AN BOKSINGERONG DULING

Kan ako nasa elementarya pa lang, sikat kaidto an kawat na boksing.  Bareta kaidto an boksingrong taga Nabua, si Star Nabus.

            Alagad, nakahampang niya an mas mahusay na boksingero sa saiya. Mas halangkaw asin mas dakula sa saiya. Napaturog si Star Nabua sa ibabaw kan luna.  Poon kaidto dae na siya nagkawat nin boksing. An boksing nagluya man.

            Si manga aki, padagos an kawat. Maski na ngani bako ng sikat an boksing, nagpatahi sinda nin “boxing globes” na gibo sa maong. Igua nin manga maestro , an Physical Education an boot ipadagosan kawat.

            Sarong binatilyo, Grade VI siya an parating gana sa boksing. Bako mman siyang halangkaw. Bako mansiyang dakula alagad fermi siyang gana  sa boksing asin sa pustahan.

            An aki kaya, igua nin kadi-nan asin  gibagamit ini  tanganing Fermi siyang gana. Nagbale siya sa manga kawat nin boksing. Fermi siya an ganador.

            An saiyang deferensya, na ginibo niyang ‘asset’, saro siyand duling. Sa tataramon sa Nabua, siya kilas). Kun kaatubang niya an kalaban , an huna nakaheleng sa too (right) kaya piglilikay niya an parten too kan saiyang hawak. An naheheleng palan kan boksingero, iyo an parting wala (left).Tumba an kalaban. Kun nakaheleng  siya wala  (left) an huna kan kalaban iyo an walang parte kan saiyang hawak an puntirya. An defense niya saw ala. An puntirya palan iyo an too (right) kan saiyang hawak.. Kaya, tumba giraray an kalaban.

            Kaya, an sabi kan ‘coach’ (taga-sanay) sa saioyang boksingero, kun nakaheleng daa an duling o kilas na boksingero  sa wala, idefensa an toong parte kan saiyang hawak. Kun nakaheleng sa too, idefensa an wala.

            Kan mmag-abot an labanan, pighheheleng kan duling an walang parte kan saiyang

Hawak. Kaya ilinikay kan kalabban an too. Aram palan kan duling na boksingero an tugon kan ‘coach’ kaya pinatamaan niya an wala.

            Turog an kalaban.

                                                       -tapos-

Febrero ll, 2019

THE OTHER TIJAM FAMILY

According to Lola Vitong, my grandmother (maternal side), several decades ago before World War I, several business men from Manduriao, Iloilo reached the coastal town of Bulan, Sorsogon. They were selling mosquito nets (kulambo); blanket (kumot na prenela, otherwise known in Bikol as “tamong” and in Rinconada vernacular dialect as “isapoy”).  They were also selling pillow cases and other wares. They heard much of the Bicol Region from other merchants and they decided to come to the Bicol peninsula for good.

It is presumed that they rode in a large sailboat, large enough to accommodate them and their merchandise.  At that time, there were yet no commercial airplanes or any mechanized vessels.  Nobody can ascertain if it was still Spanish time or already American time.

The business men from Manduriao, Iloilo were said to be led by a certain Nicolas Tijam or their elders.  If he was accompanied by a brother or a sister, it was not known.  But he was the proprietor of the business.  He must be moneyed because his son by the name of Teofilo even own the first gasoline station in my town, Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Many of Nicolas’ offsprings also became professionals.  My lolo Felomino and his brothers Ramon and Jose; his sister Natividad who went with Nicolas were poor.

Felomino got married to Victoria Soliven, a sister of the priest in Bulan, Sorsogon, Father Pedro Soliven.  They were from Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Jose was married to a certain Purificacion (family name unknown); Natividad (unknown husband) settled in Daraga, Albay.  Sometime in the 50’s Jose visited them. Another brother who went with Felomino was a certain Ramon.

Lola Vitong further added that Nicolas and Felomino were very close to each other.  The called themselves “Primo”, a Spanish term for “cousin”.  Both of them settled in Nabua, when Padre Pedro died and lola Vitong returned to her home town.

Nicolas Tijam who was married to Concordia Samarista has eight (8) children.  They were Dominador, Nicolas Jr (popularly known as Kulasito); Teofilo, Maria, Tomasa, Purita, Isidoro and Pura.

Felomino and wife Victoria has six (6) children namely, Amparo, Elisa, Guadalupi (Poping), Teofisto, Manuel and Abelardo.For easy understanding, the next page is a diagram of their roots.

Note:

1. There is no record as to the exact date of their arrival to the Bicol Region;

2. There is no record as to the parents of Lolo Nicolas;

3. The exact location of their origin came from Dr.Rufo Tijam Llorin (grandson of Nicolas).  He said he already reached the place.

4. Both Felomino and Jose became employees of the defunct Manila Rail Road (MRR) and now the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

5. According to the GSIS records of Jose Tijam (as supplied by Cielo Fernandez Mallari of the GSIS), the parents of Felomino,  Jose Natividad and Ramon were Benito Tijam and Barbara Trinidad.

Source:

• Dr. Rufo Tijam Llorin

Source of the information about the origin and sons and daughters of Nicolas and Concordia Samarista.

• Romeo Tijam Fernandez

Source of the information about the origin and the sons and daughters of Felomino Tijam and Victoria Soliven.

• William Yu Soliven

Source of the information about the names of sons and daughters-in-law of Lolo Nicolas.

NATARANTA

An estoryang ini hale ki Manoy Meniong (agom kan pinsan kong si Aurora). Halipot lang asin simple an estoryang ini, pero nagtata-o nin adal.  . ., na an simbag sa simpleng hapot, simple man . . . directa asin mayo na nin gayong burobod.

