Asingan Message Board From: VIC MessageHello Vilma! Your posting touched me big time. Thanks for your encouragement and yes, self made critics are like cockroaches. They are always found in garbage piles eating rotten things thats why they are rotten inside!..:)..Oh I love Domaquit and thanks God he led us to this house. It helps us forget the ordeal of life abroad..No cars piling up traffic, only tricycles, tri bikes and Scooters driven sometimes by high school girls! And no helmets!..Wow, I am scared for them. Once I even saw 3 on one scooter, and one was a baby!..Only in Asingan. No rules. But hey, I still have to hear of a traffic accident in poblacion. Cars drive ever so slow to save dogs, pedestrians, etc. crossing the streets of Asingan. No big busses anymore just like the old days. Delivery trucks maybe dropping off stuff at the market. There is always something new to gawk at the market..:)..Nothing like small town crowds talking about the latest gossip..jeez! Too bad, the things they talk about are unprintable!!!! From: Vilma Basa MessageI am one of your avid fan/reader here on Pang.org; i always enjoy reading your posting and interesting stories about our beloved town. Maybe someday when i come home for vacation i will have a chance to say hello to you and your wife as well. Don't mind all those critics manong,basta kami nag-eenjoy sa basahin ang mga postings mo. Siyanga pala, from your house matatanaw yong bahay namin sa Purok Silaw kasi mataas yong bubong ng house namin (red-orangy ang bubong) i love taking early walks to Domaquit all the way through the palengke at pabalik sa bahay may hot pandesal ng dala for breakfast...kaka-miss, enjoy your retirement and best regards! From: VIC MessageWent to the market today, around 11:30 to buy some dishes. There are so many fast food joints in the Market today..I bought a bagisen ( dinuguan ) and a beef pinapaitan this am because Miggie did not have the time to cook..Her am hors were taken by the arrangement of the plants she bought from Malou who found that her gardening hobby can bring her extra cash..Indeed, there are plenty of gardening hobbyists in town. She bought several varieties among which are: THE MICKEY MOUSE Plant, SONG OF INDIA and also MONKEY'S TAIL..The clay pots are included. The bigger the pot, the more expensive it is and she did not mind buying the bigger plants. When it comes to a hobby, money is no problem..In a few weeks the front yard of our house was enhanced by the presence of different kinds of plants and each one is as beautiful as the other. Malou, the seller also arranged the potted plants in an artistic manner. The artistry would really enhance the place and it pleases the eye and the spirit...By the way, the MICKEY MOUSE Plant has red flowers. Initially, it will have 4 small seeds or pods. When the seeds fall off, the flower will show an unmistakable similarity to Mickey's face. It has mouse ears, beady eyes and that impish grin..:)..Its amazing to see it..It came from the US, the seller said. And I am not surprised if the plant came from a nursery of Disneyland!.... From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=380900868593387&set=a.102629989753811.6138.100000204318379&type=1&theater From: VIC MessageHelen Valdez Castillo and hubby ( sorry Helen, I forget names easily now a days ) paid us a visit a while ago in our residence..She is a very friendly, cheerful person. Too bad she stayed only for a short while...They came with a Van and to borrow from Emerson, they have " miles to go and promises to keep..." They have been to so many places around Pangasinan and beyond...Thanks Helen for remembering to see me in person..Even if she met me only in FB still she went out of her way to see Miggie and I..Wishing you happier sight seeing, and bon voyage to you on your trip back to the US!.... From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.380575411959266.109444.100000204318379&type=1 From: VIC MessageYour parents did not teach you some manners..Shame on you posting under an alias harassing people..You change aliases and think you are cool..In my book you are a shameless coward, a mouse, not a man..Shame on you, shame on you!..maybe this posting makes you happy because you are one sick puppy... From: Boy pick up MessageTotoo pala nasa gitna nang bukid si Vic .. Makikita nio sa google earth.lol blue ang kulay nang roof malayo sa mga kapit bahay.. Hehehe akala ko Sabi Sabi Lang. kailangan mong liming aso Vic pang guardia sa gabi.. Oops sorry.. From: Visitor MessageKailan po ang fiesta ng Asingan? Natatanong lang po baka makapunta sa fiesta ninyo kung may mag-iinvite From: VIC MessageThank you, Carmen!..We will come and visit you Spring/Summer 2012.. From: carmen padilla MessageI am looking forward to see you here in Michigan.Enjoy your stay in Asingan. From: VIC MessageThis is our dog's latest walk through Ipil ipil street: Miggie was the one who took him out. On the bend near the Velasco Store, Sparky and Miggie were met by a pack of snarling dogs. One dog threatened Sparky but our dog remained unperturbed, said Miggie. he just looked at them barking as if saying : "Your'e nothing but a pack of snarling mongrels, all bark no bite." It was Miggie who lost her cool. She picked some stones, screamed at the dogs and i think she tossed a couple of rocks..They retreated but as Sparky and his Nistressed moved towards home, the pack followed them from a distance until they lost interest.#### I was proud of Sparky while listening to Miggie's tale of bravado. I gave him an extra sausage we bought from the meat stall of Asingan market..#### From: VIC MessageI read the date, pero my memory is getting short..No not Alzeimers..But will post it tommorow, if nobody would beat me to it.. From: visitor MessageMagtatanong lang po, kailan ang Fiesta ng Asingan? From: VIC MessageSo, will see ya there then, Carmen!..:) From: carmen padilla Messageafter 3 m0s. of staying in Asingan is somewhat interisting.It is nice to be back here in Michigan.Anyway,there's a 50 year anniversary of luciano millan nat.high school sometime in April.Hope everyone could attend From: VIC MessageIt is only February, but the humidity in Asingan is already unbearable. And people say it is not summer yet! That means its gonna be sooo hot in the next month 24/7 morning, noon and night..Right now it is still very cool in the mornings but at around 10, you will start feeling like a baked potato when you go out and walk to Poblacion even in tees and shorts...The wind feels like it is coming from a furnace..Ahh its good that Baguio is just 2 hours away..This pm at around 4 pm, my sister dropped by the Municipal Building and found out that Mayor Haidee was conducting an aerobics/dancing class! She did not tell me much re: the class but she said she has a nice chat with the Mayora. I agree with my sis she is indeed a very pleasant and happy person. From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.377934642223343.108983.100000204318379&type=3 From: VIC Messagetest From: def Messagewelcome home father paul calicdan, we missed you. mahigit din 1 year sa VMH dagupan. alagaan po nio sarili nio. From: VIC MessageHave completed 3 mos. of residency in Asingan as a Balikbayan today..I learned a few facts..1) You can access your bank account anywhere in the world by using Interact Machines in Urdaneta. BUT..If you withdraw on Sat. or Sundays, sometimes the banks are closed, there are no security guards so I find it very " scary " to withdraw cash. On Mondays, even if banks are open, most ATMs are closed. Their money had been used up by baank customers in the week end. Better withdraw on other week days. The ATMs of some banks ( BDO e.g. ) can allow you to withdraw 30 K, 10 K each withdrawal..assuming that the currency being used is 1000 bills..If the currency being used is 500 bills, the amt. you can get is only 5000 pesos. If you are withdrawing from an ATM in mall, you are allowed to withdraw only once..If you are using an ATM outside of a bank, you can withdraw 3 times...I do not know why..This posting is the result of my ATM experiences in Urdaneta..You can always check your balance on your laptop when u get home..there is a charge of 240 p. per withdrawal...If you took out only 1000 or 10000, the charge is the same!...:) From: VIC MessageThe plaza is currently grooming up for the town fiesta with the arrivals of the side shows, game booths..etc. The sidewalk vendors around the plaza are doing their best to get maximum business from pedestrians coming to church or just making a tour of the place. The vendors start their work cooking snacks under a broiling sun ( starting from 2:00pm ) and one can emphatize with their plight just by looking how hard they work.The bibingka seller is from Cabincolan. Her house is across the house of Ranjit Shahani who seems to be a constant resident of our town. The best time to stroll in the plaza is from 5-7 pm. There are quite some sights to see, mostly people ( adults, teens and children milling about ). I love watching them and eavesdropping to what they are saying..I know it is nice but hey, I do not print everything I hear. Some are funny but after a while I forgot what I overheard and I do not want to be like Prof. Higgins from MY FAIR LADY noting down things he heard.. Not in Asingan! You will get in trouble for doing things like that...In front of the Agsalud Family residence near the statue of a soldier is a joint called cafe 24.. It is made of bamboo. It sells like the others cooked food. There is a constant reminder on Phil. TV to be careful of consuming these foods because one can never be sure how fresh or how clean they are...The food in those kettles look very good, but WYSINWYAG!..What you see is not what you always get, like bacteria or unsold food from the day before!...Believe me. I once ate bopis from a fast food joint in Glorrieta and I spent the whole in bed suffereing from diarrhea!..F...g,aye, as some Canadians say! From: VIC MessageYesterday, we attended the welcome party for the returning Parish Priest who had been on medical leave. His assistant is a town mate of Miggie who is from Sta. Maria, just the next town separated by a very long bridge.. After the party which is around 7 pm, we went home on foot. In front of the former Rizal Academy were some snack vendors cooking their stuff over coals and these food tidbits were selling fast. There was PUTO BUMBONG and also BIBINGKA and Miggie bought about 6 of the Bibingkas which is the Philippine equivalent of hot cakes. There is nothing like the taste of these bibingkas cooked with sweet rice flour and using banana leaves cut round as the supports the cake. Last night, some PERYAHAN started to set up their temporary quarters on the plaza. These provide Midway style recreation to the people opening at night and closing until early dawn. Its gonna be noisy in the plaza due to their music and barkers inviting customers to try their luck in various games of chances. Going to this night entertainment is a good way of reliving childhood days in Asingan. So nice to be back. Feel like staying here forever!..Yep forever!..I went to the cemetery, to the family plot. There is still a space for me there, just in case I will kick the bucket here in the ol' hometown..:).. From: VIc MessageODD THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU..these happened to me HERE ABOUTS..Jueteng is still alive. Jueteng agents could be spotted with decent clothes, maybe a nice cap and that small notebook and pen in their hands. One time, while i was taking some photos in the market, one such dude came quite near me, observing what I am doing. I went to another place and minutes later I saw him again. He was writing something in his notebook. Well finally, I took all shots that I like and moved out of the market. Didnt see him anymore. I figured out either one of two things he was doing 1) He was observing how I was handing my camera ( it was a digital SLR Canon ) or 2) he was trying to figure out the jueteng number equivalent of a man with a camera. When a lucky jueteng number comes out a veteran jueteng number bookie would say: "aha, it is a widow looking for a husband.." or "two roosters fighting" or some other similar shit...2) I was in a jeep onetime in Sta. maria. The driver was still waiting for his vehicle to fill up before he would drive to Urdaneta via Asingan. I was beside a comely young lass. She was sitting beside me, talking with someone on her cel.There was lots of spaces in the seat where we were, but somehow she sat close to me. While she chatted, she was rubbing one leg with mine. Of course I did not move my leg. If i did she might feel insulted. I think rubbing legs inside a public vehicle ( jeeps especially ) is a common thing here in the Philippines. Or maybe she felt comfortable and safe because I am as old as her grandfather..:D...3) People here always use the words sir or madam..No more manang, ading, manong, etc. Plainly sir or madam. Sometimes the one adressing a person is much much older than the 2nd person but still he calls him SIR..Such adresses was not practiced during my younger days circa 50's..Just plain manong. manang, kuya, ikit, insan, apong...My how things have changed in Asingan..:D! From: VIC MessageI want to relate this dog story before I forget it. Sparky our dog here ( similar to an English Foxhound ) grew up in a small house tied most of the time. When we bought him, we let him run loose in our yard. But we do not want to let him in because he is fond chewing carpets and other leather decors. There is a staircase going to the 2nd floor and one time we let him come in..He was excited, wagging his tail and when he saw the staircase, he went up so fast..Problem comes when he wanted to get down. He knows how to climb up but he does not know to climb down!..Watta guy..Get down i said and tried pushing him down. He just lied down on his stomach on the top of the stairs, whimpering..I did not want to carry him down. I might break my back cause he was quite heavy. So I just used a little dog psychology. I took one pandesal, cut them to bite sized pieces, and put one piece on each stepof the stairs!..He took the first step down, so ever carefully. He ate the piece of bread, saw the 2nd one down, then he did the same thing..To cut to the chase, he finally made it down and he seemed please at himself. He wagged his tail to show his joy in his achievement..I pat his head, threw one whole pan desal into the front yard and he ran after it. Then I slammed the door shut!..The kids who were his neighbours in his old house said one time as they passed by our gate after seeing him there: " Lucky you, you are now a very rich dog!!!"..:D From: VIC MessageSOME BITS OF USEFUL ( OR OTHERWISE ) INFO I PICKED UP LATELY..1) Our house, according to our ownership papers is located in Sitio Domaquit, Bo. Domanpot..This address was used by a friend in Toronto in a mail and it arrived to us safely. Then the postman said Just tell your friends to write Poblacion West and it is okay..Now one day I will straighten my real address with the Municipal authorities...2) The best weapon to fight against a mangkukulam ( a witchcraft practitioner is a bullet..We were given one ( the gunpowder removed ) in case we use it to shoot against the witchdoctor or any intruder in our house thus bringing us a murder charge. For me, the best way to combat witch craft is prayer because God protects us from all the legions of Satan. But we have to have a strong faith for this..3) The basic jeepney fares now are: ASINGAN-URDANETA, 20 pesos, ASINGAN - STA. MARIA is 10 pesos. When you travel from Sta. maria to Asingan, you find the jeepneys at the front of Sta. Maria Market..Best time to ride is in the morning because the jeeps are very frequent. After 12, there arent many passengers, ergo there arent so many jeeps traveling. It is the basic law of supply and demand..:)4) Haggling must be practiced if you are buying anything in the market ( whichever it is located )..One time I bought a bolo. The asking price is 280 pesos. I bid for 220. It was sold immediately. maybe i bid too high! 5) Always have loose change when buying in the market. One time I bought a pacquiao DVD in the market priced at 60 pesos. "Can you change 1000 pesos?.." Sure the salesperson said, took my money and said I will have this changed. After 15 mins. I started to sweat not because of the humidity but the sales person has not returned yet!..What if he does not?. I was thinking how shall I explain Miggie I paid 1000 for a Pacquiao DVD. Fortunately, the guy returned with my 940 pesos change. Most sales persons in Asingan are honest. When I just arrived, I went to a cybercafe in the market. I took 20 pesos from my pocket to pay the guy and placed the money and a Bank of Montreal debit card on the top ledge above the PC monitor. After my one hour is up, I took the 20 peso bill to pay the owner but I forgot the debit card beside it..An hour later, I was looking for my debit card in the house and I could not find it..I thought of the computer cafe. Inspite of the late hour, I rushed to the cafe along the unlit streets of our block and entered the cafe. Thanks God it was still open. I asked the person in charge."Did I leave a credit card here?".".."What is the color?.." he asked.."Blue" I said. He took the card from a small box in his desk and handed it to me. Never had I thanked so much. If I lost my card then I could not withdraw any money from the ATMs in Urdaneta for at least for 2 weeks! Then what will I do?...:D From: AMBoy MessageArchbishop Broglio Issues Statement on Conscience Protection http://www.milarch.org/atf/cf/%7B1AF42501-01D5-4EF8-BA48-4450AC27EF98%7D/statementConscienceProtection26Jan12.pdf From: ABC MessageVic.... i really love the topic you wrote again.... about dogs. The first dog I had since we moved to our new home was Franzie or Isko. He is a very handsome dog full of hard muscles. One neighbor of mine gave me a little puppy and this is Timmy. He is black and has a wavy hair. On his first day Franzie was very upset with him. He wants to bite Timmy. I was so afraid when Timmy just lied down and showed his tummy. I thought he was ready to die. But when I told my husband about what had Frnzie done, he said to me that it is just normal to happen. Timmy should submit himself to Franzie because he is meant he is the owner of the place and Timmy should know that Franzie is the boss. Since Timmy did that , showing his tummy, they became friends and always playing in the small yard. They never pee inside. In the morning we have to take them out and let them pee in the park. They also don't like to make shits in the park but they have to hide inside the " talahiban " What a clever dogs they are! And they have shame. One time when I had fever that I couldn't just take them out in the morning , I noticed something ...a small like a shape of a small volcano made of earth. I tried to check it and was very surprised because it was Franzie's shit that he covered carefully. There are times when we go to the fields and sometimes see some human shits( excuse me) just left uncovered with some green flies on it so I said sometimes dogs have more brain than other crazy or naughty boys. That's why I love dogs very much because they are really very clever and very friendly. From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=375185969164877&set=a.375185942498213.108548.100000204318379&type=1&theater From: VIC MessageMy sister Ester has a shaggy haired small dog named Calix. Months before we bought our new dog Sparky, Calix often visited us and while he was in our yard, he would pee all over the place. I and other dog owners know that he was just marking his territory..Then we bought Sparky, brought him home and he also started sniffing around also marking his territory...Then a few days ago, Calix came for a visit for the first time since Sparky arrived..While the two mutts were still in the roadside in front of our house, they were very friendly smelling each others butt and other kinds of affection..:)...THEN, we opened our gate and let the two came in...Well Calyx started sniffing immediately and so did Sparky our dog..Before you could say "Doggone it" they started barking and snarling at each other!...Now we have to think like a dog to figure out what caused the sudden change of attitude..Maybe calyx believed he owned the territory ( our front yard ) and he was pissed to smell the pee of another dog!...Sparky on the other hand disliked Calyx arrogance and he might have said to Calyx ( in dog language ) "well buddy, I am the real owner of this place, not you, so buzz off!" So to end all the snarling and barking, I took Sparky to the back part of the house just to keep them mongrels stopped yapping at each other..! Calyx did not stay very long ( which was good ) and soon, they went on their way. We took Sparky ount in the front gate, took him out of his leash and things went back to normal, thanks heavens!...:) From: VIC MessageIt was indeed a nice afternoon yesterday, the weather cooperated with the JHEMPACK ( see their photos on the Asingan Message Board, courtesy of Mr. Fernand Marinias who maintains this Board for us all)...Each letter of that acronym stands for the name of a person, and yesterday a 2nd M was added for Miguelita, the latest member of the group....She opened the doors of our house to them, and they spent a happy, leisurely afternoon yesterday..The karaoke machine never stopped stop working, what with the golden oldies disc I bought at the Odyssey( a music store in Urdaneta )Anybody who needs a nap is welcome to do so....So some members sang, some members just chatted and bonded. It was a private party and the people of Domaquit just passed by, respecting privacy. No gatecrashers contrary to what some people say about the place..I grew up in another section in Asingan and I will always remember that fondly as my childhood home. Now this will be our retirement home. All the years spent in Toronto helped us acquire this house which is really a very nice place once you see it. It is like a US/Canadian home made mainly of concrete walls and posts, all tiles for flooring in both up and down storeys. The ceilings are quite high. We feel so at home here that if only we can, we wont like to go back to Toronto anymore..But unfortunately, we have to until we have sold that house in Dixon road so my mind will be focused on on this house along Ipil ipil road..It's sooo quiet in here except for the sounds of children playing, but they are okay! Just lock your gates and doors at night or when you are away..:)..I visited my parents final resting place one time, just to say HI silently. To tell them I am back to stay in Asingan.Its like completing my circle of Life..Left 1n 1975 and came back permanently in 2011..Not many would want to settle in this small, sleepy community, but we did with no regrets. Our health improved tremendously because of our new environment. The real estate prices here are shooting up like crazy and the present is always the best time to buy a piece of Asingan. If you are fond of the arts, this is the place to practice your talents and creativity..There is always something new to see everyday along the stretch of Ipil ipil road..Especially seeing the farmers tend to their rice plants and caring for them every step of the way from the planting part to the harvest season...! Will end the entry here and next time I will tell some cute stories about our young dog here and my sister Ester's shaggy haired pet. Dogs are always a part of a family here ( except of course the people who eat them! )....:D From: VIC MessageThere are no class A,B,C or X,Y,Z estates in Asingan..In fact my tax rates was 5,000 pesos but since I paid on Dec. I got 20% off..I hope you could drop by the house someday, ABC, Rain and many other friends coming to Asingan. Some places in Asingan are inhabited by squatters who are giving headaches to the landowners cuz they do not want to leave!..And these are about 5000 pesos per sq. meter! My house is in the middle of the field but its like living in a serene, peaceful piece of Eden...Some friends who are looking for places to stay have made appointments with me so we can chat amicably. These are the nice Asinganians who could converse intelligently. Many of my kind friends are from other towns too and they send me very encouraging e mails..Well there are the loonies from Asingan but I do not give a rat's fart to what they think or say..Envious is really the word. Insecure and some other personality disorders..Just this afternoon, some local friends came to our house. We had a good time of course! Their leader is Dra. Pacita Jover because she owns a van to pick up and deliver members who share their talent of singing to our neighbourhood. We sang almost for 4 hours outside in our courtyard. The weather was cloudy in the am and as the day went by, the clouds dissapeared and the sun shone in blazing glory..I did not hire a Karaoke Jukebox cuz its expensive..I bought last time 3 DVD Karaokes from Odyssey Urdaneta..Each disk has 150 tracks/200 tracks..These disks are available only in the Phil. But the recordings are good, and the orchestrations are close to the original,,,I bought one disk cuz it featured a collection of 4 Aces hits. Now I grew up listening to this group and my, I was so elated listening to the karaoke tracks!..The sing a long group brought their own food and their own funny little stories..This is bayanihan in its finest and the shindig took place in Domaquit which I consider one of the best places to live in Asingan now a days..Believe me. I know what I am saying because I am a resident if this area..:) Night to all!!! From: ABC MessageKung class C man ang tinitirahn ni Vic, walang masama. At least sarili niya yan di ba? Kung 200 sqm lang ang lote niya taman-tama lang yan sa kanila. Dadalawa lang naman sila sa bahay at hindi na kailangang napakalaking lote. Mas maganda pa ngang tumira sa class C kasi mas friendly ang mga tao dyan. From: VIC MessageDef you are just wasting your time posting for me cuz I never read your postings,,Not worth my time or peace of mind...okay? I have the right not to read bad postings like yours..bye From: Annoyed MessageSo????? What's your point you bitch? are you envious? From: def Messagehello vic, sorry kung nasaktan ko ang damdamin mo pero hindi ako kaaway, kaibigan ako na nag sasabi lang nang totoo. para malamn mo na alam ko ang lugar sapagkat taga asingan din ako. dapat tayo namamalasakitan laman. maaring matanda ka na pero bata ka pa sa asingan. mag uumpisa ako sa road galing bantog lolosut sa palinki, on my left at eglisia ni christo sasabihin ko lang yong malalaking stablishmento para di magastos sa letra. sa right mamalio harware, corner stree baro# sapigao harwate sa right street na ito papasok sa domakit, sa left tayabas, malaim pa ang sa ito ito na tong service road papontang