Ugat at Ugit
ni Dante L. Ambrosio
Welga ng La Tondeña at Kilusang Anti-PD 823
Bago malibing sa limot, hayaan ninyong gunitain ko ngayon sa gitna ng dagdag na hirap na hatid ng mga bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng, ang ilang pangyayari 34 na taon na ang nakakaraan.
Tatlong taon pa lamang ang batas militar noong Oktubre 1975. Popular na paniniwala na ang nakaraang tatlong taon ay panahon ng katahimikan. Walang mga bombahan, walang mga rali, walang mga welga, walang barilan ng mga private army ng mga pulitiko…, halos walang krimeng nagaganap.
Sa totoo lang, may kumukulu-kulo nang diskontento sa hanay ng mga manggagawa, maralita, katutubo at detenidong pulitikal sa loob ng tatlong taon ng “katahimikan”, huwag pang banggitin ang armadong paglaban ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) at New People’s Army (NPA) at ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at Bangsa Moro Army (BMA).
Katahimikan ng sementeryo ang isang paglalarawan ng mga kontra-martial law sa katahimikang ito. Bagay na lalo pang ginawang angkop nang kinalburo ng gobyerno ang mga pader at tinakpan ng mga kinalburo ring bakod ang mga komunidad ng mga maralitang tagalungsod, tulad ng mga nitso sa sementeryo.
Nilalabanan na noon pang 1973 ng mga maralita ng Tundo ang pagpapatalsik sa kanila bunga ng proyektong Tondo Foreshoreland at ng kampanyang “cleanliness and beautification” ng gobyerno. Sinasalungat na noon pang 1974 ng mga batilyo (tagahango ng mga banyera ng isda) sa Navotas ang modernisasyon ng fishport na mag-aalis sa kanila sa trabaho at magtatanggal sa kanilang mga tahanan sa komunidad. Nang taong ito nagtatangka na rin ang mga manggagawa ng Gelmart Industries sa Parañaque na makapagtayo ng tunay na unyon ng mga manggagawa.
Samantala, nag-hunger strike na rin ang mga detenidong pulitikal sa mga kampong militar sa Cebu at Maynila, gayundin ang mga bagong huli noong 1974 sa Kampo Olivas, Pampanga. Tinututulan naman ng mga Kalinga ang pagtatayo ng Chico Dam na maglulubog sa kanilang kabayanan at kultura. Bago pa ito, lumitaw ang mga pagtutol sa batas militar sa kampanyang “Vote NO” noong Nobyembre 1972-Enero1973 nang paratipikahan ng gobyerno ang Konstitusyong 1973 sa mga bagong buong citizens’ assemblies sa mga barangay.
Sa mga paglabang ito, katuwang ng mga mamamayang lumalaban ang kilusang lihim o underground movement na nagsimulang lumakas ng mga panahon ding ito.
Welga ng La Tondeña
Bumulwak sa sangmaliwanag ang diskontento at paglabang ito nang sumiklab ang welga ng La Tondeña noong Oktubre 24, 1975. Sa sigaw na “Sobra na! Magwewelga na kami!” ibinulalas nito ang kinuyom na damdamin ng mga manggagawa sa loob ng tatlong taon. Kaya di kataka-taka na halos kasabay ng welga ng La Tondeña ang mga kilos-protesta ng anim pang pabrika sa Greater Manila Area. Sinundan pa ito ng ilampung pagpoprotesta ng mga manggagawa na tinagurian noon na “sama-samang pagkilos”.
Paano tumugon ang gobyernong batas militar? Pinaghuhuli ang mga welgista ng La Tondeña na sa loob mismo ng pabrika nanatili sa halip na magpiket sa labas.
Sinuportahan ang mga welgista ng mga pari at madre, maralita ng Tundo at ilang mga estudyante. Pinalaya rin ang karamihan habang ang may-ari ng La Tondeña ay nakipag-usap sa mga manggagawa at ibinigay ang ilan nilang kahilingan. Para sa mga manggagawa, tagumpay itong kanilang ipinagbunyi. Ngunit higit ang tagumpay para sa kilusang antidiktadura.
