2014 BATAAN DAY

Marching Band galore.

Weeks ago, I went crazy downloading, at least one film about the fall of Bataan for the benefit of this site to no avail. Today, I was able to view that authentic period film, "Back to Bataan" in celebration of the Bataan Day, April 9, 2014. 

Frequently, we got advisory on our office email ad about provinces having non working day due to Provincial holiday such as Pampanga day, Bulacan day etc., to which on our belief is unfair. When they celebrate their provincial holiday they're the only ones who have no office. When it's Bataan Day, the entire country has no offices.

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This is the second try to capture me, without covering the background.
I had to particularly instruct that to the person who took the photo.

We anually get invitation from Malacanang (no less, as I perceive based on the signatory of the invite) for the Araw ng Kagitingan Celebration in Mt. Samat. It is the national official (or official national? I forgot my lesson in adjectives) commemoration rites attended by the President of the Philippines. We usually receive the invite on the day before of the event. I was quite confident that it will be delivered before the end of office hours on April 8, 2014, despite the my boss' anxiety. Earlier that day, we got an invite from the city government for the local celebration. 

The objectives
1. to attend the event.
2. for the organizers to know that we participated
3. to cover the event - through pictures and report at the end of the month.

What do we get out of it?
1.Our office, gets merits for participation. A percentage point for our accomplishments i. e. ratings for the agency annual awards.
2. when our presence is felt by the organizer. We get another invitation. Another percentage point for the ratings.  

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April 9, 2014 - Bataan Day activty organized by the City Government of Balanga.

The Programme says 3:00- 4:00 PM - theatrical reenactment of the fall of Bataan and the parade follows. Oh my, we are talking about April which is summer - I guess. 3:00PM?

Aside from attending the event as mandatory responsibility being a government employee, I am actually liking to get involved in such activities. I get to know more about Bataan. Not to the extent of knowing how many feet the Shrine of Valor in  Mt. Samat has. I (which also means our office) get more conspicuous-not popular, in these events. 

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I came late because I got an extended siesta. Thus, I can't give a critique on the ceremonies. I'm not into theater so had I watched the act, I will still not be able to give a sound judgement. I arrived at the venue when the people are walking towards Plaza de Mayor, which does not pass as a parade to me. What I saw was an after-performance set. I tried to take picture of what's left at the venue, just in case all the ceremonies are finished. I was trying to take a candid shot but one of the staff was kind enough to tell the actors to look at my camera. 

I was aiming for  magazine cover worthy shot of the military which I didn't get.
This was the closest I had. 

I decided to go to the next venue where the parade ends. I was clueless whether the ceremonies are done. I was then informed that the parade was just about to arrive. I brought my camera out and took pictures of the banner and police mobile of the parade. On my third or fourth shot I realized that I ran out of memory. To decide which shots to delete is one of the hardest things in life. Pictures of my weekend family swimming was involved. By the time I realized that those were saved in my netbook and actually deleted few of those, the marching band and the floats of the city government officials have already passed.  Ultimately, the main objective is to take a picture which would seem that I was part of the parade. I asked one of the by-standers to take a photo of me in the parade. There are few other instances that I have to ask and the rest are selfies.

Since I was not satisfied with my selfie, I opt to take shots of other people.

One of the activities of the event is photo-ops with the Japanese actors dressed in military costumes. I have no idea whether they understand or speak English. Another problem is to look for someone to take my picture. I settled with approaching the actors telling them "Sir, selfie?"

Selfie with the actors. There were more japanese looking actors. It happens that
they are the ones I was able to approach at that moment.

Having no idea what happened to the earlier program, I was still expecting that an official would at least deliver a speech. The next program is exhibition of the marching band. What is a festivity without a marching band? The master of ceremony asked the two marching bands to take turns in entertaining the people. When I mention people, it  means the Province and City Scholars who are required to attend the event - complete with attendance sheet and time cards. When the bands ran out of acts, the MC signaled the start of the public viewing of the film "Back to Bataan". That also prompted the scholars to punch their time cards.

