November 2008 #9

2

Tapos na ba ang karanghan online at print, pero buhay naman si Mr. Borlagdan sa

kanyang spiritual life. Pang-siyam na ito ng Haraya, kung ito na ang huling hin-

inga, makalilimutan ba ang pahayagang imahinasyon?

Nakatatawa na ilang beses naisulat sa tudling na ito na baka ito na ang huling

isyu, pero tignan mo at may nababasa ka pa. Walang sementeryo para sa pag-ibig

sa pagsusulat, paglalahad, paglilimbag ng libag at kariktan ng mga kaganapan at

mga sentimyento ng mga artista ng ating henerasyon sa Albay nating mahal.

Abalang mga palad ng ABKAT, Oktubre hanggang Pebrero ng susunod na taon.

Nasuyo na rin sa wakes ang matamis na pirma ni Mayor Luisto-Lagman upang

maibigay sa An Banwa ang may 162,000 pesotas para sa mga proyekto nito.

Ang Haribol Jam, na co-sponsor ang Chaitanya Mission. Ang pagpapalabas ng

Neon sa Tabaco Mall parking lot at ang rakenrol sa simula at katapusan nito, ang

theatre arts workshop ni Ginoong R. Madrilejos na gaganapin tuwing Linggo ng

Nobyembre sa Pawa, Tabaco City. Ang mga patimpalak UNMDG sa pagpinta,

pagsulat ng sanaysay at maikling kuwento sa kategoryang Ingles at Filipino, at

ang Christmas play ni G. R. Madrilejos.

Sa isyung ito, mababasa ang matagal ng hinihintay na Molotov article ni Ahmad,

pero tamang tama naman dahil katatapos lang ng launching ng much anticipated

na musical original composition album. Ang bagong tudling ni Mr. Borlagdan na

“Mind works of the Most Fallen,” kapalit ng kanyang makasaysayang, Notes

from the Tabaco Underground. Ang Taon nin mga Ayam ni Johnny Escandor ng

Phillipine Daily Inquirer na nanalong unang premyo sa kategoryang Osipon sa ika

-5 Premio Tomas Arejola. Narito rin ang ang mga larawan ng ABKAT sa na-

karaang aktibidad nito sa Chateau Noveau. Ang Rock da Cope na may isang hu-

mahagunot na pag-iling dahil ‘di namin ito na-docu. At marami pang iba.

May mga pagbabago ring nangyari sa board ng Abkat dahil pinalitan na ni Jaque-

line “Jak” B. Guarin si Mercy Balantinsayo bilang tagapagingat-yaman. Musikero

si Jak at may abilidad ng isang sekretarya. Umaasa ang grupo ng marami pang

masaganang pagbubuntis ng mga ideya sa pag-upo ni Jak.

Nanganak ang asawa ng kasalukuyang presidente ng grupo na si Frederick Mau-

rice S. Lim. May dumating bang pangamba? Pwede kayang umalis na o lumamig

ang dugo nito sa grupo dahil siya’y ama na? Kung sakali man, naniniwala ang

lahat na magpapatuloy ang tatlong taon na tradisyon at pag-aalay ng grupo na

makapagbigay ng kagandahan sa mga tao ‘di tulad ng konotasyon ng mga tiga

lokal na turismo na ang kagandahan at ang libangin ang mga tao ng mga enter-

tainment at variety shows ang tunay na makapagbibigay ng ligaya sa mga ito.

“Ang naitanim na kagandahan ay ‘di mamamatay pagkat maski maikling pana-

hon, nakapiling nito ang lupain ng isip na diniligan ng pagmamahal ng puso.

Hindi maglalaon ay may sisibol na mga bagong binhi na magiging ilog papunta sa

isang sibilisasyon na kung saan marami tayong matutuklasan.

Magkita-kita pa tayo sa dako ruon ng alam na natin at sa mga bagay na aalamin

pa ng ating mapangahas na mga pandama. Nawa’y patnubayan lang tayo ng nasa

Itaas para maingatan ang ating sarili sa mga naglipanang ahas sa loob ng bakuran

ng ating isip”.

Frederick Maurice S. Lim

3

Excerpt from “The Dreams in the Dream” Man and woman wear masks. They are in the dream of Kaloy. They are love making. They are about to reach the climax when Kaloy opens his eyes and rushes to the dream area of the stage – to his night dream. He hauls the man away from the woman. The man falls on the reality area of the stage. The woman is surprised. Woman: What are you doing? Kaloy: I’m taking over. Man: What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy? This is only a dream. A dream while you are not sleeping. You’re out of your league. Go back… there! (Gesturing the reality part of the stage.) Kaloy: But, but, I’m taking over. I want to – Man: White is white. Black is black. The roses are sometimes red, sometimes white but lintian na dunong mo you can’t be in two places at one time. This is your dream. There… is where you belong – the reality. (From offstage) Kardo: Kaloy! (From offstage) Lover of Kardo: Kaloy! Woman: See what happens? Man: See what happens! Kardo: Kaloy, get back here! Lover of Kardo: You lazy bastard! Woman: See what happens? Man: See what happens! Kardo: Dai ka pa baya nakakaukod?! Lover of Kardo: Lintian na dunong mo, noy! All to Kaloy: Stop day dreaming at night! The man and the woman forcefully throw Kaloy downstage to the reality area with his Tiyo. Off lights on the dream area. Then, the man and the woman exit. Kardo: (making him stand by pinching his left ear) Magkayod ka! Kaloy: Aray! Lover of Kardo: (pinching his belly) Work! Kaloy: Aray ko man! (moves away) … You’ve no right (to himself but is heard by the Lover) … Kabit ka man sana.

Lover of Kardo: Kardo? Kardo: Hoy, Kaloy, watch your mouth, ha. When did you start answering like that? Lover: I’ve been getting that answer since, last week, Kardo. (moves closer to Kardo) Kardo slaps Kaloy. Kardo: Is that true? No answer from Kaloy. Another slap from Kardo. Kaloy: Aray ko, Tiyo. Kardo: Is that true? Kaloy: Iyo tabi. Iyo tabi. Kardo crosses at Kaloy’s back and stops on his left. Kardo: You ungrateful bastard. Don’t talk to her like that! Kaloy: But she’s not my aunt. Kardo: What?! Kaloy: She’s not my aunt! Kardo: And you’re not even my son, you bastard. Kaloy: You’re my family. You’re the brother of my father. Lover: Your ungrateful father. (comes closer to them) Kardo: Your father left you without hesitation. He left you because he doesn’t believe you’re his. Lover: Kardo? Kardo: Don’t worry. (to the Lover) …Your mother is a parapakayo before he was – Lover: Kardo? Kardo: I know what I’m doing. Before he was married to your father. That’s right. You heard me… You want to know the truth about your past, right? You’ve been wanting to know about your past – about your mother and father, about what happened to them. Well, I’ll tell you… Your mother is a slut, a puta before he was married to your father like your not so respected aunt Corazon here. Your father was a good teacher, a good man, had a one-month leave of absence for a research in his college. When he came back, your mother was pregnant already, you were inside her already. But your father didn’t believe. The good turned to bad then to ugly even worst. Your father became a drunk-ard. He drunk and drunk and drunk every night burning and flooding his lungs out. What was worst was… him beating your mother to death without a miss everyday. Until your mother disappeared, vanished like bubbles in a livid ty-phoon. When you were four years old, your father willingly before killing him-self with a tabak had left you to Lola (Suddenly, there is horror in Kaloy’s face.)… Until you stow away to her and you plead, and plead to me to keep you, to safeguard you, make you as if you’re my son, you ungrateful bastard. You said, “You’ll do everything.” You said, “You’ll work your ass of!” Well, this is work! I had given you a padyak for you to work your ass of. And what do you do? You day dream at night and you reply to your aunt Corazon like that. Boy, give her, the respect, you are giving me! Kaloy: How about my real aunt, Aunt Zenaida? Kardo: She’s dead. Kaloy: She’s not dead. You just want her to be dead. But she’s not dead. Kardo: Do you see her, smell her, touch her in our house? … Then, she’s dead!

4

AN MGA RIGNOS SA MOLINUHAN

May mga rignos na nagsisimot kan mga nawalat na pasi sa

palitadang pigbabaladan. Sa mga kahoy sa palibot, an huni kan saindang

mga pag-iriba nagpapataan.

Pataan para sa arog sakong nagmamaan, o para sa mga para-

balad na yaon pa sa baladan, gaba an lawas sa marang hinang, sa tanglay

kan gabat na pigdadara. Pataan na marot madakop sinda o magadan.

