU ( Leo Sayer ) and Angela said "You should pour your feelings out, all that you can..You have the voice and talent for singing." I believed what she said..It was the first time I heard Angela too and she could also emote well while singing a sentimental ballad..To all the ladies and the gentlemen who sang for almost 7 hours ( with 1 hour supper break ), I tip my cap to all of you and say "Good show everyone..Keep on singing until you could not sing anymore .

******

Must not forget to mention that Rudy can also whip a good tune with a good tenor voice. He did a couple of them. MY WAY I think was one of them. Earlier that afternoon, he related to me that he spent four years of his life ( he was already a Canadian at that time ) residing in Asingan, helping build up the community right after the end of the Martial Law. The anecdotes of his life in Pangasinan were very interesting. Some were bone chilling. He locked horns with some big politicians. In the end he knew he had to go back to Canada. He said he made it back, by a very close shave!----#

At the Guilford Sheraton

2009-08-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

A NIGHT OF NIGHTS....

I escorted two beautiful ladies that night, but had only one chance to dance..Was busy with my camera..Another good alibi not to trip the light fantastic...:D..

A winsome threesome!

A Toast for a wonderful Reunion and Holiday in BC....!!

Another winsome threesome!

The Man of the Hour!

Memories, they say is like wine..They mellow and taste sweeter with age.Everyone had a private and personal box of mementos of that night. I enjoyed watching people dance and be happy!..

They looked different the next day sans their dancing outfits. That goes without saying. The ambiance of a dance hall is different from that of a picnic knoll.

The next morning, we went to Rudy's house for a breakfast in his gazebo. It has a piped in music through speakers connected to his home stereo. I did not know til then that he is also a stereo buff like me.

So our karaoke session in the living room ( which took place after the picnic ) was also heard by the neighbours outside unless the outside speakers were cut off when the evening got late and the singing was just beginning to warm up. We left for Vancouver at around 12:00 midnight. I heard the singing went on and on until 2:00 am...

It was really a nice affair. Many participants went back to their homes south of the border after a day or two.

But for us, the end of the reunion was just the beginning of our 5 day sojourn in Vancouver, BC. Indeed, I won't be able to forget those days even if I will try to!!----#

scenes from a dance

2009-08-07T04:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rUQBukwj4s at the dance floor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSPrrrsf8tU Maria sings THE PRAYER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsiaQOb6zpw the MACARENA!

alternate ending for Jennifer's Secret...

2009-07-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

**********************

for the complete story of the episode, click the link below..

http://timelessmovieclassics.blogspot.com/2009/07/jennifers-secret-after-i-stepped-out-of.html

note: Sentences typed in red are part of the alternative ending

********

At this point, I felt a draft of cold wind blowing on me and touching my hair softly..

"From where I am I saw the man take something out. The man was talking to Florante. Jenny looked very agitated. I stood up, rushed towards them. But it happened so fast!. I saw Jenny step between the man and Flor. In a split second, Iheard a gunshot. Jenny took the bullet intended for Flor. It entered her heart and she fell on the auditorium floor..Then there was another gunshot"

"There was screaming and the orchestra stopped the music.."
I felt tears rushing down my cheeks at this point. The images of the incident came vividly to my imagination..

"I knelt beside Jenny. She was whispering..' Dad, that was Marlon..I am sorry..He wanted to kill Flor. I did not know he would be coming here..' She started to cough blood.

I could hear several men shouting and footsteps were heard all over the place. I did not look behind me. Just focused my attention to Jenny. .But I think I heard the sound of a body fall to the cement floor and some shouts and sickening sounds.There was a brief scuffle. Then silence...My ears were listening to my daughter whispering over and over.." Dad, my soul won't rest until I will finish this dance with Flor.." She must have said this sentence three times, then she became very quiet..."

At this point, I felt dizzy, recollecting Jenny's countenance, her sweet smile after I ended the dance with her that night and we walked back to our seat.."I love you, Jenny, I am so sorry..!!!!" I said aloud. I remember the harsh hateful words I said about her. There was a soft sensation of a gentle cool air brushing by my ear, Then as sudden as it appeared, the smell of the perfume and the very cold draft vanished..

I brushed my eyes and cheeks with my hands.

"What happened to Marlon?.." I asked.

"The guy did not have any chance. Many of my relatives were at the Auditorium that night," he answered.. "Two were policemen. One of them told me not to worry, just look after Jenny.. They will take care of Marlon.. Florante died with a second bullet from the gunman..

It was 20 minutes to 12:00 noon.

"Who was the woman I danced with?.. Was it Jenny's spirit ?.."I asked

"That was her all right. Now, I have to tell you more secrets, not just her but about our family. In every generation since we heard and remember from our family lore, there is always a member gifted with life longevity and a skill for white magic..
"Did you hear that one of our great, great grand father had lived for almost 600 years? Similar to the people during the biblical times. Only an accident that would destroy some vital parts of our bodies would cut our life short. They say that long before the arrival of the Spaniards, there existed a village of people in Santa Ana whose life span was almost limitless. This community was burned by the conquistadores and some missionaries tried to brainwash them from believing in things which are not taught by the church.
“I am one of those gifted as such. During a drowning accident, my wife died after a few minutes but I was only in a coma after I was pulled out of the water for 15 minutes. The doctors were amazed how I survived that 15 minutes under water.. Only fishes could do that, but remember that man’s ancestors once upon a time lived in the ocean until one tried to walk out of the water into land..
“When I survived, I asked the doctors to keep my escape from death a secret. During my supposed to be ’ funeral’ with my wife, a cadaver from the morgue took my place inside a closed casket. I attended my wife’s funeral from a distance and protected by a disguise.
My brother from Sacramento arrived to attend my "funeral" He brought with him a large amount of money from Jenny's Life Insurance. Plus he endowed Jenny with a large sum of money, deposited in a Swiss bank and accessible with a number.. He would just phone in Jenny’s new name so she can access the money in the near future.
Jenny's heart was smashed by a bullet. But her very strong spirit survived and would not leave until she finishes her last wish.
I went back to this house as a caretaker, I kept the life insurance money safe somewhere here. It so easy to spread tales about the house being haunted, especially it is located in a very secluded area in Asingan. The reputation kept nosy people away. I was the caretaker looking after the house, the garden and the stash of money inside. Mine was not a very lonely existence. Jenny and her Mom too always visited and talked with me in my dreams …
" A few days before the town fiesta, Jenny asked from me a very BIG favour..I know she knows I can do that, but I was hesitant to give it to her.."
“What favour was that?”
“I will not tell you the actual name, only what happens if I use some incantations from a small book of oracles, incantations and spells we have upstairs. It is an old, handwritten book written on several pages of thin animal skin bound with leather thongs. I am gifted with this “white magic“, and I am the only one who could make the incantations work.. By saying the incantation at the right time of the day, I can exchange my soul with another bodiless soul or spirit...
“I exchanged my soul with Jenny's for the first time that day when you saw her at the resort. But the exchange was only good for 12 hours. Even for this brief of time, she agreed. She disappeared exactly midnight that time. My body changed its physical properties when Jenny entered it. And will change again when my soul returns to it…
“This kind of spirit exchange in a body has certain risks..
"What is the risk, sir?” I asked with a trembling voice.
“It is very possible that the evil souls lurking about in the invisible world around us would enter my body, instead of Jenny's.. Then both of us will be imprisoned in a nameless abyss in the other world as a sort of punishment…
“But you were able to do it that time !” I said.
"Yes..the best time to do it is when the clock strikes mid day because that is when, all the evil spirits nearby become powerless until the bell finishes its 12th toll. It is the time of the Angelus and the evil spirits have no power against the Mother of God..
“I must get out of my body and she must get in very precisely: no distraction, otherwise Jenny and I will both be thrown into that deep pit.....
“Jenny visited me last night She knows you are coming today. She wants us to do the exchange again, this time permanently..”
I glanced at my watch, it was already 5 minutes to 12 noon..
The old man took my hand..
"Goodbye, my son! You are now my son and I am happy to be a free spirit again for Jenny's sake because we have found you who will take care of Jenny in her second life...
“Promise me to love her deeply and strongly. And be brave enough to do something in case something goes wrong....After the exchanging of souls had taken place, and you find out it is not Jenny who took possession of my body, , take this long bolo and pierce it in its heart,,,"
He took out a very long and sharp bolo, together with a silver crucifix..
“The moment you see whoever comes down, even if it looks like Jenny, show this crucifix immediately. The creature will collapse in fear. Then you must bury this knife in its heart.. Promise me you will do this!”
The clock showed 11:58..
“I will, my Father..”
“Farewell my son, take care of my beloved Jenny!"
As he walked away towards a stair case, I heard a low murmuring sound upstairs..There seem to be many people whispering and mumbling in weird tones...
As the clock struck twelve, the voices stopped. There was an opening and closing of a door upstairs. I waited tensely for the clock to finish its 12th chime...On its 11th chime, a piercing cry echoed in the whole house..There came hideous noises. As the 12th chime tolled, there was a fluttering of wings like several bats. Then silence..
Then the door opened slowly, shut itself and I heard footsteps. The slow footsteps started to descend down the staircase...
The sound continued and then I saw a lady in white coming down...Reaching the bottom of the stair case, she walked towards me.It looked like Jenny, , but her face was very solemn, unsmiling.
IS IT REALLY JENNY?
I opened the drawer of the table before me..I gripped the cross with my left hand, the bolo with my right..
The figure stopped about four feet away. Still it did not talk or smile..
I took out the crucifix and flashed it towards her with outstretched arm.
After 2 seconds the figure smiled slowly. I did not put the cross down yet, waiting for the fangs to be bared if she opens her mouth...
Then she laughed in her characterstic fashion and shouted: "Fred, you idiot!! Couldn't you recognize me??" Then she laughed so loud that I really felt like an idiot..” I am sorry for this dirty trick.” she said apologizing sincerely…

His dad was able to make it and he is already a free spirit..
She rushed towards me and I hugged her very tight. Jenny said: "Hey what are you trying to do: kill me??"

We both laughed again without releasing each other.. Oh. I missed her and I thought I would never see her again…

I whispered: "Smile.. Show me your whole set of teeth! I want to check for fangs..”
She smiled, closed her eyes and I kissed her open mouth passionately.
First kiss, quite a long one.. Then she said, "There is a small room down there in the hall.."
　
***

Half an hour later, Jenny and I went out into the front yard which was bathed with an unbelievably bright light...Jenny was wearing a pair of big sunglasses, a light coloured summer dress and a wide brimmed summer hat. She was also carrying a purse full of US $ in big denominations. ..

She told me while we were still inside the house that she must get a new passport under a new name since Jenny Acierto is already officially dead. There are many people in the city who are good in producing these kinds of papers, she said..

“How do you know? I asked her..

“Did you forget that I was a free and invisible spirit for quite a while and I could travel like the wind?” she laughed again. “And I went all over the place. Could not stay in Asingan all the time. Sometimes the town gets boring..”
　

When Pastor saw us, he waved his hand and shouted: "Sir!! is everything okay?.."
"Yes,” I said. Pastor saw my lady companion. "Good afternoon, Madam.. I did not know there is a beautiful lady in that house.."
"Hello Pastor..I am a cousin of the late Jenny Acierto. I just arrived last night. I missed the town fiesta because I had to finish some papers in Manila yesterday.."

Pastor replied: "Wow! You look like her all right!. Your family must have lots of beauties.. “

I cut in saying: "Too bad, Pastor, you are already married. Besides you are a Pastor, remember? Setting a good example to your flock?.

“But I have good news for you, my man. I said. "Nelly here wants to hire you as a caretaker of this house. You can bring in your family and some relatives to live with you..And you can hold some Gospel meetings in the backyard. Maybe even build a chapel . We will pay you well so you won’t have to drive your motor bike again.“

Pastor broke into a grin and cried: "Oh thank you, thank you Madam?…”

"Dardanella Acierto..Just call me Nelly!"

"Thank you Madam Nelly.."

"We are going to Manila today, Pastor." I said. “But first, let us go to Crystal Glades for some Arroz Caldo con Corazon“…#
　
Copyright by VICTORIO COSTES, 2009..
　
　
　
　

a contribution from Icarus

2009-07-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

Kalburo Nights
by icarus

Tatang, my grandfather whom I grow up with is not only an outstanding farmer but is also a fine fisherman. When he goes to the farm to tend to his ricefields, he always had with him, strapped on his waist, his “alat” a woven bamboo basket with a narrow neck plugged with a cleverly devised cone of flattened bamboo sticks that allows things to slide in but not out. The things he put in his “alat” includes “dalag”, “paltat”, ar-aro, “dakumo”, bisokol”, “leddeg”, “tukak” not necessarily at the same time or in any particular order. He does not intently spend his time looking for these but in the bygone days, these species were plentiful in the Masicampo and the Pagumpias, two large tracts of open rice land in Asingan that borders Dupac, respectively on the east and on the west. These rice lands are also rich fishing grounds. A puddle in the paddies always had some stranded dalag or paltat. An old footprint in the rice field teems with leddeg and bisukol. An opening in the tambak would indicate a burrowed dakumo or two. Underneath heaps of mown rice stalks are frogs seeking shelter. My Tatang, wise on the ways of farm survival, has an uncanny instinct for this things and they invariably end up inside his alat.

Sometimes on a rainy afternoon, he would send me to town to buy ‘kalburo” (Calcium Carbide). Astride that big old fashion bicycle, I sit on the bike’s frame rather than the saddle which is too high for a young boy. I would pedal my way to Lua’s Variety Store, my butt obscenely swaying from side to side, my torso rhythmically forming and reversing in S-shape, as I strain to reach the pedals. Wet and muddy from racing with chasing dogs, I would insert myself inside the crowd of buyers lining the counters. Not wanting to get in contact with my armor of mud, they would unwittingly part to allow me to buy ahead - half a kilo of those gray lumps from the old Chinese grocer. On the way home, the same dogs would be waiting in ambush, raring to get their revenge from being outraced earlier - but that’s for another story. Mixed with water, kalburo gives off acetylene, a combustible gas that fires my tatang’s olden bronze “lampa” giving off a bright yellow light that reflects brightly on its shiny parabolic reflector. Lampa is the local term for a carbide lamp consisting of two cylindrical bronze chambers and a flame nozzle centered on a reflecting dish. The lower chamber holds the carburo; the upper chamber holds water and had knobs to regulate the flame. That’s what the old folks use before there were any flashlights.

When the rain intensifies in the evening, Tatang would load his lampa, put on his “bistukol” and “annanga”, strap on his alat, grab his “tallakeb”and walk right into the dark rainy night. He would be preceded by an ellipse of illuminated ground courtesy of the kalburo-fired lampa. All over the wide expanse of the masicampo and the pagumpias one could see solitary spots of lights moving about, piercing the black darkness of the pouring monsoon. They are from the lampas of hardy fish seekers and frog hunters called “mannilaw” just like my tatang.

Fish and frogs and other fresh-water denizens are particularly friendly on rainy days, especially during heavy downpours. Their eyes shine like embers from the reflection of light. Caught in the focused brightness, they froze on their tracks like stones waiting to be picked up. Like clockwork, Tatang always comes back after an hour or so, his alat filled to the brim with tukak, pellat, dalag or whatever is in season. The catches are kept in separate “burnays”. What we cannot consume, my Inang would sell in the market the following market day.

