Tiratira ug uban pa
This Covid scare hit me to the bones last week. Why? It is because I had a bad bout of allergic rhinitis which rendered me voiceless. Yes, that happened last week. It was a good thing that I did not have fever. Honestly, it was good I did not have fever, otherwise, the Covid scare would in me would have resulted to my depression and to the depression of people in the household. Katol gyud kaayo ang akong totonlan ug sige gyud ko ug pamaghot. I was a “barking dog” for around 3 days and the situation made me feel bad. In most of my medical cases, I would just write a note to city pharmacy for a prescription from Dr. Bobong Yap. It’s always good to have a family physician.
I just remember those years when the mission hospital was still in existence. I had Dr. Ria Canlas, Dr. Rio and Dr. Luther Ramiro. They were doctors who, by their mere presence, would ease out the pain and anxiety of a patient. This is also my feeling with Dr. Bobong and his sister Dr. Disi Yap – Alba.
But reading all the messages in social media a couple of days ago, I learned that my dear Dr. Bobong will undergo a heart procedure at The Medical City. I am sure that all his friends and relatives, including me, will never miss to storm the heavens for his fast recovery. Where else would our prayers go except heavenward? (Editor’s note: Dr Simplicio “Bobong” Yap returned to our Creator on November 27, 2020. His remains now lie in state at the Arlington Memorial Chapel at Aeternum Bayani Road, Heritage Park, Area 2, Taguig)
While I was mostly in bed and in my room while I had my cough and colds, I thought of the tiratira. I don’t know why. It may be because my throat was always dry. It may also be a sign of old age. We always yearn for something that’s already gone, gone, gone.
Children nowadays do not know anymore the tiratira. In english, it may be called coconut tuffy. When we were young, tiratira was always a treat during recess time. Giputos ug unas. Kon manghatag ka sa imong classmate, ipa-ingkib nimo ngadto kaniya ang tiratira. Imo pang sukdon asi dapit nga iyang naingkiban.
Later on, we stopped using the unas for the tiratira. Instead, we started to use the Japanese paper that was available in the market. The red japanese paper was then a favorite because as it touched our lips, it would make us look like we were putting lipstick on.
With our 5 centavo allowance, it was more than enough to buy tiratira. Moinom man lang mi ug tubig paghuman namo ug kaon sa tiratira unya busog na man mi. We never looked for milktea or milkshake or what not. Pollution was still unknown at that time.
Our comfort food was pritong kolo partisan sa mongos unya adto ni namo pagakan-on sa luyo sa Home Economics Building. Ug magkalisud, mamuwak man mi ug kujamis. And we were truly happy with all those.
As of this writing, I’m eating the bibingka ni Dolores Plaza. It was Daria Realista who gave me the first taste of this bibingka and Mel Micutuan gave me another bite a week after. Bff, please tell Daria Realista to give you some. She knows where to order this heirloom bibingka.
Mao gyud na akong mga pagkaon nga akong gihandum. Naa pa gyud putong balanghoy giluto ni Nang Leona. Kalami gyud sa iyang putong balanghoy.
Happy week everyone and don’t forget to please light the first candle to your advent wreath!!!