Bilang isa sa mga tugon ng diktadura, inilabas nito ang Presidential Decree 823 na nagbabawal sa lahat ng welga at sa pagtulong ng ibang sektor sa mga manggagawa nang walang pahintulot ang Department of Labor (DOL).
Nang ipataw ang batas militar, inakala ng lahat na bawal ang welga. Nang suriin ng mga tumulong sa mga taga-LaTondeña ang pagbabawal, lumitaw na bawal ito sa mga kumpanyang itinuturing na vital industry. Di kasama rito ang La Tondeña. Kaya kung batas ang pag-uusapan, legal ang welga. Ngunit martial law nga at magagawa ng gobyerno anumang nais nito laban sa mga welgista. Kaya tiniyak ng mga tumulong, kabilang si Edgar Jopson na kilalang lider ng mga moderato bago mag-martial law, ang suporta ng mga taong-simbahan at ng iba pang sektor sa welga. Ang pagtulong na ito ang nais sagkaan ng PD 823.
Kilusang Anti-PD 823
Sa pagkakataong ito gumulong ang Kilusang Anti-PD 823. Nagprotesta ang mga manggagawa kasama ang mga kapanalig na maralita, estudyante, pari at madre, abogado, at iba pang propesyonal. Pati si Arsobispo Jaime L. Sin ay lumiham kay Presidente Marcos para tutulan ang dekreto. Sa gitna ng patuloy na mga welga ng manggagawa, nagmisa-prusisyon ang mga nagpoprotesta sa Simbahan ng Santa Cruz hanggang sa Simbahan ng Quiapo sa okasyon ng piyesta ng Kristong Hari noong Nobyembre 24, 1975.
Isa pang misa-prusisyon ang binalak noong Disyembre 6, 1975 sa Simbahang V.O.T. sa Plaza Bustillos sa Sampaloc, Maynila. Di natuloy ang misa dahil sa presyur ng gobyerno. Nag-rali na lamang ang mga tao. Nang dumilim, nagtangka silang magprusisyon papuntang Malakanyang na noon ay bisita si Presidente Gerald Ford ng Estados Unidos.
Nang harangin sila ng mga pulis, tumalikod sila at nagmartsa. Sa unang pagkakataon sa ilalim ng batas militar, binawi ng mga nagpoprotesta ang mga lansangan ng Maynila. Mula Bustillos, nagmartsa sila sa Earnshaw, Forbes, España, Morayta, Recto, Avenida Rizal, Carriedo hanggang sa Plaza Miranda. Dito tinapos sa isang rali ang sama-samang pagkilos.
Mula sa pagkakataong ito, naging bahagi ng buhay-martial law ang mga rali-demonstrasyon. Umabot ito sa rurok sa pagpapatalsik sa diktadura sa People Power Revolution ng Pebrero 1986.
(Tingnan ang ating Archives para sa dalawang manipesto ng mga manggagawa ng La Tondeña, sa liham ni Arsobispo Jaime L. Sin at sa salaysay ukol sa rali-demonstrasyon ng Disyembre 6, 1975 mula sa Signs of the Times [Disyembre 12, 1975] ng Association of the Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines [AMRSP]. Maaari ring konsultahin ang EDJOP: The Unusual Journey of Edgar Jopson ni Benjamin Pimentel, Jr.)
New storm stronger than Pepeng heads to eastern Bicol
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
17 October 2009
MANILA-Another tropical storm “stronger than typhoon Pepeng” is heading to the direction of eastern part of Bicol and is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this Saturday morning.
A low pressure area (LPA) is also eyed at a distance of 290 kilometers heading toward northern Luzon and the Visayan region that is expected to affect the north and northwestern part of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
This LPA, however, may not turn into a storm.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring the forthcoming storm from Marianas Island in Guam to be named “Ramil” (with international code name “Lupit”) once it made a landfall.