Again, I had to approach a lady to take my picture with the giant screen on the background, only to find out that my broad body covered the view of that giant screen. The second person I approached, I specifically instructed to take picture of me, making sure that the giant screen and the Philippine flag can be seen in full. By the time the film ran for 15 minutes, there were only very few by standers watching the film. That includes me, but only for another 20 minutes.

You must have noticed my busabos look. Let me just explain.

Again the time frame of the subject is April 9, 2014 at 3:00PM. The hottest season of the year and time of the day. An hour before that, when I supposed to compose for my self for the event, I got a text message from my office mate that he could no longer attend the celebration, leaving me as the sole representative of our office. He has a fever. One reason that I have to get to the venue at 3:00PM was because we have to meet at a agreed time. When I got message, I decided that everything was on my discretion. I took a nap at 2:00 PM. I was surprised when I woke up at 3:30. I had no time to take a bath anymore.

I attended the ceremony on my own - with my busabos look and camera without anyone to take picture of me.

Anyways, the Malacanang invite never came.

Dalaw Barangay or Ligaw Barangay? Bagac, Bataan

It's been years that I go to the visit barangay project of the Municipality of Bagac. I don't do voluntary work. 

It's part of my job. The project aims to deliver the basic services closer to people.

Paysawan is one coastal barangay in the municipality so when it's the area's schedule of the project, it's my boss' turn to attend. She has the service vehicle. I usually take public transport. Due to conflict of schedule, I had to go but I can use the service vehicle.

That's easy. I haven't been to the barangay proper but I once or twice seen the area entrance. It became more apparent the place is not untouched. I then realized that the place is a developed beach resort at the dead end instead of a barangay hall or health center.

We're lost. Did I mention that I don't drive? My driver does not know the place too.

Birth Pains - Bataan Day Magazine

I am in the process of doing a publication. Sure, this is not a real pro-magazine. I just want to somehow to fulfill a lifelong dream of coming up with my own publication. After thorough thinking, I decided to do this bi-monthly. Coming up with monthly issue will be a very arduous task.

Anung petsa na?

I already have a layout for January - February 2014 but still incomplete. I hope to finish it soon and move forward to the March- April 2014 issue.

A day in the life of Bataeños tagline should say it all. Bataan Day.

Revisiting "Ibong Dayo Festival"

An annual festival for migratory birds was held in its 5th edition. Our office is constantly invited to participate to the event which usually starts with the parade from Plaza Mayor de Balanga to the venue, Balanga Nature Park, Baypark Tortugas Balanga City, Bataan. Living nearby, I and an office are guilty of taking shortcuts. We went straight to the venue  instead of walking in the parade.

Anyways, the goal is to document the festival. For this, my vision is to take picture of the various activities happening in the festival. The day before, I had a short tutorial in photograpy from my brother in law. I always had the difficulty in taking photos in action. Moving objects usually get blur if the shots were not managed.

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My (Buto ng) Kasoy.. (Cashew nuts)

This is not to depict how far has my tummy gone. This photo  honestly shows that
 I'm just having photo ops and not pretending to buy.  

Every time kasoy (buto ng kasoy or cashew nuts) becomes part of conversation, I always have this statement "That's our favorite, my wife and I even had fights because of that."

I had this chance of visiting the cashew nut factory in Bagac, Bataan for purpose I can not disclose due to confidentiality. It was sometime in summer. I frequently passed by the area and the factory is closed these days due off season. The process, upon my observation is easy. There was no complicated procedure or technical equipment involved. What I remembered were, naghihimay na mga tao sa bilao and oven which is nothing different with what we see from bakeries. Packing/packaging is old school. From the looks of it, it's as simple as filling them inside the plastics (with assigned weights), and seal them.

I was able to speak with the manager for the prospect of getting more content for this blog entry. From the familiar signs hanging on the ceiling, I brought out the common knowledge that roosters get sick out of cooking cashew. He shrugged off the idea and even pointed that signs I mentioned. Those were champion trophy-banners from cock derby. See.  

