ARSENIO'S TRIP TO ASINGAN

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My itinerary in the Philippines so far…

Picture 1 = My wife and mamang Auring tried to make more room for some goodies.

I said, Please don’t go over the weight remember the 50$ penalty. My wife got mad at me when I told her to include her used patched jeans since the holes were already tearing away. She stared at me with sarcastically smile.

Picture 2 = My bags from the background already packed while we were waiting for 1:30am flight. I’m excited as you can see, didn’t I? Believe it or not my wife were nearly changed her mine and want to cancel my ticket. Can you figure out why? Friends tried to brain washed her, but because of my very good deeds it didn’t happen. Whew! Muntik ng hindi ako natuloy.

Picture 3 = Cozy feelings with my wife while waiting to drop me to the airport. She is now more comfortable with me to go back home without her. Some house wives said, “My husband go back home to P.I. alone? NO WAY!!! You know what I mean.

Picture 4 = Yehey!! Touch down ooops! Not yet, just stop over in taipie. I thought already in Aquino International Airport, an hour and 45 minutes more to go! 13 hours in the air that’s pretty boring, isn’t it? I learned that we have to stay here for 4 hrs. There’s a typhoon way to P.I. and have to wait to clear the sky.

Picture 5 = The Taipie airport long walkway connecting to all terminals. The guy

walking towards me is one of the local here in taipie. Very pretty Airport compare to ours. I did not have time to take some picture to our Airport, too much attention to my baggage. Wow! I truly amazed those officials from the airport (NAIAirport). They were all behave, no more crocks compare from the last time I went home 11 years ago.

Picture 6 = After a huge and bored traffic in Manila I felt a bit comfortable when I saw this view, the beautiful mountain Arayat in Pampanga. The view is overseen from north express way, toward north or south. People thatlive in north provinces of Luzon will never miss to seethis beautiful sight. Thoughit’s normal for them this view, I beat that most of the travelers passing here and whatever is in their busy mine then but their eyes will conquered and invade by this beautiful and very attractive panorama.

Picture 7 and 8 = At Candaba swamp Pampangga. I was lucky to capture the group scene of the endangered birds name Heron (Kan-naway). I told the driver to pull over and eagerly to get closer to the birds and took a picture of it. Try to recall my article about the heron from Manong Vic Journal, I said these species were endangered and the comment from longwayby that these birds were still around somewhere in P.I. and it’s true.

Picture 9 and 10 = The Grotto of Virgin Mary at Mt. Bamban Pampangga. Half of the mountain was filled of lahars from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1992.

Picture 11 = The Christmas light lanterns at the edges of the highway in Moncada Tarlac. Because of the traffic that we dealt we reached the dusk in the street way home. At this time here in the Philippines the spirit of the Christmas is almost in the corner. But all saints day (Pista ti Patay) is almost ahead.

Picture 12 and 13 = The old catholic church in Asingan but with new faced lift due to the earthquaked in early ‘90s. It was raining when I passed by, I told my driver to stop then I grabbed my camera and took this a beautiful picture.

I went to the church from my first Sunday here. Actually, I religiously go to the church every Sunday with my family there in the US. Well, last Sunday at the church attending the 2nd mass. While waiting for the priest… I consciously turned my head left to right and roamed my eyes again and again ‘til the priest start the mass. I surprised, it really catch my attention the crowd because more youngster than adults who were attending the mass. It’s very good impression and I said to myself, “ wow! This is good because the youngster were devotedly go to church and knows their religion and that’s very good for them, really. But, while the priest harmonizing the mass… I can’t stop my self sensing all the events inside the church. I tried to ignore but I can’t.

My first thought and impression from the church crowd particularly the youngster were changed.

Most of the people inside the church were talking while the mass is on, specially those have partners (Girlfriends and Boyfriends) and some of them went outside from the middle of the mass… they weren’t heading home just outside the church and talking to their partners until there’s a kissing since a torrid one. What is this a meeting place? Dating place? Or our church, what a shamed! Young people of Asingan, Please! don’t do this to our church.

Although my experiences from our church in Asingan were like this… it won’t change my religious faith in catholic. I don’t blame anybody, in my own opinion just little adjustment from our parochial in Asingan. Anyway, Parochial from different sector were different like our parochial in Saint Colomban church there in Los Angeles it‘s nice and respectfully. I’d been to many different parochial church in the US and I like it all.

Picture 14 and 15 = I met my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Norma Esperon Butuyan at their house in Baro. I accompanied my mother in law (Aurora Claro Agapito) for relating her small personal problem that hoping madam Norma E.Butuyan can ask her brother General Esperon for help and solve this small but it’s a riddle for us. Saan kami naupay agyaman kami ken kua yo, FAMILY ESPIRON TI BARO ASINGAN. Madam Norma told me that she can help anytime about the Free traveling Service from Manila to asingan to all Asinganian having a problem with their love ones (remains).

Am very proud to be an Asinganian and very proud to have a General in our country like him. I salute you Madam Norma Espiron Butuyan, you are the bridged and humanitarian for Asinganian.

Picture 16 = I went to Mr. Eulalio Gelacio to drop the letter from Dr. Cornelio Manzano from Los Angeles. Mr. Gelacio wasn’t around that time but unexpectedly I met my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Gelacio.

I’m very happy that I met my 2 elementary teachers. I’m glad that Mrs. Norma Esperon Butuyan were still remember me and especially to my parents. She tried to recall my elementary moments and relating me that I was her favorite students taking care her kids.

Picture 17, 18, 19 and 20 = I met and socializing with Manong Atty. George Guzon in front of the white house (the cemetery). I went in the morning to the camposanto for all saints day. It’s nice to be there early because of no traffic, empty free parking. I gave a credit to all the CVO of Macalong taking care and directing the traffic around the cemetery. From the picture 17 the background was the track and field then at the Dupac elementary school. Now it’s a Free Parking for the recreation area and people going to the cemetery.

Afternoon of the all saints day…at the Heaven’s gate. I visited my uncle and my cousin’s grave. It was not crowded there, a lot of people but it’s relaxing and comfortable. Most of the goers were doing picnic… they were eating, singing and playing guitar, it’s nice that anywhere you go were happy until to the gate way out. People were very friendly and sharing their foods. I did bring home some tupig, bibingka, suman, nilatik etc. from whom I knew but everybody offered you to get some. I enjoyed all saints day here.

epilogue: No comparison spending holidays to your home town, Home sweet home. I eat fresh vegetable everyday… my favorite dish even everyday no problem the native chicken with bitter melon leaves (dahong ampalaya). To Sammy, you are right need something for stomach trouble… Well I brought apple cider vinegar with me and it works especially hangover reflux. After our party relatives got hangover, I introduced ACVinegar everybody won’t believe me but after they tried they were stun and said it’s unbelievable! It works fast and straightaway, the time it swallow.