May rawraw sa apat na gomang buminalyo sa tahaw kan pali-

tada, garo hukol sindang durungan minaralataw. An pagpilik-pilik kan

saindang mga pakpak garo talibong kan labad-labad; garo paliwanag kan

paglayog an silag na bulaw na balukag sa tama kan sildang.

Dangan saro-saro sindang minabalik hali sa tinaguan nindang

tugdunan. Garo warang nangyari. Astang pano na naman an baladan ki

mga urumol-umol na balukag, nagkukurukiriki hali sa sarong pasi pasir-

ing sa saro.

Dangog ko sa iba, an isog daa nindang ini sa hampang kan

kagadanan ay mala sa saindang kabungugan. Garo pig-aagi ninda sa

pagmati an paghimate. Sa paghiro kan daga o paglaen kan huyop kan

paros na minaagi sainda. Dai ka maaano kan dai mo aram. Kun siring,

para sain an mga huni? Tibaad iyan an paagi ninda ki pagtaram na “sige

sana, mantang dai pa.”

Krsna’s Picture Book

The Miracle of Krishna

5

tabak at rosas...

Frederick Maurice S. Lim

It is not about being straight edge again. I don’t want to

lose my friends because I’m pissed at smoke and beer. It is

also not about that I fear death. I don’t want to lose control

anymore, a wrong decision because my head is clouded by

that artificial high that could cut me badly. I also don’t

want to break more promises to my fiancée like I did in

Sugba bar and grill one Saturday night when a friend asked

me to drink… and I grab that damn bottle.

Almost of my friends get drunk often, sometimes they

could be tagged as drunkards. But I love them, like I love

my cultural and arts group. Yeah, sometimes I got out of

place because I’m not drinking and I can’t immerse myself

in the discourse on the table, so I become a shrinking

flower.

I don’t know but I get this epiphany again. Me and my

friends could talk aesthetics and philosophy without me

getting high. Right now, in case you don’t know, I’m a

father now. It is a catapult of change. Like, me wanting to

read scriptures again. Praying to God that I always remem-

ber praying to God.

I want to get clean. No smoke, no drinks, no drugs and…

nah, forget the last one. Anyway getting clean is not just

clean living, not being a vegetarian. Being clean is being

clean in greed, envy, gluttony, and feeling great and want-

ing to be great.

Man, time is passing by so slowly, like it’s already the

ninth issue of Haraya and I am the current president of our

cultural group. But I feel no different. It is hard to make

this world a better place, and it is much harder to gain

peace if I myself is not peaceful.

This column or this piece of shit is about a warning to my

friends to please help me stay clean. I respect you and I

don’t demand respect. I just want to tell you that I am weak

and at times I desire of getting a drink. Let’s just talk about

ourselves sometimes.

We are not losers if we learn from all those scars from the

shadows of yesterday. Yes, I get a timely dose of artificial

high, but what important is the desire to change like the

desire to speak up that arts and culture is about teaching if

not telling people how to get a better life.

And don’t just listen to anyone. Sincerity is the only safe

door for you to know the truth. Me, I know the truth, we

could talk about it without Red Horse or Solera. But I’m

still in the process of achieving that truth. Life is an eternal

battle to the real enemy and that real enemy is the devastat-

ing lust in our heart, that devastating claws and paw of

envy and greed that gradually eats us.

To all my friends and to the people who knew me, man

we’re gonna make it someday. We’ll gonna have a good

laugh.

An Banwa: Kultura buda Artes kan Tabaco, Inc.

RESOLUTION NO. OO2

Series of 2008

APPOINTING of JACQUILINE B. GUARIN to be the TREASURER OF An Banwa: Kultura buda Arte kan Ta-

baco, Inc. in REPLACEMENT of MERCY BALATINSAYO

Whereas, ABKAT, Inc. represented by Frederick Maurice Lim as the president has decided to appoint JACQUILINE B. GUARIN to be the treasurer of the said cultural organization. Whereas, the former treasurer, Mercy Balatinsayo has resigned her post to focus more on her studies because she needs ample time for her on – the- job training as a graduating student. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the organization shall appoint JACQUILINE B. GUARIN to be the new treasurer of the or-

ganization.

Sa lambang aldaw, banggi, buda kasiributan na nagsanli. An ka-pagalan na nasasapar dara kang paghanapbuhay an dai na naglili-wat ki pagbado. Dai man nanggad, ta an kapagalan pano huba 'an na plos. Sarong kataga na abstract noun o mga noun na dai nahihiling. Katumang baga kang concrete nouns. Kun an kapa-galan igwang gubing, dangan dai ki luwasan an satong hinang. Ta an pagbulos kang hinang kang tawo ladawan kang pagbulos kang pagkamoot. Ngaya ito pagpadaba na dai ki pighahalat na balos, pagpadaba na dara kang pagtinurugang-tugang, o kaya naman pagpadaba sa mga bagay na dai ki buhay kudi pano nin pagpamati nin buhay; dangan an kapagalan apisar kang may salak na sakripisyo iyo an pagkamoot na ginibong mapulot sa alinawnawan.

Kapagalan. Dakol an habong mapagal. No-habo an lawas kang saro, an salud kang saiyang kalag an inot na naghabo; igwang hilang sa pagkamoot.

Igwa ki pig-aatangan an lambang kapagalan. Kudi ito nugad minaluya dahil ito sa dai na kita nag-uugma. Siring kang pag-tugtog ki gitara. Kudi namamati ta sana an mahaya-hay na tanog kaini kun dugangan ta pa an satong kapagalan buda makakanigo kuta nang barangaon an lawas ta sa sampulo nganing mas dakol an talingang magsu-supsop kang sarong kab-tang kang kagayunan kang buhay pasisiring sa satong puso. Viva Musica! Isipon tang an gitara baga, anom an kwerdas ka'an, kudi kulang-kulang duwang-pulo an frets, ngaya anom na kag-pito (seventeen) labi na baga an na sanggatos na nota. An paghimati sa musika bulong sa satong kapagalan. Sag-kod kang nasasapar tang kaurisawan. Dai ki salak na gawing sa-distahon an katukduan ta sa artikulong ini ngonyan. Kudi kun nata minapaanod kita sa masulog na bulos kang tingog kaini, dahil ito sa saro ka man na may pigdadarang komposisyon sa saimong puso, kudi dai mo sana ikinaluwas tabaad dai ka sana ki panahon diskubrehon ini. No-an saro bako maugay an boot sa pagsurat, makakanigong dai kita mawara sa dalan na pasisiring sa kamurawayan kang musika. Kudi dai na kita nahirasan kang ori-hinal na musikang Bikolnon. Dai nang gira kaini. Sabihon ta pang igwa pang mga katutubo o mga indigenous people sa ibang probinsiya buda sabihon pang posibleng haros pariyo

man sana an tanog kaini; kuta na, may nagkatarada pa lamang kuta kang sadiri tang grupong etniko digdi sa Kabikolan; kuta nahiling ta pa sinda. Kudi an kabudyahan iyo sarong lalaw na bagay. Dawa napara na an tipyatang sidyating kang suanoy na Bikolnon, por dahil ta aktibo an musikang-Bikolnon sa ngonyan, masasalming buda masasaling ta no-sisay kitang mga Bikolano pag-abot sa musika.

An totoo, masakit mangaranan ini. Kudi siring sa nagkakapirang grupong etniko digdi sa Pilipinas, na may instrumento arog baga kang tambol buda an kubing. Kun hihimation ta an kom-posisyon kang mga banda sa ngonyan, haros masasalming ta ki diit an sa tambol buda kubing an binadol-badol sa drum buda an sound effects na garo nagtawaltawal na balâ (bamboo) sa mga banda sa ngonyan.

