Life and Times, People, Polls, Puzzles & Quizzes

Mananggi -Tungkol sa Mais, at ang Kabutihang-Loob ng Isang Kapitbahay

No Comments
Mananggi -Tungkol sa Mais, at ang Kabutihang-Loob ng Isang Kapitbahay
Para sa mga bata, masayang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na sumamang mananggi ng inaaning mais (AI Generated Image)

Para sa karamihan ng Pilipino, bigas ang pangunahing pagkain; para sa amin, luho ang bigas.

Mais ang aming pangunahing pagkain. Noong bata ako, bago mag-1972, kumakain lang kami ng bigas tuwing may napaka-espesyal na okasyon, at kung sakali, ito ay lugaw o champorado. Ang giniling na mais ang aming pangunahing pinagkukunan ng carbohydrates; ito lang, sa katunayan, ang aming kinakain sa halos lahat ng araw.

Naalala ko ang aming kapitbahay, si Nong Peping, na may taniman ng mais sa likod lang ng aming kumpol ng bahay sa kapitbahayan. Lupa ito ng kanyang kapatid, pero siya ang nagtatanim ng mais doon. Nakuha niya ang ⅔ ng ani, habang ang kapatid niya naman ay nakakuha ng ⅓. Sinabi sa amin ni Nong Peping na patas ang paghahati na ito, at ito raw talaga ang karaniwang gawain sa lahat ng relasyon ng may-ari ng lupa at umuupa.

Kapag handa na ang mais para anihin, pumili siya ng ilang hanay ng mais at tinawag kaming mga bata sa kapitbahayan para tulungan siyang anihin ito.

Masaya ang gawaing pagtulong kay Nong Peping – kinuha namin ang mga busil ng mais, inipon ang mga ito, at dinala sa isang sentral na lugar sa ilalim ng kanyang bahay. Pagkatapos, binilang namin kung ilang bukag o basket ng mais ang nakolekta namin. Nakakakuha kami ng isang bukag sa bawat sampung naani. Hindi masamang pamamaraan ng paghahati, lalo pa’t nag-enjoy kaming lahat habang ginagawa ito.

Pagkatapos ng ani, pinuputol ni Nong Peping ang natitirang mga tangkay, at itinabi ang ilan para ipakain sa kanyang kalabaw sa susunod na mga araw, at sinusunog ang natitira. Gayunpaman, bago niya gawin iyon, hinihikayat niya kaming mga bata na mag-hagdaw – ang ibig sabihin, balikan ang bukid at tingnan kung may mga busil ng mais na hindi naani, o nahulog sa lupa. Ang makuha namin, ay sa amin na.

Kapag nakuha na namin ang aming bukag, inuuwi namin ito at sinisimulan ang pagproseso ng mais. Tinatanggal namin ang panlabas na balat at inilalabas ang mismong mais. Pagkatapos, pinapatuyo namin ito ng ilang araw.

Kapag tuyo na, sinisimulan naming tanggalin ang mga butil mula sa busil – isang proseso na tinatawag naming lobo. Napakamatrabaho nito, at normal ang pagkakaroon ng paltos sa kamay tuwing ginagawa namin ito. Pinapatuyo pa namin ang mga butil, at dinadala sa gilingan.

Nagpapasalamat ako kay Nong Peping, dahil napakabuti niya at ibinahagi ang kanyang ani sa amin, kaya may pagkain kami sa mesa.

 

People

Daily Harvest: A Life Saved by Gardening

No Comments
The best cup (of coffee) comes from carefully selected beans
The best cup (of coffee) comes from carefully selected beans

On a recent trip home to Davao, I was lucky to find time to escape commitments in the city and have some brief R&R with friends. We drove to Baguio district, where I met Mang Sandro Gaitano. He apparently brews some of the best coffee in this part of town

Mang Sandro organically grows his own Robusta and Arabica beans. He then handpicks, de-pulps, roasts, and grinds them, resulting in some delightful coffee that probably tastes better than your favorite coffee shop brew. I had a chance to chat with him a bit, and I’ve since reflected on his story.