But one night, my Tatang could not return within the expected time and my Inang was worried and concerned. His share of the evening snack – two ears of boiled corn – lay cold waiting for him. We can usually spot him approaching from 5o meters even in the heaviest monsoon. But passed an hour, two hours, three hours going four - still no sign of an approaching lampa. After supper that night he listened to the chorus of frogs croaking all around and determined that they’re more plentiful in the Pagumpias, so off he went to that direction. My Inang is about to go out and seek for help when Brownie our old dog barked. He barked incessantly, facing the direction of the Pagumpias yet I could see no Lampa coming. He kept barking until his bark turned into an excited whine and then I was relieved to see my Tatang emerge from the hedges of “saluyot” just after the bamboo thicket. “Tatang, tatang…”, I ran out to met him in the drizzle. He fondly shielded my head with his wide palm. Gone is his lampa and he has no alat. No tallakeb or bistokol, only the remnants of his tattered annanga. “What happened to you, you kept us all worried?” my Inang anxiously asked. “Oh, you wont believe me if I told you, Baket. Please hand me those dry clothes first. I’m freezing.” He dries up and changed clothes. “So, what actually happened?”, Inang persevered. “And where is your catch?” “I don’t know, my alat might have dropped somewhere, Im not sure…I got lost in the dark…“ , stammered my usually self-assured tatang. I can see from his face a trace of distress like he was stunned or had just come off a bad dream. And very tired.

“The catch is plentiful tonight”, he started. “I was just across the “kalungkong” about a hundred meters from here and already, my alat is half full. I was thinking to get back early when my lampa went off because of the strong wind. Not wanting to go home with half a basket, I tried to reignite the lampa with the few matchsticks that I brought. But each time the stick lighted it quickly gets snuffed out by the driving wind - until I ran out of matchsticks. I looked around. There were many lights from fellow mannilaw but they were too far off. But there, about a hundred meters to the southwest, I saw the light of another “mannilaw”.

Quickly, I grabbed my tallakeb and proceeded towards his direction. But I could not just walk in the middle of the newly planted rice paddies, I have to follow the “tambak”. By the time I got to where he stood just a few minutes back, he has gone somewhere else. I was not closing the gap at all so I groped and walked even faster in the dark, chasing after the fellow mannilaw. Sometimes it gets bright and sometimes it disappears from view. But there it is in the general direction of southwest. I half run and half stumbled. The hundred meters become eighty and then sixty, then forty…! At last I could light up my lampa and continue with the catch… Thirty meters, twenty, fifteen…”Can I have a light, my friend?”, I called his attention in between my pantings. Only ten meters now. It was so dark but I was coming so close! And then the light stopped moving as if waiting to light up my lampa. Ah, the fellow heard me, at last.

I hurriedly groped my way to the stationary light, and touch the flame with my lampa’s nozzle. It lighted with a zap. “Thank you my friend”, I mumbled. I was so grateful as my eyes adjust to the brightness only to realize that no one was holding the candle… Candle?!! I turned my lampa to my right and saw an arched window. I beamed my lampa around. More arched windows… and brick walls… and cornice and old stained glass panels. And then I realized! I was alone inside the Ermita, that old abandoned chapel in the middle of the “kamposanto” – the graveyard!”

My Tatang tried to scream but no sound came out. He just run and run and run! He’s been had by the “mangiyaw-awan”. He never tried to recover his missing lampa. And he never bought a new one either. It was a good excuse not to go night-fishing again. Ever!
.

2009-07-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Jennifer's Secret

After I stepped out of the Municipal building, I caught a tricycle who has just dropped off a fare."Where to, Sir?" he asked. I just repeated what the Municipio's Information Officer said.:"Take the road for Bantog, continue until you see the Crystal Glade. Then you turn left at thefirst dirt road. Continue driving about a kilometer until you see a concrete house with a red roof."I want you to wait for me outside, no matter how long it takes me to finish my business inside.Don't worry, I will pay you whatever you wish..""Just give me 500 pesos sir, and you can have me, I mean my ride for half a day.." the driversaid.
"Thanks! What's your name again?""I am called Pastor. But my real name is Mario. I am really a pastor of a small congregation herein Asingan. But the group is small, the collection is not enough to support me and my family so Idrive this thing for my daily expenses..But I always give a fiery sermon every Sunday."Then he started his mtorbike and I heard an audible beeping sound like that of a car alarm. Itseems he switches it on when he pulls out of a parking lot or when he is overtaking somepedestrians or another tricycle.After we passed by Bantog, we saw Crystal Glade from a distance. We came upon the barangayboundary and the dirt road which would finally bring us to our destination. As the tricycleslowed down because of the dirt and sand instead of the concrete that composes the main road,my heart started to beat faster than normal. After what seems to be an endless stretch of ticefields nordered with acacia trees and various shrubs, we finally sighted the house with the redroof...###I knocked on the newly varnished wooden door, and after a few seconds, it opened and a manabout 70 years old came out..He seemed happy when he saw me and he asked, "are you Albert?.." he asked peering through a pair of astigmatic eyes."Sorry sir, but my nane is Alfred, or Fred.He seemed to be mildly taken abck."Would you like to come in?""Thank you," I replied and I wiped my shoes before entering the living room.The living room was nicely decorated very much like a North American home.I took a seat on acomfortable leather chair. On a wall near me was a big framed photo of Jenny, similar to theone I saw in the Municipio, but this one is tinted with a few colours, the way they did in the olddays before colour printing was prevalent."Sir, are you the father of Jenny?." "Yes, he answered nodding his head."Is he at home?..Can I see her?""She's not here right now.""Where is she?. Did she go back to Sacramento?" My voice trembled a bit.He looked at me with inquiring eyes, but he hesitated to answer.I spoke again. " I have to see her. It is very important that I must talk with her.""When did you see her?" he asked with an expression that I can not describe."Yesterday, I met her at the MJV resort. Then last night she attended the Balikbayan Dance withme and we danced one time. "I noticed that his eyes widened a bit for a few seconds, then she glanced briefly at the her picturehanging on the wall..Then he fell again into a lapse of silence.I started to feel uncomfortable. After two or three minutes of his defeaning silence, I stood upand announced: "Sir, if you do not want me to see her, then I want to leave now. I am sorry forwhat ever inconvenience I have caused.." My voice was louder than usual..All of a sudden, he broke his silence and blank expression then said: "No, no, stay here!..I believeyou. I believe you are her friend. If you have come this far, then you are entitled to knoweverything about Jenny..."I sat down again."Jenny is our only child. She was born in a small house that stood in this same place years ago.We were very poor then, I am just a farmer and my wife sells vegetables in the market. Like anyparent, I wanted the best for Jenny because she was very intelligent, very sensible and she wasvery beautiful.."She attended the barrio high school here and she showed much promise in the classroom. Shehad also many friends because she was kind hearted and helpful. During her third year, she metAlbert, a classmate and the son of my good friend living in the same area here. But at that time,they were just good friends however I felt that someday, they might get married.."One day, I received a letter from my brother in California. He made good in his business and heoffered to adopt Jenny. Her Mother and I felt bad, but then I know my brother is a goodperson, so we agreed. Soon her papers came and we signed them. We felt broken hearted whenshe left us at the airport.."He paused a bit as if to regroup his mind and voice."But she made good there abroad. She finished nursing in Sacramento after which she foundwork in the same hospital where she did volunteer work as a candy striper. She helped thenurses and looked after some patients. She held the same position for several years. But sheremained faithful to Albert and they exchanged letters regularly. Hand written letters done inpink stationery and filled with love..Albert visited us also regularly, and we treated him as if hewere our own son. When I saw you, I was struck by your uncanny resemblance to him.."In 1995, she decided to come home for a visit. First time since her departure from Asingan. Ihave many relatives in the Municipal building and they decided to make her Ms. Balikbayan.Albert, of course automatically was the escort."In 1994, a year before her visit, she told Albert, and Albert told us, that a young man who lives in Southern California, a small town near San Diego, met her in a birthday party. He fell in lovewith her. She told him she is already engaged to someone here. But this guy, Marlon is his name,told her that he will not stop loving her until she is already married..She tells everything toAlbert and Albert tells everything to us..But she told us not to worry. The guy she said is goodhearted, very kind and she tells him very often that she can not love him back..A few months before her holiday, she told us Marlon started to e-mail her love notes, leavemessages in her voice mail...One day, he e-mailed her that he will kill her boy friend so he canmarry her. Jenny said if he won't stop his barrage of e-mails, she will go to the Police and ask fortheir protection. She threatened him and then she told us he finally stopped..He just e-mail heronce in a while but she never answered any of them. She said, she just deleted anything comingfrom him..He stopped talking again..He stood up and said, "Can I get you anything to drink, Cokeperhaps?.I need some water..""I am okay! I said"..He resumed his narration when he came back.."It was a joyful celebration when she arrived. At the beginning of 1994, she started sending usmoney for the construction of this house. It is not quite complete, as you can see. But it will soonbe..She arrived 2 days before her coronation night.." The auditorium was lavishly decorated by her friends and kinfolks, especially those from theMunicipio. One time Albert and her went to the municipio and a clerk asked: ' Are you going toapply for a marriage license?' The big crowd following her around laughed.."Then came the Coronation night.." At this point, I smelled a faint odor. It was Jenny's perfume.."She was a vision of delight and happiness, " continued her father.." She marched down towardsthe throne, then some dignitaries crowned her. She was smiling all the while..Then the emceeannounced the Royal Dance. The orchestra played TRISTEZAS DEL ALMA..Her perfume scent became stronger.." Albert took her down to dance, together with the otherreigning beauties..I stood up too, looking at her all the time. A few photographers and one videocameraman were aiming their cameras at her.."And then..I did not even notice it, a man approached Jenny and Albert"..At this point, I felt a draft of cold wind blowing on me and touching my hair softly.."From whereI am I saw the man took something out. The man was talking to Albert. Jenny looked veryagitated. I stood up, rushed towards them.But it happened so fast!. I saw Jenny step between the man and Albert. In a split second, Iheard a gunshot. Jenny took the bullet intended for Albert. It entered her heart and she fell onthe auditorium floor.."I felt tears rushing down my cheeks at this point. The images of the incident came vividly to myimagination.."I knelt beside Jenny. She was whispering..' Dad, that was Marlon..I am sorry..He wanted to killAlbert..I heard several men shouting and footsteps were heard all over the place. I did not lookbehind me. Just focused at Jenny..But I think I heard the sound of a body fall to the cement andsome shouts and sickening sounds....My ears wre listening to my daughter whispering over andover.." Dad, my soul won't rest until I will finish this dance with Albert.." She must have said thissentence three times, then she became very still..."At this point, I felt dizzy, recollecting Jenny's countenance, her sweet smile after I ended thedance and we walked back to our seat.."I love you, Jenny, I am so sorry..!!!!" I said aloud. Therewas a soft sensation of a gentle cool air brushing by my ear, Then as sudden as it appeared, thesmell of the perfume and the very cold draft dissapeared..I brushed my eyes and cheeks. "What happened to Marlon?..""Many of my relatives were at the Auditorium that night," he answered.."Two were policemen.One of them told me not to worry, just look after Jenny..They will take care of Marlon..AndAlbert, the shock was too much for him. He also collapsed a few minutes later. He went to acoma. He is still alive but he is immobile.He lives in a long term care hospital.His expenses aretaken cared of by Jenny, posthumously. She had lots of investment bonds and her life insurancewas quite a lot. We were the beneficiaries..."I looked at the time..It was quarter to 12:00 noon."Who was the woman I danced with?..Was it Jenny's spirit ?.."Jenny's dad answered.."My grandmother once told me, that if a person has left something urgent which is unfinished before she or he dies, then the spirit would come once a year, our earth year, until it is completed..My grandmother was a spiritualist. She said, it is possible for a soul to become a "quasi human being", but only for 24 hours..."I hope I was able to enlighten you about Jenny.Now I feel so tired...I think I will take a nap. Thanks for your visit, son...Just lock the door on your way out.." He stood up, walked into a stairway going up the second floor."Thank you.." I whispered softly.I looked at Jenny's photo. I expected it to smile, but it didn't. The perfume smell is gone. Thecold draft is gone. After I examined every photo of Jenny in the living room, I felt it was time for me to leave. I locked the door as I stepped my way out into a glaring mid day sun...###I saw Pastor outside. He was sitting inside his tricycle. He was reading a small bible.."How did it go, sir?""Oh it was okay," I said.."Say how about lunch?..Let us drop by Crystal Glade. I heard they havedelicious arroz caldo there..Arroz caldo de Corazon....Some of the ingredients are chicken liverand chicken hearts...""Sure..Only a sick person refuses any offered food.. I am as healthy as a carabao.."We sat down at the Crystal Glade beside the swimming pool. There were a couple of teen-agedgirls there swimming clad in bras and thongs.."Hey, Pastor" I said.."Is it bad to look at bikini clad women?" I asked with a smile.."No, he said. "I look at them myself..if my wife is not around..""Good man!" I said and we laughed."By the way, did you wait long?..I asked him.."No, he said..You were there only two minutes!..Don't worry you can give me just 300 pesos..500is for half a day.."Are you sure??"..I asked this question about the length of time not about the money. "I swear.."I knew I was there for two hours at least..It was 10:00 am when I entered the house. My watchand the grandfather clock in the living room showed 10:00 am.. When I went out of the door,the grandfather clock showed 10 minutes to 12 noon..."By the way" Pastor asked.."What did you do inside the house?.Are you planning to buy it? Eversince that beauty queen died 5 years ago, it has been up for sale. ""Oh, you know about her?..""Yes, I heard she was shot by a jealous boy friend..from America. There were investigators fromthe US Consulate. He was reported missing by the company he worked for. When theinvestigators visited the Municipal Police Department, they said they knew nothing about theguy..No Marlon de Vera came to Asingan, they said..""How about the parents of the Beauty Queen? Aren't they living in that house?..""Both the Father and the Mother died a month later after her death. They went to Urdaneta toget some money and the jeep they were in lost its brakes. The jeep went down into that deepditch before the bridge. The driver and the couple drowned because the river there was deep atthat time..Nobody lives in that house for years. Only a caretaker comes once a week to clean it""WHAT??..BUT..." I stopped what I was about to say. I looked at my watch, it was only 10:15 am."Shit" I told myself, " I can not tell this pastor I talked with the Beauty Queen's dad..He mightblab it in his sermon and people will call me crazy..""Sir, if you buy it, I will rent from you if you need someone to take care of it..Nobody likes to buyit because they say it is haunted.Now it is cheap...But I am not scared. I know some prayers ofexorcism. Will drive the spooks away..for you. No charge..! I can give you references as to mycharacter. ""Yeah, I can tell you are an honest person.."The two arroz caldos arrived. They smelled good!"Okay, I will think about it. In the meantime, let us eat before these chicken soup with hearts getcold.---#

FOR THE ALTERNATE ENDING CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK...

http://timelessmovieclassics.blogspot.com/2009/07/jennifers-secret-after-i-stepped-out-of.html

part 1 of last chapter..

2009-07-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

part 3: DESPERATELY SEEKING JENNIFER

Upon reaching MJV, I went immediately to the night clerk and asked: "Has Jenny Acierto came back ?"

"Yes sir, she came back half an hour ago. Then she packed all her things and she checked out.."
"She, WHATT???"

The news fell down on me like a ton of bricks.
"Did she leave a letter for me or maybe a forwarding adress where I can reach her?"
"Nothing at all, sir.." the girl seemed scared at my expression and my loud voice..
I took a $5 bill from my wallet and spread it on the table. My mind started to go crazy.

"Can I see her room, please. It is very, very important to me.."

Okay sir, but please do not tell this to Madam Polly.." she slowly placed the money in the drawer.
　
She brought me to the luxury suite on the third floor of the newly erected annex building. This is the best floor in the house. It overlooks a whole view of Asingan ricefields from Carusucan to Domanpot and maybe Macalong.