            Si Manoy Meniong sarong retiradong marinero (US Navy). Yaon sinda kaidto sa pinakababang parte kan barko. (An barko iguang sampulong eskalon). Sarong banggi daa, igwang biglang nagsilyab sa makina kan barko. Kuminurahaw an sarong marinero sa telepono kan barko.  An sabi niya.. . “Fire ! ! ! Fire ! ! ! Fire ! ! !  Narecibe kan sarong ofisyal kan barko an “emergency call.  Naghapot ini kan lugar na pinangyayarihan  kan kasulo.  “Where is the fire?  Where is the fire?

            Nataranta an baguhan na marinerong Pinoy.  Dae aram an tamang simbag sa English. An sabe niya. . . “Here . . . Here . . . Dae masabe na an kasulo yaon sa ibaba kan barko … .sa makina.

            Kinapos kaya nin English.

-Tapos-

Let take a break and watch a trailer from the movie ME BEFORE YOU.  A very nice touching movie.

A COUNTRY OF SERVANTS … BUT WHO'S TO BLAME?

Sometime in the end of March, 2009, the Philippine government protested against an article written by a certain China man  by the name of Chip Tsao, a Hong Kong-based journalist. He wrote that the Philippines do not have any right to fight against their ‘masters’, the Chinese, especially in the claim for the Spratly Islands or the Freedom Islands.

            The ire resulted to the protest by Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also supported their protest.  As a result, the article in the internet was erased.  The author, the editor and the publisher were asked

to apologize.

            But, at first,   they did not apologize.  He even wrote a rejoinder stating that the Philippines did not understand what he wrote. He tried to make us appear that we can not understand his simple article. He did not know that English is the second language of the Filipinos.  It was like adding salt to the injury.  He was declared ‘persona non grata’ or undesirable person.  He was also banned entry in the Philippines.

            But, Chip Tsao went to the Philippine Consulate and publicly apologized.  There were Filipino migrant workers there.  It was a formal gathering with Chip Tsao  and the Consul General on the stage.  The Filipinos were civil.  His request for apology was granted. He even bowed in front of the Filipinos as a sign of his remorse.  Malacanyang also accepted his request for apology.

            It is, however, my opinion that before accepting his request for apology, they should have asked him to explain why he wrote the article calling the Philippines as a ‘country of servants’.

            IF THE PHILIPPINES IS REALLY A COUNTRY OF SERVANTS, WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

            My opinion is that both the Chinese journalist in Hong Kong and the Filipinos were at fault. Chip Tsa was right and the Filipinos were only hurt. Consider this...

            1).During the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, a certain President                 of a maritime school (whose name I forgot) discovered a group of islands                   north of Palawan.  He called it Freedom Islands. The islands would disappear during high tide and surfaced during low tide.  He recommended sovereignty over the islands by the Philippines. But, many did not consider him seriously.  Some even regarded him as ‘mentally imbalanced’.  He was even called ‘the Commodore’ as a matter of joke.

                The islands are now claimed in part or in whole by Vietnam; China and the          Philippines. It was thought that the islands are rich with oil deposit.

           2). Again, during the regime of former President Marcis, he discouraged our             countrymen to work abroad. But, we did not listen. What was in our mind were             the abuses, especially the Armed Forces, during his term.

He even coined the term, ‘brain drain’. He wanted the talent of the Filipinos             to be used in the Philippines.  There were highly educated Filipinos like doctors,              Engineers; teachers; nurses and many others, all wanted to work abroad.

Today, only parts of the Spratly Islands are occupied by the Philippine              Government, with its local unit (the barangay) with its tanod of barangay police.               The governments of China and Vietnam showed their might by sending war                Ships to the area. They even built barracks on certain islands. If only we listened to the ‘commodore’.

3). But, former President Marcos was banished to Hawaii until his death. It’s a bloodless revolution.  Many claimed heroism. He was replaced by a series of                  presidents (men and women). His successors included former President Corazon Aquino (now deceased); former President Fidel V. Ramos; former President Joseph Estrada and nor President Gloria M. Arroyo.

But, even after the regime of Marcos, Aguino, Ramos, Estrada and now                  Arroyo, the culture of corruption among Filipinos remained.

Many Filipinos graduated in colleges and universities in ‘preparation to                   Work abroad’.  Many studied courses leading to white collar jobs.  But, the                     Jobs available are blue collar jobs.

4). A house helper is per se helper (in Tagalog, katulong; in Spanish,                    muchacha; and in Bicol, katabangaa0.  In order, perhaps, to appease these                   house helpers, the government changed their status or names to ‘house                   Managers. ‘  This, of course , is a cause of laughter.. In other countries,                     nobody called them , Managers.  To make their positions, sweeter, they                     coined again with the names of ‘kasambahay’.  All employers called them                    ‘domestic helpers.  I had one time a friend. , a parent at that, he did not want                    to use the term ‘domestic helper’.  They call their children, ‘DH’.

Let us remember what William Shakespeare said in his Romeo and                     Juliet.  He said, “What’s in a name? That  which we call a rose, By any other                     name would smell as sweet.”

The worst insult is to call them  ‘living heroes’ and when they return to the Philippines, temporarily or permanently, some air port personnel would extort them Are they really heroes?

5). Politics seemed to be more important than value formation.  Politics is                   practiced every day, even if elections is too far away. One can get more                   money from the government and remain scott free provided he or she belong                    to the party in power.

Senator Merriam D. Santiago, in disgust said in Congress that it was China which invented’ graft and corruption.  And the Filipinos, given bribe, learned very fast.

But, she apologized since it would affect the warm diplomatic relationship of both countries.  BUT, THE MESSAGE WAS ALREADY SPOKEN.

6). Some doctors even went back to school not to further their studied in                 medicine but to study nursing.  Their purpose is to work abroad. (The pay for a                   year in the Philippines could be earned abroad in only be earned abroad in only a month.).