domaquit looban ka corner house blue. then sitio deocares nga taga hawai, si sendo ang isang kagawad sa domanpot at nga kapatid at kamag anak some are from seatle, stop doon ang cemento. lalabas sa domanpot. yong street mo dederetso sa PSU baka di mo alampero dadaan ka sa tambak nang irrigastion lolosut ka sa vebtura house , yong may swimming pool sa may PSU. and nga lot na harap niyan sa deocares ay nga lot nang fegurastion, castillo , papagayos. parallel yan domaquit ay arzadon street na pag aa ri ni titong arzadon and most may may ari nang lots ay castillos nang baro. maaring tama sa palagay mo ang pag bili mo diyan dahil sa nga frogs and birds lover ka pero sa usapan realty. ang lugar mo ay in subdived about 10 years ago nang tig 200 square meter. yong bahay ni mila antonio ay 10x na malaki sa bahay mo pero di mabilibili dahil nasa gitna nang rice feild facing cementery. yong lupa ni daranciang sa likod mismo nang municipio is selling 1800 pesos per square meter, kung di kamaniwala, pomunta ka sa accesor office at sasabihin nila sa iyo ang sonal value.. yong street mo at lolosot sa domanpot mismong bahay ni noel samsom at si rogie piso na may aari nang construction supply, derisohin mo ang banawang lolosut ka sa makalong. diretsohin mo pa yon iikot ka na sa dupak all da way sa crossing bantog/santa maria kung dadaan ka sa by pass road. maraming taga asingan na nag babasa sa posting na ito at kung bolados ito.. sasabihin nila.. again.. hindi ako nakikipag aaway. gusto ko lang malaman mo na alam ko ang asingan dahil taga rian ako. sana huwag kang magalit ta toong class c pa ang lugar mo at ang class A ang nga prime properties na nasa main roads. nasa rice fileds ka pa at baka abutin pa nang another 20 years para madevelop yan. thanks at huwag mag high blood From: VIC MessageYour Ninang Ester will not hold it against you, I am sure of that. The first time I saw her I already asked her about you and she remembered you immediately! Maybe you are one of her pets, Teacher's pets..THE other kind of students are the teacher's pests..ha ha! From: Masdaaw Man Messageni apo ammo na met gayam ti agilocano ni tata vic.nakaskasda-aw man hehehe... From: Alakdan MessageJust a clarification on your past posting about my magnificent house . Are you referring to the "white house" in Macalong? I don't have one yet. lol. Just kidding. Of course you and your family and guests are welcome to my humble abode. Don't know if Ninang Ester had ever stepped into our home. Pakisabi kay Ninang, marami na akong utang sa kanya. There is a point or certain age that the "inaanak" should be the one to give presents to the Ninang. Tell her i am aware of that. From: VIC MessageOF FROGS AND STARS...It is amazing how Nature communicates. Homo Sapiens do it by speech or sign language...Tonight, I noticed the absence of the usual frogs visiting my concrete courtyard. They usually arrive at late dusk when the sun has just tucked in its last sun ray. What, no froggies? I asked myself...The answer came an hour or so later...Beyond my iron and concrete fence lies the darkened fields which is now pitch black except for a few houselights ( about 4 ) on two sides. It was quiet at first. Then came the nocturnal concert of frogs. The frogs seemed to have grouped together in 3 spots: the center, the left side and the right side of the field. So this is where my usual web footed friends went!!.. I seated myself in one of the outdoor chairs to listen to this little night music....Sometimes the right side ( or channel if you please ) becomes loud, a delightful blending of croaky voices singing two notes..Then the center which is not so loud and the left channel present their voices too..At times all channels will sound simultaneously. The voices do not blend. It is a mixture of individual voices consisting of baby, young and adult froggies..If you listen closely, you hear the nitty, gritty vocal exercises of individual creatures. It goes on and on, and when I left the front yard seat ( because the pesky mosquitoes are sucking my blood through my pants ) the concert was still going on strong!...The new moon is in its 2nd night with the evening star hanging right on its top. I was wondering whether this star is the planet Mars ( I am not sure ) but it is situated close to us because its light is steady and unblinking. Only the twinkling ones, they say are billions of light years away!!! From: ABC MessageThank you very much Vic. I'm fine here. Do you know why I am posting here it is because I love to read your stories? And one thing is I want to run away from some posters who are attacking me for years now. I am sick and tired with what others are doing to me at the message boards where I regularly post. They attack me and will disappear for weeks or months then come back to attack me again, call me names and always insulting me.Sometimes I just ignore them but sometimes I also throw hurting words that they deserve. I hate these kind of people. I never attack anybody 'cause I am looking for friends and not enemies. My style is, if I don't like the posting I won't waste my time in reading it or if I see their IP address ('cause they sometimes change their names) I just don't read it. I can't understand the posting of Def. He said when he comes home he will visit you and befriend you, take you around but he talks a lot of things like your place is not beautiful and according to him your place is just a third class and he said you are just wasting your money. I love to stay close to the fields too where you could here the birds and see the animals like carabaos which I haven't seen for many years. Just continue posting 'cause I and the other readers are here always waiting for new stories. Happy weekend Vic and also to Miggie. She is a very lucky wife. I know you love her so much 'cause you always mention her in your postings. From: VIC MessageIts such a nice sunny afternoon in Asingan today. I can only tell about the weather not much about Asingan Poblacion except it is the usual hustle bustle of people, vehicles ( many kinds ) but so far everything is normal. No killings, no robberies no felonies ( if there is one, our neighbour should have told us already, its her speciality, the village news reporter )..Well, on the social events side, there will be a sing along party in our house tommorow after the 2nd mass..Some music loving friends are coming over. Our last shindig was over 2 months ago. I will set up a karaoke machine outside, some members will bring food, Miggie and I will prepare something too ( nakakahiya naman kung wala )but our house and equipments are at their disposal. Hopefully the weather will be as sunny as this one. But not too sunny since the heat is sometimes unbearable...To date we have made a number of friends already and contrary to the posting of def who was so rude to be judging people as to their feelings ( how the dickens does he know?) I am enjoying my stay in Asingan to the fullest. Everyday I look as an adventure because I have never stayed in Asingan this long. In my own house which is facing a verdant ricefield. I do not really give a damn what he thinks because, when I read his posting a 2nd time, I think he is talking from his butt and he took an inspiration from the other genius who used an f word in this otherwise wholesome board..You two idiots, if you do not like what you read here, you do not have the right to spill your crap. Just eat them and go to asylum where you cam from..:)Your postings really disgust me and many others... From: VIC MessageHow are you?...Thanks for your last posting which I was not able to answer immediately. The world is full of nice people but some weirdos are thrown in. I guess they are put here so the others can learn the virtues of patience, tolerance and more patience..This asshole has been stalking me for years..He would be silent for a spell, then he would just make a nasty posting then dissapear again..I say to myself.."Oh boy, there are so many people being hit by a truck....:).."and you can fill in the rest. But it is so hard to figure out what goes on inside a psychotic mind. I just focus my attention to readers/writers like you who contribute something worth reading in this free and popular...Yesterday I went to Sta. Maria church to pick up a long delayed marriage certificate. Twas delayed cuz the clerk who wrote our names on the parish Books mispelled my names and Miguelitas and they can not not change whats in there..So I have to pay 200 pesos for an affidavit stating that Victorio not Victoriano is my real name..Then they have to notify the Archdiocese..so much red tape even in the Church!...:) From: VIC MessageNo, I am not frustrated with our place. My wife and I never regretted our decision to settle in Domaquit. We love the quietness of the area. In fact my sister who always take us places when she brings us home esp. at sunset would say "how nice this place is.." Facing the ricefields in front of our house, she witnessses the sun leaving the world again. The sky has always a different set of hues during this parting of the day: one sunset looks different from the last one. For a Filipino/Canadian this is one of the bonuses in our stay in Asingan. I love Domaquit. I never quarrel with anybody, but some unknown lunatic would harass me here in this Board but of course I ( and some other friends ) would just ignore him ( after telling whats in our mind of course ). Ano siya, sineswerte? Is he/she the only one who knows how to use the Computer?..Anyway people like those are plainly angry at the world and they vent their anger at others for no reason..Asingan is a good place, depends on your viewpoint. Poblacion is a tad overcrowded. But Domaquit is the place for retirees. The current price now per sq.meter beside us is 2300/2500 pesos depending on how good you negotiate..Once you visit Asingan again, come to our place and we will have some cold beer in our balcony while we are watching the sunset or the animals on the rice field being herded back home by the owners..Its a nice scene; going home after the end of the day. I love the bleating of the goats. I love to hear the cows bellow and the carabaos bellow in a different tune. Never heard those since I was in the Elem. school..Now I enjoy these pastoral ambiance. No loud stereo sounds or tricycle thunders. As I close this entry, I hear that small bird outside. It is so small but its voice could be heard miles around. It seems to be looking for a mate so they could perpetuate their species. I miss the cardinals and blue jays in Toronto but birds anywhere could make some kind of music which pleases the ear. And the roosters, of course..They herald the new day as early as 3:00 am in the morning! From: def Messagesaan kayo nga agaapa ahkakabsat. please continue writing about asingan. diay domaquit street ag diretso da diay angana diay PSU magna ka ti igid ti banawang. undeveloped, wan korienti na. narrow service road laing. ti na cemento ket agana diay samsom road nga eged met la ti banawang romuar diar domanpot. my one cent is for a returning balikbayan to retire in our beloved town is yong sana na sa main road na accesable ka nang nga sasakyan at may ilaw ang streets niya and most all the streets sa asingan may ilaw na except nga yong domaquit street nga kaya pag dilim nang gabi eh parang separated ka na sa mundo.natatakot ka nang lumabas. sa bayan pag gabi maraming nagtitinda pag gabi lalo na malapit na fiesta. maraming palaro na. most streets na mailaw kaya any time pwede kang mag lakad. pero sa kinatatayuan nang bahay mo manong vic nakakatakot dahil walang ilaw. i am sory to say. baka maka apak ka pa nang ahas, tae nang kalabaw o etc. hindi kita masisi kung nalolonkot ka kasi nga talagang nasulinik ti ayan mo. tig nan mo ah galing ka sa cuidad na at bayang canada, tapos pomunta ka sa bayang asingan sa pinaka under developed na street, di lang may cultural shock ka. na big la ka sa place. yong ancestoral nio ang maganda sana dahil na sa bayan na kayo mismo. sayang lang pera mo diyan dahil mabagal ang pag taas nang precio nang lupa. walang bumibili nang lupa diyan. 150 pesos ang per sq.meter lang diyan. class c pa lang yan. at sa bayan nga 2000 p/m at sa nga main roads 1500 sonal value. kaya pinag bili nang mura yang nabili mong bahay at lupa kasi ang bayad lang noon yan around 200,000 at if i am not mistaken nga 200 to 250 square meter ang lupang kinatatayuan nang lupa mo. sana bumili ka na lang sa nga first class na lupa sa tabi nang kasalda sa stree nang like examble domanpot, makalong , baro, bantog streets. anyway. popontahan kita pag dating ko ta makikipag kaibigan sa iyo at ipapasyal kita. sa acacia sa may tapat nang petron o di kaya sa by pass road. ituloy mo vic ang pag susulat dahil ikaw ang nakapag pasaya sa board na ito maski nakikita ko ang frustration nang kinalalagyan mo ngayon. From: ABC MessageI mean....Better old than die young. From: ABC MessageGive a space for other people old man.... wow what a nice guy is this. All of us will get old. And we should be thankful for everyday life. What's wrong with getting old? Better old that die young. I have seen many message boards that are empty. No posters! But once you post there and people enjoy reading your postings one will come out and attack you for no reasons. If I don't like the posting, I don't say anything or if I don't like the poster, I simply don't read his/ her posting. Vic... just continue sharing your stories. We are here to read them..... ABC From: VIC MessageNo kasta, umaykanto iti Piesta ti Natay..! Mayat ah?..Ammom nga agpatpatnag kanon ti tao ditoy Kamposanto no Piesta ti natay..Kabutbuteng. No adda ka diay uneg ti Kamposanto iti alas dose ti rabii, di mo ammo no tao wenno al-al-ia iti nakatugaw idiay panteon..:)..Sigue, no matuloy ni Rain, makita tayo ti kalaing na nga agsala diay Auditorium..:)Di ba Rain?.. From: Alakdan MessageBay-am Manong ta no makaawid-n ak ket agparangak dita gate you a kasla agpanpantawag. Narigatak nga maka-awid during fiesta ta saan pay nga bakasyon dagiti ubbing ditoy Texas. Addanto latta ti panagkikinnita tayo ken Rain atbp. From: VIC MessageTHANK YOU, for your concern!..You and the other readers are my reasons for keeping this Board interesting to read within my capacity...Life in Asingan ( or in the Phil. ) takes a while to get adjusted to. I confess my mind frequently goes back to Toronto, especially now that Old man Winter is there freezing everything. Miggie's health improved a lot here. In Toron to, you could not help but use the gas heaters so your butt wont freeze, but there is always that fine dust that is emitted and it lingers inside the air of the house. It causes some mild breathing issues ( not so bad ). But in Asingan, the air is fresh all the time. Windows are open ( save for screened coverings to keep out the bugs at night ). Since we live amidst ricelands, there are so many bugs that come out at night, attracted by the lights...At daytime, you would see an ocassional ALIBOT crossing the road. I still have to see a snake in the grass but I guess they come out only when necessary. The water that is pumped out of the ground with jet matics are good only for washing or showering. You have to buy water in jugs for drinking which provides good money for the enterprenuers.... When night falls, I am wary of going out into the unlit streets of Domaquit. I just stay out in our balcony and I sometimes figure again where the small and big dippers are in the night sky. I knew where they are when I was younger. When the sky is cloudless at night, you could look up and remember what the main character of the sci fi novel 2001 SPACE ODYSSEY exclaimed: "My, it is full of stars!". ( Hope my quote is correct..:) ) From: FRGR MessageFor the A$$HOLE From: canada. His IP Address is: 76-102-133-163.hsdl.ca.comcast.net. Either he's from California or Canada using COMCAST provider. Town_City: calgary To: vic Remote Name: 76.102.133.163 Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 From: VIC MessageClick each foto to enlarge it and show the captions..( the link below )..thanks for your time! From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372090722807735.107989.100000204318379&type=1 From: VIC MessageThank you Alakdan!!! Napintas ti posting mo..Kasla diay logo iti Pinoy Box Office PBO ditoy pinas ..kunana ket ..ang buhay natin ay parang sine..implied na yung kontrabida doon!!..You should come home Sammy, so we can visit and see your magnificent house in Macalong!..Regards to you and to all! balita ko, uuwi yata si Rain..It will be a grand mini reunion of all friends if this happens during the town fiesta! From: Alakdan MessageAgpasalamat tay koma ti dakkel ken Manong Vic ta uray kaskasatno ket kasla naka-awid tayo metten dita dungdungwen tayo nga ili ti Asingan babaen iti panagsursurat na. He is doing us a great favor. Sabagay, kasla iti sine, adda latta met kontrabida. Keep on Manong Vic. From: VIC MessageHello..I am just guessing you must be an Asinganian from barangay Bantog..Thanks you. I am trying to make this Board like a magazine to reprot some vents in Asingan which I witness everyday..This #$%^& from Calgary ( we are not sure ) is not even from Asingan, but he hassles me every now and then..a coward cuz he does not tell his name, very insecure because he has problems in his life and he is venting it on me..But in writing, I encountered many friends a fe enemies..You can not please 100% of the people 100% of the time. That is how society is..But I will go on reporting the significant things I see..because our townmates are eager to know even small things in Asingan..Small interesting and typically about our town..And to that foul mouthed #$%^hole, if you do not like what you read, why bother coming at all?..Just go to hades and you will be happier there!! From: Jacksonville MessagePlease watch your language. Umapal ka laeng dika siguro makasurat, unlike manong Vic. From: canada Messagewhat the fuck you talking about lakay vic give the other people space old man From: VIC MessageAsingan is a good jumping place to the other nice places in Pangasinan. Urdaneta have grown much bigger, much busier and much more exciting with its 3 malls ( Magic mall, Balingit and CSI )Each one offers a different money trap if you have a weakness for Malls..:) You need a car to go Mall hopping or you can also use a tricycle. Malls close at 7:30 pm and it is not safe hanging around at night, not unless you have a car because of some bad elements that come out at night....Yesterday, from Urdaneta we took the road going to Manaoag. Before we reached this famous Shrine where people ask for the fulfillment of their wishes, a candle seller tried to sell us candles but all he got was a scolding from my sister who have been in Pangasinan all her 65 years..He stopped us, then he said there is a detour. We took the detour. Then he waved for us to stop. We stopped. Then he offered us his candles for sale. My sis told him "Why did you directed the traffic? You are not a cop!!" then slammed the door on his face. We had to go straight and thought we might wind up in Mapandan but my brod in law knows the terrain so we found ourselves at last in Manaoag..As usual, there are thousands of people there spread all over..Most are inside the church praying ( some watching out for a pocket to pick ). Then we went out and check the sight. Construction is going in preparation for May the busiest time for the place. There are lots of stores now that occupy the road going to Laoac or to Sn Jacinto..They offer religious articles, statues and also delicacies like tupig or patopat...We saw many students from Holy Rosary Academy gallivanting. You can tell by their uniforms..Then there were sick people on wheel chairs coming to plead to the Lady of Manaoag a relief from their body pains..We saw a tree showing where the original apparition of Mary, Mother God appeared first, and made Manaoag a very popular tourist shrine..This must be the Antipolo of pangasinan but I talked with balikbayans, who said that even if they live in Manila, each time they visit the Phil. they still want to visit Manaoag..There was a legend about the church which would make you wonder. During World War 2, a japanese plane dropped a bomb into the church. The bomb hit the front of the church, but it never exploded..Now there are two images of the lady of manaoag, one inside the big church and the other inside a small chapel just at the back of the main church. It has an overpowering atmosphere of spirituality. Once you have visited it, you will always want to come back. The name itself Manaoag I think is a Pangasinan word that means to call back.... From: VIC Message".. At first, you described the place as paradise on earth but with time, your journal took a darker turn wherein the paradise existed only in your mind and the reality is not at all paradise. Is your description influenced by the inconvenience living in the Philippines? Or your body has been acclimated to Canada that you are having difficulty adjusting living in the second or third world?"....The seemingly dark/sombre tone of my recent postings are some ( just 2 anyway, the rest are okay )friends who started "borrowing" money..:)..I know that they are having financial difficulties and my heart bleeds for them. To one, we lent some money w/c they promised to return in 1 week time. Well, it is past 2 weeks already...I will not press them for repayment but we will not give them a loan any more..I heard they owe money from others too and these are still unpaid. Oh well, it is just a few dollars if converted to this currency but we do not want to give impression we are easy target for loans..The other one was giving us a collateral, a title for a land..And the amt. is much higher. But I heard that the title do not mean anything because changing the ownership of a land in the Phil could cost high, around 40K or higher..So we said no outright, bbut we are still friends with them, I we still talk...Thats all..Not much to fret about..Its only money but money is money a commodity that is not to be wasted...Otherwise, our stay in the Phil. is a continous adventure into places like Urdaneta, Manaoag, Dagupan, Binmaaley, Lingayen and other small towns I have never seen before..I found that there is another way from Lingayen to Carmen vis towns like Bayambang, Basista, Bautista, Alcala, etc..Nothing significant about these towns..But the picturesque ones are towns like Alaminos, Lucap ( the starting point for a trip to 100 Islands ), Dasol and Sual,..These are seaside towns..Very pretty because of the seascape. And according to an acquaintance, all houses )( from the smallest to the biggest) have modern appliances..Reason? They say there are good landing places for big boats who would bring in various appliances which are cheap because these are brought in under the nose of the Coast Guard! ( You know what I mean..:) From: bisita MessageI enjoy reading your journal and I have been following your Asingan journal ever since you arrived there six months ago. At first, you described the place as paradise on earth but with time, your journal took a darker turn wherein the paradise existed only in your mind and the reality is not at all paradise. Is your description influenced by the inconvenience living in the Philippines? Or your body has been acclimated to Canada that you are having difficulty adjusting living in the second or third world? From: VIC MessageONLY IN DOMAQUIT WHERE : 1) you turn down the TV sound so you can hear the neighbours fighting 2) You need 2 cel phones. One to find where the other one is in case you forgot where you put it down. If you can not find both phones, then you are s...t out of luck...:) 3. Where some dogs are considered to be mobile garbage disposal units..4) if you put out your garbage on the curb for pick up, it will stay there til doomsday or until when the street dogs would tear the bags to pieces and the wind will blow away the contents to the nearby fields 5) you sometimes wonder why you left your home there abroad and settle here in the first place....:) From: vic MessageSparky acquired a 'bad" habit..Just recently. Each time some visitors come to the house, they leave their slippers at the door even if we insist them not to. Then Sparky comes to the doorstep and runs off with some of the slippers to play with them...:) So Rain, when you visit us, always keep your slippers hidden away from Sparky..The good news is, he does nit chew them to pieces. He just play with them. This warning is for all future visitors of the Bluhaus, ha ha!---### From: ABC MessageHi Vic... I'm happy that you had a wonderful night. You are now enjoying the life in Asingan with your wife and your friends. How's Sparky? Right now, I am here at my terrace watching people passing by with their dogs. I wish to have again one but it's a big decision whether I will get one or not. If I will have one again I'd like a Jack Russel and like my Lisl with 3 colors. It's nice to go for a walk with a dog to play with and talk to. Have a nice evening. From: VIC MessageAh what a night, belted Elvis in one of his songs..Last night was no exception, and yes Elvis was there for 3 minutes singing A FOOL SUCH AS I.. Mr. and Mrs. Ungos were there. They live a stone's throw away from our house. He retired from the Philippine Army. I forgot what branch but he was in charge of ammunition supplies. One of his interesting stories about his job is: If you sniff gunpowder constantly, it produces a temporary state of infertility for men. That is true, he affirmed..Well, in that case, I said you do not have to use prophylactics if you are in that line of work. He spent 30 years in the service. He said he learned how to pray when he was assigned in Mindanao. "When there are lots of gunfire in a forest and you could see and hear bullets whizzing by, you have no other recourse but to pray, while fighting or when in retreat." He is also one of the excellent singers last night. His favorite songs are those of the Platters. And he could hit those high notes with effort at all. His wife sings in the choir. His daughter Grace is also quite a singer with a powerful voice and good English to match. We called it a night at about 10:30 pm. We thought we could reach 4:00 am but it is church day the next day.. When we stopped singing, we heard another group doing the same exercise somewhere in Domaquit. 