Halimbawa ngaya sa Syudad kang Tabaco, dakol ngonyan an impluwesyado kang pig-aapod na reggae music, no-sa-siring an badol baga ka'an luhay-luhay na pa-oro-otro sa kapinunan sagkod na matapos. Arog man ka'an an ibang tribo digdi sa sa-tong nasyon. Nangangahulugan na arog man ka'an an ipigpapa-rumdom sato kang suanoy na budhaya (ancient civilization). Sa magtubod kamo sa-dai, dai kita dyan makakabutas dawa umabot an panahon na igwa na naman ki bagong istilo, mabuwilta buda mabuwilta kita sa tanog na pigtu-tugtog kang mga Bikolano kang inot na panahon. Dawa pag-abot sa sound effects, nugad makakadangog kita ki siring baga kang 'sa namok pag naghi-higda na kita an pagkabanggi. An tanog na'an harani sa tanog kang kubing na nadangog ta minsan sa mga kansyon kang ban-dang Asin (Saro Bañares+, Nonoy Pillora+, Pendong Aban, buda Lolita Carbon). Kun siring may sa-namok palan o sa-balâ an sa-tong musika. Bakong maka-ulok ini. ta dai ipigpipirit an musika. Pighahalat ining magdangadang sa ibong kang dayaday na pagti-wala sa sadiri. Kun dai ta uyon an satong komposisyon, dangan magibo buda magibo kita ki paagi nganing gumayon ini. Dai kita makakalansi gamit an musika; sa pagkanta o sa pagtugtog. Kaipuhan maray an pakagibo, buda maray an pakagibo ka-iyan kun tunay na gikan sa boot. Masakit malingawan an mahayahay na awit. Kudi dulong masakit mapara sa isip kang mga tawo an pagtao mo ki kasusopgan an saimong sadiri. An gira sa gu-ramoy gikan sa dulos kaito, gira nanagpapadagos dara kang kwerdas sa ngonyan. An tambol buda kubing na harani sa tanog ngonyan, inot na paagi nin pagrokyaw kaitong panahon. Dakula an impluwensiya kang satong kaugalian sa pag-awit buda sa pag-patanog nin instrumento. Kadaklan sato bakong hilig an mga masigkaton na tugtog buda mga tanog na dai kayang iprodyusir kang mga simpleng instrumento. Kumbaga, dawa sa mga jovenes ta ngonyan, bako ninda hilig an 'techno' na mas uyon sa pagdan-gog duman sa Europa. Dulong kadakol an habo kang pig-aapod na 'heavy metal'. Kudi makangalas na bakong pyerde an mga album kang mga banyaga digdi sato. Bantog man giraray sinda digdi sa ibong kang makangiya-ngiyang produksyon kang mga plakang pinirata. Kunsabagay, an minsan na pagpahunod ta sainda iyo an paghali kang babloy. Ta mauuyam kita no-pirmi na sanang su sato an madadangog ta.

Kudi dahil man diyan, minsan kita magbakli. An panugad-nugad na pagpatronisar ta kang sadiring tang tanog sa musika; mag-bubulong kang kapagalan buda magtatanyog sa satong mga puso sagkod pa man.

Noel B. Dorente

6

Between Love and Respect; which would

you choose? I choose the former. The po-

lemics of these words is more than philol-

ogy and exact meaning of its semantics,

more often it is how we view such values.

I don't consider them as mere concepts for

it was the first mistake of the philosophers

to make such and the like as 'ideas'. I re-

spect Plato but I do not Love him. In the

book of Machiavelli it was said that a ruler

is better off respected and feared than

loved by his subjects. To a General or to

any leader who is oriented and geared to-

wards honor and victory; respect is essen-

tial. Sun Tzu's Art of War makes respect

as a psychological component that pro-

vides good morale to the soldiers and

brings apprehension to the enemy, if it

may not stir fear to his soldiers. Respect is

a powerful word. It polishes dignity. It

asserts self worth. It draws the line of

'when' and 'when not to.' It is the invisible

sign 'keep off the grass' on someone else's

lawn. It does not bend nor deign to any-

thing less that will jeopardize one's reputa-

tion and sometimes character. But most of

all, it must be earned and this is where I

choose Love over Respect. That's the truth

about respect. Love on the other hand, is

best given than earned. It entails sacrifice.

Unlike respect which requires fortitude,

Love can be experienced when one learns

how to be weak. It is an open door (--

according to John Denver) not a sign 'no

trespassing, trespassers’ will be shot'. It

asserts self-worth not by itself but by shar-

ing it to others. It has nothing to do with

reputation but more with character. Love

must precede anything in a relationship. I

remember my Dad telling Darryn, the hus-

band of my sister Den, that he's not asking

him to love Den but at least respect her.

Very nice, I said. It makes sense. At least

rationally. One will be respected without

being loved. But I don't like it. Respect

alone will not make anyone in relationship

happy. Sometimes it even sets the two

people apart. Annulment is worth

p160,000. nowadays; and rich people will

pay for it if it means keeping their

'personal space' and peace for themselves.

I don't know, but one of the reasons why

people divorced is not the absence of re-

spect but the absence of love. 'I could no

longer put up with him and I want a di-

vorce. I hope he could respect my decision

just as I respect his ideas on how to live

his life.' I am one of those who still con-

sider marriage sacred. The give and take

and the mutualism in marriage must be

made out of love of/with each other not

because of a compelling force called re-

spect. Let's try this; I (love, respect) my

cat. I (love, respect) my Mom. If you

choose 'love' I think you're just fine. If you

choose respect; well, can't you hear in

your inner ear that the statement requires

'...because of....'? Respect and love is dif-

ferent because the former requires expla-

nation while the latter does not. If you say

'I respect my cat' or 'I respect my Mom'

your mind will tell you automatically, like

fill-in-the-blank short quiz, 'because of

what?' You may answer it with: 'I respect

my cat because he is ferocious as a tiger'

or 'I respect my Mom because she knows

when to shut up when making my point.'

Very rational, isn't it? While if you say 'I

love my cat' and someone asks you 'why?'.

Your answer doesn't have to appeal to his

or your reason; 'because my cat sleeps 16

hours a day' or a simple shrug will do. We

often respect other people because of their

good traits and qualities; and people re-

spect us just the same as the way how re-

spect is ought to be earned. Sometimes we

respect others, even if they're not worth it,

for reasons that makes us feel better--and

for reasons that they will respect us by

doing so. Love, the more irrational of the

two words I'm talking about is simpler yet

more difficult. If you love someone no

explanation is needed. You just keep on

loving that person with all his/her flaws

and strengths. Without conditions and

returns. The cliche unrequited love and

unconditional love is redundant. Love may

not be requited and conditional at all

times, but it was meant to be so. Have you

ever thought how GOD loves us? He does-

n't need to explain Himself. Yet, most of

us tend to go and search for explanations

why GOD loves us. How can we prove

His love? If GOD loves me, why did this

thing happened to me? I tell you, this is

one of the philosophical traps that make

people confused. Just look around you

man, there are lots of things to thank about

--and for me that would be enough. Isn't it

funny? It makes sense that 'kung ang mga

hayop at halaman nga ay di niya pinapaba-

yaan, tayo pa kaya na nilalang niya bilang

pinakamataas na uri.' Between Love and

Respect, I choose Love--Respect if often

brought because of fear. And the opposite

of Love is not hate but fear. Kahima-

nawari. Word count: 882.

7

Giovhanii Buen

Its been two weeks since I suffered the very ill traffic from my

house to my office. The usual three-minute drive has been drasti-

cally stretched to one hour. An hour trip means having to leave

for work earlier than supposed to. One hour means one hour of

having to sit on the jeepney for so long while bathing in the heat

and dust. That's all thanks to the road reconstruction.

In that almost 14 days of having to spend the longer travel time

than usual, I heard fellow passengers and drivers said that the

road reconstruction is irrelevant. Reconstruction should mean a

better road after the works had been completed. That should

mean happier passengers and drivers, but by the looks of it, many

think that the reconstruction is just a money-making scheme.

Something that doesn't cause any relief at all. Many of them said

that whoever wanted to drill that road is someone wanting an

abundant Christmas. I agree that the reconstruction is irrelevant.

But to it being a money-making scheme, well, that's a compli-

cated question. No one in politics has ever admitted to pocketing

a part of the people's money.

Why I think the reconstruction is irrelevant is because the road

was fine. By fine, I mean no cracks that causes jeep-bumps and

shakes. Looking at the finished portions, the only difference it

has with the old road is that it is a newly-hardened cement. I am

no engineer but I think five months from now, it will look like the

old road again. Like what those drivers and passengers said, they

would have been tolerant with the inconvenience if what's caus-

ing it is something that they would be benefiting from in the next

ten years.

Those two weeks of miserable trips were aggravated by the honk-

ing horns. I couldn't quite comprehend why those drivers have to

horn. I haven't driven a car but I know that the horn is a road

communication tool. It is practical to have a good-sounding horn

when driving. But if you are riding in a car, staled in the traffic

and has been stationary for ten minutes, what good will honking

the horn bring? If those drivers really think that the vehicles in

front of them can make way if they'll horn, then LTO should give

a common sense test before issuing a license to someone.

There are a lot of things that we don’t want or we don’t need but

we have to deal with. Things that are thought by some to be im-

portant but are a nuisance to us. Those are the things that we can't

do nothing about. We can only hate those things and curse the

people who made those things happen. We can give malicious

insights by saying that some people reconstruct roads as a corrup-

tion activity, but it all ends there. Those people may not even

learn about what you think, and even if they'll know it, they will

not care. I once thought of stepping out of the jeep to tell the

driver of the car behind us to stop honking his horn, but I imag-

ined he is an inconsiderate man. I feared his possible reaction.

