Bente Singkong Barya

Timeline: Bulusan, Año de 1738

2013-10-06T01:46:00.001+08:00

There are several references to my hometown, Bulusan, Sorsogon in Chronicas de la Apostolica de S. Gregorio de Religiosos Descalzos de N.S.P. S. Francisco.

Published in 1738 and authored by one Fr. Juan Francisco de S. Antonio, this book of three parts has a chapter (XVI) dedicated mainly to the Embocadero (San Bernardino Strait) where Bulusan was mentioned.

Chapter XVII De la Isla de Luzon, also bears Bulusan's name.

For both chapters, it appears that Bulusan was a usual geographical point of reference being the southernmost point of Luzon during that period. Matnog, which now holds the title, was to separate from Bulusan only in 1785.

The chapter on Zamboanga also mentions its distance from Bulusan.

Chapter XXVIII mentions watchtowers and fortresses in detail. No entries for Bulusan nor for the entire Bicolandia. We must remember that this was 1738. They would be built in the second half of the 1700s.

"Punta de Bulusan" was the common reference to the town, literally meaning, "point of Bulusan." This should not to be confused with the way the word "Punta" was attached to the town's fortress.

"Punta de Santiago" makes an appearance as well, but it is again highly doubtful that this would be in reference to the town's fortress. It could most probably be in reference to Santiago de Libon, the first-ever parish in the region, farther north of Bulusan.

[Note: A former college professor recently pointed out that the use of "Punta" in Bulusan's fortress, "Punta Diamante," is erroneous and misleading, as the term should only be used to refer to a natural geographical point. He however concurred with my suggestion that the correct-albeit-forgotten name might have indeed been, "Fuerza y Iglesia de Santiago," as it had been the convention to name fortresses and churches after the locality's patron saint. Archival documents are yet to be unearthed in support of this theory, or that of my other theory, i.e., that the term might have been in fact intentional, perhaps in an attempt not to have another "Fuerza de Santiago," which was actually the name by which Fort Santiago in Intramuros was known during those times.]

Heavily-Damaged Philippine Churches During the Philippine-American War (1899-1902)

2013-10-05T13:36:00.000+08:00

In the advent of the American occupation of the Philippines and the ensuing insurrection, many church buildings around the country were either overtaken by the American army for use as camps, or were destroyed/vandalized/burned by the insurgents, the Americans, or the natives themselves.

TOP 3 IN KABIKOLAN

In Kabikolan, Bulusan in Sorsogon topped the list (4th, national) with a claim of P144,745, an amount which the U.S. Congress declined in a series of hearings in January 1908. It was for the "destruction by burning of the church, convent, and missions of the town and its suburbs."

Daraga, Albay (13th, national) made a claim for "rent and damages, church and convent, amounting to P86,858" and was granted P980.

Labo in Ambos Camarines (14th, national) also made a claim for P53,974.25. This was for "damages to church, convent, and effects therein by fire." Nothing was paid.

Then Apostolic Administrator Msgr. Jorge Barlin of then Diocese (now Archdiocese) of Nueva Caceres, was the lone Filipino bishop who represented the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines in these proceedings. He was with three American bishops: Bishop Rooker, Bishop Daugherty, and Bishop Hendrick. They all provided their respective sworn testimonies as to the claims of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

In his letter to Lt. Col. John A. Hull of the Board on Church Claims in Manila dated 15 December 1906, Bishop Barlin, writing from Nueva Caceres, implored the Board to reconsider granting "at the least, two-thirds of the amount represented" of the claims under his bishopric, to allow the rebuilding and repair of the ruined churches.

He particularly stated that "wherever a claim is made for building burned, belonging to the Roman Catholic Church and situated in the above-mentioned pueblos, it is exclusively due to acts of the American troops and never to the insurgents, who, true enough, burned some of the churches and parish houses during the past insurrection against the Government of the United States, such as the churches at Canaman and Magarao, in the province of [C]ambos Camarines, and that of Guinobatan in the province of Albay."

He further cited the fact of price increases in labor and materials and the prevailing "poverty and want" of many of the churches in his jurisdiction, a far cry from more prosperous times before calamities such as "rinderpest, invasion by locusts, and drought."

TOP 10 NATIONWIDE

1. Paco, Manila (P300,000)
2. Hilongos, Leyte (P205,050)
3. San Simon, Pampanga (P150,300)
4. Bulusan, Sorsogon (P144,745)
5. Mexico, Pampanga (P124,700.24)
6. Marilao, Bulacan (P123,296)
7. Bocaue, Bulacan (P121,996)
8. Jaro, Iloilo (P117,899)
9. Wright, Samar (P108,000)
10. Caloocan, Rizal (P102,120)

We could but imagine the extent of damage that these churches might have endured.

