With today's kid’s habit of playing, they can’t rival what Manlayohin had those days. I don't know what this game was called in upper Guinayanganin LOL! Or places outside Manlayo. I don’t know where the hell we got this game called. I keep goggling the weird name for over a week now just to know where the word came from. “IMBIMBIW” we simply use to say it as “BATAD” or literally “babad” hear it again and still it will not register as an acceptable word on your memories’ vocabulary bank. Anyway, If you are one of my kababata or one pretending not my kababata here you could relate LOL!. The game simply ruled as just like any other running games. The competing teams had to have a base. Simply an imaginary base line. Like in our days we use the end of “Bilaran ng Kaping(Tuyo Bamboo Plates’ drier)” to mark our base



Simply to say we had about 400 square meter of play ground. Each team should have balanced number of players. Say 10 X 10 that will be each team has 10 runners. You could emit from your base anytime you want, just like birds flying through 400 square meter area, but it is a time based game that your opposing team will track how soon you left your base. The sooner you came out of your base became your vulnerability, they can tag you and capture you as “taya” captives to their base and line up with an arm spread length with your fellow captured teammates. The games flows with that simple rule (with honesty of course)each team can honestly say he left sooner than him. There! Honesty on this game plays a major role in continuing. Okay it looks boring, but here is the thrill of this game. Let say all of your 8 team mates where captured and they all line up like garlic in braided stalks. You must become their hero, by touching either hands or body of the captured teammates without you being tagged by your opponents. And once you did that, the game became more exciting. The game continue on and on back and forth with edging each other team to the point we had about the hear the word “ KUYA KAKAIN NA. or KUYA uwi na raw sasalok pa ng tubig! That’s the most hustled word you may hear if you caught in the middle of intense game. I don’t point out my simple article will make you laugh ,no I don’t. but to people who can relate. it’s a reminiscing we will share with our friend that we once had a game like that. This is to show them that there are other games which they can enjoy aside from the emerging state-of-the-art video and computer games.



With those days you would not see kids with Diabetes. You would not see kids with heart ailments. It’s because we run all day, we play with kid’s friends real friends. Friends you can play with. Not just friendster and facebook friends. Who laugh at your word or picture once they saw your facebook wall LOL!. PS3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft XBOX. You know what, Kids today will make them smarter but not affectionate. I will give you an example, Close your eyes and name kids you had played with those days. And perhaps 80% you can still accurately name a few. Today, you play online games it will only represent an avatar or a nickname over the web you absolutely doesn’t care about.

-by Cornelio Cenizal

Photo Courtesy of Flickr
Repost from nellix.wordpress.com

Then MAJ REBECCA M AROMIN NC acted as the built-in, technical adviser to husband, then MAJ SAULITO R AROMIN (INF) PA on Reformed the Armed Forces Movement(RAM) activities during those times. During those days, Lito’s nearest assignment was Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal so that problems beyond her means were being consulted through LTC JAKE MALAJACAN or COL GREGORIO HONASAN who were assigned at Camp Aguinaldo. A lot of times, Becky would receive messages from Lito like…” Go and see Sir Jake..Tell your problem. He’ll help you…” This camaraderie and personal closeness (Lito and Jake worked hand -in- hand at ISAFP and 2ID, PA) made it easier for Becky to serve as “pasabilis”/courier of Lito to LTC Jake. It made her a covert supporter of RAM. Being his confidant and sounding board, Lito appeared consistent with his answers when asked /prodded several times about his tasking by the group- that he’ll enter Malacanang Palace through the JP Laurel gate, with back up troops of Col Honasan and LTC Malajacan, get then Pres Marcos for presentation to the Filipino people. And by that, he’ll be forced to step down as President of the Republic of the Philippines. Killing Marcos and his family was not part of the scenario.

A week before the target date, Lito invited me to fine dining. He said…”I want you to have a dinner with me at a very cozy place—candle- lighted, soft music and good food…” My answer was”…Parang last supper na ah…” And we laughed. We ended up in one of the famous steak houses in town.

A squad plus of Lito’s men was housed with us at our San Mateo residence. Marketing and their meals became my responsibility. It was also a personal opportunity and joy with Lito-- painting with black, blue, violet and green the bullet-proof, white life vest he was to wear during the mission. During the process, I asked him,”..Your chest and probably your trunk will be protected. What if they shoot you on the head? Are you going to use your helmet? I know you don’t like it because it’s heavy, but please wear it…” It was fun and joy with Lito, because we were like children scribbling the art effects we wanted. Oh yes, that light moment of regressed-like- behaviors and shared laughters. How can I ever forget that. That was real fun!

