November 1, 2011 All Saints Day

All Saint's Day has always been a Holy Day of Obligation, and I'm glad to have grown up with the awareness of the connection to all living and dead, but this is a whole different plane of awareness. For three whole days, October 31, November 1 and 2, the thoughts and lives of the living revolve around remembering and spending time all together with loved ones who are gone to a different realm. For our household this was an especially big day because we've had a death within the past year, so our celebration would be longer and more involved.
Early morning:In the early morning vases of flowers were prepared for all the closest deceased relatives. We also had purchased bouquets.
Mid morning: We walked, carrying about 8 flower arrangements, to the old cemetary. It is like a tight, little winding village of tiny houses for the dead. We spent about 15 minutes at each of our sites, carefully arranging flowers and candles. We would all join in prayers and then pack up the remaining vases and proceed to the next site. We even visited Ate Norma's boss (the Mayor, a good man by all counts).There were hundreds of men, women and children performing these hushed, gentle, ancient rituals. Slowly and peacefully walking among each other. It felt as if we were all just visiting on, say, Christmas rounds, and it just so happened that some were asleep throughout the visit. But the visiting was still so pleasant and you had a real sense of the life of the person you were visiting.

It reminds me of when my son, Carmen(4), cried when we packed up the gardening tools at Grandpa Carmen's grave and prepared to leave. Carmen had thought we were going to dig Grandpa up and visit with him. Little Carmen would have liked this day of all of us being with his Grandpa. (Just for the record: no digging up took place here.)

Maricar, who lost her husband May 29 this year, her niece, Gia; her mother, (my Ate Norma"), and her daughters, Marjery and AJ (April Joy).

 Three days of traffic jams and tricyles lined up, heading to and from the cemetaries, all over the Philippines. I was stuck in traffic for  1 1/2 hours on Oct 31.  
Late morning: After the oldsters were visited, we went back home, loaded up again and headed to the newer cementary, where the most recent interment is. This event reminded me of a day at the Wattsburg Fair when I was growing up. Great food is packed, cold drinks, a tent, maybe a few games or toys and umbrellas. But instead of seeing the horse-pulling contest, we were there to just BE. Our relatives came from Manila for the holidays. You see the cards they are playing? Those are cards I asked Rachelle to send in a care package(from MN). So there you see the cards which Rachelle handled and sent around the world and are now being touched by hands here on this unique holiday.

 Maricar sitting with her husband for a few quiet minutes as the day is ending.

Last good-byes as families start to pack up and leave. We left at 8:00pm. I rode my new PC bike home and the rest of the family loaded kit and kaboodle into 2 trikes. This day will linger with me for a long time... no... forever.      Family life here has drawn more and more of a longing, from me,  to be with my family upon my return. Now I want to spend more time visiting the graves of those who will always be so much a part of my life- of our lives.

ps. Consider this, though. A big All Saint's Day, 2011 at Trinity Cemetary, Erie, PA. Big snowstorm!  Mmmm. Huddled in ice huts with propane heaters hissing. Would it be the same?


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I just tacked these on belatedly because they are so beautiful and interesting. Amy's town of Ibaan, Batangas.

 

These are called apartments, for obvious reasons.

Below- One of the ritzy family memorials. I didn't see such elaborate vaults in San Jose. Amy saw some that had air conditioning and a balcony on top. It kind of reminds me of the burials of ancient Egypt- prepared to party in the afterlife!

October 30, 2011 Lake Taal and Tagaytay

Magtibays wanted Amy and I to see Lake Taal and Tagaytay. They gathered friends and family and 11 of us traveled in one over hill and dale north to this beautiful country. The trip took about 2 hours. We stopped in Balisong to look at knives made there, called bolos. I got a big, mean- looking one that I often see people using for all purposes, here. When I get home I will have it sharpened for shaving kindling. It will be a practical memento.
Dario and a bolo.
Next stop was Taal, looking at the beautiful historic homes and this church, one of the oldest in the Philippines. This historic town is lucky to be largely intact, as it was a hotbed of activism in the fight against Spanish rule and Spain often obliterated towns of dissension.... Boy, Spain was a tad bossy and temperamental, you know?! Thought they owned the place! Or was that US? (I don't think we obliterated any towns here, though.)

 The Basilica de San Martin de Tours, the biggest Catholic church in the Far East.

Side entrance to the church. Under the shelter to my right you see the area where candles are lit and placed. I got some- they're sold in groups of 3 in honor of the Trinity. Bundles of 3 candles makes for some serious flameage!

One of the miracles here is that I wasn't burnt!

Taal- Famous for fine embroidery and sewing, especially the traditional Philippine men's shirt, the barong.

Then it was on to Tagatay.

