There is already a diversion road that eases the traffic that go from Urdaneta to Dagupan.. So this time(2003), we did not pass through that bridge in Sta Barbara just like the way it was in the old days.It is situated on an elevated ( like a hill ) terrain. One could see this elevation from a distance so one gets ready for the upward climb then the downward plunge. Like a roller coaster. Passing through this part of Sta. Barbara during the old days especially during a sunny morning gives one a panoramic view of the countryside when you are atop the short bridge..Tree-patched fields, a river cutting across the field ( this river passes through Urdaneta beside the old Pantranco station ). A bridge near the Rain Forest resort in Urdaneta spans also over this river as it flows to join some other tributaries..
After this high bridge, the next town to anticipate would be Sta. Barbara..I remember the old church walls beside the road.They were made of red bricks and some were decoratively positioned so as to make the walls look nice. The road turns right( if you want to go to Dagupan )..Or you go straight if you want to drop by the church. I think I dropped by the church convento before one time with Fr. Jose Ferrer. I remember the huge doors made of solid wood..It has the same look and feel like the convento in Urdaneta. High walls. Dark passages. You expect Dr. Jose Rizal or some other characters out of the Spanish era to come out and greet you in Spanish.
As you proceed to Dagupan ( we are now talking about the old route ) past by the Sta. Barbara church, then you pass by more shops and market stalls. Then somehow, those stalls dissapear and the scenery again changed into rice fields and ocassional Bahay Kubos ( Nipa Huts ) along the way. Some of these have stores in their first floor. But the huts are made of no strong materials: bamboo, grass stitched together to form a roof..These formed very cool rooms inside ( even if the temperature outside is 90 C ) plus the fact that the floors are made of split bamboo. The ground under the rooms sometimes had bamboo beds ( papag) for taking a nap, plowing utensils, goats and the farmers best friend, the carabao.
It is called water buffalo in some parts of Asia but here abouts they are called locally KALABAW or NU-ANG. The meat was called slangily ( oh yes, Filipinos have lots of slang words too in their local dialect ) Nuang-kik..I heard my brother call it one time they were served carbao's meat mixed with vegetables. By luck, the meat they got was so tough that it is like chewing leather sole. Either chew it like a gum and spitting the meat afterwards without the hostess seeing you or swallow it and risk constipation. Take a look out of the window and you will see a live carabao out there, hitched on a post or on a tree.. Maybe they have just eaten his mother.
It is said that the carbao has no upper teeth. But it is always chewing something or the jaws are moving in a chewing fashion. It is very patient, docile and it could look at you with those lucid eyes and you could not forget that stare for as long as you live..!. Flies and some other bugs are always flying about his back. But he could easily flick those pests with a swift movement of his tail which looks like a lions tail only the color is black like the skin. The tail seems to come out of a skin covered round hole just above his ass. Two holes in one spot, awright! He also uses his long tongue to clean his nostrils.Okay, back to the road trip..
The road takes another left turn..You are in civilization again..Why? You see a big Coca Cola plant ( if it is still there ) when you are already close to the next town which is Calasiao.I remember lots of palm trees in this town. Then you cross a railroad track with no crossing bars.This is where the MRR coach pass by from Manila to Dagupan and sometimes up to San Fabian. .So you have to stop, get down, look on both sides, go back to the driver seat then resume driving. Quite a pain in the butt, right?
There were a few Spanish houses just before you get before the church area. Then turn right and you are just a few kilometers away from Dagupan. The diversion road joins in at this part of the highway ( still called McArthur Highway in honor of the famous American General in WW II ). Oh yeah, I think there was a big and fancy massage parlor in this part of Calasiao. The massajistas offered a kind of body rub which some people call the rub and tug.. Fortunately ( or unfortunately depending on your point of view ) this joint was destroyed by the big earthquake in '91 (?)..Pity. Lots of workers lost their jobs. And in the Philippines, there is no such thing as an Unemployment Insurance.--#
No comments:
Post a Comment