15 minutes after we stopped, they also ceased their singing.KARAOKE is still alive and well here in Asingan and all over the country.. From: Visitor MessageI know a Ramon Antonio in the U.S. Navy. Joined in 1974, went to Disbursing Clerk"a" school in Meridian, MS. Had a twin brother according to him. If you are the Ramon Antonio I know or if you know him, please sound off. From: ABC MessageI love to watch kites especially those with colors. I don't know how the others are made because some kites I know , you could hear something like a sound though it's flying so high. I have also read about your future playing a piano at a reunion. That's a nice idea so you could use that talent given by God to entertain people. I love to talk always about dogs but not the mouse. Maybe the mouse you have seen is really for pet or are they those just crawling on the floor? If they are the one I know, then he should kill them because they are dirty and very dangerous. From: VIC MessageWent to have my regular haircut from Manny, a gay hair stylist ( who does not mind being called such )..He is locquacious, very gay ( means happy ) and he seems to be talking forever which is not so bad for some of his stories werequite interesting..Well, in the middle of his hair cut job, another gay guy came into the shop carrying a mug of coffee and a piece of bread..Few minutes later, I saw a small black furry thing shot past under his mirror.." Is that a mouse?.." I asked..Manny answered casually.." Why dont you kill it?.." He answered: "He is my pet. Why would I kill it?..It is doing me no harm..He keeps me company. He smelled the bread and now he came out to tell me that he wants a piece of it.." He can't be serious, I said to myself but in a town like Asingan anything can happen..Anyhow the conversation continued until the history of the gay movement in Asingan was discussed according to the version of Manny...They will have the same agenda as last December: gay pageant, Gay dancing exhibition. For sure its gonna be a really gay celebration..Well come home Balikbayans and have a real gay time..:) From: VIC MessageAs I write this entry, I could hear children talking to each other in very loud voices, under a very hot sun which does not affect anymore their sunburnt skin. These are some of the waifs of Cabincolan/Domaquit engaged in a kite flying spree. They have small kites with short strings and the place where they launch their kites is a rough, grassy fields which has not been plowed yet for the next planting season..But its a Saturday when these are free from school. These are the kids who have no money to go to video games. But they do not know how lucky they are being engaged in a game which their fathers/grandfathers might have enjoyed some generations ago. During those years, kite flying was done with finnesse. The kite flyers have big ones. Sometimes their designs could put da Vinci to shame. Franklin used a kite to discover electicity. When I was young, I saw kiteflyers both kids and adults fly their kites in the plaza. The kites were way, way up sustained by stout strings. You could some with tails, some with side ruffles. Very small up there but once they are down, you will find them so big, sometimes as big as the flyers, made with bamboo, Japanese paper and glue..It is an art by itself. Kite flying was done during the long 2 month vacation. Do not be surprised if you see teachers and students flying kites side by side and staring at them hovering against the azure colored sky!!! From: VIC MessageThanks for your latest posting ABC..Here is another story re: my dog which I reprinted from my last posting on FB..You and others may not have read it yet!.Will write another story on childhood toys later...:).....According to Barangay Kagawad Deocares, he once filed a motion to name the narrow concrete street in front of our house as IPIL IPIL..There are many ipil ipil trees along the side, with other plants and also several ant hills ( locally called BON TON ) on the way. Ipil Ipil street starts with the end of Bautista street that becomes Ignacio when it crosses P. Ramos st. that traverses south to North .... This pm at around 4 00, I took Sparky for a walk. We went to a field where he sniffed everything. I had to pull him away from the area when he came into a carabao dropping and started to nibble it.. We went up again went this time to the area in the back part of our house. Here he saw several puppies on the street. He sniffed each one of them then he continued leading the way back to the house. He met a female dog who seemed to have just delivered a litter of puppies. Her teats are just hanging there, Sparky tried to kiss her but she showed a set of teeth so Sparky just backed out quickly. Then he met a neighbours dog, a female one. Her name is blackie because her coat was almost black. Well Sparky is a boy, Blackie is a girl and he tried to check if she likes to be mated. Blackie just ran away, Sparky went after her but he stopped abruptly because I was holding his leash. The western horizon turned golden yellow casting a beautiful light over Domaquit. Some goats were herded away by their owners. The whole day, the sky was cloudless, the winds were still and a thick humid air made me quite uncomfortable. But still it is cooler than some evenings and I thanked God for the end of another perfect Day in Domaquit.. From: ABC MessageWe girls have also our own handmade toys like dolls we made from old clothes and I love the to play ball made of coconut leaves. Though the ball is not really round we enjoy playing with it. I love to fly kites too made by my brother. One thing I enjoyed very much is " bahay-bahayan. With bahay-bahayan we cook. We used to catch grasshoppers, grill them and eat them. And the climbing guava trees and duhat is so exciting. When you compare the children before and now, there is a big difference. Children now play with computers, game boy and so many hi-tech toys and always in front of tv. Not like before that our parents have time for us to tell stories before bed time . I missed those happy years. From: Zeus MessageI just got here in Singapore again, going back home in Los Angeles 2moro for 30 days vacation and to see my family. 4 months underway 2 months vacation. I like underway for right now it triple my base pay from OT hehehehe! Burnt out not yet so samantalahin. Enjoy Asingan Manong Vic!>>>>>>>> to ICarus: I am not a toy- deprived either already contented from those Icarus description about handcrafted toys like helicopters made from “sardines can” attached with bamboo stick to push so it will rotate its blades. I got cut my fingers from those sharp blades from the can when my very first time I want to make one for my self. Eventually, as a parent grown up with those kinds of toys we know that we were just fine and contented. But inner feelings we felt like I would say repudiation because when our kids have enough but still no contentment then we bring out the deprived moments that we had in the past and act in a sentimental way “pakunsensiya effect,” I think this could be our culture… personifying, thoughts of we are giving them good idea to realized as being or to behaved in conformity. I didn’t see this kind of pakunsensiya actions here in the US, maybe it is an effect of poverty, for us it is sour grapes denial – okay but deep inside not… well, I think it works… I guess! I used it most of the time now my kids were behaving for that conscience tactics. From: VIC MessageMiggie and I met Norma Butuyan yesterday at the Seniors Office. She asked me if I could play at the Seniors reunion Feb 12..I said yes. I need some activity so I wont get bored..:) I will look for other places to render volunteer services as a musician teacher.. From: VIC MessageDual citizenship certificate is good enough...so you can still have ur foreign pension..)Best of both worlds!!! From: Reader MessageYou are lucky Manong Vic, because from where I come from they will not give you a Senior Card unless you are a Filipino citizen. But then again anything is possible in the Philippines if you know somebody. From: VIC MessageSomething would be amiss if I do not thank Asingan Mayor Haidee in helping us with our application for Senior's Card this morning. There is a bit of red tape involved in the process of our application ( yes, there is some difficulty ) but as soon as a clerk showed Mayor our Barangay Clearance papers, she just said: " Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Costes are my neighbours " and immediately our cards were processed. Thank you, Mayor Haidee. We are much obliged!!..Another big thank you for Roger Daranciang for telling us a day before that if there is a difficulty in applying for the card, just contact Mayor Haidee..Sometimes it pays to know the right good people in Asingan to help us through with some problems..Thanks, Roger!... From: VIC MessageWe got our Senior's cards this am..Yay!!! It means we are now entitled to 20 % off the prices of those yummy meals at Chow King and other eateries. I will just be sure I will not lose my card since I find difficulty remembering where I place cards, cel phones, wallets and other teeny weeny items..Night has brought down its cape again over Domaquit and the cicada nocturnal concert has started..Last night even if there was no rain, the frogs were croaking..I found out that some irrigation water was released to some paddies and some froggies who were hiding under the mud might have come up, jumping with life again!..The stars shone resplendent as ever..Thru the fresh night air, even now I could hear the sound of a stereo inside one of these beautiful mansions here in Domaquit. There are just few of them, compared to the other Barangays whose streets are lined with newly constructed palaces..Banjo a driver of Grace Gurion once pointed to us the house of Sammy Antonio, and my it is a magnificent palace fit for kings!..Wow, when are you coming home to show us the interior of your dwelling place, Sammy?...The beautiful houses now are in the Barangays, not anymore in Poblacion! From: VIC MessageI believe that man/woman is made up of a mortal body and an immortal soul. A few would not subscribe to this belief but this is a free world where every one can follow whatever his line of thinking is..Sometimes, the soul gets separated from the body. I read some hospital Operating Room cases when a NDE ( Near Death experience ) occurs. The patient "dies". Maybe the heart stop beating for a bit or he stops breathing or there is no pulse.There will be a scramble to resuscitate the patient and luckily the patient starts breathing again, his heart resumes working and all signs of life return..When the patient is interviewed after a few hours, he related that he saw himself floating. He saw his body on the opersting table, asleep. He ( the spirit ) could move about using his will power. There is a feeling of joy and lightness because his soul, most probably is already away from the influence of his body...Then, all of a sudden he found himself back on the operation table, not on the ceiling of the room. Several cases of these were recorded and there is no clear medical explaination. This incident may have a similar bearing to your posting, Zeus and it is something to think about or to discuss about with others who believe in such incidents..But it does boost what many preachers talk about re: death, souls, including life after death..Let us just keep an open mind on this subject for after all there are so many stories written about NDE and i think there must be a grain of truth in it!!!! From: Zeus MessageA Short Story of the Transcendent Who would have been familiar with the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that has been called transcendent? I was on that state many times, started when I was in College. I don’t know if I already have been told that story or posted to Manong Vic’s blog site. By the way, I love to bring out this story. In 1984 at Pag-asa Quezon City, I was living in my uncle house for my first and second years in college then I had been transferred to the apartment in Moret Sampaloc Manila for my senior years which closer to my school. Pag-asa Q.C. although it is considered a part of a big city (Manila) but just like I was living in the province that people know each other, I collected friends I even have been joined Barangay Basketball team. One time, I invited my barkadas from Asingan to see me playing on my team unfortunately, what they saw was fighting instead of playing basketball hahahaha! It was chaos did not finish the game both team fans and players were throwing rocks and stone, we just ducked run back home. My barkadas who visited me was Walter Robina, Ramon Arzadon, and Bettong Castillo, hmmm! These names sound familiar? They are from Western Poblacion. Walter Robina is already here in the US I think in Seattle. My uncle house in Pag-Asa located at the edge of the narrow and shallow river with different kind of trees around. My uncle built two bedrooms for me and my cousin that attached at the back of their house 10 feet away from the edge of the river. There were small window at the side closed to my bed every time I open the branches of the bamboo tree always stick in inside most of the time I cut those branches but it grows fast kinda spooky at night but I got used to it. One time at noon I was taking a nap to have strength and ready for night class. That day was my first experience of the transcendent that I would never forget, I called it “a day of shallow fretful sleep” hence, consciously of my surroundings. When I stood up I felt light thought already awake, my mind maybe my spirit decided to walk forward toward the river and plan to cross and go to other side, and thus my surroundings was getting darker. I looked back on my bed I saw my body but kinda fuzzy. From that moment still vivid in my mind that my thought and my feelings were in my soul… my body was just laid down in the bed I felt no feelings and no physical sensation. Subsequently, when I realized that everything was just dreaming I went back closed to bed I have been taken a glimpse of my body but it was really fuzzy I can’t see how I look. I felt scared because I know what was going on like the same feeling as physically alive, and thus I (my spirit) just sit and laid my back on the bed where my body laid down… abruptly my whole body felt numb obviously I was in nightmare my mind cleared I can think and decide what would I do. While, I was in paralyze mode I can still remember the preach from my mom told us when we were young she always said, “that if you would’ve been a nightmare with numb like can’t even move any parts of the body just wiggle the thumb of your feet both side.” as my mind actively managed to think what my mom preached and to tell to move off those thumbs of my feet surprisingly, the reviving feelings smoothly goes up from my foot onto my whole body, what a relief it was until I got up gasping like I managed with a great exertion, and thus I had a queasy feeling as it goes away after minutes of putting all together what was happening to me. Hah! What a nightmare it was. Sometimes when I had that shallow fretful sleep at night or dream… I was tempted to go walk furthermore. Thus, with going far from my body I had different sensation felt like my mind and my focus was dull not so clear from that moment. Someone told me I would have to practice this, and thus I am scared how about if I go travel furthermore then I can’t find my way back, nah-ah! That would be very scary. From: Zeus MessageA mile of pautang list that's normal to every Filipino who are in abroad particularly US/Canada. You know what my wife did if some of our relatives asking loan? Only from the first attempt they could have loan. When you handed them money show them your book list that you writing their name as to remind them that's really a loan. Anyhow, here another trick my wife like when they asked 2$ give only 1$ loan don't expect the payback anymore believe it or not they can't ask for next time anymore but someone would try but my wife said, "pay your loan first." hahahaha! only 4 words to say no more explanation then that persistent relatives I don't think next time would bother you again. Now, the first loan to your friends specially relatives would be considered as your gift. I think this trick click for those can't say no to their relatives. Saan da nga maibaga nga imot ka, right? From: VIC MessageHave to go out of the house once in a while..otherwise, we will go bananas! A retiree can not really afford not doing anything..Other wise you will retire 6 feet under the ground in no time..:D....see ya in d board 2 night From: Rain MessageSo the topic dogs..toys. Sorry to say i'm scared of dogs he-he ..i prefer birds love them and those colorful fish . Anyhow i prefer reading your satires because they are funny rather than watching the impeachment proceedings. I can remember also the times when i was young, at that time there were still no online games so my childhood was quite. Sleeping early when it is dark , as much as i wanted to go down thru the window ngeks! to play in the streets but iwas afraid my Dad would whack my butt if he finds out i escaped. So i just play the piano at night instead:D From: VIC MessageMy family loved dogs as far as I remember. We had a relative in Baguio before who gave us beautiful puppies. One was named silver because of its silvered coloured long hair..One afternoon, our dog was hit by a car and suffered a broken hip. He survived but he could not walk anymore. We did not have the heart to euthanize him, but we let him live to the end of his natural life. We hated to put him away so we just got used to his crawling, dragging his paralyzed hind legs..We had other dogs and these roamed free in the streets. At dawn, they would join the pack of other dogs and sometimes these would gather in the town plaza. See? even dogs used our town plaza before for their meetings..My last story is aout a number of cats whom my dad always fed. When my dad died and was inside a coffin, the cats were always near dad's final resting place. During his funeral, the cats were all sitting on the window pane watching his funeral..A few days after his funeral the cats dissapeared from the house one by one.... From: VIC MessageMy favorite toys before were some stones shaped like people which I culled from the riverbanks or the roadside. I was a collector of these odd shaped stones which I used as action figures. A nice looking stone would be the hero, another nice looking piece would be a heroine. Grotesquely ugly stones would be the villains. Slightly bigger stones would be monsters.. Then I would make these figures talk with my own words and different voice pitches...I would bring these toys to our backyard which was then a small sea of grass and srubs..The shrubs became forests. On rainy days we would bring these playthings inside the house. Any dark corner of the house would become a haunted castle. Maybe from these toys I developed a good imagination...My other playmates used PALSOOT, some PALSIIT. The latter is a sling shot with a Y shaped handle made of a strong branch. Up to now I would see a farmer passing by the house riding on a bike visiting his field with a slingshot in his back pocket. Maybe to shoot birds or similar pests. Palsoot, during our time were made of a small bamboo segment with a small bamboo stick used like a piston inside the small bamboo. The idea is to put a wet piece of paper stuffed in side the bamboo then create a projectile out of the small piece of paper with the small stick.Its clearer to have a picture or a sketch that would show how the palsoot works.If you want a basic projectile toy, place a rubber band on your thumb and fore finger, put a short rolled paper bent in the middle on the extended end of the rubber band, stretch it as far as you can then release it towards a target...Marbles were also popular during those days.. Or paper boats kids used on water filled canals...And on bright sunny afternoons, kites were seen over the plaza with a good sized crowd consisting of both kids and adults who have pretty kites to fly.At that time, we still have a plaza for kite flying and for Friday PMT drills.. From: VIC MessageIf you are a balikbayan on $$ pension, eventually some relatives/acquaintances would approach you for a loan..I have heard of stories from both sides. One of a Balikbayan who have already written off more than 50K pesos of loans to relatives which were never been paid. If you give and got nothing back, you will be named a sap. If you refused to open your wallet you will be called a miserable stinker. You are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. That is the part of retiring in Asingan ( or anytown, Pang. ) It really depends on you, to give or not to give..If you a few $$ to write off, do it. Trouble is if word spreads around re: what you are doing chances are you will soon have a line of people at your door trying their chance to have a loan. That would spoil your desire to retire in your hometown.. Of course, the best loan would be that to ask for a collateral. These range from a working cel phone to a land title..Trouble is, transfering a land title to your name would incur much time and money... From: MessageIyirikan is not 5-6 but it is not very far behind. It reeks of usury and exploitation because it makes willing victims of poor and desperate farmers who do not know any better. And unless you are prepared to write it off as a dole-out, it’s guaranteed to make you enemies. This mode of lending for interest seems painless but lulls the farmers into borrowing more than they can afford to pay. Thus, some borrow irrationally. And worse, some unscrupulous borrowers misuse the iyirikan loan for personal vices. But because iyirikan is supposed to be underwritten by the rice harvest, its repayment burdens the entire household whether they benefitted or not. If you want to invest your idle money for some modest return, go for the bonds. If you simply want to help the poor, don’t start a dole-out program. You will never be able to sustain it and it would only gain you frustration. There are a number of micro-financing groups and cooperatives that train people who are willing to work for sustainable livelihood and provide for a revolving capital. This is the most sensible way of making your dollars work for the financial benefits of the poor. From: sonny MessageMng Vic, on the subject of toys: There will never be enough money for toys, unless one is born with a set of super rich parents and grandparents who can pander to every boyish whim. The majority could only dream and droll of toys that are far beyond the reach of ordinary people. But sometimes deprivation is a disguised blessing. Quite ironically, the joys of kiddie play are not all about having the latest and the most expensive toys. It is most of all freeing one’s imagination, enabling make-believe to flourish and, in the process, encouraging the development of a child’s natural creativity to craft and to improvise. Most of today’s children raised with fantastic gadgetry may no longer experience the joy and sense of accomplishment in flying their own handcrafted kites, or spinning a top they themselves fashioned from the neighborhood langka tree. As barrio kids in asingan, me and my playmates never knew about radio-controlled toy cars and planes, or those realistic looking play guns; we never raced sports cars in a virtual race track. But we were extremely pleased pulling around our “cars” and “trains” fashioned out of milk and sardine cans. Or do our cowboy and Indian routines with bamboo pistols and banana stalks for horses. Our guns don’t flash or pop or shoot rounds but we can make up for that with unbelievably effective sound effects. And the wonder is, we grew up just fine. We were not so toy-deprived afterall. ;D From: ABC MessageMy heart also is in pain every time I remember Lisl. I know she died because of sorrow when her master died. It was exactly four months after my husband died and she died too. I left her to a friend while my husband was in the hospital. After four months, I told my son we will go and pick her. When I called up my friend she couldn't speak but cried and cried. Later on she told me what had happened. It was a very bad news that made me more sad. Since I left her to our friend I have never seen her again then came the sad news. Dogs are really very loyal friends. And do you know that Lisl knows when my husband and I have some misunderstandings? She doesn't like to come to me. She's always at his feet. When the red cross came here to give him first aid, Lisl was jumping on his bed. She was shouting and shouting. I'm sure she knows what's going on. So I said to myself I don't like anymore to have a dog here in my place. Maybe I will buy a puppy for my sister there in the Philippines so the thieves cannot just come in to the house. From: VIC MessageTo night, I left the house at about 8 30 pm..Sparky2, our dog in Asingan, was chained to one of the house pillars..I locked the house,, locked the gate, then took a stroll in the unlit alleys of Domaquit into Cabincolan. After clearing my head for a bit, I went back to the house..My first time to walk in such a dark passageway. Some distance from our gate, I heard a dog howling very sadly..I walked faster to find out that it was Sparky 2 howling! When he saw me leave the house, something registered in his mind that I may not come back and so this set him into a mournful howl. My heart melted and realized, indeed a dog is a very loyal companion. Once they love you, they will never stop doing so. If you are gone for a long time, they will be waiting for you, patiently until your return!