Who dat girl?

That long corridor with shiny terra cotta floor spanning both the college of nursing and engineering department housed in one building might as well be a landmark in my psyche. Actually, it is. Were it not for the roofed walkways on the ground that connected the admin building from the south and the arts and sciences from the north, I surely would not have gotten a glimpse of her. But I did, from the shade and into the light.

There were always these other bodies around her. Walking in synchronized cadence as if polished from the weekly ROTC training I had to endure every weekend. The only difference is theirs had a certain gait, poise and charm you might see on fashion ramps in Milan or Paris. I could have sworn they sported similar glossy hair style that just added glitz to their look. Day after school day I would sit strategically around three in the afternoon by the ditch hoping to catch the late afternoon show that has become my favorite pastime. Ogling.

So one day I popped the question to my friend, who by the way was also a member of this ogling club. “Who’s that girl?” Of which he promptly replied, “Which one?”

She was not the tallest in the group yet she stood out. I suppose that comes from an innate dramatic skill of projection. Bright and self-assured, she could sell you a whole wad of fund-raising raffle tickets leaving you feeling like a philanthropist. She’d look at you with those wide, penetrating brown eyes and you’d confess to having spent your semester’s tuition on cigarettes and booze.

One day we were introduced. Her dark, olive toned complexion was the perfect setting for those white pearly’s that twinkled when she smiled. Kinda like that old commercial on TV. Except in this scene, I was willfully looking at the painting on the wall because I could not bear the thought of meeting her gaze allowing her to see through my cool façade. I ended up getting branded as a snob for my desperate effort to say the least.

But fate would smile once again upon those who wish it the most. Remember the saying…”Careful what you wish for”…I would join her and my friends in reviving the institutions dramatic guild through some elective courses. So auspicious was the timing that we decided to produce several plays to be staged during university festivities.

I am not really sure what happened at this point to change her opinion on her first impression about me. Yes, it lasted a while. Could it have been the Vic Silayan aura I exuded on one play or could it have been the De Niro ambivalence I portrayed on another? Needless to say it started with an argument as she boycotted rehearsals for my directorial final exams. The argument ensued somewhere over a bowl of the blandest tasting noodle soup I would ever have in my entire life.

As I rode the bus home that night with the moon shining on my wind-swept face, I was still sporting the same catatonic, silly grin look just hours before I gave my girl our first hug and bid her goodnight with the promise that I’ll see her in the morning because we have agreed not to argue anymore.

After 30 years I find myself sometimes walking through those same corridors. That familiar tropical scent vivid as if they were yesterday’s mowed lawn. A rush of anxiousness and excitement rifles through my chest as I assume my vantage spot. Then all of sudden something catches the corner of my eye, I turn and as my eyes adjust to the soft morning light in the bedroom, I reach out to hug her and I say; “Good morning!”

Our Fathers, The Big Guy

It’s interesting that after all these years, I find myself writing about my old man. The Big Boy. Yeah, that’s right. That’s exactly what they called him. Big Boy.

I am not absolutely sure about the reason for the moniker but it might have been because of his stocky physical presence walking around town or most likely that he had this authoritative air about him that demanded one’s attention. A 38 calibre revolver hanging perennially on his hip helps the whole impression aspect of it, I suppose.

Now this is not a bio write up about him nor is it an attempt to serialize his life and times.
Unlike most people that hung around him, I unfortunately did not get enough time to spend with him as he passed away one ill-fated day. He died doing what he loved most; playing tennis with his closest friends. I’ve always told myself after, that if there’s a nice way to exit the big stage - that would be it.

So I really did not know the man fully well to accurately describe him. My sisters would probably know more but for the most part of my adolescent period and even today, they have always lived elsewhere distant. What this is, is an attempt to piece together fragments of what I do remember as a young boy of eight and tie it up with what I understand and know of him now.

I have just turned 40 something and I am intrigued by glimpses of my father by my own mannerisms, physical appearance, taste and most of all facial expressions that reveal one’s state of mind at certain moments. This gets more affirmed by the fact that although he was not around anymore to attend and guide my way through the pains of growing up, his influence was always present through the watchful eyes and caring hearts of my mother and sisters.

It is with deep appreciation then that I write these thoughts about him. The other day I showed an old picture of him to my two sons who do not know much about their grandfather except for the fact that he was known about town as Big Boy. “He looks like a tough guy,” they said. “I know, but he would have loved to have met you, apply pomade on your hair and combed it back just like he would with his,” was my reply.

Fiesta Sa Gadan

An hapahap mahibog pano kan parong nin manlaen-laen na burak. Nagpudo kami nin kanda, naghorma nin cruz na gibo sa lawas nin batag. Saro-saro pig-tudok su amarillong burak na tinuhog sa gihoy. Saro-saro su mga puti sa gilid.

