Rediscovering Northern Ilocos Sur

It had been my long dream to go back and visit the place where I grew up and spent the first one-third of my life. Oftentimes I asked myself, “Will there ever be a chance for me to travel to Ilocos Sur, my considered home province?

On the 19^th of February 2014, Wednesday at around 10:30 PM, I was rushing to a bus terminal in Manila City. I finally found the right time which suddenly made me decide to go to Sinait, Ilocos Sur because my tutees’ school was on a foundation week celebration. Yes, I’m a tutor (a private home service Math Tutor) and I have become too busy even at weekends and holidays for simultaneously I also offer photography service on special occasions as a sideline.

   

I was very lucky enough to board a Farinas bus bound for Laoag City departing at exactly 11:00 PM as a chance passenger due many passenger reservations. The bus had exactly the facilities I wanted for long distance traveling: air-con, comfortable chair, wifi connection, two flat screen monitors for film showing, and a built-in comfort room. The conductor was very courteous in serving the passengers while the driver obviously drove safely as the bus traveled smoothly passing by San Fernando, La Union at 3:20 AM and Candon, Ilocos Sur at 4:30 AM.

          While on board the bus, sporadic memories of my childhood and adolescent days crept into my mind. I grew up with my grandmother in Barangay Calanutian, Sinait, Ilocos Sur. My childhood life with friends was full of adventurous activities especially weekend hill/mountain hiking and river/sea swimming. I left the place in 1977 upon high school graduation to pursue my tertiary education in Manila but eventually obtained my Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree at CSA-Bacolod when my elder half-sister supporting me was reassigned for work in Bacolod City. I worked and got married in Negros Occidental. Then in 2006, due laid off from my job and difficulty in life, my family decided to take a risk by selling our house and lot transferring residency to Metro Manila. During that time I went to Sinait but only to attend a wake of my aunt who suddenly died and I never really had the chance to go around for bonding with my childhood friends and classmates.

          My flashback of old memories came to a halt when the bus had its first and only stop over for a meal at The Sisters in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. I bought a pack each of the famous Ilocano delicacies Royal Bibingka and tupig (a baked glutinous rice in a bamboo).   

          The bus resumed its journey and reached Sinait at around 6:10 AM. The town was still silent when I got off the bus as it stopped just in front of the Santo Cristo Milagroso Church per my instruction. I went directly inside the church and heard a morning Mass.

          How I miss the church where I used to attend Mass! I toured myself around the area, had some self-picture taking, and ate breakfast of rice, empanada, and the famous Ilocano pinakbet in a nearby carinderia.                        
                         

  I waited for the Sinait Municipal Hall to open. The main reason why I hankered  going back to Ilocos Sur was to process the documents of a lot inherited from my grandmother which I already intend to sell but didn’t have the lot number basically required for a transfer of title to my name. Fortunately I have high ranking employee-classmates there who readily assisted me.  I immediately got my lot number but was referred to the CENRO Office in Vigan City for the lot’s cadastral map. After a short bonding  with my former classmates, I took a local bus ride to Vigan City.

       I ate lunch in a city roadside carinderia after a smooth processing of the documents I needed. With nothing more to do, I instantly thought of touring the attractions that the place had to offer and so I hired a tricycle then asked the driver to bring me first to the famous Banaoang Bridge. I was thrilled to see breathtaking sceneries of the historical bridge in the province with the new Ilocos Sur Adventure as added attraction.  Then the driver brought me to the famous Bell Tower in Bantay where I got an awesome panoramic view of Vigan City and the surrounding towns. The renovated church of St. Augustine housing the image of Nuestra Senora de Caridad was also a magnificent view to behold. The next destinations The Heritage in Vigan upheld an image of the Spanish era in the city and the Baluarte amazed me especially with its free entrance to the public. Burnayan presented an overview of the dexterous Ilocano hands in molding artistic pots. The Plaza Salcedo was such a relaxing sight with its dancing fountain. The Vigan Cathedral captivated me for its classic architectural designs adorned with various religious figures. Going north to San Ildefonso town, a Basi Revolt waiting shed and an airplane grounded along the highway were instant attractions. My tour ended at Magsingal Museum where the mementos of Ilocano past cultures were religiously preserved.

  

                               

                         

       
                                                           

                                       
                                       

     

                         

                         

   
              The unplanned tour fascinated me tremendously in rediscovering what I have not appreciated much about Northern Ilocos Sur during high school educational field trips. It suddenly changed my outlook about trips and ignited in me a passion to travel for more and be patriotic to discover the hidden natural beauty especially the pristine beaches, historical places/landmarks, and the different cultures of the  entire country.  