PAGASA chief Nathaniel Cruz said that the storm is now being eyed at 1,300 kilometers in the eastern portion of Bicol with gusty wind of 75 up to 90 kilometers per hour.
He also said that the LPA is moving toward west-northwestern part with strength of 26 kilometers per hour and heading toward the general direction of central and northern Luzon-Taiwan area.
Cruz said over a radio interview that ‘Ramil” may become a strong typhoon once it made a landfall in the Philippines.
In a related development, the intertropical convergence zone is currently affecting northern Luzon and the Visayas region as Friday had cloudy skies and rain showers with intermittent thunders and lightning.
Paroo’t Parito
Pangit na katotohanan
ISANG maganda at pangit na katangian ng mga Pinoy na nangingibang-bayan ang pagiging “taas-noo” o – sa wikang Ingles – “proud.”
Maganda, dahil lagi nating ipinagmamalaki ang pagka-Filipino saan man mapunta, at nahihiya tayong gumawa ng kapalpakan dahil nga ipinagmamalaki natin ang ating lahi.
Pangit, dahil nagiging mayabang tayo, mapag-aglahi o “racist” at bulag sa sariling mga kapintasan.
Lagi nating ipinakikita ang pinakamagaling nating paa (sabi kasi sa Ingles, best foot forward e) at naiinis tayo kapag may nagsabing bansa tayo ng mga katulong. Syempre hindi totoong bansa tayo ng mga katulong pero hindi maiiwasang may magbiro tungkol dito lalo na at totoo namang nag-eeksport tayo ng mga DH.
Marami nang mga Pinoy na naging matagumpay sa ibang bansa at nagbigay ng karangalan sa atin. Hindi lamang ang mga sikat na tulad nina Charice Pempengco at Manny Pacquiao. Nariyan din ang mga di kilala pero magagaling na nagbigay ng karangalan sa simpleng sipag at tiyaga. Bakit mahalaga ang karangalan sa atin? Kasi, “proud” nga tayo. Ayaw nating “dinudungisan” ang pangalang Pinoy sa labas ng bansa.
Dahil dito, nagkaroon ng pagtatalo ang mga Pinoy na editor sa pinagtrabahuhan kong diyaryo noon sa Saudi.
Naglaan ang diyaryo namin ng dalawang pahina para sa mga balita sa Pilipinas. May ibang ayaw magpakita ng mga litrato ng delubyo, sunog, basura, pulubi at iba’t-iba pang nagpapakita ng “pangit” na imahe ng sawimpalad nating bansa. Meron namang gustong ipakita ang “buong katotohanan.”
“Bakit natin ipapakita ’yang namumulot ng basura? Alam ng lahat ng Pinoy na meron niyan sa atin, hindi na natin kelangang ipakita pa iyan. Nakakahiya sa ibang lahi,” sabi ng isang editor.
“Bakit hindi natin ipakikita e balita ito. Masakit at pangit na balita pero totoong nangyayari. Bakit kelangan nating itago?” sagot naman ng isa.
“E masama nga. Hindi gusto ng mga kababayan natin dito at napapaaway lang sila sa ibang lahi.”
“Bakit sila makikipag-away e lahat ng lipunan merong mahirap? Sinong ‘ibang lahi’ ang may karapatang pagtawanan ang mahihirap natin? Sinasabi mo lang yan dahil ikaw mismo ikinahihiya mo yung mahihirap nating kababayan.”
“Ungas ka pala, nakipag-away na nga ‘yung kaibigan ko dahil diyan sa litrato.”
“Ikaw ang ungas, pati kaibigan mo, bakit siya makikipag-away dahil lang sa litrato?”
Kung walang umawat, siguradong nagsapukan na ’yung dalawang editor. Totoong pangyayari po iyan, peks man.
Ang “bottom line,” hindi maatim ng Pinoy na “maliitin” siya ng ibang tao. May mga psychologist na magsasabing “inferiority” ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit ganoon ang pakiwari ng Pinoy; kaya malaking bagay na ’yung mumunting mga tagumpay na inaani ng iba para sa kanya.
