By the Jal-o River

We remember. We aspire to relive it. We miss that one community affair we had prior to the critical years of insurgency in our town. The authorities had to parry the popular demand then as threats of raids becomes prevalent. They said that Masquerade Ball on the 31st of December had to be done away with for fear that insurgent elements might use it against them. And we didn't reacted. We took that declaration on face value. For the peace of Balete, we used to say, "Let it be. Oh, let it be". But despite the EDSA and the outstanding peace and order situation, no one venture of restaging the custom. Older people forgets. The young has no recollection of it. But we remember. We aspire to relive it. We miss the fun and excitement at the artistry of Baleten-ons as they turned themselves into living, fleeting human canvas. Baleten-ons might be Kalampai as some bitter souls perceive them, but they have a great sense of humor and are gifted with the capacity of making fun at the

We're coming to the head of the Paskwa sa Banwa celebration. Due to hectic schedule, we've opted to shorten the celebration from the original 12 days of Christmas platform to this year's 5-day observance. We supposed to keep the spirit intact where the carolers are the ones giving gifts to the elected indigent families from all over Balete. The new administration however innovates by incorporating some sort of contests during the entire 5 night vigil--dance sports, Choral contest, vocal solo and composo (our OBM, i.e., orginal Baleten-on Music). I've insisted that such contests should be within the context of the celebration and so far, I've to rationalize if they indeed have been made that way. I recall a note from a priest on the manner we have observed and celebrated Christmas. He avers that Christmas, in its true merit, happens after we've sang the Christmas carols and sent out those Christmas cards, after we've opened the Christmas gifts, when we have

I'd the privilege last night of reading stories to my little daughter. She's 2 and as I was relaxing on the couch "listening" to the mumblings on the TV, she approached me and placed a book on my lap, pleading, " Basa ta, Tay " (Let us read, father). I took the book and readily noted that it's one of those beautiful collections that I prided to have: Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. Holding on the book in my right hand, I took her on my lap with my free hand and in a dramatic way, started reading to her the title. I was fortunate to reach page 6 before her attention was grabbed by some geckos emerging out of a framed artwork hanging on the wall. " Tay, toko !", she called out in excited voice. Ignoring it, I read on..."'They don't know any more about life than I do,'he sighed". " Tay, toko! " "AV, look, caterpillars hu ! More catepillars!!! And look, a caterpillar pillar and Stripe is going up there!&q

Today marks the beginning of Advent-the time to prepare for the three-fold coming of the Lord: in his birth, in his Second Coming and in our daily encounters with him as we journey in life. Traditionally--or popularly, it is the three-to-four weeks that precedes Christmas. But as Christians, we are reminded by our observance of it to recall his first coming to prepare us to recognize him when he comes again in our neighbor. We prepare for his second coming in the spirit of the poor who awaits for the day of the Lord when he frees us from the bondage of oppression that enslaves us. And in hidden ways he comes to us, we encounter him in our brothers and sisters, in the least among us as we do about with the business of our days.

I was again tasked of representing my Mayor to the Completion Program of the Four Month Computer Literacy Program jointly administered by the Alternative Learning System of the DepEd and a service provider called Fontsmart Computer Arts and Training Services. The ceremony was done at the TFC Civc Center today, November 18, 2010. I just learned that there are seventy graduates coming from the academe, the business sector as well as the out of school youth. The Jose Borromeo Legaspi National High School served as host for this weekend competency and skills training for the past four months. The trainees are charged of at most Php 1,600 per head, depending on the competencies (packages) they wish to avail. I was told that the standard is high as the service provider wants to be at par with the DepEd standards and gains its endorsement in other regions. So far, since 2000, it facilitated trainings in 33 municipalities/cities, mostly in Mindanao and the Visayan regions. The message I read