A total of 407 claims were filed nationwide for a total of P4,885,926.26, of which only P726,060.37 (14.86 percent) was recommended for payment by the U.S. Congress.

A Philippine Peso was then equivalent to 50 U.S. Cents.

Source: Catholic Church Claims in the Philippine Islands Published by the U.S. Congress, House Committee on Insular Affairs, Washington, 1908

A Closer Look at Bulusan's "Campana Mayor" (A.D. 1810)

2012-11-25T00:42:00.000+08:00

Parish of St. James the Greater
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines
November 3, 2012

Commissioned under one Padre Cura Eusebio Vizente de la Cruz

Distinct elements of this bell suggest that this one must have come from the foundry of one "Benito de los Reyes," a bell caster from around Manila who was active in the industry from 1808 to 1841.

Around 30 bells were attributed to him (by researcher cited at the bottom of this narrative) and this number includes at least one bell for San Agustin Church (1829). His bells have been found "as far north as Cagayan and as far south as Iloilo."

Back to those distinct elements. Here they are:
1. "Benito" bells were known for crosses with emanating rays. This one at Bulusan has one such cross.
2. The pedestal at the foot of the cross is very "Benito." To quote the researcher: "The bells of Benito de los Reyes are marked by a cross standing on a triangular pedestal, the slopes of which are composed of opposing C-scrolls (on a slope, one "C" facing outwards rests on another "C" facing inwards, and so on.)
3. The inscribed year has the first and third digits for "1" in the shape of a fish hook, again, very "Benito."

Although these elements were somewhat copied by Macario de los Angeles (active 1834 to 1847) and Saturnino Limcaco (1849-1864), the fact that Bulusan's "Campana Mayor" is inscribed with the earlier year of 1810 (precedes these two bell casters' active years) must mean that the bell in discussion most probably came from Benito de los Reyes' foundry.

With information lifted from: "In Search of Bell-Casters and Foundries in Spanish Colonial Philippines" by Regalado Trota Jose, Archivist at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, a Heritage Advocate connected with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), of the Society of Ecclesiastical Archivists of the Philippines (SEAP), and author of the book, "Simbahan: Church Art in Colonial Philippines 1565-1898".

Update: January 21, 2013

Received previous advice from the elders that Bulusan had at at least two other bigger bells:

1. A legendary one, with one account stating that during one of those Moro raids of old, there was this one bigger bell which was captured and was forcefully loaded to one of the raiders' boats. However, because of its great weight, the pirates had to eventually throw the bell overboard. It is now believed to reside in the depths of San Bernardino Strait. Another account states that it was a golden bell and this singular quality must have been what drove the raiders to loot the tower of this alleged precious relic.

2. An actual bigger bell which several witnesses claim they previously saw on display at the parish rectory's ground floor. This was before the building went through a major renovation in the early 1980s. It was said to have a crack (such as this one in the picture) and as to its size, it was supposed to tower over an average intermediate grader. The bell has since ceased to be on display and still other witnesses claim to have seen it being loaded to a truck of sorts in a rather sneaky way. One could but guess who masterminded such an operation.

Update: June 26, 2015
As confirmed from studies made by Prof. Regalado Trota Jose, what is currently Bulusan's largest bell was not cast in 1816 but in 1810. The last digit was apparently really a "0" and not the tail end of a "6."

Home of Raging Waters - More Fun in the Philippines!

2012-01-24T07:57:00.001+08:00

My paternal grandmother's simple ancestral home (the Lim Garcias') used to stand in a bank upstream from where this picture was taken.

Of my fondest childhood memories, among the dearest would be those Saturdays when my siblings and I, with our mother - would make the short walk to the site of that ancestral home early in the morning, to do laundry in the river, and to practice our swimming skills on what I consider until now, as our backyard "pool". We could hear the energizing gurgling sounds of the waters, even from the road. I don't know but to me, the sight, smell, and sound of the river is one of the few that soothes my spirit.

To the left of this picture, is the northernmost side of yet another tract of land (now subdivided into four parcels) still owned by Lim Garcia relatives.

The same land is considered to be the gateway to the ancient domain of the legendary Buringsingsingay (sometimes called Ribonsina - meaning of both names eludes modern natives), whose beauty and wit are said to have captured the hearts of not a few pre-Hispanic visitors and traders to this part of the country. With her ladies in waiting, it is said that she would bathe most probably on the same spot that these children are, and that birds would follow her radiant beauty wherever she walked in the day, and at night, as if she were escorted by stars.

Her equally-legendary huge collection of jewellery and bed of fine gold have never been located (although an expedition from the National Museum in the '60s did find numerous ancient artifacts on a hill directly above this property), but the continued telling of her story still manages to tantalize the visual imagination of children, both of the past and the present. Some say she is but a mythical character, yet others attest that her bloodline actually survived down the centuries.