----# From: VIC MessagePiano playing, like any other art gives a two fold benefit: first to the player and 2nd to the listener..Before we left Toronto, I was a volnteer pianist/entertainer in a Nursing Home near my house. Every 6:30 pm, Mondays, my wife and I go to the library of the Home where a piano is..Then for 1 hour, I play by ear all the old time songs I know by heart. We made copies of the lyrics using the in house printer of the facility.It was fun!..For me, my wife who is the song leader and the seniors many of whom have Alzeimers, but can still remember the music/lyrics of the golden oldies..Very fulfilling volunteer work. Am still looking for an equivalent volunteer work here in Asingan but , it seems the picking is slim in here..There is a Senior s club but I think singing is not their cup of tea..In the meantime I keep my playing fingers by regular exercise at least daily..Playing anyway requires not only playing fingers but a set of mind and love for music..And in many parties in Toronto, each time there is a piano and I start playing it, a crowd usually gathers aand sometimes an impromptu sing a long group is formed!..here is to Music, one of the best things we have in this life!!! From: ABC MessageI love to listen to a piano. When I was still there in the Philippines, I used to go to a piano bar on my day off. I am not fond of going to discos even when I was young. Right now I'm listening to piano play list. It is very relaxing. About the business with palay , it is really risky because sometimes during the harvest time, you expect you will get the interest of what you invested but they will tell you ... sorry we will just give you the next harvest time because we have nothing to eat. Or if it is flooded, you get nothing. I like to do that also but I pity these poor farmers when they give you your palay and almost nothing left for them. I can't afford to see them hungry. About liver , it is really good when not well done. It is juicy but when it is well done it is dry and like a rubber. From: VIC MessageOne of my nocturnal activities inside ( not outside) our house is playing the piano. Right now it is a Yamaha electronic keyboard but it really does not matter as long you play it right..My next door neighbour commented she enjoys listening to my piano nocturnes, especially Chopin's Eb , and she said she does not sleep until I stop and call it a day.."I bet your wife enjoys it too, she added..She is the woman with 6 kids and a husband who drives a tricycle for a living..Miggie had a lunch with a couple of neighbourhood women and they talked re: assorted topics..One lady is the daughter of Fely Ungos who is also one of Miggies new friends..They broiled some catfish and I asked for pork liver which they delivered too..I wanted it rare with a bit of blood but it became well done being in the same grill as the catfish..Did not mind since there were still other grilled stuff ( pork chop)plus the interesting chat that only women could make...Yep, they talked about unfaithful husbands, some easy ways to make some money with lending them to farmers called IRIKAN..Your thousand pesos will earn some palay after it is harvested..It is not usury nor 5-6 but they say many are doing it in Asingan..They are suggesting to Miggie to try it, but toold her it has some risks, just like anything else in life..:) From: VIC MessageYes, I know...But larceny is universal. It happens everywhere . Cabincolan / Domaquit has particular situations conducive to such..Privacy is not observed that much. What privacy?..On week ends when there is no school, kids ran about like mice ..There are no parks, playgrounds ih the area..Some play by themselves in the ricefield with various hobbies. Yesterday, I saw 3 kids playing with their pet pigeons. They let them fly seeing where they would go and land. We asked them if the birds will go back home and they said yes..My heart bleeds for those kids who are so poor they can not afford toys..One neighbour said, she can not leave her house because would just barge in ( during week ends ) and would get anything they like inside their house..Out of these kids would come the petty thieves. At midnight some prowlers would go around houses checking if the gates are locked. If not, and there are no dogs, they would just come in steal anything they can take out thru the open gate..I have to buy a gun for my use. Fencrs and gates do not deter big time crooks. People say big houses with balikbayans are targets of certain crooks thinking these have loose money in the house..With a gun and the knowledge to use it, I could just shoot to scare the individual or to shoot him in some body part in case he does not stop. Some kids high on drugs are really daredevils not knowing what they are doing..Ghosts do nit scare me at night, but a drug crazed individual would really scare the s..t out of me! When the sun sets over Domaquit, I never get out of my house anymore!!! From: Reader Message"It is YALE brand with long stems and only Superman can open it without a key" .Just a reminder Manong Vic nowadays if they want to rob your house they can to it. They have either a bolt cutter that will cut anything or they will use acetylene torch. I don't know what we can do to protect ourselves from this bad elements of society, maybe a gun will do it. From: Ramon Antonio Messageupdate on the forthcoming Barangay Fiesta, April 26 will be the Balikbayan Night or Homecoming Night, April 27 Coronation Night, April 28 Barangay Night and awarding of Prizes and April 29 will be the SK Night. From: Ramon Antonio Messageupdate on the forthcoming Barangay Fiesta, April 26 will be the Balikbayan Night or Homecoming Night, April 27 Coronation Night, April 28 Barangay Night and awarding of Prizes and April 29 will be the SK Night. From: VIC MessageMe? I did hear a lot of unexplainable noises in our house, esp. at night!..and before i forget I did hear 3 times a very masculine voice, clear as a bell, asking me WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Turned around, but saw nobody..But somehow I was not scared or anything..Back to the house noises..In the room where my grandma lived and died, I heard her coughing 3 nights AFTER she was buried...Some carpenters renovating the building which housed the rice mill belonging to my grandma, they hearx sounds of chain, saw some flashing lights...etc. The carpenetrs slept in the building at night, and they worked by day..How can one explain those weird sounds/...shakespeare once said that there are things on earth and in the heavens that can not be explained by human mind... From: ABC MessageI think you need a new lap top. After the burial of my husband, I could hear lots of noises like falling books, some small stones rolling under our bed and sometimes I could hear him calling my son. But that time I was already so ill and not anymore eating or if I have eaten, I don't really know. I was always shaking and always sleepless until I was hospitalized. One day I went to a nerve doctor asking his help. I was given some antidepressants that only worsen my situation so I stopped it. Some friends said I am only hallucinating. After three years I am getting better by thinking and slowly recovering and now fully recovered. So the ghost I was thinking before was not true. You mentioned in your posting about Salzburg. It's a small town but very beautiful. Yes they shot The Sound Of Music in this town. I am planning to go there this summer. From: VIC MessagePrior to the last entry, I was writing a story about our old family house. Included was an interesting account of our family since 1920...When I was already starting on the "ghostly" incidents inside our house, my long account just simply dissapeared from the Message Board! Cant understand why! I sometimes write directly into the message board...I think my deceased granparents do not want me to write about the spooks in our old house. So they played tricks on me, a while ago..Either that or I already need a new laptop..:) Sorry abc, the ghost story was for you...no more ghost stories..In fact I think ghosts are invented by classic writers and lately reinvented by Hollywood with its new digital effects!...:D From: VIC MessageI will tell you a short anecdote that happened last night in the front yard...At about 7:00 pm, we saw some froggies on the courtyard. A cricket happened to alight beside one frog ( baad move!) and Mom saw the frog whipped out his tongue and lassoed the cricket with it!.."Very fast!" Mom said..By the way, we decided to name our new dog Sparky...:)..Sparky this Sparky is very freindly, quiet and I expected him to pounce on the froggies! But he let them alone. When he sees us, he would literally jump out of his skin standing on his hind legs and making some soft whining sound..But since he moved in, no more nocturnal visits from neighbourhood cats who just love to make their malodourous droppings there in our yard..Our dog looks like a setter, a bird hunting dog..He is handsome looking. He is now getting a bit fat what with Mom's feeding him rice and igop-igop*!..You will love him when u see him in person, ooops, in real life!....*what we call soup or caldo... From: VIC MessageInstead of my usual entry, I am advertising an album I posted in Facebook: Twillight in Domaquit..Search Vic Costes on Facebook, then you can find the photo album in my account..I will posst the regular story tommorow.. From: ABC MessageHi Vic... Guten Morgen! I am still awake and cleaning a bit in the kitchen. I am not sleepy yet so I said I have to do something. I'm so happy that I already have something to read before going to bed! And maybe there will be another one when I wake up? It's 12:05 midnight here. I will go to bed in a few minutes so I will be ready for my story tomorrow. If I am only near in that house you told me I will sleep there for one night to let the people know I don't believe in ghosts. In summertime I used to stay in the cemetery until 10:00 in the evening alone. And I never heard anything except a cat. So see you here again tomorrow. Aufwiedersehen- a very formal of saying goodbye. We always use Tschüss or Ciao From: VIC MessageThanks for the posting re: the robbery..This is a very common problem anywhere in the world, esp. in the Phil.Fortunately, we have a big lock on both garage and main gates. It is YALE brand with long stems and only Superman can open it without a key. But then why would Superman open the lock when he can fly over?..:)..Joking aside, the only people who "robbed" our house in the Phil. were the previous occupants the night beofre they left it so we can take over. We signed the ownership papers and the occupants/guardians were supposed to vacate it already. The real owner lives abroad, the guardians were her relatives...They stole the door locks and double locks from 2 main doors leaving the house unprotected for 1 night!..This is the trouble of buying a house in Asingan without a real estate agent. Anything can happen during the closing day and you can not predict whats gonna happen..But with a real estate aagent, you are sure he/she would take care of everything before you move in.We just counted it as a valuable experience...There is big house nearby for sale..Heard that the original price of 10 million went down to 6 mil. A car is included. It is really a mansion. But the seller has difficulty selling it because word was spread by the neighbours thaat the house is haunted by its previous male owner ( from the US ) who died of sickness in the US just 2 weeks of stay in this house. Story went around that he never enjoyed his stay in the house, so his soul wants to remain in it for a while. Sometimes the neighbours say somebody is making the car's horn sound at midnight and nobody is inside the car!..Oh I love it when I hear some storiees like these because I aahve another one to put in the AMB!...:) From: ABC MessageThree months ago a thief broke into my house. I was wondering how he was able to come in. We have a good lock which I bought here. I think my sister forgot to lock the door. He got a cell phone just beside my sister who was sleeping and took her wallet in the kitchen where light was on and checked it. Bad luck for him because there were only few coins in it. Two days before I sent her money to pay the bills. She was lucky because the thief didn't come into the room where the money was and her ATM. If we had a dog I'm sure the thief could not just come in. I am thinking of having again a dog but to have a dog is not that simple. You need to take her out everyday, play with her and give her a nice food too. With food there's no problem. I just want that the dog is really given an attention. One time I called up my sister and didn't realize I dialed her old number. One lady answered and said " you have a call" But I was wondering because the one she was talking to didn't answer the phone then that was the time I realized the thief was so poor that he wasn't even able to buy a new sim card. My sister told me she felt she wants to go to the toilet. To her surprised she saw a guy walking quietly going out of the house. She wanted to shout for help but she was so afraid. The guy jumped up our gate . And my sister realized he removed a flower pot on top of our gate so he could come in. It was 3:00 in the morning that time. I don't believe of poverty. What I know is that a lot of people are so lazy. Even my avocado tree they have stolen all its fruits that was reserved for me when I come home. From: VIC MessageI realize we are constantly sharing stories, in tnis Board and I appreciate your inputs which lend colour, variety, surprise and good will in this Board...In fact that is what the creator of this Board, Mr. F. Marinias envisioned this Board to promulgate...ABCs dog stories are so cute and any dogowner would love to read this piece over and over again..I spent a 2nd day with my dog and I found him extraordinary! First he is very quiet, but he barks at strangers and other dogs..When he sees us, he shows so much affection by jumping and raising his paws to touch my hands.Then he tries licking my face when I put on or unlatch his collar. When I take him for a walk, he sniffs and runs and look at the new roadside views..I chain him outside for the night and I think he likes it because he lies down to sleep not minding the frogs hopping on his domain..To Zeus, Fely and Miguelita became good friends and Miggie is happy because she promised to look after our house when we are away for 6 months..Her house is just across the street. She and a nieghbour named baby would sleep here and would clean up the house in the day time when necessary..The fact that they live across the street makes aa difference. And it adds to our peace of mind when we are in Toronto...Cabincolan is still Cabincolan, full of excitement esp. during early evening hours because of the loud music from houses, kids playing around and some stores with costumers drinking beer while telling tall stories!...Not only stores but house front yards. Friends and neighbours would gather ( menfolks with same sex and womenfolks with same )..The difference with the two groups is the presence of beer and marka demonyo among the menfols!!...My closing entry describes a sight I saw a while ago which i seldom see in Toronto. because of the absence of streetlights in Domaquit, one could see a full night sky filled with stars during cloudless nights ( just like tonight ). Again, I could make out the big and smaall dipper constellations in the black cabincolan sky..When I was a kid, I always look at these constellations plus the evening star in the west. My brand new eye sight now makes me see the evening star change color every second, from red, green yellow. But the star is so small and you need really a good eye sight ( or telescope ) to see it...There is also the morning star and it is plain white and you can see it before dawn and it dissapears when the sun brings another day to our world..To imagine the stars are light years away, and they are so huge in size and so old in age, then your mind is boogled and you can not help but acknowledge the Creator how Great He is !!! From: Zeus MessageYap! many poverty in cabingcolan understand some looks has no future could be a cons maybe but I don't blame them least if someone had been in Jail or got a lot of trouble from school. I was one of them once upon a time in Asingan. Neighbors, friends and relatives was talking to my mom bitching about me, I was 14 to 20 years old then. Some Mothers said to my mom that I have no future and I couldn't be a better person "inlak-am ko kano ni tatay ko" because they had been observing me as barkadista always in Marketside/Plaza with those teens has bad reputations. Well, I never regret all those things it was a good time and I kept it as a good memories... and also, because I never did wrong never been in any demeanor or went to Jail just love to play basketball the whole fu#$#N day everyday, that's it. That time I felt my mom's frustration about me every f@c#$#3n day I got sermon and whack my a$$ from my dad because of my vices and always home late not with them for Lunch and Dinner most of the time. Just one day, my life suddenly changed when I met my ex-girlfriend now my wife. She had been directed my life as a whole made me realized everything, and she opened a new world for me. I was good in HS things I never study harder enough to line up in top 100 hahaha! Joke! And never did my home work or study. But college is totally different though. Although already late when I get in such 23 years old when I started college with very good grades and finished engineering just 4.5 years loaded every semesters. Who wouldn't inspired going to school (college) if you have a beautiful room mate hehehe! My wife was good in defense she guarded me well. I gave her an alias name "Jaworski"////\\\\ FGRD! that's a good one about San Miguel Pale Pilsen! From: FGRD MessageAnother version of SAN MIGUEL PALE PILSEN that I heard long, long time ago. Sa Airport Namatay May Isang Galman Uminom Eh Lasing Patay Aquino Luko Eh Pasok Imelda Lusot Sana Eh Nabuking. From: abc MessageThanks for telling me where are you on that photo with your wife. It was only my guess Vic and it came true. From: abc MessageI love to talk about dogs. Lisl, my last dog was born Nov.4,1995. I got her as my valentine's gift from my husband. She was not a puppy anymore but still lovely. After a few months with us, she could already understand English. She is always with my husband in the car when I'm at work. During weekends we go for a walk in the woods and in the fields. She knows if I am going with them or not. If my husband tells me "darling put on your running shoes and we will go for a walk." Lisl waits in front of the door waiting for me. If I am slow she barks. Maybe she's calling me. She knows also if I am not going with them 'cause she will go down together with my husband. There's no problem with her in going up and down the house. She is a well- trained dog and very intelligent and very friendly.When she sees a group of people downstairs she kiss all their feet a sign that she greets everyone. If she left her ball under the bed , the next day if I say get your ball and wait for me at the door and we will go for a walk, she still remembers where she left it. The first thing we noticed from her when she runs, one leg is not touching the ground. My husband said I think the second owner ( we were the third )used to hit her that's why she has a problem with one leg. i used to massage her foot but still she runs with one leg up. So I tried to observe the other Jack Russels when they run one leg is not really touching the ground. She loves to stay under the sun and when we go for a walk by the river I let her swim. Dogs here are like a member of the family like in Canada , US and other countries. She could walk around the house but not allowed to sit on the couch and she has her own bed. I take her with me when I go shopping but she wants to go inside the supermart which is prohibited. So I just leave her where the other dogs are tied but she is shouting and I couldn't concentrate with my shopping. Sometimes I just leave her on the window where she could see me walk going to the shop. She was my fifth dog but the others were my dogs in the Philippines. My first dog's name was Tiger. We named her tiger because of her hair. Queennie is the second who loves to eat fruits, Franzie is the third who is a gay I think. Timmy is fourth and a very good dancer and Lisl is the fifth and the last. I don't like to have dog anymore after Lisl died of a heart attack. I missed her so much. From: VIC MessageThanks for the dog training hints, Zeus..he is already quite big, but I will still try to teach him something..I will soon post his photo in the net..His ribs are showing. I do not think he is given the right food by the previous owner. Some families here in Domaquit are quite poor with no chance of breaking the social barrier except to go abroad..Sometimes their dogs are given rice and saalt/bagoong, because the adults themselves do not eat much. There are two kids ( male twins) who love hanging in our gate. Some kids are sweet..Some are born to be future cons. Many have the hobby of stealing anything that could be swiped from the yard. All the houses in Domaquit have experienced being robbed, mostly bikes or tribikes, if these are left in the yard and the gate is not locked...Now we have a dog who barks at people he does like..Maybe he smell if the person is aa petty thief!.. I realize that Asingan has some imperfect people but it has many friends who would go all the way to help you or to extend a helping hand. This morning, Miggie passed by a neighbour who was broiling eggplants..She handed Miggie two broiled ones and we are so elated. They own a store in the corner. Most stores in Asingan have iron bars...:)..You would know the reason why..One night, someone tried to pick one of our gate locks. It is that kind of lock which does not lock until you remove the inserted key. If you use another key chances are it will not unlock anymore and remains permanently locked. So it is there to remind us of ABC, always be careful!...We do not go out anymore when it is dark because if you are a balikbayan you might become a target for some small time robbers in the area. The streets here are not lighted either. Some streets have lights, but the electrical consumption of the bulb is shouldered by the house nearest to that street light! hardy har har! Imagine that happening in US/Canada...That will mark the end of days in the civilized world as we know it...:D From: Zeus MessageArnold Schwarzengger born in Austria from the small village name Thal in 1947. He migrated in the US in 1968. He is a true from rugs to rich started as weight lifter to a successful actor then he became the governor of California.///\\\Manong Vic, trick to train your dog in conventional way. Put food in your hand just give the food when he/she accomplish something don't give him food if he fail. Start from the basic, I think the stairs is a good one but start the one he knows already the going up then the difficult which is going down. I will give your dog 1 to 3 days to achieve the training. If he got it in 1 day that maybe you can continue to train him another trick or more. Everything depend on the dog talents. Good Luck! From: VIC MessageOn his first night in the house, I woke up at 10:00 pm with his loud barking. So I went down, opened the door and let him in. He must be seeing several things to bark at with his sharp canine night vision...It is his second time to enter the house..Then i went back to bed..Minutes later, I found out that he followed me to my bedroom located on the 2nd floor..When I tried telling him to go down, I found out that he can climb stairs, but he does not know how to climb down! Heck i said while thinking of a solution..There is a balcony on the 2nd floor so I pulled him and pushed outside. There is a storm door made of metal in that balcony. Then I went back to bed..Miggie who was watching TV on the first floor did not hear his barking nor the sound of my footsteps leading him out into the balcony..Once the door of the TV room, with sound of electric fan and the racket of the TV, all other sounds from outside is cut off..And I was sound sleep at that time...Now, she went out of the TV room for a drink of water, she heard a scraping on the storm door. She did not know the dog was outside so the first thing that came to her mind is a burglar trying to break in..She took a big kitchen knife, went up the stairs to check the noise. And when she was walking up, the dog stopped his scratching! The more she thought that the scratching is being done by a person..So she walked slow and quietly, turned on the switch of the balcony door, then lo and behold, she saw the dog!..What a feeling of relief she might have!...She came down continued with the TV hoping she could fall asleep, but her adrenaline rush kept her awake the whole night!..If she could have told me before hand when she came up, I could have told her it was the pooch doing it!!..In the morning, I went to the balcony, opened the door and let the dog out. I led him to the stairs..He still is afraid of going down. I had to carry him down and it seems it was ages since that mongrel took his last bath!!! From: VIC MessageI do have a photo on the main message Board before you enter the sign up page..I am on the righ photo taken during the Carusocan class reunion.I am one of the seated guests, the one with a beige jacket. Beside me is my wife Miguelita. This was taken in Vancouver 2 years ago during a barangay reunion..You must be enjoying yorr home in Austria. As I mentioned sometime ago, all I know about Austria came from the movie SOUND OF MUSIC..I guess the film was shot in Austria..One of the things to do is visit Europe because it is one thing to read about the place and another to stay in the place for some time...It is a total immersion experience and you have the first hand knowwledge of being in that country..The only place I know there is Salzburg and I only know a handful of German words. I guess it is too late already to learn how to speak German like a native...What is the best month of the year to visit Austria?..Yesterday, we bought a young male dog from a neighbour. Many people here really need cash and they are willing to sell their pets just for a few bucks. I would not sell my pet dog for all the rice in China!..He is like a family member already..He came with a long chain because he has been tied up all the years of his past life...So the seller warned, he is not street wise: if he escapes from your house, he can not find his way back, warned the seller. And many here in Asingan once they find a stray dog would not hesitate to catch and cook a dog into a nice pulutan to eat with San Mig Beer light! From: abc MessageMay picture dyan sa ambe, saan ka dyan? Nandyan ka ba? Gusto kong malaman kung nandyan ka at sino ka dyan. From: ABC MessageWhen I was in bed last night, I couldn't sleep though it was very quiet night. I got up and drank water thinking it might help. Then before I went back to bed, I turned on my computer and saw your last posting addressed to me. I was smiling with this boxer you're telling me hehehe hindi kaya sa sobrang kalasingan kaya sobra ang lakas sa boxing? hehehe. We will talk about learning German language. I am really so excited to learn this language after we got married because I only talk with my mother-in-law through her dictionary. To talk with each other word for word makes me really crazy. There is a season for learning German here. Finally I was enrolled in a good school. My classmates were professionals from different countries so we are all fast learners. One is a doctor, a judge,a pharmacist, a nurse and other professions. Our teacher is so strict that we are not allowed to ask her things in English. We were not also allowed to talk in English with our classmates. We were all beginners. But I know already lots of German words before I came here so I was very good in spelling which is a very big help when we write things especially when we listen to a CD and write all the words that we heard. One day my husband told me to buy some eggs to a neighbor-a farmer. I was very proud to talk in German. Here's what I told her. Helga... bist du eier? ( Helga... are you eggs?) And she answered me with a smile. Ja... wieviel eier brauchst du? ( Yes how many eggs do you need?) Ich brauche Zen.