The Local Chief Executive has requested me to welcome in his behalf the participants to the Division Cluster Read-A-Thon and Annual Language Fest Competition comprising the Districts of Balete, Banga, Libacao and Madalag. The event was held on November 17, 2010 at the Balete Elementary School, Balete, Aklan. Hereunder is the message I delivered during the said event. Good morning! In behalf of Mayor Bobby Calizo and the Baleten-on community, I welcome you all to our peaceful and enchanting town. We are honored to host this year’s Division Cluster Read-A-Thon covering the mentioned Districts. I have with me some reading materials. The first is a news article taken from the Inquirer.net under the category, “Breaking News/Nation” entitled, “15 LGUs receive ‘good housekeeping’ award.” Allow me to read to you a portion of it. ( pls. follow this link… ) The second is the “Hala Birada News Weekly” dated November 4-10, 2010. One of its headlines read: Aklan town one of RP’s ‘good housekeeping

My mind tells me that I am busy. I do have a lot of workload stock up in my office table. Deadlines are nearing and I seem not to progress at all. So my mind is frantic. It keeps on telling me that I can't afford to be idle. It keeps on prodding me to rush about and avoid distractions along the way. But my body reacts. Despite the supplements and the vitamins that I'm taking, my body complains. It wanted rest. I seeks respite and diversions. The Friday Boys miss my company for more than a couple of months now. I haven't interacted with them on a quality basis. Now, they scheduled a special session at Arlie's this afternoon. But I can't. As if to add insult to injury, my heart murmurs. Probably, a side effect of the 3 bars of chocolate given to me by a Someone the other day. As I observe it, a heart murmuring is a restless one. But yet lacking the fire to write poems again, to grab that paint brush and dubs oil on canvass, again. A restless heart with dying embers at

Good morning! I stand before you here today in behalf of the Honorable Mayor to welcome you to this special occasion. He gave me the marching order yesterday of welcoming you in a manner befitting of your class. Just the other week, I was also tasked being the outgoing President of the Aklan League of Secretaries to the Sanggunian of welcoming the delegates to the 8th Regional Assembly cum Seminar of the Regional League of Secretaries to the Sanggunian held in Boracay Island. Considering the ambience of the place and the restlessness of the delegates, I was prompted of welcoming them lightly. I told them that the Aklanon Secretaries have this two types of words of welcome—the short and the long one. The short being, “Welcome.” And the long one is, “Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!” It sounds as a “major, major” remark of Ms. Venus Raj. This early and without preempting their confirmation by Mr. Rapiz, allow me to convey the felicitations of the Local Government Officials to all those who un

The following address earned the notoriety as a "green" remarks--and I wonder why. You be the judge if it is indeed "green". Ladies and gentlemen: Power like sex is addicting. Like sex, it is seductive. Like sex, it entices. But power ironically is powerless over those who refused to be seduced by it. It has no dominion over those who seek not to be spectacular and relevant. For sure, it entices one to be primus inter pares. But for those who upheld community over selves, for those who believe that death doesn’t end life but transform it, power is just a tool, a means to an end—a means that would, could never justify the end. Tonight, I am giving up that privilege of power to Bing (Begonia Miroy). And mind you, I’m already in heat of the thought of giving it up. For three years, I’ve been whining, “PLEASES, RELEASES Me, Let me go.” I’m justified for doing so as our AKLESSA Constitution and By Laws mandates that a President should only hold a term of one y

The evaluators had warned us: You're at the top 5 of those being considered for the Performance Challenge Fund Program of the DILG. But we were immune to such warning. The declaration was too good to be true--WAS too good to believe. Then came the news simultaneously as Typhoon Juan lashed down Northern Luzon. Balete won a seal--that seal of Good Housekeeping Award intended for the select 15 local government units throughout the country! So what is this all about, this much coveted Seal of Good Housekeeping Award for Local Government Units? Technically, one would be an eligible nominee if it has complied with or met certain criteria, viz.: Exemplary Performance in Local Governance, specifically in areas of a)planning b) fiscal management c) transparency & accountability and d) valuing performance monitoring. An awardee of such seal becomes eligible to avail of the Performance Challenge Fund. Since 2004, Balete pioneered the crafting of a Joint Executive-Legislative Agenda (EL

O f the many events taking place in my town this October, it is hard finding time to pause and appreciate their messages and significance...One thing for sure that I would regret is the fact that they were here and yet I failed to enjoy their manifestations. It is ironic that I am gaping at the centuries-old manuscripts at the Archives yet failed to appreciate my town as it engages itself in historicity of the here and now.

