fiesta!!!

The 2007 Asingan Town Fiesta

In behalf of The 2007 Asingan Town Fiesta Executive Committee, when I am chair of the Invitation Committee and co-chair of the Achievers of Asingan selection committee, I say greeting yo you all!

If you happen to be around on April 16-22, 2007. Please join in the celebration. Please get involved whether you will be home or not Balikbayan Night is April 20, 2007 at 8:00pm your greetings can be sent through the pages of ads. Your generous contribution will go for the finance the development projects in Asingan (the peoples park in one portion of the town plaza).

We likewise welcome nominations for outstanding achievers who will be included in the achievers night together with the local nominees. Please provide us with a resume of your nominees and cite their accomplishments / achievements which are noteworthy to justify their inclusion in the achievers circle of Asingan.

We look forwrd to your response and suggestions for a successful 2007 town fiesta celebration. From across the miles, we send you our best wishes. You can keep in touch through my e-mail address, Attn: 2007 Asingan Town Fiesta Executive Chair. Thank you and mabuhay!

Ester Lomboy

ester_lomboy@yahoo.com

more comments..

.....from all over

SDA,

I am so positive that one day, you will be able to meet your Everlasting Chrysanthemum and be with her...together and forever.  That is what love is all about. Cheer up you romantic and ambitious dreamer!
Comment from larigolotte2412 - 01/02/07 10:25 PM

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Annie,

I can`t help but feel so sad on this account. But that`s what life is. Full of challenges and like we know, that circumstances which occur in our lives, there must be some special reasons behind. And God only knows.
Comment from larigolotte2412 - 01/02/07 10:19 PM

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Archie, you guys are so lucky to have each other. It`s so rare to see couples nowadays  who stay together.  Young generations seem to be very self-centered and egocentrics that for only little reasons break ups occur not giving any considerations to their offsrpings if they have.  This is soooooooooo sad.

Having someone close to you and listens to you is the best thing that could ever happen in your life. I am immensely blessed to have a best friend, a lover and a husband in one. We are also blessed with three children and they are our treasure. I can`t ask for more.  Yeah, and we are  eternally grateful that God has always been on our side thru thick and thin. As we put all our trust on Him, He won`t let us down, believe me.      

I like the idea of Thomas Edison.. number 5.

I have not failed.....I`ve just found 10,000 ways that won`t work....This is what having a positive attitude.  I still have got a lot of things to learn in this life.


Comment from larigolotte2412 - 01/02/07 10:13 PM

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To Vic, Sonny Espejo's story is so well organized using words that vivdly describe plot .I can't help but finish it reading to the last word.Very entertaing yet nostalgia generating.It gets me to the core..Van

Van is Concerned  Pangasinense

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After reading this entry, just scroll down to the next article..Did not make a link for this article because Ihad to make a preparation for a special guest to Toronto this week end. Forgot to make and post one!

True life stories are still more colorful and more compelling than fiction..Some writers opened up their floodgates of memories ( and their tear ducts ) writing these ones. Especially Anne. She did not mention is HOW her husband died. But it was a common knowledge in Asingan at that time that he was shot in cold blood, at the prime of his life. But thanks God inspite of the so called "corrupt" system in the Phil. she brought the perpetrator to court and with the help of a few friends  and generous people, the killer found himself behind bars. Bravo Brave  Annie...

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I know that my Blog is a part of the main Home page for Asingan. And so,  some believe I must not dropping my links in here, or else where. But not many open the sub menus in the Home Page of Asingan..So for purposes of advertisement, I drop my links in the DC every now and then ( at the same time in the AC: Asingan Corner ) It is just a couple of lines and I do not press the submit button 50 times as someone did a while ago..And yes, thanks to all who commended my Blog..And yes, no hard feelings on my part for those who may not agreed on the links. But we are one big family,  and like in any family there are always differences of opinons, but all's well that ends well!---#

from SDA to Annie

 another letter

What a coincidence. Your late husband went to the same school *(PMI) with me. What  year did he graduate? Maybe I know him. And you went to the same school (MCU-Caloocan) with my  beloved Crysanthemum.

 

Loss of love one is the most tragic thing to happen in ones life. I can say that this chapter of my life the saddest. If not for the faith i have I could have lost my sanity. Just think that  we just borrowed them from Him. They are now in a better place called Heaven. Maybe, they're far from us physically and yet so near 'coz they are just a breath away. Just remember, in God's time we will see them again.