A story goes that a Filipina Midwife could not find a decent job in the                  Philippines with a living salary to augment her husband’s meager salary.. . . and to provide proper education to their children. She went abroad, leaving her youngest daughter still in Grade IV.  Now, the same daughter is already a mother of one. The mother (now already a grandmother) is still working abroad.

Chip Tsao, instead of calling the Philippines a country of servants,                    Instead, should call the Philippines ‘a country of martyrs’.

7). What will Chip Tsao feel if:

a). We announce to the world that we learned graft and corrupt                                          practices from the Chinese;

b). That the Philippine tri-media said that so many illegal items                                          entering the Philippines came from China;

                       

                        c). That the highly anomalous NBN-ZTE deal involved Chinese business men and corporations;

d). That we have not seen or heard of any young Chinese (boy or                                          girl) died and buried.  Filipinos jokingly said that they are                                           mixed with siopao or they are not reported but their names and                                            identities are assumed by illegal entrants.

THE COUPLE

“Growing old is no cause for hysteria;

 the rose bush does not scream when petals begin to fall.”

            Ernesto and Francisca were deeply in love with each other. They professed their so – called ‘undying love’ starting seven years before they got married. They spent seven long years knowing each other’s likes and dislikes. They saw nothing that would hinder them to get hitched.

            They were deeply in love that a mere sight of one’s roof of the house was enough to be happy. At that time, Ernesto and Francisca had their respective jobs. They were not lucrative. But, they loved their jobs. They lived in a very simple life style.

            While their combined incomes were not enough to buy all their needs, the prices of prime commodities on the hand continued to rise. But, the prices were not yet prohibitive compared to prices of today. To them, what was important was that they loved each other. They saved on housing as they were renting a house. They lived with their parents. A noted writer by the name of Dr. William Arthur Ward said:

“ A house is built with walls and beams;

a home is built with love and dreams.”

            They were full of love. They were full of dreams. They joked that loving and dreaming are for free. They did not cost them any money. But, love could not live with love and dreams alone. While their love was ecstatic, they forgot what the all- time popular writer William Shakespeare said in his underlying novel, merchant of Vanice. He said that:

“Love is blind and lovers cannot see;

their pretty follies that themselves commit.”

            After so many years of married life, they had four children. The once prosperous community was later deeply populated. The population as four or five times its original number. While the government had birth control and family planning programs the Catholic Church had one. They believed that birth control was a sin and immoral as it kills unborn child. They clergy obey the church teaching of “GO and multiply” (Later study says that it did not mean pro-creation, but “Go and multiply” meant converting pagans to Christianity. Multiply the number of convertion.

           

            There were less jobs. Many were jobless and prices of prime commodities soared like its population. There were increase in salary but it was insignificant compared to the purchasing power oft the peso.

Meanwhile, years went by and the couple had gray hairs. Ernesto was retired from his job while Francisca has still a couple of years left. They had less and less money compared to the spiraling prices of prime commodities. Their seven –year’s study one’s attitudes came to naught. Francisca’s attitude changed. She was no longer lovable. Her children tagged her silently as the monster mother. Her attitude toward Ernesto also changed. She believed that the later was already starting to be senile and useless. She would easily raise her voice as if Ernesto was her student. William Shakespeare once said:

“Speak low if you speak love.”

            She would force what she wanted while his ideas were that an old man going senile. She would talk in front of her children to show how smart she was. Ernesto, on the other hand admitted that he was already old but not yet senile. In age, there is no going down but up. Their married life was in danger. Philosopher and writer Robert Louise Stevension stated that:

“Marriage is terrifying, but, so cold and forlorn old age.”

            They were not poor. Yet, they were not also rich. Only that sometimes, they had no money. Their income was no match to the global rise of prices of prime commodities. Ernesto learned a better lesson. A person can change attitude if his or her morale is low and weak. The want for money can change one’s attitude. They love money, not money itself was the roof of evil. A thinker said:

“When poverty (want of money) comes at the door:

Love creeps out at the window.”

            In his younger age, Ernesto learned lessons on ages. He learned that age can change one’s attitude; from his study, he learned that when a man or a woman turns twenty years old and over. It is time for beginning. By this time, he/ she is a fresh college graduate and had newly landed on a job. Most people also get married and become parents.

            He learned from school that when a man or a woman turns thirty or over, he or she becomes demanding as it is time for building a career. At this age, a man or a woman realize how much is to be done. He or she felt that their children or grandchildren, who themselves turn thirty years old or over asks for, advise less and less at time that he or she wanted to give it more and more.

            He learned that if a man or a woman turns forty years of age or over, he / she usually finds out that he / she should solidify his career. He / she now is middle-aged.

            He also learned that id a man or a woman turn fifty years of age or over, he find out that interesting things changed, in his/her body and attitudes begin to happen. These changes are different from the changes during adolescents. He / She is nearing retirement.

            He learned that if a man or a woman turns sixty years or over, his/her career wind down, but not yet senile. Some old men or women at this age find their mind still sharp.

            This is the travail of Ernesto. He thinks that his wife considers him as senile. He is not. His travail has connection with his wife winding down.

-end-

June 23, 2008

THE OTHER FACE OF THE FAULT FINDER

“Old age is when you realize other people’s

faults are no worse than your own.”

-          Edgar A. Shoaff

“ To grow old is to pass from

 passion to compassion.”

  

-          Albert Camu

“… To view each loved one

  blotted from life’s page,

 And he alone on earth as I am now.”

-  Lord Byron, Childe

        Harold’s Pilgrimage

In story No. 185, The Man Who Was Born To Criticize,  150 Finger Tip Short Stories, pages 97 – 100, by this amateur writer, we pictured the character, Bentoy, as somebody who found pleasure to be out – of – convention, or always against the tide. He was jobless all his life. He was employed many times, but his employment were for a very short period of time. His supervisors always interpreted his actions to be over bearing. For many times, he wanted to picture that actions of some officials were erroneous and his actions were the correct one. And he did many things which were the functions of other people. (For example, he checked the attendance or checked who were late for work, while these were the functions of the Personnel Officer or the Human Resource Officials.)