There were reports of increased troops and military equipment inside and surrounding areas of Malacanang Palace. I told him,..”With those, are you going to survive with only a few scout rangers tagging along and the equipment you have? He never uttered a word. From my heart and coming from his heart, we know, we’re unsure of his fate. But one thing he knew well…I was certain to lose him for country’s sake.

Early the following morning, I found myself walk-kneeling to the altar of Quiapo church, praying to our Lord of Black Nazarene for Lito’s safety. Next thing I did was heard mass at Sta. Cruz church, had confession and focused more to the Lord for Lito’s sake. At home, fervently praying the rosary with Lito and the children was not forgotten. We entrusted everything to the Blessed Mother and to Him.

I was taking Masters of Hospital Administration at UP-Manila, when our class president called for the stand of the class, because the faculty members were already boycotting their classes in response to Cory’s concerns. I told them…” In the AFP, we are never taught how to boycott, rally or demonstrate. I am also for some of Cory’s concerns, however, I intend to absent myself from class, not because I join the boycott, but because I have an impending problem…” When they heard the news over the radio and television, they very well understood about the impending problem I said in class.

Having poor sleep for several nights, I had to sedate Lito on the night of Feb 21. He was so thankful because he was rested the whole night and will be able to attend to the expected tasks.

At 2 pm of Feb22, Lito left for Metro Brigade after receiving a phone call. After 3 hrs, he called saying, “Di na matutuloy, but leave the house with the children as planned…”I was so happy the whole night. I had a good sleep, felt contented and really happy knowing we will not lose him. I woke up in high spirits. It was our eldest child, Sherlock, who informed me during our breakfast of Feb 23..”Marcos is looking for Dad…” I just took it with a smile and told her..”Why will he look for Dad? He’s nobody..” I forgot his aborted mission, perhaps overwhelmed by the idea that he’s out of danger and will stay with us. At 7am, we’re ready to move to my brother’s house. Before that, I handed an envelope with money to a neighbor as thanksgiving offering during mass that morning. She told me about Lito’s arrest . Still composed and determined, I proceeded to Fort Bonifacio bringing along his personal stuffs. I met him only after his presentation by Marcos to the members of International Press Corps in Malacanang. He narrated to me what transpired the whole night—interrogations and the like. And that sensing he’ll be dead, he took the courage of saying what he wanted to tell Marcos during that time like…”You don’t know what is happening in the country side,Sir, but field commanders like me are aware of all these…He added, …”You should have seen Bongbong and the men with him!..” My answer was…”It was a normal reaction on his part. You should understand that…”

When Cardinal Sin was asking people to flock to EDSA, I phoned Lito with the permission of a security officer. I asked Lito for his consent, for me to go to EDSA. He said,…”We have our participation ahead of them, I’m still here, just stay home and be with the children. It will soon be over..”

Our young children (ages 6, 5, 2, 1) were innocently shouting and jumping for joy every time they see their father on TV screens on Feb 23 and 24.

At 1am of Feb 25, my husband asked a soldier to fetch me, to Metro Brigade inside Fort Bonifacio . I brought a box of pandesals for Lito’s troops who were also detained there. I overheard someone saying..”Sa EDSA ang daming pagkain, salamat…may pandesal tayo…” Again, I was not able to see him as desired. Immediately, Lito was reunited with RAM group, attended a meeting with them inside Camp Aguinaldo and was tasked to do some clearing operations at once.

COL BOBBY SANTIAGO PA ( the security officer for the detained officers) and Lito were co-workers at ISAFP and 2ID,PA before the February Revolution. Before Lito was brought to Malacanang, he gave these words to Col Santiago,..” Sir, huwag mong pababayaan ang pamilya ko..”. When Marcos and his family left Malacanang, it was Col Santiago who uttered same statement to Maj Aromin and quoted..” Lito, huwag mong pababayaan ang family ko..”

After his assigned tasks, he arrived home at 6 pm of Feb 25. A joyous meeting with me and the children took place. He showered us with kisses and embraces and mused…”I share with you and our children the moments, happiness and fruits of this February Revolution…”

Lito was back to his battalion in Guinayangan, Quezon after 2 days….

Repost from Aromin's Xanga

Kultura nating mga Pilipino na ang panganay na anak ay may tungkulin sa kanyang mga kapatid kapag namayapa na ang mga magulang. Kaya ako, bilang panganay sa sampung magkakapatid, limang babae at limang lalaki ay siyang naging second parent ng mga kapatid ko. Ako ang sinasanggunian nila ng kanilang mga problema, hinihilingan ng advice at nagdi-desisyon para sa aming lahat.