Bago mag-diklom dapat nasa Campo Santo na kita. Dara tolong klaseng candela. Su pinakadakula pagkutan sa tahaw kan pantiyon, su mga saradit sa frentera kan kada linobngan.

Marhay-rahay ta luwas an mga bitoon. Magtao nin galang sa satuyang mga gadan, manaratara sa mga pagtaraning, siring man kan gabos nagkaburunyog sa pagrumdom
kan satuyang mga namomotan.

Maynagsabi na kun nata daa pag-dae na satuya an sarong magurang, tugang o bien amigo y amiga, saka kita minaurunabi, minabarareta o maghohororon kan gibo asin kan buhay kan mga nag-enot. Alagad daa kan sinda buhay pa, pig-papapsiphara ta sana an satuyang mga pag-iriba. Nagi-olok ako ta romdom ko su sakuyan Tia pag-makakan na kami asin naghahanap ako kung minsan ki sarong putahe. Maisog an simbag sako pirme na; “Dae paghanapon an dae! Kakana sana an yaon!” Como respesto sa nakagugurang dae ko nasasabi na; “Siyempre hahanapon su dae!”

Arog man siguro kaan kun minsan an trato kan kadaklan satuya. Lingaw ta pirming yaon sa kataning. Pungaw pag-dae na nahiling.

Kaya ngoyan sa satuyang pag-giromdom, ipamibi ta an satuyang mga namomotan. Magpatinti nin candela na an liwanag kan ilaw na satuyang pinagkutan, kasing kusog an liwanag kan satuyang mga recuerdos, pag-iriba, utang sa boot asin pagkamoot sa satuyang familia, paryentes asin amigos.

The Ballad of Junn and Tata

“And so it goes, and so it goes
and you’re the only one who knows.”

And so it seems that we would never hear the end of it.
Naturally for as long as the healing process took its tender time.
Curious minds with their equally fertile musings have given this
tale interesting twists and varying versions.
Of course we would never get the true gut-wrenching facts straight either. Our perspective seem to be a lot juicier than the original. Not that anybody really ever asked. Lest this be just another slant. As it was to unfold during this fated, covert afternoon movie date with an ironic title “One Summer Love”. The rest is all mixed up into one blurry, dizzying, smoke-filled, panic-stricken, do or die, smoldering tale of adventure and TRUE LOVE! We all know what that is, right? Well, what we don’t know is how you measure it. Or do we really need to? I guess we all know what they have. A shining commitment to each other, bravely displayed so that others might see. And as one “barkada” providentially puts it as he playfully searches for a cigarette light; “Fire me man!” He drags on the imaginary stick and lets out a satisfying cloud of smoke. “Thank you for burning me!”

A Familiar View

This view looks hauntingly familiar…save for the shadows on the balcony floor casted by the afternoon light through the railings. I know I have seen it somewhere. It is peaceful and quiet as I remember it to be. An impressionist painting hung privately in the master’s quarter, a carved Santo Nino bust sits keenly scanning every footstep that goes by the pasillo, and two strategically placed rockers boasting of front row vista to this little corner of the world he tends as his own.

A familiar friend makes a wise suggestion that if you come for a visit, it is imperative that you leave your timepiece behind. The world stands still in this Eden where the lulling sea meets the lush green land. The silence is deafeningly tranquil as the late afternoon show announces itself through its opening act by the sound of a fisherman’s paddle, stabbing the water’s surface while another lashes the air by casting the nets as they gracefully maneuver a semi-circle course to an expected bounty at the end of this expertly executed play.

Five minutes into this time capsule I am inclined to profess you won’t be saddled with counting sheep. There is a hypnotic ambiance to this paradise as many fall prey to its allure and charm only to be whisked away to the altered estate of dreamland. I am mesmerized by its beauty in its simplicity but maintain my wakefulness as my host explains how he had stumbled into this hidden treasure over iced sodas and cheddared ensaymadas. You gotta love his candor as he proudly beams about it with every spoonful of juicy golden pink papayas I dismiss with flair. And as the taste linger a little longer in my mouth after a month have passed, my memory rescues me from temporary amnesia. I know where I have seen that view. On a wall hung privately in the master’s quarter…

Indelible Moments

Nacasakay sa bus pagkahapon
An liwanag madali nang patoson can diklom
Hapros nin paros sa sakuyang lalaogon
Parong can aso
Sinighid asin sinulo na mga alang na dahon
Huni can duli-duli pigbabareta an pag-abot nin kabanguihon
Sa isip nagpuli na naman aco
Sa samuyang tunay na harong.