 

 

Drinking coffee while watching the rainbow. Priceless.
Drinking coffee while watching the rainbow. Priceless.

Mang Sandro’s coffee

Mang Sandro sells a freshly brewed cup for only ten pesos. You can enjoy this with a breathtaking view of Davao City from his porch where you’ll occasionally feel a cool breeze pass through.

Aside from this cozy environment, your coffee can go with free bananas from Mang Sandro’s garden, depending on availability. There are also guavas from his yard and wild berries surrounding his house, and you can pick them yourselves.

If you loved Mang Sandro’s coffee (and surely you will), you can take home a small pack for 100 pesos or one kilo for 350 pesos.

Mang Sandro’s turning point

Together with his monkey Nicolas Cage (who derives his name from being cooped up in a cage), Mang Sandro enjoys a simple and pleasant life that’s far from what he was living more than two decades ago.

Mang Sandro actually once suffered from drug addiction. His family almost gave up on him after his countless promises of changing, which remained unfulfilled for a long time.

The turning point for Mang Sandro came when he faced a life-threatening illness. With newfound motivation and a stronger resolve for a drug-free life, Mang Sandro went back to the land left to him by his parents. There, he worked on rehabilitating himself and starting anew.

Sandro Gaitano
Everyone deserves second chances

Mang Sandro has been clean for more than 20 years now.

These days, he spends most of his time tending to his garden, planting bananas, cacao trees, and durian. He also attends gardening and coffee processing seminars to further expand his knowledge.

He’s also been recognized for his organic gardening efforts. With the earnings from his own garden and the few guests who visit his house for coffee, he is able to earn a living and support himself.

Hats off to you, Mang Sandro. And thank you for sharing your story with me. You are a true testament that we can turn our lives around even in simple ways, like finding joy in our daily harvest.

People

Nanay Estelita, a National Treasure

No Comments

The art and the patience of weaving from indigenous material is slowly disappearing. The masters are fading into old age and one can only hope that their next generation offsprings will continue their craft. They are treasures we want to keep and skills we hope will be with us forever. Here is a story of one such national treasure.

Nanay Estelita in her workshop weaving a banig made out of buli leaves.
Nanay Estelita in her workshop weaving a banig made out of buli leaves.

Estelita Bantilan, 85 years old, is one of the Philippine’s treasured national artists. She is a B’laan master banig (mat) weaver from Upper Lasang, Sapo Masla, Malapatan, Sarangani Province. She has been making banig since she was 10 years old. She learned how to weave banigs from her mother, who also learned the skill from her own mother.

Nanay Estelita uses indigenous materials found around the area where she lives in making banig. Buli, the main material used for weaving, is harvested from the many buli plants scattered around her house. The dyes used for coloring are from plant and rock pigments, which are harvested by her husband from the nearby forest.

Weaving one Banig used to take one month to complete because working on it can only be done during early morning and very late in the afternoon, when it is not hot. Heat, Nanay Estelita explained, makes the buli impliable. Upper Lasang didn’t have electricity until last year, so Nanay Estelita could not work at night. Now that they have electricity, she is able to weave at night and production time got down to two weeks.

Even though she is already 85 years old, Nanay Estelita is still very active. She works on her garden when not weaving. When asked what’s her secret for long life, with a big bright smile, she said “happiness.”

People

Netizens’ Unsolicited Advice for Pacquiao

805 Comments

After Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao demolished Jeff Horn’s pretty face and lost the fight many are wondering what the future holds for the Philippine’s boxing hero. Of course, overly concerned kababayans can’t help themselves but give unsolicited advice through social media on what Pacquiao’s next career step should be. 

So I posted a question on my wall and my FB friends and followers generously posted their reactions.  I am summarizing some of the comments here. 

Many of Pacquiao’s fans, who believe that their idol was robbed of a belt, are clamoring for a rematch.