Fear makes us chill, it makes us run and the ugliest is fear makes

us passive. It makes us endure the most horrible traffic and the

most annoying road sound. Fear just makes us pray beneath our

sealed lips that "this thou will pass. Soon I'll be in my aircondi-

tioned office. I'll suffer no more of this traffic and I'll hear no

more of these sounds". I said that prayer many times within those

two weeks.

It has been almost two weeks ago since I thought about writing

this article. I started writing after I came up with the idea, but due

to lack of time, I wasn't able to finish soon. The traffic is better

now. I no longer have to wake up earlier than usual. I no longer

have to suffer the heat and dust. But I wonder if there was really

something I could have done. I hated myself for saying that

prayer.

After the traffic episode, a severe misunderstanding happened in

the office. I knew I was right so I didn't obey my boss. There

were long talks and several consultations with the human re-

sources department. I prayed 'this thou shall pass' but I made sure

I wouldn't wonder if there was anything I could have done. The

issue is all bridge under the water now, and it ended up with my

boss admitting her fault. I felt relieved and redeemed.

TARTICLES

8

Mayon Volcano Vintage Postal Stamp

Herlyn B. Cenita

9

by Richard D. Madrilejos

“It’s only in Tabaco”, a comment made by Ius Bariso last Octo-

ber 18, 2008 band jam in in Amando Cope College (ACC) Gym-

nasium dubbed as “Rock Da Cope.”

The said jam was sponsored by the Student Council Organiza-

tion of ACC and the Dr. Amando D. Cope Memorial Hospital

(DADCMH). It was scheduled to start at 6:00 PM but because of

the usual “I-don’t-want-to-be-the-first-one-to-perform” syndrome

of bands (maybe in Albay only), it begun around 7:00 PM al-

ready.

The first 2 bands ought to first “Rock Da Cope” were made last

because they came late. On the master list made by the SCO Ad-

viser, Richard Madrilejos, there were 27 bands but only 17 per-

formed. Imagine that; 17 bands out of 27. It’s only in Tabaco.

One night, one event, 17 bands. Of course, you have Overload in

Bicol University with more than 20 bands from all over the three

districts of Albay. Here in Rock Da Cope, one band was from

Malilipot (By Laws) and another band from Legazpi (Catacombs

of Displacer). The rest of the bands based on what I know so far

were all from TABACO.

The bands were (order of performance) By Laws, Play As One,

Catacombs of Displacer, Spoiled Bratz, Off Limits, Hypromilose

(not sure if this band performed), Bowanz, Nikitz (Sir Altair

Cope-Berces, ACC Registrar was one of the vocalists), Purga-

toryo, Iscariot Plays the Piano, Wavelength (the lead guitarist

almost wrecked one of the amplifiers by standing on it), Kal-

baryo, Amadeus, Rash, Dark Dungeon, Binhi, and the last but not

the least, of which I will personally invite again for the next Rock

Da Cope (maybe 2nd Sem or next school year), the band

Youthopia.

Each band performed two songs; almost all were cover songs

except Rash who belted out two original compositions

(“Tampalasan” and “Kanina”). Amadeus also played one of their

original compositions entitled “Nothing Else.” Krear Bathala and

Flat Earth Society (FES) who were also enlisted and have origi-

nal compositions did not perform because they were in Albay for

the launching of RIBOK ALBUM (A Bicol original compilation

Album from Bicol Bands). Unfortunately, the bass of the FES

and the Fender guitar of Eric Realizan (Blackpage and Krear

Bathala’s session guitarist) were stolen (not the Stolen Shotz)

wrecking the glass window of Joaquin (Krear Bathala’s bass

player) Ko’s car.

Anyway, nevertheless, they were from Tabaco and it’s only in

Tabaco where you would find youths, adults or professionals who

are into music and will stay for the music. By the way, the sound

system was powered by HighLites Sound System owned by San

Juan’s baranggay captain, Manolito Berces, managed by Ton

Berces (pioneer graduate of ACC).

Images from the underground

Mass Mind Rape YParusa

10

11

12

13

Ni Juan Escandor Jr. Napukaw bangging Sabado si Padre Almeda, kura paroko kan Basilica, sa baratokan sa ibaba kan saiyang kuwarto, tanda na igwang ibang tawo sa kombento. Sa kahaditan na gayod igwa na naman parahabon, dali-dali siya nagbaba nganeng isihon an dahi-lan kan kariribukan kan kaayaman. Pagbukas ni Padre Almeda kan pinto kan kombento, nagkahibi siya, napaluhod asin sinakom an mahal na imahen ni Ina na basa-basa kan nagrarapado gayong makusog na paros asin uran ni Bagyong Titang. “Milagro. Salamat, Nuestra Señora de Peñafran-cia, Patrona kan Bikolandia, Sasalbaron kita,” sabi kan padi na nagngangayo-ngayo. Mayong nakak aaram kon siisay an nagdara kan hubang imahen ni Ina sa kombento kan Basilica, na pigiistaran kan mga ka-padian, pagkalihis nin pitong bulan na ini habunon sa saiyang patintihan sa laog kan simbahan. Basta nagosyoso man sana an padi sa baratokan kan mga kaayaman, alagad pagbukas niya kan pinto, nahiling niya dali-daling nagharorot pahali an sarong closed van. Ikaduwa na si Bagyong Titang na kuta tuminama sa Bikolandia poon na habunon Enero si Ina. An pinakahuri an pagtama kan Bagyong Sabater kan nakaaging Pebrero kan gulpe an naggadan sa Albay nin huli sa pagrasay kan rinibong toneladang binugang gapo asin baybay na natipon sa abaga kan Bulkan Mayon sa kada pagtuga. Maski ngani nasentro an Naga, diit an nagkagaradan, alagad iyo man an may pinakamahiwas an distroso sa kabuhayan sa bilog na Kabikolan. Milagrong nagsiko si Bagyong Titang sa direksyon na pasentro giraray kuta sa Naga, imbes an direksyon nagpatoo bago magtugpa sa daga, paduman sa Japan kan mga alas onseng bang-ing Sabado, nin huli sa segun sa weather bureau nagkaigwa nin sarong high pressure sa ibaba kan maraot na panahon.

Nagpoon magluya an paros asin uran kan mailaog asin mailaag na sa sarong altar si Ina na pinatintihan ni Padre Almeda pagkata-pos na mapangadyian, kaiba an iba pang kapadian, na kairibanan niya sa kombento.

“Viva La Virgen! Viva La Virgen!” pagrokyaw kan mga deboto ni Ina na nagkukuno-kunong gayo hasta sa luwas kan Basilica sa pagkaagang Domingong misa, pagkatapos na makasalbar an Kabikolan sa grabeng paros na dara ni Bagyong Titang na mina-rapado hasta 220 kilometro kada oras. Nakakasula an saldang sa luwasan asin an aloso-os sa laog kan simbahan nagkakalayo sa grabeng namamatian kan lambang debotong dai mapugolon an paggilid kan luha sa tahaw nin pagmating kasalvaran. Nagkurura-haw pa nin sarong Viva La Virgen an mga deboto bago maka-poon kan saiyang homiliya ni Monsignor Perfecto Bondok, an prinsipe kan Simbahan Katolika na nagpapastol sa labi sa sarong milyon na deboto ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, an Patrona kan Bikolandia, na taon-taon sarong semanang pigrorokyaw sa paagi nin sagradong pagbisita sa Cathedral, an temporaryong istaran ni Ina sa panahon nin fiesta, na pigtutubudan tradisyon

nang nagdanay nin tolong siglo.

“Mga katugangan gabos niyatong irokyaw na kita salbado sa katibaadan pagkatapos kan paglahos sa satuya kan Bagyong Ti-tang kasubanggi. Miracles happen with the grace of God na pina-pahiling sato ni Ina, na sa paghuna asin paghorop-horop ko, iyo an nagpasabong sa parahabon na iuli Siya kasubanggi. Sarong milagro, na pagkatapos na maipamutang an imahen ni Ina sa sai-yang dapat kamumugtakan, an grabeng paros kan bagyo nagpoon magluya, hasta na nagkalmada mga alas dos nin aga, asin nag-aram kita paduman na, parayo sa satuya. Kita gabos testigo sa mga katibaadan na nag-abot sa satuya sa kada panahon na naw-awara o may insidente si Ina. Maromdoman niyato, kaidtong daing tuyong nahulog si Ina kan siya pabalyuhon sa pagoda, an satuyang ciudad nakaekspiriyensya kan pinakadakulang kasulo sa istorya. Mismo anom na bulan pa sana an nakakaagi, primero sa istorya kan Naga na talagang an syudad iyo an sentro kan Bagyong Sabater, sarong bulan makalihis na habunon si Ina. Ala-gad, kan makabalik Siya kasubanggi, sarong milagro, biglang naglikay si Bagyong Titang, asin kita gabos nakasalvar sa dagdag na katibaadanan sa panahon na kita dai pa gayong nakakabangon sa nakaaging bagyong nagsentro sa satuyang ciudad. Thanks be to God. Salamat Mahal na Ina,” sabi ni Monsignor Bondok na naglalagong an boses hali sa pulpito. Nagtirindog an barahibo kan obispo sa dagmang na parasimbang nag-urupakan pagkata-pos kan saiyang sermon.