Some dear friends have been asking how far have I progressed in my research of our local history and I answered vaguely, "I'm still hiking along the muddy trail of Guanko". The research commenced in 1998 under the administration of Mayor Bobby Calizo when Balete was considering the centennial celebration of the so called "El Tiroteo de Agtawagon", literally, "The Skirmish in the Hill of Agtawagon" but was popularized as "The Battle of Agtawagon". The officials then were hard put in conceptualizing what sort of celebration they ought to launch for lack of materials (historical data) to work on. They recalled that the teachers had some stage play presented regaling that "glorious past" but when the teachers admitted that that was but a product of a pregnant imagination, they hesitated to proceed. They thus resorted to organizing a research team which they divided into two. The first was consisted by Ng. Mila Jimera Andrade, then Vice

I smile to myself realizing the civil war happening inside. I've been there for quite a number of time. Precisely that at the onset of its becoming, I readily recognize it. I smile because I am happy. I also smile because I am wary. I smile because I sense my weakness arising. That's the way I express myself, ever since. I am happy to have met you. I am excited knowing you each new day. I am glad that our roads have crossed. But I am wary. I am not sure how intimate we could become. I can tolerate becoming acquainted. I do not know if I can handle gut level conversations with you. I am afraid of becoming familiar. I am afraid of being defined. I am becoming. If you managed to define me, then I fear that I have ceased growing. Your Monalisa smile will make me paranoid. What does it mean? Does it mean that I am known by you? Does it mean that death is nearing my door?

As morning breaks I look to you, O God, to be my strength this day. Alleluia. ( Ps. 63 )

My bolano has just uploaded a magnificent panoramic frame of some antiquated posts at the heart of the Balete Town Plaza. Then, he wondered out loud what they represent or what they used to be in their heydays. Most of my contemporaries remember the "structures" just as that--four pillars guarding quietly and indiscriminately the playground from the pedestrians and motorists passing the Plaridel St. (now, Bernardo J. Rodriguez St.) Few however know what they were, just like my bolano. I myself heard only some hazy stories about its "glorious past" and those hazy stories I will attempt to reconstruct. The late Bingo Altavas used to tell of an entry in the Mi Diaro of his great grandfather, the eminent Baleten-on Senator, Jose Cortes Altavas , where his old man recalled of having learned cartillas at the Escuela del Re y just beside the Parish Church of Balete in the early 1880's. A picture in albumen print preserved at the Archives of the University of Michig

The Sangguniang Bayan has unanimously ordained the passage of an investment incentive code last August 12, 2010. The draft ordinance was presented on First Reading as early as 2007 but for some reasons, the committee assigned to it had not advanced its immediate enactment. Considering that we are an agricultural community, we've prioritized on the following areas: a. agriculture • Poultry/Piggery/Livestock Production • Vegetables/Fruits/Crops Production • Rice and Corn Production 1.lowland 2.upland • Aqua-culture • Processed Foods, to include but not limited to the following: 1.Pinipig/Banana/Camote Crackers 2.Smoke Fish 3.Cassava Fudge 4.Rice Cake (all sorts of Kakanin) 5.Boneless Bangus b. Forestry • Bamboo Craft Production • Piña Fiber Extraction and Cloth Weaving • Rafia Craft Production • Nito Craft Production • Abaca Production/

Slowly, my sleepy town comes to life. Slowly, Balete flips its calendar as October draws near. The cool, damp morning breeze awakens Baleten-ons to some imperceptible frantic worries. The inattentive always complain of almost grasping the meaning behind the restlessness and the anxiety. But for Wawaw, though he may be partially deaf, he senses that the month of September sounds similar as October and he would salivate for that ice-cold San Miguel Beer served by Arlie's househelp. Ah, fiesta eon man! Really, fiesta eon man sa banwa! Traditionally, Balete Fiesta is set every October 24 based on old canonical calendar which determine the feast day of the Archangel Rafael . This year though, October 24 falls on a Sunday which is of course the Lord's Day, the day in a week where Christians celebrate the resurrection and the rest of the paschal mysteries of the Lord. It is a remembrance which is sine qua no n to all the other Christian feast. As such, basing on the canons of the Cath