 

Lastly, thank you for keeping my identity secret. In this way, we could protect  other people's privacy especially those that were connected to us in not so pleasant way. Like the yellow daffodil that i am referring to in my poem. I know pretty well that you know her.

 

* (Pamantasang Maraming Ilocano, or, Pamantasang Malapit sa Ilog)

side story...

....from Annie

She transferred to Manila Central University on her 3rd year

I was at MCU-Caloocan 1978-1980 as soon as I finished high school and  transferred to U-Pang on 1981.

Just wondering if SDA has a picture of his late wife until now ( I didnt had any of my late husband-everything was turned over to my mother in law before I left for USA.)

I was told that I may knew her face since she always passed  on front of us w/ Pacita Candelario most of the time before. I knew Pacita because she stopped  once in a while to chat with me  before proceeding  home.

The Asingan Community School was just a few walks away from the market and is now the COOP office and was a headstart school before. Their teacher was my relative too ( Mr.Malilay--if you remember the guy w/the big black  mole that covers almost half of his face);you can mention it to SDA  and I'll bet he will laugh his ass off  esp. if  you mention Geronimo Paringit.---#

MY EVERLASTING CHRYSANTHEMUM

 

( dedicated to a Nursing Graduate of MCU, Batch 1980)

 

Let me refresh the foliage of thy mute yesteryears,

You were then a blooming flower, i was a young bee frail;

Roaming around your garden hoping that you may hear,

The whisper of my heart, yet i can't tell it clear.

 

I felt sad when you went away, bound for a new place;

In my lonely world, i gazed and attracted at yellow Daffodils;

Yet in my dreams my dear Chrysanthemum i still see your face,

With your everlasting qualities which the other flower fails.

 

Now that i found you, i can no longer conceal;

The whisper in my heart, it's a must i will now reveal:

I will even shout to the whole world for you to hear,

"I love you Chrysanthemum", its no longer a whisper.

 

       You may call me ambitious, a dreamer reaching you above;

       Yes because i have nothing to offer but my humble love.

 

SDA

 

++++++++++++++++++

 

This 14 - line poem (Sonnet) was written during my college days in PSU-Asingan. This is a continuation of my life's journey towards my destiny. After the sad news about the sunken M/V Takeo Maru, the more i decided to pursue my new found field of interest. I've finally entered the realm and art of teaching, the noblest profession of all. In my early years in the college i met my former high school classmate of the defunct Asingan Community High School. She is the smartest in our class. ( She could have been our Valedictorian. She transferred to Manila Central University on her 3rd year). She was re-introduced to me by my English pofessor Dr. Marieta Escorpizo who happened to be her cousin. This lady was the apple of my eye way back then. But because of desparity in life (or maybe of cowardness) i was not able to express to her what's deep inside me. Again, for the second time i had this feeling of fear. More so, she is already a nurse and i am still in my undergraduate studies. What if she rejects me? How could i tell her that after years had passed, she is still in my heart. I still don't have the guts to tell her. I have had some girfriends before and yet, when she's concerned I fell nervous  I finally decided to compose a poem for her entitled ... My Everlasting Chrysanthemum. This was published in our school organ Technotrends. To cut the story short, she became and will always be the mother of two kids Sam and Marc. She is now in heaven with our Lord after a long and courageous battle against this dreadful desease called cancer. This is the same poem i recited during her Christian wake and burial. Physically, maybe she's gone. But her memory remains in my heart forever. Cristita, my beloved truly you're  everlasting...