Kasabay an mga deboto, nagpangoros asin nagkurahaw nin pi-tong Viva La Virgen si Padre Almeda, kura paroko kan Basilica, na saro kan biente-unong padi na ka-co-celebrant ni Monsignor Bondok. Kaiba sa nagselebrar kan misang pagrokyaw asin pasa-salamat kay Ina, an sekretaryo asin driver kan obispo, si Padre Archangel, na haros nakakaaram kan gabos na gibo o akti-bidad aro-aldaw ni Obispo Bondok, minsan mga personal pa, na an iba sinasaboot na sana.

+++++++

Sabi sa osip kan kapanahonan, an orihinal na imahen ni Ina inukit alay bilang tanda nin pagpairarom sa bendisyon kan Simbahan Katolika kan Cimarrones, na enot naperwisyo kan obligasyones na tinugdas na limos para sa simbahan kan mga prayleng Fran-ciscano. Inapod sindang Cimarrones nin huli ta nagsinutil sinda asin nagdurulag asin namuhay harayo sa simbahan, sa abaga kan Isarog,=2 0asin nagtanom nin tabako na pinapangalad kan Kasti-lang gobierno asin Simbahan Katolika.

Sarong prayleng Franciscano an nagkombinsir sainda na magbwelta na sa bendisyon nin Kagurangnan na kaglalang kan gabos na bagay sa kadagaan, katubigan asin kalangitan. An dalan sa Kagurangan igigiya ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, an inor-den kan Obispo kan Simbahan Katolika sa banwaan nin Nueva Caceres, bilang propio nindang patrona. Sa dikreto kan Obispo kan kapanahonan, tinugdasan sinda kaineng sarong patrona, na si Ina, na mamato asin madangog sa gabos na pagmawot nin kau-mayan sa mga kadipisilan. Nakumbinsir ni Padre Segovia, sa nagkapirang beses pagtukad niya sa komunidad kan mga Cimar-rones sa abaga kan Isarog, sa paagi nin pagosip sa gabos na gu-rang, na dai na maobligar an simbahan kan tinugdas na limos kundi boluntad nang reresibihon an maski anong maitatabang, nin huli sa sinda tatawan nin lugar istaran asin tanoman. Mahiwa-son pa an kadagaan na pwedeng tamnan na sa paglinang ninda an banwaan makinabang asin madanay an katrangkilohan.

14

An gabos na hahagadon sa Kagurangnan kan mga Cimarrones ipapaagi kay Nuestra Se ñora de Peñafrancia, patrona ninda, nin huli segun kay Padre Segovia, Siya sarong Ina na nagtataong umay sa maraot na kamatian, na dinara niya hali pa sa probinsya nin Caceres, Espanya, mantang pinapahiling an istampetang na-kaladawan an santa.

Sa irarom kan bendisyon kan Simbahan Katolika, an mga Cimar-rones nagpairarom sa debosyon kay Ina na santang masalvar sainda sa katibaadan , madara sa buhay na daing kasagkudan sa Kalangitan asin maligtas kan kalag sa kalayo nin Impiyerno. Sa tinaong dagang omahon asin erokan sa kapatagan kan lambang pamilya Cimarron, nawara an saindang hadit na magabot pa, so-brang taggutom nangyari sa kabuboldan na minaabot kon tag-alang, basta magsunod sana sa orden kan kagsadiri kan tinatam-nan asin ineerokan kabali an Simbahan Katolika, mga mestizo sa banawaan asin mga purong Kastilang nag-aaprobuwetsar kan nagtatalubong oportunidad sa negosyong Galyon, na nagparikas sa pag-abante kan banwaan sa Tierra de Ybalon paduman sa bagong sistema nin panahon, an pinaghalian kan Naga ngonian.

Tanda nin pagpasalamat asin igot na paglaom sa bagong pag-tubod, tinalikdan na ninda an saindang mga anito20asin nagsugo an saindang Babaylan, an pinakagalang-galang asin kinakataku-tan na may llave sa mundo nin Kaanitohan, na ukiton an ladawan kan santang nasa istampeta ni Padre Segovia, mismo sa aldaw na nag-abot sinda sa kapatagan sa gilid kan bikobikong kasalugan. Sa paglihis nin tolong bulan, nakapamutang na an mga Cimar-rones sa bago nindang kinamugtakan asin nahaman na an imahen ni Ina na nakatukaw na kogos an aking Diyos, an hadi kan gabos.

Nganeng magkaigwa kapangyarihan nin buhay an saindang santang Ina, nag-orden an Babaylan kan mga Cimarrones na pin-turahan, nin dugo kan nagpapasosong inataman niyang inang ayam, an imahen na inukit kan pinakamaurag nindang paraukit nin anito. Sa komunidad nin Cimarrones sa kabuboldan, gina-galang an ayam huli sa ugali kaineng pagbisto asin pagbantay sa maysadiri saiya hasta sa kagadanan. Sa altar na kawayan sa laog kan ginibong sambahan na pigtarabangan mahaman, pinahigda an ayam na nakagapos an mga tabay asin nakahigot an ngimot. Sa atubangan kan gabos na mga Cimarrones na nagbaraba na nganeng magpairarom sa bendisyon nin Simbahan Katolika asin ni Ina, makusog nagpangadyi an Babaylan na akuon an atang na dugo na magtatao nin kapangyarihan nin milagro sa imahen ni Ina, an patrona kan mga Cimarrones. Mantang nagbuburabura nin panambitan na nakadupa sa atubangan kan inukit na imahen sa=2 0pamitisan an ayam, an nakalugay na kolor pirak na buhok kan Babaylan pinapalid kan malipot na paros nin tag-uran hali sa ka-salugan sa pamitisan kan Isarog. Nag-aarotoot an tinuob na sina-ralak na dahon, ubak asin dadiangaw sa laog kan bagol na may baga na kapot nin duwa pang gurang na babayi na nagsusumay-sumay sa pangadyi nganeng mabukasan an balyuhan paduman sa mundo nin Kapangyarihan.

Kinua kan Babaylan an punyal asin sinisi an ugat sa liog kan ayam asin nagkuprit an dugo na nagsalidahan salodon, sa bagol na may tuob, kan duwang babaying gurang, hasta mapano an duwang saludan. Inipit kan Babaylan an sinisian; nawara an hi-nangos kan ayam na ginagalang. Naghangos pa nin sarong ha-rarom an inang ayam kan butasan an inipit na ugat sa may liog, nagbulwak an dugo na nagdalihig sa daga. Dai na nasundan pa nin hinangos an muklat alagad gadan nang ayam. Sinugo niya na

ipaanod sa salog an sinakripisyong ayam nganeng mabuhay gira-ray na magsirbi kay Ina. Nagluhod sa atubangan kan altar an Ba-baylan, kinua an duwang bagol na may dugo kan ayam asin ki-narigos an imahen kan saindang Ina.

Pitong aldaw an nakalihis, nagbalik an ayam na nagsakripisyo nin dugo para kay Ina, na malalata asin may lugad pang diit sa tagiliran kan liog. Kinarga kan Babaylan an nahahapo na ayam na nangalagkalag, naghahanap kan saiyang tolong kaidoan na nagkagaradan kan sinda bayaan dai pa napapatod asin naghihilom an pugto kan inulnan. Nagrokyaw an kagabsan sa komunidad kan mga Cimarrones, sa saiyang pagkabuhay liwat na tanda kan tunay na kapangyarihan ni Ina. Nagkaedad an ayam na nagbantay kay Ina sa pawod asin kawayan na sambahan na minimisahan kada Domingo ni Padre Segovia, alagad makaturotristing na-gadan an hayop sa paghidaw sa binabantayan niya kan ibalyo an patrona kan Cimarrones sa dakulang simbahan sa sentro nin Nueva Caceres dara kan pagkabantog kan milagro, na nagtaong debosyon sa mga poderoso asin maimpluwensya sa banwaan, hasta ideklarar kan Papa na si Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, Patrona kan Bikolandia. Nin huli sa kasalatan nin kasuratan, pagdalagan kan panahon, dipisil tubudan an osipon kan nagpapasosong ayam na nagadan asin nabuhay-liwat sa kapangyarihan ni Ina. Nagromarom asin dai mapatunayan an osipon nin milagro sa ayam lalo pa an osipon na kon baga, iyo o bako, Cimarrones=2 0an kagibo asin kagsadiri kay Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.