Tulad ngayon, nagkaroon ng kaunting gusot ang tenant sa lupa. Umuwi ako ng Calauag, Quezon upang lutasin ang sitwasyon. Total retired na ako. May oras na para mag-stay ng matagal sa dati kong Home Sweet Home. Still healthy, energetic at able pa naman ako. Ang mga brod and sis ko ay still tied up with their own works.

Ang coconut plantation namin is located at barangay San Antonio, Guinayangan,Quezon. Half-hour ride by bus patungo roon. Maganda naman ang mag­biyahe papunta roon kasi concreted road na. Maliban sa isang parte sa barangay Rizal lbaba. More or less ay 25 meters na lubak-Iubak at maputik. Pagiwang-giwang ang bus pag natatapat doon. Tiyak na mapapasubsob ka at malamang mabukulan kapag di ka listo at hahawak sa upuan. “Fasten your seatbelt.” minsan ay pabirong sinabi ng niece ko ng minsang sumama sa amin. “Ma-air pocket pala dito,” “Hindi,” sagot agad ng nephew ko. “Maalon, parang pa-Marinduque. Tingnan mo, parang dagat.” At itinuro ang magkabilang tabi ng kalye kasi puno ng tubig. Maulan kasi noon.

Bakit, ano ba ang ginagawa ng governor dito? Wala bang budget para ayusin itong lugal na ito?” tanong ko sa sis ko. “Naku, palagi lang tinatambakan ito. Hindi na ito sini-semento at nasisira din agad Kumunoy itong lugal na ito at tambak lang ng tambak para madaanan. Lumulubog dito ang lupa kaya maputik, matubig at luhak-Iubak. Natamimi ako. Kung sinu-sino pa ang sinisi ko yon pala kumunoy ang lugal na iyon. Akala ko ang kumunoy ay sa sine, komiks at kuwento lamang. Totoo palang may kumunoy. Kasi noong bata pa ako, never akong sumama sa father ko patungo sabukid namin. Naka-focus lang ako sa pag-aaral very diligent kasi ako kaya kahit week-end stay at home lang ako doing my assignments and projects. Isa pa baby sitter ako ng brad and sis ko at helper din ng mother ko sa mga household chores. Pag Sunday busy din ako sa church kasi member ako ng Legion of Mary. Nang matapos ako ng high school, nag-college din agad ako, naging teacher at madaling nagka-asawa din. I settled in Marinduque with my husband and children. This is the only time para pumunta sa coconut plantation namin to settle the problems and demands of our tenants. Pagkamatay ng parents namin nagkaroon ng irregularities at pagsasamantala sa mga produkto.

Pero hindi iyon ang nasa isip ko. Simple lang iyon at madaling ayusin. What trigger my mind ay ang kumunoy na dinaanan namin. Ang kumunoy ay dapat tambakan upang madaanan. Ito ang naglaro sa isip ko. Katulad din pala ng tao. We have our weaknesses, sometimes we are arrogant, judgmental, selfish, dishonest at hard to deal with. We need to improve those undesirable traits to become desirable and pleasing to others. We are living in an imperfect world. Let’s give allowances to the shortcomings of others to be positive thinker, understanding, optimistic, broad-minded, sympathetic and compassionate are of paramount importance to help build good attitude to people. Trust and pray to God. Eventually we will develop wonderful relationships with others. We become spiritually guided, emotionally, mentally and socially-adjusted person. Huwag tayong maging kumunoy na hinihigop ang kapwa para lumubog. Tambakan ang kumunoy para magkaroon ng harmonious relation with other.

by Letty Leal

Repost from Ang Pulso On Line

Several mangroves are seen along the riverbank and coastal areas of Sitio Capuluan, Guinayangan, Quezon Province.

Going to many places has never been boring. My weekend last summer has brought me to a common place, yet extraordinary; a place where truly nature speaks for itself, greatly and abundantly—untouched and virgin.

For more than eight hours of travel via AB Liner, my trip started at 11 in the evening in Pureza Terminal Station.On our way, food handlers just hitched on the bus, selling pinagong, a bread with aromatic smell, espasol, kalamayhati, and famous tikoy. I chose pinagong. And I liked it.