As she opened the door, I smelled again her perfume, the one she used when I first saw her at the restaurant. She switched on the light. The bed appeared to be unused. I cursorily looked for a letter, or any kind of paper that could provide a clue to her next whereabouts. But there was nothing..

"I could not believe this," I said. My love for her is slowly changing into anger.

"Okay, dearie" I said. You can close it again. I am going back to my room.."

As I about to open the door, I wished ( although it was a fat chance ) that she would be inside, waiting for me. But as I switched on the light I saw the usual view and my bed which still unmade. I threw myself into it and tried to sleep.

Then came a knocking on the door.

"Jenny??" I asked.

"It's me sir". It was the clerk. "I am sorry for the bed, I thought you would be arriving much later. I had to do other chores and I reserved making the bed for much later..Want me to do it now?"

"No, its okay.." I said calmly.."You can go back to your desk. I will be fine.."

"Sir, I have a pitcher of ice water..You might need it .."

I stood up, opened the door, and took the pitcher. "Thank you, I said. And she answered, "welcome sir.."

I remember some valium tablets in my luggage. I took one with water then I covered my face with a pillow..10 minutes later, I was out like a light..

I woke up the next day at around 9:00 am from an entirely dreamless sleep. At first, I did not know where I was, since I was still on jet lag. Then my normal thinking settled down like pieces of mosaic and I again remembered my room, the resort and inevitably, Jenny.

How easily feelings change, I said to myself. My anger came back, throbbing like a painful wound. "Who is this girl?" I asked myself. "Is she an avenging angel for the other girls I dumped for no good reason? What is behind this trick she played on me..?" Then, wanting to express my ire, I shouted "Slut!! And what a big jerk I was!!"

To help me calm my senses I started packing my bags. Then I remember Rodrigo Esperon, a classmate from Grade 6 in Dupac. He said, if you are in Asingan on the last week of April, come to our house. My younger brother General Hermogenes will be there as the crowning for the Miss Asingan 2000. There will be tons of food and bottles of the best drink you can think of. You can drink until you could no longer recognize the floor from the ceiling.."

My luck has not run out yet, I said to myself.. His house is just a few doors away from the resort.

When I got there, Rudy was utterly delighted. "Almost 50 years passed he said and we are still alive and kicking.." he siad with merriment.

"And drinking!" I added..

We laughed then settled down for the business of the day, trying to cram the events of 50 years into 24 hours or less.

Soon, I was drunk..I was not really good at this kind of thing. Could not hold my liquor, inspite of the lechon, crispy pata, tinola, etc. What a smorgasboard that was but I was too drunk to enjoy or even remember them.. I just remember vaguely Rudy putting me on a tricycle then accompanying me to my room. Even if he dumped me in my bed like a sack of palay, I would never know..

When I woke up the next morning, I had the Mother of all hangovers..I took two extra strong advil tablets and lied on my back again..The sound of chirping sparrows outside my window sounded like shrieking banshees..

Then I remember I promised to visit another friend..Carlos Lopez Jr. The incumbent mayor of Asingan. "Oh God, I said..not in this condition,". I took another Advil to hasten the dissapearance of the headache.."What would humanity do without these great tablets.." I said after I noticed my hangover slowly dissipating.

Twenty minutes later, my headache was gone and my body bounced back to normal. For how long, I do not know. Not unless Caloy would offer me another round of Marka Demonyo..

Mayor Lopez was a good friend of mine before he went into Politics. He said he used to be a humble farmer before he joined the political bandwagon. From a councilor he became a vice mayor. With the sudden death of the incumbent mayor then, then he became Asingan's Chief Executive Officer.

He was vey happy to see me and when we shook hands, I could feel his missing two fingers. But he was not embarassed about it. In fact I heard lots of good stories about him and he was very proud about his humble beginnings. The way he talked never seemed to have changed at all..

After half an hour of exchanging pleasantries, he told me he has to go to Dagupan to attend a meeting of some sort. "Wanna come?" he invited. "Maybe you can write something about it.."
"No thanks," I said.."Thanks anyway, but I am going back to manila tommorow if possible. I want to visit Cebu and maybe Palawan..Besides you might not like what I will write about you..JUST JOKING!!"

He laughed also and he pat my shoulder. "Okay, Aring. Until we meet agiain.."

As I walked out of his door, he said in parting: "maybe you might like to visit the mini museum we have in here. We have the historical documents of our town, the photographs of FVR, her sister and the parents.."

Yes, I might.." I commented "I noticed that most of the schools in Asingan are already named after them.."

As I looked for the stairs going down to the exit, I saw the sign of the museum. "Ah, what the heck," I said..I had the rest of the afternoon off anyway..

I entered the door and there they are: the photographs of Don Narciso, Dona Angela, then ex president Fidel Ramos. her sister, Senadora Lety..His uncle Joe was a one time Mayor of Asingan, another uncle Felixberto was my teacher in Arithmetic when I was in Grade 5 at the Dupac Elementary School.

Then my eyes floated to another section..There was a whole slew of photographs of the former Miss Asingan Beauty Queens.."Aha, this is more like it.." I said..Their timeless beauty are now immortalized in this gallery to show that after all, our humble town was never short on beautiful sirens..I started waxing poetry mentally as I go from year to year. It was a butt breaking work completing the collection and I admired the person who broke his butt doing it.

When I reached 1995, my whole person froze. "Shit, I know this photo, " I whispered.

I looked down at the name. It was Jennifer Acierto!!!

Immediately, my feet took wings and my heart pounded high. I started trying to find someone in the Municipal Building who knows where her house is in Asingan..---#

conclusion on the next installment...

thanks to Polly for the use of her Resort's photograph...

TRISTEZAS DEL ALMA: part 2

2009-07-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

the BALIKBAYAN BALL

During summer days, the Asingan auditorium is a place where farmers spread their palay to be dried by the summer sun. On the night of April 29, the same place transfprmed into a surealistic wonderland of music, swirling lights and an orchestra pumping out Glenn Miller type of music through powerful outdoor speakers.
When Jenny and I arrived, dancing is already in full swing. Dancers came in full regalia, donning thier best ballroom garbs. We walked slowly towards the Presidential table on the right side of the stage where all of the coronation participants were seated. I felt walking on cloud 9 because I was escorting a very beautiful lady. I felt several pairs of eyes were focused on us. Somebody met us and showed us our place on the table.

"How are you?" I asked Jenny.
"Great, just great!" she said. I noticed her eyes were beaming with an unfathomable fire. The happy expression on her face was just undescribable.."Thank you for bringing me here tonight, Fred. I really mean it.."

"Yeah?..When was the last time you were here?"
"Oh, about five years ago.."

After a few minutes, I asked her: "Do you want to dance now?"

"No, not yet..I want to watch the dancers while chatting with you.." She gave me another look with those sparkling eyes and she resumed watching the crowd and dancers as if she was looking for somebody. Then she started talking with me as if I was a very close friend whom she had never seen for such a long time.
We talked about common interests : music, movies, a bit on spirituality, literature. She also talked a bit about Sacramento. The Capitol building, the tourist spots there particularly the Old Sac where vintage buildings still existed and maintained for toursts.

"Visiting Old Sac is just like stepping back into the early frontier days of America. You should come and visit it one time.."
"Is this a formal invite?" I asked.
"Of course, it is..It is more than that..." Her radiant face was so close to me that I was tempted to kiss her mouth.

But we are in in public. And in Asingan at that where events happen even before they are planned..

Her shoulder touched mine. I did not budge. She did not budge either. It seems she enjoys this growing intimacy between us. I rested my right foot beside her left foot. She did not budge either.

So time flew unnoticeably until the announcer broke a message that after the next piece, the entrance of the new Mrs. Balikbayan will take place. Then the band played TRISTEZAS DEL ALMA.

The title is a misnomer: the piece in 3/4 time has a joyous lilting tune.."Let us dance to this one!," she said. I stood up and took her arm. Then we proceeded to the dancing area.

Her face seemed to exude more radiance. Her lips never lost that faint smile line and while we were dancing, our eyes would meet once in a while and they would exchange many, manywords. I felt like the scenery around us dissolving into one pulsating blur of lights and swaying bodies but I was only aware of her presence. When the music ended, the bubble burst. Reality came back. We went back to our chairs. I held her hand tightly until we were seated once more.

Then the Royal March commenced. The orchestra played the Filipino classic LOVELY BLOOM OF THE SAMPAGUITA. Jenny's eyes were fixed on the proceedings. She became silent, but the faint smile was still there.

"Oh the new Mrs. Balikbayan is beautiful!" she said, gushing like a teen ager.
Then a member of the program committee approached and told me I must go to the back of the auditorium to march with some others who would present the crown, the sash and bouquet to the Queen and her Court.

"I am sorry, Jen. " I said. I explained to her what I was about to do.

"Oh, it is okay.." she said. "Go and do what you are about to do..I will always be here.."
So I went to the back of the auditorium and when the last participant arrived, we all walked together under the swords of the Guards of Honor. The orchestra played ELGAR'S POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE MARCH.

As we approached the stage, I searched for her. I did not quite see her because of the
glaring video lights that fell on us as we approached the throne. Suddenly, I started to miss her with just the few minutes which I did not see her.

On top of the stage, somebody gave me a beautiful tiara to place on the head of the new Mrs. Balikbayan. I let my lady companion do the job because sometimes I get butter fingers. I might drop the tiara, breaking it and that would be a bummer. She did a good job. Flash bulbs went on and off. People were clapping. I shook the hands of the Queen and the Pricesses. Unending photo sessions. Then it was all over. I wanted to join Jen immediately.

But first, I escorted my partner to her box somewhere in the right side of the auditorium. Then I proceeded back to the Presidential table.

When I got there, I found two empty seats: mine and Jenny's.
"Did you see the lady in a dark dress sitting here?" I asked a man in barong Tagalog sitting beside Jenny's.

"No," he said. "When I got back here, that chair is already empty.."
She must have gone to the washroom, I said. I scanned the people dancing within the limits of my recognition. I waited for a bit more. I was expecting any minute a hand to tap my shoulder and say : " I am sorry to keep you waiting..."

When that never happened, I decided to leave my spot, go around the auditorium to find her. I did just that. I made three hasty rounds and soon sweat started to moisten my clothes. But there was no Jenny.

It was then I decided to go back to the resort.---#

( end of part 2. Conclusion will be on part 3 )

A Filipino short story

2009-07-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

fiction

TRISTEZAS DEL ALMA
( Sadness of the soul )

part one: THE MEETING

The above title is a music piece popular in the Philippines during the late 50's and early 60s. I always heard it over the radio, in restaurant jukeboxes, in movie theatres before and in between screenings and also in formal ballroom dances.

In 1995, I heard this piece again with a winsome lady in my arms. We were doing a graceful waltz in the Asingan auditorium with several other couples.

I was yet a bachelor then. This single dance during that evening changed my life forever....

My family of 3 left the Philippines in 1975 after our parents died. My sister who has been in Toronto for a long time sponsored us. During that time, securing a Canadian Immigration visa was still easy, as long as the sponsor has a permanent job. And you do not even have to sign a paper that you should reside in the Yellowknife Territory ( or some other Siberia like places ) where it is winter for 10 months and only one plane comes and leaves once a week. And it is no 747 luxury flight either.

20 years after, around 1995, I finally decided to visit my hometown. Martial law was
over and I felt there were already less restrictions from the Marcos government. And no surprise coup d'tats which might strand visitors at the International airport indefinitely.

Besides I promised some high school buddies I am going to attend our class reunion
and to crown one of our classmates as Mrs. Balikbayan.

One reason why it took me a long time to come back to the old hometown is that we sold our house before we left for abroad. We divided the money equally. I used my share for the incurring expenses in securing a Philippine passport, undergoing Canadian medical examinations ( a requirement for the entrance visa ) airline fare and then some pocket money in case I could not get a job immediately.

All three of us took the same flight together on August 30, 1975.

Thanks God, at that time, jobs in Toronto were still abundant. A week after I secured my Social Insurance Number ( SIN ) , I found a job at a factory job but a few months later, I was able to get something more to my liking and professional skills.

Twenty years went by swiftly. I felt numbed when I saw Asingan for the first time after 2 decades. I checked into a resort called MJV managed by an Asinganian who made good in California and she used most of her resources in putting up a very decent and beautiful resort beside a river in barrio Sanchez.

I checked in after arrival in Asingan at around 12:00 noon, and while listening to
the hum of a room airconditioner, I fell asleep after that long voyage from Toronto
to the Philippines, then from the NAIA ( formerly called Manila International ) to Asingan.

I did not have the heart to take a look at our old house. It was like a part of my
childhood was taken away for a price. I just planned to spend a few days in Asingan, then back to Manila where I would spend the rest of my holiday maybe visiting some resorts in Cebu or Palawan.

I checked my time. It was 4:00 pm. Must have slept for almost 4 hours. I took a shower, my first real one after two days, then I went down to a small restaurant
where I met the owner, a friendly lady named Polly. After a brief chat, she asked
a young, pretty waitress to seat me at a table overlooking a ricefield. Sitting down,
I felt the gently zephyr caressing my travel worn face.

I checked my time again. It was already 4:30 pm. The dance would start 8:00 pm Asingan time ( which means any hour after the designated time ) so there was no hurry.

I gave the waitress my order when I saw a lady in black pass by. At first, I was attracted by her perfume. I remember reading somewhere that the female of the species would use a certain scent to lure an unwary member of the opposite species. When she sat down three tables away from her, I saw her face. It was pretty. Another pretty one, I said to myself.

I have been in and out of love at least 6 times when I was in Toronto. And I had several crushes when I was still studying in a private high school in Asingan.In a
sense of the word, I was already a "veteran" in the game, if you can call it such.
So I said " Just to play it cool with this one. But then that is what I always said..

" Hi, are you alone or are you expecting company tonight?" It is not an obtrusive
opening line. She was reading ( or pretending to be reading ) a pocket book . She raised her face, and I saw her eyes. They were quite intense, but they were not mad for my sudden intrusion. Then, she put dow her pocket book, flashed a quick smile.

I think she already know what I am thinking, and she seems to be quite prepared
for whatever she thinks I am thinking.

"My name is Alfredo Montilla." I dispensed away with the formality of shaking her
hands and she answered with a firm and very legible voice.." Mine is Jennifer Acierto..But you can call me Jenny."

As I sat down in an unhurried manner, I answered "You can call me Fred."

Thus an animated conversation started..It was a very careful but friendly question
and answer session while we ate the delicious repast.

Somehow, there is SOMETHING that seems to attract me to her although I tried not
to show it for fear of losing an advantage. I do not know what that mysterious
attraction is. At that early stage, I was still trying to make a very good first impression and I know she was trying to measure me with every little movement I make or a single word I uttered.

However, our chat was informal, and I learned that she is born in Asingan, but she
also left for abroad when she was young. She grew up and studied in Sacramento,
California. I also told her that I am from Toronto, Canada. She said she was still single, I said I was also single. I stopped short of asking her why she is still single. There will be lots of time to ask her more questions in a future time that is, if we have a future.

Anyway, after a couple of hours of finishing our wine ( the owner served us a bottle
of her best brand ), then I asked her if she is attending the dance. She said yes. Next I asked her if she has a partner, she said no. Finally came the $64,000 question:" Can you be my partner tonight.." After a few seconds, she said "yes, why not?.." My heart skipped a beat. Again, I kept my cool. I just said: "Thank you. I will arranged for our ride with Miss Polly. I heard she has a car and a driver ready for any couple for tonight's celebration.."-------#

end of part 1 of 3

About Miggie's Garden

2009-07-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

thank you for your words of praises!
Here are some past photos, from my Spring 2008 Collection....