The river itself is said to be enchanted. Upstream, stories about hearing a ship blasting its horns in the wee hours of the night, abound. I have also heard of a first-hand testimony as to how, in a vision, the bridges crossing the river vanished, how the river stretched itself to such a width as to be able to accommodate a ship similar to the Spanish galleons, with European-looking passengers waving from its railings. This would be the second of the two accounts that I know, which involves Spanish galleons. The other involves a pristine spring in an undergrowth north of the poblacion.

A pillar of stone along the road, similar in construction and design to at least one more pillar on the opposite bank (both at least a meter thick and deep) - seem to be the only remaining traces of the Spanish-time port of armadillas (equivalent to present-day coast guards), which, together with the stone fortress, and several other baluartes de piedra in the coastal farmlands - largely contributed to the town's blooming economy in those early days.

This river meets the open seas around a hundred meters from here, outwards, to the direction of the photographer (me!).

I could easily picture myself as one of those boys up there. The huge rock with carved steps still serves as a diving board to the clear waters below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I believe pictures are meant to tell stories way beyond what the camera captures.

This is our town. If you think we are worth a visit, wait 'til you see the rest of the islands.

Definitely, it's MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!

(Article written in support of the Department of Tourism's "It's More Fun In The Philippines" Campaign)

Discovery: Shrine of St. Lazarus & Hospital Ruins, Sta. Cruz, Manila

2011-08-30T09:33:00.017+08:00

Side Portal to the Shrine

August 29, 2011

I have lived in the Metro for more than 16 years now - ever since that day that I started matriculating in that veritable island of a university in Sampaloc, Manila (when it floods, at least!). I hopped from one boarding house to the next - the first one along Trabajo (M. de la Fuente Street), next was along P. Noval Street. Then we moved to an apartment along Masangkay and another one in Mayhaligue.

Currently, we're somewhere near Bambang - that street in Sta. Cruz where medical supplies stores abound - and where the first-ever Mercury Drug store started shop.

Tayuman, Blumentritt, San Lazaro Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Sta. Cruz Church, Avenida, Recto, Divisoria, Quiapo - are all within walking distance, or just a short ride away.

For quite a few months now, I've been meaning to visit the recently-declared Shrine of St. Lazarus - presumably within the compound of the San Lazaro Hospital - which traces its roots down to the year 1577.

I decided it was high time that I make this brief stop on my life's itinerary - a real shame should I not do it since, as expected, it only took me less than 15 minutes by foot to reach the site.

According to the Department of Health's official page on San Lazaro Hospital - the compound was previously known (or perhaps must have been a huge part) of what was then Hacienda Mayhaligue. It was said to have been once a property of a Chinese mestizo, "a devout and humble man who served God in humility and fasting, extending to the poor and needy in times of drought, fire, pestilence and other calamities, a large part of his wealth, yet notwithstanding all this he continuously increased his holdings."

Just please click on the link above for the detailed historical account. I am not, at the moment, in the mood for some rephrasing work. Hehehe....

However, I have noted important dates here for you:

1576/1577 - The Spanish Government entrusted the care of the site to the Order of St. Francis.

1636 - Governor of the Islands, Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera "unjustly" took away the administration from the Franciscans, to the Jesuits. A few years later though, with the latter's expulsion from the islands, the site was returned to the Franciscans.

June 24, 1784 - Spanish King's Royal Order: “The House and Hacienda of Mayhaligue shall at once be converted into a Leper Hospital, and the old one destroyed as proposed, and as the sanitary requirements of the neighborhood and the defense of the post required.”

1863 - A great earthquake almost finished what was left of the hospital buildings.

There was no mention of the chapel/shrine itself - but it would be safe to surmise that it was built right after the 1784 declaration.

I am yet to see the NHI marker which is said to have mentioned that a great fire gutted the buildings, including the chapel, in 1963. A modern chapel facade was built afterwards.

Today, ruins of probably the original hospital building - and the practically still intact side walls of the Chapel of St. Lazarus (declared Shrine on March 29, 2011) - can be reached via the hospital compound's Quiricada Street entrance, a mere 4 minutes of leisurely walk for me.

Apparently, visitors may also try the DOH gate since there is an inner road that eventually leads to the San Lazaro Hospital compound - but guards securing the area could be quite intimidating, as with the one I encountered by the original hospital portal. It is with less fuss if one just take the Quiricada gate instead.

To DOH and SLH administrators: since the chapel itself is now officially a shrine - a place of convergence for devotees and for lovers of heritage architecture (like myself) - please do ensure that all personnel, especially, those of the security force, are well-oriented on how to politely question visitors, and on how to clearly and accurately provide directions (the Quiricada gate guard was quite vauge in his instructions). Nevertheless, I do appreciate the warmth of the various health personnel with whom I came in contact with, particularly while in the garden. They didn't seem to mind by being there, clicking away with my camera.