        I slept overnight in the house of my aunt in Barangay Calanutian. I had tittle-tattle bonding with childhood friends the following day and after lunch went back to Metro Manila with a new dream and a promise to explore more of Ilocos Region via flight to Laoag City with Cebu Pacific Air and Wego Philippines once I win in this blogging contest but it will surely be more interesting and fun if done with my whole family.  

A 4-in-1 Holy Encounter

                It is rare that a 4-in-1 religious activity happens in our parish. But tonight the faithfuls are treated to an overflowing encounter that deepens their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and strengthens their faith in God.                                                                                         

         It is expected among Catholic devotees to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to go to Mass every Friday. It is a commitment consecrating oneself to the Most Sacred Heart. 

          But every First Friday of the Month, Ina ng Buhay Parish holds a Holy Hour with the Blessed sacrament being exposed at the Altar and no less than the parish priest leads the  prayerful meditations filled with litanies. Concluding the Holy Hour is a  benediction with the Blessed Sacrament inspiring everyone to lift up their supplications to God.

 

After reposition of the Blessed Sacrament , a Holy Mass immediately follows with a choir invigorating the celebration. Being in the highest form of prayer, the faithfuls take heed of every word proclaimed by the priest with an open and receptive heart knowing it is God’s Word for them. It is an opportunity to be not just in communion with God but a fellowship in communion with one another as a community of Catholic Christian believers.

 

The start of a weekly Station of the Cross every Friday after the evening Mass at the Parish Garden Reception before life-size image presentation of the 14 stations during the Lenten Season highlights the celebration. Not quite surprising that there are so many people participating since it is First Friday. The season invokes everyone to offer a sacrifice of self-denial thru fasting and abstinence to be one with the sufferings of Jesus dying on the cross for the redemption of mankind.

                                

 

                                                 

 

 

                                                   

What a solemn occasion and everyone seems grateful for the threefold contemplation on how great the love of God is! It yields a smile on everyone’s faces going home with a renewed spirit commissioned to spread the Good News: Jesus is alive!                                

              

My Gift to the Philippines

     It is well known to everyone how Super Typhoon Yolanda has brought devastation to our country especially in Samar and Leyte last year. The calamity caught the attention of the entire world. The worldwide media has focused its attention particularly in Tacloban City  where thousands of people died and properties were heavily destroyed due sudden storm surge. In its aftermath the city lay flat in total ruins. People everywhere in the area were crying not knowing how to pick up the rubbles and start their life anew.

     I remember in April 1988 when I first set foot in Leyte to attend a Christian Leadership Training Seminar-Workshop hosted by the Community of God’s Little Children (CGLC)  in Sitio Soliman, Tacloban City. When I was about to go home, I discovered that I ran out of cash allowance for my expenses in going home but the community allowed me to stay for further immersion in their community life; and after more than a week, they generously provided for all my necessary expenses plus pasalubong in going home.

     This is now the moment that I wish to come true with the help of Globe Telecom: to pay back to the people of Tacloban City for that unforgettable good deed I have received from them more than 2 decades ago. I would like Globe Telecom to help CGLC in rebuilding or improving their Foundational Center and their community school St. Therese Child Development Center located along Real Street just across the Sto Nino Church. Furthermore,  a cash/check or in-kind gifts be donated to the social action service ministry of the Community of God’s Little Children in order to augment their outreach project/program of putting up livelihood to help the Yolanda victims.

The fall and rise of this city is going to symbolize the fall and rise of our country. Tacloban City in Leyte province is now projecting to the world what the real situation of our country is. Any future development of our country will be in vain without the recovery and restoration of this city at least to its old glory. Livelihood must be mobilized to inspire the residents and gain their confidence to rebuild their own city and make it even better than what it used to be. Providing assistance to whatever projects the CGLC in Tacloban City can be a ripple to spark hope for the Yolanda victims to work together  for their own recovery. The goal of the CGLC has always been for the total development  of a person and  it will surely be achieved if we support them in their mission. Thus, Globe Telecom's support for the realization of the CGLC  mission in Tacloban City is my gift to the Philippines. And as Gen. Douglas McArthur fulfilled his promise to return when he landed in Leyte during World War II, so I wish also to return and visit Tacloban City with my family to witness how my dream project is implemented by #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014.       

My dear readers, I encourage you to share your own gift or wish to the Philippines in the comment box below by answering the question “If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?”. Who knows your wish will be realized sooner than you could imagine. If my wish comes true then you’ll win an iPad Mini 2 courtesy of Globe Telecom.