This is my escape from my sometimes hectic library work..At least the flowers do not complain at all...

Nothing like the color of tulips, our legacy from Holland!

As spring changes to summer then fall, the display of flowers in my garden also transform with the changing of seasons...

A sasquatch left his mark under my tree...

COMMENTS ON MIGGIE'S GARDEN

Mng. Miggie's garden is simply beautiful!! I can not believe that she did not hire a garden designer to do the layout and everything. She does not have only a green thumb but I guess her other nine fingers are of the same color as well. For me, gardening is very therapeutic a going back to Nature which calms one's spirit. Wish I will have my own garden someday...Rain

Vic,Very softscape of simplicity with character.I saw a butterfly hovering over your garden that seems to be captivated by it. Garden is a friend you can visit anytime.Loooking at it seeems like I visited it and gave me PEACE.

Thank you for the momentary PEACE.....VAN

MIGUELITA'S AWARD WINNING GARDEN

2009-07-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

The two plaques ( stone markers ) she received for winning first prize in 2006 and 2008. Only the first prize winner gets the markers..

The plaques rest below the big stone mask, or the great stone face..

Below the markers is a patch of chicks and hens ( variety of a perennial plant )..I put in a couple of roosters to complete the chicken family...:)

Watch a video on the garden work Miggie had done so far..Last year, the judges told her that she has at least 6 varieties already of Black Eyed Susans in her garden. She started with one variety, then the bees did some pollination and now there are six kinds of replendent yellow flowers..

This is how Mother Nature works, maybe a simple example of EVOLUTION, right Zeus?..New species evolve from existing ones!

View the link in HD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gftr34kH68

e mails from Van

2009-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

one view of the interior of the Asingan RC church
( photo was taken last April 2009 )

I am sharing with you a letter from Van, who reads my Blog regularly...

Vic,

The Asingan church is huge with its tall bellfry.I could hear the chirpings of the birds with that choral rendition in the background. Ah !! again a very Filipino scenery with the church as focal point.It reminds me of the baptism of my kids and of course my hometown, sweet hometown.

Thank you again for sharing, Vic.Regards to your family.

Van

&&&

The old Catholic Church as shown in the old video is already gone. During the great earthquake of 1990, much of the interior and exterior of this church, toppled to the ground like a deck of cards. It took several years and several thousands of dollars before this new edifice rose up from the ruins.

The new church is now something to be proud of. It shows the unity of the Asingan people, both local and those staying in other countries when they are involved in a worthwhile project...

I remember seeing the Mass celebrated outside of the church everyday while the church is being cleaned up and reconstructed. I spent several years in the old church. It was in there that I learned my music reading and writing, and also my keyboard and writing harmony for easy songs..

I am still using these skills helping out a Senior's home near my house..

Below is another e-mail...

What you are doing is giving PEACE.It is for the glory of GOD.It is a precious time of your life spent for sharing joys. God delights in all your email.I love listening to music.My dad always say "Music is the language of the soul".

He loves music.I attempted to hire thepianist who always play in our clubhouse to perform in our house last Father's day but too bad he was fully booked.You must be a very brotherly and friendly person!!!!You seem to be into music and nature.

It is OK for you to share my responses to our dearest Pangasinense in Asingan.Belated Happy Father's day to you with warmest kumusta.

Van

fixing the digital painting

2009-06-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

I finally was able to fix the strong lines in the nude painting..

I am sharing you the technique on how I did it..

First, I blew up the image to 400 %..Then I took the PICK COLOUR tool. I picked a colour that is a bit darker than the actual colour skin of my model. Then I selected the PENCIL tool. I TRIED TO DO A PIXEL BY PIXEL RETOUCHING OF THE LINES. Not blotting them entirely but just leaving some lines to denote the spinal column of the back. The equivalent of this technique is the use of the fine tip of say No. 1O Grumbacher sable brush to produce a very fine line...

Black and line sketching is simpler, compared to colour work using coloured pencils. Lines and values you are trying to express to the viewer ( assuming he/she has an eye for art ) are used differently.

Some PC art software have the smudge tool, the equivalent of your forefinger being used as a brush.

The airbrush tool of the Paint is good for creating tree foliage. Just use a heavy green colour then high it with yellow or ochre..Then use a pencil tool to colour a few cluster of pigments with contrasting hues ( blue or red, very sparingly ) to give it a nice efect to the beholder's eyes..

As one writed said "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!"

Will drink a toast to that!

To close this entry, I want to share an incident in the life of a classic artist famous of his nude paintings..

A patron asked him.."How do you produce the beautiful skin tones of your nudes?"

The artist answered: " I keep on trying every possible skin tone, and when I feel like pinching the painting, then I know I found the right one!"

vic

a digital painting

2009-06-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

A NUDE AT REST

This picture is purel;y digital because I did not use any conventional medium: pen, ink or any kind of colours used by artists. For my brush, I use the mouse, and for the art software I use the common software called PAINT.

First, I outlined my figure on paper ( just the key lines ) ..Then I scanned it and opened the scan with the PAINT software..From that point, I used the different kinds of tools in the software.. I sometimes magnify my work to 400%, then use the pencil, brush or airbrush tool to fill in the renderings.. The PICK COLOR tool is very useful because you can mix whatever colour you need without mixing colors; a very messy and time consuming process...

The work is not quite finished..It is really time consuming. From my point of view, I am finished with the lower torso, but I still do not like those strong lines on her back..

This is just like opening a covered easel to reveal what I worked on so far...

In this kind of artwork, sometimes you have to stop and go back to it some other day when the mood for working hits you again...

letters from Van

2009-06-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sharing two e-mails....

Thank you, Van!

Mabait,Thank you!.Picnic by the creek beside the cute hut and the food set up on an old bamboo bed, the trees and the dogs roaming around in the backyard, the animated chats with relatives most likely reminscing old time memories.

In this picnic it is purely Filipino rural ambience--i can relate very well to this picnic scene.I love it! The nipa hut .--the background music.you can't beat that.

This is a real broadway show in a natural setting with no directors nor actors or actresses. Very nice video!

van

#####################

Thank you again, mabait, for sharing memories.Our roots have some kind of magnet in it.It pulls us gently to it.It is , indeed, a joy of ambivalence when we see our roots--relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow co-workers and yes even the the trees , weeds, the dusts, the rocks,the old utensils, the broken pavement of many years ago now covered with grasses,the olds post of that long gone ancestral house.

Darn even the air.This thing called roots is so powerful.honestly at the moment I long for my roots with sadness and joy mixed with a very exhilirating delight.

Thank you mabait for the this fleeting PEACE you sent.GOD is Peace and PEACE IS GOD..

Van

ASINGAN REVISITED - THE VIDEO

2009-06-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

ASINGAN REVISITED - the CHAPTER TITLES

1. Beginning title - Francisco Pre and Florante deVera talk briefly about the Asingan Municipal Office.... link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMTBPiv8QFc

2. VISITING SANCHEZ, BANTOG, ARISTON - Me and some members of class '58 visit Roger Agpaoa.
From his house, we proceeded to Ariston to check up on Rudy's Farm..
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meNekMRN6hc

3. RUDY'S FARM - We spent an hour or two in Rudy Manuel's farm ( circa 1988 ). We went back to
Poblacion early evening. ....
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq507sAg6QY

4. A PICNIC LIKE NO OTHER - We planned this picnic a couple of days before hand. It was a potluck affair.
My kids came also with Carl Edwin Millano Jr. ....
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvicTCwy1HA

5. VALENTINE'S PARTY - a supplement to chapter 6..

....link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgOu_mCo4Ho

6.DANCE NIGHT AT THE PSU - My kids attended a dance at the old PSU Campus right in the Luciano Millan
High school ( formerly the Asingan School of Arts and Trades ) .....
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-GKI2_lfv8

7.RA FOUNDATION Day, the beginning - The beginning of the Rizal Academy Foundation Day activities...
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jQ_G2NABAY

8. Rizal Academy Students - Continuation of Chapter 7 ......
link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daF_0keYCaY

9. Rizal Academy - continuation of Chapter 8 and conclusion of the video... ..

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obs4MixgNOY

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

A MUSICAL GROUP

2009-06-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

A MUSICAL GROUP...

Mia, during a rest in the musical passage.....

Raul, Christine and...ummm THE PHANTOM?...:D

Emma's voice has now grown mellower . She is now ten........

Victor, your grandkids are amazing. The three of you provide a delightful gift to one another.

You three remind me a little bit of Sound of Music.

Your little grandkid has the voice of innocence with great potential.

She sways her body to the tempo and knows how to raise her pitch even to the point of tip-toeing.

It is a sight and sound to behold.

These are signs that her musical talent is in her DNA.Thank you so much for sharing a joy again.I wish my kids could sing.Too bad they can't, like their Dad.

Regards to you, their pianist.

Van

more photos at the SM Baguio

2009-06-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

Nothing like the company of old friends

There is a saying: "New friends are like Silver, Old friends are like Gold,
Let us keep the silver, but let us not forget the gold.."

Look at all those yummy goodies, I hate to leave Baguio for the third time...Coffee any one?

"Coffee, tea or me?" says an apron I once saw in a shop..Isn't the answer obvious?

My friend, looking very, very serious..A penny for your thoughts!!

Looks like I am aboard the TITANIC..Help me, I am falling!

a walk to SM...

2009-06-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

SM Baguio, that is......

Notice something different about me?..My new hair cut, of course!

I was visited by a long time friend, an SLU classmate and who is now an Engineer..

The view from SM looking at Baguio landscape at night is simply breathtaking..My house was near SM, so we just walked..just like the good, old days...

And the weather is cold like Vancouver.....The only difference is that I
do not have to work...:D

--Rain

SOME PHOTOS FROM RAIN ( at Dahman's party )

2009-06-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

A CLOSE UP OF RAIN AND OSANG'S PHOTOGRAPH, THE ONE BELOW..

Could you have closed the door behind you Rain, then the flash of your camera could have kicked off and your features could have been illuminated..There is always a next time! She said Dahman's house is huge..How huge was it?

The Singers for Dahman's Party..That party must have been something, huh? Hope some more photos are on the way...

"FAME" IS THE NAME OF THE GAME....

2009-06-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

More photos from the Delmendo family party....

Zenie and Susan turned on the heat with the song FAME.
Like, not that we need more heat. It is so hot that afternoon so hankies wont do the job, you have to use towels, the bigger, the better. By the end of the day, the laundromat is full of towels to wash..
Zenie, the lady with the striped tee, started the song, then the mike was tossed around like a hot potato.
Guests kept coming and going that day..The young looking man in a beige shirt is the town's Parish Priest. Oh yes, he also did a rock song. He was wearing no collar, no tonsure. Nobody would know he is a man of the cloth.
Another public figure to show up was Mayor Carlos ( Caloy ) Lopez Jr. Before he left, he sang CONSTANTLY, made popular by Sir Cliff Richard.
I also had a hasty exit ( while the hosts were busy doing some games ) because it was time for my nap. It was 2:00 pm. I took the scenic route, via the backstreets of Calawagan. The sun was mercilessly hot.Those streets are now concrete. People just stared as I pass by.
I do not know them, they do not know me.
That made us quite even.---#

***************

TO WATCH THEIR SINGING, CLICK..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS5x2YlQZD0

the upcoming independence day

2009-06-05T02:09:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for JUNE 12...

..which is our Philippine Independence Day celebration here at the Humber Heights. It is that retirement home where I volunteer some piano playing services every Monday ( except when a Holiday falls on that day ). Because if it is a holiday, the staff and volunteers are off and nobody would be able to bring down the patients into the Recreation room..

Well last Tuesday, I visited the home, bringing with me a DVD copy of an Australian made documentary entitled: PHILIPPINES:PEARLS OF THE ORIENT SEAS. It is a decently made docuvideo about our country, starting with a legend about the Sarimanok, the mythical bird which brought about the formation of our Islands. Then it went on to do a short but meaty account from the discovery of the country by Ferdinand Magellan, his death at the hands of Lapu-Lapu ( yes, photos of these two protagonists were shown ) and it went on to the WW II events, the granting of Independence by the Americans. The only President shown here was Apo Marcos, his proclaimation of the Martial Law ( PD 1081 if I am not mistaken ) , the exile, return and execution of his political nemesis, Sen. Benigno Aquino. The political scenario drifted to that fateful snap election which he announced just to prove that he was still in control ( of election returns i. e). However, surprise, surprise: the people revolted, Ramos and Enrile staged the coup and Da Apo ( and entourage ) went on exile to the Hawaiian Islands.

The rest of the movies are cultural and business aspects of present day Philippines ( I mean the year that the video was made which was about 1995 )..

Well, I handed the DVD to Sharon the coordinator of the event. This movie has to be shown around 10:00 am June 12 at the media room. Mind you, this is a first class Senior's Home, looking more like a 5 star Hotel.

I wanted her to preview the film because part of it showed Faith Healings. There was this local faith healer who performs surgery without knives. Just his bare hands. He has this gift he claims, that his hands could rearrange the molecular structure of the stomach of the patient. Then his hands would sink into the belly of the patient, just down to half of his fingers. Blood comes out, he would pull out something from inside the belly, wipes the blood and the "wound" heals itself in seconds. Wonderful. Some minor wounds like a sore in my foot takes days before I could put my shoes back. Anyway, the sequence of this "bloody " part takes about one minute, might be even less...

"See if this is not scary to the Seniors, " I told Sharon.

"Good idea," she said.."You see, one time there was this movie we showed to them. I left the media room for a few minutes, when I came back, the room was empty and the movie was still on!"

"Why??" I asked.

Sharon said: "There is this part in the video where a bloody killing took place. Some blood splatteiring. One Senior could not take it. He stood up, left the room. Then the whole Senior gang stood up and followed seconds later..!"

I told her the docu I am showing has no murder scene. Might be okay, she said.

Some of the final scenes of the movie will be the well known Filipino recipes: boiled crabs, shrimps, noodles ( oh yes ) . This is timely because right after the movie, lunch will be served

And I think there is no dinuguan ( blood pudding ) shown in the movie. Although I do wish a Filipino worker in the Facility would bring in some dinuguan on June 12 because I have not tasted this favorite for a long long time.

I forgot to order this at a Dagupan restaurant when I was there.---#

vic

2009-06-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

nympha's page

theme from titanic................ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8sqNXi88Cw

dancing queen ..................... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVr3_O4QVZM

i will always love you .......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8PE7aca37E

FINAL SEGMENT: ASINGAN PASSION PLAY

2009-06-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

( NOTE: This segment of the Asingan Passion Play depicts in part, the lines from the Gospel of St. Matthew )

MATTHEW : CHAPTER 27

33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

watch the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgtrpj2VOlA

THE MJ DANCING GIRLS...

2009-06-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Dancing with the Mammy Juanitez Orchestra and Dancing Girls..

All the girls, I noticed have very long hair..wonder why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o04LAy9x6kA

A page for Queen Beatriz...

2009-06-02T01:42:00.000-07:00

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27qXZqRXaV8 ------ PART ONE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWnQY2bjMDs ------PART TWO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPbzzhosYxc ---------PART THREE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtruKmhNmf8 ------PART FOUR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a photo and a short poem...

2009-06-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

One Photo, one poem ( about Rain )

Look at Rain

She is having some fun,
She beats some skins with her sticks
And jams with her youngest son...