( I need ten )So she gave me ten eggs. When I went out of her house, I realized my mistake. I was smiling. I said to myself why did I say Bist du ? It should be "Hast du" Bist du is Are you and Hast du is Do you have. Then I was smiling while walking. My husband asked me if I talked to the farmer in German. I said of course! I was already one week in my German course so with my excitement, I didn't realize my mistake. When I told my husband about it he was laughing and everytime my mother-in-law cooks eggs for us , she always asked me " Bist du eier? " which means Are you eggs? Yes Vic I'm really very happy to learn this language and when I was interviewed when I got a letter for my citizenship, the one who interviewed me said, I won't ask you anymore about the history of Austria. The most important is your accent is very good and you speak very clear. Naks ang yabang ko ano? Syempre sino ang di maggiging happy di ba? Aufwiedersehen und bis morgen. Guten Abend und Guten Appetit! Liebe Grüße von Österreich! From: VIC MessageCabincolan has now changed, I can not tell how cuz this is my first time to blend into the Community that makes up the border twixt Poblacion and Domaquit..MVelasco st. is a colorful street. In the afternoon, there are wall to wall kids, vendors, beer drinkers, chatting woman, bikers or people just chilling out and talking of the days events. The notables living in this street is the Town mayor, Ex Pres. FVR ( he really lives in Maanila, the Asingan home is just a vaction house ), Lety Shahani and her son Ranjit..At the end of this street is the beautiful Lobusta aapartments edging along the street going to Urdaneta..Visit us someday, Zeus and we will drink San Mig light while seeing the sunset from the west baalcony on the 2nd floor..... From: Zeus MessageNope! we can't go ashore only certain places or where we intended to go to. "Cabingcolan mi barrio a Ghetto" lots of story tale like "evil residence" back then when I was young and just recently in 90's and early 2000, and thus now totally different as I could see in your blogs significantly better place and nice to be for the retired people like you... even then I had have best believe that this place will be a Class A residence in Asingan. You won't be there if the place is not nice, wouldn't you Manong?/////\\\\\ She is my Aunt "Feling Cisnero Ungos" your neighbor. There is another relative of mine have just bought the lot there and try to build the house... my Uncle Fred Macanas and his wife Auntie Nora Carig with all white hair where once you mentioned them to me here in your posting. They both retired here in the US and went back home in Asingan for good./////\\\\\ DISCO? hahaha! that would be nice. Hoping some other days we will inport in subic, so I can swing by there in Asingan. It was bad luck last year "December" that our subic inport was canceled. I thought we could get together have some San Miguel beer and chat by the way there will be next time. Here what San Miguel Pale Pelsin means: Sa Aming Nayon Mayroon Isang Ginoo Uminom Eh Lasing Pati ako Lasing Eh!Pulatan eh Litson Sisig Isaw Naubos. From: VIC MessageTo Zeus, Yes..the Phil. is indeed a beautiful place..But were you able to go ashore?..We will visit the Visayas too one of these days and maybe Mindanao...Right now we are soaking in the beauty of Cabincolan/Domaquit which is not really that bad..We always see Fely uNGGOS, your cousin I believe and also her brod Policarpio who lives beside her..They sahre the same clothesline..erected in Fred Fonbuena's lot which is directly behind us..Small world. If FRED decides to erect a house in his lot, then we will be neighbours..Whadaya know! Domaquit seems to be a good place right now to retire. We arr close to Marcie Velasco's store where we use as Convenience store...At nights Domaquit is a very quiet area compared to any part of Poblacion.. So much noise in Poblacion 24/7..You could hearlots of motorcycles coming and going...There is also a disco in Cabincolan now.. From: Zeus MessageHappy new year Manong Vic! say hello to Manang meg. I am here to tell some beautiful experience I had here in our country. WoW! How beautiful Philippines is when we passed Surigao straits from Guam to Singapore. First Island approached from Pacific was the beautiful Island Homonhon after passing this Island there was another beautiful don't know the name. It was really beautiful the Island blanketed with Copras then another 5 Island the same that blanketed with coconut trees. As I was browsing the shores of the Islands with our big telescope at the bridge I overlooked and have seen one beautiful Yates every island and one beautiful building like mansion house. The captain was joking on me if I owned one of those Islands so we could anchored out and have fun... hahaha! that would be nice. When we kept passing Islands one into another I couldn't Imagine how beautiful Philippines is compared those island I'd been before like Scotland in bahamas and more. Just like I was in paradise or different world. I don't know what good words I will use to express my self how beautiful those places from our country, everybody from ship was dropping their jaws. We passed Samar, leyte, Zamboanga, Surigao Straits and Palawan. How come Filipino writers, blogger didn't mention anything about these places? Now, I planned to buy good camera with long and wider lens, so next time I will post those pretty places. In one month of kept browsing Internet and asking people and camera salesperson opinion what is the best camera, so far the best is the Nikon D7000 cost of 14 to 25 hundreds dollars depend on the lens. Also, which is hard to find though. From: VIC Message...yeah, I tried learning before some German. I know Guten Morgen, Guten nacht, Frau, Fraulien,haus,..well many English words came from German anyway so I guess there is still hope for me to learn German with a book and some audio tapes..But of course, my accent will always give me away...:)..For now it is Auf Weidershen! From: VIC MessageMaybe you will read this entry when you wake up..My friend is just talking from his butt when he said he can lick Pacquiao..But he can beat most of the toughies in Asingan. he asked me if somebody's harassing you and I will beat him to a pulp..Told him its nice to know someone who can do that especially in Asingan where some people are really bad to the bone...But, I told him, just take care of yourself and let us enjoy our remaining days..He is about my age, I think and he is a good drinking buddy..Well Asingan can drive some guys to the bottle because sometimes it is hard to survive in a small town, with not much money..But he survived for 60 odd years so I guess he can do well with the rest...:)... From: ABC MessageI just waited for your story. So your friend must be really a good boxer. Baka siya na ang magpapatumba kay Pacman hehehe. It's 1:14 am here. I'm going to bed now. Guten Morgen! Good morning in english. From: VIC MessageHello, ABC!...Just woke up and meant to post a long story for you...Thought I posted it but then I did not find it here..Anyways will try to rewrite it and post it again...:) From: VIC Messageesterday, while we were making some rounds re: some issues we are trying to fix in Asingan, we met an old acquaintance from my childhood..He is funny. One of his hobbies is boxing so not many Asinganians want to mess with him. He is still fit. Like many in Asingan, he has his own house and land and he just do some odd jobs to survive. At least that is what he told me..He cracked a line saying, "I am a very good boxer that I believe I can beat Manny Pacquiao if ever we meet in a match!..And if that happens, then i wll also put Asingan in the map!.." Yes, he is quite an interesting conversationalist..He will make a good buddy with his boxing skills..he would beat up anybody who would try to oppress or put you down t!! From: VIC MessageSorry all..Asingan IP seemed to experience a problem with the AMB so I was not able to post anything..Now I cam! Will be back with more stories tommorow..Hope this availability to the AMB will last...AMB is my one bridge to creativity in Asingan..among other things, of course! Ciao...Hasta la vista! From: VIC Messagetest From: ABC MessageAre you on holiday? From: Reader Message" is very easy to find out where the posters are coming from like "Reader" who is now in Cebu." No, ABC I'm not in Cebu I'm about 300 miles north of Cebu. From: ABC MessageIt is very easy to find out where the posters are coming from like "Reader" who is now in Cebu. And the "Maysa Reader" is from South Carolina. Yes I am here in Austria and my town is Urbiztondo. I just like the ABC name. I coppied it only from you Vic. Thanks a lot for reading my posting. From: VIc MessageTo the 2 readers,Gee you are quite good cyber sleuths!..and to ABC, my heart melted when I read your last posting, which was not really long..I wrote longer ones in the past...I know Austria from the book/movie THE SOUND OF MUSIC..i first saw the movie at the EVER theater in Manila in the 50s, when Avenida Rizal was still the center of book stores, first run movies and fine shopping..I am sorry to hear re: your BF and your dog..But our consolation is our faith. Me?..I always cling to the belief that when a person dies, he does not dissapear forever..Only the body goes back to the elements. But our beautiful soul lives on and on. I always like to read so many stories re: the subject.One is that old story written on the Pilipino Komiks years ago. It is called TEZAS. Its not about the State, but about the rooster of St. Peter who left heaven to visit the earth ( the Philippines of course because the writer is a Filipino ). In his adventure on earth, he changed the life of a poor family. The family found him and he made them rich because St. Peter's bird became a fighting rooster!..In one of the issues of the Komiks in the page where the TEXAS story was featured, there was a half page illustration. It was an interpretation of how heaven looked like to the author/illustrator. It was undescribably beautiful. It showed a big garden with cherubs nesting in clouds singing over souls walking about in garden paths. For a balck and white artwork, the illustration influenced me to learn how to draw from life and imagination..!Your last posting showed how vivid you can illustrate with words and thanks to the Net, our writings are read simulteneously by townmates all over the world!..More stories next time..I am writing this directly on the PC, squinting because I can not find my reading glasses and I do not like to find it because it is 3 00 am and I will be making so much racket in the house!..Sorry if I made lots of spelling errors! I was never good in spelling when I was in writing school!...Thanks again and good day to all esp. you, ABC! From: reader MessageABC is "Mhal" from Urbiztondo, Pang. From: Maysa a reader MessageABC must be in Austria........ From: ABC MessageSorry Vic for my posting. I didn't realize it's already too long. From: ABC MessageVic.... I was just a tourist when I first came here. While we were driving from the airport going to the place where I will be staying for three months, I could feel something I can't explain. I was so happy but something is making me already afraid and that's the feeling of... what if three months is over? Whether I like it or not I will have to go back home before the expiration of my visa. I will be missing this beautiful country is all that's in my mind. And that made me really quiet. My bf who picked me at the airport asked why I am so quiet. Am I not enjoying the beautiful place? I can't tell him why. It was September when I first came here. It was a bit chilly already but I like it so much. Just think how hot is Manila! Before I left for Manila we drove to the mountains for me to see the snow and we were so lucky to find places where there is a thick snow already and that was the last week of November. After a few months I was back here again and again after few months until we got married after several visits more. Working so long in Manila was like a hell for me but I have no choice. The smoke , the dust and the hot climate was always my biggest problem and believe me... I was always sick. That's why always thank God that I am here. I have no problems with winter. Oh... I like to share with you all my hobbies here. Number one is hunting mushrooms. I used the word hunting because we are like hunters going from one forest to the next and my bf was very surprised because I don't easily get tired. I love to swim in the lakes and I love to go fishing too. I love dogs too and I always walk with my Jack Russel when she was still alive. She died four months after my husband died. They are very good friends too. I think I will really learn again to write in English because of you. I have difficulty in recalling the spelling now even the simplest word. Would you believe that it took me an hour to find the correct spelling of dying? hehehe It is not really good not to have english books to read.It is 1:23 am here and I have to go to sleep. Good morning Vic! From: VIC MessageSeems you have seen my place several times..Yes, the owner of the lot beside the right of way is selling that lot with a mango tree so we can have an ample garden..trouble is she wants a high price:2500/sq. meter..! My sis and i are right now evicting some squatters from a lot which will be given to me..There i will make my orchard/garden .. The squatters will soon go even if I will have to dismantle their houses with a bulldozer! From: CDE MessageHello mang Vic. it sounds like your bored in your posting. I have to agree with your daughter advice to invest for a camera and add more photos in your blog. Make busy of your self. just like your daughter said, learn to do gardening. only problem is you have no space for your gardening, no space on the front, back or side space for serious gardening. i would advise to buy you a half to a hectare of land a do some serious gardening. Plant some okra, eggplants, or even string beans. Make some litle farmville. Don't be a prisoner of your own house. enjoy life in the province From: VIC MessageThank you for your message which is as beautiful as the others. Europe must be a very nice place since it is the Old World and like anything, the new always inherit something from the old. Not just money but culture, identity and individual reason for existing..I am getting fond also of your writing. Not just me but also countless others reading this Board...They say a person's eyes are windows to his/her soul. But if you can not see the person's face because of distance, then writings from his pen/computer can tell you whats in the person's heart.Please write more!..The tone of my last posting was not my usual mood, and my daughter posted me online a piece of her thought. It says:.."Time to create and write some new chapters for Asingan, Dad. The present isn't only about reliving your past but planning the future. Invest in a new camera and add more photos to your blogs. Maybe you should take up gardening..." It shook me up from a lethargy which I might have caught from the big city ( Manila) which I found very different from Asingan. People there just do not know how to communicate with others. They just pass each other with silence unlike those in the provinces. I do not blame them though. In a big city, if you try being friendly with a stranger, sometimes you are scammed or you are sold with something you really do not need..Manila has only Malls and if I like Malls. I could have just stayed in Toronto. One of the joys you get from your province and your hometown comes from the friendship of old pals and loving kinfolks! From: ABC MessageVic...Deutschland is the correct spelling. I am not in Deutschland Vic but also in Europe where the language is also German. This place where I am is just only a small country but full of nice friendly people and the country is so beautiful. I thank God for bringing me here. This is one of the most beautiful God's gift to me....to stay in a very clean and peaceful country. Thank you so much also for accepting me here at your mb. I was about to submit my message but I saw your new posting about the vendors again. Yes Vic let us not forget also those nice , honest and friendly vendors . Some people think especially when we are balikbayans we are proud and boastful. They only think things like that but we are not. Sometimes you cannot blame them also because there are some balikbayans who are really " mayayabang " when they come home. From: VIC MessageWe are midway in the "experimental study" whether we could stay in Asingan for 6 mos. after working and building a family in Toronto Canada. Truth is, I still do not know whether I can. Miggie said she can. Maybe women are made of stronger stuff than men, esp. when it comes to the emotional side.. I had lots of expectations before we set out on this 6 mo. holiday but now it seems that some expected happenings did not happen and vice versa....... One thing is sure. The environment in our house is healthy and envigorating compared to the polluted surroundings of Dixon road which carries heavy traffic to and from the Airport. Miggie's bronchial allergy abated very much once we were here.... I do not miss the Toronto TV programs, the new movies the various toys ( I can buy a good stereo here cheaper than what I would pay for the same in Toronto.) Some toys stay longer in one's fancy than others..... But...the next 4 months would decide everything. After the town fiesta, Asingan will undergo a dry spell ( even if the rainy season arrives )..When the last Fiesta event is finished visitors will start their exodus back to other places and then what will we do?... I tried to recapture the zest I encountered in my childhood. But those days, like the other calendar days in Asingan, are already far, far behind us, never to return.----### From: VIc MessageIn fairness, a lot of asingan market vendors - especially those who sell their own farm produce - are courteous to a fault and would go out of their limb to please their buyers especially if these are balikbayans. its unfortunate that a few vendors seem to take pleasure at throwing insults and picking fights. These are those who are looking for every opportunity to drag someone down into their miserable level.---reprinted from Facebook, written by Sonny Espejo From: Juliet MessageThanks Manong. Yes, we need to keep this board alive and exciting. Rain and Sunshine, where are you? Miss your posting with your songs and funny jokes...Any news everyone? From: VIC MessageGerman?..All the time I thought you are residing in USA..Am I right to assume you are living in Deutchland?..Pardon my usage of the word if it is wrong..I once had a pen pal living in Hamburg. She had this quaint German penmanship. I guess most of them write this way. After a couple of years of writing she told me she is getting married. She did get married and that was the end of it..She sent me a wedding picture but no wedding invitation. Even if she did, I could not have gone there because I was still in high school then, dreaming someday of getting out of Asingan...Well thank you for posting here in AMB. Your postings are interesting because they provide to readers of insight to other places in the world. Most readers are townmates abroad but I am sure they like to read informative writings from you, me and others..Well, I hope I am right in assuming you are living in Germany.. From: ABC MessageVic... you're welcome. I will be accompanying you as long as I don't run out with my English hehehe Here in my place we speak German and everything is written in German too. I seldom read English newspapers here and if I like to read the Reader's Digest, it is also in German 'cause they don't have it in English. But anyway it's also good and I enjoy it too. From: ABC MessageThere are many good neighbors in my place too. They bring some foods though they know I have more than enough. They give us also flowering plants and garden soil. So when I come home I give them also things that I bought here like chocolates, cheese , sausages and other things that make them happy. They don't ask me for pasalubong but I love to bring something for my neighbors. There is a bible verse that said... a neighbor is better than a brother who is far away. So my neighbors are my brothers and sisters. From: VIC MessageTo Alakdan, Juliet, Ramon,abc...thanks for posting!..It is quite lonely posting here, so thanks for your company..Here is an anecdote to balance the previous posting I made re: the rude market vendors....Remember the family we sort of "adopted"?. They eat once a day so once in a while, we share with them some food which we can not eat all anyway..Each time we have guests, they bring snacks. Our neighbour Fely who is a church volunteer sometimes would send over some of her veggie dishes ( which Miggie enjoys )so there is always abundant food in the house for 2 seniors who are trying to slim down!..:)..Anyways, 2 weeks ago, Miggie saw and bought a BURNAY ( big clay pot and heavy too ) from Manny the gay hair dresser at the market...When we came back from Manila we remembered it was still to be brought home. So Miggie went to the Mom of this adapted family..It so happened that her husband is a tricycle driver too..She told her husband and he said, "No problem, Madam! I will get the jar.."..The guy have big muscles like Samson..In a jiffy, the jar arrived. It is big, a thing of beauty similar to the jar I saw in our BANGSAL years and years ago used as a rain water depository..The father of the family carried the jar as if it was nothing. Then Miggie him 100 pesos but he adamantly refused..But Miggie insisted forcefully knowing without his help we could not have brought home the BURNAY..The bottom line of this story is: Miggie learned how good Asinganians are ( our neighbours ) and they made her feel at home..One church member came recently, brought some plants and helped her plant them too!.. From: Juliet MessageYes. those are mahi-mahi. Shane cutting it as same like kilawen or poke as we call it here in hawaii. He also goes diving. Thanks for watching. From: Ramon Antonio MessageGood evening po sa lahat ng kabarangay ko around the world. Post ko lang po eto para maupdate po kayo regarding po sa darating na brangay fiesta natin at para malaman din daw po ninyo kung ano po napag uusapan ng barnagay council regarding brgy fiesta. April 26-29 will be the tentative date of our brgy fiesta. Mga candidates for Ms Carosucan Norte ay sponsorship po. Ang mga taga EUROPE po may isang candidate na susuportahan, ang mga taga AMERICA at CANADA may candidate rin po, ang mga taga HONGKONG at MIDDLE EAST one candidate rin po, at ang mga taga SINGAPORE at MALAYSIA one candidate din po para suportahan. Pde po na anak or kamag anak ng nasa abroad ang kunin nilang candidate. APAt lang po ngayon ang maglalalaban for MS CAROSUCAN NORTE 2012. Ang PROCEEDS po ng barangay fiesta natin ay mapupunta sa pagpapatayo or construction for the new barangay health center sa bagong site(barangay land property na po). For further inquiry rregarding barangay fiesta or any inquiry pls contact our Barangay Captain Delicano L. Ventura - +63-9175636234... Maraming salamat po... post po ulit ako for more updates next time... GOd bless everyone... From: Alakdan MessageAre those mahi-mahi that your son caught. They're good to eat. I used to go deep sea fishing too here in Texas. Now i just go to the jetties and i've been catching a lot of pompano. But there is no substitute for the experience in going to the open sea. I enjoyed watching your video clip. Thumbs up for your boy. From: abc MessageIn the public markets there are so many rude vendors. One time I was with my sister in a public market and we were buying pork. I noticed that some are not looking fresh and some are fresh. I told the guy to take away the old ones and change them with a fresh one like the others. He shouted at me and said who told you that my meat is not fresh? So I said ok if you won't do what I said, I won't buy pork anymore. He was so mad and even chasing us with his bolo. Oh my God! We were running so fast that time and was so nervous. That's why every time I like to buy meat , shrimps or fish, I go to big supermarkets. There, you can buy all what you want including fresh fruits and vegetables and at the same time also your groceries plus if you feel hungry after shopping, you can eat there too. From: VIC MessageAbout 2 days ago, Miggie went to the market. When she came back, she said : "I had a nasty argument with a shrimp vendor.." Sensing a good story, I asked "Why, what happened?" "Well, she said" after buying just about all I need, I had 20 pesos left and I remember I have to buy some shrimps..I went to this woman and asked if I can buy 20 pesos worth of shrimp. We are just 2 in the house so I do not need much.. "Imagine she said 'for 20 pesos, take from that pile..' It was a pile of yellowing , visibly rotting shrimps.." That was the straw that broke the camel's back. She unsheathed her fighting claws and told the woman, I believe with blazing eyes to match.."You know, I can buy ALL YOUR SHRIMPS HERE.." she said. Her grocery money is almost gone but she always have extra money with her each time she goes out.. "You are so rude, Madam, " said another shrimp vendor..She lashed back saying.."It is this woman here who started being rude!.." Sensing the futility of talking with them, she said.."You are all the same! I wont buy anything from you since you are selling nothing but rotten stuff!!" Then she turned her back and walked away.. She told this story to a friend who visited the house..She also wanted to buy an UPO for 20 pesos..The veggie vendor told her to go home and eat her 20 pesos!" The friend answered " I will do that if you let me see you eat your UPO right here!..You are nothing but a bunch of five sixers!!!..." Like Miggie, this friend does not like to take shit from some arrogant vendors.. Five sixers are the high risk vendors who borrow money from lenders who I think charge 110 % after 1 week!