For Days of Auld Lang Syne

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 themselves just for the fun of it. Just when they don themselves with weird or satirical costumes come the Masquerade Ball. Take for instance Jose Bang-aw and the XXL underwear he wore or Domingo in his Bondying regalia.

So the plan is to relaunch the Ball this 31st. Not at the Community Hall though. It is a gone by structure. What we have now is the Civic Center. So off we see each other there to say goodbye to the preceding year and together welcome 2011. To refresh the mind of the old; to echo it to the young and for us to get over with our fixation of it. The message is simple: For all that has been, THANKS; to all that shall be, YES!

When Jesus Was

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 eaten the noche buena and set aside those glittering Christmas lanterns and trees; when we've switched off the Christmas lights. Christmas happens when we turn our attention to the poor, when we proclaim liberty to the captives and give sight to the blind, when we give food to the hungry and announce a year of favor from the Lord...Christmas happens when Jesus is present in every activity that we involve in.

Reading Stories to My 2 Year Old

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!"

For a while, she stayed focus looking at the illustrations of caterpillars stomping on and being stomped on as they race for the top of the caterpillar pillar. "Eupak!!! Abong eupak!!! Yew! And she ran the aisle and enjoyed her childhood on some toys scattered about, oblivious of the book that tells of two caterpillars who have problems metamorphing into butterflies.

Advent: A Journey and An Encounter

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.

A Four Month Computer Literacy Program in Balete

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 to them is as follows:


Good afternoon!

The Hon. Mayor has requested me to deliver in his behalf his special message for all of you here today. Lend me your ear for a while.

This is one occasion worth remembering and which should be announced throughout the world through your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Do you have? Is having such accounts part of the required curriculum for you to graduate in this Four Month Computer Literacy Program?

Seriously, every moving up, each graduation, is a milestone that is worth documenting. Man is a historical being. Not because he keeps on looking back into the past but more so because of the fact that he is aware that historicity is about becoming. He lives and actively defines the circumstance and the moment where he operates. Thus, he says, “I am becoming.”

This philosophical statement is best understood as we recognize our strengths and shortcomings, as we pause to applaud those of us who excelled and hit the mark bull’s eye. Always, each completion program any school has for that matter provides a new perspective through which one realizes that the other is in flux—constantly defining himself, becoming as he grows in age and wisdom. The call is for you to adapt or to use the ICT parlance, to upgrade. By upgrading your knowledge and skills you give flesh and blood to your theme, computer technology: meeting the challenges of human living in the workplace.

In one of my interactions with DepEd personnel a few days ago, I have intimated to them that the predictions made by Dr. Alvin Toffler early in the seventies are becoming true today. The rapid growth in the fields of science and technology led him to infer that future shocks and alters the course of history. Today, power lever has already shifted into the Age of Information. We are indeed in a very different environment where everything is becoming linked together via the microchips. We see traditional jobs becoming obsolete and eliminated, giving way or shifted to places in the globe where wages are most competitive. New realities like hyper agriculture, nanoceuticals, desktop manufacturing, etc. are sprouting like mushrooms.

They say that things around and about us are fleeting. And so we are. The smell of newly harvested rice this morning is different from the one we cook on the morrow. The water that flow from the Jal-o yesterday was different from that which runs on it today. Yesterday, we endured tinkering on our Olympia Typewriter for hours and even days in doing our monthly report. Today, we silently encode on our laptop inputs and within a blink of an eye, we have a consolidated report which otherwise would took us several days to complete. That’s the magic of information communication technology. But as they say, “garbage in, garbage out”. Precisely that we sure better master it or else we find ourselves irrelevant and outmoded like our antiquated Olympia typewriter.

So go on and upload this event on your Multiply and Friendster accounts. We will be glad to remember this day as a point of reference to the many good things that are yet to come.

Congratulations to all of you!

Interacting with the Participants to the Division Cluster Read-A-Thon

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’ awardees. Again, allow me to read to you its opening statement…"The town of Balete...made it to the exclusive circle of 15 lgus in the country as a 'good housekeeping awardee.'...As an awardee, (it) qualifies to avail of the Performance Challenge Fund..."

The third reading material I’m going to share with you is an article taken from a blog entitled, “By the Jal-o River” at www.a-river-called-jal-o.blogspot.com. The article “Savoring the Aromatic Seal of Good Housekeeping Award” explains how Balete made it to the top 15 LGUs in the country.

