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.

Pagpapasinaya sa pagpapasa ng panandang pangkasaysayan sa tahanan ni Francisco 'Soc' Rodrigo

Jasmin Lorraine Tan: From Zero to Hero

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Larawan ng katatagan at pagsisikap, si Jasmin Lorraine Tan ay nagpursige mula sa mga pagkabigo nya noon hanggang sa marating niya ang tagumpay ngayon.

Sa katatapos lamang na  13th Regional Higher Education Press Conference na ginanap sa Pampanga, napanalunan ni Jasmin ang 1st place sa tatlong dibisyon na sinalihan nya; Sports Writing, Column Writing at Opinion Writing. Dahil dito, siya din ang ‘Highest Pointer’ sa mga indibidwal na sumali sa patimpalak.

Ito ay kahanga-hanga dahil noong nakaraang taon lang ay 9th placer lamang siya sa Sports Writing at hindi nanalo sa Poetry.

Inilahad ni Jasmine na noon ay marami siyang kabiguan, gaya ng wala siyang napanalunan na contest noong Elementary, hindi din siya natanggap sa kanilang publication noong Highschool. Ito ang kanyang ginamit na motibasyon upang magtagumpay ngayon.

“Isa sa mga pwedeng gawing biggest motivation niya ay yung mga failures niya noon,” ani ni Jasmin.

Isang “Monster” na ngayon ang taguri kay Jasmin dahil sa kanyang performance. “Hindi ako makapaniwala na ewan, kasi nga dati lagi lang ako talo and everything pero ngayon, sabi ko nga bawing-bawi na yung lahat ng pagkabigo ko simula ng kinder,” paglalahad ni Jasmin.

Ano nga ba ang motibasyon ni Jasmin?

Kinailangan ni Jasmin ng malakas na motibasyon upang malampasan niya ang mga pagkabigo at pagsubok sa buhay niya. Ginamit niyang motibasyon ang mga pagkatalo niya sa mga naunang contest na sinalihan niya upang magwagi ngayon.

“Kailangan, kung ano ginawa mong effort dun sa nauna mong contest, dun sa kasunod, kailangan mas malaki, mas mabigat,” ayon kay Jasmin.

Ginamit din niyang motibasyon ang mga kritisismo sa kanilang organisasyon na Pacesetter kung saan siya ang editor-in-chief ng nasabing publikasyon. Ayon sa kanya, marami daw sa mga kritiko ang nagsabing sila daw ang weakest batch ng mga Pacesetter. Ngunit kampante naman siya na nabawi na nila ang mga sarili nila dahil sa tagumpay na nakamit nila ngayong taon.

Sinabi pa niya na kapag nahihirapan na ay dapat maniwala lang sa Diyos. “Trust lang kay God lagi, kasi hindi ka naman niya ilalagay sa kung nasaan ka kung hindi mo kakayanin,” ani ni Jasmin.

Si Jasmin, o Ate Jasmine sa karamihan ay isang modelo at dapat tularan, siya ang nagpapatunay ng kasabihang “try and try until you suceed.”

Day for Prayer Rally: Calling God for help

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

People pray to God for help, now the province of Bulacan is praying for help amid the issue of a possible Angat Dam Break.

Atty. Elmo Duque, Comelec Provincial Officer, the guest speaker for the event said the prayer is a way to ask help from God. “Kailangan lang ng lambing, pag hindi mo kasi sinabi, hindi kasi ibibigay ng Ama yan,” said Duque about the prayer.

Duque stressed that it is critical for people to pray to God knowing the possibility of a disaster in Dam Break. He added that prayer is critical due to the unpredictability of calamities nowadays.

He said that Bulakenyos should be prayerful because it is possible that calamity could strike Bulacan.

“Dapat maging prayerful, kasi sa lahat ng mga sibilisasyon, there has never been a civilization na nakita ko na walang involvement ang religious leader sa kanilang paglago,” explained Duque.

He is well aware of the issue about the possible Dam break if strong earthquake happens. “Isa sa mga kritikal na issue yan dahil Dam yan, pag hindi narepair yan, isang malaking disaster ang idudulot niyan,” he said.

But he insisted that praying to God could be a big help. “God has the power to divert the storm or stop the calamity, only when maglalambing tayo sa Panginoon,” Duque stated.

Ciudad Clemente: a house built by love of art

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Some used old houses for the primary objective of business. But Joe Clemente isn’t that type of person. His love for art led him to the idea of establishing Ciudad Clemente.

75 years ago when the original house was built at Paombong, Bulacan, Clemente made an effort to collect old artifacts to be displayed inside, with the house itself displaying its architectural prowess, he proudly boasted that people call this the visual arts museum of Bulacan.

“Kung mga architects ang pumupunta dito, nakikita nila na hindi ito nagagawa ng overnight, kumbaga talagang it’s planned, pati yung gathering of materials,” said Clemente.

He also made sure that he collects arts from multi-awarded artists of Bulacan to complement the beauty of the old house. This place is so beautiful that many people want to buy it as stated by him, but he refused.

“Hindi ako for-sale, I wanted to document it on a book before mag goodbye ako sa world,” he explained.

He stated that the brother-in-law of Paquito Ochoa who owns old houses in Bagac wanted to buy Ciudad Clemente but he denied the offer because he still wants to develop the house.

“I want this to be a repository of arts and culture,” stated Clemente. It is something na as a Bulakenyo, you should be very proud of,” he added.

His love for art is unparalleled that according to him, he traded his Starex in exchange for set of artifacts. He continues to collect old artifacts because he loves to do so. “That’s my love for art,” stated Clemente.

According to him, it’s also important for young students to witness art from the past, because modern is something they usually see. Although right now, the resort is not open for public, he promised that he will open it for the future.

Spending Christmas at Work

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

Nothing beats the Christmas in the Philippines as proclaimed by Filipinos. But thousands or even millions of 'Overseas Filipino Workers' spent their Christmas working abroad, some on countries not celebrating the yuletide season, away from their family.

These writer was able to interview two Filipinos working on Muslim Countries, Malaysia and Brunei. Usually, only Filipinos who work there celebrate Christmas. As much as they want to spend the Christmas with their loved ones, they choose to work extra time in abroad to give their family a better Christmas.

Gail Navarrete, who works as a Health Safety Environmental and Security Specialist on a corporation at Malaysia said he miss celebrating Christmas in the Philippines. "Every time I'm out of the country, I always miss the celebration in the Philippines," stated Navarrete.

When asked about the Christmas in Malaysia, Navarrete answered that it was sad. "Malungkot, actually there are some people here celebrating Christmas but not like grand as dun sa Philippines," said Navarrete.

"Iniingit nila ako dun sa kinakain nila, sa mga regalong natanggap nila, inggitan lang," he jokingly said. Navarrete connects to his family through Skype especially during Christmas season.

Navarrete who already worked 15 years abroad said he needs to sacrifice in order to give his family on Novalichez their needs even if it means not being with them during Christmas.

Marilou Abeja, who works as a vendor at a Souvenir Shop in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei said it was sad because Brunei people don't celebrate Christmas at all. "Parang hindi Pasko, malungkot, normal day lang," said Abeja.

"Iba yung Pasko sa atin, masaya, maingay, dito napakatahimik, wala lang, kasi nga Muslim country dito," added Abeja.

She connected to her family on Sampaloc, Quezon through Skype during Christmas but said it is still better to spend Christmas beside her family.

They both agreed that spending Christmas at work is not as bad as it may seem, they just sacrifice for their families.