---# From: Juliet MessageOpps! Sorry forget to attached! http://youtu.be/4EznA0uhjG0 I would like to share my son fishing trip between Maui and Lanai here in the Hawaiian islands. Shane Deocares is wearing yellow/green shirt. Enjoy! From: Juliet MessageI would like to share my son fishing trip between Maui and Lanai here in the Hawaiian islands. Shane Deocares is wearing yellow/green shirt. Enjoy! From: abc MessageI was smiling while reading your posting. I was about to go to bed but I tried to visit your mb thinking there might be again something to read. Of all your postings, this is the most interesting one for me. I have never heard about this experience. But since you are living near the rice fields, I really believe that the frogs celebrated also Christmas. Yes Christmas celebration is ending. I will be removing all my Christmas tree decorations on Saturday. I ate the last chocolate I hang in it. I will bring my Christmas tree to the garbage on Saturday as the leaves got dry already and it is very dangerous to have it here. Happy Three Kings too. From: VIC MessageIN Toronto, spring is the only time you could hear the birds chirping about, doing their mating calls and multiplying like rabbits...Late summer comes and the trees and boughs become silent once more//The sad part seems to be knowing that soon winter comes when the whole world again becomes cold and only a few hearts will be warm..Some share this warmth with others. Other hearts become cold as the winter winds and these are the winter people. My neighbour in Toronto is one, stayed beside her house for 30 years and not once did she speak with us...Filipino friends might be few but they are the true ones that survive the test of time and you can ask them for anything which they would give, if they have it..Kung wala, pasensiya na lang....Birds in our present part of the world enjoy all year round being happy as they are they share their joy by their songs, their presence and seeing them fly in flocks..Even in the dark dawn you would still hear their happy voices singing to the heavens as if praising God, their Maker in their own unique way..While in the subject of animals, I would like to share a little story with you. Some may not believe it and I consider it also like a "fairy tale" for children. But I saw it happen in our house like Christmas eve and Christmas Day...Since we arrived in our new house, we always see a number of frogs coming out at night at the same time when some bugs come out too, attracted by the lights in our door. There would be around 10 or so of them. They would enter our front yard from the rice fields and soon they would be hop-hopping about in our front yard. There small ones and adult ones. This routine takes place every night..ON CHRISTMAS EVE, Dec. 24..NOT ONE FROG SHOWED UP! I was wodering why..Then I began to think like a child: maybe, just maybe the child in me said: THE FROGS STAYED IN THEIR HOMES IN THE RIC FIELDS THAT NIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS!..Dec. 25 at night, still no frogs. On Dec. 26, the usual number came back!..There must be a real explaination to this non appearance but the child in me still dwell on the child like belief that the frogs also celebrated Christmas in their own way by staying in their grassy hideaways that Xmas Eve!!....HAPPY 3 KINGS TO EVERYBODY, CHRISTMAS IS OFFICIALLY ENDING! From: abc MessageNeighbor only not neighbors. I have a big book here with different kinds of birds and I love to go to the woods especially in springtime just to listen to the birds singing. From: abc MessageI love birds. When I moved to my new home also there, I noticed some birds. My crazy neighbors were shooting them. I stopped him from doing that. We had a fight that resulted from not talking to me.One day a bird came to my terrace. I gave her some rice. The next day they were already two. Everyday they come to my terrace for eating until they got more and more. Now we have maybe hundreds of them. I gave them now monggo for a change. They are really music to my ears. They became our friends. They are not anymore so scared when I watch them eating. The reason why they got more and more is because my crazy neighbor is not there living there anymore and they get food everyday. They come to the terrace early in the morning and at midday. From: VIC MessageOne morning, I was listening to a small bird with a white belly perched up a tree. It has a very loud voice, but the song was quite lovely..It might be a mate call for a partner...I commented to Miggie who was sitting beside me in our front yard.. "That bird song is music to my ears!.." I told her enthusiastically. Then I asked her "What do you consider music to your ears?.." Her answer: "The latest juicy gossip from the neighbour..!"...:D From: Vic Message..I do not like giving my cel number in a public board..... From: VIC MessageFrom Binalonan, take the road going to Villasis when you reach Asingan..When you see the SAPI GAO HARDWARE, turn right then go til the end of the road passing by Velasco st ( last signed street )..Follow the concrete road only, turn right then left ( remember, just the concrete road )..Upon making the left turn, you will see the blue house..Hope for your visit soon!!..Just text me so we will not leave the house...Or just post a message here..I do not like giving my cel number cuz every now and then I get nasty or scam messages from some stupid a......holes...:D From: Richard MessageManong Vic in reference to the road from Binalonan to Asingan to Sta. Maria where is your house. I always pass there to avoid the traffic in Urdaneta and Villasis. Delmendo casa along the way is such a beautiful house. From: VIC MessageSOME MEMORIES OF MAKATI..Forget about the countdown in New York via TV..I will always treasure the night of the falling stars in Makati..When the ground crew of pyrotechnic experts just across our street started their job, the sky became a huge celestial showcase of falling and exploding "stars"..Continous for about 20 minutes. Prior to the event, some policemen and security guards checked the equipments of the the sky rocket people. There was even a small truck pulling a water tank stationed nearby. ..I took some photos but not many turend out good. Need a video cam for this. The fireworks came in different modes and colours..It is an unforgettable visual and aural feast. You will yearn to be back in the same spot again next year!.. There was also a similar display in the fields in front of our house. The caretakers of the house went to the balcony and enjoyed the fireworks.."Where did the fireworks came from?..I asked them. They pointed at the house of Mayora. I can imagine there was also a big crowd for the event. The journey back to Asingan was so emotional for me. Passed thru the NLEX, then SCLEX and finally out thru the Villa Luisita where traffic was not so bad..The MacArthur highway by passed the town proper of Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, San manuel and finally we saw the big sign that says WELCOME TO PANGASINAN..To avoid the bottleneck in Urdaneta, we turned right to the shortcut to Asingan in Villasis...Its another homecoming. The road is already concrete from Villasis to Asingan..My adrenaline pumped when we passed thru San Blas, Piaz, then carusucan Sur, Norte, Cabalitian, Sanchez, Baro and finally Poblacion!.. Welcome back again to Asingan!... From: VIC MessageONLY IN ASINGAN..I was awaken this morning ( around 7 am ) by the sound of birds..Well, this time the sound is too loud for comfort. I rose up slowly and looked out to the direction of the twittering. Right there, on the window sill were two brown birds, less than very near, were" tweeting" at each other..One looked at me then he might have said "let's go, the giant woke up"..Quick as a wink, the two birds were gone! From: VIC MessageBACK IN ASINGAN after 4 days in Makati...I hate to stay long in a big city like Manila/makati...Its like stepping back into a world which I am trying to get away from.. I came back to Asingan excited like a College student who has just finished his final exams and he finally get to come back again to the town of his childhood... We passed by Carmen at about 12 30 pm and my, there are still hundreds of passengers wanting to go back to Manila for work or studies...One person told me it took him 3 hours to catch a seat in a manila bound bus..He said that all Manila bound busses are already full when they leave Dagupan and they travel non stop to Manila.. Woe to the passengers waiting in the towns between the destination and point of embarkation...Some of them wait for several hours on the roadside... Today is the 3rd..Inagine the mess during the Jan 1 ... It makes Moses Exodus like a walk in the park....:) From: abc MessageHappy New Year! How are you? I hope you are ok and not affected by the firecrackers.I have seen all the news about the victims of firecrackers like the Goodbye Philippines etc. and some really died. Sad too see those news. I hope they will really do the total banning of those deadly firecrakers. I'm missing your postings. Hope to hear from you soon. From: VIC MessageIt is 10 to midniht..Hells a poppin in Makati! Sky is filled with fire works like a war! Pinoys know hw to celebrate New Year!!!!! From: VIC Message"Was it your sister Ester's class reunion? How come I was not invited? I belonged to the same class. He!He!He! Have you met Norie and Puring (nee) Altura? I think Puring is the owner of that gas station. How about a certain Edwin Avecilla? or Col (Ret.) Gil Villanueva?..."....Sorry, I overlooke your posting..It is one of the most exciting events I attended...Puring might be Foyet, who is still unmarried..Norie owns the Bistro where the event was held..I do not know why the attendance is so few..But the men sang karaoke, the ladies cooked or brought food..Edwin is now a big businessman in Batangas..Very affluent. Gil Villanueva am not sure if he was there ( he might ) but I know that Mr. Calindas was there and he was a very entertaining character...I left before the party ended but they were still doing Karaoke and some bottles of Emperador brandy arrived on the table with some pulutan..o I believe the party went on and I assume those guya can hold their liquor very well..Hope someone from the class will read this posting and he will do something about spreading the good news next time around....:) From: VIC MessageYesterday we left Asingan in the am early, then stopped at a Max resto in Luisita ( Cojuanco territory )..We took the Villassis short cut and I was in the front seat so I had a nice view all the way from Asingan, to Manila. After our breakfast at Max, we continued to a highway entrance to NLEX..This stands for Norther Luzon Expressway. This highway free of most cars and trucks will bring you to Subic..Some exits later, we transfered highways to another one which would eventually bring us to Balintawak, then Manila proper...We by passed parts of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan. Then we entered the hustle bustle of Manila...crazy and rude drivers, street vendors, beggars and other street dinizens. Then we reached Maakati and we felt we are already in Canada/US.. From: VIC MessageSORRY for missing out some postings..To CDE..Our stay in Asingan is up to 6 months..leave town for a few months, then will be back for another 6 mos..That will be our schedule for the rest of our retired life..:)..ABC..how are ya, I missed ur postings, glad u like the one re: the two dogs. The best subject matter for a good read are what you see in real life and in Asingan there is so much to see..:)...and relish!..Alakdan, Macalong is growing by leaps and bounds, I guess your retirement house is one of the best looking ones in the community. The paradox re: big houses is: nobody lives in 'em permanently...Many just have caretakers to take care of the house...Right now i am in Makati for a few days, just for a much needed break. Asingan is a nice place but u have to leave it once in a while otherwise you will go banana!..am just using a PC...more to follow!! From: alakdan Message#"two dogs" From: FRG MessageWas it your sister Ester's class reunion? How come I was not invited? I belonged to the same class. He!He!He! Have you met Norie and Puring (nee) Altura? I think Puring is the owner of that gas station. How about a certain Edwin Avecilla? or Col (Ret.) Gil Villanueva? From: Alakdan MessageI like the way you described the two dog walking in unison with their eight legs. ha ha ha. Not vulgar at all and is enough to tickle ones imagination. From: abc Messagesorry i was rushing. i mean, what is 4 months more to go? From: abc Messagewhat does 4 months more to go? does it mean after 4 months then you'll really have to decide whether you will leave Asingan and be with Sparky and the grandchildren? hehehe From: cde Messagehehehe, looks like you are having fun. Your are on the middle of rice field where the road is so narrow and no lights, and your nearest neighbor is about 100 yards. you can hear crickets sound of frogs and other weird sounds at night. where there is no sari sari store around, afraid of walking at night cause there might be snakes and shit around. and tricyle don't go over there cause its remote and you have to walk to the market. .That how i see on your stories. it sounds like interesting to me. i need to see your place because that is where i want to retire too.. hehehe From: abc Messagehehehe better luck next time. ready your camera always. From: VIC MessageSomebody told me maybe I just miss my dog Sparky..After all, home is where the pet dog is..:)..Oh Sparky wont run out of canine company here in Domaquit..There are so many of them romping around. The other day, I heard a dog yelping in pain. I looked out of the window, then said to Miggie.."Look whats happening in the rice fields.." She stood up and we went out on the front yard. There were two dogs, standing butt to butt to each other. Then I saw the two 4 yr. old kids ( identical twins ) from our neighbour s yard. One of them blurted out in the dialect: "Kitaen yo dagidiay aso, agi-i.....t da!" Then he picked up a stone and threw one at them..I blurted out: "STOP IT" with a stern look. They went back to their yard..The two dogs,never missing a beat, continued walking on all eight legs..Now not far from them are 3 goats. One of them lowered his horns, rushed towards the dogs and rammed them..Still the 2 dogs did not stop doing their thing!..Then I remembered my camera. I went in to get it and searched for the zoom lens. When I got back in the front yard, I found the two dogs were already separated and their little show is over!---# From: VIC MessageNow I have to tell you, staying in Asingan to get conditioned for a permanent stay is TOUGH . I am talking for myself..Maybe for others it might be easy..I am going through something like cold turkey and it is kinda different from what I expected in the beginning...4 months more to go..But the motion have already started so I have to grin and bear it...I miss my dog, primarily..and my grandkids. I am used to a certain life for so many decades and now I have to start a new page..One thing though, writing re: our hometown helps relieve the inner stress of adjustment. Now it is a case of swim or sink, ha ha! From: VIC MessageWe attended a class reunion of my sister s class group...Most of their ages hover around the 64-66 year mark. Only a few came, but it was a jolly group. The shindig took place in the Bistro owned by one of the Altura siblings..It looked like a classy joint. The Alturas are considered one of the rich families in town..The other sibling operates a gas station along the KETEGAN that rice field near the Domanpot Bactad boundary..The eating and drinking started at 10:30 am. Some men who have the savvy for karaoke lent their musical know how to entertain the group..One was an almost toothless guy, sporting a bigger than average pounch. Well, he sang with perfect timing but consonants would blow throw his few choppers..When his song ended, the Karaoke awarded him a 100 score! Far out and everyone in the group cheered...Lots of stories were told, but the best one was told by the owner of the roadside gas station...She sees a lot of weirdos come and go in her gas station...Then one time, a NAKED YOUNG MAN showed up..First impression she got was this guy is one of the Asingan loonies!..Then the guy spoke to her and said.."ma'am can you spare me some clothes!..I am a tricycle driver. Some men robbed me not far from here.." The place is really isolated. They took my keys, he said then threw it away and dumped my machine into a ditch. What kind of heartless bastards would do this to a working man..She took out some clothes so the poor guy can cover up his nakedness...What goes around comes around and I hop those thugs would some day get what they deserve!! From: VIC MessageI have been here for 2 months already and strange, I do not miss those things in Toronto which I considered essential. TV, DVD player..etc. We wake up late to the sound of chirping birds, crowing roosters, barking dogs..These are music to my ears already..I am entertained by the street dogs who patrol the block chasing each other and stopping every now and then to sniff at something to find out if it is edible...After having coffee in the front yard, then some joggers/hikers would pass by and give us a friendly greeting..Before the sun really gets hot one of us have to go to the market to buy some meat, veggies enough for one or two days..Sometimes we are invited to go to Urdaneta/Dagupan and we welcome the chance to be out of Asingan, at least for a day. Neighbours here do not maake appointments to drop by. They just drop by and we do not mind..But when night comes, then we stay indoors. There are no street lights near our house and we are forwarned that some local drunks might give us trouble if they find us walking alone in the streets at night. That is the time to watch TV ( for Miggie ) aand to surf the Board/Facebook or write something on the AMB..So, I think we will like it here. We survived to this age after sspending several years aabroad. We are back to stay, and THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!! From: VIC MessageWe had to go to Sta. Maria yesterday to secure a document but I found out that my name was spelled VICTORIANO in their books!..I had to spend 200 pesos to secure an affidavit from a local notary public that my name is VICTORIO. The stupid clerk who did that entry really murdered my name!...There is another class reunion this morning ( lots of class reunions going on in Asingan ) and you will never run out of dinner dates, if you are fond of palanit and that kind of thing..:).. From: VIC MessageGee, Asingan is now gettingdry withthe departure of Father Christmas...I did not receive anything but I am not complaining..The fact that I had this holiday is a gift itself . I thought I would be finding my alter ego whom I left here before, but he is gone..I can just try to go back thru a virtual time machine and think what that boy did when he was still here..First, I visited the house where he grew up..Its kind of different now. Cant even access some of the rooms where he played cowboys and indians with his cousins..Come to think of it, some of those cousins have left for the other life..My avorite toy before was a cowboy gun made of silver plated metal and a pearl like handle. It has roll of paper "explosives"..It was a red roll of thick paper with black dots. Each dot is a made of "gunpowder". The hammer of my gun is supposed to hit a black dot to give that big bang and that delicious smoke of "gunpowder." After the gun is useless due to a broken spring. If I have more rolls of the gunpowder paper, I used them up by putting the roll on a flat rock and hit each dot whith a smaller stone..The sound is louder of course and my finger smelled of gunpowder. So if a cop would test me for powder burns, I will come out positive!!...Ah, the firecrackers, especially the triangle ( bawang ) gives a lot of ang for your buck. One time I went down intothe ground floor of our house in Asingan. I hid behind this curtain separating a school of women studying dressmaking under a kindly old lady named Miss Macaraeg. They did not see me come in by a separate door used for us. I had one bawang and a box of matches. Hiding behind that curtain, I set up that bawang safely on the floor, struck the match, lit the bawang's fuse and cupped my hands over my ears..BANG!!! went the fire cracker followed by screams and one women even said AY OKI!!!... Then I ran away a minute before Ms Macaraeg went to the curtain to see who the culprit is..Well, my Mom is the friend of Ms Macaraeg and we own the building ( our house or residence )..Dissapeared a bit, but come suppertime, I had to admit to my Mom I did it..Who among my siblings would do a dastardly deed like that. I got a reprimand but no beating. I just silently ate while Mom was lecturing me on behaving like a good boy!! From: kjpr Messagejust want to inform you guys that ATTY ISIDRO D. STA MARIA passed away this morning (12-27-2011)... From: VIC MessageAnother event worth meentioning is the children's party event hosted by a group headed by Miggie..This took place a few days ago. Her helpers to mention a few were: Imelda Nunez Daranciang, Fely Cisnero ( who lives just behind our house ) and a few other volunteers..The affair started early pm, First was the exhibition made by kids..To break the ice, some kids sang songs a capella, then a group did a modern dance of some sort where a couple of kids did some sumersaults ( very acrobatic ), then for the Parlor games, they went outside into the street in front of our front yard. Here they performed parlor games that produced screams and cheers from the onlookers...Yep, Imee Daranciang took charge of it..Miggie spent for most of the snacks as her contribution and she also took charge a bit of the entertainment..Oh yeah, she also did some cooking and other chores..There were several kids that mushroomed from the original list of 30 names! But Miggie and the others were ready for them..She bought teo bags of chips wrapped in mini bags and she distributed them last, when a few more kids ( and adults ) asked for a 2nd helping! The party ended late!..This entry supplements an earlier account I made earlier!...:) From: VIC MessageIt is a few days before New Year and during certain early evening hours, Asingan sounds like a war zone..From 7 to 9 pm, there are explosions, sky rockets, whistle bombs, fire crackers etc. I heard that the beasic firecracker now a days cost 3 pesos..One can hear intermittent gunfire like sounds from all over Asingan..Tonight is the barangay Fiesta of Domanpot. There will be a coronation night and we could hear the PA system broadcasting the emcees voice of whatever proceedings are going on..We like to go and watch but we cant for safety reason..Our streets in Domaquit are mostly unlighted and who knows what we can step on our way home..But right now we hear the sound of high powered PA systems blaring disco music. Well, the people like to enjoy as the year starts to fade away...In our area, it is quite as usual. Even the frogs ceased to come to our frontyard. There are just one or two of the usual 8 or 10..I guess they are scared of the noises all around..Last night Dec 25 night, every one with PA systems played music the whole night. Woe to their neighbours but this is Asingan, and nobody gives a shit to poor neighbours whose eardrums are being pounded. Well, the day at least was mild from morning to evening..You wont sweat like a pig unlike the other days when a walk on the streets would cause your shirt to be soaked with sweat..Some church carolers came tonight.We put 500 pesos in their envelope. Then they sang only 3 songs. Thats about 150 per song!..Oh well, no hard feelings..Its Christmas and it is for a good cause anyway..for the church!..Oh well..In a while the caroling will stop and new Year comes and every thing will be normal again! From: VIC MessageI had the chance of a brief encounter this morning with the town Mayor Heidee Ganigan Chua, the 2nd one since I arrived in Asingan. Miggie and I met her in front of the Phil. Independent church. It seems she was a sponsor for a wedding there. She exuded a kind of irresistible friendliness and a winning smile which is hard to forget. She gave us a hug and a buss and I would say, her personality would represent the kind of a leader which our town needs in this era. I met her first, in a same kind of way during the Bikini night a few weeks ago and she did the same kind of greeting to us and the others who were there in that area..."Merry Christmas," she whispered and I answered "Thank you.."