His tendency to always criticize almost anything, right or wrong, started when he was still young.
But, old age overtook him. He mellowed as years went by. Of course, he still found pleasure to criticize (it was his form), but, his other face was found to be soft, especially to the unfortunate.

            For example, his driver saw him with a plate of food one noon time. He was asked where he would take the food. He said that he would bring it to the house in front of them. The home owner was not even a relative. He was just a neighbor. Nobody at that time was there except an ailing former teacher, a middle – aged man who suffered a stroke and could not walk without the help of a four-legged cane. His wife was also a teacher and at the moment was in school, she could not stop teaching or else they will have no money for his medicine. His children were in school. They had no house help.

            Nobody prepared lunch while there was always bread or cold rice and viand on the table. So, Bentoy brought a plate of hot food for him.

            Bentoy was financially stable. His wife is a government retiree and they have some properties else where. So he lent some money to neighbors who were in dire need. The interest was minimal (not as a means of livelihood but as a reminder to pay back). He did not require his borrowers to pay back immediately.

            In another instance, he saw that their maid had swollen foot and needed immediate operation. He brought the maid to the hospital. He foot the bill. After the operation, she needed rest. Bentoy sent her home to recuperate . . .with pay. Reportedly, he even gave some money to another patient needing money for medicine. The patient was not even a relative.

            Come Christmas, he served meals for his neighbors and anybody who visited him. And there were many.

            Criticized? He still indulge but not much compared to when he was young. What made him change? An unknown author said: “He who cares only for himself will be a very niggard in manhood and a wretched miser in old age.”

            Also he thought pensively of: “Before flaring up at another’s faults, one should take the time to court ten – ten of his own.

-end-

January 19, 2009

THE ALWAYS MISSING TARUC

From school year 1950 to 1956, i had a classmate named Lamberto.  It was noted to be always missing in class especially during the early hours of the day wherein roll calls of pupils were done.  But, out of nowhere, he would report to the class.  Because of this, his reputation grew as always a missing person.  He was popularly known as Taruc, instead of his true name.

But, who was Taruc?  He was the founder  and supremo of the dissident movement in the 50’s known as Huks or Hukbalahap or Hukbong Mapagpalaya Laban sa Hapon.  They became outlaws because they fought against the Japanese army but was not recognize by other Americans or the Philippines.  They roamed the countryside from after the war to 1950’s.

Luis Taruc, the leader of the Huks was always hiding from military authorities.  He was always in the mountain and would only surface only if he battled with the military.  The Huks became a national threat to the country.

Luis Taruc, later surrendered to the then President Magsaysay who he learned was sympathetic to their cause.

Lamberto became our Taruc for six years.  His classmates and even his neighbours called him Taruc – Dont look for Lamberto.  Almost always they did not knowlamberto.  But try Taruc.

Where he is now, we don’t know.

ELACIO, THE TOWN’S FIRST PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1

Behind our chapel, there lived a family of teachers.  There were two of them.  One was a spinster.  I would like to name them but if this story is read by them, they would surely deny it.  They strict, as they thought that everybody were their students.

They had a house helper named Elacio.  They called him as their “ataman”. One day, Elacio was bereft with financial problem.  He saw a sum of money.  He got this money although it was not his.

He was positively identified and would not come home even to sleep at night.  It was dark and there was yet no electricity. It arrived some fifty years, hence, the area nearby was also forested.

When darkness came, there was no Elacio.  The teachers reported the missing Elacio to the police.  He became the first public enemy no.1.  They hunted him.  There were no flashlights then.  Nobody owns a flashlights in the town.  They would use dried palm leaves of the coconut tree which they call as “bulbog”.  There were no roads.  The place was forested.

When morning came, they saw a man who was asleep atop the coconut tree.  It was Elacio.  He became the town’s public enemy no.1.  He returned the money but was brought to the municipio.  He was jailed for stealing money.

The story was never clear what happened to Elacio.

BODOY, THE WATER BOY

During the time of Pedro, the blind man, there also lived another fellow named Bodoy.  He was a big man.  But, he has an imbalanced mental capacity.  He would walk around the town and the children as well as adults cracked jokes.  He had a ready smile though.

One thing significant about Bodoy, was that he was never dirty.  Unlike other fellows with imbalance mind,   he would always wore sandals.  Most often thee are not pairs.

One day, Bodoy surprised all.  He volunteered for a fee carrying cans of water to houses – for laundry or for drinking purposes.  At that time, there was none of the so called ‘aquas potables’ or water system.

But, there were two wells in the town.  Both of them supplied drinking water.  One had a big and long wooden pump.  People claimed that water coming from it was sweet or delicious.  It came from the old water pump of San Roque.

There was also the artesian well located at San Esteban, just behind the church.  According to the inscription,  it was some 200 feet deep.  It was warm even in December.  No wonder people went there to take a bath even in the wee hours of the night.

For many years, Bodoy carried two cans of water – one in front of him and one at the back of him through a bamboo pole on his shoulder.

After many years, Bodoy bought a wooden cart.  He would deliver at least ten cans at twenty centavos per can.  He would come back and forth at least five times day.  At that time, the exchange rate was two pesos to a dollar.  So two pesos could buy a lot.  In fact, when i was in grade school, I would buy three centavos worth of school papers and two centavos worth of candies which I placed in the secret pocket of my short pants.

Bodoy became the ‘aquador’ or water carrier for many years until he died.  He became old, weak but died a natural death.

