CULTURAL HERITAGE

by Telly G. Ocampo

For JULY 1, 2023

A hearty welcome to the Balay ni Tan Akoy!

The “Balay ni Tan Akoy” is that old house towering on the right
side of the road, immediately after the Baliaut spring at
Baclayon, Bohol. During our time, this house was better known
as the “Balay sa Baclayon Trading”. The occupants of the
house, then, were our OYONG Ando and OYANG Tiva:.
Alejandro Ramo and Primitiva Villamor. Yes, we called them
Oyong and Oyang to differentiate them from our own
grandparents – Miguel and Guadalupe of the Oppus side and
Juan and Alejandra from my mother’s side. Our Oyong Ando
had a brother, Faustino Ramo, who was married to Anastacia
Realista from the Lujong Sawang.
I fully remember that at the “Balay ni Tan Akoy”, Christmas was
the time where all of us had our get together for the traditional
pinaskuhan. Panahon na gani sa pagpanghatag sa
pinaskuhan, kinahanglan mokanta gyud mi sa Belen. Ham and
the likes were foreign to us, then. With our suman ug
maruyang ubi, we were already very happy. The treat included
the Texas bubble gum and the seniorita candies that were
distributed by our Oyong Ando.
On Thursday, July 6, 2023, we brought back the Christmas
celebration to the Balay ni Tan Akoy. We called it “Christmas in
July. The celebration was a bienvenida/despidida party for
Lydia Ramo Caballo. It was a hearty welcome dinner for her at
the Balay ni Tan Akoy. We showcased the rico-rico for her and
her visiting friends to let them feel the Christmas tradition that is
now slowly vanishing. We had Jun Gatal as our permanent
Rico man and Erwin and Sionee Baquial as our permanent
Joseph and Mary couple at the manger.

The event’s master of ceremonies was no other than Ms. Ardy
Araneta Batoy of “SMILE”, Philippines. She is an emcee par
excellence and there never was any dull moment with her. And
the Immaculadians rendered the musical numbers including the
“Francisco Dagohoy” of Yoyoy Revillame. Edna Pernia was
with us for the decorations, Denricks for the food and Sound
Rio for the sound system and effects.

Lydia Ramo Caballo lived with us in the Balay ni Tan Akoy
before when she was in her college years taking up the pre-
nursing course at the then Holy Name College of Tagbilaran.
She finished her nursing degree at Velez College in Cebu City.
By the word “us”, I mean Lina Manding-Sambalud, Myrna Uy-
Anana and me (at times since I had to go home every now and
then since our house was just across the street, from the Balay
ni Tan Akoy. As Lydia, Lina and I stayed with our Oyang, the
latter never allowed us to watch the mobile movie show we
called sineng purico and pink camay. The movie was
announced through the bandilyo done by a town barker. Kon
diha na gani mo bandilyo aron mupahibaw sa sineng purico ug
pink camay, mouli gyud ko dayon sa among balay aron
mouban ko sa akong mga amiga nga mutanaw sa salida didto
sa atbang sa mercado ug sa munisipyo.
Lydia left for the U.S. in 1965, as a nurse. Now that she has
retired from a military hospital in Florida, her coming home to
the Philippines is becoming frequent. And Florida is still home
to her.
We are now the 4th generation of the Ramo-Villamor clan. It’s
time for our children and grandchildren to know their roots. And
we have many younger ones who are our future leaders of the
band: Nanie, Tina, Lina, Siony, Mel and Michelle, Sioning, Tita
and Estela.
As Linda and I are already in our advancing years, we are very
happy that there are the younger ones slowly taking over.
There’s Daria who serves as Martha in the group. Hers is the

task of contacting the caterer and pagapudapud sa bringhouse
and always ready for the fotostat. Linda is the treasurer, in
charge of all the mga sobre sa balayrunon. Lutchi is for
communications. Mine is to conceptualize and serve as
program director.
We are grateful for the presence of Msgr. Harold and my friend
Carie Tharan in our party that evening. Both of them are
members of the board of directors of the Pagpakabuhi – an Ngo
for mental awareness headed by Dr. Emem Aparicio-Uy.
When asked by the emcee of her impression of our “Chirstmas
in July”, Lydia humbly said, “I’m speechless.”
Lydia and her group have left for the last leg of their vacation, a
tour to Asia’s, Malaysia and Singapore.
To Lydia, we are always here to welcome you home!