Mangadyi bago Mamanggui

An samong cacanon sa oroaldaw itao mo samuya ngonian....

Hare cami pabayae na madaog nin sugot...alagad agawon mo cami sa;

L: Sugpo

R: Ipamibi mo cami

L: Liempo

R: Ipamibi mo cami

L: Pinangat

R: Ipamibi mo cami

L: Lechon Manok

R: Ipamibi mo cami

L: Chicharon Bulaklak

R: Kaherake tabi cami

Deal or No Deal

Alas tres na amay na aga aco nangiturog dahil sa "jet-lag". Nagimata acong ala seis pag-huni can bayong sa may bintana. Pungaw tulos su namatean co ta garo may culang su sacuyang pandangog. Dae acong nadangog na tukturaok kan manok buda dae su ribok kan motorsiklong traysikol. Uru-aldaw nagigimata ako daeng palihis ala seis en punto mala ngani kan ribok.

Tolong semana na naca-agui nasa Pilipinas ako. Lintian an alingahot. An traffic macababloyon. An paros macahapo. Siring man, rawit dawit nin sarong Tabaconon na haloy nang nawawara. Halawig asin haloy na-naglawod. Nadangog man guiraray su saindong pag-apod asin nacagat su dila can cada libak.

Gurano an presyo kan kaogmahan cun an barkada sararo? Sadiyot na bagay an kagat can lamok asin alingahot basta an tagay garo salog na nagbobolos. Saen tabi hahanapon su maragsip na sibobog, kinunot na paguing maharang, asin pusit na dinarang? Kun an hanap medyo "exotic", Solamente si prima buda si primo an dapat bisitahon. Kasuaren mo guiraray nadangog su bagteng can campanario, o bien so sirena can munisipio? Dae baya magparahiro primes ta tibaad maungman ca...

Dacol acong nadadangod na an iba satuya gusto daang maglawod o magpairaya. Sa sacuyang pagtubod, " there is no place like home"... cudi tubod man aco na "home is where you're heart is"... cung haen su saimong familia...duman ca mauli.

An pagtimbang can satuyang mga pag-mawot asin pangiturugan bacong madali na gibohon. An mga catucal minsan daraculaon pagisipon. Cudi cun sa saimong pagtubod icacarahay kan gabos...an mga maabot nasa hampang mo naghahalat!

Ala seis na naman kan pagcaaga dae pa aco nangingiturog...baco man sana gayod "jet-lag" ini.
May canta panong nagtutugtog sa payo co casubago pa; "Cun ica baga maghale, dae ca maghaloy....Ta ini baga si".... Hoooo, tagay pa tabi primes tanganing macadacol! Kumusta na sana daa sa gabos!

Maliwanag na Bitoon

Cun huhurup-hurupon ta, maluway asin makapirot an pag-agui can cada aldaw satuya. Garo sikad-sikad na nagtutukad pasiring sa Panal o garo duyan na nagtataboy-taboy sa balcon pacapangudto.

Paminsan-minsan pag-abot can bangui, an cadikloman sa caitaasan minacurit nin liwanag sa pag-agui can bulalacaw sagcod na mapara ito balik guiraray sa caitoman. Cudi cun satuyang ririparohon guiraray an kalangitan, may mga bitoon na an liwanag mas can ibang ribong nagkikinang sa langit.

Siring man caiyan an mga buhay can iba satuya, an kinang riparo can gabos, matuos na boot, an isip para sa cadaklan, gibo na naghorma can Tabaco sa laog can satuyang mga isip. Ini an kapinonan can “daeng surog” na listahan (buhay o gadan) can mga siring na bitoon na nagtaong liwanag sa satuyang mga buhay asin sa banwa:

Tio Tonio (Sacristan Mayor)
Tia Luz (Para-panganam)
Tia Idaz (Music Educator/Church Organist)
Aling Charing (Enterpreneur)
Mr. Rebillon (Scout Mentor)
Mrs. Embile (Singer “Christmas”)
Sabret (Anahaw)
Mr. De Jesus (Violinist)
Padre Castellar (Priest)


(Cun may aram pa camong iba, isimbag nganing maidagdag)

Daddy Cool

She's crazy like a fool
What about it Daddy Cool
She's crazy like a fool
What about it Daddy Cool
I'm crazy like a fool
What about it Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool, Daddy Cool….

Awsus pag dae ca man nanggad….
Alas tres nin pagkahapon. Nag-poon na, ta nagcanta na si Victor Wood!
Nagraraging-raging pa an sacuyang talinga…pero sulotana baya an bagong converse. Pacarhaya an medias ngani abot sa may tuhod.
Hmmm..walastik an uniporme mi. Marhay ngani ta magayon su samuyan solicitation letter, ta cun dae…silk screen an inabutan kaini.