These funds will enable us to finance the programs and projects we have identified in our joint Executive Legislative Agenda of which DepEd Balete has actively participated during our month-long workshop last July 2010. The Local Government of Balete has always prioritized education as one of its flagship programs. Despite our being a poor municipality, our people have now a complete access to basic education starting at preparatory up to tertiary level. Our library, though modest it is, is accredited by the National Library of the Philippines. Some of the National High Schools have accessed to information communication technology and we have made the Town Hall wi-fi hotspot to facilitate communication and information traffic. We are doing these not because we are encouraging our people to be addicted to Farmville and Counterstrike. We are doing these things precisely because we believe that knowledge is the tool for conquering the future. We’ve invested much on educating our youth precisely because we believe that the real wealth of Balete is its people.

We support the “Every Child A Reader Program” of the DepEd not only because it develops literacy. Reading forms the child’s character—the child who is father to man. That is to say, to the child who is the hope of our fatherland. I remember seeing a statue depicting Joseph sitting and on his lap is the young boy Jesus. With his muscular arms outstretched around Jesus, Joseph is holding an unfurled scroll in front of them. Together, with mouths very wide open, they were singing the Psalms. It was a very moving portrayal of Jesus and the paternal care and love of his poster father. What struck me most was that this depiction shows one of the ways that the young boy Jesus came to know his mission in life. By learning to read the Torah or the Sacred Scriptures, he was able to ponder their deepest meaning—the meaning that he so well live and died for—and earned him the name above every other name. Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

It is with these thoughts then that we welcome you to Balete.

Predicament

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 its core...

A WELCOME REMARK TO THE COMPLETION CEREMONY, National English Proficiency Program, District of Balete

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 underwent and completed this National English Proficiency Program here in Balete. I believe that the program has been served well with Ms. Meriam Zapador being their companion in this journey towards English proficiency.
I don’t have inside information of the modules you have for this program but I imagine it as something that invites you to take a second look into the dynamics of the English language vis-à-vis the cultural set up that we Filipinos have at this point in time. But I do know that the intention of the program is to keep you updated, inviting you to adapt to the changing and new realities as brought about by the Age of Information Technology. I see that it is an opportunity to grow, to be relevant. I’m imagining a vampire who through the world of Geoffrey Chaucer endured the Great Vowel Shift as brought about by the standardized Early Modern English of Shakespeare and suddenly teleported (I would rather say, awakened) and immersed into the greater varieties of the English language of the contemporary world, not to mention the jejemon lingo.
Cultures have been evolving over hundreds of thousands of years, and languages are rich with the differences: the sounds, the rhythms, and the phraseology—just to name but a few. Some thinkers even used the word, “grow”, as if language is alive. Now, this is so as language being one of the many forms of communications expresses at the deepest level how we are experiencing the world at a given moment. And how we experience the world at a given moment depends, most likely, upon our culture, and upbringing.
In the seventies, Dr. Alvin Toffler, author of bestselling non-fiction books such as Powershift, Future Shock and The Third Wave, was busy dissecting our history into three “waves”. The rapid growth in the fields of science and technology led him to infer that future shocks and alters the course of history. More to it, values such as nationalism will be giving way to new realities like globalization. As we moved into the 21st century, power lever will be shifting—it has already shifted I should say, from brute physical strength of the Agricultural age and the wealth of the Industrial revolution into the Age of Information. We are indeed in a very different environment where everything is becoming linked together via the microchips. We see traditional jobs becoming obsolete and eliminated, giving way or shifted to places in the globe where wages are most competitive. The signs of the time are calling us to change, to adapt, to learn the intricacies of the new world of Information Communication Technology, reminding us that the entry card to it is to have the best information available and the proficiency of communicating it.
I have been tempted of welcoming you with a heavy remark when I originally plan of writing down a lighter one. Please don’t misconstrue my intention. You deserve better, heavier stuff than enduring the bickering of Kapuso, Kapamilya and Kapatid on your TVs.
As I’ve seen it, proficiency in communicating helps us bring out the creative in us, enabling us to bridge the gap in language or culture, in personality or educational background. My friend proved this to himself when he had stopped over in Rome while studying for priesthood. I bet some of you know him. He don’t speak Italian, and Italians hate English. So his problem was how to communicate with Italians during his brief stay in Roma.
Fortunately, he knows a little about Italians. His favorite violinist is Paganini, his favorite conductor is Toscanini, and his favorite sports car is Lamborghini.
So he figured that if he added “nini” to every word uttered, he would be understood. No harm trying it, he told himself. So he did. Outside the airport, he flagged a taxi: “Taxinini,” and a cab pulled over. Along the way, he felt hungry, so he asked the driver to take him to a “restoranini.” And he did.
He went into the restaurant, took a table, and signaled to a waiter. “Waiternini,” He said. A waiter came with a menu and said, “Signore, (in Italian) what do you want to eat?” He could not read the menu which was in Italian, so he said, “Chickenini and spagettinini.”
The waiter wrote on his order pad. Then, he smiled at him and said: “Signore, kakainini o babalutinini?”
My dear educators, honorable ladies and gentlemen, proficiency in communication will really help us bridge the gap, enable us to face the challenges ahead of us and help us adapt to the changing times for us to realize our common dreams; that we can achieve if we dare enough to be creative, to be available, to reach out, to be open to learning and the new realities as brought about by the influx of information communication technology. Through it all we will bridge personal, professional and cultural differences with peoples we interact with.
With that heavy stuff, I welcome you to Balete.