“Rematch here in the Philippines and knockout that bastard Jeff Horn,” said Dolores Aperocho Borres.

Czaldy Garrote also wants Pacquiao to “have a fight in the Philippines and make lots of money.” 
Basco Aliño Fernandez’s advice is more forward looking — “rematch, run for president, and retire.”

While there are those who want their champ to enter the ring again, many are also saying that he should hang his gloves and retire. 

“Tama na sana, nothing to prove anymore,” said Kim Atienza.

“Retire but help train the next generation of Filipinos champions.” Joffre Balce said. 

“Retire with dignity. Put up a Pacquiao Boxing Academy.” urged Marilet Catapang. 

Others are saying that Pacquiao, a neophyte senator, should just concentrate in his political career. 

“Retire for good from boxing. Develop his statesmanship abilities.” Leonarda V. Capangpangan suggested. 

Robert Velhagen advised that Pacquiao should “focus on the job he was elected to.”

This sentiment is shared by Sol Nolasco who said that he should “focus on his political career.”

Of course, there are those who found the opportunity to hit on Senator Antonio Trillanes.

“Asarin na si Trillanes ng husto para sabay sila resign (Piss Trillanes off so they can retire together),” Edwin Alba Empestan jested.

“Bumawi kay (get back at) Trillanes via TKO. #everybodyhappy,” said Low Rain.

Lotlot Texan Gonzaga also suggested that he “knock-out Trillanes.”

Some say that Pacquiao, who is very vocal with his faith, should drop everything off and become a pastor. 

Nena Santos said that he can “retire ug mag pastor. Ayaw na politiko. Bilyonayo na siya. Mag ala Bill Gates na lang para mag tulong sa kapwa (Retire and become a pastor, not a politician. He is already a billionaire. He can be like Bill Gate and help others).” 

Whatever Pacquiao decides to do, one thing’s for sure, he can do it comfortably with all the money he earned receiving punches.


Here is a link to my FB post after the Pacquiao- Horn fight:
https://www.facebook.com/nicgabunada/posts/10154979386931634

People

Perseverance

815 Comments

Perseverance is a key factor for success.

His name is Erwin Macua, 38 years old.

He juggled from being a security guard, pursuing a bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and being a father of 3 children.

And last March 24, 2017, he graduated cum laude from St Theresa’s College in Cebu – the same school where he works as a security guard for the past 20 years.

“Age is not a hindrance, poverty is not a hindrance. Just pursue your dream with the formula: hard work plus determination plus prayer and you will reach your aspirations in life,” Macua said.

An inspiration to his classmates, Macua said he plans to continue his work as a security guard while self-reviewing for the licensure exams for teachers.

He credits his passion for teaching to the lessons he learned from observing the diversity of students in school, which had him looking forward to having his own advisory class in the future.

For now, Macua will continue guarding the gates of STC as he prepares for the licensure examination for teachers in September. He said he has received offers from private and public schools. But his focus now is to pass the exams before he teaches, he said. “It’s one thing to graduate with honors and teach. But I’d be happier to be teaching with a license. That way, I can inspire my future students to work harder,” he said.
Sources: abs-cbnnews.com;  sunstar.com.ph

Life and Times, People

Pass the Biscuits

734 Comments

Here is one story I got from a friend via mail. It is an interesting lesson on life, relationship and friendship. I hope you will enjoy this.

PASS THE BISCUITS

When I was a kid, my mum liked to make breakfast food for dinner
every now & then & I remember one night in particular when she had
made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening
so long ago, my mum placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mum and ask me how my day was at school.

I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember hearing my mum apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned biscuits.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your mummy put in a long hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides… A burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!”

You know, life is full of imperfect things… And imperfect people. I’m not the best at hardly anything and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

So…please pass me a biscuit. And yes, the burned one will do just fine!
And please pass this along to someone who has enriched your life…I just did!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets… Love the people who treat you rightand forget about the ones who don’t.

ENJOY LIFE NOW – IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!

1 2 3 … 5