Pigdiskusyonan sa akademya an osipon kan pagpinta nin dugo nin ayam sa Ina sa panahon na dai nang mababasehan sa eksak-tong bulan, taon asin petsa nangyari an seremonya, na segun sa osipon napasiparahan sana si Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia nin sarong prayleng nagtatala kan nagkapirang nangyari kan ika-17 siglo. Mayong kaseguruhan kon baga an nangyari sa isip sana o interpretasyon simbolikal kan nangyari sa panahon na sinurat an osipon sa historya kan Naga. Basta sa osipon kan historya, na-mensyonar si Ina sa kasong sinangat laban sa nagkapirang per-sona, nin huli sa kinompisakar na sinakong bagas na ipapakakan sa mga nagtatatrabaho sa ginibong simbahan para kay Ina.

Sarong osipon an totalmenteng nagpapara kan nosyon na may pakiaaram an mga Cimarrones asin ayam sa paggiging milagrosa ni Ina, nin huli ta sinasabi sa talaan nin historya na bako kon siisay kundi an mga suanoy na artisanong Intsik an nag-ukit sa Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. Sa lektura ni Propesor Danilo Gerona sinasabi na nagkamarag na an mga residenteng Intsik sa Nueva Caceres, na nabubuhay bi-lang mga artisano, parahalyaw asin parasira na minakompwes-tong sarong puwersa sa banwa na may impluwens’ya na sa ka-panahonan na inukit an imahen ni Ina. “Hilinga an mata ni Ina ta may pagkasingkit baga,” segun pa kay Gerona. Segun sa saiya mayo man nin osip na nagaaragawan asin nag-boborolyahan an mga paraboya kan mga enot na panahon kan bago pa an imahen ni Ina, nin huli sa an mga paraprosisyon asin deboto ni Ina an mga elitista, poderoso asin maimpluwensya sa banwa na pormal asin selensyong nararalakaw sa dagang kalye kan Naga, na rota kan andas kan santa sa kada kapyistahan Niya.

15

Nagsabi pa si Gerona na nagbutwa na sana a n istorya nin aragawan asin borolyahan makarani sa andas ni Ina sa paglaog kan ika-biente siglo, kan pigispalto na an mga tinampo asin nauso na an mga buratserong voyadores na naroso sa traslacion, na nagin tradisyon na nin debosyon asin pagsamba sa Patrona kan Bikolandia.

Sa modernong panahon, sinasabi man sa sarong diskusyon na an mga ritwales para kay Ina tanda nin sistemang patriarkal na kon sain an imahen premyo sa kamachohan kan nagburolyahan na kalalakihan, na garong nagdudurulak na ayam, lalo pa pigpangal-adan an partisipasyon nin kababaihan sa pagdara kan santa pa-ghali sa Basilica paduman sa katedral kan Naga.

An diskusyon nagtulod sa paghiling na kombinasyon nin ani-mismo asin kristiyanismo an pangkagabsan na pigura sa pag-samba kay Ina, na kon sain ine natural na manipestasyon nin pag-tubod na minaabot sa asimilasyon kan dati nang pagtubod sa kaanitohan sa bagong sistema nin relihiyon na nagtataong buhay sa pagdanay kan debosyon. Ireberente man an parehong diskusyon na sabihon na ginigilid kan pagsamba kay Ina an dapat na pagtubod na sa paagi sana ni Jesus Kristo masasalvar an kalag kan nagtutubod S aiya.

Sa pagtubod kan nagaadal kan saga kan debosyon, maski mawara pa an orihinal na imahen kan santa, nakagamot na asin madanay pa an pagtubod sa milagro ni Ina sa kolektibong kaisipan kan mga Bikolano. Alagad posibli man magluya an selebrasyon kan fiesta kon dagos nang mawara an hinabon na imahen ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.

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Tapos na an misa asin nagkaranta an mga deboto ni Ina kan sai-yang himno nin pagrokyaw na kinomposo nganeng ideklarar an pagtubod sa “Patrona del Bicol” na pigtistigohan kan dagmang na istoryang nagsasabing an pagsamba kay Ina nakakatabang sa pagpagian kan katikapuhan asin nakatatao nin kaumayan sa maraot na namamatian.

“Resueño vibrante el himno de amor…Que entona tu pueblo con grata emocion…Patrona del Bicol gran Madre de Dios…Se siem-pre la Reina de Nuestra Region…Patrona del Bicol gran Madre de Dios…Siempre la Reina de Nuestra Region…Maski an kasa-logan sambit an Simong ngaran…Maski an kabukidan Ika an rokyaw…Kami simong aki pano nin kaogmahan…Simo nangan-gako Ika kamotan…Kami simong aki pano nin kaogmahan…Simo nangangako Ika kamotan…Awiton an awit nin pagka-moot…Sa simo samuyang idinodolot…Awiton an awit nin pag-kamoot…Sa simo samuyang idinodolot……Patrona nin Bikol Ina ka nin Dios…Magdanay na Reina samuyang rehyon…Patrona nin Bikol Ina ka nin Dios…Magdanay na Reina samuy-ang rehyon……Patrona nin Bikol…Inang namomoton…pamanang banal balaog nin Dios…Pakihimatea mga inagrangay kan simong banwaan na napaalaw……Patrona nin Bikol…Inang namomotan…pamanang banal balaog nin Dios…Pakihimatea mga inagrangay kan simong banwaan na napaalaw.”

Nagrilinya sa atubangan kan altar an kadakli kan parasimba asin naghapros kan saindang panyo sa hawak asin lalaugon kan kahoy na imahen ni Ina na binistihan nin kapang ginansilyohan nin sinu-lid na bulawan asin pinutungan nin mas makinang na ko ronang

bulawan. Nakisalak si Monsignor Bondok, Padre Almeda, Padre Archangel asin iba pang co-celebrant na mga kapadian sa mga parasimba pagkatapos kan misa nin pasasalamat asin pagrokyaw; asin naki-pagrinibarayan nin mga pangungumusta sa mga pangyayari; hasta ihatod kan obispo sa pinto kan Basilica an mga pinakahur-ing maghali kaiba na an mayaman na debotong Intsik na nagpa-gayon kan Palasyo.

Magkaiba si Monsignor Bondok asin si Padre Archangel paghali sa Basilica pasado alas dose nin udto lunad nin SUV pabalik sa Palasyo na dai naggigirongan. Nakahuyom si obispo sa sobrang kaogmahan nin huli ta nagbalik na si Ina, duwang bulan pa bago an selebrasyon kan pagrokyaw sa Patrona kan Bikolandia sa bu-lan na Septiembre. Kasyahan pa an panahon na maibalangibog sa gabos na mga deboto sa laog asin luwas kan Pilipinas na nagbalik na an Patrona nin Bikolandia.

Pinakaimportante an presensya kan imahen ni Ina sa fiesta nin pagrokyaw ta paraki pa magdalaw asin magdara nin atang an mga deboto kon mayong nakalunad sa andas kan santa, mayong sam-nong rarabnoton an mga may panata asin mayong imahen na rorosnosan kan mga panyong lalanganan ninda. An pagboya na pirme nang mikskla nin emosyon asin intensyon, magigin silen-syong prosesyon nin paglubong kon an Patrona nin Bikolandia mawara sa kamot kan mga parasamba.

Pagmati ni Monsignor Bondok na kon dai makabalik sa tamang panahon an Mahal na Ina, maluya an malaog na atang, limos asin donasyon para Saiya na sa kahaloyan pwedeng magparumpag kan tolong siglong tradisyon na pinunan, segun sa osipon, sa dik-reto daa nin sarong Obispong Kastilang nagdeklarar patrona kan mga Cimarrones, an primerong nagtestigo sa milagro ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. Sa ngonyan na panahon an milagro ni Ina garo nang milagro nin tinapay an minalaog na kuwarta sa simba-han kada fiesta.

Sinugo kan obispo an saiyang sekretaryong padi na mahigot na makipagkoordinar sa Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) kan Philippine National Police nganeng parikason an paghanap kon sain na napaduma n an pighabon na imahen ni Ina. Nagkapirang leads na pigsusog kan CIDG an direktamenteng pinondohan ni Monsignor Bondok, ta kon dai, mahalat na sana sa bagolbolon na hiro basi sa rason na mayo nin bastanteng pondo an pulis sa mga imbestigasyon na kaipuhan susugon an mga ta-wong imbwelto na posibling nagkawaragas asin nagpairipli na sa kanya-kanyang distenong taguan.