PEDRO, THE BLIND WOOD CUTTER

In the 50’s whom my mother’s young brother, Abelardo, was still alive, he had a friend, a blind man by the name of Pedro.  This refused to be a beggar.  He would approach some families to cut their fire wood.

He would feel the part of the wood where his sharp bolo would strike.  He would chop the firewood the whole day but would not complain.

Sometimes, firewood would be dried bamboo poles.  Sometimes, it would be ipil-ipil trees.  Sometimes,  he would slice coconut shells which will turn into charcoal.

But, the most challenging that he would do, which others could not do was cutting coconut trees.  Yes, living coconut trees.  Very few people with even clear eyesight could do this.

His procedure was cutting the tree from the top.  First, he would climb the tree and reach for the fruits and the palm leaves.  If he knew, by the sense of touch that all were dropped to the ground, he would climb beyond the coconut and reach atop the tree.

He would sit on the palms and cut them all.  If he felt that there were no more leaves, he would climb down.  He then would climb down.  He then would count his steps.  If he reached step 5, he would cut that section of the tree, feeling that the cut was diagonal, e.g. one side is slightly higher than the other side.  If he felt that the trunk would now fall, he would place his sharp bolo in the wooden cast called ‘sarongan’ and push the trunk down, calculating that it would not touch and hurt his knees.

He would do this procedure until the entire tree had fallen.  People would pay for his toil.  But, splitting the trunks into firewood was another contract.  This time, he would use an axe like a man with a perfect eyesight.  The trunk, if not split could be used into posts for fence, for wood bridge, for support of flooring, etc.

He died many years ago, but after having a wife.  His wife had a perfect eyesight.  They lived happily for many years.  There was, however, no information if they had children.

But, he died a happy man.  His funeral was simple but long.  The families which he served were there.

This is the story of Pedro, the blind man who refused to beg.  He wanted to earn his money through his sweat.

THE DISAPPEARING TEOPISTO

When my mother was still young and strong she told us of a story about his younger brother named Teopisto.  It was said that, Teopisto was named after a priest who once upon a time was assigned in the province of Sorsogon.  Later on, the priest became an Archbishop.

My lola’s brother was a priest in Sorsogon.  He later died of a disease.  So my lola and his children came back to our lowly town.

My mother said that she and Teopisto would play “hide and seek” when they were still young.  They were attached very closely to each other.  Teopisto was reported to hide at the back of their door.  My mother would seek for him.  He could not seem him even at the back of the door.

After sometime, Teopisto would reportedly come out from the back of the door, laughing aloud.

My mother failed to see young Teopisto.  It was said that he befriended an “anito” who would help him hide.

Do you think this story is true?

WHEN CHICKEN FLIES

All animal life is endowed with mysterious instinct

For its own well being and one of these is the ability

To sense a change in the weather

-Jacob M. Braude

In the 50’s, the former weather bureau, now PAGASA, did not have their instruments as sophisticated as today.  My region was said to be the typhoon path of the country as no less than nineteen typhoons pass through it every year.

Typhoons before were named after female Americans, such as typhoon Trix, Lorna, Jane, etc.

Since the then weather bureau could not be very well relied upon by the people, they turned to natural signals.

By nature, chicken walk.  They scratch for their food.  They were not similar to ducks which swim in the water nor birds that flies.  They are, however, classified as birds.

Ancient China bared that animals are keen to natural calamities.  They said that horses become restless when there was an impending earthquake.  Ants would climb to higher grounds before the rains and floods come. Eggs which were intended to be hatched become barren, etc.

The old folks believed that chicken flew above their homes or above the rice fields, typhoon would come.  So they would prepare their houses from the havocs of typhoon.  Weak houses are even tied to tress so they will be firm to the ground.

THE WOMAN GUARD

It was said that during the Japanese time, Japanese soldiers planned to establish their camp in the town (Nabua).  There was no garrison of the Japanese Imperial Army in the town.

It was said that when the Japanese Imperial Army was in route in the town, a small woman of barely four feet block the way to the church.

The group reportedly did not stop but proceeded to the next town and established a garrison.

It was believed that the woman was the Blessed Virgin who stood guard against the enemy and protected her deeply religious people.

MORE ON DWARFS

One afternoon, in the early 50’s, while I was still in the primary grades, there was a sudden commotion between the ‘kiosko’ of the Roman Catholic Church and the public central school.  They were shouting ‘dwende’

It seemed that only the children and woman saw the little creature coming from the concrete stairs of the school.  Several hundreds of the residents were around the school compound and the church yard.  The children were apprehensive that the old folks might step on the tiny people.  From what the children said, the dwarfs were laughing at the old people who could not see them.

At present, the school was no more even if the building still exists.  It was turned in a commercial area.  The school authorities were unable to establish ownership of the land.

Also, until this time, no similar incidents happen.  Nobody knows if they leave the place.

OUR FRIENDS, THE DWARFS

1.  IN THE GLASS OF MILK

When my son was still a kid, my wife told me that one day she saw him giggling alonge.  She was playing with somebody else.

She was told, in a childish language, that he saw a small boy swimming in his glass of milk.  The creature was too tiny that he can be accommodated in a glass.  The tiny boy went even to his ears.  He played there.

We did not take him seriously.

2.   THE NURSE AND THE DWARF

When the same first born child was still a kid, we hired him a registered nurse who would take care of him while my wife is in school.  She was a grade school teacher.  The nurse would come in the morning and goes home every afternoon.

One day she did not report for work.  We learned later that she was sick and brought to a hospital in a nearby town.  She did not want to return to us anymore.

Later, we were told by her that the little creature wanted her as his wife.  In the hospital, unseen by all but herself, she reportedly saw our friendly creature at the footside of her bed.  He would not leave her.

We do not know what happened to her later.