Cashew not is not an early favorite (para lang contest?). The fondness for it came late basically because of its price. Early memory of it was on one All Saints' Day in Abucay. My sister saw cashew nuts sold at the  sidewalk. It was like placed in a basin. P5 worth of cashew is displayed in a very small cup. She ordered one cup, while taking one piece of cashew from the basin, expecting of a free taste. The vendor noticed the gesture and took away one piece from the cup of cashew before putting it on the small paper pouch. I also remember about the cashew tree in front of our grade two classroom. Under that was where the mamang sorbeto places his cart to sell dirty ice cream.

I'm not if sure if the one I've been to is really the kasuyan ( cashew field, if that's how it is called). I had this chance of seeing Barangay Binuangan (a coastal barangay which can be accessed for P300 tricycle ride) for another official business trip. There were hundreds of cashew trees and we stopped over. The group I was with, picked fruits because of its medicinal properties.  

Unconsciously, being native product and pride of Bataan (Morong and Bagac particularly), kasoy has become status symbol. If at one time you received it as gift, then you must be a distinguished one. Uraro pa lang natatanggap ko, but that's a different story. I'm excited over instances of my wife attending medical mission because of the prospect that Galing Bataan gift packs be given away. The package includes Bataan native sweets and of course, cashew nuts.

Kasoy factory in Bagac Bataan

The status symbol also goes the other way. You're likely to be tagged as generous if at one point (or should  in lots instances) given kasoy as gift. Anyways, I have yet to be of that level.

Bagac and Morong were frequent destinations of my official business, to my wife's delight. She expects that I'll bring home even with just the smallest pack but to her upset, I usually don't. Why would we have fights because of it? In instances that she goes there, she buys separate packs for each of us. Apparently, I'd consume my entire share ahead of her. She would not share hers - even if I beg.

Other provinces may also claim to have it as native product. I must tell you that we have the best. They may taste alike but as some people say that it does not have the itchy after effect. I'm just so sorry to forget the name of the establishment I visited for the free advertisement.  

I implicitly insisted in this post that kasoy refers to the fruit and the nut is the kidney shape attached above it. Of course every one knows. Kaya nga hindi ba, "Isang prinsesa, nakaupo sa tasa"? 

Gabi ng Dayuhan - Balanga City

I am Guevara. He is Fernandez.

I knew he’ll be there. Last night I had the privilege of attending the Phil-Ko Night. It was a night devoted to Philippine-Korean friendship as part of festivities that the City Government of Balanga holds for the City Fiesta in the entire month of April.

It’s a musical program scheduled on April 5, 2011, 7:00 pm.

I was quite in panic that at around 6:00 pm, it looks like the event has started. I still have to go home and change clothes for it. Straight from the office, I just passed by the venue to attend to other important matter.

Anyways, I was there to have the occasion documented as part of an office obligation. I am aware that the City Official in charge for the night will be City Councilor Val Joseph M. Fernandez, my classmate from grade school. He heads the Committee on Education.

I was hoping to hear him for the opening remarks but he was done when I arrived. I came late.

I was hoping to have photo opportunity with him as part of the documentation but I got shy.

I just shook hands with him and answer back “yes”, when he asked for confirmation that I no longer work in Pag-IBIG.

Well, he already asked that several times, every time we meet.

I’m not into politics. I would not go as far as campaigning for him. There would be no way that I will go out of my way to publicly show my support. I think I have to settle on telling people – at the mention of his name, that he was a classmate.

I did single vote for him on his first run.

On his second run, I only voted 3 candidates - my ninong, my kumpare and him.

These - I hope, are enough.

I am hoping to have this space for few anecdotes of him in the past. Those were around 20 years or so. I feel so old that I can’t remember one. He was pilyo. He’s always been kind to me when we were young. He would even be friendly to my sister when he met her as his student teacher in high school.

He would always greet me at any instance that we would meet. Kahit pwedeng hindi na.

Upon knowledge that he’s an ex-classmate, people would always ask if he’s intelligent. Of course, magkaklase kaya kami. He went to law school kaya.

Going back to the program, it’s nice that people get to watch Korean culture in terms of music and dance. Learning new things is always exciting (forget Koreanovela overload for a while). I commend the entertainment value that they shared; complemented by the contagious energy of the Korean audience. I just have to complain for the length of the production number.