My "Green" Valedictory Address as Outgoing President of the Aklan League of Secretaries to the Sanggunian

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 year. I’m two years overstaying. I felt like I’m just like Bilbo Baggins, holding on to my precious, seduced by its power, unable to let go of the One Ring that would rule them all.
And so as I deliver this valediction, I imagine myself wandering out of the Shire towards Rivendell hoping that once settled, I would have the time and the luxury of writing down our history as a League. Ng. Odon (Bandiola) was frustrated as no one cares of writing it down. We tried to incorporate it on our souvenir program but we failed. We’re just busy being Secretaries to the Buong Bayan pati na sa Kabarangayan. We seem good at ghost writing but never on writing our collegial and personal journals.
AKLESSA is just an adolescent league, much like RELEASES and the PLEASES. I’m confident that with Bing at the helm, it will soar into greater heights—considering the collectibles that we are to receive from our borrowers. I would like to believe that many adventures wait down its path—starting tonight, I hope. Boracay offers a lot of varieties. I trust that Bing will just remain faithful to the very reason for which we formed this league 14 years ago, just as I tried to maintain a higher sense of humor over the constant absences of those who urged me to be its ring bearer in the first place. I trust that as members of AKLESSA we will all give our all out support to her wherever our paths may lead us. By all chance, let’s follow her wherever she leads us. Remember, she’s the current Treasurer and will remain so until Saturday.
So Sirs and Mesdames: Allow me then to hand over to Bing the Presidency of the Aklan League of Secretaries to the Sanggunian. Let me do it now as I paraphrase King Richard, “Take my money, take my throne. Just leave me, with my secretaries alone.”

Savoring the Aromatic Seal of Good Housekeeping Award

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 (ELA)which served as its roadmap for development for each term of both the executive and legislative officials, i.e. a three-year plan. It has been then a good hard habit to break every time a new set of officials assumed office. Just this August 2010, it has completed through a month-long workshop-writeshop activities with various stakeholders the only Comprehensive Development Plan in the entire Region. It is a 6-year plan of the local development thrust drawing much of its projects and programs out of the indicators shown in the LGPMS (the electric performance monitoring system devised by the DILG) and the observations made during the Exit and Utilization Conference of the previous administration of then Mayor Noemi C. Cordero.

Reforms in Balete started in 1998 when Mayor Teodoro V. Calizo, Jr. called on both the major and minor stakeholders in Balete to formulate the vision-mission statement of the municipality. A shared vision where everyone believes inspired all to contribute and share something of themselves to build up that better Balete than yesterdays. And so it came to pass that after 12 years, Balete got recognized for its effort.

And to think that it is observing its Town Fiesta.

So sweet. Rather, aromatic like a coffea arabica.

Introspection

Of 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.

A Town by the Jal-o River: A Time Line

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 Gov. Rodriguez, then SP Member Gabrielle V. Calizo, then SB Member Eduardo Villanueva and his better half, Evelyn Villanueva. That team was responsible for interviewing key personality, such as the late Bingo Altavas of the Jose Cortes Altavas Foundation. Ng Mila managed to photocopy portion of the "Mi Diario" of the Baleten-on Senator and some old souvenir programs of the municipalities of Batan and Altavas, all rich with information concerning local history of the contiguous municipalities of Altavas, Balete, Batan and New Washington.