Portion of the ruins have been rebuilt as office spaces.

Take for example the left side of the picture above. Walls apparently have been washed over and the moss cleared out. This is now called Building 16 - ground floor houses the Health Service Delivery Office of USec. Teodoro Herbosa. The 2nd floor houses the offices for the Dangerous Drugs Abuse Prevention & Treatment Program, and the Phil. Medical Tourism Program. Currently closed for the holidays.

The ruins apparently stretch out farther more to the left - up to the incinerator site. I dared not take pictures of the imposing ruins therein, since per my personal assessment, what I'm doing may be misconstrued as a security risk - although the structure is fairly visible by the roadside.

The inner courtyard flanked by the ruins of the old hospital, and the chapel's left wall with it's Mayan-inspired paint hue - has been developed as a garden, with concrete benches, appropriately-designed lamp posts, a grotto with a koi pond and rock samples from the Holy Land, a few old trees, and some good shrubs. Hmmm... they could start up a herb garden here as well...

With the sturdy branches and all their leaves swaying to the cool winds that seem to circle 'round the inner courtyard - it was altogether a very relaxing and meditative experience.

Apart of course from being momentarily disturbed by nurses and hospital workers coming in and out of the garden to their dormitory just beyond the ruins.

Who would have known that such a thing of beauty exists just across the busy lines of the light rail transit and of dear old Avenida Rizal? That there's more to San Lazaro beyond the hospital that we know of today?

The mysteries of the Holy Rosary could also be found all throughout the square, grouped in fives.

And a statue of the Sacred Heart, and of course - of San Lazaro himself.

Apparently, there is a Museo de San Lazaro - but was also closed for the day.

So was the religious Store.

Too bad it was a holiday, as (per the guard-on-duty) the holder of the key to the chapel itself went home earlier than usual and locked the building off to unlikely visitors, like me. I was told the shrine is usually open to the public every day of the week, from morning til early evening.

A, well. There's always next time.

The good thing is - I was able to make the visit, finally.

And that I'll be back for sure.

P. S.
I did come back this afternoon, around 3 - but the chapel was still closed. It must be because of another holiday, this time - Eid ul-Fitr.

Not My Will - But Yours

2011-06-15T19:47:00.000+08:00

Staircase View - MMC

Independence Day - How The Patriotic Me Spent It The Not-So-Patriotic Way

2011-06-12T23:48:00.010+08:00

My Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens is currently with my youngest sister who had to endure from me a 15-minute crash course Friday night on how to properly handle and use it (basically, how to return it to me in one piece!).

Thus, I had to scrap my original plan of going to the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. To me, it would be a waste going there without taking any real good pictures. Without my Nikon, it's like losing an important component of my sightseeing sight (redundancy intended!), and no travel would be complete unless I have it slung across my neck.

A, just as well. We received a request - actually - lambing, if you will - from our Mamay (who prefers to remain in our quaint house in the province). She has to regularly monitor her blood pressure and requested thus that we procure for her a digital blood pressure monitor.

We ended up buying for her an Omron SEM-1 Automated Blood Pressure Monitor. It is much like the Omron HEM-712CLC Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with Large Cuff but just a little bit pricier.

I spent the morning doing my laundry and giving Mamay several phone calls (thanks to Globe's Super Unli 25 promo!) while I let the fabric softener do its job.

I was instructed to send the package via the provincial bus that goes all the way to our town. I was advised that a bus usually arrives at 4 in the morning. Thus, with the 14-hour travel time across the 643 kilometers from Manila to Bulusan in Sorsogon, I calculated the departure time to be at around 2 in the afternoon from the integrated bus terminal in Cubao.

Around 1 in the afternoon, I was already at the vicinity of - apparently - what now used to be the Araneta Center Bus Station.

A blue plastic sack cloth cordons off the original site of the Araneta Center Bus Station

By the way, all pictures for today were taken using my camera phone. Arrrggghhhh...! 'Miss my Nikon!

advisory to passengers

It is thoughtful of the terminal's management to put up the advisory above for the benefit of affected passengers. Roaming Araneta Center security personnel are also on hand to provide information and give directions.

Apparently, Araneta Center Bus Station has transferred to ACS building - practically just a stone's throw from its previous location. It could still be accessed through the same street, but its main entrance is now along Times Avenue in front of Shopwise.

Decided to have late lunch first at KFC, just across the street from the old site.

KFC's Pasta Bowl: Kung Pao Chicken


'Love this: cellphone charging station within KFC!