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has this interesting parable about a little prince who lived in a little planet with its three small volcanoes and a haughty flower. One unforgettable chapter narrates about the meeting and separation of the little prince and a fox as he went about his inter-planetary journey. Their meeting was casual and yet wonderful: “Good morning,” said the fox. “Good morning,” the little prince responded politely although when he turned around he saw nothing. “I’m right here,” the voice said, “under the apple tree.” “Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You’re very pretty to look at.” I’m a fox,” the fox said. “Come and play with me,” proposed the little prince. “I’m so sad.” “I cannot play with you,” the fox said. “I’m not tamed.” “Ah! Please excuse me,” said the little prince. But after some thought, he added, “What doest that mean—‘tame’?” “It’s an act too often neglected,” said the fox. “It means to establish ties. To me, you are still nothing more th

Nakasanayan na po natin na tuwing sasapit ang buwan ng Agosto, ang wikang Tagalog ang siyang salitang ating ginagamit. Kaya nga’t umaalma na ang mga bisaya. Unsa nga Tagalog man ang Pilipino? Ngaa nga daw sa pareho na gid ang buot silingon sang Pilipino kag Tagalog? Balido nga mga obserbasyon nga dapat eang taw-an it nagakaigo nga igtaeupangod. Kaya nga’t ang kwento ay ang “itlog” sa Bulacan ito ay nagiging “ebon” na pagtawid mo ng tulay sa Pampanga; ang “pating” sa Aklan ay lumalangoy pero ng sumakay ka ng Ceres ito na ay lumilipad pagdating sa Iloilo. Ano po ba ang ipinapahiwatig nito? Ang wika, ayon sa mga dalubhasa, ay siyang sukatan ng isang pamayanan. Kung ito ay lumalago, naipagyayaman, ang pamayanang gumagamit nito ay lumalago rin at umuunlad. Ang wika ay siyang nagbibigay kahulugan, nagtataglay ng katangi-ang iba sa bawat lahi. Ang wikang Pilipino hay hindi pa establisado. Ito ay patuloy na lumalago at yumayaman. Ipinapahiwatig nito na ang lahing Pilipino ay patuloy na lumala

Something deep inside is craving for something. My body reacted and kept me bedridden for almost a week. Lower back pain syndrome. It wanted full attention. It demanded that I take it by the horns. Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataract ...

One of the gems on local history of the Rare Books and Manuscripts section of the National Library of the Philippines is a published material, Historia Geografica, Geologica y Estadistica con Datos Geograficos, Geologicos y Estadisticas de las Islas de Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao y Jolo, y los que Corresponden a las Islas Batanes, Calamianes, Balabac, Mindoro, Masbate, Tigao y Burias, situadas al n.so. y s. de Luzon . It was written by Don Agustin de la Cavada y Mendez de Vigo and was published in Manila in the year 1876 by Imprinta de Ramirez y Giraudier. Don dela Cavada was the founder of a news weekly paper called La Estrella which made debut on October 4, 1846. He also spearheaded the Philippine census of 1870 where of the 4,653,263 population of the Philippines then, only 114,463 spoke Spanish. He was by then the treasurer of the Hacienda which monopolized the Tobacco industry . These backgrounds prepared him to publish such material of extensive data in the few years that follow

There are some dreams that ought not to come true--or better still, that one should prevent from materializing. Some dreams should not even be spoken of, or written down for others to know. Dark desires of Freudian nature which are disturbing, making one afraid of the secrets hidden in the darkest corner of one's subconscious mind.

"Is Gary Granada related to anyone here in Balete?", a friend of mine asked me one afternoon in my office. I just gave him my knowing grin and asked him in turn why the sudden interest. He said that he just came home from a three-day national convention held in Zamboanga City. He admitted that he was surprised to see the town on Balete in a video presentation featuring Gary Granada's Dakilang Maylikha during the opening ceremonies of the convention. He left the Zamboanga International Airport a few hours before the explosion that killed a couple of persons last August 6. Gary Granada "came" to Balete many years ago with his album, Ang Pagsamba ag Pakikibaka . An SFIC nun "introduced" him to me during a workshop on theater arts for a group of young Baleten-ons at St. Rafael Parish. Since then, I elected to adopt him as a "resident" of my now outmoded Sharp hi-fi stereo. Another friend some years later, upon learning that I love Gary's mus

