a Tale of Two Doggies

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...:)

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...

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..

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

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

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

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

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

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..

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!!!

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

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

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..

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 ..

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

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

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

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

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

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...