3.   MY WIFE AND THE DWARF

Our friendly creature was at home in the 1980’s.  My wife told us that while she was changing her clothes way back from school, the dwarf was heard to be giggling and calling her ‘mama’, ‘mama’.  He apparently did not want him seeing her change her clothes infront of him.

Also, another day, after washing the clothes, she hung them infront of the house.  She heard something popping.  What she saw amazed her.  She saw some multi-colored mushrooms and underneath were our friends.

It only disappeared when her sister called her.

4. ME AND MY FRIENDS.

Like any other husbands,  I helped my wife in her chores.  I washed our clothes in the evening.  I did this every night.

One evening, while doing my washing.  I saw the wooden floor needing some improvements.  A snake might just bite me.

The next day, which was Saturday, I bought a bag of cement, one cubic meter of sand and one cubic meter of stones and worked on the floor of the small ‘batalan’ or bathroom.

The following day, my wife told me that his small creature friends spoke to her thanking that their entrance to the deep of the earth was not closed.

There were three dwarfs, incidentally, they had their names.  One was Michael, the next was Stephen and the third, I cannot remember.  Some reported tem playing in the middle of the night under the talisay tree.

MY FATHER: SOME UNTOLD STORIES

‘He that is slow to wrath is
Of great understanding.’

- Old Testament


‘A father who will encourage
his children in pursuing as
many of their goals as
possible,  and will get his
kids bandwagon in such a
fashion can make a crucial
difference in their lives.’

- Alan Loy Macinnis


INTRODUCTION

At the young age of twenty-one (21), my father, LOPE BAGASBAS FERNANDEZ (1916-1990), aka ‘Oping’ married my mother, GUADALUPI SOLEVIN TIJAM, only eighteen (18), aka, ‘Poping’ (1920-2000).

LOPE was the second son of the late Eusebio Francia Fernandez, a farmer and the late Raymunda Regaspi Bagasbas.  Both were residents of San Ramon, Nabua, Camarines Sur.  The place was estimated to be 10 kilometers from downtown Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Poping was the third daughter of the late Felomino Tijam of Manduriao, Iloilo and Victoria Federes Solevin of San Nicolas,  Nabua, Camarines Sur.

A. PRE-WAR LIFE:
According to my cousin, William Yu Solevin, eldest son of Amparo Solevin (daughter of Felomino and Victoria) and Jackson (Ricardo) Yu, a Chinese, Poping was selling bars of soap in the public market of the town while Lope was also selling ‘maritatas’ (various articles needed at home like cooking oil, candies, sangkaka’, which was made of sugar cane juice, ashes of coconut palm and the soft part of the trunk of papaya tree, boiled to make it sticky, etc.

My father was tall and good-looking.  Brown complexion.  He was known as ‘palikero’ or playboy even in his married life.  No wonder, he charmed many young lass, Poping who was the very young.  It was love at first sight.

From the records of the family, and as researched by the writer, Lope and Poping were married in 1937.  According to William, aka ‘Nonoy’, ‘Poping’ mother, Victoria did not want her daughter to be far from her.  She was still too young and knew very little of house chores.  They also have no house of their own.  By that time, they were living in barangay San Nicolas, Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Felomino and Victoria were living in the house of the Federes family (note that Victoria’s family name was Federes).  Nonoy William himself was born in barangay San Nicolas, Nabua Camarines Sur.

When Atty. Eugene Solevin (Poping’s uncle) was appointed as Municipal Judge (Juez de Paz) of Bato, Nabua and Iriga, he urged her sister, Victoria to help him in their house.

Nonoy William informed this writer that Victoria also urged Lope and Poping to live with them in Bato, Camarines Sur, (rented the house of the Corralde’s).  At that time, there were very few lawyers yet.  Judge Solevin and wife Benita Fordan were childless, so they informally adopted Teofisto (another nephew) to live with them.  With Judge Solevin’s help, he supported the schooling of his nephew who later became a University Professor.

Even if they lived in Bato, Camarines Sur, Lope and wife Poping needed to visit the family in San Ramon, Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Barangay San Ramon was in the boundary of Nabua and Bato.  So it was easy for them to travel.

While they were living in Bato, Jackson (Lope’s brother-in-law) continued as a sales agent of the soap factory in Sto. Domingo, Nabua, Camarines Sur.  Nonoy William told me that his father, Jackson, was no stranger in ‘langtad’ (the forested part of Nabua) as he would sell soap in these area.  He had many men, accompanying him.  They were all knowledgeable in martial arts.

Jackson as a soap sales agent and his wife, Amparo lived for a while in Talisay, Camarines Norte.  Lope stayed close by.  The second child of Jackson and Amparo (named Angelina) was born in Talisay, Camarines Norte.  She was born in 1937.  Incidentally, Victoria’s husband, Felomino, an employee of MRR (Manila Rail Road) died in Talisay, Camariens Norte.

Judge Solevin suffered ailment of his feet.  It was the result of placing his feet on a basin of cold water.  He did not want to get sleepy when making a court decision.

According to Patricia (Pesing), Lope’s youngest sister, they would stay long in San Ramon.  They would bring their eldest son, Avelino.  Pesing and young Avelino were playmates.  Their age was closer to one another.

With the support of a cane, Judge Eugenio Solevin walked with it.  But, long before his death in 1944 (Japanese time and nearing the end of war), he was able to buy a residential lot in San Miguel, Nabua, Camarines Sur (infront of the Nabua High School).  The lot was originally owned by a certain Leon Ferandez.  According to William Solevin, the Ferandez lot extended from the road going to San Nicolas (now owned by a certain Tang Panong Fajardo up to the place of Regalado’s).  No wonder, the immediate neighbor of Judge Solevin was a certain Eutiquio Ferandez.  A brother or a cousin of Leon and heirs Severo Ferandez and his sister Constancia Ferandez Obrero.
 