Hinangaan ni Padre Archangel an urag sa imbestigasyon ni Sen-ior Supt. Elmer Dialogo, an pamayo kan CIDG na an sakop an duwang probinsyang Camarines, nin huli sa nagkapirang insi-dente na garo nang mabubugtak sa entonses an daralagan ta mayo nang padudumanan, siya pirmi an nakakabungkal nin bagong direksyon hasta maresolbiran an kaso nin paghabon. Sa primirong apat na bulan, dai naghiro an imbestigasyon nin huli sa dai masumpay an detalye kan impormasyon sa sinususog na grupong parahabon. Mayong nagbutwang bagong impormas-yon hali sa black market kan mga antigo, hasta magkaigwa nin breakthrough paglaog kan ikalimang bulan poon ilarga an imbes-tigasyon, kan an saindang informant sa Ongpin nadangog, na

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interesado sa sarong 17th</ sup> century church artifact kan ma-hal na birhen an sarong poderosong art collector, na ino-offer nin sarong middleman, na naghahalyaw sa mga antique shops nganeng magtransaksyon nin mga palusot asin hinabunan na mga suanoy na mga bagay na kaiba sa historya nin katawohan. Inapodan tolos ni Dialogo si Padre Archanghel manungod sa di-nadalagan kan imbestigasyon na tolos man nagbareta sa saiyang Among na igwa na nin breakthrough an saindang pinapangadyi sa Kagurangnan, na lugod man itao an dalan na makabalik gira-ray an Patrona kan Bikolandia bago pa man iselebrar an fiesta para Saiya.

Nagkaluha asin napangoros si Monsignor Bondok sa maogmang bareta nin huli sa pagtubod niya, an Diyos talaga masuripot asin dai nagpapabaya sa kahagadan ka mga aki niya sa daga, na nag-pakusog pa sa saiyang pagtubod sa Inang nagpasabong nin dunong asin nagtao nin kabanalan saiya.

Nagkaaregluhan sinda20Dialogo asin Padre Archangel sa siento-singkwenta mil na budget sa operasyon pag-recover kay Ina na dai magsobra sa duwang bulan na nangangaipo nin limang ahente na ide-deploy sa Kamanilaan; na mayong pagduwa-duwang inuyonan ni Monsignor Bondok asin ora mismong dinuhal an saro-may-kabangang bundle nin manarangatos sa saiyang sekre-taryo, pagkatapos na maeksplikaran kan pinagkasunduan.

Nagdesenyo an CIDG nin “Oplan Salvation”, an koda kan pag-recover sa imahen ni Ina, kaiba an partisipasyon sa operasyon ni Padre Archangel, na iyo an makapot kan budget, na itatao kada bulan an pampersonal kan mga ahenteng imbwelto kaiba na an allowance sa behikulo, hasta arkila sa apartment na safe house kan saindang grupo. Nagsusunod nin standard operating proce-dures an saindang hiro, an padi nagbibisita sa safe house pag-kaipuhan kan mga ahente an desisyon niya sa mga osipon nin pinansya. Bago magtumba an duwang bulan nin operasyon sa Manila, nasa-kote kan mga ahente kan CIDG an middleman na nakaulay kan poderosong art collector paduman sa sarong antique shop sa Ong-pin, Manila. Dinara an middleman sa safe house asin pig-int ero-gar manungod sa imahen ni Ina. Dai naghaloy nagtuga an mid-dleman na talagang hali sa Basilica an imahen na gustong ipa-bakal kan sarong grupo. Alagad bilog-an-boot kan lalaking nasa-kote na mapagadan na sanang dai nanggad magtuga asin magtokdo sa parahabon ni Ina. Karibay kan pagtuga niya, segun sa middleman, an kagadanan kan saiyang pamilya. Sinabi niya sa mga ahente na pwedeng bakalon na sana giraray kan simbahan an imahen, kon gusto nindang makua an imahen ni Ina, maski tres-sientos mil na sana hali sa orihinal na deal niyang kabangang milyon sa saiyang kliyenteng poderosong art collector.

Kon dai magtuga, nag-atid-atid si Dialogo, ini dead end na, asin magkakaburukayo na sinda. Kon tortyuron asin gadanon ninda dagdag sa konsensya, probelma pa an padispatsar kan bangkay niya. Naisip kan pulis na imbes na makipagkulitan pa sa middle-man na pwede sindang untalian, tano ta dai paandaron an isip niya asin saiyang pag-iriba? Mas maray na makadelihensya sinda sa sitwasyon, total libre sa kompromiso ta sinda-sinda man sana, luwas si padi. Nagdesisyon an hepe imbistigador na apudan si Padre Archangel.

Ineksplikar ni Dialogo an mga sirkumstansya asin tinawan nin presyong kabangang milyon nganeng ma-recover an imahen ni Ina, na garo sa interpretasyon kan padi mayo nang ibang paagi, kundi uyunan nin huli ta mayo man an ebidensya nin paghabon. Segun pa sa pulis, sinda an delikado na kasuhan nin illegal deten-tion kon sinda magpursigir na duonan an middleman sa paghabon sa Patrona kan Bikolandia. Dai giraray nagduwaduwa si Monsignor Bondok na bakalon na sana giraray si Ina asin tinugon si Padre Archangel na darahon Sabadong banggi sa kombento kan Basilica an imahen ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.

“Aram mo Padre Archangel, an gabos na nangyayari sa satuya pagboot ni Ina. An pasabong sa sakuya, likayan niyato na total-mente nang mawara an mahal na Patrona kan Bikolandia. Mayong pinapasabong sa satuya na paagi, na magtatao nin segu-radad ni Ina lalo pa kapot pa nin iba an imahen Niya. Kon ibubul-gar ta an pagkakua kay Ina, dai matugot an midya na dai bungka-lon an detalye kan saiyang pagkakua na magpapahalaba pa nin istorya, lalo na harani na an fiesta. Sa sakuyang paghiling , mas maray na an pagbutwa ni Ina sarong milagro na sana nin huli sa nakonsensya an parahabon, kaya binalik niya si Ina,” sabi kan obispo sa saiyang drayber-sekretaryo.

Nagrarapado na an paabuton na si Bagyong Titang kan makaabot an closed van hali sa Manila na iyo an binabantayan ni Padre Archangel lunad si Monsignor Bondok sa laog kan SUV sa gilid kan simbahan kan San Fernando, otso kilometros hali sa Basilica. Nagpailaw an padi asin nagmenor an closed van na papaabuton asin puminondo sa ibong na lane kahampang kan SUV, kon sain nakakirilagan an mga nagsasarakbatan na kaayaman, sa tahaw kan dalan.

Nagbaba sa SUV si Padre Archangel asin nagdalagan na si-nusudo kan paros paduman sa closed van, mantang nagbaba man si Dialogo hali sa enotan kan behikulong linulunadan asin nagdu-man sa likodan nganeng bukasan asin ipahiling sa kaulay na padi an darang iniingatan. Aban-aban, tinao niya an sarong botog-botog na folder, nag-abrasahan asin nagbalik na sa saiyang Among nagmamasid sa mga transaksyon sa saiyang tagiliran, na piggilidan kan duwang ayam na sinisiraman kan saidang kina ab’tan asin kinamugtakan sa kadikloman. Pinaenot ni Padre Archangel an paghali kan closed van asin nagsunudan sinda paduman sa Naga hasta sa tinampo kan Balatas. Nagbubugabog an uran, nagsisiwik an paros, luminaog an closed van sa Basilica asin hinatod nin hiling ni Monsignor Bondok an lunadan hasta sa kombento kon sain nagbaratokan an mga ayam. “Hamos na,” sabi ni Monsignor Bondok kay Padre Archangel na nagkambyo paatras asin nagmaniobra pabalik sa Palasyo pagkatapos na maidiskarga an imahen ni Ina. (EM)

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…Unang premio an Taon nin mga ayam sa kategoryang osipon sa ika-05Premio Tomas Arejola. Kudos. Padayon!

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CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER “YATOYYATOYYATOYYATOY” CARRETAS CARRETAS CARRETAS CARRETAS

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RAFAEL BANZUELA RAFAEL BANZUELA RAFAEL BANZUELA RAFAEL BANZUELA 3TX IIITX IIITX IIITX III

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erik, djai and george vibar

jimple and reywell

julius and jimple

erik

cebika paintings

Djai, thanks for the photographs

Lola may die tonight, repeated the ambient voice over in my head,

as I looked down at her shriveled form--almost no longer human,

disconnected from any memory, almost impossible to create as a

possible idea or an imagined image of her, none, nulled. The bulge

and outline of her skull, as if itself alive, pressed against her face,

wanting to tear away from its body. But she was still technically

alive. Only in a comaesque sleep, and breathing with much effort.