Ewan ko, basta ang napapansin ko sa Pinoy, masipag siya, mabait at masunurin sa batas kapag nasa ibang bansa.
Scientists blame dam operators for Luzon flood
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
13 October 2009
MANILA- Dam owners and operators should be held accountable for the massive flooding in central and northern Luzon and landslides in the Cordillera region, according to scientists and environmentalists in a press conference on Monday.
They are one in saying that a class suit may be filed in court against them. San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, among others, is operated by the National Power Corporation (NPC).
Dr. Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of AGHAM, an organization of Filipino scientists, said the operators have allowed the water to reach at dangerously high levels and not acted on it sooner.
“Instead of releasing the waters earlier, gradually and in lesser volumes, they did it suddenly without adequate warning to the communities,” explained Tapang.
According to Tapang, the operators are thinking more of generating power and profit that they most likely have kept the water level as high as possible and have not placed primary importance to the safety of the nearby communities.
San Roque Dam is the biggest of the three dams and was designed to produce energy, supply water and control flood. It is supposed to have a flood maximum design of 13,000 cubic centimeters or equivalent to floods occurring every 10,000 years. Despite protest at local and international levels, San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam was approved in 1998. The dam construction was completed in March and became operational in May 2003.
“If the dams were designed for flood control, then there should have been an alarm system in place or a protocol to warn the agencies and communities of impending disaster. However, the testimonies of the victims and the calamity that has occurred prove that the system was ineffective, if there was any,” Tapang further said.
The proponents of the dam itself should also answer to the millions of victims that were affected by the floods, said Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.
Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the National Disaster Coordinating Council blamed Mother Nature, climate change, unprecedented rainfall, squatters, garbage and lack of budget for the disaster that occurred in the past two weeks.
Bautista explained that based on their study on the structural and managerial flaws of San Roque dam, the infrastructure was not really designed for flood control.
”These dams just brought profits for its proponents and did more harm than benefit to the people,” Bautista pointed out.
After San Roque Dam became operational in 2003, 90 percent of Pangasinan were submerged in water in September 2004 and after that local communities frequently experienced flooding whenever there is a typhoon, said Tapang.
Most devastated areas of typhoon Pepeng are Pangasinan and Benguet provinces as these are the areas where the large dams are situated. Pangasinan is the catch basin of water coming from the series of large dams in the Agno River. Massive flooding in Pangasinan is caused and aggravated by the release of voluminous water from these dams, Tapang noted.
The three dams located along the Agno River are the Ambuklao Dam, Binga Dam and San Roque Dam. The three dams released a maximum of 6,000 cubic meters per second as of October 9 and are still continuing to release water to date, based on NPC report.
Pepeng’s death toll reaches 440 as it leaves toward South China Sea
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
12 October 2009
MANILA- After two U-turns in the Philippine area of responsibility, Typhoon Pepeng finally headed to South China Sea leaving 193 drowned in floods in northern Luzon and 247 buried in mudslides in the Cordillera region.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Sunday that the worst water disaster that hit northern Luzon had finally exited to the South China sea on Saturday affecting a total of 2,267,527 persons or 489,840 families in 3,721 villages all over the country.
Pepeng lashed at northern Luzon for the whole week bringing heavy rainfall that caused massive floods in wide lowland areas in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan and triggered land and mudslides in the Cordillera region.
Some 26 barangays in Bulacan and Pampanga were under flash floods as rainwater that overflowed from rivers in the upper areas of northern Luzon inundated exit points toward Manila Bay.
NDCC said that Pepeng which made landfall last weekend as a typhoon, weakened into a tropical storm on its first westward pass through Northern Luzon, but hovered as it exited land and then doubled back.
The tropical depression also destroyed 2,748 houses and damaged 20,607 more. Total costs of damage now reached P5 billion severely destroying agriculture, public infrastructure and private property, NDCC report further said.
Benguet province suffered the brunt of the storm as landslides struck several areas in quick succession Thursday burying whole communities, NDCC noted.
Deforestation and uncontrolled development in the province, a major mining area, have been blamed for the Cordillera region landslides.
Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, remained cut off from Luzon areas after floods and landslides blocked major roads. At least 30 persons died there from landslides, authorities said earlier, while the city’s famed Burnham Park was underwater.
In Pangasinan, officials sought an explanation for the release of water from the San Roque dam, which was blamed for worsening the flooding as rivers overflowed.
A number of dikes breached, and a few other dams spilled over, that had inundated up to 80 percent of the province and sent thousands of residents fleeing for their lives. NDCC said that 30 out of its 37 towns have been flooded to date.
Even the supposed to be high buildings such as the SM in Rosales, Pangasinan among others, was not spared as its skeletal force left to man the building were forced to climb the rooftop to save their lives. The flood shattered SM’s glass walls as helpless staff and members of Philippine Army earlier watched some people bring out carts of groceries, appliances and other stuff that floated on water.
The NDCC said power was still down in several areas in Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region which was also cut off as debris from landslides and collapsed bridges had closed down major roads.
In the Ilocos region, telephone landlines remained down although cellular phones are working.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the USAID, and Philippine National Red Cross together with the local government units, private organizations and individuals are now hands on deck in rehabilitating northern Luzon.
Floods sink 80 percent of Pangasinan, 108 die in Cordillera region
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
9 October 2009
MANILA – Making a U-turn on its way out, Typhoon Pepeng came back and battered anew the whole of northern Luzon, submerging 80 percent of Pangasinan in flood waters and burying 108 people in landslides in the Cordilleras.
Typhoon Pepeng was seen to be moving with gutsy winds of 250 kilometers per hour Friday and expected to be in Baguio City on Saturday morning, according to Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The Red Cross’s Dagupan Chapter reported that the whole of Dagupan City sank as six gates of San Roque Dam were opened to release water at 2,500 cubic meters per second.
The water reached critical level as four more dams in northern Luzon were opened, submerging more towns in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Bulacan.
Rampaging waters flood 30 out of 37 towns in Pangasinan forcing residents to leave their houses or climb up their rooftops.
Flooded towns in Pangasinan are Rosales, Bautista, Bayambang, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Urbizondo, San Carlos City, Lingayen, San Manuel, Tayug, Asingan, Natividad and Sta. Maria.
Sinuclan River overflowed at 7.40 meters flooding Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Mapandan, Mangaldan, Dagupan and Binmaley.
The overflowing Angalacan River also sank the municipalities of Sison, Pozzorubio, San Jacinto and Manaoag.
Red Cross Dagupan likewise said that the floods were aggravated by the high tide at sea. It further reported that floods reached chest-deep in San Jacinto, Sto. Tomas, Magsaysay, Pagasa, Poblacion, Capaoay, Guibel, Casibong, San Roque, San Vicente, Macayug, Botao in San Fabian, Embarcadero in Mangaldan, Macayug, Guesang, Amansabina, Inmalog and Gueguelonen.
Three rubber boats complete with engine and accessories manned by seven trained personnel had been sent to rescue the remaining people in the flooded areas, according to Philippine National Red Cross Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang.
In a related development, at least 108 bodies have been dug up from the rubble of a deadly landslide in Benguet as hundreds of rescue teams were mobilized for search and rescue efforts in flood stricken areas in Northern Luzon .
Benguet Provincial Police director, Senior Supt. Loreto Espineli, said that 108 bodies have been recovered with 150 others still missing from a series of landslides in Benguet.
The police official said the towns in Benguet that were hit by landslides due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Pepeng were the towns of La Trinidad, Mankayan and Buguias.
The armed forces, the police and the Coast Guard mobilized their personnel for search and rescue efforts for northern Luzon.
The military’s chief information officer Lt. Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military has launched rescue operations in affected areas.
“All AFP units in the area, including reservists, have been mobilized to help in the rescue effort,” Brawner said in a text message sent on Friday morning.
He added that the US armed forces will likewise deploy helicopters, trucks and heavy equipment to help in the rescue effort then disaster and relief operations later.
PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they have mobilized and deployed 24 search and rescue teams from the Special Operations Group (SOG) in flood stricken areas in northern Luzon.
“PCG search and rescue teams are now enroute to the provinces of Pangasinan, Zambales, Appari, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan and La Union,” Tamayo said in a text message.
Paroo’t parito
Sardinas na may putok
ni Hernan Melencio
SA tuwing sasakay ng bus, lagi kong naaalala ang Saudi at ang malalaking bus doon na sinasakyan ko tuwing pupunta sa mall.
Mangyari’y maluluwag ang upuan noon; dalawahan lang sa magkabilang hanay. Di tulad ng mga bus natin na dalawa’t kalahati (na ginagawang tatluhan) sa isang hanay at isa’t kalahati (na ginagawang dalawahan) sa isang hanay. Mukhang hindi napapansin ng mga operator ng bus na malaki na ipinagbago ng katawan ng Pinoy simula noong panahon ng Hapon. Mula nang mauso ang fast food dumoble na ang puwit ng karaniwang Pinoy at isang pisngi na lang nito ang nagkakasya kapag may nauna nang nakaupo sa upuan. Madali namang mapansin ito kung dudungaw lang sila sa bintana.
Kung sabagay, hindi lang naman bus ang nagpipilit na isalansan ang mga pasahero sa loob ng sasakayan na parang lata ng biswit. Ganun din ang dyipni. Pinagpipilitang pagkasyahin ang siyam sa waluhang upuan. Resulta, kuyukot lang ang maiuupo ng kawawang mahuhuli sa pagsakay.
Impiyernes sa mga drayber na Pinoy, meron ding mga minibus sa Saudi na para ring dyipni sa atin kung magpuno ng pasahero. Bihira naman kasi yung mga malalaking airconditioned bus doon na pinatatakbo ng gobyerno. Mas maraming minibus at mas maraming ruta ang dinaraanan nila.
Problema rin ang sama-samang amoy ng mga pawisang pasahero (alam nyo na ang ibig kong sabihin), ang pagsisiksikan na tila sardinas at matuling pagmamaneho ng drayber.
Pero kahit mahirap huminga sa mga ganoong sasakyan, mas gusto ko pa rin ang minibus kesa taksi. Kaya kong tiisin ang amoy – naging pasyalan ko yata ang Payatas at Smoky Mountain – at sanay din naman akong sumakay ng dyip at bus maging nung bata pa.
Bakit ayaw kong magtaksi sa Saudi? Unang-una, hindi naman lahat ng drayber ng taksi ay mabango. Meron ding kaamoy ng mga sumasakay ng bus – kung minsan mas masahol pa.
Ikalawa, akala ng mga drayber bahagi ng serbisyo nila ang kausapin o aliwin ang pasahero. Kukwentuhan ka ng kung anu-ano at pag di ka sumagot e magagalit. Iisiping suplado ka. Malaking problema ito sa akin dahil tinitipid ko nga ang laway ko e.
Ang ikatlong ikinaaasar ko e yung mga bastos na drayber na matapos magreklamo sa haba ng biyahe o sa trapik, magpapadagdag ng pasahe. Galit pa gayong pinagkasunduan na ang presyo pagsakay pa lamang.
At ang pang-apat na ayaw ko – katunayan, kinasusuklaman ko at kinatatakutan na rin – yung mga naghihipo. Di ba’t may isa tayong kabayan na pinugutan ng ulo dahil pinatay niya yung taxi driver na nanghipo sa kanya? Mabuti na lang at minsan ko lang naranasan yun at kutos lang ang ibinigay ko sa driver, na sinamahan ko ng sipa sa pinto ng sasakyan paglabas ko.
Straight from the hearth
The Palo library of my childhood
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
It is a landmark of sorts in Palo, my mother’s hometown, an hour’s jeepney ride from the capital Tacloban City in Leyte. It was Palo Public Library decades ago when I was but a little girl learning to read. Today, its name is Pio and Luisa Pedrosa Cultural Center. The public library was transferred to the ground floor of the Palo municipal hall where housed are mostly donated textbooks.