Proceeded afterwards to the new terminal.

rear entrance to the new Araneta Center Bus Station

stairs down to the waiting/ticketing area

air-conditioned waiting/ticketing area

reminds me of former Pres. Estrada's "Huwag ninyo akong subukan!"

reminders!

along Times Avenue - to the left from the main entrance

along Times Avenue - to the right from the main entrance

the new Araneta Center Bus Station as viewed from Shopwise-Cubao

Had a chat with one of the security personnel who confirmed with me that the transfer was made just last Sunday, June 5, 2011.

Per my initial observation, advantages of the transfer are:
1. Cleaner rest rooms
2. Air conditioned waiting area
3. Organized ticketing area (at the moment: 16 booths plus 8 desks - each representing a bus company)
4. Strategically-located souvenir and pasalubong shops
5. Organized loading area (numbered from 1-23) - at point of ticket purchase, passenger will know which loading area is assigned for his/her particular trip

The glaring disadvantage is:
1. Lack of parking space for buses on stand-by. Perhaps the management is already doing something about this. A vast parking lot nearby would solve the problem.

What I am unsure of is:
1. The arrival area - Do the arriving buses take up the same spot as when they departed? This could pose a problem particularly during peak seasons when bus companies add more trips to their regular ones.

Recommendation:
1. Relocating the food booths - they are currently directly next to the restrooms, although the latter are admittedly well-maintained

Back to the task at hand, I learned that the homeward-bound bus, Elavil - leaves at 4 in the afternoon. This leaves me with less than 3 hours to kill.

Crossed the street to the Alimall / SM side. Was actually thinking of watching a movie but decided to have my hair cut instead.

just a simple barber's cut - will do Korean next time, ha!

Had a nice, relaxing massage as well!

Went for a stroll in Alimall - then back to the bus station.

Before long, it's 3:30 P.M. and loading begins for the bus I'm after.


Sorsogon-Gubat-Barcelona-Bulusan trip

Have a safe trip everyone! This bus would still be in transit as I publish this post!

As soon as the driver came up to his seat, I handed him the package for Mamay and stayed just for a bit more, happy to see familiar faces of townmates, hear greetings in my very vernacular.

Eventually I had to get back to LRT Line-2. Passed by Araneta Coliseum and got right inside Gateway Mall where a new dining place, The Oasis lies near the entrance.

Koi pond at The Oasis

Refreshing waterworks in the warm summer heat! - still at The Oasis

Back to the tracks! LRT Line 2! Apparently there is free ride from 5-7 P.M. today - however, since it was just 4:30 P.M., we still had to pay. Ha!

Recto-bound

'Been a long day. I actually do not know how to end this post. I'm dog-tired now, even hours after I got home. Don't know why, but perhaps it's my body's way of reminding me that it's my rest day after all. Hahaha...!

As to patriotism and Independence Day - a, well. I know our heroes would understand.

I can have as many Independence Days in my lifetime - but I can only have one Mamay.

And right now, that's all that counts.

My Great Grandfather Lupo - Thomasian

2011-06-06T22:44:00.006+08:00

The country's foremost institution of higher learning, the UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS - is this year celebrating its 400th founding anniversary.

It is thus by opportune circumstance that I chanced upon a rare family document when I came home this past Holy Week, a document which shall turn 122 years old on the 30th of this month, and which originated from the desk of then Secretary-General of UST, no less!

Lolo Lupo's almost-122-year-old certificate of enrollment

I'm referring to this image to the left of course - my Lolo Lupo's certificate of enrollment for his 2nd year taking up segunda enseñanza at the Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomas de Manila, then located at its original Intramuros site. It was for the school year 1889-1890.

The original is currently under the care of a second cousin, who was kind enough to share with me this find. I was told there was more where it came from.

Segunda enseñanza (literally, "second learning") was the equivalent of present-day secondary school, and was said to be the equivalent of a bachelor of arts degree.

For the above school year, Lolo Lupo's subjects were:

1. Gramatica castellana

2. Gramatica latina
3. Nociones de Geografica en general y de España y Filipinas en particular

Our great patriot Dr. Jose P. Rizal (whose 150th birth anniversary we are celebrating on the 19th of this month) also took up this same course, but at the more liberal Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal.

Detail - Certificate of Enrollment

Timeline: Año de 1889

The San Ignacio Church by the Jesuits was consecrated in this same year, 27-31 July. The interior and furnishings were the product of the creativity of Filipino artisans, led by the famous Isabelo Tampingco, Jr.

San Ignacio Church, now in ruins (picture taken November 29, 2010)

In this same year, the Benavides monument which used to adorn Plaza Santo Tomas and which now stands in front of the Main Building in UST’s Sampaloc campus – was made in Paris. It was to be inaugurated two years later, in 1891. Dr. Jose Rizal himself, was in Paris from 1889 to 1890.