The other team, if you would call that a team, was composed by me and my pen and ink (can't afford laptop then). I elected to visit the University of San Agustin in Iloilo, the National Archives, the National Library and the National Historical Institute as part of my expedition into the Baleten-on past. I also interviewed a number of venerable residents and managed to have some of their manuscripts.

Combining those findings with the current research I have been having this year, let me present to you the timeline of the pueblo of Balete of the Province of Capiz:

1591 - The village by the Jal-o River was part of the Encomienda of Batan under Miguel Rodriguez. Batan was one of the 9 big villages in the Province of Panay--Panay was one of the two provinces in Panay Island, the other being Octon;
1703 - Alcaldia System was introduced (Although the law was passed as early as 1583). The provinces of Capiz, Yloylo and Hamtic were established. Pueblos and Barrios were created.
1714 - Jalo was mentioned as part of the visitas of the Parish of Batan under the Augustinian missionaries. The whole Panay Is. then was under the bishopric of Cebu
1758 - the Augustinian Recollects took turn in shepherding the faithful of Batan and Jalo
1789 - The Recoletos turned over Batan to the Diocesan Priests (although Bishop Romualdo Jimeno was himself a Dominican)
1792 - The bishop of Cebu made pastoral visit in Batan. This was followed by 12 pastoral visits up to the time of Bishop Jimeno who was ambushed and killed along the trail on his way to Dumalag (17 March 1872). We learned later that the place where he fatally fell was named after him.
1804 - Balete, Capiz. Population - 3,089.
1856 - Rev. Fr. Diego Albao replaced the late Rev. Fr. Matias Piansay as Parish Priest of Balete. Bishop Jimeno was responsible for the assignment of Fr. Albao.
1882 - Rev. Fr. Vicente Guanco was the Parish Priest of Balete; Don. Adriano Calizo acted as the gobernadorcillo; Don. Alejo Eliserio was the Capitan Pasado while D. Agapito Borromeo and D. Juan Oquendo were the Cabeza Actual then.
1882 - Balete suffered an epidemic which caused the lives of some 144 souls.
1884 - Maura Law. Governadorcillo was replaced by the title, Capitan Municipal with the cura parocco still being the appointing authority.
1888 - Balete had total land area of 15,525 hectares. It produced 200 cavans of rice per cropping.
1889 - Capitan Municipal was changed into Presidente Municipal and was now elected by the landed few-the principalia in a pueblo.
1891 - The Diocese of Jaro was established.
1893 - The Barrios of Balete were as follows:
a. Sidman - D. Jose Feliciano, Teniente
b. Pulajan - D. Pascual Lumio, Teniente
c. Matanat - D. Pio Casong, Teniente
d. Rivera - D. Mariano Perez, Teniente
e. Bulun-agan - ....
f. Tigbao - ...

(Elecciones de Gobernadorcillos de Capiz narrated that there were eleven barrios then, the other names were lost, sadly)

Meeting Sickness at the Fork of the Road

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?

The River Sighs

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

The Escuela del Rey in Balete

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 Rey 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 Michigan dated 1890 shows the Balete parish rectory (convento), the parish church and the bell tower were all made up of light materials endemic of Balete, i.e., nipa thatches, bamboos and nipa shingles. Most probably, the same materials were used for the Escuela del Rey when Sen. Altavas was learning his cartillas there.

During the times of the Thomasites, the Americans constructed a school building made up of hardwood in the same site, although per Ng. Mila Andrade's account, the site was donated by a certain Don. Juancho Oquendo (I'm not sure if he is the same person as Juan Oquendo who was elected the first Municipal President of New Washington in 1904 and as first Municipal President of the reestablished Municipality of Balete in 1920). By 1935, the site was already used by the Balete Elementary School with its steel gates affixed on concrete columns facing the Plaridel St. Tay Abun (Abundio Guadalupe) used to tell of having befriended a member of Peace Corps who resided at the vacated school building after BES was transfered in Uphill sometime in 1938 or 1939.

Hazy memories of some concrete structures...Perhaps, some older, better informed readers can substantiate these accounts so that my bolano's curiosity could be satisfied.