B. World War II:

Taken over by the Second World War, the family of Eusebio (wife Raymunda died in 1941), decided that the whole family, including Lope, Guadalopi and son Avelino evacuated to the forested area of Nabua.  The place was so popular by the name ‘langtad’ (barangay San Roque).  They went to this place to avoid the Japanese Imperial Army.  The land which was heavily forested was owned by the family of Balatan.  Eusebio was the family’s ‘encargado’.  The family preferred to live in ‘langtad’ because it was abundant with fruit bearing trees like ‘carson’ or ‘tipong’ (young coconut), palay, camote, wild pigs, mountain deer, monkeys, etc..  There were also fishes in the rivers.

However, as the war went on (according to Nonoy William, the Japanese ordered that all civilian Filipinos return to their homes, last, they will be considered as ‘guerila’ by the Japanese.  The families of Eusebio, including Lope and Poping (she was pregnant at the time.)  They went home and the second son was born and was christened as Virgilio.  He was born in 1943.

They stayed long in San Ramon, Nabua, Camarines Sur until the next son was born.  The fourth son was christened as Romeo.  The second son died while still an infant.

After liberation, Lope and family returned to San Miguel, Nabua Camarines Sur.


C. My Father’s short Stint in the Military:

Note:

See story No. 521: A Collection of Jokes and Short Stories; written by Romeo Tijam Fernandez; 2013; Book 5.

With Certificates:

a. Certificate of the United States of America honoring him (my father) signed by William J. Clinton; President of the United States of America.

b. The Unites States of America honoring the memory of Lope R. Fernandez, signed by William J. Clinton; President of the United States of America.


FURTHER NOTED:  Lope used ‘R’ instead of ‘B’.  For a long time.  ‘R’ stands for Regaspe, his mother’s middle initial, instead of ‘B’ which stands for Bagasbas.  Bagasbas was the family name of Lola Rayminda.

 
D. Contract Worker of the Bureau of Forestry:

There was a time when my father, Lope, felt miserable.  He turned to be hot headed.  In the 1950’s, he was jobless due to the closing of some transportation companies where he was either the conductor or the inspector.  But my mother understood him and she was patient.  He had no stable job to feed his family.  All of them were in school.  He said that they were so poor that they cannot left something to them, except education.

But in order to help my father, my mother opened a store selling fried bananas (called in vernacular as ‘sinapot’ and in Bicol-Naga ‘baduya’); ripe avocado; boiled corn and pomelo.  She was more known for her ‘kos-kos’ or flavored scrapped ice.  Cost per glass full was five centavos (regular) and ten centavos (special).  Her stores and the earnings of my father saw us until college.

My father had many friends in town.  Some of them were college graduates and employees of the Bureau of Forestry.  But, unlike his friends, he was unable to apply to a government job.  He had no civil service eligibility.  Much more, he finished only elementary grades.

At that time, there were openings as laborer in the construction of roads going to the town of Balatan (known before as Siramag).  He applied and was accepted.  But, when the project was finished and there were no more projects, he was again jobless.

He applied to the Bureau of Forestry.  But, not as an employee but as a contract laborer.  His job was planting trees in the mountains of Minalabac, Camarines Sur.   He stayed long, in fact for many years.  There atop the mountains, he slept with lowly people.  He was caught by several strong typhoons.  Always, he thought of his family.  On one occasion, he waded in a waist-deep and shoulder deep water from the town of Minalabac passing through the shoulder-deep flood water in Milaor just to see his family in Naga City.

Regularly, he went back home every week and be back to the mountains of Minalabac in the afternoon of Sundays or early mornings of Mondays.  It was better that way than going to Naga City everyday of every two days.  As a tree planter, there were sacks-full of seeds deposited at home.

The seeds were of Narra trees, butterfly trees, etc.  They planted forest trees and took care of them until they sprouted (not like today).  Students and or government men today, planted seedling and did not care if they grew or not.

Then, there were complaints of planters against their Supervisor.  My father was suspected as the brain of the group.  The written complaint was in English.  He can write but in Tagalog or Bicol languages.  However, many laborers looked upon his as their leader.  Many were unschooled.  But, he was the only elementary graduate.  Some even were familiar at home.  Some ate at home.  Some slept at home.  Perhaps, other persons wrote the complaint for them.  But, if he was really the brains, we would be proud of him.  We could have supported him.  There were many irregularities in the bureau at the time.

He resigned. He was jobless again.

E. As a Bus Conductor/Inspector:

In 1952 (I was in Grade II), my uncle, Abelardo (I called him Bado) bought a second-hand passenger bus.  Papa Lope became its first conductor.  The car stayed with us for several years.  I did not know why it was sold.  My father was jobless again.

My father found out that he can be a good bus conductor. He loves his work.  He loved his job very well.  He served the following transportation companies either as bus conductor or inspector:

• ALATCO Transportation Company
• PANSIT Transportation Company
• VICTORY LINER
• And some other small bus companies
which I could not remember


All these bus companies are no longer existing except for VICTORY LINER.  Previously, it had the Naga-Legaspi route.  Now, they are concentrated to the Manila-Ilocos Norte route.  All these transportation companies had no Social Security System before or any form of insurance for their employees.  Papa Lope received no pension.

I still could remember when I was still in the grade school.  Our house was a little one kilometer away from the ’parada’ or town’s parking area.  As a young boy, it seemed to me that the ‘parada’ was too far.  It must be because of the narrow road.  The road was still made of asphalt, with pot holes everywhere.  The width was still eight meters.

I was to go home from the town center when a fast-running bus passed my way.  It was running too fast, even exceeding the allowed speed limit.  I was at the right side of the road.  Our elementary grade teacher instructed us to always walk at the right side of the road.  Until now, I observe the instruction.