 

~~~~~postscript~~~~~~~~

      

Guys, I am overwhelmed by your  response to my  story. To Archie and Sonny: Same here, please accept my mutual respect and admiration. I attest, Archie can play serious basketball. I was one of his avid fans cheering for him during the town's basketball tournament. I know Sonny way back during our elementary days in North Central School.I think i had a chance to be with him during the 1970 Boy Scout Jamboree held in  Binalonan. If I am not mistaken he graduated valedictorian. Likewise to larigolotte and Rain, my sincerest thanks for your encouragement.

 

---SDA

a heart breaker

Annie's Story

"In one of my visits, I was told that my name is included in the next batch going to Japan.(Japan being the homeport of the vessel). Unfortunately,  few days before the departure, i was told that my name was not on the list. I was very disappointed and  broken hearted. I packed my things and went back to my beloved town of Asingan. I told myself, "Maybe, being a seaman  is not meant  for me."

I copied and pasted this part from SDA's story. He and my first husband went to the same school, finished  their degree and applied for the vessel work. He signed up and was accepted without me knowing it. We were already married by that time and he worked at that camp by Taguig ( I  can't remember the name ) as a mechanic and he went to school at night.

One day,  he was called to report for duty going to Japan. Unfortunately  he was already on his own "vessel"  going to a an eternal place from where there was no coming back. I was holding the paperworks and I cried so hard during his wake. I told him, as my tears flowed freely,  that his papers came and he himself would be so proud if he were only alive. He was wearing the PMI uniform when he "rode his vessel". I loved the way he looked  that moment,  and that is how I will always remember him .---#

( Annie Cano, an Asinganian now based in Texas, is also a good writer/story teller and sometimes she contributes to this Journal )

from Archie

memories of my life in the Philippines

SDA, that’s a very good story. I agree with larigolotte2412's  idea "only God knows" if you fail on something, don’t be discouraged because there’s always a reason. Just follow your instinct. Remember good instinct is a gift from God; just put some effort into it because God said, "everything comes upon your effort before me." Learn also from our legendary "Juan Tamad," Just do not be lazy like him, thats all!

Mr. SDA is a very good teacher from PSU then. He was teaching Arts, I always hang around in his class room just to get some tips from his works. I always checked him first if he is not busy to his class before I get in. He knows that I appreciated his arts because I always go to his classroom watching him from his back doing his works. I imitated some of his style in watercolor drawing. Maybe he would say thanks for me because I cut his "million" customers into half for making them cards during Christmas and Valentines Day. he!he!he!

As a matter of fact I also posses the same talent that he had about Arts but I went to a different direction being RF Engineer. I really love fine Arts, that’s my ambition since I was in High School. I was dying for it.

But we were in poverty then. My tatay was only a barber. There was not enough money to support me going to college. My parents were pushing me to enroll in Binmaley College of Fishery.. In my thought I said that that was not my style.

Instead, I stowed away finding anything to make money with my teenage friends in Cabingcolan. We jumped into Ex-mayor Engineer Francisco Sapigao truck heading Aparri and Tuguegarao Cagayan for construction work. I spent almost a year in that place chipping boulders by hand to build irrigation from the foothills. I got blisters all over my hands because it was very hard work. One more thing, the New Peoples Army were around us but they become our friends. They like me very much because of my talent in basketball I guess they always picked me up just to go play basketball. I work only 3 or 4 days a week but I make more money though because they gave me from their bet rather than working from construction. We were always winning the game.

I went back home when our visa going to U.S. was in the process. I strike my fist in the air in-sync with my "YES!" loudly. I was feeling stagnant while waiting for our visa.

Waiting and waiting then six months later nothing happened. My mom told me to go to PSU while waitingfor our Visa. That was 1979 two years after my High School. I said, Well it’s good rather than being "Stambay" why not! I enrolled and took the same course from High School "Electronics and Communication Technology" a two years Associate degree.

1981 finally it’s our turn to get the US visa. We did not expect to wait that long. My hope to go to US was very were dashed. I blamed it to everybody to God, stuff like that, you know! I was so mad blaming my age being 21 years old that supposed to be my happiest moment in my life but instead it turned me to be a jinx. Because I’d been denied to get the US visa and the reason is I could not be a dependant through my tatay anymore. I was over age to that preference category through the main carrier, which is my tatay. I am very disappointed when my family left me to US.

Six months later I met my future wife through my friend Jimmy Estrada then I forgot all things and very happy ever after everything happened to me. I was in love with her. She encouraged me to transfer in Manila and go to the University, what can I say I just follow her whatever she said it’s in my own good anyway. We were living in together while we were in college with financially support from our parents. In counting we had been together for 26 years already and we still madly in love together. Thus, God works is really work if my US visa has not been denied I couldn’t have my college degree and the most precious in my life and my inspiration who is no other than my wife. I believe she loved me too.

While I was in college, I was affiliated to the bible study group in our School. We did bible study, praying whenever where is an empty classroom. I was really very thankful to my classmate who introduced me to this group because I learned a lot everything in my life also I found my self that I am not jinxed, Actually I am blessed and God is with me all time. From that time on I just follow my good instinct..

Eventually, I also found my way to the USA.

In closing I like to share some ideas from the successful man , Thomas A. Edison

1. Just because something doesn't work as planned means it's useless.
2. There are no rules in trying to accomplish something, just hard work..
3. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
4. Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
5. I have not failed... I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work

Archie Macanas