An Investment Incentive Code Finally

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/Fiber Extraction and Cloth Production
• Rattan Craft Production

c. Support Activities/Infrastructure

• Water Supply Improvement
• Power Supply Improvement
• Exhibition and Training Center
• Sanitary Landfill (BOT)
• Drainage System Improvement
• Road networks and bridges infrastructure
• Telecommunications

d. Basic Industries

• Recycling Industry
• Bottled Mineral Water
• Cottage Industry

e. Eco-Tourism

1. Tourism Site Development which shall include areas in the upland barangays of Balete as described under the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of this Municipality, notably Kipot Falls, Agtawagon Hill and Murao Falls. Special mention is to be made concerning the Basura Garden and Art Gallery of artist Cip Lachica in Poblacion and the Kabuhi-an Livelihood Skills Training and Exhibition Center in Barangay Aranas.

2. Tourist Accommodations Facilities on the aforecited development sites shall include, but not limited to:

• Hostels/lodging houses/cottages
• Resorts
• Restaurants

Any enterprise whether new or existing shall be entitled to graduated incentives for its first three years of operation or upon availing of these incentives on the following:
a. Municipal Taxes
Year 1 – 100% exempted
Year 2 – 50% exempted
Year 3 - 25% exempted
b. Municipal Permits & Regulatory Fees

Non-fiscal incentives include the following:

a. Site selection and negotiation assistance
b. One-stop shop documentation center/processing application
c. Labor recruitment and arbitration assistance

Anticipating Fiesta

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 non to all the other Christian feast. As such, basing on the canons of the Catholic church, the feast of the Lord's Day which is the primary holyday of obligation could not be superseded by feastday dedicated to Mary, the saints or an archangel for that matter. Hence, St. Rafael's feast, following the logic of Canon Law, is to be celebrated this year on October 23, a Saturday.

The Baleten-on faithful is not stranger to this adjustment. There had been instances in the past when Balete observed the feast of its patron saint on October 23. From 1994 to 1997, the Christian community under the pastorate of Fr. Tito Gelito moved the feast to October 23 over a clashed of orientations with the civil government vis-a-vis its attempt in giving witness to the message of Jesus. The civic and religious fiesta were simultaneously celebrated again in 1998 when a representative of the local government promised the then new parish priest of Balete that it will recognize and respect the priorities and the schedule of the parish throughout the duration of the fiesta celebration. Thus, it was a fact that in those years the eve of the fiesta was truly a vesper night, i.e., a night of prayer, preparations, reconciliation, family reunion.

Of course, the restless youth and the "feeling" youth were not happy that there was no binayle during Besperas. The good news then was that the tanods and the police did not have head aches dealing with riots while residents won't have to prepare dinuguan and pansit for patrons of benefit dance.

The Parable of A Fox and A Little Prince

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 than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in the entire world. To you, I shall be unique in the entire world…”

And so after much patient endurance, the little prince finally tamed the fox and they filled their days together with laughter and memories to cherish. The fox said, “While other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground, yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And look then. You see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The rice-field has nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that is now that you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat…”

Their parting however was heartrending yet mystical:

The fox said, “I shall cry.” “It’s your fault,” said the little prince. “I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you…” “Yes that is so,” said the fox. “But now you are going to cry!” said the little prince. “Yes that is so,’ said the fox. “Then it has done you no good at all!” the little prince responded. “It has done me good,” said the fox, “because of the color of the grain-fields. Goodbye. Here is my secret, a very simple present of a secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. It is the time you have wasted for your friends that make them so important. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

Pagninilay sa Buwan ng Wika

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 lumalago, sa cultura, kaalaman at kanya nitong personalidad bilang natatanging lipi.
Atin pong pagmunimunihan at isakatuparan ang paglago ng wikang Pilipino.

Deep Calls to Deep

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...

Balete in the Historia Geografica, Geologica y Estadistica de Filipinas

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.

Helen Blair however observed that despite the "arsenal of data" found in the book, the author missed the mark for failing to make topical index and making a halo-halo out of such good materials. Moreover some figures and dates listed therein as to the years of establishment of certain pueblos contravened with those found in some foremost authority of Philippine History (e.g. Font [1892], Medina [1893], Perez [1901], Casiano [1919]).

Even then, we find that we have no other choice but accept (for the time being) his attestation that Balete(Capiz)was established in the year 1804 with a population of 3,089. We are hard put in verifying this claim for lack of other materials. We have fallen already in a trap when we assumed years before that Balete was created as the 33rd pueblo in the Province of Capiz in 1826 basing on the account of a certain Julian Peñalosa. We are to give credit to Don de la Cavada basing on his extensive experience vis-a-vis the census of 1870. After all he preceded Font, Medina et al. and it is easy for us to assume that his sources were themselves authoritative in their respective fields of endeavors given his connections with the proper authority.

