Tiny House

When I went to Malaybalay City to witness the “Kaamulan Festival”one of the places I visited were the various booth surrounding the Capitol Grounds. I was amazed at how all these products were brought into one place to showcase the pride of Bukidnon. And guess what caught my attention is this decoration showing a miniature tree house made of bamboo and a branch of wood. The artistry and the work of art seemed to show the craftsmanship of this piece of work. Indeed, I love Filipinos for their love of art.

This might be used as birds nest and/ or house decor for those who love native products.

veggie on the go

When I get busy with all the stuff in the computer I do not have time to cook for myself or to anyone at all. But if the going gets tough and tough gets going, somehow and somewhere inside me felt the urge to prepare a light and nutritious meal. Guess what I prepare? Yes, I prepare fresh vegetable salad, you need not sweat in preparing this. But all you’ve got to do is to check your refrigerator and picked the vegetables, sliced it and pour out either a mayo or vinaigrette to complete the meal. And this is how my fresh veggie salad on the go looks like. It taste better than just by looking at it. It is good to pair it with apple juice or orange juice too!

This one is good for the heart!

FESTIVITY GALORE

For over nine (9) years of my stay here in Cagayan de Oro City, I have never been able to fully enjoy one of the famous festivity here in the Province of Bukidnon. If you are from Mindanao or at least from the Philippines I am pretty sure you have heard of “Kaamulan Festival”. This festival happens once every year (start during half of February and until March 10 of the same year) in the Province of Bukidnon particularly in Malaybalay City (where the Provincial Capitol is located). As I understand, “Kaamulan” comes from the word “Amul” a local dialect which means to gather, that is a gathering of all the seven (7) tribes in Bukidnon for a purpose, like celebrating a wedding feast, good harvest and a peace pact mixed into one. The tribal people of Bukidnon comprised of the following; Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon.

This year, I had witnessed the celebration with friends and cousins starting off with the street dancing coupled with beautiful float from eight contingents who will be competing with each other. The street dancing showdown was held in the capitol grounds where it was surrounded with thousands of spectator, visitors and guests from all over the Philippines. While watching the street dance we had to stand for several hours just

to see it and Malaybalay City was declared winner of this year’s “s

treet dancing competition”

Part of the yearly activity of the Province is the participation of all the municipalities of Bukidnon and business establishments through the showcasing of all the products and harvests within a particular areas. Booths were arranged all over the capitol grounds where visitors could see and visit, and mostly I enjoyed touring around the areas to look for souvenir and I for one bought some fresh vegetables for salad.

I enjoyed my whole stay in Malaybalay with a warm welcome of Ret. Major Valcaroza and family. And as for me, KAAMULAN is a celebration that I wish to be part of every year.

Bye Bye Cramps!

It was an early dawn that I heard a shout, a shout begging for help to at least ease the pain in her muscles. Admittedly, I heard my own shout in the middle of the night, and sick worried with the indescribable pain in my legs. I was completely awakened in the middle of my happy dream (I mean dreams) to a painful truth that I have muscle cramps not only once but on numerous occasions. I said to myself I had to find means to settle this nightmare (if this was just a nightmare).

Working with the indigenous people in Mindanao had a great effect of my life as a development worker. I get a chance to talk to them in a more personal manner and eventually I made a lot of friends. And while we go to our community, I noticed that one of my colleagues wore something just below his knee and was amazed how it all got there. So I asked him, what it was and where did he get it, he smiled and was glad I asked him. He told me it was called “tikos or leg band” and it is used to at least prevent muscle cramps. I said to myself, this I might try not only because it looks nice when it is worn but also it prevents my nightmares.

Not contented with my colleague’s explanation I search through the internet and I came across a study of the Higaonon Culture and its tribal attires, arts and crafts. The Tikos is an anklet (technically not used for ankle but for the legs) made of beads and “Kulong-kulong” for male Higaonon, placed just below the knee to prevent cramps. And I have seen a lot of variations of tikos made from tikos vine or with the use of beads or made of other wild plants.

I had a chance to talk with my Higaonon friends to make one for me and choose a color for my leg band. I enjoyed wearing it and had a “nightmare free sleep” until it got reaped off my legs for reasons I do not know. So I did try to look for other alternatives and found another one until I have several kinds of leg band in my legs. For several years since I discovered that wearing the tikos, i am cramps free. And now I could no longer hear my own screams because I am still wearing one up until now.