Fantastic scenery and three dear  traveling companions (and scholars to boot! ) Paul,  Miguel and Gerrald. Lake Taal fills the caldera of an ancient volcano, the largest in the world. Before it erupted it rose 18,000 ft.  The island in the lake is another, little volcano. You see the cone between the boys heads.

As we were eating and drinking in the views- I know, bad pun- we were approached by masseurs who wanted us to hire them for an hour at the set rate of $2.50! We availed (as Filipinos say) their services for about 1/2 hour.

Martin Magtibay.

 

Is this funny or what? Dario and Martin blowing bubbles. We didn't catch a good picture, but here we are in euphoria with bubbles floating about, and this view:

We hiked down to the base of this hill. It was a very hot day and the hike back up seemed long. (Read: We were drenched in sweat!) About 3/4 way up JJ (3) started mumbling to himself, "hirap" (means hard), a few more steps, "hirap", a few more steps...
Back in the car and heading home.

Rachiel and JJ Magtibay

October 26, 2011 My bedroom.

It's a great, old house. An inheritance from a prosperous, gracious era. It sits snug against the  corner sidewalks, but off to one side is a big yard.

 

My bedroom is the one in the peak. Three sides are outside walls with big windows. No screens, just hefty grates and inside are sliding windows.

So much space around a house in a settlement is uncommon. I had no idea what to expect in my placement. I imagined country, and I imagined town, but I was surprised to find this combination.The big yard full of trees allows the air to move and we have a breeze almost all the time, day and night.
It is quiet here, too. Well, lets qualify that. At 3:00AM the roosters (you can see one in the cage to the left of the yellow bush) flap their wings wildly and split the air and the dogs start barking intermittently. Then the dogs in the neighborhood start conversing. At 4:00AM the church bells start. I count about 50 peals. "Why 50 and why the irregular rhythm?" I asked a resident. Their answer was that the only meaning has always been to get going! Start praying and preparing to come to church.

My nest and my red mosquito net, which I roll up and clothespin to the curtain every morning. At night I pull it down and tuck it under the mattress all the way around.

It's been Christmas time since early September, so Ate Belin decorated with these pillows. (Standing up in the arm of the chair is my big, typhoon-strong umbrella.) Ate Belin also hung fresh curtains for me a few days ago. Many days I walk into my room to find that some nice little change has taken place. The shelves on the left materialized and all my shoes were arranged on them. One day the pitcher and glass appeared on a little tray. They tend to me, wanting to make sure I'm comfortable.

Here's the view from over my bed. The grates are reassuring. It's like sleeping outside, only completely protected. Now look beyond the grates and the roofs...

...this charming antique house. And turn your head to the left, toward the sound of the bells and here is what you see.

The rising sun reflects off them and they shine bright yellow.

So this is what I leave in the morning and what I come home to in the afternoon. I settle down in my bed-corner to read or use the computer and right about that time the daily broadcast of the Rosary begins. It is loud enough to cover all San Jose. Shortly after that the nice little neighborhood bar/restaurant fires up the videoke. It rivals the church bells in volume. We're talking rock band type speakers. This is the background music, and what I hear as I fall asleep. Soon enough all is quiet, and then before I know it I'm once again hearing the flapping of wings and the raspy crowing. Another day!

Publish Post

October 25, 2011 Thank You Note

From Khim

October 21, 2011 Classrooms

PILMES is big and well funded with a dedicated principal and teachers and supportive, involved parents. This is apparent in the wide array of activities available to pupils.  You can also see this in the resources, especially the preschool classrooms. Funding comes from DepEd, gov't officials, such as the governor or mayor and sometimes from private citizens.

Preschoolers wear a different uniform than the one worn by all other grades.

  Pictures of the national heroes are required to be displayed at the front of the classroom. Values and spiritual beliefs are part of the curriculum and are prominent in the decorations. Teachers work very hard to make their rooms beautiful.

Pupils do the work of cleaning the classrooms, They also get on their hands and knees to wax the floor with wax the parents purchase.

Sometimes these "foot mats" are worn to protect the floors.  The fan in the foreground is brand new and was a gift, much needed, from the parents of this class.

Pupils made this reminder for classmates: Please put your trash in this trash bag.

The school doesn't have a library but Ma'am Rachiel is fortunate to have this supply of textbooks.

 She is also grateful to parents for purchasing and installing the bank of cabinets which students share. There are usually several fans, you see two here. The exterior wall on the left is open, no glass, with wooden shutters to close against rain or hot sun. The upper walls are open to airflow, also. This is an historic building from the early 1900's.

This shows about a fourth of our pupils. In the foreground is Ma'am Rachiel's desk. Mine is beyond, closer to the cabinets.

