Blessing of the Sea

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Most of the people of Barangay Pugad, Hagonoy, Bulacan relies on the sea for their livelihood knowing that their Barangay is surrounded by saltwater. The sea is very important to them because they get their blessings here like Mang Angelito.

Angelito Celso, 59 years old, operates ‘Tuyo’ business in Barangay Pugad. He stressed that the sea is his important source of livelihood and income.

He explained that after catching small fishes using his own boat, they will remove the inside of the fish, submerge it in salt and will proceed to drying of the fish outside their house.

They sell one pack of ‘tuyo’ for P20-25 and they receive an estimated amount of P4,000 per 500 packs.

His wife, Sonia Celso sells the ‘tuyo’ in Pampanga while they send other packs to Bicol through Bus.

What if they only generated small income? “Pagka kikita lang kami dalawangdaan (200) may pambigas na kami, hindi na problema ulam dyan, lulusong ka na lang sa dagat,” he explained.

“Ito na ang kinabubuhay namin, pag ito nawala pa, wala na kami, dito lang kami kumukuha sa dagat,” quoted Celso.

He knows that the sea is vital not only to him but to the residents of Barangay Pugad that when the sea is raged during bad weather, they don’t know where will they get their source of income.

“Pag masama panahon andito lang kami, hindi pwede, walang kita, naghihintay lang sa rasyon,” said Celso.

When asked about the issue that the sea as their blessing provider is slowly dying due to pollution, he answered, “dapat talaga dyan, maka-isip naman ang gobyerno ng iba pang pangkabuhayan para yung mga tao hindi magutom, kung ako lang gobyerno eh.”

But as of now, the sea is their main provider of livelihood, not unless they find any alternative in a Barangay surrounded by saltwater.

  

Paglalakbay sa Coastal side ng Hagonoy, Bulacan

Caretakers: protectors of old houses

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

They say that the ancestral houses are windows to the past. It has witness history and stood over time. But as the modern day approaches, the question is if there are enough people who are willing to preserve old houses?

This writer along with other co-writers went to San Miguel, Bulacan where ancestral houses are located. Most of the old houses there are still intact but time has made them fragile.

Erlinda Evron, caretaker of Catalino Sevilla Mansion, puts her heart in taking care of the three-story house in San Miguel. She has been taking care of the slowly-declining house for 40 years.

She would ask for young men to clean the house per week because she is quite ripe in age. Although it’s difficult for her because the house could fall anytime, she said that the house is somewhat attached to her.

“Syempre, kasi dyan na ako lumaki, dyan na ako tumanda, napamahal na din ako sa bahay, para nang akin,” said Evron.

As a caretaker, she is receiving P2,000 per month for her services from the owner of the house who now lives in Quezon Boulevard.

Marilyn Roxas-Alparo, caretaker of the house of the late Claring Libunao in San Miguel, finds comfort in living on the old house. Although it’s quite hard for Alparo and her mother-in-law to preserve the house, they still love the house.

“Komportable, lalo na pag summer, yung mga windows niya sa taas, i-open mo lang yan,” said Alparo.

She assured that as long as she is living on the house, she will make an effort to preserve the old house.

Estrella Barrios, caretaker of the house of Manuel Lipana for 32 years knows the importance of ancestral houses.

Taking care of the 160 year old house that was then owned by Crispina De Leon, member of the prominent De Leon family in San Miguel is hard for Barrios but she knows that the house holds historic resemblance.

All of the three caretakers that we interviewed assured that they will protect their respective heritage houses assigned to them.

Remembering Ka Blas’ Legacy

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

It has been a decade since Blas F. Ople died but his legacy is still remembered by Bulakenyos who attended the 87^th commemoration birthday for the former Senate President.

His son, Felix Ople reminded everyone what his Father left to the Bulakenyos.  He admired Blas F. Ople as a politician, leader and especially, as a father.

According to him, the two laws that his father created, Labor Code and Overseas Employment Act are still bringing benefits to the Filipinos. He added that other countries have copied the laws that his father authored for their own good.

He added that due to his father’s effort to extend the labor of Filipinos to abroad, now the nation’s economy is benefiting from OFW’s remittances.

But above all, he admired Ka Blas as a great father. He said that the value that he learned from his father is staying simple despite holding a high position.

His fellow from Hagonoy, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado has nothing but praise for Ka Blas. He admired Ka Blas for his efforts to overcome poverty and marked his legacy before he died.

“Kung ang salitang himala ay makapagkakatawang-tao, ang magiging pangalan nito ay Blas F. Ople,” said Alvarado. He added that Ople was a ‘wonderboy’ of his generation.

“Tinawid ni Ka Blas ang guhit ng kapalarang naghahati at nakapagitan sa ordinaryo at namumukod-tangi,” said further by Alvarado.

Alvarado as a youth also gained inspiration from Ka Blas. “Pareho kaming taga- Hagonoy, siya’y naging inspirasyon ko rin kung papaano siya nung araw sa kanyang kahirapan ay palaging nasa library,” explained Alvarado.

“Average student lamang ako, but I graduated also valedictorian from highschool, sa pagpupunyagi, ang aking inspirasyon ay nakita ko yan kay Blas F. Ople,” added Alvarado.

He stated that like him, the youth should also idolize and remember Ka Blas.

“No pain no gain, so siya hindi lamang ordinaryong pain ang kanyang binata, yung mas malaki para mas maraming gain, at hindi lamang ordinaryong apoy ang kanyang sinuong kundi mas malaking apoy kaya higit siyang nagging dalisay, parang ginto, so ang mga kabataan dapat ganoon din,” explained Alvarado.

“Patuloy sanang maging inspirasyon ang buhay ng Amang Blas  lalo na po sa lahat ng mga naglilingkod at naghahangad na maglingkod dito po sa ating lalawigan at sa ating bansa,” quoted Felix Ople.