...She lives not far from our house. In fact I could see her place across the greenfields from my gateway or up the balcony. There seemed to be a Christmas party in her place yesterday and the sound of laughter could be heard far and wide...Nice meeting you again, Mayora and more power to you in your work. From: VIC MessageVisitor, thank you for the link!..Asingan is back to normal, almost..It was a quiet Christmas yesterday. First time to experience Christmas in Asingan..We are expecting some Balikbayan guests who want to know how to resettle again in the old Hometown..There are highs and lows, joys and sorrows, it is like being back to a place which changed into something you did not expect. If you remember the story of Rip Van Winkle? It is something like that. He slept for 20 years in the Catskills mountains, and when he woke up, he found his Village totally changed. His son and family ( who thought he died in the mountains ) have grown up, his daughter has already a child and his son grew up to be like him. In fact he was his spitting image because he ( the son ) was a laid back guy who do not like to work at all! Like Father, like son!...What caused him to sleep was a wine given to him by some magical creatures of the Catskills mountains..!...Walking on the streets of Asingan is now like a surreal experience. I miss the serenity of the old place. The schools ( North and South Central )have new names and buildings...I want to visit my Alma Mater, the Rizal Academy but it is now closed for the Christmas season. I do not know whether they had a Christmas Program on the last school day of December!...to be continued From: visitor Messagehere's a very good new carol :http://youtu.be/0hR6O7VxKaQ From: VIC MessageThis spot in Dumaquit has potential..The house of Mayor Chua, ex Pres. FVR, Ex sen. Shahani, are just nearby..Many beautiful homes have started to mushroom. And because of the ricefields, the breeze is very cool..not all times though..But if you construct a house now, the money you might need is astronomical..Am just telling you the facts now a days...:)The place where my house ( and the neighbouring houses ) were once ricefields..Sometimes it is good to buy a ricefield ( cheaper ) and build a house in it..Some Asinganians have done it/are still doing it..You need to take a holiday and check the places..Then make the final decision..A few are willing to sell properties. In fact there are several FOR SALE signs posted.. From: VIC Messageerratum..the victims age is 61 years old NOt the 20+ something I mentioned, according to a text I received.The victim was receently interred....Sorry for the error..anyway I quoted the news from stories told to me by friends. Next time, I will read the Police reprt/file..The good news is, the case is solved..The culprit is from Urdaaneta..CRIME DOES NOT PAY!!!! From: VIC Message85 per sq. meter is from the old days..when the place is just plain rice fields..the price today for this area is 2,500 pesos per sq. meter..There is one beside me, and I can refer you direct to the seller..it is kind of wide..my house is small front and back but the sides are BIG..it is like a rectangle..You will be surprised to see how big the 4 rooms are inside..1 rec room in the ground and 3 bedrooms upstairs..the architecture is California.. From: CDE Messagemerry christmas kailians.. hello manong vic, I pass by your house.. its right on the corner going dumakit on a very narrow road good only for one way traffic. maybe 2 for tricycles but one may stop and park all the way to almost you drop to the side. colored blue. blue is my favorite. it has small front and back yard but i ques you like that, easy to clean. i saw manang migs doing istructions on your laborer. i am retired too and i am wanting big yards like i saw lots of open space in your place.. i heard from folks around that there are selling like 85 pesos per square meter.. could you please help me find my place there too. i don't mind the skinita type of road like the dumakit road as load as quite road. thank you From: VIC MessageTo Juliet, yesss we are now barriomates..but I still can not remember to go your family house..to ABC, merry Christmas!! It is now Dec. 25 here in the Phil!..my day is full today and may not even open my Computer..To all my friends in the AMB, a merry Christmas..I am sending you a virtual postcard..full of kids walking about in the streets of Cabincolan, kids caroling with the same tune and beating one drum, kids yelling from the distance...dogs chasing each other in the street in fornt of our house...goats eating their Xmas grass in the fields in front..the snack vendors in the plaza and in front of the church..selling balut, bibingka, tupig, roasted peanuts, making loads of money because money today is rolling around like a big wheel spreading joy to those who give,..and RECEIVE!!! Yes there is greater joy in giving money than in receiving..so do not hesitate in giving me your money so you will be Merrier this Christmas!! AM JUST KIDDING!!!..The best source of happiness is a clean and forgiving heart, Amen!!!! From: Juliet MessageMerry Christmas to all in Domaquit...Manong Vic kumusta kayo ken Manang Miggie.... Reading your postings wanna make me come home.....MErry Christmas! From: abc MessageIsang nakakalungkot na pasko ang nangyari sa kababayan natin Vic.Nakikiramay ako sa kanyang pamilya. Nahuli na ba ang may kagagawan? Yan ang mahirap sa mga tao kasi mga tamad tapos wala nang inabangan kundi ang mananakaw sa iba. Ano ba naman ang 100k! Napakadaling maubos nyan. Two years ago naiwan ko ang wallet ko sa isang supermart. Malaking halaga ang nandoon at mahahalagang docs. pero inihabol sa akin ng saleslady. Siguro kasi ilang beses na akong nakakapulot ng malalaki ring halaga at di ko pinagintresan. Hindi rin aasenso ang mga ganyang tao. Pagbabayaran din nila ang mga ganyang kasamaan nila. Yan ang ikinatatakot kong tumira diyan Vic kaya ABC ka palagi dyan. O ngayon nagamit ko rin ang natutunan ko sayo. Sige Vic . Bukas ulit kung may time ka. Don't worry if you write in english. I have no problem with that. I just want to use our language. Nakakamiss kasi eh. Merry Christmas again to you and your wife. From: VIC MessageI miss the Misa de Gallos of yore..At that time, there are live musicians who would play a guitar, or a violin or an organ console..These days, they use Karaoke...And the choir was given much importance then during those times..After the dawn mass, a family gives them breakfast..Not now, but then, what can we do?..Times change... From: Vic MessageI am faster when using the English language..so I hope you dont mind..Well the last Misa de gallo took place this am..I took some photos this morning and will post them in FaceBook later..It was foggy this morning at 3:00 am to 6:00..All street lights in Asingan are already ebergy efficient, ( the long ones ) ..They casted an eeirie look with the fog..The streets of Cabincolan were empty too..Even the dogs were absent, Seems they were also resting on this 9th day of Misa de Gallo..Tonight will be the Noche Buena..We bought some queso de Bola in Urdaneta in a big mall..My preferenc is the lechon but, we are advised not to eat much already for life longevity, so we can reach another Christmas!!..Today will be the funeral of the 25 year old woman who died when an evil hearted villain snatched her handbag which was on her body.According to a new version, the woman was riding behind the driver of the motor bike..A hooded motorcyclist drove near her, snatched the bag and the woman fell down on the road..Then he stopped to get the purse leaving the body on the road..Shows how fragile life is, and how we should be careful in all our rravel to and from Urdaneta..I do not trust the tricicyes...Better use the jeep or ride with someone with a car...It is now 10 am..have to sign off cuz I have to buy water..30 pesos a gallon and you provide your own container, a plastic jug which the seller washes before she puts in the water... From: ABC MessageMasarap magbasa ng mga kuwento mo tungkol sa mga happenings diyan. Kararating ko lang namili ng iba pang kailangan ko dito. Babae ako Vic at ang ginamit kong pangalan ay sayo ko natutunan. Ayaw kitang pahirapan sa pag-iisip pero magandang training yan sa brain. Oo malapit na rin akong magretire pero wala pa sa mukha kaya ayaw akong pagretire-in hehehe. Masayang malungkot ang buhay ko kasi nag-iisa na ako. Nag-iisa ako dito sa tirahan ko kaya naging libangan ko na ang mamasyal sa bayan-bayan dito sa Pang.org. May mga napupuntahan akong medyo pintasera at pintasero. Ang gusto nila, katulad ka rin ng kanilang talino. Aba... di naman puwede yan kasi nilikha tayo ng Diyos na may iba-ibang talento di ba? Noong isang taon pa ako nagbabasa ng mga kuwento mo at hindi ako nagsasawang magbasa dito. Maganda ang samahan niyo dito. Wala akong nakikitang nagbabatuhan gaya ng sa ibang bayan. Wala naman akong problema sa english na posting kaya lang mas gusto kong gamitin ang Pilipino kasi sa katagalogan ako lumaki. Sige hihintayin ko ang kuwento mo ulit bukas..... ABC From: VIC MessageKahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko mahulaan ang pangslan mo base sa ABC..Kailangan yata nag dunong ni Sherlock Holmes para diyan!..Per give me more time at mga iba pang clue..At gamitin ko rin ang aking power of deduction..Halimbawa; babae o lalake, malapit ka na bang mag retire...Ang ABC ay pwedeng baliktarin para maging BAC o CAB pero kailangan talaga ng ibang clue..May mga nakilala ko rin sa Net at magaling ding sumulat at hindi rin nila sinabi ang pangalan, ikaw kaya ang isa sa kanila?..Medyo pagod din ako ngayon dahil sa mga bata, ngunit wala namang nadisgrasya..May group na gumawa ng modern dance sabay ng rap music..Ginawa nila sa harap ng bahay na sementado..May mga lalake na nag sirko ( acrobatic sumersault. Bumaliktad sila sa hangin at bagsak din sila sa mga paa nila..Tumigil yata ang paghinga ko na nakakita. Kung nagkamali and isa sa kanila, bali ang leeg at kami ni Miggie ang masisi ng mga magulang!..more tommorow!! From: ABC Message1:39:00 am dito. Binasa ko muna ang buong kuwento mo. Nakakainggit nga ang Misa De Gallo. Naku nagutom ako sa kuwento mo tungkol sa arroz caldo at bibingka pero nang maalala ko yong tae ng aso nawala ang gutom ko hehehe. Nagdedecorate ako ng christmas tree ko. Ganyan dito . Dalawa o tatlong araw bago dumating ang pasko saka magdecorate para sariwang-sariwa ang daon ng needle tree. Kanina ang daming bumibili ng christmas tree dito as malapit sa amin. Ako noong Sunday ko pa ito binili. Nilagay ko muna sa terrace para di matuyuan kasi alam mo na winter ngayon kaya naka-on ang heater. Bukas na ako magpapatuloy ng kuwento ko kasi matutulog na ako. Di mo sinagot ang pinahuhulaan ko sayo na gamit kong pangalan na ABC. Natutunan ko ito sayo. Pero baka bukas ay mahulaan mo na. Mabuti naman kung gusto mong magsulat sa ating wikang pambansa para di naman ito makalimutan di ba? Mamaya ulit. From: VIC MessageSalamat uli, kaibigan. Dahil sa iyo, nasasanay din akong magsulat sa Tagalog uli!..Ito ang nangyari mula pag gising namin..Alas 3 ng madaling araw, nagpapatugtog na ang Simbahang Katoliko ng mga kantang pamaskong Tagalog. Kahit nasa bukid kami, dinig ang musika, kahit mahina lang. Isang Oras yun na tugtog... Alas 4:00, nagsisimula ang rosaryo at dinig pa rin sa PA system..Alas 3:30 nagsimula na kaming magbihis, medyo tulog pa ang kaluluwa..:) Lalabas na kami na sana ng 4:00 am, pero hindi ko mahanap ang aking flashlight. 15 minutos na naman ang nasayang pero nahanap din ang flashlight. Ang mrs. ko ang nakahanap..:D..Labas na kami at medyo malayo pa ang lalakarin. Kailangan namin ang flashlight, kasi madaming aso sa amin at madami pang sariwang tae ng mga lintik. Ito ang gamit ng flashlight!..:) Mamaya, may dumaan na tricycle at pinick up kami. Nakabarong yung driver. Sugo siya ng langit, sabi ko sa sarili ko..Pagdating sa simbahan binibigyan namin ng pasahe pero ayaw tinanngap. Palagay ko member siya ng Knight of Columbus at lagi kaming nakikita sa simbahan...Nabigla ako sa dami ng tao sa Misa de Gallo..Ang daming nakatayo sa labas!..Noong College student ako, mga 1/3 lang ang laman ng simbahan sa Misa de Gallo..Una kung magsimba ngayon mula noong Dec. 16, simula ng Misa de gallo..Maganda ang Belen sa loob. May mga imahen ng mga Anghel, sina Jose at Maria at mga Pastol..Wala pa ang Sanggol, pero andoon na ang 3 hari!..Di na ako nag reklamo..Pilipinas ito at hindi masyadong sumusonod sa mga ibang alituntunin ng kahit ano man..Pero ang ganda talaga ng sabsaban: punong puno ng bumbilya na may kulay...Bago yung final blessing nag bigay ng sayaw ang mga youth members. Sinayaw nila ang SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN sa harap ng altar at naka soot sila ng mga santa claus hats. medyo nabigla ako kasi conservative ang simbahan nuong 1970s bago kami paalis papuntang Canada. Ngayon, nagbago na ang ibang liturgical rules sa Misa, na kasali ang Musika...Sa Toronto, kumakanta lang kami ng awiting pamasko sa Dec. 24, Midnight mass..Pero dito sa Asingan, kumakanta na sila ng HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING sa simula ng Misa..Mga Tagalog ang ibang responses sa Misa..Hindi pa matanggap ng utak ko ang ganitong celebration pero maganda naman at ang sayaw ay ginawa na nila nuong matapos na ang Misa..Ang isang masugid na church volunteer, si Dra. Pacita Jover ay nagluto ng isang malaking caldero ng Arroz caldo. Para daw sa mga choir at ibang volunteers. Masarap ang arroz caldo niya at nagdala pa siya ng piniritong butil ng bawang...Paglabas namin sa simbahan, naghanap si Miggie ng bibingka..Nagsisiuwian na ang mga taga luto ng bibingka..Di bale, sabi ko nakadalawang bowl naman tayo ng Arroz Caldo! Salamat Pacita!! Sana mabasa mo ang posting kung ito!...:D From: ABC MessageHulaan mo kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng gamit kong pangalan na ABC. Sa pagbili ng mga kahit anong bagay, lalo na ang mga gamit sa kusina, mag-canvass muna kayo kasi hindi pare-pareho ang presyo sa mga shops. Ako rin minsan bumili ako ng speaker ng laptop ko sa malapit na computer shop, noong nagpunta ako sa iba ay mas mura ng 5€. Sabi ko sayang din ang 5€ di ba? Pero nakabili na ako kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, bago ako bumili ng isang gamit, mabuti pa magcanvass muna ako. Nakaka-miss din ang simbang gabi at ang mga parol. Dito walang mga ganyan at kokonti ang mga may lights sa mga bahay. Nakaka-miss din yong mga nagka-carolling na mga bata diyan sa atin. Dito naman tahimik na tahimik ang pasko. Ngayon pa lang ako magdedekorasyon ng Christmas tree para sariwang-sariwa parin ang dahon hanggang bagong taon. Sige magkuwento ka alng at nandito lang akong nagaabang ng mga bagong kuwento mo. Enjoy ako talagang magbasa ng mga postings mo. From: VIC MessageIt is almost the bewitching hour of midnight here in Asingan..I hear nothing but shrill symphony of cicadas, distant baying of dogs, and a dimishing croaking of frogs trying to assert their presence in the ecological order of things...Every evening starting from 7:00 pm, a few frogs would start hop-hopping in the front yard, but I do not have the heart to capture them and turned them into frog legs cooked with coconut milk...We hardly see frog legs in the market either...We went to Urdaneta this am ( went back to Asingan late evening ) and we had a full day looking at stuff. We went by jeep earlier and our first target was the Urdaneta Supermarket, 2nd floor..It was air conditioned..While Miggie checked women stuff ( I do not know what were they ) I checked the electronic gadgets out for sale..The brands are Lexmark ( only in the Phil ) but they seemed very impressive. I saw a mixer for 4 microphones with a built in equalizer ( wow) the type I like Santa to put under my tree a few days from now..But I have a feeling Santa would say, you have plenty of gadgets already!..Yep and these very small speakers with high wattages ..A 2'by 3' by 3' enclosure and it boasts of 1000 watts..Wow, nice to bring outside the house and to compete with the other audiophiles in Cabincolan. Of course, I will never win. Their speakers have such nice basses. One speaker is inside the living room, the other speaker is outside their door, pointing right at our house! I think the son of a bitch is giving me a message! Oh well, nothing changed after 50 years!...Then we tried buying a tea kettle in a Chinese owned appliance store. One display model was priced at 160 pesos. When we selected that model, the salesgirl said "I will bring you out a boxed product.." which she did and we brought it to the cashier. When the cashier scanned it, she said 220 pesos!..That started our BPs going up, esp. Miggie because she was the one buying it. But she is the one where black is black and white is white.."Your sales girl said it was 160!".."Yeaah but the 160 is different from the 220 model!"..Little did we know we fell for the bait and switch which these merchants are very fond of..Ay yay yay!. Never mind, when my sister arrives we will go to CSI ( owned by Dagupan Vice mayor ).Well when my sister did arrive, we went at once to CSI and checked their appliance section. We foud the same boxed kettle. Unfortunately, the nprice was 300 pesos!..Gawd almighty! From: VIC MessageNagagalak ako sa posting mo na gumaling ang mga karamdaman mo. Grabe talaga ang init sa Maynila ngayon..Sa provinsiya ay sobrnag init na, sa Maynila pa kaya..Kung saang dako ka man sa magandang mundong ito, harinawa na pagpalain ka ng maawaing Diyos ng kalusugan. Kalusugan na dulot ng maganda at maaliwalas na kapaligiran..Ang pasko sa atin ay talagang ibang iba..Sa Mall kanina, siksikan ang mga namimili, ang daming trabajo ng mga cashiers, tagabuhat ng kahon, at mga tumutolong sa mga customers..Pero nagbibiruan lang sila. masaya ang mukha nila. Naka sombrero sila ng Santa Claus..Hindi ko natiis na bumili ng RL sitsaron sa pintuan ng mall..Kahit mahal ngunit masarap..May kasama pang sukang may sili...At sa paguwi, marami kang makikitang sari saring parol..May isang parol na tulad sa laki ng 10 pie pataas. May paligsahan yata ng parol sa Barangay na yon..madami pa akong mai kwe kwentong nakita sa daan, pero gabi na dito kaya ipabukas na lang..Salamat sa pagbati mo, kaibigan..Bumili pala ako ng CD..Ang ngalan ng album ay Himig Pasko ng Mabuhay Singers..Himig Pasko ang laging kinakanta ngayon dito, sa simbahan man o sa Mall.... From: ABC MessageSalamat sa sagot mo. Ako naman, dito gumaling ang mga sakit ko. Sariwa kasi ang hangin dito. Noong nandyan pa ako sa atin ang akala ko hindi na magtatagal ang buahy ko. Kahit bata pa ako noon, ang dami ko nang nararamdamang masasakit sa katawan ko. Ang pinakamalaking problema ko ay ang goiter ko at sinusitis. Sa loob ng isang taon ilang beses akong nagkakasakit dahil sa polusyon at init. Siguro kasi sa Manila ako nagtatrabaho kaya lahat ng usok at alikabok ay nalalanghap ko. Mula nang dumating ako dito, unti-unti nang nagbago ang sitawasyon ng kalusugan ko. At lumakas pa ang katawan ko dito. Pati insomnia ko ay dito rin gumaling. Ngayon nagresign na ako sa dati kong sinapiang grupo ng mga INSOMNIACS hehehe. Ingat na lang kayo sa pamimili niyo. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and to your loved ones and your friends too. From: VIC MessageOo, gusto na namin talaga..Bihira na naman ang mga incidenting yun..Kung minsan kasalanan din ng mga biktima...Sa Toronto, mas marami ang pinapatay..Pagkatapos, polluted pa ang hangin kaya nag ka hika ang Mrs. ko..Pero sa bahay namin sa bukid, sariwa ang hangin..At anytime nakikipagtsismis si Mrs. sa kapitbahay..Mababait sila, eh mga kababata ko sila eh..Kilala ako, kilala na rin si Mrs.. Tsaka aand $$$ Can dito ay times 40..Mas mababa kaysa US..Yung nagagasta sa pagkain ( lutong Pilipino ) ay kunti lang...Madaming advantages dito, pero ang buhay dito ay hindi pangkalahatan...May mga aayaw, may mga hindi..Pero sa amin, gusto na namin dito..Salamat sa posting mo..Ewan ko kung bakit ako lang ang nag po post..Pero madami ang nagbabasa, alam ko..Kasi, kwento ko ay tungkol sa bayan namin..Local color ika nga..Bihira kang makabasa ng ganito. At ito ay PUBLIC SERVICE ko sa mga kabayan ko at iba pang nagsusubaybay..Punta kami sa Urdaneta ngayon..Siksikan na ang mga Mall dito..tulad din sa US/Canada!!! From: ABC MessageBakit nag-iisa ka dito? Binabasa ko ang mga kuwento mo. Nag-eenjoy ako. Diyan na ba kayo talaga titira? Yan ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw ko nang tumira diyan sa atin. Nakakatakot ang mga nangyayari at kahit sa probinsya na ngayon ang dami na ring snatchers. Ang gusto ko lang diyan ay magbakasyon ng isa hanggang dalawang buwan. Dito sa amin, tahimik. Malimit akong maglakad sa hatinggabi galing sa trabaho pero hindi ako natatakot. Minsan naiwan ko ang wallet ko sa isang supermart at ang laman ay malaki pero hinabol ako ng kahera. Sobra ang pagpapasalamat ko. Grabe ang kaba ko noong iniabot sa akin. Biruin mo na ihabol pa sayo di ba? From: VIC MessageAsingan is having a terrible weather in the afternoons lately..Even in the mornings, the temperature is already warm.If you have to buy something from the market, better do it during the early morning hours..When the sun reaches 12:00 oclock in the sky, wow! Better stay indoors or in an air conditioned Mall least you get a heat stroke or a burned skin. Me?..I just stay in the balcony and check out some of the critters below in the ricefield..Yesterday, I threw a day old bread ( pan de sal ) on the street. Pretty soon, a streeet dog ( asong kalye ) came by and took the bread with its mouth. It was a brown female dog ( a bitch ). Immediately a black dog, a male one ( a stud?) came by and was asking for the bread. The brown one refused of course and kept on going away from blackie. But the male dog, refused to give up easily. What he did next was was unexpected. He tried a different technique. He started to hump the brown dog but still she refused penetration..Sex for bread? hardy, har har!..Well, the bitch ended the drama by eating the pan de sal as fast as she can. When the black dog saw the bread is gone he just went away, maybe back to his home. or to play with his other girl friends---:) Like · From: VIC MessageWe heard of another purse snatching incident. Just to remind townmates to be extra careful when you go to Urdaneta to withdraw money from your banks. After withdrawing money ( we heard it is 100K pesos from Urdaneta ) the victim took a tricycle to bring her back to Asingan. Upon reaching Domanpot, the suspect stopped the tricycle, grabbed the lady,s purse with the money. The lady did not lt go of the purse so she was dragged out of the vehicle and she fell into the street. She hit her head on the pavement and sustained life threatening injuries..This story did not come from any police report so I can not confirm any names or anything else..But a lesson could be learned here..Better withdraw $$ safely like with a companion or board a car after withdrawal. I have withdrawn cash several times and after each withdrawal, I always head at once to the Asingan bound jeepney stop. Criminals are always on the prowl..The following incident took place about 40 years ago in Manila when I was still in Los banios. We cashed a check in a Cubao bank..At the doorway a very friendly lady introduced herself to Miggie saying that she is also from Dagupan and she knows the Hufanas. She was such a good talker. We were also naive re: Manila set ups because we were residing in los Banios which is safe then because we lived near the UP compound...To continue the story, the lady would not let us go. Finally she invited us to her car which she said is parked nearby..Only then we sensed something is wrong. We made a very hasty good bye and we took a bus from a stop in Cubao and we got away safely..Manila ( and sometimes Asingan ) could be a very dangerous place depending on the individual..Follow the ABC rules of: Always be Careful..Avoid being Careless..! From: VIC MessageIt is 8:00 am and I thank God for giving me another day in Paradise on earth: Asingan..Flora C. came in just a while and she and Miggie are planning this Friday's events..But sometimes in such events involving FOOD we have to expect the unexpected..Good luck to us...:( From: VIC MessageThe Xmas party for kids in our neighbourhood will be on Friday, Dec. 23..Imee Daranciang is an expert in Childrens parlor games and she said the event will be held in front of our house..It is gonna be a firsttimer for us..Miggie gave Flora C. some packages of noodles, etc. all the way from Toronto to be cooked for the kids...If you only see how poor many children in Asingan is, your heart will melt..I usually gave some snacks to a family next to our house. They eat only once a day..I know that in the past there were quite a few fund raising events aimed at these poor kids. Some are legit, some are rip offs...When you donate $$$, please be sure your funds will really go to these kids..Local snacks baked here are cheap. 1$ will go a long way to feed a few of them..For example, pan de sal costs only 50 centavos or 1 peso. How much is that in $$$..? If properly channeled Balikbayans would be able to help these indigent kids in our town... From: VIC MessageClick the photos to enlarge them and to read the captions.... From: VIC MessageIf you want to see some fotos of Domaquit and our house, go to FaceBook go to Vic Costes account..I guess the time has come to share Asingan shots, the interesting ones anyway.... From: VIC MessageThank you for adding your written point of views to the AMB, especially now that the Yuletide season is almost here. You really add variety to my aim to describe what I see and feel about our once a sleepy town which is just a faint reflection of other towns in our country.Come to think of it, THERE ARE NO MORE SLEEPY TOWNS in Pangasinan!.This morning, I went to pay my taxes at the Asingan treasurer's Office. Its a culture shock because in Toronto, I just pay them online. In here, you go on a line inside a cramped office and wait until a public servant attends to you..With luck, you can pay your just dues in an hour. I cut my waiting time shorter because it happened I was recognized by an employee of the municipal Hall! Magbabayad ka na, pinaghihintay ka pa ng matagal..If not for the fact that paying your taxes this December saves you a good discount, I could have left the place, take a Dagupan bound bus and spend my money in the City!!..After paying my taxes, I went to the market and try to see it now, comparing it to how I saw it 50 years ago..Every inch of the place occupied by a vendor selling something: pirated DVDs ( from 60 pesos up ), barbequed chicken or pork its smell tickling your taste buds (?)