BARAGATAN SA PALAWAN 2010 - Amos mga Tangay!

I don't  know when I'll be coming back home. So I dream  everything about that moment....... 

I don't wanna wake up on this dream of snorkeling in Honda Bay islands' reef or aNother rare opportunity at Crocodile Farm and Nature Parkto see crocodiles at every stage of their development, basking in the sun, swimming in the pools or just watching your every move. Cruising along the stretch  of Underground River, a beautiful lagoon teeming with fish marks outside of the river’s mouth and entrance to a pitch dark world beneath the rugged limestone and marble cliffs. Taking a dip in the natural pool Balsahan River,  a clean water from mountain springs and the unspoilt natural beauty you cannot help but admire.

Reminiscing the sisig and the exotic tamilok at Kinabutch. Chowlong and french bread at Vietnamese Village after a drinking session. Sumptuous dinner at Ka Lui or savoring fresh seafoods at Badjao Seafront After a long stroll in the Capitol, Medoza Park and Puerto Princesa Wharf. The rhythms of Bulyaw Mariguen and the art of Sinika. The romantic piano bar of Hotel Fleuris. Breakfast at Bakers Hill After watching sunrise at Mitra's Ranch. I won't forget ate Ellen's (of Ellen's travel) treat us tuna al pesto at Gardini Dang Maria's Cafe (I heard it was closed already, why oh why?) or pizza at Neva's Place. Immersing myself in local art amidst a warm and cozy setting while having a cup of cappuccino at Kamarikutan. Nido soup at Balinsasayaw, Grilled chicken at Chicken Inato or sharing gossip with josh at Cafe Arturo to fill the gaps between.....

I asked myself, When you left everything and everyone behind. Where do you call home? 

Implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone I realized, I am missing Puerto Princesa and my province of Palawan. I remember that every month of June, we are celebrating our biggest festival, Baragatan sa Palawan.

(pictures courtesy of kuya albert balmonte) 

 Baragatan which is derived from the Cuyonon word, bagat, which means “to meet,” is a gathering of people, culture, traditions and resources celebrating the beauty and bounty of the province. It is a grand celebration where one can experience Palawan under one roof, so to speak. It is a festival of Palawan’s natural and cultural heritage showcasing the beauty and bounty of the province in its people, agricultural crops, arts and crafts, tourism destinations, and environment. Baragatan will culminate with the much-awaited SAraotan sa Dalan or streetdancing competition on June 27 and the Search for Mutya ng Palawan with the talent night on June 28 and the coronation night on June 30.The grand opening of the festival is on June 21 featuring the colorful Float Parade, Pantiguan sa Baragatan. Cuyonon, the predominant culture in Palawan, will be highlighted on June 22 and 23 with the Cuyonon Day and Cuyono Rock respectively. The Cuyonon Day will feature Cuyono music, songs, poetry, dances and delicacies while Cuyonon Rock will showcase modern versions of Cuyono songs and Cuyonon translations of Pinoy Rock. 

On this blog though written in English (ako kaelam da maglemeg 'y ang cuyonon maetey lamang), Im promoting and preserving Cuyono culture  in the world wide web because this is my identity and my heritage and my way of manifesting love for Palawan.
 
Maliag kong tabedan mo ako sa pagdemdem ng kantang dya para sa ateng mga tangay jan s puerto! (correct me if wrong, joey)



Cuyo Balitaw
(Jose and Fe Tria Fernandez)

Sa kapupuroan maambeng
Kung masanag ngani ang bolan
Mga bata ig ma nga malam
Naga parasiar sa pantalan
Ma nga solteros ig daraga
Naga gitara magkaranta kada isara
Mi sara maambeng andang leba

Pagkasanag ngani dayong parakon
Sa oma, magkaingin, magsaripsip
Magpaligid kong mainit,
Maluto ron ngani ang paray sa bukid
Dayon sandang parantek
Maglelebeklebek

Amos kamo mga tangay
Masaraot saot kita nay
Lipatan ta ateng kapilay, magpanari anay
Dading loto ron ang paray, kita magkalipay.
Indi tay panombaien, ateng kabedlay.


Translation:

It’s fun to be in the islands
When the moon is bright
Young and old alike go strolling to the wharf
Young men and women play the guitar and sing.
Everyone is happy.

When morning comes they go to the fields
To cut trees, clean the fields and burn them (aka slash and burn)
When the day is hot (paligid=removing weeds in upland rice fields)
When the grains ripen on the mountain
They harvest them and make pinipig (crispy rice).

Come my friend, let’s dance awhile
Let’s forget our weariness, let’s rest awhile
Now that the rice is ripe let us rejoice!
Let us not mind our efforts.

Liberating Changes - Author's Labyrinth


I am Rome. I belong to a set of people called "young adulthood". Just like the other member of my set, I'm discovering with eyes full of wonder, the thing called LIFE. I delight at its rhythm, swing at its dances, laugh at its funny strokes, marvel at its fast-paced technology. Much have I seen in my long quarter life - things that often times defy reasons and explanation. Yet, what I have seen here from my point of view, is perhaps the strangest of all........

There are people who feel the sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than them. There are some friends who are bored with their social interactions. There are plenty of  intellectual, articulate beings but have a tendency to hold stronger opinions, insecure to the fact that their actions are meaningless. There are those who are disappointed with their jobs, insecure regarding their present accomplishments and thinks that the pursuits of one's happiness are useless, seeking life at the end of the rainbow.

But there's another version of my generation I encountered, there are those who have the road-map providing answers, there are those who went to college. Those who work blue collar jobs, white collar jobs and self employed.Those with money. Those with relatively few obligations. Those who touches rainbow's colored arc and knows each color's meaning. Those who knows the spectrum of light.

All I wanted was to fly a kite, but the wind has other ideas.

The deep, soul-searching questions that keep me awake at night; the tough, hard-hitting questions that sometimes too afraid to ask even myself; Would there be a hand to guide my hand to reach other hand? Would there be a man who would guide towards a righteous decision?

After last month when I celebrated my birthday, month of regularly beating myself to a mental pulp because I wasn’t living up to my own standards, it was the simplest of facts that jolted me out of my funk: I was normal. When the twentysomething sources unloaded on me their fears, doubts, and uncertainties, I realized that my insecurities were common – and that I therefore wasn’t a freak after all. That was all I needed to know, for now.

(to be continued......)