PARADE OF BEAUTIES

These photos were shot in the old fashioned way using 35 mm. film. I had to scan them so it could be published in the web and scanning photos would really take time and patience, not to mention whether you are scanning them in the right manner. Anyways, I did the shoot from our front window, I had no zoom lens at that time otherwise closeups of the beauties could have been very much welcomed. 

But if you do want to check the faces in close up, save the photos in JPEG or BMP then open each photo file with the PAINT program. It will blow up the faces larger. PHOTOSHOP will do a cleaner zoom feature.

Have fun!!--#

The Asingan Town Fiesta coincides with the closing of school work and traditionally, Asinganians welcome it as  multiple days of  "vegetating" ( a new colloquial term for relaxing ) or "chilling out". But the hosts or people involved in the celebrations would be anything but relaxed. The house has to be cleaned, curtains to be hung, the livestock have to be slaughtered. I miss the sounds and sights of Asingan fiestas.

Guests are always welcome because of traditional hospitality even if they sometimes make funny remarks about our town. One visitor from Manila  said one time while watching the parade of our beauties: "Ano yan, Senakulo?" What could you say to a remark like that?  Killing the guy is out of question.

Anyway, these photos were shot in 1999. The sights won't change. The streets will be converted into a huge flea market as usual, the plaza will turn into a midway, there will be a dance every night for those who have taken ball room dancing courses. Meeting the Asinganian Balikbayans would really be something. I will take a raincheck this year, maybe next year I will be there. Maybe....

 

 

MORE FEED BACKS

More from my sis Ester Lomboy:

Will send you  e-mails regularly about Asingan after the closing of the school year. In summer, I will be  more or less free. The two ladies are quite loaded too. Until now, I haven't seen the book where Ana is a co-author. I have to buy my copy.  Her next publication will be released internationally as a co-author to another Prof at UP.   The launching will be at Switzerland and she is promised a free tips for the book launching Medyo duda at takot na ako so i told her I talk to her professor ( co-author ). Am happy about Ana's writing prowers just like you sana madevelope to the fullest.   Regards and Happy Valentines to all.  

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From Johnny Pascua:  

Hello !!!  Vic,

       During the entire administration of Mayor Dario R. Navarro & Mayor Felixberto R. Ramos……I was lucky enough to be a part of the master of ceremonies duringthe coronation of  our town fiesta royal family……among my fellow emcees were Mr. Eugenio C. Pico; Mrs. Elizabeth dela Cruz Par; Mrs. Esmenia R. Orallo; Mrs. Cristina Mendoza Dumlao; Mrs. Esther  Costes Lomboy; Mrs. Alejandria S. Javier; & others I failed to mention.…….    Those were the days……it’was sooooo exciting and the towns people and visitors enjoyed  watching us w/ jokes and ice breakers.  I enjoyed much in emceeing from the presentation of candidates until the last canvassing when we were in the town plaza up the wee  wee hours the next morning until the next queen is announced ……I salute all my fellow emcees coz they were the cream of the crop, they were the best in emceeing during those times……teachers are teachers….they have good command of English but not me , I’m not good…..in that……okay!!!!

Some of those who knew me in emceeing sometimes called ; the Rod Navarro of Asingan, the Joe Quirino ..okay ngarud”   & maestro Johnny…..I enjoyed emceeing too in scouting activities locally, provincial and national levels…..I am not bragging but we rue those days… happy days…….

Again,

Johnny

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Belated congratulations to my nephew Don Costes ( the son of my brod Donato ).His wife Melen gave birth to a baby boy and they named him Donato also. He is the 4th in our family to bear the name. They are now in San Diego, CA.

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NOTE: Typographical errors are there unintentionally..I am a one man band: web page administrator, writer, editor, photographer aside from being a house cook in addition to my duties at church..So, keep on watching for typos and grammatical slip-ups, it will be a good training if you wanna be a writer/editor someday..I see those slip ups too but going back to the web page to correct just two or three is a pain in the ass..so let it stay there!!!

E-MAIL FROM MY SIS

I received an e-mail from my sister Ester. Among other things she mentioned some items  in the coming town fiesta...  

The town fiesta  again  will include the Balikbayan night to be handled by Joe Delmendo  and the  Achievers night ( which I and Mariet Escorpizo will chair.) I will give you the names of former achievers and this years achievers later. First in the list is FVR and we hope to come up with the achievers circle to propel Asingans development.  We will publish a book on Who is Who from Asingan. Please give us some tips how to make it more interesting....  

 I will e-mail you general tips on book writing and publication later on a case to case basis..I have to work on what you will be writing..Will base my tips on what you will start writing and publishing...  