It stands in a corner almost facing the Palo Cathedral which road forks to Tanauan to the left and to Alang-alang to the right.
Walking down memory lane, this library of my childhood was where I cultivated a lifetime of love with books. The helpful librarian would lend me four books to be returned after two weeks but would be surprised when I returned them only after a week of everyday reading.
My everyday reading would stretch until evening that the Filipino saying “nagsusunog ng kilay” has been true with me. But in my case, it was the smell of my burnt hair bangs that usually alerts me up when I happened to doze off in front of the burning lamp my Lolo Pandoy gassed up for the evening.
It was here where I devoured on Pepe at Pilar, Si Bantay, Ibong Adarna, Alamat ng Damit ng Baka at Kalabaw, fairytale books and glossy magazines in English that brought me to make-believe places and taught me how to dream big.
My Lolo Pandoy whose name is Fernando Hipona taught himself how to read. He would read his only tattered book written in Waray every afternoon with his stammering word for word deciphering of the text as he turns its every page. I would sit beside him and always ask him to tell his tales of the old that included the origins of Barrio Pawing and Mount Mandiwing, among others. (Many years later, I will tell the same story to my children but would add my invented names such as Pawingwing, Mandiwingwing or Mawingwing to elicit ticklish giggles).
I would walk from my grandparents’ ancestral house in Cavite East straight to the public market then turn right a few blocks away and a short turn left going to the library even at high noon. I did not mind the distance and extreme heat because the excitement of borrowing a new set of books has whet my appetite for reading.
While walking with Arlyn Awa of the Municipal Planning Development Office toward the house of the retired policeman who is the caretaker of the museum last October 2, I cannot help but ask her who Pio Pedrosa was. Demure and soft-spoken Arlyn said he is called Don Pio who had humble beginnings in Palo and was so intelligent that he became a high government official under the President Manuel Luis Quezon administration.
Playful me unleashed this joke authored by my husband Hernan whenever Veronica Pedrosa flashes her one-liner extro on cable television: “Hi, this is Verownica Pedrowsa, reporting for Al Jazeera,” complete with the American twang of the broadcast journalist.
“She is Don Pio’s great grand daughter,” Arlyn said laughing as she buys the joke.
Don Pio and Dona Luisa had contributed a lot to Palo. With the Palo Public Library, they had somehow influenced my love for books.
Storm Pepeng remains static but another storm may pull it back to Philippine area
By Gloria Esguerra Melencio
5 October 2009
MANILA-Tropical storm Pepeng remains static in the northern part of Luzon as a new typhoon Quedan is expected to pull it back – a “Fujiwara effect”- in the Philippine area of responsibility, according to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.
PAGASA reports said that storm Pepeng was seen at 230 kilometers per hour in the northwestern part of Laoag City. yesterday.
Storm signal number 2 keeps on pummeling Ilocos Norte while storm signal number 1 was hoisted in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Batanes Group, Northern Cagayan, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands.
PAGASA weather observer Nelson Dianela said that typhoon Pepeng has gutsy winds from 95 kilometers per hour near the center up to 120 kilometers per hour.
PAGASA Administrator Prisco Nilo said that typhoon Pepeng is the 16th storm to pass the Philippines this year. Five to six storms more are expected to visit the country before the year ends in December, he said. Some 21 to 22 storms visit the Philippines yearly, he added.
He further said that two to three storms are expected to wreak havoc in October.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported a total of 17 deaths in Apayao including 12 victims of a landslide .
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap reported some P6.3 billion agricultural losses due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. He assured though that the food supply in the country is stable.
He said the Department of Agriculture will seek for an increase of the yearly budget to be able to help the farmers and food producers cope up with this year’s economic losses due to calamities.
He, however, admitted the Philippines will import anew rice from Thailand and Vietnam to ensure a steady supply of the country’s staple food.
Summer and Christmas breaks for both elementary and high school levels will be cancelled this school year to make up for the lost school days due to typhoons, according to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.