By the Jal-o River

Rain. It finally comes. Pagasa predicted early in May that June will definitely be a rainy month. It was not, at least not until today.  My neighbor, Damulot, expressed his gratefulness out loud: " Hay, saeamat! Makabawi pa ma't a kara ang tanum !" " Hay, saeamat man sa ing Tanduay .", his drinking buddy answered. " Matubod man ra siguro ay maeamig ro tiempo. " " Hala sige, basta, hin-aga, sagibinan mo ako sa ang eanas ha. " " No problemo. " Totog replied, grabbing the glass half-filled with rum. He held it for awhile talking his mind out of the possibility that his landlady might need his services now that the rain has come. Damulot was silent, his eyes focused on the TV screen yet his mind wondered far into the small ricefield that he tilled on leasehold. He worries of the grim possibilities of having a bountiful harvest and the commitment he made of repaying his debts come the harvest season. His attention was called when h

On his first sermon, the new pastor engages the churchgoers with this story: One day, a grieving devoted Catholic went to see her parish priest. She related that her pet dog has just died. She wanted to give it a decent "Christian" burial. She came therefore to request the pastor to say a funeral mass for the eternal repose of her deceased Dalmatian. The Cura gently turned down the request, informing the matron that the Eucharistic celebration is only done for the baptized.  The rich lady sadly accepted the decision of the priest. She bid him goodbye with a remark, "I understand you perfectly, Father. But it was my intention to offer you 1,000 pesos for the mass." Upon hearing this, the stout priest reconsidered his decision. He pleaded, "Okay, I'll say the mass for the salvation of your pet. How do you want it said, in English or Latin?" 

     For the first time and due to the prodding of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Balete participates to the 2012 Gawad KALASAG Regional Search.  It is an annual program initiated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in search for excellence in disaster risk management and humanitarian assistance at the local level. KALASAG is a tagalog word meaning "shield" and the NDRRMC used it as an acronym to stand for KA lamidad at sakuna LA banan, SA riling G aling at kaligtasan . Gawad  KALASAG  was therefore conceived to protect or shield high risk communities against hazards by encouraging participation of various stakeholders designing and implementing Disaster Risk Management (DRM) programs. The search is staged to recognize outstanding performance and local initiatives.    The 2012 Regional Evaluation for 2011 DRRMC performance is set today, June 21, 2012, at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall. The municipal DRRMC wel

       Hiking into upland Balete is one of those activities that I find most engaging most especially during the arid days in my restless probings. The lush of green, the chirping of birds, the distant rural scenes, all always offer refreshing treat to the tired eyes and weary soul.       In my recent escapade, my mind wanders through some existential pathways and bridges and into the thoroughfares of the great and wise.     The exercise was exhausting for both the body and the mind. Even then, the soul is refreshed, the eyes are rested.                                                                                                         In the silence of the journey, the spirit sours. Renewed and revitalized. Believing and hope-filled.          Available and reaching out.   Going out of its comfort zone to seek the light of day.

Anu pa ron ha. Si Baeägtingaw hay namunit sa sapa. "Sin-o ro nagapamunit sa a'ng sapa?" Ro Muwa nangutana. "Ako, si  Baeägtingaw!" sabat ku mamumunit. "Adtunan ko ag itikon si Inang mo." paandam ku Muwa. "Adtuni." sabat ni  Baeägtingaw. Ro bantay it sapa hay tumakas paadto sa baeay ni  Baeägtingaw. Idto sa balkon haabutan na si Inang. Dayon anang gin-itik nga nagahambae, "Itik Inang! Itik Inang!......" Si Inang nagligid sa saeog nga nagahinibayad. Nag-ilihi. "Man-o pa ing pagginhawa, Inang?" pangutana ku Muwa sa ina ni  Baeägtingaw. "Makitid eon lang kay sa pasok." sabat ni Inang. Masunod nga adlaw, namunit eon man si  Baeägtingaw. Pero bago pa pumanaw, si Inang anang ginhab-on sa taeägbasan. "Sin-o ro nagapamunit sa a'ng sapa?" Ro Muwa nangutana. "Ako, si  Baeägtingaw!" sabat ku mamumunit. "Adtunan ko ag itikon si Inang mo." paandam ku Muwa. "Adtuni." s

Ka Ro was grumbling: " Maw ron aki ay entrante. Mirese kana ay pati ro biblia hay pag-entrahan na. Owa ngani si Toto Apol ga-entra karon nga otso anyos ta imaw sa seminario. " (That's what he gets when he messed with everything. He's so gullible to even interpret the Bible. Why, even Apol who was in the seminary for eight years is reticent enough from showing off his learning." Ka Ro was reacting to the announcement that Pacquiao lost his belt to the younger Bradley. The alcohol was already working wonders on his neurons. He played the host and was now articulate to entertain his guests. He went on to enumerate the variety of interest of the man: Boxing Champ -the first to have held the title in eight divisions. Politician. He is presently a Congressman, and now is considering to run for Governor in 2013 as he is yet disqualified to seek for senatorial seat by virtue of his age (40 is the minimum age for one to be eligible to run for that office) Fowl breed

     I got an invitation from the National Historical Commission to the two-day LGU training on History and Heritage on July 19-20, 2012 in Tagbilaran City. The activity it said, aims for a three-fold objectives: Increased appreciation of the value of history and cultural heritage Raised consciousness on the relevance of historic or heritage conservation and The identification of local historical and cultural sites as tourist attractions     On a personal note, I see this invite as the long delayed follow up to the NHC initiative of encouraging local government units at documenting their respective local histories which the National Historical Institute (NHI) reechoed throughout the country sometime in  late 1998 or early 1999. That call did served as an impetus for Balete to look back into its historic past and to try to remember or regain its lost memories by taking the horns of those falsified saga behind the so called El Tiroteo de Agtawagon . Looking back, much have been

                   My poetry is returning to me. Precisely that my sleep these days are shallow and disturbed. Poetry awakens the passionate mind from its slumber. It begets something out of the unprocessed perceptions of both the conscious and the subconscious. It goes beyond logic. It is rebelling yet tolerant of the things that are. It is even if it isn't.