When evening came, my father told us that I nearly got hit by their bus.  I was unaware of it.  As told by Papa, the driver reportedly told him ‘ligison ko na lang’.  But, Papa told him that ‘iguin ko yan’ (he is my son.)  I escaped being ran-over but I knew that the car was over speeding while I was on the right side of the road.

Papa always came home from work (as a bus conductor) between 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  By that time, there yet no electric services.  It was very dark at night.  The only light came from the moon or stars or fire flies.  There were glitters of light in every house or from sari-sari stores.  But, all came from kerosene lamps.  Only very few have ‘petro max’.

F. On Wine and Cigarettes:

Papa Lope was not addicted to liqueur.  He drank only by the necessity of event.  Only for socialization.  But, he would buy cigarettes (brand B-29).  But, he was not addicted to smoking.  What he did was chew the tobacco of the cigarette (a term in Bicol as ‘nagmamama’).  Sometimes, he would chew ‘buyo’ (a kind of green leaves);  bettle nut and ‘apog’ (white powder material resulting from pounding of sea shell).

G. Typhoons and Floods:

In our younger years, we stayed in the ancestral house of our grandmother.  Before and until now, the place is a low land.  When it rained hard, the rain water from Mt. Mayon flows to the low land of Albay and Camarines Sur.  Likewise, the rain water from Iriga (we call it Sumagang) also goes to the low land of Buhi, Iriga, Nabua and Bato.  Unfortunately, the rain water from the Bicol River and Lake Bato goes to our place, infront of the Nabua National High School.

During the typhoon and floods, we took refuge either in the house of the Fajardo Family (Tang Panong and Yang Idang)  or to the house of my father’s second cousin, Severo Ferandez.  We call the house of the Fajaro family as the White House because it is entirely painted with white (until now).

Usually, the rain water was waist-deep (in the sala) or more than eight feet outside the house.  Papa Lope did not know how to swim.  But, he would carry us on his shoulder either to the two houses.  He would walk in the flood water.

H. Circumference of Mt. Mayon:

Computation of numbers was very easy for my father.  And he patiently, taught us (especially additional, subtraction, multiplication and additional).  I learned mathematical computation from him.

When I was in grade school, he was hired by the ALATCO Transportation Company to prepare its monthly income to be submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).  He would consult the stubs of ticket for each month and we would help him by adding the fares.

I. Love of the ‘Estribo’ (Baggage Compartment):

His expertise was as a bus conductor and/or Bus Inspector.  Even if he was already retired and even with his ailment (diabetes), he felt lively if he saw the car ‘estribo’.  He felt young and alive and seemed wanted to jump to or from the ‘estribo’.

Now, the doors of passenger buses are in front.  Before, from the front seat up to the last seat were open.  He loved to jump from the ‘estribo’ even if the car was in motion.  Even running at 5 to 10 kilometers per hour.

J. My Father was a Joker:

Another remarkable trait of Papa Lope was his tendency to make fun of others, especially, his young nephew and nieces.  Edna Gornal (Daughter of Aunt Mancing), now a public school teacher would recall that during her high school days my father would make fun of her and her brothers and sisters.  They would felt hurt but Edna would just smiled at them.  She explained that they were only jokes.  Papa Lope did not want to hurt them.

K. He Was A Sickly Man:

In the 60’s, he was brought to the hospital.  By this time, the family moved to Naga City.  Our eldest brother was working with Singer Sewing machine.  Another eldest joined the US Navy.  He was treated with hernia.  He said it was painful while urinating.  But, in the hospital, he never complained to us… only to our mother.  He did not want to disturb us from our schooling.

I was then a second year college student when Papa Lope was brought to the then Provincial Hospital.  My obligation was to provide him company in the hospital.  But, even at his sick bed. He would keep on reminding me of my studies.  He asked us not to worry about him.

Operation for other illnesses was already familiar to him.  Being brought to a hospital was alright to him.  In the 50’s, he was operated with acute appendicitis.  And now, he was sick with diabetes, which he inherited from his elders.  Majority of his children and grandchildren have this dreadful illness.

Already old and with diabetes, he should not have engaged to tedious work.  But, he wanted to show that he was still strong and capable of doing hard work.  It was reported by his daughter-in-law, Zenaida, which he carried or even dragged a bamboo pole from an estimated one kilometer from our house.

Zenaida, even reported that he like to wear dark pants.  He had no more control of his urination.  She said that one time, he came home… with wet pants.  Nobody noticed that he urinated in his pants while in the ‘sentro’ of Naga City.

L. He Was Also A Good Samaritan:

In 1983, we started building our house through the SSS Housing Loan scheme.   There were times that I planned to see a movie.  The pay before was only P0.25 per person.  But, upon approaching the ticket seller.  I stepped back.  I thought that the P0.25 could still be used in the purchase of a kilo of nails.  Many times, I stepped back from the ticket seller and did not see the show.  To further economize, I helped my laborers straighten nails.

I was really broke (no money).  I needed it so badly to pay my laborers, just for a day or two.  I approached him.  We were at the Plaza Kinse Martires.  He lent me P4, 000.00.

But, later, to my surprise, he told me not to worry paying him of the P4,000.00.  I thanked him.

M. As A Volunteer-Teacher:

San Ramon, Nabua Camarines Sur had an elementary school.  At the time (after the war), there were very few graduates in Education.  Many had only Teachers’ Certification (ETC).  The Naga College (Naga City) and Mabini College (Iriga City) had many of these teachers.

After the war, many Filipinos (under graduates) were more knowledgeable than today’s college graduates.  They could talk and write.

If my father could be believed, he told us that he only reached Grade VII but was allowed to teach (for a short time in La Opinion Elementary School).

I now dedicate this short poem to him:

“Usually parents who are lucky
In the kind of children they have.
Have children who are lucky in
The kind of parents they have.”

- Author unknown



-end-