One of the highlights of my 2003 holiday in Asingan was attending the Christmas Party of the Delmendo Cable Company owned by the Mr. Jose Delmendo. After working in LA for several years, he retired and came back to Asingan to put up a TV Cable company. I saw most of the equipments of the company in the family residence in Calawagan; service trucks, a huge Satellite Antennae, several AV equipments. Our host that time was Susan Delmendo Santos an equally enterprising family member who has several projects to her credit both here in Asingan and in California. Well, it is not easy to put up a business here in Asingan, but he did it. When my wife and I spent a night at the Crystal Glade resort in Ariston, I saw a HARRY POTTER movie thru a small TV in our room. The resort subscribes to the Cable company. Felt like I was back in North America while watching.The reception was pretty good. The only thing missing was a local Asingan TV Guide but I guess this might come later. It would need another enterprenuer to put up a Print media in Asingan and neighbouring towns if no project like this was established lately.
That morning we attedended a Mass at a private chapel beside their family home. Then we were treated to a sumptous grub fest in the Company social hall. I saw several guests of honor who attended the affair. Mr. Dominador Delmendo, the surviving parent of the family, distributed bonus cheques for the employees. While eating broiled fish, barbeque and other native dishes, an impromptu program of karaoke singers gave some entertainment. Jose ( or Joe ) was in California at that time due to spend Christmas with his family. Me and another employee of the firm gave some speeches; I talked mostly on the latest trends on TV broadcasting as I observed it in North America. Susan was a very amiable host and at one point she took the microphone and conducted a TV style "Pera o Kahon" skit with one of the employees. We and the audience enjoyed ourselves. But then we had to go so we bade goodbye to Susan who promised to bring us to Baguio in a future date before we go back to Canada.
So back to our house the family home where I grew up. Our constant visitors were 3 kids: Marlon, Ailene and Jasmine Sampaga. Marlon and Ailene are the children of Angelo ( Gildo ) Sampaga,one of nephews who lived just next door.Marlon reminds me of Gildo when he was of that age: active, happy go lucky and very accomodating. At that time their mom still livedwith them ( now she is working in Saudi Arabia ). If I had a chance, I would bring them across the street ( the same thing I am doing with Emma, my grandaughter here in Toronto ). Why did we cross the street? To get to the Rodriguez Grocery. This store was just booming and huge delivery trucks arrived everyday. The 3 kids and I would check the shelves for the brand of snacks they had:I always bought the brand of chips that was imported and the store had quite a few. We would complete the shopping with a big bottle of coke and then back to the house for a midafternoon snack. Even the family dog came along. Marlon who is quite a good reader, would tell local stories or would discuss one of the books we brought home for him:ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS. After a while, especially when the sun was getting low in the horizon they would go home scurrying down the same stairs which I did when I was their age.
Lunch and supper would always be with my sister Ester and her family in the silong ( first floor ). Then a little TV and after wards we go back to our sleeping quarters in the second floor. Sometimes my cel phone would sound off..I checked who sent me some text messages. I met quite a few friends who left me their cel numbers. Those cel phones were quite handy. They were like tiny computers where you could IM cheaply anybody from Aparri to Jolo. Except for the first night, sleeping in Asingan was fairly relaxing inspite of the various outside noises. I guess your brain got immuned to them somehow and I would wake up almost the same like here in Toronto.But if you are used to a built in bathroom in your bedroom, then you will be making lots of adjustments. This is especially in the case of kids who grew up abroad and would be sleeping a few nights in Asingan.Experienced this in 1988 when we went home with my three young kids. Fun for us but not for them!!---#
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