Guinayangan in Quezon Province destined to be my next stop last June. It has a vast seascape brimmed with fishes, sea foods, and perfect scenery, while its mountains have towering coconut trees, mostly been growing couple of decades ago, and palm trees that mostly used for weaving and agricultural business. Most people talked differently in their intonations, but they are Tagalog-speaking—mainly because of settlers coming from islands of Panay, Mindoro, Masbate, and even from the mainland Luzon.


The Guinayangan Port serves as essential artery in sea transport of goods and travel.



The municipality is a 4th class in the province, and has more than 50,000 people. According to the Wikipedia resource, Guinayangan came from a native word for cane “gayang”, they “copied” —ginaya and adopted the name to become “ginayangan” or what is now known as Guinayangan. Its people pronounce it “Ginyangan” omitting the “a” sound.





A high-noon shot during my stay at Sitio Capuluan, Guinayangan, Quezon Province

I moved closer to the mountains. From the proper town area, we hopped in a craggy jeepney and took a 45-minute trip to Sitio Capuluan. I stayed there for almost five days, not resting, but taking photos, a lot of photos, and talking to different people. They were fun. I liked the most the way they talk, and I felt amazed. The foods they served were mostly hot and spicy, and I feel eating their delicacy laing with no pork.

“Residents here work very hard for a living. They go fishing, others would do lukad or preparing dried coconut to sell in the market,” 19 year-old Shiela C. Asi, a local resident said.

Before, students have to endure the pain in walking going to school miles to miles for an hour or even more. “We really have a hard time walking and walking.” However, “there are jeepneys already. Hours of walking was replaced by a 15-minute ride on a jeepney.”


Coconut trees are some of important sources of financial income of the locales in Guinayangan


Some of the residents have moved to places from places, searching for another avenue to venture. But one thing is true—they go back home.

“There is no place like home,” Adrian M. Cueto said. He grew up in Guinayangan,

then transferred to Iloilo City and some time in Antique to find meaning what life has in store. But he goes home. Now a seafarer, Adrian is proud being raised in this place. “I have been to many places in the world, but Guinayangan is far different. It has a lot to offer, especially in progress and development of Quezon province,” he added.

Most of his pals before are now in some places in Luzon, mostly in Manila, and they always go home, to seek refuge from the city’s fast paced living. “You will always look after for the serene nights, when you could only hear the crickets and the frogs in the pond,” Adrian said.

I have met Kaka Linda Alday who prepared some native delicacies during my stay. “We have similar delicacies here, but what mainly differs is the way we prepare,” she said while prepping some white-colored balls made of starch. She at that moment was cooking ginataan rolled in banana leaves and soaked in melted brown sugar.

As she wrapped up her cooking, she made mentioned of how people thrived in their place. “People here could live without enough money, as long as you have rice to eat, you will survive,” she smiled at me saying.


Kaka Linda bravely fought all the trials and problems she face in her life.


Albeit the pain in her breast, as she said, “I’m suffering from stage three breast cancer,” I could see in her face the glow, the spirit to survive, but I could, somehow, feel her pain. She lived as if there are no worries, no pains, but I realized she has few more months to live. “People here are strong, industrious, and eager to survive; like me,” she added.

“Before, we find it hard to receive any medical services, but now, the municipality is improving,” Kaka Linda said.

Guinayangan is equipped with a municipal health center, a hospital, and qualified health officers who could deliver quality and efficient health services, free medicines and vitamins are available for needy and sick people.

As I end up my week-long break in Sitio Capuluan, I have met different people, with different stories, with different dreams and aspirations. I wish I would be there, once more, but I will surely miss Kaka Linda; she could not prepare ginataan for me anymore. Though I could no longer see her smile, her strong will to survive inspired me.

It was not merely visiting this place for me to experience what life in the Quezon province is and to enjoy the life out of city’s stressors. Knowing how life is played in there made my stay so much self-fulfilling; so meaningful.



Sitio Capuluan is accessible either by motorbanca or by jeepney.

















This article is my travel story for BusinessWorld





by: Harthwell C. Capistrano

 
Photos Courtesy of harthwell.blog.friendster.com
Repost from Inscripto

The above ad circa 1928 promotes Mayon Volcano while actively erupting. The ad was published a year after the Manila Railroad company promoted "Bicol Express". The Manila Railroad Company started using "Express" after they used oil-fired locomotives. The trip starts with a train ride from Paco to Aloneros, Guinayangan, Quezon. A night boat to Pasacao, Camarines Sur along the Ragay Gulf, then motor drive to Pamplona, Camarines Sur. The last leg of the travel is a train ride from Pamplona to Legaspi City or Tabaco, Albay.

Repost From Laguna Railways