The Pantaw of long ago
Most of the children of today do not know what the pantaw is. The pantaw is an extension of a house near the kitchen, far from the restroom, that is built for several purposes and it is commonly found in old ancestral houses. The pantaw is used as a space for agricultural produce like mais, humay, ubi, camote, apale ug uban pa. It is also in this place where we used to hang our bulig sa saging ug ubang mga prutas nga pahinugon.
Most often, the restroom is in the far end of the house, not near the pantaw. The pantaw was also used as the comidor during ordinary days. Kanang comidor sa Kinatsila nagpasabot nga maoy tigkaon o gakaon. Pero sa among panahon, kana nagkahulugan ug kan-anan. Before, when we had a good sea harvest of swaki and aninikad, we always had good soup with a side dish of lumot dipped in vinegar at the comidor. Only people of my age would understand what I am talking about. I miss our pantaw; it was a real treasure during our younger days; it was one of our hubs where we held our gigs, borrowing the words of the millenials.
When we had big home celebrations, the children were herded at the pantaw and we truly enjoyed the experience. We had good time with our cousins and friends. For us, the pantaw was a place of joyful memories.
Aside from the pantaw, the old houses or karaan nga balay, had the “first floor” called in the dialect as the silong. In our case, our lower floor or silong was built for our store and the bodega (stockroom) of the store supplies. Our store was called the Baclayon Trading founded by our Oyong Ando (Alejandro Angcoy Ramo) and Oyang Tiva (Primitiva Villamor Ramo). They carried on the operation of the store of Graciana Villamor, the sister of my Lola Danday and our Lola Upe. Like my old folks, most of the Baclayanons in those times were traders and most of the Karaang mga Balay were built along the highway for their trading. Growing up, the Baclayon Trading was still in the peak of its business. The store remained at the first floor until 1996 when its corporate life ended.
Half of the ground floor of our Karaan nga Balay was used as Oyong Ando and Oyang’s abode especially when Oyong Ando had a massive stroke which rendered him paralyzed until his death. Oyang Tiva outlived him for another 5 years. She was once very particular about beautifying her home where: the furnitures must be dust free and shiny; ang sawog kinahanglan nga limpyo ug sinaw; the hearth always alive with fire joyfully burning. All these composed her passion. But all these were gone with Oyong’s passing.
The pantaw, during Oyong and Oyang’s time, was always filled with stocks of food. Slowly, the pantaw eroded with the ravages of time. But on November 14, 2020, on Oyang Tiva’s death anniversary, cousins in Baclayon, celebrated her life and revived the memories of the stories at our pantaw. Physically, too, we, the heirs of Oyang Tiva, rebuilt our pantaw including a new stairway, convenient to us – the cousins who are now in the sunset of our lives. The pantaw of the karaan nga balay is now like a balcony and it is facing the sea, amidst the forest of centuries old pagatpat. We are very fortunate that our Oyong Ando invested Oyang’s money in blue chip to be used in the perpetuation of their memory for our corporate responsibility. And it is with great joy that we say we are opening the old house to share with the people.
Welcome to the Karaang Balay ni Tan Akoy nga naghambin sa pantaw sa among kaniadto nga paglantaw!
This photo shows the author and her cousins discussing the rebuilding of the “Pantaw” sa Karaang Balay ni Tan Akoy, This date coincides with the death anniversary of Oyang Tiva, Nov. 14, 2020. From left are:Tina Gatal De Aro, JD Realista, Jun Black Malicse, Telly Ocampo (the author at the center), Melmel Manding Micutuan, and Lutchi Manding Sambalud.
With the author (extreme left) are her other cousins present during the activity: From left are: Daria Realista, Jo Caballo, Sioning Ramo, and Linda Caballo. Obviously, they are all observing social distancing.
The entry to the Karaang Balay ni Tan Akoy at Baclayon, Bohol. Engraved on the gate are the names of the couple: Ciriaco Villamor, Agripina Buhion and the children.