Life and Times

Mangopras Ta!: Ang Nakakapagod, Ngunit Napakipakinabang na Proseso ng Paggawa ng Kopra

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BVB Digitale Eintrittskarten Guide

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Kabaddi Wetten: Der indische Trendsport im Check

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Life and Times, People, Polls, Puzzles & Quizzes

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

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Image suggesting a need to use this Holy Week as a time to reflect on the oil crisis

The Way I See It

Holy Week Reflections in a Time of Escalating Conflict

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Places

Adtu ta sa Laswitan!

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A few days ago, I had a chance to reconnect with an old friend who’s an avid traveler. I was pleased to hear about one of her recent trips, a short getaway to Laswitan in Cortes, Surigao del Sur. This coastal attraction is apparently fast becoming a popular tourist destination, and her recommendation piqued my interest.

Huge rocks protect visitors from the waves that crashes through the shores. A typical view in Laswitan. (video courtesy of Diane Suelto)

 

It’s been many years since I last visited this part of Mindanao. They didn’t have paved roads then, but I’d already heard accounts of pristine coastline and dramatic rock formations. As my friend showed me photos of her visit to Laswitan Lagoon, I couldn’t help but get excited. It seemed like a perfect marriage of seaside thrills and soothing calmness, depending on the people present. For thousands of years, waves have been crashing into those rocks and molding them, carving out the lagoon into what it is today. I could imagine the poetry of it, the story being told by those rocks.

As my friend showed me more photos and videos, she reminded me that Laswitan had recently reopened to the public after going through some restoration. Prior to this, tourists were leaving all kinds of trash that included candy wrappers, paper, plastic utensils, diapers, and more. She was proud of the local government and visitors for turning this place around. It’s apparently been a team effort.

She also mentioned that while roads are much better now, there’s still a bit of a rough stretch left, a good six kilometers. I sure won’t be bringing a sedan when I visit. In fact, I might just take the whole family and load up on some adventure equipment. Nearby Lanuza town has apparently been developed into a surf spot, so I’m sure my children will love that.

It’s really encouraging to hear these developments of what were once no-name towns. Who knows what we’ll find in these parts of Mindanao in 10, 20 years?

People

Nanay Estelita, a National Treasure

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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.”

Events

Monito-Monita: A Season of Gift-Giving in the Philippines

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When it comes to Christmas, no one celebrates it better than the Filipinos. The Philippines is known for celebrating the longest Christmas season in the world.

Gift giving is very common during the season. And speaking of gifts, Filipinos take an another adaptation of Secret Santa into a fun-filled practice called “Monito Monita” or Kris Kringle. 

This is a typical template of how it is usually done:

  • Form a group from your class, family, neighborhood or office
  • Write down your name in a small piece of paper and place it in a bowl or a box.
  • Take turns in picking a piece of paper from the box. Never reveal your “Monito” or “Monita” until the last day of your Christmas party. For those who picked their own name, you can return your name in the box and pick another one.
  • Decide on the schedule of your Monito Monita. You can make it on a daily basis, weekly basis or every other day.
  • For daily or weekly Monito Monita, gifts usually given are at around 5 pesos to 50 pesos.
  • The last Monito Monita is reserved for more expensive gifts.
  • Choose a weekly theme for your exchange gift. Themes makes your monito monita exciting.
  • Arrange where you would leave and pick up your Monito Monita gifts. The most logical suggestion is under your office’s or classroom’s Christmas Tree.

#NicGoesOnlineChristmasTri

Events

Panunuluyan

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When it comes to Christmas, no one celebrates it better than the Filipinos. The Philippines is known for celebrating the longest Christmas season in the world.

One of the common celebration is to watch a play called Panunuluyan – a tradition observed in some provinces in the Philippines. The Panunuluyan dramatizes the search for lodging of St Joseph and the very pregnant Virgin Mary. Originally, the images of the two, atop decorated carrozas, are processioned on Christmas eve and taken from house to house, in re-enactment of that event in Bethlehem. The images are preceded by altar boys bearing ciriales (cross and candles on poles) and devotees. Eventually, real people, instead of santos, were cast to assume the roles of Jose and Maria, almost always respectable citizens of the town. The dramatis personae expanded to include the 3 Magis, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar and even a Narrator and a Koro, a Chorus of singers who sang and delivered verses for the Holy Couple.

This tradition may have been adopted from Mexican Posadas and is usually re-enacted after the last Mass before Christmas eve.

#NicGoesOnlineChristmasTrivia

Events

Parols

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PAROL: A Philippine Christmas Tradition

When it comes to Christmas, no one celebrates it better than the Filipinos. The Philippines is known for celebrating the longest Christmas season in the world.

One unique Filipino Christmas decoration is the parol. Parol or also known as Philippine lantern is traditionally made from colorful papers, bamboo sticks, and shaped like a five-pointed star.

In the early 1900s, these lanterns were originally designed to help villagers find their way to chapels and churches to pray. Today, these lanterns are used to further enhance the spirit of Christmas. Putting up parols in homes, schools, establishments, offices, and schools is a common Filipino tradition.

Nowadays, Filipinos parol makers used new and recycled materials to make parols, like plastic glasses, candy wrappers, soft drink straws, recycled papers and shells. The present day parol come in different shapes and sizes and not necessarily star- shaped:  it can be round, rectangular or even square. It could also be designed like a diorama with the Nativity on it.

Indeed, the parol represents the Filipino innovation, creativity and it is the greatest expression of Christmas spirit.

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Events

Simbang Gabi

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When it comes to Christmas, no one celebrates it better than the Filipinos. The Philippines is known for celebrating the longest Christmas season in the world.

A very unique practice of Filipinos during the Christmas Season is the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo. It is a tradition originated in the early Spanish colonial period as a practical compromise for Filipino farmers who began working before sunrise, to avoid working in the fields under the heat of the sun. Simbang gabi is a nine-day series of masses to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. The daily mass starts from December 16 to Christmas eve. Filipinos wake up before the crack down to attend the mass in hopes of having a granted wish once they complete the nine days.

Completing the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo is in almost everyone’s bucket list. It is believed that a wish can be granted after the series is completed.

#NicGoesOnlineChristmasTrivia