By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
A morning walk on “Araw sa Kagitingan”
I always associate April 9 as Bataan day. I cant recall when this was changed to “Araw ng Kagitingan.” Since it was a holiday, my daughter and her two girls made an early walk from our place in Taguihon to Baluarte up to Binaliw to buy bolinaw. Gigrasyahan gyud ta karon. Barato ang bolinaw sa binaliw at P60 pesos per kilo. Hinaut unta ug magsige ang kuha. Makatilaw pud ta ug isda nga below P100.
I always listen to the market report everyday at dyTR. Pastilan katapusang mokat tag P100 naman. In my younger days, hapit ipanghatag ang mokat. Kinsay magdahum ingon ana diay na kamal karon. Pero lami ra ba ug sabaw ang mokat. Kuhaon lang daan ang himbis kay baga.
My daughter and her two girls started their early walk that day. Along the way, they took pictures of the old house of my grandparents: Ciriaco Iyog Villamor and Agripina Buhion. I felt nostalgic seeing the house, so tranquil and calm in the early morning with just the house and the street without any car on sight.
I remember those days of my youth when the street became our playground on moonlight nights. Those times when only Bohol Land Transportation and the Bisaya transportation company were the “running buses” on the road. Mao ra kini ang magdagandagan sa kadalanan ug kotub ra pud sa a las singko sa hapon ang katapusan nga biyahe.
During those days you could see pictures of the sea behind the mangrove trees where all kinds of kinhason could be gathered by us: Swaki, Bat ug uban pa. Di pay daghang gubaguba ug lumot, buskay puki ug saypo. Those days are hard to find now – those days when the shores were in abundance of food to be eaten. Yes, those days of plenty are gone. Pangitaon na gyud ang mga anaa sa kabaybayonan ug mahal pa kaayo ang presyo karon. Mobalik pa kaha to nga maong panahon?
There was a short respite during the Covid days. By respite, I mean, the calmness of the seas and the shores as people were glued to their privacy in their houses, otherwise, they will suffer from the Covid wrath. With that respite, our surroundings and environment were able to rest from, sometimes, the rude hands of our people. To me, it was God’s plan to stop us from destroying what He created.
Looking at these scenes brought me back to Covid times. Kamalinawon sa kalibutan niadtong panahona. Seldom could you see people walking on the streets. The world seemed to stop moving. There were no buy bust operations, no accidents on the streets, no fighting on the neighborhood. Those listed in the tokhang roster were made to plant trees. Neighbors shared their extra produce of bananas and papayas. Everything was calm and in order. What was scary then was the virus itself. Responders were serious in their work. And food prices were at a normal level.
Perhaps it was a blessing for us then that PRRD was the president at that time. What I didn’t like then was the closing of ABS-CBN. Perhaps, it was also blessing in disguise for the company. Because of the fast change of technology, the company was able to reinvent itself.
What I’m thankful for right now is that we already have many TV channels to choose from. Anything you want: from entertainment, food, arts, events, netflex and to many others. I’m glad, the daily mass with Fr. Tito Caluag is still there. One thing I’m sure of is to support the Alay-Kapwa program of Caritas Philippines. I’m hoping for my readers to do the same.
Thank you with all my heart!