Also in 1889, former presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmena both attended Colegio de San Juan de Letran, also for segunda enseñanza, together with revolutionary leader Col. Elias Angeles. Jose Torres Bugallon, another revolutionary leader, finished his AB from Letran also in 1889.

The Beaterio-Colegio de Sta. Catalina started in 1889 conferring the academic degree of Maestra Normal.

The La Solidaridad, of the Propaganda Movement was launched as its official organ.

Adolf Hitler was barely two months old at the time that this certificate of enrollment was executed.

Present-day Sorsogon Province, was at this time, still under Albay. It would gain independence not until after five years, on October 17, 1894. This would explain why in the document, Lolo Lupo was described as a natural de Bulusan provincia de Albay instead of de Sorsogon.

Don Enrique Mendiola - Maestro Lupo's Maestro

His certificate of enrollment for the school year 1889-1890 listed a D. Enrique Mendiola as his professor in segunda enseñanza. Apparently, this is the same Mendiola after whom the famous street in San Miguel, Manila was named. Mendiola finished his first and second years in segunda enseñanza at the Ateneo Municipal with Rizal.

Mendiola (1859-1914) must have been 30 years old by that time, three years after being conferred the degree of licenciado en jurisprudencia with a grade of sobresaliente from UST.

Apparently an authority in Castillian and Latin languages, he wrote the book Programa Gramatica Castilliana y Latina for second year students in 1893. Among his other achievements, he was a member of the first Board of Regents of UP.

Young boys usually reach the second year of segunda enseñanza by age 12. Thus, Lolo Lupo’s birth year may be calculated to around 1877, or 16 years Rizal's junior.

Who was Lolo Lupo, anyway?

He was my paternal grandmother's father, my father's grandfather - and is thus my great grandfather.

He was the one who named my father Levi, either in reference to the New Testament's Matthew, the tax collector - or to the head of the priestly tribe of Israel. I would like to believe it's the latter, since Lolo Lupo is said to have been an almost-priest.

This gesture might have been in memory of what-might-have-been, or a hope for what-could-be. Did Lolo Lupo secretly wished for my father to enter the seminary? One will never know.

It has been a known fact within the family that Lolo Lupo was a well-educated man, and that him being called Maestro Lupo during his time was not in any way because of any builder's or artist's prowess (although a good number of his descendants quite have the artistic streak in them, including the author, mind you!) but because of this basic fact, him being a teacher. This could very well be because of his education early in his life. By all probabilities, he might have been a pioneer teacher at the Bulusan Central School, founded in 1903, but I am yet to uncover documents to support this theory.

[Note from post-Holy Week 2012: Information reached this blogger that Lolo Lupo was in fact a cartilla teacher.]

He was a mestizo de sangley - being of mixed Chinese-Malayan ancestry - his father was a Chinese trader by the name of Lim Chao Co, from the Amoy Province (now Xiamen, Fujian) of China - while his mother was a pure-blooded Buluseña by the name of Marina, apparently from a family of means, Frando, as evidenced by prime and large properties in the poblacion and in the family's once vast copra and hemp plantation south of town, in Barangay San Bernardo.

Perhaps for reasons of trade more than of faith, his Chinese father embraced the Catholic faith and adapted his godfather's surname [became Pedro Garcia] - thus the birth of Bulusan's Garcias of Lim ancestry.

Other Buluseño Catholicized Lims are the Reyeses and the Bailons. From the Reyeses sprung the likes of the late Dr. Jose S. Reyes, executive secretary to Pres. Sergio Osmeña and secretary of Education of both the Osmeña and Quirino administrations - and his brother, the late Sorsogon Gov. Juan S. Reyes.

[Note from post-Holy Week 2012: Information reached this blogger that Lolo Lupo served as padrino/baptismal godfather to another Lim migrant who eventually settled in Brgy. San Roque, Bulusan. That man and his descendants thus also bore (and to this day continues to bear) the Garcia name.]

Lolo Lupo was apparently an only child, and to be uprooted from his hometown at such a young age to study in the Walled City - I couldn't help but wonder how he managed. In what part of Intramuros did he stay? Or did he stay in the Chinese districts of Sta. Cruz and Binondo? Was somebody from Bulusan, a relative perhaps, sent with him to attend to his needs? Did his own mother stay with him? Or was he an independent spirit like Rizal?

I now understand why I have such great sense of affinity with Intramuros. Every now and then I would feel the urge to retrace my steps and I always find my way around the old streets of Aduana, of Cabildo, to Plaza Santo Tomas, then on to Arzobispo, to Sta. Lucia, up the walls to my favorite spot of all - the Baluarte de San Diego (provided that it is open to the public), which to me is like a giant pugon, while being reminiscent of Rome's Colosseum.

Back to Lolo Lupo - indeed, great was his value for education that he made sure all his children by his lovely wife, the former Juana Hubilla - should benefit from secondary education at least, at a time when it was more of a privilege than a right.