#####################################

CATS AND DOGS

2009-05-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlsQnQP53Hs

ThE ABOVE video clip was shot during my second day in Asingan. My sister Ester showed me these cats and dogs ( natural enemies ) but since they grew up together as newly born kittens and puppies they now became natural friends, as this video clip shows...

photos from ONE ASINGAN GRAND REUNION

2009-05-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

photos from the FIRST ONE ASINGAN

GRAND REUNION

GUEST SPEAKER: ex-President Fidel Ramos

COORDINATOR: Mr. Rafael Agsalud

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ALMA B. CHEW

SOME PHOTOS FROM THE PAALL NIGHT

2009-05-28T04:03:00.000-07:00

(PHOTOS WERE CAPTURED FROM A VIDEO CLIP)

Queen Beatriz dancing the night away. She is the younger sister of Purita Palma Dagang, one of my high school classmates...

Beatriz under a photographer's flashbulb..

This group must be looking at something exciting...

Carmen Munar and partner marching around the auditorium...

Nothing like dancing girls to while away the boredom in case it sets in!

2009-05-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

A SCENE FROM THE VIDEO CLIP RE: PASSION PLAY IN ASINGAN LAST GOOD FRIDAY

The Gospel According to Saint Mark, Chapter 15

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

NOTE: The reading in the Video Clip is in the Ilocano dialect

class 77 movie slide

2009-05-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Bella's Video

2009-05-25T02:42:00.000-07:00

two photos of Ferdinand Ignacio

2009-05-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

from Ferdinand Ignacio

2009-05-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

Good day to everyone,

After 2 weeks of recuperating from my trip to Philippines for our class of 1977 reunion finally I'm back on track. I'm sorry for this delayed update of our very successful first Class reunion. Everything went well as planned, despite of all the chaotic situations that incurred before the reunion. With an overwhelming welcome from our classmates in the Philippines, it was worth the trip indeed. Everyone was happy once again to meet & greet, not only our classmates, but the respective families after 32 long years. We had a Motorcade in the morning and at night we had the Program and Ball on the 16th of April. On the 17th we had our Classmate’s Picnic together with their families at Crystal Glade Resorts.

Each day we had invitations from our classmates to hold other gatherings for members of our class only. I get teary eyed when I think of how grateful and happy I am to be part of this class. Our lives have changed, but our spirits are still the same as when we were in High School. It's is so unfortunate that we didn't get to see all of our teachers, only Madam Marieta Micu Escorpizo and Madam Felisa Agpalo Castillo who had the chance to grace our Program. None the less it was a very successful event. "TOGETHER AGAIN" is very appropriate theme. We could still see and feel the togetherness of our class, and the manner in which we were molded by our teachers. Everyone is still so helpful and caring to each other, just like brothers and sisters.

On behalf of our Class of 1977, I'm so happy and proud to announce that we donated P42,220.13 Philippine currency to the Principal Head of Luciano Millan Memorial High School. The donation was awarded at Matea Cajalne residence in Bantog Asingan Pangasinan in the present of Erna Pico Villota, Francisca Pico, Cleody Fe Untalan De Vera, Matea Cajalne Basa (husband-Teddy Basa ), Adelina Basaen Gabe, Maritess Castillo, Rosita Labugen Cajalne, Rizalina Carig Aying, Alfredo Medina, William Pacaba, Leonardo Balisacan and myself.

We have also $1,000.00 money left in the bank for our class fund. The organizing committee myself (Ferdinand Ignacio), Arsenio Macanas (absent), Maura Soliven Gabriel, Rizalina Carig Aying, Cecilia Rodriguez Serrano and Marcie Lucero Tesoro (Adopted Alumna- our Guest Speaker) and some of our classmates who attended the meeting at Urdaneta Garden Resorts had decided to convert the $1,000.00 into peso account to avoid bank fees from dollar account of which we don't have the minimum amount needed. Of the $1,000.00 dollars converted to pesos. P20,000.00 pesos is open for our class member who is in need during emergency situations. This is a first come basis. Each individual is allowed only to loan a maximum of P5,000.00 payable in three month or earlier with "NO INTEREST".

The bank account is under Rizalina Carig Aying "AND" Cecilia Rodriguez Serrano. I talked to Rizza before I left May 5, 2009, that it should be "AND" not "OR" when Rizza and Cecilia will have that money converted into Pesos account and have it deposited in Asingan Bank for easier access for emergencies. I would like to have a very transparent accounting of our money and expenditures to avoid confusions. I will send a copy of all our expenditures once I received from Rizalina. If you have questions please do not hesitate to email me: taasakofi@earthlink.net (personal) or fignacio@slacal.org (work) or call me anytime at (work) 415-434-4900 ext. 127, (cell) 415- 290-6748, (home) 707-649-8117, nights and weekend only.

From the bottom of my heart I want to personally thank all of my classmates for your untiring support, financially and spiritually. This Reunion would not have been a success without you. To each of the husbands, I'm so sorry we took your wives away, to be with us (instead of cooking and tending to your families). Thank you for your patience. To Marcie Lucero Tesoro, thank you for having us and having you our very first adopted alumna. Giving four scholarships was truly amazing, and a very generous gesture, and a lifetime gift to deserving kids and their parents. Again, thank you all and we’ll see each other again!!!!!!!!! April 2011.

Respectully yours,
Ferdinand V. Ignacio

KARAOKE TIME!!

2009-05-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of the popular new generation of Karaoke machines which is very common as an entertainment tool back home . This unit is the lowest in price when I visited Appliance Center in San Juan at that time. It is 8900 pesos which offers: about 2,000 songs, one cable microphone ( with a built in remote control on the mike's body ) a wireless remote, a song list and manual, a auto voltage AC pack , a USB cable and a microphone screen ( looks like a mini shower cap for the microphone's head ). For hygienic purposes, each singer should have 1 screen for his/her use because it catches the saliva emitted by the last user. The other units costing 20,000 pesos have more accessories but the basics is just you need in the meantime. You can always add the extras as soon as you find a need for them.

The unit, ( called Ziller ) also comes with a satchel case where you can keep the machine in case you want to use it in another house.

I kept the machine in my carry on luggage on my return trip because I am afraid it might get swiped from the checked - in baggages. Yes, there are some pilfering done in some airports.

One can see from the photo that 2 microphones could be used, and the 2nd could be an ordinary one as long as it works. There is the power switch on the left, then a "magic eye" in case you want to switch the machine on/off thru the remote switch and song selector.

One has to connect the unit to a TV and a good stereo to give that almost perfect sound of an orchestra accompanying your singing. Plugging the unit to a video and audio monitor is a child's play.

Now some technical tips concerning the music capability of this thing..

Human voices have different ranges. Thus sometimes, the key or pitch that came with the song will not suit a singer. Too high or too low. If the track is too high for you, you can change the pitch to something lower. and vice versa...

E.g. If the song is written in key of C and the highest note in the song is a high F which cracks your vocal chords, then lower the pitch by using the remote or the microphone's panel. Not everyone knows how to change the pitch. In this machine ( and maybe in similar models, ) this is the way to do it. Lower the pitch in 3 clicks, and the pitch will go down from C to an A Major..

You can do this by: first you access the song by punching in the numbers. Once the song title is on the top of the TV screen, press the START button twice. If you press it once, it starts playing and changing the key while the music is playing will make it sound horrible ( like an LP record slowing down). Press it twice and the playback goes into a pause. While the music is on pause, go to ADJUST in the remote/microphone. Press it twice and the menu will show the changing of pitch option. Then, change the pitch by pressing the arrows on the remote. Wanna make it go down? Press the left arrow. Go up? Press the right arrow. Then press the START button and the track starts playing in the ADJUSTED pitch.

Nothing better than singing a Karaoke song in the right pitch. Remember there is a crowd of critics out there listening to you especially your mistakes..:)

Do not mind the scoring of the song. Some songs are built in with high scores, some are with low. What is important is that you enjoy singing and you are entertaining your guests...

There are more techie tips re: Karaoke which I could write about. Will do it as the need arises...

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

DVD Piracy in Urdaneta and else where

2009-05-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

DVD Pirates
are still raking in quite a good revenue not only in Urdaneta but also in Manila and other big cities. They have this DVD that has 10 movies recorded in the slowest speed ( about 8 hours playing time ). So you have a mixture of Classics plus some which are still being shown in the theatres, ( but already available in the Internet ) all in one disk. The single disk is packaged in an 8 by 10 plastic pouch which features the miniature cover designs of these 10 movies.

Adding insult to injury, the DVD is marked as Blu Ray. Those people who designed the package does not seem to know Blu Ray from a pile of dog crap on the roadside. Well, anything goes in the Philippines as they say, whether it comes to DVD production or running the government.

The legitimate DVD releases that are sold in franchise stores like THE ODYSSEY cost about 700 pesos per title. That comes to around 17 $ Canadian. Not bad. Considering that the new releases here in Toronto cost around 25$ ( in regular DVD format ) and 32$ ( in the Blu Ray version ). And unlike the "Blu Ray" discs sold in Manila, you can not play this Blu Ray disk in an ordinary DVD player.

These legit DVD copies are released by the Philippine Video distributors like Viva Productions or ABS CBN but they still carry the Warner Bros. or 20th Century Fox logos. I was advised not to buy this legit copy. I asked why. My companion said,

"With 700 pesos you can buy at least 50 pirated movies.." Maybe he has a point in there..

And these pirated copies are sold in the corridors of big malls like SM or the Magic Mall in Urdaneta. Now where is Mr. Manzano, the movie and anti - Piracy buster when you need him?...

a feedback..with some supernatural elements..:)

2009-05-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

Are you the one who took the photo of Nemesio & Purita Dagang?

It was a very nice shot! ( Thank you! )

Don’t expect parking authorities in Asingan. You are not in Toronto or in the US. There are no parking rules. The best way is to put up your own sign in front of your house. ( Trouble is someone might steal the sign and throw it away..Vic )

Wow some progress in Asingan. What is that Chapel's denomination?. ( The Protestant church. I think it is called the Methodist. )

You are in your Barong Tagalog get up. Do you have luck in picking up some gorgeous ladies in the auditorium? ( Nope, I was sh...t out of luck that time..)

Those are beautiful dogs I love it. I can’t imagine that Annie's grandma appeared in the picture instead of her(Annie) It’s like a horror story which I have seen only in movies or TV not in reality. ( I also saw one myself. A friend showed me a group photo with his present wife present sometime before they got married. Instead of his wife's face, it was the face of one of his ex- girl friends. I know his wife's face and also the ex. The scary thing is: the ex died before that photo was taken! This is not BS, it is true. I also saw a group photo inside one of the big houses in Asingan. One of the images in the photo was a blurred shillouete of a woman. And the subjects in the photo swear that they did not SEE THAT WOMAN when the photo was taken! )

The question about heaven is really fascinating but nobody really know if its true or not. You really have to talk with somebody come back from the dead so she/he could tell you about it if he or she went to heaven.

I have some weird stories to tell you next time. ( Oh, I love those stuff! Keep 'em rollin'!!--vic )

Buddy Lito

A NOSTALGIC POEM

2009-05-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

"Welcome back son, I seem to hear.."

" Pull up a chair and have a seat..."

"And there, I think I saw a face......"

GOING HOME

Some say that when you go back home,

It's like returning to the womb,

Which anyone could readily see,

Is just an impossibility

For my home is now an empty building

Where once there was a lot of singing

An eeire silence now took its place

And I there! I think I saw a face..

"Welcome back, son" I seem to hear

"Tis good that now you're finally here,

"Pull up a chair, and have a seat"

And on the table. there is something to eat.."

I see their images inside a frame

Their smile is sweet, its always the same

I move about; their eyes would follow

Even when I sit beside the window

The view of Asingan meets my eye

The verdant trees, the azure sky

Behind that tree line lies a road

Which in the past, I always trod

Then barked the dogs, while voices screamed

As if to wake me from my dream

I heaved a sigh, the guys are here

I hope the heat will be easy to bear!

VIC COSTES -O4/24/2009

MUST LOVE DOGS...

2009-05-20T03:40:00.000-07:00

DOGS ARE A MAN'S ( AND A WOMAN'S ) BEST FRIENDS

Her name is Helen..She is the friendliest of them all. On my second day, she was already eating from my palm..

This is the mother of them all...Very pretty..

This one's name is Bogart. His nick name is BOG-BOG...

All three have the same fur colour, but quite different faces..In the morning, my sis feeds them first so they won't be begging while we are having our breakfast. But dogs will always be dogs, especially they would smell food...

Nice doggie!..It did not take them long to get used to me..There is quite a menagerie here in my house in Asingan. There are seven cats, two ducks ( a pair ) and about 200 piglets right there in the backyard...

more photos from Asingan

2009-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Mr. and Mrs. Nemesio Dagang..Mrs. Purita Palma Dagang is a member of class 58, Rizal Academy. I think she belonged to a group with Amelia Eleazar, Nueva Domaoan and Editha Chua. During the Balikbayan Night I also saw 2 other members of our batch: Rogelio Vicencio and Rodrigo Esperon..Rodrigo ( elder brother of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon ) has grown to be a six footer.

The famous Rodriguez Mart sign. It is a nice place to buy some snacks, cosmetic supplies, liquor, cel phone load,..It made our place very busy, too busy because the delivery trucks that unload their supplies park just right in front of our house. One thing Asingan needs are stricter by laws for proper vehicle parking. Anybody could just park anywhere anytime of the day..Maybe there are such parking laws but where are people assigned to enforce them...?

The Methodist church at the corner beside the Agsalud residence..It underwent quite some changes...

Just your friendly, neighbourhood cyberscribe..So much to write about, so little time to do it...:)

Dreams are the stuff ...

2009-05-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

DREAMS ARE SOMETIMES THE STUFF LIFE IS MADE OF

I am more scared of human beings since they have the capability of hurting me or whatever that make them fulfill their uncontrollable wishes. On the other hand,I believe ghosts are the ones who need us to say for them some prayers so they can find their way to their eternal resting places.Especially those who met untimely deaths.

Ask me why. I have some recurring experiences. Whenever I am down and in tears, I would eventually dream of my first husband. He would always tell me to be strong and happy; to do the things we didn't have the chance to do together.

And each time my bull-headedness takes over, ,my aunt Mila, my grandma and he would show up in my dreams. I would see them pulling my feet towards the door and before I knew it, I would be screaming and my hubby would wake me up saying I have a"visitor".

We went to Sta.Catalina, California few years back to pay a visit to Delia Acoba and had dinner with Zeus and Ben. On our way back after swimming, scuba diving and eating with the rest of my hubby's friend, Martin took me a picture of me while we were at the ferry.

My face in the photo turned out to be my grandma's face. My mother and sister mentioned that the woman in the photo it wasnt me but my Lola Banit as she was fondly called.

I still have dreams of my first hubby being shot to death and I never had the chance for me to say goodbye. Also of my Aunt Mila who didn't make it after her first attack, and likewise of my grandma who was always there during those times when I needed her the most.

The only time I can still talk to them is during these dreams. They always tell me that I sometimes I have a stubborn attitude towards my hubby.-----#

Annie Cano

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

In the past ( and sometimes at present ). I am also visited by some of my friends who left this life for another world.

One time here in Toronto, I befriended a man here in Toronto named Tassy. His actual name back home is Tacio. He had a good tenor voice and many times, I accompanied him in public singing some Kundimans like ANAK DALITA or PAKIUSAP. He would come to our house to practice and we would have a good time going over some other songs.

Then I heard he became very sick. He had lung cancer. A few days before his death, some other friends told me he was asking for me. I kept postphoning my visit until I heard he passed away. The only time I saw him was during his wake.

Three days after his funeral, I saw him in a dream. It was a sunny afternoon and I remember the sun was bright yellow. He stood at my door, smiling warmly and he was carrying a brown suitcase like he was going away. I shook his hand and all of a sudden, I woke up. I woke up with a good feeling like he forgave me for failing to visit him. I never dreamed of him anymore.