 Good luck to your efforts for the Fiesta. Wish we could be there personally..I hope someone in Asingan could send me some digital photos of the canvassings and other relevant preparations of the upcoming affair.Fiestas are always memorable and happy because of family reunions. Lucky are the balikbaayans who could make it home for the fiesta!----#  

A few photos re: some past Fiesta beauty Queens will appear next in  this Journal  

MARLON AND MY BROTHER

It was my brother Donato who met Marlon first during one of his earlier Balikbayan trips. He described Marlon as very friendly, very curious. When Donato was working on something in the old house Marlon would come up to him and ask: "What are you doing, Uncle?" Uncle would be a better word to use. Although it is not strictly right ( it should be Lolo ) but us Seniors are a bit sensitive when it comes to age. We want to stay young forever even if we know we can't.

Donato would then start a chat with marlon who was quite a good conversationalist. He would talk about his Mom and Dad. His dad Angelo was a favorite of my late dad before. He would always share our meals with him, even if at times, there was nothing much to eat. Gildo grew up with a knack for electronics and when he got married with Marivic (Bing), a pretty girl from Urdaneta, he supported his family by repairing various electronic equipments:TVs, stereos, toasters, etc. almost anything that runs on electricity. He also put up a small house for him and his family at the back of his parents' house Mr. and Mrs. Teofilo Sampaga.

In one of his conversations with my brother Donato, Marlon said "You know what? Our dog had some puppies last night!" He was so proud in announcing the good news. "Oh yeah?" answered Donato .." Can you give me one if it is okay?" "Oh sure, " Marlon said.."I will tell it to my dad, I think its gonna be okay.."

Then his holiday winded down. It was time to go back to Canada. As my brother brought down all his luggages to a waiting Toyota in front of our house, Marlon came again and asked him:"Where are you going?"

Donato said: "I am going back to Canada. See you when I come back.."

Marlon immediately said: "Wait, wait I have something to give you!" He dissapeared for a while and when he came back, he was carrying a cute puppy..

"This is for you, Uncle.My parents said it is okay for you to take him.."

Donato just smiled, rubbed the puppy's head and said:"Thank you, Marlon..But you know what? He is too small to ride in the plane yet..So I will leave him here so when I come back, thats the time I will get him, okay?"

The answer is plausible enough for Marlon. He said "Oh, its okay then..I will take care of him for you..."

When I took my vacation in 2003, I met him for the first time. When he learned I was Uncle Donato's younger brother, he said "Oh..I still have his dog!..He went to his house and brought it out so I can see it..It was a beautiful dog.

Luckily, he did not give it to me on my last day in Asingan so I can give it to my brother here in Toronto.---#

 

FEEDBACK FROM ANNIE RE: BALIKBAYAN MEMORIES

The Rodriguez Store you mentioned in your journal today are operated by my cousins.That one in front of your house is run by Rizaline Yapjoco and the other store close to the market (must be the Mother Store )is under Eugene (  Jing) Macanlalay.

Their mother  is my father's sister and I was with them most of the time as a part time employee when those 2 girls were in  college in Baguio. I had to stay and  tended their store. Payday for the Asingan teachers was usually busy because they came in  to cash  their checks and I  was just by myself in the "cash register" which is just a  tiny calculator and piece of paper.  

While they were  expanding,  I had to check  the incoming deliveries to the store and mind the customers who came to pick up their groceries. Sometimes I picked up a sack of sugar with the help of the  tricycle driver and throw it at the back of their  carrier.

Those were the days I spent with  them.I was then  widowed at an early age and then I lost my grandmother the following year.Their mother acted as my mother/grandmother and their father was also my baptismal Ninong. Their parents also stood up as the foster parents of my daughter and the sisters acted as their sister. That's how close we are and  at that time. At present, they are the ones watching my father as he also  has to close his tiny store at 5:00pm  and he goes  to  them to help  out . .

Keep posting and I am enjoying it.  

Regards.  

Respectfully, Annie C Cano

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Hi Annie,  

Gee, your feed backs really are just as interesting as my entries, I did not know they are your cousins; next time I take a holiday, I will surely mention you to them..I do not know who was at the cash register at that time and if I am not mistaken, they are already using electronic cash registers.

When I entered the store, my grandnephews would suddenly be behind me and I was so happy to buy snacks for them. (Marlon, Ailene and Jasmine) I feel like I was with Emma and Mia, my grandkids here in Toronto. While inside the store, I always ask what they want and they would just smile ( Nahihiya siguro ) Then I will be the one to pick up the good stuff, esp. if I am familiar with the brand.

I picked up one time some Pringles. In Asingan at that time it cost 65 pesos..I do not think ordinary kids would buy that for snacks otherwise they would get ____ from their parents. They said they never tasted Pringles yet, and my heart just melted.

I bought more than one package for them and we ate them in our house. Marlon is about 10, Jasmine is 8 and Aileen is still in kinder. That is the "magic age" for kids when they are so sweet, innocent, cute and unihibited. I also bought them HI-RO cookies, the equivalent of our OREO though it does not taste as good. Plus the Sunflakes which had been around in Asingan for ages.

I really miss them at this time. Their Mom really made a big sacrifice leaving them (Marlon and Aileen) for Saudi, but it was a good chance to earn some money, which eventually, will be for the family.--#  

MORE BALIKBAYAN MEMOIRS

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!!---#