Having fun. Good thing the resolution of my camera isn't better! Between the heat and the fans my hair is wild. Doesn't seem to bother anyone. But these children, aren't they beautiful? While I was, as usual, a sweaty, sticky mess, you see some of the pupils wearing sweaters!

October 19, 2011 Pupils' Wish List

I came across this from back in late August at Colo Elementary School. We PCT's had conducted a meeting with community members. There were educators, parents and pupils. One of the activities was for each group to make a list of what the community most needs. This is the children's list:

The numbers indicate the order of importance.

October 8, 2011 Just a pleasant day. Hikes,pigs,friends,and a good book...

5:00AM Dressed and ready for a long walk with Ma'am Tess (teacher about 30) and her husband. We started out walking very slowly, exchanging Good-Morning greetings and talking about the drizzling rain. This continued for a few blocks. I was chomping at the bit but they seemed so relaxed, and then I realized: This IS the walk! This is their exercise! I would call it a leisurely stroll, and that is what it was, for 3.5 kilometers. Boy, do I realize how fast I like to walk. What struck me was the relaxing nature of the time together. I watched this husband spending these beautiful early morning hours just strolling along for a few hours with his wife and it seemed like a wonder to me. What would this do for marriages if people could/would slow down for a few hours every Sat morning and just be together. It made me glad to slow down, too.
            We walked to Lapo Lapot, lovely, peaceful countryside, to their house. We had pandesal and cocoa and I met their two children, Adriana and Bianca.

7:00AM We resumed our walk, continuing out to their pig farm. About 40 pretty, clean, big, noisy, frantically-hungry pigs greeted us by opening their huge pink mouths with all those little teeth and gnawing on the iron bars of their stalls like they'd love to get at our legs. We fed them. I was helping, leaning over to empty the scoop of grain into the trough of the big sow with the litter of tiny little piglets, when I yelped and slapped at what felt like a bite on my hand, then another, and another, but I couldn't see anything. Concerned, I told Ma'am Tess, who smiled and taught me "maraming kiwatib"-"many ants". When I walked back over to the feed barrel to fill my scoop I saw them- infinitesimal black ants, so thick they formed a collar around the rim of the barrel, racing at high speed, like Olympic bikers on the circular track. 
Filipinos have many words for ant- think Eskimo's and their many words for snow. I am sure there are many varieties as yet unclassified. I think to live here you must reach a truce with ants. As for me, I just try to look past them. For instance, when I am eating in the pleasant, clean kitchen and ants are scurrying around all over the table, I just make sure they are not on my plate and I look up at, say, the lizards scurrying around on the walls, and then back down at the delicious food and take another bite.

8:00AM  I came home and bathed.

10:00AM  Caught the Jeepney to the mall and met Amy and walked (not my pace) through the mall for 4 delicious hours.(I think my pace of walking will be done by myself when my Ate's let me out).
I am seeing a pattern developing when I shop in a larger market or a mall. I buy an Ice Cream Cone- you were right about that, Margaret, it is important to know how to say "ice cream" in a foreign culture! So it's ice cream for my culinary delight, a book for intellectual stimulation and a cute T-shirt to perk up my wardrobe. 
I seldom get a T-shirt, and only occasionally get a book or an ice-cream cone; maybe about once every 2 or 3 weeks, but I casually look and that's fun. Simple, cheap pleasures: 
book- $1.50
cone- $.50 
T-shirt-$1 or $2 at the Ukay-ukay. 

The cache: 
1ice cream cone (vanilla, soft-serve)
3 books
no T-shirt, so I treated myself to dental floss instead. You have no idea how hard it is to find floss here. Finally found some at Japan Home Store, hanging among the clothespins and light bulbs.   

2:00PM  Richard arrived and the three of us met up with Rachiel Magtibay, (my counterpart) and her husband Dario who had come just to help us shop for bikes. PC will pay for us to buy a decent bike and a helmet; we have to do the shopping.

Richard (inside) and Amy on the tricycle with the driver, heading for the bike store. Magtibays and I in another tricycle.

4:00PM  Parted ways with Amy and Richard and went with Magtibay's to their home for dinner and the evening. As soon as I settled into a chair, the littlest of their 3 children, JJ (3), hopped onto my lap and cuddled up against my shoulder. A grandma's delight, especially if her own grandchildren are far away.
We all just sat and visited for a few hours. We ate, we sang a little, Martin (9) talked to me in Tagalog and encouraged me to respond. Miguel (7), stuck to the computer- less chance he'd have to speak English that way. 

7:15PM  Tricycle ride home. 
I pulled on pajamas and settled down in bed and pulled out my present good book. I paused to listen to the rain pounding the roof, then I opened "LA Outlaws, by T. Jefferson Parker". 
Good ending to a good day.