Another friend I saw once in my dreams is Roy, a good buddy from Bontoc. We graduated from Adamson University together. I never saw him for several years, then I found him again through the Internet.

We exchanged e-mails for almost a year and he told me how life was treating him in Manila. He served in the Philippine Armed Forces as an Officer. Since he finished Chemical Engineering at Adamson U. he had a good position in the PAF.

He retired and he was about to get married a second time when he was hit by a jeepney in Quezon Boulevard. He died after a couple of days in the hospital.

A few days after, he appeared to me in a dream. In my dream, I was talking with him through telepathy. I asked him: "Have you seen Heaven or Hell?"

His answer, again in a telephatic message was: "We create our own heaven and hell here on earth.." As he conveyed this message, he raised both hands. One hand was holding a piece of a cloud and the other was holding something like a small bonfire.

I woke up and I never dreamed of him anymore.---#

vic costes

REMEMBERING HONORIO

2009-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

REMEMBERING HONORIO

Honorio and I shared a love for music and electronics a long time ago while we were still in Asingan. Both of us were studying in Manila, but during summer breaks we hang around in in the old hometown waiting for school to resume.I spent a part of the summer holidays ( April to June ) taping music with the use of the old fashioned Akai Open reel tape recorders.

His dad worked abroad at that time in the field of electronics. I would go to his house in Cabincolan and would spend hours transfering music in open reel tapes ( the forerunner of audio cassettes and CDs ). He had this professional Akai open reel player/recorder which could accomodate 12" reels. He fed the signal to a powerful stereo player which used large speakers. At that time, Dolby Surround sound was unheard of yet.

Sometimes, he would also visit me . He was a pleasant, easy to get along with and he had this unforgettable smile. His knowledge for recording equipments was also extensive. One New Years eve in Asingan, we walked from his house to mine. He was carrying a portable tape recorder which used used 4 "D"battery cells and a 5" open reel tape. While we were walking, we had the record button on, so we were able to capture the sounds of exploding fire crackers along the road and other ambient sounds which broke the otherwise quiet atmosphere of Asingan during the '60s. Bamboo cannons ( called bung-bung ) could also be heard all around. These noise makers used calcium carbide ( carburo ) plus water and the sound could damage your ear drums if used too much of the chemical.

I never saw him anymore after our college days. The last time I saw him was during one balikbayan trip. We were both crowning guests during a dance at the Asingan auditorium. He came from New York and I from Toronto.

I kept wishing I could go and look him up in NY since Toronto is just about 45 mins away by plane. I guess its kinda late now.

Hey Honorio, have a pleasant journey and I will always remember you in my prayers!..

--vic

Archie's Recipe for Tilapia

2009-05-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

TILAPIA WITH Yogurt peach

For more than 3 years as a temporary retiree, I was the chef /cook in the house for my two children and beautiful wife. During my 3 years preparing home food cooking I got to see variety of fish on the grocery but Tilapia is one of my favorites as I can say a typical Filipino delicacy.

We like this fish very much, not only it is mild but it is also very inexpensive and easy to make at home. Another plus, it doesn’t make your house smell when you cook it. Then, I don’t need to spray my Fab-breeze.

For this recipe I coated tilapia with shredded Parmesan cheese, sauteed it until it was golden brown and topped it with a tomato-basil yogurt peach flavor. It is fast and delicious, perfect for every meal.

It took me a few tries to get the coating just right for this recipe. The first time I tried there was virtually no Parmesan breading left on the fish but I found that it was best to lightly dust the fish in
seasoned flour, then egg, then the Parmesan French. The result was a light flaky coating that nicely complimented the fish.

You will need:
* 3 tablespoons olive oil (light) * 2 cloves garlic, minced * 10-12 cherry tomatoes, halved * 1/2 cup cream or 1 cup of yogurt peach * Small handful of fresh basil leaves * 7 Tilapia fillets * Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper * 1/4 cup flour * 1 egg, beaten * 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese * 1/2 cup breadcrumbs * 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and
cook 1-2 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to
medium low and add cream. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Sauce will turn slightly pink
and coat the back of the spoon. (Note: It is okay if the sauce boils slightly.)
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet large enough to fit both
fillets.Rinse and pat dry the tilapia fillets, use paper towel to dry. Season both sides
with Sea-salt and fresh cracked pepper.Combine Parmesan granulated or minced
garlic into a bowl.Dredge the seasoned tilapia fillets in the seasoned flour then
shake off excess. Dip in to the beat egg. Press into Parmesan/minced garlic
mixture.Place in heated skillet and cook 3-4 minutes per side. Fish will be golden
brown and will flake easily when done.When you remove the fish, chiffon
(gerretem nga kasla marantid-dog diay bolong na) the basil (Note: To do this,
simply roll up a few basil leaves and gently chop). Stir the basil into the sauce.
Season with salt and pepper if needed.Lay fish on a serving platter and spoon
sauce over the top. Serve.

Pahabol: Mashed potato with garlic4 cloves of garlic (mince it).6 red potato (don’t peel it).3 table spoon of butter (I can’t believe its butter or any no fat butter)

Sea-salt to your taste.

Instruction:Halves the potato but not peeled put into the casserole with full of water. Boiled the potato until tender.

Remove the water from the casserole then mashed the potato.While mashing the
potato mix the minced garlic, butter and sea-salt your taste.After mixing transfer the
mashed potato in the plate or bowl then serve.

I served this with steam or boiled (isanglaw mo bassit) asparagus and my Creamy Mashed Potatoes it is delicious.

Enjoy!

from Archie Macanas

opening a business in Asingan

2009-05-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

A VIEW FROM OUR HOUSE...THE RODRIGUEZ MART HAS PRACTICALLY CAPTURED THE GROCERY MARKET HERE IN ASINGAN..

One computer cafe occupies the old office of Atty. Viray. This lawyer's office has moved just around the corner, still on the premises of the church yard...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

from the Asingan Message Board...

Hello, Manong Vic...

My name is Vilma, you don't know me personally but I am an avid fan of your postings here. Anyway, I was wondering if I may ask your opinion...how's business in Asingan? We are planning to acquire a small commercial property in Asingan (town proper) and thinking of putting up an Internet Cafe equipped with Printing, copying, faxing and school supplies. My tatay has a small fast food eatery in Asingan and he said that business is slow at the moment, so we are having second thought...your opinion is very much appreciated, thank you and have a great Victoria Day long weekend!

--Vilma Basa...

While I was there, I patronized a couple of Internet cafes ( one door apart ). It is a very popular activity now a days..They also have DSL. One cafe caters mostly to kids and young people because the kids go there for games. The other one beside it have snacks on the side and it has a different clientele. People who patronize this 2nd cafe go there for chats, ( with webcams owned by the cafe of course ) or to send e-mails. Even the barangays have also net cafes because not very many people in Asingan afford a decent PC...

The Net cafe in Atty Viray's office offering mostly games charge 15 pesos an hour: the one beside it charges 20. The cashier in both cafes sleep there so they can open the cafe early in the morning. Both cafes are open 7 days a week.. Both have only electric fans. Each has at least 10 computers. ..

The ones in Urdaneta ( in Magic Mall ) are air conditioned and they charge 30 pesos an hour...

My nephew beside our house opened recently a small take out restaurant and their pancit, etc. are sold as fast as they are cooked because the Rodriguez grocery have made that area a very busy commercial center. There is always a line up of costumers in the Grocery which sell foods, alcoholic drinks, etc. Good revenue makers are the Globe or Smart cards. People are always buying loads for their cel phones..

When I was there I saw people come and go in the mart, in the cafes, everywhere... Asingan is now busy 24/7. But sometimes brown outs occur. Everyday. Rodriguez Mart has always a standby generator, only for the store..The length of brown outs vary from day to day....

Asingan has no digital studio that prints photos from digicams, so Asinganians have to go to Urdaneta for their prints. One good PC with a matching colored printer can provide the printing needs of the locals. But it needs one with technical savvy plus a reliable source of printing paper and inks..A popular printing medium is the "tarpaulin". It is a poster size printing method where calendars with different photos are done. Nice as gifts. Or advertisement if you wish..

***********

Re: opening a business in Asingan...It depends on the capability and interest of the individual who would own or manage it..If I am the one to open a business there, I would chose a computer center too. One with needs which are in demand by the locals: printing, faxing, photo printing capabilities, etc..

This is a year long project. I forgot to mention to you that digicams here in town are used in the production of IDs. ..Maybe for schools, institutions, etc. The digicam is used to shoot "mug" shots of people, then these are glued to ID cards printed on templates with their names, names of institutions, and other pertinent data...Somehow I was tempted one time to extend my stay to 6 months just to open up a shop in the ground floor of our house. (I did this years ago when VHS tapes were still a fad).

I do love tinkering with PCs and also shooting and printing photos..Our house is right in front of the Rodriguez Mart. But then, I changed my mind.

If you love the town and like serving the community, then it is okay...But for one who has been abroad for so long and would like to go back to Asingan for keeps, it might work. But then, it might not..Ideally, one needs a good and honest manager to stay in Asingan and to mind the store. This is the hardest thing to do, like finding a needle in a haystack.

And you also need a big stash of money to fulfill this project...

from a posting on the AMB...

2009-05-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago was Arsenia's big night at the auditorium..

I remember flashbacks of last year's festivities, including the honor guards ( they were there again that night ) ..Loreto Salon & his better half were also here.

One of the emcees was Danny Nitcha .Two of them did a very wonderful job..It was like listening to an American TV program, what with their American accents and all..Well, both of them grew up in the US anyway. Asinganians ( or Filipinos for that matter ) who immigrate to the US at a very early age would acquire a seamless command of spoken English as they grow up....

Arsenia was the belle of the ball of course, since she founded this organization and it will be an ongoing thing comes April every year.

Purita Palma Dagang was also present together with husband Nemesio and her sister Beatriz.Beatriz was unanimously selected as the muse of the night because she deserved the honor. She was pretty as a picture that night. ( I still have to reprint their photos in my Blog. Technical glitches, I would say. Their countenances hardly changed at all with the passing years. )

Then came another highlight: the auction sale to raise funds. A small goat was donated by Carmen Munar and bidding started with 1000 pesos..Bids went up until it reached 30,000 pesos and then the bid closed there. In the history of Asingan, it is now the most expensive goat and I wonder what the anonymous buyer would do with it..:)It would make the most expensive caldereta and I do not think the new owner would do that..:)

During the coronation, some fireworks were lit and it gave such sound and light to the Asingan sky..

I also received a plaque for Ferdinand Marinias the creator of Pangasinan.Org. In my brief acceptance speech, I mentioned that he deserves the award because his website so far have already received more than 4 million clicks. It is also the melting pot for Pangasinenses all over the globe. In addition, it has a program of donating back packs for the the school kids in different elementary schools of our province..It is a very selfless deed by Ferdinand ( also known as Dahman : the man ) because he does it for the love for people, for the children and for bringing townmates together...

I saw Fidel Agsalud, looking "young" as ever because he likes laughing and telling jokes..I also met Mayor Lopez who gave a simple speech about Asingan and its people..Across the auditorium from where we sat I saw Vicky F. Tejada. Never saw her for quite sometime already, so I went over to her box and traded a few laughs. I visited her family in Sacramento twice in the past. She and her husband Leonardo Tejada are such pleasant hosts.

Lastly, Juliet Uson from Domakit/Hawaii graced us with her presence..Polly too, was there...All in all, it was a pleasant night, one to be remembered for a long, long time....

Attended the Balikbayan night the next night..

The exciting part of these reunion gatherings are the chats with long lost friends in there.I do not go much for the dancing. I have two left feet, if you know what I mean..

I usually enter the auditorium thru the back way: the former site of the Bonifacio monument, right straight to the Presidential tables..:) A Balikbayan seems to be treated differently..!! Then when people start recognizing you, youd better be ready to answer smart..:)

Common opening lines are: Kumusta ka?..then you still know me?..My answers are either a) your voice is familiar, cant make out the face..b) wait, your name is about to pop out in my head...c) ok..dont make me suffer, tell me your name and let us get over with this..:)

Inside the auditorium, lights are spell binding, the orchestral sounds brings you back to a time when you are outside of the auditorium fence, looking in..

Now you are inside, looking at the outside..at the rides ( ferris wheel, a mini roller coaster with screaming riders, karaoke joints, lots of balut and penoy delicacies - one balut cost 11 pesos, penoy is 9 pesos ) Now that I am back in Asingan trying to relive my childhood fantasies, I am afraid to eat them! Not with the stories I hear!---#

AN OUT-OF-TOWN PARTY

2009-05-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy evening in Mangaldan, but neither rain nor storm could stop our trip...

First of all, the food was delicious!..There were lots of broiled bangus!

My two nieces: Anna Marie and Teresa Costes Lomboy. Both of them have just graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines. The two are now enjoying prestigious jobs which involve extensive writing and editing of Environmental /Science /Research papers.

My sister Ester and eldest daughter Teresa...

Let us not forget the fabulous entertainment!! Its worth the long trip to Mangaldan...

ONE OF THE PARTIES I ATTENDED
took place in Mangaldan in the residence of a Provincial Legal Officer. She is a friend of my sister Ester Costes Lomboy.

This lady lawyer is one of those who do not have to go abroad ( her husband left for California years ago; she did not budge from her work at the Capitol ) because she occupies a high position . Ester and my brod-in-law never fail to attend her party because a) they are good friends b) the food is excellent, c) the entertainment is fabulous.

She always hire this 3 piece Band. It consists of a pianist-singer and two lady singers/dancers. As we entered the make shift tent in her front yard, I saw and heard the Band. The pianist was accompanying the 2 singers who were singing some bouncy, modern tunes. The audience was mesmerized by their voices, others by their undulating bodies..Me? I was just playing the friendly neighbourhood photographer...:)

Then, the real entertainment began. It was a long break time for the 2 lady singers for when our hostess took the microphone, she commenced an impromptu musical program. Seems as if all the diginitaries who were there ( i.e. the Mayor of Mangaldan, the Vice Governor, etc. ) came prepared with a song.

The pianist was prepared too. He could accompany every song the guests threw at him. Our hostess was a good singer herself ( a singing lawyer ? ) and she enthralls everyone with her sweet vibrant voice and would sing a duet with whoever wants to perform with her...

And the singing party went on and on. But we had to go because we are the ones who would take a very long trip back to Asingan. And the weather, since the start of the party was pretty rotten.

Seems as if the rainy season has moved to last week of April. Maybe because of global warming?-----#

vic costes

a catered affair

2009-05-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Say cheese ( or happy!!!) everybody!!

Well, it's a long way from Los Angeles...:) At least all the family gathered together in one place...

Lady in green is Gloria, the eldest of the Delmendo sisters..

Keep on smiling ladies, a smile is your umbrella on a rainy day. And it rains in Asingan almost every afternoon...:)

Then there was this party at the Delmendo residence. Two parties actually, back-to-back. On April 11, Mildred D. Eslava celebrated her birthday ( don't ask me how many candles graced her cake ) . This took place at night.Lots of food, music, singin'..

The next day was the death anniversary ( palagip ) of their parents Mr. & Mrs. Dominador Delmendo. The photos here were taken during this April 12 shindig. It was a catered affair and the waiters and waitresses wore Filipino native costumes. The party must have lasted until night as guests came in and out. The town mayor ( Hon. Carlos Lopez Jr. ) also came and he sang one song with the Karaoke machine before leaving.---#

JULIET AT THE CRYSTAL GLADES...

2009-05-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Juliet at Crystal Glades...