All ten of them matriculated in pre-war Sorsogon Provincial High School.

At the advent of public elementary education, he donated a parcel of his land to be the site for the present-day San Bernardo Elementary School, Bulusan.

He was described in January 2000 by his daughter, the late Ms. Paz H. Lim Garcia as a "very honest man". Lola Paz, incidentally, was a former division H.E. supervisor, was Sorsogon's assistant schools division superintendent when she retired, and was awarded in 1990 as the Most Outstanding Alumnus for Education of the Bulusan Central School.

In one of her visits to the author's home, the late Lola Glory (Lolo Lupo's youngest child) claimed that her father used to keep his paper money bills within the pages of his dictionary/bible (again, I think the latter is most likely).

Perhaps Lolo Lupo's lasting legacy to his descendants and to his beloved people of Bulusan - would be the family's Lenten image of St. Mary Magdalene - whose comeback in next year's Holy Week activities, is now much anticipated.

Post Script:

Like my kins, I have always known that Lolo Lupo was a man of intellect who had gained higher education somewhere. It's just that never in my wildest dreams did I consider him to have had attended UST, Spanish-time Intramuros-UST at that!

I couldn't help but think of him riding a calesa all the way from his beloved town of Bulusan, through the practically still rural landscape of what is now a metropolis, and finally over moats and through the gates of Intramuros, attending mass at the Yglesia de Sto. Domingo, perhaps even taking part in the La Naval festivities!

Being a Chinese mestizo, he must have looked quite the young gentleman in the required Spanish suit (per Articulos del Reglamento at the back of the certificate of enrollment).

Never did I think that all the time I was admiring the Arch of the Centuries (rear half portion of which actually came from the war-torn Intramuros building) in UST's España campus - I might just as well be looking at the same portal through which this dear ancestor of mine passed many times, in and out, in his search for knowledge.

To Lolo Lupo - you certainly made us all proud. May we always value not just scholarly education but more importantly, the education that our individual lifetimes unravel. May we be worthy to be called your grandchildren, great grandchildren even - indeed, no matter how many repetitions of great we're talking here.

Here's to you, Lolo Lupo - our family's foremost Thomasian!

Viva Sto. Tomas!

"There was no notable person in the Philippines, no one in a government or magisterial position, nor civil, nor ecclesiastical nor of social class nor of good family who had not achieved a beneficial influence...[who was not] taught with excellence from this institution."

- Padre Jose Noval, UST Rector, on the occasion of UST's Tricentennary, December 1911

(Source: "Looking back at the tricentennary" by Alphonsus Luigi E. Alfonso, The Varsitarian, October 6, 2009)

Coming Not-Too-Soon:

Cabeza Marcelo Gallardo: Politics Runs In The Blood After All!

(pending availability of resources)

Cutting Trip 31 March 2011

2011-03-31T20:15:00.001+08:00

Taken again with my Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

Harbour View Bayfront, CCP Complex, Manila, Philippines

Aperture Studies - Batch No. 1

2010-08-01T21:08:00.005+08:00

It's Sunday. Right after doing my laundry and having lunch, I was off to the office. But this time, I brought with me my D40 , in the hope of taking some shots for me to review later in the day.

There was not much, but here goes:


Syvel's along Escolta Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila

Escolta Street, view towards Sta. Cruz Church

Post Office Building and Pasig River

Pasig River, view towards McArthur Bridge

Zoomed towards FEATI University and the LRT Line 1

Lilies by the River

Verdict: I really do have MUCH yet to learn when it comes to photography!

I had a lot of light but somehow, I was not able to make them work to my advantage. I would have liked the clouds to be more dramatically brilliant, but somehow they were just like what the afternoon was - laid-back, relaxed, unassuming. A pro surely must have captured the street and river scenes differently - but that's it for now for me.

Thus, the challenge:

To shoot like a pro in 2 months or less - with my basic DSLR!

Unrealistic with my sked and gadget? Call me what you will - but I'd appreciate optimistic! =)

Busy Day Ahead

2010-07-22T06:39:00.006+08:00

ANOTHER one of my staff has tendered his resignation. That's the second in two weeks.

Not that I could blame, nor could I hold on to them.

With the current state of things, there really is nothing I could do but to let them go, lest I be blamed for lost opportunities and broken dreams.

I was actually hoping this latest one could have stayed on for a little bit - but it's his turn to think of his situation now. Selfish is not a word I'd tag on him - since like me, he had stayed one too many thankless hours - although I still am the record holder.

So, yes, I guess - it's a really busy day ahead. A lot of mess to clean up, a mountain of papers to sort out.

And I guess I won't be off on Sundays yet.

Wish me luck.