Dreaming for a stable economy is a serious thing and that chances of missing the mountain for the forest so to speak are likely to happen. Even then, Baleten-ons venture into approximating this vision by threading on paths it has plotted out for the next three years such as, viz.: 1. To increase profitability and productivity of farmers and fisher folks through livestock-based backyard livelihood and entrepreneurship as well as inland freshwater pond and orchard establishment and management. 2. To sustain local production of crops, livestock and fishery produce through sustained capacity development of farmers and fisher folks as well as to improve agricultural support facilities and infrastructure. 3. To encourage MFIs to hold office and avail of accreditation windows in the Municipality of Balete to fuse in fresh capital in the locality 4. To encourage the diversification of local economy by maximizing the Kabuhian Center and the passage of the Investment Incentive Code in order to g

Balete is acquainted into the National Economy and vice versa through the roll-on, roll-off scheme (ro-ro). Slowly, farmers are turning into instant traders by the roadside displaying proudly the fruits of their labor. Yet long before the ro-ro scheme passed through Balete, it was regionally known for its oysters, mussels and other brackish water fishery produce displayed along roadside at Sitio Miekulesan, Barangay Aranas and of its distinct pinipig in Sitio Bangbang, Barangay Feliciano. Nipa shingles ( ambulong and nipa ) produced in Barangay Aranas, Arcangel, Calizo and Cortes have been consistently marketed to as far as Iloilo. The same is observed as to the diverse agricultural produced coming from the mountainous barangays of Balete. The opportunities brought forth by the ro-ro should be grasped at and maximize to their full potentials. It is not farfetched to make Balete a hub of both agricultural and fishery produce coming within the Jal-o River watershed [1] as trans

Unique of Balete is the presence of a two-million peso worth skills training and exhibition center known as the Kabuhi-an (Livelihood). It lies on a hilly portion of Barangay Aranas and is accessible through the National Road connecting the Province of Aklan to the rest of the Panay Island. Apart from being a tourist attraction (due to its ambience) it serves as venue for a number of seminars, meetings/conferences and trainings on livelihood conducted by various government agencies. The facility could be developed to serve as the LGU’s center for skills development, product designs and labeling, and entrepreneurship giving due attention to advancing the interest of the small and medium enterprises that focus on pi ña weaving production and related crafts. It could be made use as venue for live-in training and conferences due to its good ambience provided that lodging facilities are constructed. Private sectors or civil society organizations may be tapped as partners for this scheme

Over the years, the Local Government of Balete bore the stigma of having such a very low employment rate and very high poverty incidence. [1] While the trends may be argued as “statistically improbable” or questionable, to say the least, basing on the town’s current labor force participation rate of 67%, its unemployment rate of 56% vis-à-vis the population growth rate of 1.35% [2] , its many performance indicators [3] call on the government to intervene and do something concrete to address these recurring problems. We add to that the call of President Aquino of turning our people into consumers to make for a vibrant growth on entrepreneurship and stable economy. Notwithstanding the seeming tall order of making each and every one of us consumer, we take into consideration the fact that being an agricultural community, we are challenged to first urge, cajole and turn our people into producers. And this one too is equally difficult to accomplish. Precisely that the Local Governmen

B ishop Romualdo Jimeno , the Bishop of Cebu (1846-1872) was known in the Province of Capiz (of which Balete was then a part of) as the first Diocesan Bishop (he was actually a Dominican) to have made pastoral visit in this part of the ecclesiastical province of Cebu. He was further known as the bishop who was ambushed and killed on 17 March 1872 his way from Batang (Batan) to Dumalag. To commemorate his death the place where he fatally fell was named Jimeno (now known as Altavas). To Balete-on, Bishop Jimeno may not ring a bell. But sometime in July 29, 1856 or exactly 154 years ago, the good Bishop wrote something to the advantage of the Baleten-on people. He was just informed of the death of Padre Don Jose Matias Piansay, the interino then of the Balete Parish. Worried that the faithful in the enchanting town of Balete were shepherdless, he immediately directed his chancellor to write a dispatch to Presbitero Don Diego Albao who was at that time in a mission work in the North to r