Guess what, Juliet?..:)

from a past posting at the Asingan Message Board...

JULIET USON surprised me yesterday Saturday while I was in the Internet cafe..the last time I saw her was in Hawaii a few years back.

I was trying to wrestle with the crazy keyboard of this Internet Cafe when she showed up and invited me to join her in a swimming party. But we will not swim, she said. We will just chat..

Our first destination was STA ANA which we found to be very crowded, very noisy and very BAKYA because the stall rentals were very cheap..Every Tom, Dick and Harry in Asingan seems to be there!

Besides, JULIET and party had no reservation so we were up s..t creek with no paddle. All huts were taken. The owner of the area literally drove us away because our van was occupying space..Sad.

SO we back tracked and dropped into Crystal Glades instead which was already close at hand. . The resort is a bit pricey but you have privacy, a nice pool and a small building with a Karaoke machine ( those kinds which play 1 song at the clink of 5 pesos )

We reserved the place for 2 hours..It was Juliet and I who did most of the singing.The one time beautiful joint is now run by Aurora, the sister of my kumpare, Rudy Manuel.

From there, we went to Domakit for a delicious lunch. It consisted of broiled tilapia ( well done ) dinuguan, tinola, and some home made dessert. It was good.. She showed me their ancestral home ( I bet her sis Marcie was also here last year ). We had lunch in a Gazebo with her kinfolks.. She was expecting a Dance Instructor so I took off. Her relative, who came all the way from Baguio brought me home in his air conditioned car.

Thanks for the lunch, Juliet!!---#

EXTREME AIRPORT BLUES

2009-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

During my departure procedures, I ended up paying 7,000 pesos at the airport counter because the airline people said my luggage was over by 4 pounds, not kilos, but pounds! Funny because before I left the condo I made sure I didn't go over the required weight.

I am wondering now if the airport scale is the same as those "prawns/shrimps" scale from Pozurobio???? I didn't want to throw away anything or hand carry anything due to my left hand being weak so I just paid the damned amount. Once I got through the counter I had to pay additional 750 pesos (exit fee?) Now, what the heck is an exit fee??? I want to go home so I just paid it.

Heading over to my gate I encounted another security check. By this time I had my passport, cellphone and other documents on my hand. I still had some pesos left over and since I had all kinds of papers on my hand, I put my money within my passport. My phone rang so I answered it while going through the security. I don't normally talk on the phone while in front other people. I think it's just bad manners, but for some reason I did it this time...

Guess what? When I handed the security guard my passport, they said "maraming salamat po" and took my money. I put my phone on hold and politely told them it was not for them, but they argued and said I didn't need the pesos anymore to where I'm going. I think I had about 1,500 pesos. Again, I gave them the 750 and just left. I am already tired arguing with those numbskulls.

By then I started to feel hungry. I stopped by one of the kiosks. I bought an ensemada and a bottled water. Bear in mind I had already gone through several security checks at this point. By the time I found a chair, guess what? It was time to board. Thinking that I had already gone through the security checks I proceeded to stand in line to board. Guess again? They told me I was not allowed to bring my snack and the bottled water!!!

I was so pissed (and hungry)!!! I argued with the security. In Maui and Honolulu, there are several restaurants/kiosks that sell food AND WATER BEYOND the security checks. I was able to bring food AND A BOTTLED WATER on board the plane from Maui to Honolulu AS WELL AS FROM HONOLULU TO MANILA.

Needless to say, I didn't want to give any reason for Manila authorities to detain me so I opened up the pastry AND THE BOTTLED WATER and dumped everything into a garbage can in front the security. The security guy said I didn't have to do that so I answered,"I'm just making sure that these are really going to the trash and not for anyone's consumption." I was really pissed!

So I boarded my flight hungry and I found my seat. I was fortunate that the seat next to me was not occupied. I occupied both seats and fell asleep. When I woke up it was 15 minutes before arrival time in Honolulu. If I wasn't on board the plane, I would have thought I was just dreaming. Yep, the vacation went by too quickly and all I have left are the happy memories to offset those nightmarish experiences at the airport..

---Marcie Tesoro

*****

Indeed, it is a nightmare at the NAIA...The 750 is a legitimate fee paid by everyone who departs from Manila. But I believe the 7,000 pesos to cover just 4 pounds is way, way too much!

--vic

LONG VOYAGE HOME

2009-05-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

An idyllic, pastoral view of Asingan's Greenfields...

FROM TATANG IGNAS

You set a good example to other Message Boards to emulate -- specially those who can eloquently narrate the highlights and sidelights of their vacation in their native hometowns through essay/feature writings and snapshots to capture delightful moments of camaraderie. If I do have the chance to visit Santa Maria soon, I will do the same. Thanks for sharing!

--TI, Sta Maria, Pangasinan..

Thank you, Tatang Ignas!

IT ( Information Technology ) is now at its best through the Internet. It puts one over the Print Media because typing on the Net is so easy, printing your story is done with the punching of a key and almost everybody with an access to a PC can immediately read your message.

I also admire your KALAPAW because it features the best of what there is: pleasant/funny stories to read re: Sta. Maria, news updates of townmates from every part of the globe and photos ( whenever available ) of people from your town who opted to seek fortune elsewhere. I am sorry I was not able to take photos of your town as I planned.

The Viron bus turned left to San Patricio near where the two palacial residences of the Torres brothers are located and on to the long bridge that marks near the border between Asingan and Sta. Maria. This bridge was said to have been constructed with the initiative of ex - Congressman Ranjit Shahani. At the crossroads where a left turn will bring you to Asingan, one would find a group of ragtag stores, shops, etc. taking advantage of the motor and pedestrian traffic passing by. When the bus reaches Asingan, one could hardly recognize the riverside skyline anymore. New houses were built and one could hardly tell which one belongs to whom.

It was a very pleasant trip, indeed especially for one who have not been home for almost six years!----#

VIC

short message from Fred Palma

2009-05-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the info Mng Vic! I saw part of a video of the PAAL Reunion of my sister Beatriz at my Mom's house last Sunday. I saw you making a speech but I could'nt hear because of the crowd noise. I have to borrow & watch the tape again. Looked like a fun, successful reunion you guys had!

fred palma

*****************
Thanks, Fred! I met your 2 sisters at Polly's place. Purita is my classmate during our Elementary days up to high school. I was able also to take some video clips of your sister during the PAALL night. Will send a clip to you after I have downloaded it in my hard drive.

My compliments to them. They are still gorgeous looking like the days when we were still in Asingan during the 50's- 60's..They are also as friendly as ever..!

During the Rizal Academy night, I chatted most of the time with Nemesio, your brod in law. I was not too much for dancing ( cuz I am not good at it ) but I preferred walking around and conversing with long time friends ( and newly found ones ).

I am not too much for Public Speaking too. My voice is soft and no wonder you did not hear me that much and it could not rise above the noise of the crowd. But one feels a little "high" going up there and saying a few words to the home grown crowd.

What I really love during these reunions are the the reunions ( even if these are just short ones ) with old friends.

During the PAALL night, I talked with Fidel Agsalud, brod of Tristan and Noemi. I learned later that Fidel's better half is the current Dean of the Asingan PSU.

During the Balikbayan night, while the coronation is going on, I found Rodrigo Esperon ( the older brother of General H. Esperon ), Sammy Arzadon and half an hour later, Rogelio Vicencio, a class '58 join us too in our conversations back stage. Covered a lot of lost years with both of the class 58. Rodrigo is "popular" with our Grade 5 teacher before in Dupac because he had the knack of raising the Blood Pressure of our teachers each time he entered the classroom!

But hey, more than 50 years later in 2009, we are back in Asingan, laughing, happy we are still alive and kicking!..

He invited us to his family house the next day with Rogelio. Was not able to make it because of our trip to Baguio with the a few friends. Rudy and Rogelio, it turned out were also close friends before. Rodrigo said.."Do not miss coming tommorow. There are a lots of good drinks in the house because the General will be arriving tommorow!..."---#

2009-05-11T03:08:00.000-07:00

Vicky Fernandez-Tejada, seated middle in the front row. I met her decades ago when she was still in the South Central School. We visited her ( Miggie and I ) in Sacramento CA twice. The morning after the photo was shot, she was to visit Ilocos Norte, the home province of her hubby, Lenny Tejada. Their box iis just in front of the orchestra, so no conversation is quite possible because of the blaring music...

The 3 winsome ladies in the front row are: Susan D. Santos, Mildred D. Eslava and Gloria D. de Leon. I met Susan first time when she was THIS high....:) All three of them can carry a tune, whether as soloists or as a group. Thanks for inviting me to your lovely home, Susan!

OK, from the left: Mr. Malilay, a veteran of Asingan's teaching force, then Felicitas Victorino Pascua, Francisco Pre, myself, Josephine Victorino and last but not the least, my very popular classmate, Johnny Pascua ( Heerrre's Johneee! )

Just shooting the breeze with Teresita Ong. She is now a well established business woman in Asingan..

Danny Nitcha, left is working as one of the emcees of the PAALL Night. Danny is Vicky Tejada's cousin . Both are from California...

**********

more photos to come...

MORE ASINGAN HOLIDAY PHOTOS...

2009-05-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

What is a Town Fiesta celebration without the Mammy Juanitez orchestra, playing the exciting music and its dancing girls ensemble providing a soothing sight for sore eyes?

One of the first Internet friends I met in Asingan last April. Bert, ( Loreto Salon ) his kinfolks and I shared an afternoon of Light Beer, fingerfoods and Karaoke at Polly's.. Lots of laughs that pm. Some jokes can not be printed..:D

Dr. Marrieta M. Escorpiso and Carmen Munar. I stand to be corrected if I made any misidentification error...

A faculty member of St. Louis Bertrand College ( former Rizal Academy ). Purita Nunez, I presume?

Juliet Uson, during the Balikbayan night. I met Juliet at the AMBoard years ago. She was our host during our visit in Hawaii. Then we met in Asingan again ( who would think of that?) . She invited me to see her ancestral home in Dumakit. We had a sumptous lunch with her kinfolks. I also have a video of her special dance during the Ball. I have another photo of her somewhere in my stuff from Asingan.

ALOHA, Juliet!

********

MORE PHOTOS TO COME...

MARCIE LUCERO TESORO'S SPEECH

2009-05-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

Good evening ladies & gentlemen.

For those of you who don’t recognize or don’t remember me, or perhaps never knew me, I am Marcie Lucero-Tesoro. Some of you know me as Marcela Lucero from Domanpot.

First of all I would like to thank you for adopting me into your class. I would have been a member of your class if my family did not immigrate to Hawaii thirty six years ago. After being away for so long, it is a pleasure and an honor to be with you here tonight. It brings me joy & happiness to see old friends and meet new ones as well.

The friends we make in high school stay with us for the rest of our lives. There are several people here tonight who are still among my closest friends, very special people who, after all these years, are closer to me than ever, people I often talk to, but never often enough. There are others whom I haven’t seen in 10, 20, or even 30 years, but whom I am nonetheless happy to see once again tonight.

Memories have been flying wild in anticipation of this first historic class reunion, and rest assured this will not be the last. My thoughts went back to the years in high school, and how fortunate we were to have met each other here in Asingan.

The year 1977 was a great deal more than just our graduation year – the year when we went our separate ways, and began our lives as young adults. It was a year of many other beginnings, but as with any other year of beginnings, 1977 was also a year of ending. It was the end of our high school days.

Most of us look back at the fabulous seventies as an easier and happier time. Like all youth before and after us, we saw ourselves as the center of the universe. But as we reflect now upon the seventies when we were in high school, we can see that in many respects, we, the teenagers, REALLY WERE the center of the universe.

As I look around, I can’t help but notice how much we all have changed, but more importantly how much we have all grown. Some of you have grown to be one of the finest citizens of Asingan. Others have become successful businessmen and businesswomen. Most of you are now happily married with children and enjoying your families, but no matter where you stand in today’s society, always be reminded that ASAT, now known as Luciano Millan National High School, is an integral part of who you are and what you have become today.

Tonight we are here TOGETHER AGAIN to remember those wonderful times we spent at Luciano Millian National High School, when we were together almost every day. We danced together. We went through puberty together. We formed many of the values we now hold dear, and many of the most intimate, precious and lasting friendships of our lives. I am certain that many of you are here tonight because you share these same feelings.

We are also gathered here tonight not only to reminisce of our youthful days, or perhaps to get a glimpse of that certain special someone whom you were infatuated with but were too shy, or you are simply here to see old friends. But whatever your reasons may be, one thing I know is that we are all here to give back to our school and our community. Let us all set a good example for the younger generation to follow. Let’s work together to make Luciano Millan National High School a better place where not only the students but the entire community can be proud of.
I was recently diagnosed with cancer. I have gone through four major surgeries, and will be undergoing another at the end of the year. I have endured a total of sixteen weeks of radiation. Last month marks the end of my one year of chemo therapy, and yes, I did lose my long black hair. There were days when the aches and pains were so intense that I thought about giving up. Tonight I am here to personally thank my family & friends for supporting & encouraging me, but most of all praying for me. Mere words could never express how I truly appreciate your love and kindness during my difficult time. Despite of this ordeal, I am here with you tonight because I firmly believe that if there is a will, there is a way. Keep the faith and never give up.
It’s been said many times before that “the children are our future.” Many of you have children who are now attending this school. Many of them have dreams. Parents I implore you now to encourage them to reach those dreams, so that one day they too, will be right here to encourage their own children. To the younger generation who is here tonight, my message to you is simple, study hard, refrain from illicit drugs, and follow your dreams. Most importantly, respect yourself and your parents.

Tonight I am here to give back to the community I once called home. I was born and raised in Domanpot. My family was the poorest of the poor. My parents worked days and nights to support eight children. My parents could not afford to send eight children to school. As a result, my father sacrificed his time and energy at the other high school by doing odd jobs in exchange for funding of his children’s education. By the grace of god, my older brothers and sisters were fortunate to have had a formal education because of my father’s sacrifice. To my parents, education was of utmost importance.

With the permission of Principal Venenciano, tonight I am happy and proud to announce the beginning of the Lucero Family Scholarship Foundation. In honor & in memory of my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Isaias Lucero from Domanpot, this foundation shall award four years of scholarship to four deserving students. It is my hope that this small token of good will, will somehow help these students to further their education. Parents, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. This is for your family from my family. Please see Principal Venenciano for details and application.

The planning and coordinating of this reunion has been a very long process. The planning committee has spent countless hours on phone calls and e-mails to ensure that this historic reunion will be the best and most memorable reunion that this class will ever have. Together we are making history and I will assure you, we will collectively strive to be together again in the future. Just keep the faith and never give up.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the following: To the staff and caring faculty of Luciano Millan National High School, we thank you for your patience and careful guidance. We thank you for encouraging and supporting us during our high school years.

To all of the various committees, especially the planning committees, both from the Philippines and abroad, thank you for all of your hard work, perseverance, loyalty, commitment, and dedication. Most of all, to our friends and classmates who have traveled from afar, and who are responsible for this event, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for sacrificing your time to be here tonight. This reunion would not be a success without all your efforts, commitment, and contribution.

To Freddie Ignacio, on behalf of your classmates and I, we thank you for your undying love, commitment and dedication to your class.

To the Class of 1977, keep the faith and never give up. I thank you again for having me here tonight. Enjoy the rest of the festivities, good night, and Aloha.

scenes from PSU-ASINGAN CAMPUS

2009-05-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

FLOWERING PLANTS AT THE LOBBY

School Seal at the Basketball court

The glorious Red, White and Blue

Road to Domanpot ( from Urdaneta )

Road to Carusucan connected to the Ketegan ( Domanpot )

A MUSICAL SUPPER

2009-05-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

"SHE LOVES YOU, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!"