There were about hundreds of Korean at the venue, performers and audience. I just wonder where they come from. Did they come right from Korea? Do they live in the Philippines and just assemble in Balanga? I don’t see that much Korean in the city. I am just too shy to ask for the answers from the Korean seating next to me.

I think they mentioned them in the program. I just did not hear. I came late. Then, I left early even when the program has not ended because I have to catch the last trip of the bus by 8:00 pm. I did not approach VJ anymore to say I’m leaving. Anyways, he’s too busy fulfilling his duty.

It’s such a problem for a long time. I get star struck to politicians, to local public officials and - worse, to a city councilor who was a seatmate (in alphabetically arranged class in grade school).

He is Fernandez. I am Guevara.

I run 5k.

10:00 AM February 5, 2011 - I had a sprain. I couldn’t walk straight towards an old fellow in the –now, empty and quietvenue. “Kuya, success(ful)!” served as my congratulatory message to the organizer of the run. “Nag-enjoy ba kayo?” was his only modest response.

The place – Plaza de Mayor Balanga, has huge difference fourto five hours ago. As early as 5:00 am enthusiasts started to give festive mood in the anticipation of the 2^nd Takbo Bataan para sa Kalikasan, Balanga City Run 2011.

Along with my officemates, we’re all anxious but excited for this new experience. We’re all first time runners. We’re on our usual sports attire – blue-satin (or jersey)-shirt with collar (remember English in high school: the arrangement of using more than one adjective), which we have worn countless times in different occasions. The difference today is the race bib on it, which I attached even the night before.

Naturally, number assignments on the race bib create big fuss. Everyone tries to rationalize numbers associated with us. I’m runner no. 20 this morning. I didn’t choose this one; it just happens that this is the birthdates of my wife and son. Anyways, there’s not much luck needed for today since we’re just running for fun and not competitively. I’m not into sports so there’s not much instances that I had numbers in competitions – except that I was no. 3 in cooking contest in elementary. Other than that, I can’t recall.

Some years ago, when at the prevalence of Marc Nelson, Christian Vasquez and other’s abs (six pack abs for that matter), I also had my ways to try to achieve it. Let’s say my voluminous collection of Men’s health Magazine is one valid proof. From that, one single article stuck to my mind. It was a feature article written by the editor-in-chief recounting a bike marathon. The narrative was excellent. For me, it is the pamantayan (standard). If at one point in my life I could write something as intense as that, it could be one great feat. That’s supposedly my objective at the moment

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My first award!

Let make things clear. This fun run is the first activity that comes to realization since I asked a favor to my former choir master (and now premier event organizer - slash everything else) to involve our office in his relevant events. This would generate good merits on our branch’s performance. Part of it is for me to write a narrative report.

Weeks later, the organizers are too busy to furnish me official results and other pertinent data of the event. Who are the winners? What is the official count of participants? Which government agencies and private companies join the event? Even what I thought to be the last resort is of no avail. I search at internet - Facebook and the likes, only to realize that they (the organizers) are too busy to even update in their webpage the information I need.

Right towards my search, one phrase caught my attention “My first award”.

It is the title of the FB photo album of Michel Angelo, my nephew (one common clarification I always have to respond on few people: that nephew is male p

amangkin and niece is female pamangkin). That’s where you can find the pictures on his first experience in Takbo Bataan para sa Kalikasan. That was last year. He won the Youngest Runner Award. Aside from the overnight stay in a local hotel (which I can’t remember, has he availed of it or was it forfeited?) as prize, Gelo was able to gain confidence in himself and motivation to do better.

He ran 5K (kilometers) last year. This year, he ran 10k – no less. I ran 5k. Anyways, I still have to recover from my sprain and excruciating muscle pains. This is why I have to underline the above – I’m not into sports.

I’m not into sports. It’s just nice to have this new experience and hopes to have more of it in the future. I just have to start saving up for new running shoes to replace the one which retired moments after the run.

I’m not into sports; this is why my first award is from a cooking competition in grade school.

I’m not into sports; however I’ve gone to the regional level in Sports Writing in High School and Higher Education Schools Press Conference, winning 3^rd place in the latter. And, this is one reason why I find it hard to accept that I can’t come up with a good narrative of the race.