Right now, we are proposing the organization of a research team to "scan" the National Archives and the National Library for possible extant manuscripts or documents that could substantiate the findings that we have had. Volunteer researchers would be very much welcome as well.

Fearing the Dark

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.

Gary Granada Sings for the Baleten-on Community

"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 music gave me his Samu't Saring Gary Granada. And still another good friend gifted me with his Sa Pagitan ng Ngayon at Kailanman album.

When I was learning the logic of Windows Movie Maker 2.6, I made use of the song, Dakilang Maylikha from Gary's Sa Pagitan ng Ngayon at Kailanman, as my material. The backdrops were my collections of photographs from all over Region VI and some artworks of my daughter, Vita. The result of that study is the Dakilang Maylikha Final which made debut during the Regional Search for Excellence in Local Governance by the DILG Region VI as the event's doxology. Later, I got the chance to upload it in YouTube.

It is heartwarming to know that my study has already reached Zamboanga City. Actually, I have a mixed feeling about it. Sis. Dulce who "introduced" me to Gary was herself a victim of another Zamboanga blast. She died instantly when a shrapnel hit her pretty face in Zamboanga Port some years back. She died long ago leaving me with a memory of an idealistic nun who sought to recruit me back into the road less traveled by. She's physically dead but her spirit lives on in my heart--a heart frequently "disturb" by the blast of Gary's socially explosive lyrics and yet soothe by the melodic accompaniment of his guitar.

So is Gary Granada related to anyone here in Balete? Let him give you the answer to that.

A Viable 3-Year Objectives to Bolster Local Economy

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 generate more jobs and the growth of small medium enterprise
5. To create healthy ambiance for business to thrive through sustaining the modernization of the public market and encourage the establishment of other related facilities to make Balete a hub for agricultural and fishery produce coming from the expanse of the Jal-o River watershed

The Roll-on Roll-off scheme and the Jal-o River Watershed

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 transit point into the regional or even national economic centers through the ro-ro.

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[1] The Aklan Rivers Development Council identifies the Jal-o River Watershed as the expanse within the perimeter of the Jal-o River covering portions of municipalities of Jamindan (Capiz), Altavas, Libacao, Banga and Batan.

The Kabuhi-an Livelihood Skills Training and Exhibition Center

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 piña 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.

Balete's Economic Development Plan

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 Government calls on all stakeholders to participate and converge to vision out our future, come up with some plans to approximate that vision and work cooperatively as one people to create a Balete that is better than yesterdays.

The product of that convergence then embodies the economic development plan of the local government. This plan maps out what it intends to do in response to the calls and the signs of the time as consistently pointed out in the many performance indicators it has used over the years. The plan is a three-pronged approach on strengthening social capitalism through the interaction between the households, the government and the business sectors in its three markets, i.e., the labor market, the financial and commodity markets. The local government for its part lays down policies that protect its people from abuses, advance their interest and create opportunities for them to develop and hone their skills and resources while at the same time create favorable climate for private investments through improving basic infrastructures, maintaining peace and order and the adoption of sound investment promotion policies and regulations.

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[1] Beginning with the MBN Survey of 1996, Balete recorded an overwhelming 44.05% unemployment rate and a soaring 73% below poverty line families.

[2] Cf. Guillermo, Virgilio V., Philippine Labor Market Trends 2005-2008, Study.; see also 2007 Census of Population at http://www.census.gov.ph/

[3] The LGU has been using the Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS), the e-SLGPR or the State of Local Government Performance, Electronic Report and just recently the SCALOG (System on Competency Assessment for Local Governments)

Obispado de Cebu, July 29, 1856

Bishop 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 report to the Balete Parish as its parish priest. He instructed his priest that before reporting to the parish, he must first report to the Intendente General of the Hacienda (maybe the property covering the Aclan valley) that he may be given stipend in advance. He must be worried that his priest might have nothing to had when he arrived at his station.

We remember P. Don Diego Albao (Kalibo knows him as Fr. Diego Alba) as the parish priest who encouraged the faithful of Balete to do vigil and vesper prayers as cholera outbreak claimed the lives of many Baleten-on in the year 1858. Procession in honor of San Rafael was done the following day around the pueblo's callejones.