Maski nagaarik-arik an init can hapon, an midget division can Bolarama an mapa-abregana sa mga masunod the karawat sundo sa cabanguihon. Siisay daw an mahiriling? Tibaad may mga bisitang hale sa Manila... Ano daw ngaya? Taud-taod siguro pagnagdiklom... pakapamangui. Maruluwas na ito.

Fraulein, Fraulein
Look up towards the heaven
Each night when the stars start to shine
By the same stars above youI
swear that I love you
You are my pretty fraulein

Hay... pag dae man nanggad naruso….
Si Victor talaga, mahaldat…maduso...
Siisay baya su ngaran caito ? Si Jean ? Si Laura ? Hmm…huri ca na naman sa bareta primo. May sinagot na baga !
Igwa pa daa, su ngaran garo su canta. Aubrey ? Baco ! Audrey ! Hoy, matua man iyan satuya !
Di su taga Malinao na sana…Su taga Tabaco High School baga na bastonera…Primo, caipuhan tang Caltex diyan.

Matanga na primo. Saaga guiraray. Siisay an kalaban saaga? San Vicente? Hmmm…saro man sana an tataong mag-shoot diyan.
Bahala na!

I went to your wedding
Although I was dreading
The thought of losing you
The organ was playing
My poor heart kept saying
"My dreams, my dreams are through"

Nuestro Senor San Juan Bautista

Aram can entero na magiging bibo. An mga signos bitbit can paros. Siring can mga patandan na nagkikiritay-kitay can nakaageng Flor de Mayo. Parong can mga bagong tsinelas asin mga bado abot sa dungo can simbahan. Cun an traysikol biglang nag-"detour" pasiring ka Jimbo, sarado asin barado na sa may Caltex, sa caibungan sa may Pantranco, asin sa may Mayon Theater saibong can Botica China. Cun matibay kang maglangoy, maginindakay pagbalyo sa tahaw can saod na naging dagat can mga parabakal asin mga paramaritatas. Cun nalulula cana sa manlaenlaen na parong...sadiyot na caso. Sa gilid can tinampo pasiring ca Boboy sa ibabaw can cale, may paratindang olor na nasa saradiyot na bote.

Inda co sana ta sa sacuyan pagirumdum asin pangiturugan, dae pa nakakatana nin uran cun Fiesta sa Tabaco. Cun mainit an saimong pagmate, duwang hot cake, sarong basong palamig asin rosang lapat-lapat an bulong can saimong almaryo. Cun an swerte mahamot saimo, pighahalat ca ni pula buda ni puti sa pingpongan sa may Nita.

An bangui maliwanagon, pano nin bituon! Ay! Mga gasera palan buda kingki can mga para mani asin para barbikyo! "Halat, ta dae taca nadadangog...ano daa?" Aaaa, bucas na su Circo asin mata na su mga kino. Nagandar na su periswil asin macatolo nang manok an kinilkil ni Makwa. Musna ta magsarabatan kita ca Oliver! Hilinga baya ta nagsasayaw su bungo sa panas kan espada... Salamanquero! "Nagpoon na baya ngaya su barayle?" Madali maaraman iyan.. Hapoton ta pagnagluwas na si Roy.

Sa paghuna co sana, bisperas an pinakabibong aldaw. An paghugup-hugop pipabulos tulos pag abot can bangui. Yaon diyan su one fourth club, su serbesa pag may padara si mama, buda su mga tunay na lalaki. Su mike tabi ta macanta si doctor. "Noy, cairiba mo ngaya si Nini? Dusay an hangos ni Tio ta nasa marhay na camugtakan su aking babaye.

Hare man tabi aco pagpucawon, ta saaga amay acong mapa Tabaco. Halaba an lista can sacong mga bibisitahon na mga harong, magpoon ca Mayor, palibot hanggang sa simbahan. Mapa tinti aco ki candela, mapa novena aco ki manay, mapangadyi aco ki Senor San Juan na tawan nin katoninongan an cada harong, pagkasararo can bilog na banwa asin pagkamoot sa Diyos, sa kapwa asin sa satuyang mga familya.

Sarong Aldaw

Haloy nang panahon pighuhuruphurup asin pigmamawot na maabot an sarong aldaw, magkakaburunyog giraray kita. Daa pag maypagmawot..may panuga. Pag may batag, may baduya.

Niyanem, mala ta huni na baya! Sarabatan kan satuyang mga isip, boot, bareta, avisos asin mga huringhuding. Hala, dali na ta matararam pa sa Bacacay!!!!

Kaya tibaad mapaagi kamo...baya rumdumon duwang guramoy sa kino and rayo sa satuyang harong.