Now for something sweet, sentimental and nostalgic...

"Clap your hands and shake it, baby!!"

The lovely hostess giving us a song...

Here's to Marcie. Bottoms up!

In the middle of my holiday, I was invited by Marcie L. Tesoro to join her in an afternoon party at the Cajalne-Basa residence located at the border of Bantog-Ariston. Not wanting to arrive empty handed, I bought a couple of wine bottles from Magic Mall Urdaneta ( one white, one red ) . I discovered from reading the label that the contents came from California, but bottled in the Philippines. And the prices are much lower than what I would pay for the same kind in Toronto stores.

Anyway, I got there on a tricycle ( the everyman's taxi in Asingan ), at 5:00 pm sharp. Have to observe punctuality even if you are in Asingan. I could smell the menus being prepared from the back porch. Boy, o boy, weren't they good!

The fun started when a Karaoke jukebox was brought into the house and positioned in the front porch. The dinner table was there. So it was a Dinner-with-Karaoke affair. The food was sumptous, the singing was excellent, the guests were very pleasant!

And yes, the contents of the wine bottles I got from Urdaneta tasted like California wine, indeed!

Cheers!!!

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airport stories: fact or fiction?

2009-03-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

"....just read your posting at the Asingan Message Board... Are you serious about those "extra fees" at the airport? Is it necessary to give them or is it even legal for them to ask? Just curious. .... Are you done packing yet? " written by a friend from the Asingan Message Board

........ Those are not legal, but you know how it is in the Philippines..Some people there want to ask ( more like begging ) just to augment their income...You do not really have to give anything..My elder sister hates doing that because it seems you are spoiling those customs inspectors...she said.If your luggage is light, then you do not have to...But some balikbayans bring home everyything or anything but the kitchen sink. Sometimes a custom officer would threaten to open the luggage if you do not give them something...

I usually fold the fiver inside the passport. When the employee opens it up, ( boy, she must have a good sleight of the hand ) the $ just dissapears..Heard from sources there is a box under the counter where the bill is dropped. At the end of the shift, they said, the damned box is full of green bills and thus, there is a sort of "partihan" sharing of the spoils among many of the customs ( cus-tong ) people working in that shift.

I have started my packing, but won't be able to finish it today.....First are my "tools of the trade" or my toys..The digicam is most important. I wanna get as many photos as possible. (good artistic ones. Like the ones I see printed in glossy magazines). I like to go to a farm and take some nature photos there..Especially in the early morning. The creative eye is still working well at that time. I would like to shoot some flowers or knotted tree branches, etc. when the temperature is still comfortable. And the lighting from the sun is just right...

But when the sun is already high and I start sweating like a pig ( pardon the colloquial ) then the creative urge vaporizes too. Thats the time I prefer to keep the camera away, search for company and start drinking, eating and swapping tall tales. That's what writers are noted for: drinking, chewing the fat, and spinning ridiculous yarns....!!

Vic

A SHORT POETRY

2009-03-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

GOING HOME

Some say that when you go back home,
It's like returning to the womb,
Which anyone could readily see,
Is just an impossibility

For home is now an empty building
Where once there was a lot of singing
An eeire silence now took its place
And I there! I think I saw a face..

"Welcome back, son" I seem to hear
"Tis good that now you're finally here,
"Pull up a chair, and have a seat
"And on the table. there is something to eat.."

I see their images inside a frame
Their smile is sweet, its always the same
I move about; their eyes would follow
Even when I sit beside the window

The view of Asingan meets my eye
The verdant trees, the azure sky
Behind that tree line lies a road
Which in the past, I always trod

Then barked the dogs, while voices screamed
As if to wake me from my dream
I heaved a sigh, the guys are here
I hope the heat will be easy to bear!

VIC COSTES -O4/24/2009

a Valentine's Day Sonnet

2009-02-13T06:20:00.000-08:00

To all Lovers and Loved Ones this Valentine's Day....

If thou must love me, let it be for nought..

Sonnet 14 from the Portuguese

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love's sake only.

Do not say'I love her for her smile---her look---her way

Of speaking gently,---for a trick of thought

That falls in well with mine, and certes brought

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'---

For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may

Be changed, or change for thee,---and love, so wrought,

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for

Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,---

A creature might forget to weep, who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love's sake, that evermore

Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

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At Hong Kong's Disneyland

2009-02-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

All Aboard!! Its like going to Pleasure Island where Pinnochio changed into a donkey..

Inside the Small World Pavilion..Cute dancers..

same place..Almost the same sights as the one in California..

Disney's Magic at work...

HONGKONG DISNEYLAND

January 16, 2009 with Joy and Mia

Pagka check in sa hotel kumain lang ng natira naming baon sa Manila. Mamon sa goldilocks at fudgee bar. Yun lang ang lunch namin. hahaha.... Dala ang aming MTR map, pmunta na kami agad ng Dineyland. Buti na lang tinuruan kami ng boss namin sa pagsakay ng MTR. Magulo kase ang MTR nila kapag dimo kabisado.

HKD295 ang entrance tkt o kulang kulang na PHP2000 sa atin. Pag pasok sa Theme Park kanya kanyang picturan na. weheheh..... Naabutan pa namin yung Disney parade kaya nakakatuwa. Mga 4pm na din kame kumain. Mahal din yung food nila pero gusto ko ung barbeque chicken wings nila dun. Inabot kame ng 7pm dun pero alam ko hndi pa nmin nalibot lahat. Wala man lang kami nabili dun kahit remembrance lang kase sobrang mahal. Akala din namin may tinda sa labas.

Kahit wala pang tulog dumerecho kame sa Mongkok sa Ladies or Night market. Parang Divisoria lang. Hindi ka tatawad sa kanila. Pag tinanong mo kung magkano tinda nila tapos hindi ka bibili bababaan nila yung presyo. Pag ayaw mo pa din triple yung baba ng presyo. Nakakatuwa kase kahit malayo kna hahabulin kapa nila.

Then, bumalik na kami ng hotel. Umalis kami sa night market ng 12am. Bukas pa din ang MTR. Mejo malapit lang ang McDo sa hotel namin kaya lang hindi na namin inabot sarado na.Bumili na lang kame sa 7eleven ng makakain. Kaso ayun hindi naman masarap.

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photo captions by Vic

story by Eliza

more HK Disneyland photos

2009-02-12T05:52:00.000-08:00

Seems Disneyland clones are springing up everywhere.

My HERO, Buzz! Did not figure that I will meet you here!

A familiar face, Mickey's i. e.

Must be that bad boy Pinnochio atop Monstro's spout...

Nothing like being with friends in a strange place, however beautiful it is.....

Hong Kong Diary by Eliza ( written in Taglish )

2009-02-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

Two views of Hong Kong........

Riding high above cloud 9

at the Departure Lounge, DMIA....

the DM International Airport

Eliza's Hong Kong Diary

page 1

January 16, 2009

with Joy and Mia

From Diosdado Macapagal Intenational Airport to Hongkong International Airport.

Ang tagal namin sa HK International immigration. Bad trip, akala yata nila mag do-domestic helper kami. Alam namang taga travel agency kami! Akala siguro placement agency. Bwiset talaga!

Pero pag tapos namin sa immigration inantay na namin yung sundo. Syet!! Mercedes Benz kamo. Kaming tatlo lang. Hindi namin alam na private transfer kami. Hehehe ayus!!!

So private transfer kami from airport to hotel. Newton Place hotel kami nag-stay. Mejo malayo lang sa city center. For starters, we had free breakfast and halfday city tour .

Salamat sa aming supplier Dream Quest. ang lakas ko talaga!!!

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THE RIVER IN THE SKY

2009-02-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

one

Under a moonlight drenched scenery where the leaves of the acacia trees seemed to be plated with pure silver, no one could see a shadow lurking in the bushes. No one except someone like Diego, an outdoor man, a hunter and until recently, a guerilla fighter right after the Philippines was invaded by Japan. His fellow patriots
convinced him to join the underground movement because of his sharpshooting skills.

His markmanship was extraordinary. When he was younger and the country was still enjoying the peaceful, pre-war days, he would scour the hilly forests at the edge of his hometown. His hobby was hunting wild boars and other wildlife for meat. He can shoot a game from a good distance, then he would bring home the meat so
his family and their neighbours could have a little feast. He also cultivated an eggplant farm, his main source of livelihood.That time was the period of a serene pastoral life in that far flung barrio in Pangasinan..

Then World War II broke out and his country was brought to its knees by the invaders.. Curfew was imposed by the new masters. Everybody was forced to bow their heads when passing by a sentry otherwise, he/she would be slapped on the spot.Not long after, Diego left his small home, his wife, her parents and a 5 year-old daughter to join a small guerillia unit. The unit hid in some caves on the hills not far from the barrio. His wife would sometimes bring some provisions for them and also news of what was currently happening in the municipality.

As long as no pro Jap elements knew that such a place existed, the guerrilas were safe.

His duty that night was to be a look out over a trail that would lead to the caves.That afternoon the guerillas heard that some Japanese informers have learned about these hiding places.A detail of a few Japanese soldiers might patrol the area where the trail begins.

Thus that night, the full moon came out at 6:00 pm casting an eeire radiance over the parched rice fields, the skyline of the town proper and the foothills where Diego used to do his hunting. He stationed himself behind a rock about 15 feet away from the mouth of the trail. At around 10:00 pm, he noticed the shadow lurking
about, seemingly ready to penetrate the entrance...

No guerilla would enter the trail at this time of night..Diego's instructions were .."shoot first, question later.."

He carefully aimed his shotgun towards the creeping shadow. He waited for a minute or two while his heart pounded and sweat came out of his forehead inspite of the cold December air. When the shadow continued to advance forward, his fingers pressed instinctively the trigger. The volley rang and his target fell on its face.

Did he kill him?..

Diego waited first if some others would be arriving. When there was nobody, Diego moved forward to examine the body.

As he knelt to check the man's pulse, he smelled something accompanied by faint hissing sound."Oh God, " Diego said. "Grenade!"

The last thing he heard was an explosion. He felt his chest ripped like a cloth while a flashing light blinded his eyes. Then there was silence.

two

Suddenly, sight came back to his eyes. He was standing in front of two mangled bodies and he realized that one of them belonged to him. Two spirit like beings were also hovering near the corpses.

"Is that you, Alpha?.." Diego said. "yes, Beta.." was Alpha's answer.

Diego or Beta felt like a new man with new knowledge, new senses, new everything."It is strange why we can only recognize our spiritual identities after our mortal bodies cease to exist." said Alpha.

A third creature whose luminiscence was different from theirs, began to speak with a very commanding voice..

.."I am your Guardian who will accompany you to a spot which will bring both of you to your final destinations..Hold on to me and fear nothing while you are with me"

Alpha and Beta found themselves floating on the air with the Guardian. They were gliding over the hills and then they headed for the massive ranges of the Caraballo mountains. Beta and Alpha were incapable of doing anything except to listen to his commanding voice..

"You still have two options," the guardian continued as they glided through the mountain scenery. "you can still remain here on earth but you will remain an invisible spirit to people, including your relatives. Youwill be visible only to your fellow spirits., You will retain your old earthly identity and the same knowledge of
your recent past life..." Beta immediately recalled his wife and his 5 year old daughter. .."Your love ones can not see or hear you or feel your touch. Sometimes they might smell a scent that will remind them of you, but that's all..You will see them triumph or fail with their own free will as they continue to spend their earthly time, as you have done during the course of your own life..

"Your second option is to be reborn with a different mortal identity. Whatever knowledge of your past life which you have when you died will be erased once you will start life anew as a baby.And you will be.going through the same procedure of
birth, childhood, adulthood, old age and finally, death..."

Alpha asked.."If I chose to follow you to our final destiny?"

The guardian said..""You will travel with me and many others to a beautiful place you never dreamed existed.You will see Paradise.You will see your loved ones who left the world before you.You will be imparted with the Supreme knowledge which you never gained as a mortal. And you will finally see our Creator"

Beta looked at Alpha. One was waiting for the other to speak...Meanwhile, each of them was astounded. Both remained silent until their motion stopped..

Their journey stopped at a very high peak of the Cordilleras. They saw a very wide river which flows UPWARDS towards the heavens.

The guardian said.."Alpha, Beta now is the moment to decide.. Either step on the river's water or go back. where you came from. It is your last act of free will. Nothing will be held against you if you opt to stay behind.

"Alpha who wanted to see Paradise, looked at Beta with imploring eyes..

Beta finally said.." I am staying behind. My earthly ties to my wife and my daughter are not ready to be severed ..I still love them and I want to see what will happen to them..."

"Good bye, Beta..." said the Guardian and Alpha. Beta saw them step into the river and they started to rise towards heaven..

Meanwhile, Beta turned back and he saw many other spirits going back where they came from. Several times along the way, he heard the moaning of a mother about to give birth inside a house. Then he saw one of the spirits enter that house.

But he kept on moving as swiftly and silently as the night wind. He felt no fatigue, hunger or anxiety. He became a spirit full of nothing but unending love. He felt a different kind of love from the one he felt while he was still the mortal Diego.All of a sudden, he himself in front of his old home.

"I am home again.." he whispered.."Oh to see once more my wife and daughter.."
Then he looked upwards and saw the trail of a comet racing upwards to the heavens. It looked like a river going upwards to the heavens..

He smiled and whispered:
" Someday I will join you Alpha, together with my wife and daughter..."

the end...

Noche Azul

2009-01-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

For me, the sky is still the most fascinating place of all..Beyond the blue firmanent with just our naked eye, we can only see cloud formations during the day time and an infinitisimal number of stars, galaxies and nebulae at night..We can see some stars with a simple telescope but the bigger ones in observatores ( like the one in LA ) reveal cluster of stars, galaxies, and swirling cosmic dust, etc..

When I am bothered by minor problems which earth men are usually confronted ( rising cost of goods, rudeness of people in the bus, , etc ) I usually think of OUTER SPACE..

Why can't the planets collide with each other?..Why are we still alive when other stars have became black holes and whole systems are sucked in like a vacuum cleaner? How big is space as we see it?..

No I will not talk about sci-fi movies. I just want to skim the surface of this big, big topic that even Albert Enstein was not able to explain..

I will let my art show you what I sometimes visualize..if I imagine riding in a stellar vehicle..My drawings of stars and galaxies and nebulas.

Accompanied by the piano styling of Ernesto Lecuana, a well known Cuban composer..Name of the piece?..NOCHE AZUL..Blue sky..

If you heard this piece before, it means you belong to the same age bracket as I am...:)

ENJOY the music!!

cruel days of winter

2009-01-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

One of the best ways to soften the blow of a harsh winter is to have flowering plants inside the house. This orchid, which came all the way from San Diego, California bloomed right during the first week of January while the strong blizzard winds were raging outside...It has a faint sweet smell that reminds one that "spring is not far behind.."

The cruel looking icicles hang down from our eavesthrough in front of our house. They are still there as I write. Remember in one of the DIE HARD movies? Bruce Willis used one to kill a bad guy by sticking an icicle into one of his eyeballs...

These winter babies are caused by the heat going through the roof of our house. It melts the snow capping the roof. The water runs into the eavesthrough and when it overflows, these weird looking thingies are formed. Need ice to mix with your beer? Just snap a couple and put them in your glass. They will make fancy stirring sticks too...

Icicles under the evergreens. Strange how pine trees survive the chilling -30 during these cold days...

Welcome to 19 Dixon road..Pay us a visit..Maybe you can help us shovel the driveway!!!!!!

(Just kidding, as usual )

photo essay bt VCostes