Her hollow mouth, all teeth gone with every son or daughter she

bore, gapes and shuts like a tired socket. Her tongue receding to

that dark place in her body. She even had that look behind the

glass. The family she could no longer see--which she hadn't seen

for a long time anyway--gathered around her, as if suddenly, in

contest for her attention. But she was just there, part of the bed and

the crumpled sheet, her face an embossed design on her pillow.

I have seen a lot of dead things. Fishes mostly and dogs. And I

could not trace any difference from those things and with what I

was seeing then. A thought passed me, that as the soul perfects

itself, the body deteriorates. I can only imagine the darkness she

was seeing behind her cataract-blinded eyes. As she was almost

dead in the waking world, I can feel that she was, as if given a

second childhood, bouncing, running or even gliding in that dream

-state, in that delirium, in that buffer between the living and the

dead.

My childhood was made up of pretty sick, superstitious, and terri-

fying stories of moments like this. It was mentioned that she had

called for a name belonging to a dead person. Which only meant

they were beckoning her already. Which only meant she was walk-

ing that path lined with flowers and a bright light at the end.

Around her house/chapel filled with saints and misalettes, inter-

woven with laminated pictures of the dead and the living, in gray

and in color, I had felt the room was crowded, yet my skin felt

flushed with a certain chill. I'm a sucker for horror stories, but I

felt the fear in this one was more of awe rather than just fear for

pain or even death. The awesome mystery of death. Death, the

misunderstood. Notions about dying came to me...everything I had

read or seen. Reincarnation, the afterlife, heaven and hell, merging

with the void, but none of these had calmed medown. I just felt so

lonely and pitiful, that I was sure I would breakdown. Not that Im

too crazy about Lola. But I guess my sorrow was for myself

too. For one day I will also go through this solemn brutality; this

tearing away of the non-degradable from the degradable.

This part wherein you wouldn't know where to go: you are too

set up for leaving life but your are too afraid to embrace death.

And I guess that's what will transform us. Okay I guess I have wet

myself enough.

I have many approximations of what we will "see" in death, one of

these is the classic falling into a bottomless vortex. But I wish

from here to the moon and back, that what I'd be seeing

there would be all the best moments in my entire life and all the

worst fixed into best moments, played out before me in eternal

repeat mode. Amen.

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As Lola Laid DyingAs Lola Laid DyingAs Lola Laid DyingAs Lola Laid Dying Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan

Art Education Workshop at Tabaco National High School

Miss Raquel Almonte and Co-teacher

Resource person Alma Quinto and friend Erik Lim

I’m going to make this short but classy. Club Molotov stood for something that its main proponents themselves cannot ever handle: to trample the mentality that mainstream radio is the only way to go in Albay. Yes, anyone can smirk at this helpless plan. So, what more can they do but own the burden in constructing a new alley, a backdoor of some sort, a new platform for every Albayano to mosh and riot with their original music served as the sole generator of this move-ment. Molotov has been a concept without a name ever since a blog posted by Weng (from the band The Doldrums) on friendster enti-tled “the definition of talent fee” elicited countless unexpected re-actions. The blog was a brief perspective from a neophyte musician about Albay’s bias against paying rock bands. The online discus-sion through blog comments was converted into some idealistic musings that maybe someone just has to start a revolution, as len-nonish as it may sound. I was ranting; “We have a scene and we have the goods, but what is holding us back is the media’s unsup-portive stance. There should be reeducation that there’s more music out there other than what you hear on the radio”. Complicated? Yes believe me, I know. And the rants became the fuel. The plan was to choose 10 bands from a 2-day audition that will be given a chance to record one of their original materials for free. The catch was there is no catch at all. We just want an alternative for the heck of it. And who knows, a chain reaction may ensue. But it was like a flying kick to the groin, to put it lightly. From politicians smirking over the proposal and nonchalantly donating 50 bucks for the cause or usually nil, for us organizers crossing out other priorities for the purpose of revving up the engine for this project continuously, and even for collecting sympathy stares and often ridiculous misinterpretations when some expectations were not met. Yes, we were martyrs. But for what, we’re not sure. We just know the Molotov gang was fighting for something real, some-thing good, something courageous. One sudden loud bang. Like a Molotov. The first gig “MARIBOK NAMAN KAMI” held in Market Mar-ket, Barriada complex, was a triumphant first step. There were more or less 150 people who bought tickets (and that is with DIY advertising, mind you). Good enough, but with a measly 1thou + as income to be used for recording, everything was still farfetched.

Months have passed and the drive was waning. There was no way we could find an audience to donate at least 10thou for the re-cordings of all the bands. Then by sheer chance of good mood and maybe good alcohol, SMB soberly closed a deal with us to let our bands play with pay on the Magayon Fest stage for 3 days. We were back on track. May 2008, the bands started recording their songs in Naga City and it took 5months of mixing because of lack of working stations and of proper equipment. Still crawling from the stinky ground of Ifs and Hows, another sweet deal was closed: a real Album Launching concert on the Oktoberfest stage. October 18, 2008: The night was a riot. Despite the freak burglary incident (we feel for you Krear Bathala and Flat Earth dudes. We want to skin dem thieves alive too), everyone was in high hopes and in good vibes to make the most of his performance. It was more than a celebration; it was a success story. The audience was obviously awestruck from the beautiful noise they were witnessing. It has been an epiphany to some, another drunken night to others; but 3hours of Molotov music in flesh will be a story to tell for sure. Pepsi Paloma Experiment and Mudflow, two bands who began the trend of recording their own songs, were coincidentally scheduled to play after the event, making it a true night of Albay indie spirit. It took more than a year before a single spark ignited by that blog turned into a real vehicle for aspiring musicians to be heard. I am just crossing my fingers that fresh bloods nagging their parents to buy them a six-string and those geeks making up rhymes at the back of their class would notice that the carpet has already been rolled down for them. Yes, there are still debts to be collected and expenses to be paid. The hell isn’t really over. But In the end, it’s all about the music. Pure, uncompromised mu-sic. And I admit, this compilation may not be the best of the best, but it sure is one big aural assault, Albayano style.

By Ahmad Sohiel Tanji

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The afternoon of October 26, 2008 was initially a usual park-day for the regular Sunday loafers at the Tabaco City Plaza. But around four o’ clock in the pm, a bunch of youngsters, with gui-tars, a conga drum and tarpaulin banners started setting up the plaza kiosk into a mini-stage. A sound system was also hired, and from the mobile disco speakers came not the hip dance music of the time, but this strange at first, eerie to some, relaxing recorded music of what was later to be known as Yoga Sound. The event was later announced as Haribol Jam. Side information: These youngsters are not new to the Sunday-crowd for every Sunday for years at around 7 o’ clock in the eve-ning, the group regularly hold, what they call sankirtan, or congre-gational chanting of the Yoga Sound drawing a crowd of kids and a few inquirers. Haribol, which the group also use as a form of greeting, is San-skrit, roughly translated as “Chant the Holy Names of God” or “Sing the names of God” or “Glorify the names of God”; the vi-brations of such names is what is then called the Yoga Sound. To these youngsters, saying Haribol is a reminder of the importance of chanting the Holy Names in this day and age. And although Sankirtan would have been a more proper title to the event, Hari-bol Jam is adopted to give chanting of the transcendental Yoga Sound a more accessible, rock-sized appeal to the masses. The event was organized by Tabaco City’s foremost, or may per-haps be the only authentic cultural group, in partnership with the Yoga Club of Tabaco, a group devoted in educating everyone about identity, yoga meditation, vegetarianism, and many more. The event was funded by the LGU of Tabaco, as part of its drive to boost socio-cultural agenda in the growing city. As soon as the equipments were ready, part of the group started the singing of the said Yoga sound, inviting curious bystanders, passers by, and park-goers to either watch the delirious chanters, or check out the stuff in the banners, or read the booklets offered by the rest of the youngsters. Somewhere in the program, veggie burgers and sweets were dis-tributed by the group to the delight of the listeners. Distribution of Parasadam, or foodstuff offered to God, is a common practice by the group. It is their belief that chanting and hearing of the Holy Names, and eating of Prasadam, can both purify our hearts of material-ism. In between breaks of the group’s chanting, local mu-sic artists like Jim-ple Borlagdan, a folk singer, Los Pajeros, a rap group from Bonga,

and Tabaco bands Rash and Krear Bathala, performed their

socially and transcendentally relevant songs to the intimate crowd. The program ran for more than four hours of what Eric Lim, AB-KAT Inc.’s president observed “a time filled with sense.”

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Haribol Jam article and photo (top) by Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan

PLANT A TREEPLANT A TREEPLANT A TREEPLANT A TREE 28