This Too Shall Pass

If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be-

If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me-

If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too-

Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Remembering Papay - Twenty-Five Years Later

2010-07-20T06:13:00.012+08:00

TODAY marks the 25th year that my father has been gone from this world. He died when I have just learned to read and write.

One of the things I remember about him was his habit of bringing home chocolates for me, no matter how drunk he was.

He knew I loved those chocolates (and still do), and every time he came home, without fail, I would always find some in one of his pants' side pockets.

While he treated me as a child, he also treated me as an adult. He would always respond to my childish queries with real-life answers - no sugar-coating.

I learned from him the local term for halo, that circular thing above saints' heads - to signify their holiness. I also learned from him that it was the sun, or any source of light, and the way it hits the water in the pavement, that creates that dancing reflection in the opposite roof eaves.

He never got tired of me pestering him with my ABCs. I used to follow him around either singing or reciting my ABCs - but in the end, when my elder siblings suggested I learn to read and write at an age earlier than usual, my father remained firm that I should learn it at my own pace. At any rate, I was really rather bored with syllabic formations that time - give me games anytime.

My father was not always a model father - but he had his fatherly ways for sure, there's no mistaking about that.

There was this one time when he made a horn for me out of coconut fronds. Just a simple gesture but one that's enough to make him some sort of a super human for me in those early days.

He also brought me to the provincial capitol one time. I remember there was this huge digging on the side of the road, and instead of navigating away from it, he simply grabbed me and leapt over the hole - perhaps unaware that he had just added a few more superhuman points for him, in my eyes at least.

I remember I was around five that time, it was Christmas, and I had this huge bump in my right cheek. I was really moody that time, being uncomfortable and all with the bump - and knowing that I also love cheese, he bought me a bar, and told everyone else that it's for me and me alone. In the end, I could only eat a few slices, since the pain in my cheek was almost next to a toothache.

There was also this other Christmas, again before I could even read or write - we would hang socks (not stockings) on our window sill. I grabbed this pen and paper and started "writing" what I wanted for Christmas - by writing I meant scribbling while saying out loud what I was supposed to be writing. I reasoned, I could not yet write, and hey, this was the next best thing to writing!

Anyway, I clearly stated that I didn't want anything in particular but would really love a single coin to go inside my sock. Something for me to jiggle.

Christmas morn came and voila! I got my coins in my sock, jiggling amidst the candies. Yes, he gave me more than one coin, for how indeed could it jiggle alone!

During World War II, My father and his twin sisters stayed with their maternal grandparents in their coco and hemp plantation south of town. They had numerous adventures during those years, some of which he would tell us, in lieu of bedtime stories.

I learned from him the local term for "approaching" - "naghihirandaon" - the way he would describe the fighter planes droning in the skies.

When Typhoon Dinang destroyed my grandfather's camalig house on Christmas Day 1981, my father commissioned one of the local photographers and posed with me in front of the shambles, and then sent the picture to my aunt as proof that yes, their old house had stood its last.

As I have earlier said, my father had not always been a model father - but my father he is, nevertheless.

I am proud to be his son - I am proud to have shared these experiences with him - no matter how brief our time together had been.

A, twenty-five years.

And here I am, with my twenty-five something blog - and I still do love chocolates.

The Why Of It

2010-07-07T06:20:00.003+08:00

WHY Bente Singkong Barya, you say?

There's a story behind that.

I actually originally thought of MyTwenty-FiveCents but seeing that a few bloggers have already opted for titles along this line, I opted to have the Filipinized version.

Bente singko - from the Spanish veinticinco (twenty-five), is the Philippines' third coin currency (after the 5 centavo and 10 centavo coins).

Late last month, feeling all tired from work and on the way home on board a jeepney, I lost a 25 centavo coin . It simply rolled out and over into a dark corner.

The next day, on my way to work, I was in a hurry but still keeping my eyes on the pavement lest I stumble over something.

I looked down and there it was - a 1 peso coin. Right in front of me. It was there for me to pick up, had I wanted to.

Lesson learned: Sometimes, life takes away something from you. However, it does have certain ways of giving you back what you've lost, sometimes more. Other times, it takes us a while to figure it all out.

Thus, my 25 centavo inspiration.

And 25 has always been one of my most favorite numbers - adding them up, you'll get 7. And 7, according to a Theology professor, is a perfect number - it's the number of days in Creation, the number of the sacraments, the number of gifts from the Holy Spirit, the total of 3 (signifying the Trinity) and 4 (the four corners of the world through which we are to proclaim God's Good News).

Religious numerology aside - it is also my version of the English "just my 2 cents".

I'd like to call mine - my 25 cents - because you barely (or almost never) hear "2 cents" in local lingo.

And since my25cents is already taken - I'm sticking with bente singkong barya, with the ultimate goal of inspiring people, with my observations and or opinions.