Window to One’s Soul

The night is so late or shall I say it is dawn already and I am still looking through the screen of my laptop checking my blogs and my Facebook account but still I cannot sleep even if I wanted to. So, I browse through the bookmarked site of my computer and clicked ANC live streaming. And it was indeed timely because one of my favorite travel shows is on air. Yes! it is “Travel Time” hosted by Susan Calo-Medina, a renowned Filipina TV Host up until today. I’ve watched several episodes of the show and just this early dawn via ANC live streaming I was able to watch the episode “Gardens in the Metro”. It featured several gardens from the Philippine Horticulture Society of the Philippines, a garden in Tagaytay whose owner experimented on the hybrid of plants and one garden in Cavite featuring rare species of plants and herbs.

Watching the episodes brings back good memories where I had to retrieve and/or rescue some plants in the house that suffered and died because I left home for two (2) months. Planting and finding new species and varieties of plants became a hobby of mine and yes, admittedly I have a “green thumb”. I could see the joy in my eyes as I water them every day and even talked to them. While watering my imagination travels to another dimension where I could see myself owning a small farm where I could raise my plants and be able to indulge with backyard gardening and eventually engaged with landscaping. While watching the episodes a lot of ideas came rushing through my head that made me say I am going to pursue this dream of mine in no time. I was brought back to the show where Susan gave a line that strikes me that “having some garden is a window to your soul”. Indeed, it is a soothing hobby to raise plants as it will replenish all the bad energy in our own little world. Until, she said her famous line “Huwag Maging Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan” (Don’t be a stranger to your own Country). The show did leave me something to think about up to this time.

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MY LOVELY MAMA

As the flower blooms this summer,
So is the sweet lovely smile of your lips.
As the birds hum a tune for her chicks,
So is your voice so warm and subtle.

As the grass sprouts in the meadows,
So is your calm and cool nature.
As the tree grows in the forest,
So is your love to your seeds.

As the sun sheds its light to the world,
So is your care to your loved one.
As the Englands Rose shines to charities,
So is your lovely name.

As Mama Mary loves her own son,
So is your loving heart full of compassion.
As God loves His creation,
So is your immeasurable love.

Lovely Mama, lovely as the autumn breeze,
Shining as the early morning sun.
Twinkling as the moonlight,
But nothing in the world is lovely as YOU!

"FEELINGS"

Alone with no one to turn to
In this very lonely place;
A cold lonely heart
Feeling blue and empty.

But how could she?
She doesn’t even know what she truly felt;
Crying inside this four gray walls
Yelling and shouting deep down.

As each day passes
Her eyes were enchanted;
With that adorable face
That only she could understand.

It’s a dream come true
Where life has to start;
Oh! How happy I am
The moment I saw you.

You looked so charming
Inevitably alluring;
Critically acclaimed one
And you’ve wake up this lonely heart.

HAUNTING

Is this what I get from being so indifferent?
Or is this the outcome of what I did?;
Why do I feel this way to you?
You’re only just a mere boy to me.

But why do I feel terrible again?
I don’t have any idea;
Why do I care for you suddenly?
Is it because you’re leaving?
Can't you not stay with me?

Though I find you as a laughing stuff
But you brought joy to this wanderer
You have brainwashed me with the way you smile.

But I guess, its bye for now
I know we will meet again;
Just make sure that you’ll come back
Because the thought of you keep haunting me.

concierto for nationalism

“Tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay ko magbago man ang hugis ng puso mo, handa na akong hamunin ang aking mundo

”

Few months ago, my friends from the XU-KKP kept on reminding me that they will organize a concert sometime on February 2011. And I was extremely excited with the concert and it happened so fast and the concert day is just arms away. I bought a ticket through a friend and invited more friends to watch the same. It was one of these days that people of different strokes come together to hear and see for themselves the performance of a certain Noel Cabangon. Me and my friends meet at 5:30 pm and had to walk to the Xavier University Gym to escape from the traffic caused by the weekly event “night cafe” in Divisoria. Just in time for the crowd to pave their way to their seats, but instead of squeezing our way to the assigned seat we paved our way to a more comfortable seat just in front of the stage. We were seated just in time for the two front act bands before the main artist to tickle our musically inclined senses.

I like watching this concert because I know the songs that the artist will sing, had a copy of his latest album “Byahe” (or Travel in English). I love all the songs in it, and I cannot really wait to hear it in person from the artist himself "Noel Cabangon", who played guitar so well and a voice that would capture a heart like mine.

As he began to strum his guitar, the crowd were whistling and shouting his name, and it made a tingling sensation from my spine up to my head. And yes, it made my hair raised and I am glad that it was dark so no one could see that concert have a personal effect on me. I enjoyed hearing and even singing along the lines of Noel’s songs. Until he sings “Tuloy Parin Ako” (I Will Move On), it simply speaks of my life now. That my music still lives on with or without that certain aspect of life because I have something to live for, the rest of Noel’s songs kept on reminding me of all the wonderful and inspiring life ahead of me and what I have done to be where I am right now.

To Noel Cabangon your music is superbly powerful and full of life (nationalistic indeed).