..a coconut juice stand offering the drink with shreded young coconut meat in a glass ( but you will wonder how clean the glass is )..In the meat section you will see fresh meat ( no frozen stuff ) of pork cuts, longanisas, or whole chickens ready for the oven or the barbeque pit..And if you have 4000 pesos to spend for your kin, you can treat them to a whole lechon on Christmas eve /Day..Then do not forget the drinks..Imported drinks cost almost the same as abroad. Local brands include Fundador, Emperor Brandy, GSM Blue, Ginebra San Miguel Blue ( very smooth ), San Miguel Beer Light, in cans or bottles. Not all stores in Asingan sell SMB..SMB the vendors say do not sell as good as the RED HORSE. I hate the taste of Red Horse. It seems to have come from a vat of horse urine. But its cheap..It goes a long way for your booze allowance..Well, there is another event tonight although the Pob. West barangay was over with the Bikini OPEN contest. Most women contestants said my wife have small tits..Well, they are not Swedish or French babes..but when they turn around for the judges, their derrieres are a sight to behold..Ola la..From a very close range ( just like the seat I had last night, I see lots of flawless skin, front and back and most bellies were really flat..Ages were from 18 to 22. The gal with the tiniest bikini can claim she had a very close shave an hour before the contest!..My my, the Maria Clara Image have already dissapeared!!!:D... From: visitor MessageTo all my liberal, democrat friends: It won't be for another week but please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2012 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures. This wish is made without regard of the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee...To my conservative, Republican friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From: AMBoy Messagere: transportation; there ought to be a law ... or i would assume there is one. Even the water taxis (motor boats in 100 Islands), are the operators trained and have a license to operate the boat? Last time I rode the boat they don't even offer life vests to the passengers. re: bikini contest - eat your hearts out ... you can look at them but can not touch them hahahahaha. (i'm not from Asingan but enjoy reading your postings everyday. From: VIC MessageThe kuligligs are still alive and well. These are adding to the noise pollution in the Poblacion in addition to the cramping of an already crowded main streets in the Poblacion. There are scooters/mopeds also used by young women ( no visible headgear ) and some even babies are carried by their Moms riding at the back.Babies have no headgear either!..:)..We came home at about 12:30 am a while ago after witnessing the Open Bikini contest. Participants came from different towns of Pangasinan, 2 came from Metro manila and one came from Tokyo, Japan. The young men also came from all over. Two are from Asingan. The first costume category was FUTURISTIC SPACE BIKINI. The futuristic bikinis are supplemented with different kinds of capes, shoulder gears, etc. We saw some friends seated in the "ringside" so we just got in and sat with them. I had a seat right beside the end of the runway where the candidates would do their body movements/exhibitions to show the judges. I could have grabbed the ladies' legs if I wanted to ( Their limbs and groins were very near ) but I couldn't, would n't and didn't want to..main reason is that Miggie is right beside me holding an umbrella..:)It was drizzling slightly early in the evening but it stopped when the show started. The gods above must have wanted to watch too..:D..I had my camera with me so I played a paparrazi and my memory stick is full of those scantily clad beauties and studs..I took shots as they walked on the runway. I got my fill of torsos in different thong sizes and shapes. One female bikini is really very small. It was revealed when they shed off their futuristic attire and paraded on their black bikinis..After each appearance on the runway, 8 prizes were awarded, 4 for men and another 4 for the men. There were 10 beautiful women and 10 equally handsome young men. After so much twisting and turning, I thought my neckbones would become locked and unfunctional..But I survived!.At 12 midnight, they commenced the 3rd catagory: Red bikini attire but it was time to go. Enough is enough. Besides its kinda dangerous walking in Domaquit alone at midnight. Am not worried about spooks. Just the bums who would approach you for booze money...Anyways, just wait for the downloaded photos, maybe on FB as soon as I setup my desktop. Laptops are so hard to control sometimes These portable machines suck bigtime !.. From: Mr Pogi MessageThe fun part of traditional Misa de Gallo is after the mass...when you get out of the church and try the hot steaming bibingka, tupig and latik offerred by roadside vendors...it's a treat considering when we were kids its very hard to wake up early and stay awake during the mass, lol!! i always observe kids getting elbowed by their moms when they start to droll and drop their heads either sideways or forward lol!!!anyway, going back to the traffic that you encounter during your biking days are there still kuliglig travelling our main roads???lol!!! From: VIC MessageIt is 3 00 am and the church is currently playing a non stop medley of Tagalog Christmas Carols, very happy tunes..Minutes later, the pitter patter of small feet sounded on the pavement in front of our house, which according to Marcie Wise was once a rice paddy. There still some rice paddies joined to it in a perpendicular fashion and a few locals use these rice paddies as a short cut to the other road on the opposite which is the road between the Mayor's house and the Mormon church...Any going back to the issue of the Misa de Gallo, Miggie and I debated this am whether to go or not to go..Years ago the church is just across the road and there is a short cut to it. It was just a small trail then used by my dad and a few people. Now they expanded it into a wide road good enough for a tricycle or even a car..Sign of progress and the rewards for being a frequent trespasser..:)But I think my dad died before he realized this fruit of his labour! From: VIC MessageIt is 3 00 am and the church is currently playing a non stop medley of Tagalog Christmas Carols, very happy tunes..Minutes later, the pitter patter of small feet sounded on the pavement in front of our house, which according to Marcie Wise was once a rice paddy. There still some rice paddies joined to it in a perpendicular fashion and a few locals use these rice paddies as a short cut to the other road on the opposite which is the road between the Mayor's house and the Mormon church...Any going back to the issue of the Misa de Gallo, Miggie and I debated this am whether to go or not to go..Years ago the church is just across the road and there is a short cut to it. It was just a small trail then used by my dad and a few people. Now they expanded it into a wide road good enough for a tricycle or even a car..Sign of progress and the rewards for being a frequent trespasser..:)But I think my dad died before he realized this fruit of his labour! From: VIC MessageSo much for Asingan contests..I grew up here and I knew that judging here, from sports to beauty contests to music is ...... :)..During one beauty contest years ago ( I was there ) there were 3 candidates. 2 fat and ugly ones and 1 pretty and slim one. The winner is one of the fat and ugly one. The judging committe's chairman explained that sometimes certain rules are bent in order to make a decision..Nuff said..Anyways lets move on to other topics which are less controversial. The weather for instance. The weather is now reaching about 80 degrees..This pm, there will be a Grand Bingo at the barangay Hall at 3:00 pm..Tonight will be the coronation of the certain Beauties, pre teen ones..It will be another night of music, pomp and splendour for Asingan which seems to be having so many festival days compared to the yester years..I think since the Barangays opted to have their own Fiestas ( there are 22 barangays in Asingan I think ) so there are 22 Fiestas added to the town fiesta on April...As I have said esrlier, I went to buy some drinking water in a refilling station near our family house in Poblacion.It is 30 pesos for a gallon, but you have to bring your conainer. The NAWASA here seems unfit for drinking, just for other purposes..We do not have a maid now a days..maids in Asingan are now quite expensive to hire. They cost 2500 pesos a month and you have to provide them with SSS which is another 300 pesos. But if you have a friend or relative who is willing to work for less, you can hire/him or her. No laws are to be broken..Living here without help is not so bad.. From: VIC MessageI am so mad..! My group got only 3rd prize yesterday because it has accompaniment!! The contest judges are idiots..:) They do not know good performance even if this will bite them in the ass..!! Am not joining anymore contests in Asingan... From: VIC MessageToday Dec. 17 is the 2nd day celebration of the 9 day observance of the Xmas season in the Philippines..At dawn, the Catholic church played some nice Xmas carols over their PA system. I remember joining the choir during my College days and I enjoyed every minute of it..I joined them a couple of times and I found the same problems that existed in the church volunteers still exist up to this time. Some things really never change..Its kind of cold this morning and we hope it remains this comfortable during the whole day..Dr. Mario Hufana a California orthopedic surgeon came to see our Asingan house and he was all praises for it because of its architecture and the quietness of the location. Plus the breeze that wafts from the field especially at this minute. You do not need an air conditioner here, he said..I do not know what will happen today but I know there will be a free haircut as part of the Medical Mission affair. But i do like to see the other events. Oh yes, tommorow will be the Open Bikini Contest..Go to church in the morning then watch the bikini contest at night. Nice way to spend one Sunday..:D From: VIC MessageIf you have to buy a property, buy some existing lots here in Asingan, particularly in Toboy being sold by former Blanca Gonzales..She has 250 and 500 sq. meter lots subdivided and the titles would be named after you in a week..Why go somewhere else? Asingan is the place to stay. There are sldo still some lots here in Domaquit/Cabincolan and else where in town for that matter..There are several LOTS FOR SALE signs posted all over..There will be another Medical Mission activity to be held in town today. One of the participants is Manny the hair dresser/barber from Poblacion. He came to the house yesterday but we were still out of town.Our neighbour whom we wre helping with food usually approach people looking for us, ask their business and then she tells us when we are back. In short, she looks after our house when we are away..In Asingan, if you are nice to people, then people will also be nice to you..Our neighbour also warned us of 2 boys whonare habitual thieves. Recently, she said the two got out of prison with a 5000 peso bond posted by their father. And their father is just a kagawad. Took him several months to save that money. A few days after they were set free, things started to get stolen again here in our area! I pity the father cursed with 2 "thieves" as kids...Yep. our local news is also provided by our neighbour who could do a job as a news reporter if only given a chance...:D From: SHEILA AQUINO MessageHELLO EVERYONE! We cordially invite all Pangasinenses & Ilocanos who wants to invest in a our EXCLUSIVE SUBDIVISION located near Magic Mall Urdaneta. We have available HOUSE & LOT PACKAGE but for those Investors we also offer LOT ONLY PACKAGE. "Definitely flood free". If you are interested you can email me or get in touch with me through my mobile number 0919-2034627 or you can visit my website http://www.pangasinanhomes.webs.com/ From: VIC MessageWe are back in Asingan after a few days in Natividad. On my last day in town ( Dec. 14 ) I accompanied the Poblacion West Barangay choir consisting of a "motley crew" of singers ( seniors mostly ) who performed very well considering the circumstances..The event took place in the Asingan Sports Centre at about 2:00 pm..The temperature inside the place then felt like 100 degrees in the shade. I headed to the stadium at around 1:00 pm with an assortment of gadgets: keyboard, keyboard stand, a knapsack full of assorted wires and cables. a small transformer, because my keyboaard is 110 v. Oh yeah, I also brought a huge speaker used for outdoor functions which is 220 v. I have a feeling that one stressful day like this one, I will plug the 110 equipment into a 220 v. outlet and vice versa and I will fry the son of a bitch..:) ..I left the place after their singing because some cousins of Miggie are waiting at home to bring us to Natividad..Many barangays showed up. There were two categories: the singing and the dancing...Well I saw most of the singing entries and they are okay..Up to this moment of writing I do not still know who won the first prize..The entry of Barangay Dupac is O HOLY NIGHT. tHERE WERE two groups in the ensemble: one was the choir and the other was a small cast of actors playing Mary, Joseph, the 3 Kings and a Star Man. Now what is a Starman you might ask. It is a sap who is carrying a long stick at the end of which hangs a bamboo and Japanese paper lantern shaped like a star. While Mary, Joseph and the 3 Kings were walking together to the tune of O HOLY NIGHT, the starman was also walking with them..carrying the star raised over their heads.This portrayal would re write the biblical interpretation of the Nativity event. Another item worth seeing was: the pregnant Mary, mother of Jesus was played by a 65 year old woman and Joseph was played by an old geezer with glasses...:D From: VIC MessageContrast is a primary element of Art.In our present life in Asingan, we witnessed a lot of contrast..Foremost is the family who lives next door. There is athe Mom and Dad. The Mom has no steady job and she has to take care of a household of 6 kids. We heard from neighbours that most of the time, they eat only once a day. Their younger kids sometimes would peer through our iron railings in our gate. At first I was annoyed until the day I heard about their dire straits and pretty soon we sort of adopted them as our own ( the 2 youngest kids I mean ) They are identical twins and one look into their eyes would melt an iron heart. Since there are so many leftover ( but still edible ) in our fridge, we started to share with them. These will go to the garbage anyway after a few more days..On the first days, Miggie gave them some American chocolates and soon she was known in the block as the chocolate lady. I also gave them pan de sal, fresh, because we buy the 20 peso pack which has 10 buns. I share with the kid some of 'em and my, how they smile when they receive them..Their dad by the way is a tricycle driver but he does not make much because he does not have a permit...The other day, an aunt of the kids approached Miggie and told her: " I heard you are good to my sister and her family. I have lots of plants in my house and you can help yourself to them if you please.." Miggie was very pleased and she graciously said Thank You, I will...Even the family dog comes to our gate and when he comes I gave him some graham cracker pieces ( my favorite snack when I was a kid in Asingan ) and he seems pleased cuz he eats them all!...All of these Miggie relish like a hot cup of salabat because in Toronto she had no neighbours to chat with. She would be alone save for the TV and she was turning into a couch potato. Now she is alive again and everyday she would be out in her yard putting around with some plants. Then a lady would pass by and starts a chat. All of a sudden, half of the day is gone..For sure this will be the life we will have as long as we we are still strong enough to board a plane. I have my own activities and drinking buddies ( one weekly sessions ) and she has her chatmates. This arrangement would keep us from each other's hair: ha-ha!..just joking..This morning, I will accompany a singing group in a a town contest featuring choirs from all Asingan barangays. I will help the Barangay Poblacion West choir. The choirmistress is Imelda N. Daranciang who teaches at Rizal Junior Colleges..It will be fun this pm!...See ya soon! From: VIC MessageContrast is a primary element of Art.In our present life in Asingan, we witnessed a lot of contrast..Foremost is the family who lives next door. There is athe Mom and Dad. The Mom has no steady job and she has to take care of a household of 6 kids. We heard from neighbours that most of the time, they eat only once a day. Their younger kids sometimes would peer through our iron railings in our gate. At first I was annoyed until the day I heard about their dire straits and pretty soon we sort of adopted them as our own ( the 2 youngest kids I mean ) They are identical twins and one look into their eyes would melt an iron heart. Since there are so many leftover ( but still edible ) in our fridge, we started to share with them. These will go to the garbage anyway after a few more days..On the first days, Miggie gave them some American chocolates and soon she was known in the block as the chocolate lady. I also gave them pan de sal, fresh, because we buy the 20 peso pack which has 10 buns. I share with the kid some of 'em and my, how they smile when they receive them..Their dad by the way is a tricycle driver but he does not make much because he does not have a permit...The other day, an aunt of the kids approached Miggie and told her: " I heard you are good to my sister and her family. I have lots of plants in my house and you can help yourself to them if you please.." Miggie was very pleased and she graciously said Thank You, I will...Even the family dog comes to our gate and when he comes I gave him some graham cracker pieces ( my favorite snack when I was a kid in Asingan ) and he seems pleased cuz he eats them all!...All of these Miggie relish like a hot cup of salabat because in Toronto she had no neighbours to chat with. She would be alone save for the TV and she was turning into a couch potato. Now she is alive again and everyday she would be out in her yard putting around with some plants. Then a lady would pass by and starts a chat. All of a sudden, half of the day is gone..For sure this will be the life we will have as long as we we are still strong enough to board a plane. I have my own activities and drinking buddies ( one weekly sessions ) and she has her chatmates. This arrangement would keep us from each other's hair: ha-ha!..just joking..This morning, I will accompany a singing group in a a town contest featuring choirs from all Asingan barangays. I will help the Barangay Poblacion West choir. The choirmistress is Imelda N. Daranciang who teaches at Rizal Junior Colleges..It will be fun this pm!...See ya soon! From: VIC MessageIt is 1:00 am, and all's well in Asingan..As I write I hear some froggies rehearsing a choral piece, reminding me that on Thursday, Dec. 14, there will be a choral contest among all Barangays in Asingan...Again, it is a first time experience for me..By the way, the Asingan CWL choral group did not make any prize 2 days ago..One of the rules for the contest is the number of singers. The minimum required is 15, less than that number showed up for the performance. We volunteered to sing as a non contestant, and I glad we did..:)..The singing was beautiful. I brought my Yamaha keyboard which I brought all the way from Toronto...On the morning of Sunday, Dec. 11, my sister Ester brought me and Miggie to the cathedral gym. I saw a gathering of the CWL members from different towns of Pangasinan. All were dressed in red. Our Asingan group participated in 2 contests: the singing of one choral piece and the dancing of JINGLE BELL ROCK. The whole affair was quite a spectacle. If we had the number of singers, I think we might have bagged a prize because our CWL sang with their hearts on their sleeves and I did my best too. Not one bad note fell on the floor!..The funny thing is ALMOST ALL choirs ( including ours ) sang HIMIG PASKO. What a coincidence!! .A few sang a capella, only our group had a piano accompaniment and another had a guitarist. Another group had 2 laptops in front of them on where they read the lyrics while singing. very original. Never saw one like that singing elsewhere..Then there was a popularity contest among selected ladies for 5 "beauty queen" seats. It was an instant thing and so after the candidates marched into the front of the crowd, some CWL members went to the crowd with hats in their hands, asking for monetary support for their candidates!..Geez, they had crammed so many events within just a few hours...At 12:00, a mass was celebrated in the Urdaneta cathedral. It felt so humid inside and we had this single bond paper to use as a fan..:) But we hang on to the last part of the Mass and after the final blessing, everybody scurried to the doorways like a pack of frightened ants!!..We went back to the gym to hear the results of the contest and to watch the winning beauties crowned..Golly Miss Molly, at one point I was so sleepy that I put on a pair of shades and caught some forty winks, right on my seat!...:D..Right after the coronation, some members started to leave the gym, heading for their cars..Then came another announcement: "Ladies, ladies! Do not leave yet. We still have to sing the CWL song." Well, I was not a member and I was not even a lady so I just stayed outside and listened to the song from a garden bench!..:D From: VIC MessageI know you always read this Board, but I do miss your erudite writings that were prevalent before FB became popular..But we should move on...I would like to make a correction on a previous posting re: Kagawad Jessie Cardinez. I gave him the wrong name and my sincerest apologies!!...And Grace, do not worry about the LBM matter..I do not blame any food but sometimes I forget myself and stuff myself with different kinds of yummy Filipino dishes forgetting that doing such would really create a havoc in my intestines..But it usually dissapears after 24 hours...Right now, my LBM is gone but I opened the fridge and I saw boiled crabs, goat meat, lumpiang ubod, and some assorted desserts. Now, I am thinking whether to eat or not to eat!!...Anyways, I feel like throwing caution to the winds again..!! more next posting.. From: icarus Messagebisita, thanks for the compliments...you are way too generous but they flatter me no end. i am not missing - im still a constant follower though i come much less frequently as before. mng vic, i just read your e-mail. it was buried among too many notifications from facebook. thanks for keeping this board alive and interesting.despite wholesale migration to FB, AMBers like me still come and partake of your daily posts. looks like the asingan setting had made you even more prolific and inspired. From: VIC MessageToday started shitty, literally..I think we ate something yesterday maybe a palabok from JolliBee which gave us LBM and we go to the CR frequently..No solid food since this am and I am getting weak..This is really a risk Balikbayans take when they stay in the Phil.. Our stomachs become ultra sensitive..This morning I biked to get some stuff in the Barangay Hall..The streets are ow so crowded with various vehicles and biking can be pretty danegrous if you can not control the 2 wheeler..The inner streets of Cabincolan are empty but once you get into the main thourogh fare you have to deal with motorbikes, tribikes, cars, trucks, jeeps..etc.etc..Sometimes it is easier to walk but my, that sun above would really cause you to sweta like a pig..! The Bikini contest will be on the 18th this month..I saw a billboard announcing this event..Its a crowd drawer and you cant blame them..:)..The plaza is also full of Bingo stands and different shows but their main "enemy" is the Rain..At 5 or 6, the rains would start discouraging people to come to the plaza..Good thing though, it also deiscourage those carolers coming to demand their AGUINALDO for the nth time!!!... From: VIC MessageWe spent most of the day in Urdaneta..If you are familiar with Urdaneta in the old days, you will find out that it changed BIG TIME..Some changes are found with the new line of stores/shops expanding along the Villasis bound road and also the Dagupan bound road..It seems there are no more empty spaces between Villasis and Urdaneta..Restaurants, catering to travelers are found on both sides of the road..Then there is the HUGE BAGSAKAN ( dumping place of veggies )in Villasis and more shops on the way up to Carmen. SM Rosales is found near the road going to Rosales/Sta Maria/Tayug and it is one exciting Mall to visit. For me, the atmosphere and ambiance of SMs put to shame all other malls anywhere...For meals, we usually drop by Hwat Chan, a chinese restaurant on Urdaneta along the Villasis bound road..It serves yummy schezuan dishes ranging from modest prices to the more expensive ones..The magic mall in Urdaneta in front of the old Municipal Buiding is also a nice place to kill time. It has 6 movie houses, seversl restaurants, a big Supermarket, clothing stores, a DVD shop ( Odyssey ), a gun shop, and many, many others that would cater to your fancy ( and your dollars )...Oh yeah, one word of caution, if you visit the toilets there ( or other shopping malls ) bring your own toilet paper..Better be sure than sorry!..:D From: VIC MessageThis pm I was reminded of an old Bill Haley ( 50s King of R and R ) song 13 WOMEN ( and I am the only man in town )..A group of CWL ladies came over for a choral practice plus a dance to the song JINGLE BELLS ROCK. They did the dance rehearsal in our cemented front yard and my the sun was hot, hot, hot!..But they did their best and I could not do anything but to play the good host because they are so nice. And they are such a jolly good group too! I wish I coukd ennumerate their names here but I promised to publish their photos on FB one of these days...Pacita Jover seems to be the leader of the group. She is also a dentist like Crispin Villanueva and Mr. Cardinez, a grandson of one of Asingan's Mayors...They will do their song and dance tommorow and with luck, they might win a prize..For example, only three groups would show up for the contest..:D..But kidding aside, I doff my hat to these hard working ladies. The dance teacher is the daughter of Ana Fe Casimiro Renaldo..The group reminds me of the Golden Girls...Let us hope they could bag a prize..My reputation as a pianist-teacher is hanging in there slimly by a thread..You will know what will happen in tommorows postings..Now I have to hit the sack. No afternoon nappy today...:) From: VIC MessageMiggie and I are now expecting some visitors coming over from abroad and from other towns..If you are one of my close friends here in FB or in the AMB, pls. free to visit me and taste the hospitality, real hospitality that comes from the heart..As I have said, we have rooms to spare, beer/wine to slake your thirst. Miggie and I do not mind..Everyday, local friends ( sisters of my old classmates ) are coming over, chatting over old times and I feel good..It is like living the past again and nothing can match the experience..Just email me so I can reserve a place for you..No charge..:)..I have been looking forward to this retirement in Asingan and while I am still strong, I will entertain all of you...Icarus!! come over and we will share jokes and whatever you and I have!!!!!..lots of your readers want to see you in person too. Seems you are already a celebrity in this Board.. From: bisita MessageOccasionally, I follow this message board. I am just wondering where is Icarus? Although I enjoy Vic’s daily commentaries, which are vivid descriptions of his mundane world, I always take notice whenever Icarus posts his articles written like editorials in depth and scope. Who is Icarus? His reasoning is flawless and has depth. From: VIC MessageStaying in Asingan in my pad unlocks so much creative juice that I feel like writing 24/7 but can not! I gotta eat too!..But do not worry I will deliver your daily fix!..Will see to it..:) From: Mr Pogi MessageAmen to that spirit of giving during this season hope everything's fine over there in Asingan lately happy to read all your daily postings here and in FB too..... From: VIC MessageSome of the Senior singers have also shown their love for Miggie..After a couple days of rehearsing songs in our home, some of the ladies with ample plants in their yard started bringing beautiful flowering plants for her..She is extremely happy because gardening is her passion. Through this Board she wants to convey a BIG THANK YOU to all of them..This morning I found a plastic grocery bag hang in our front gate..When I opened it and found a couple of garden plants...What could be a better way of showing the spirit of the season!....Today the CWL ladies will do a practice here. The Seniors said they would come back Monday afternoon..I give my services freely when needed and my wife receives something in return..Such is the power of having a heart full of goodwill towards all men!! (and women too!) From: VIC MessageAsingan is indeed a nice place to stay. Since day 1, friends ( new or old ) would drop by have a chat over coffee and snacks ( sometimes and we would talk about various things and people around town.) ..For example, soon Poblacion West would celebrate its annual Barangay Fiesta and there will be plenty of events to see and cheer about. One of events promoter is Manny a gay hairdresser who has a shop in the market. He is proud of his sexuality and he does not mind being called a Bading. There will be a children Parade, child beauty coronation. Then there will be this Open Bikini contest ( this is one of the most attended show which I saw 2 years back ). I guess the scsntily clad shapely human figure is an all time attraction to people of all ages. Some seniors whom I had been practicing every pm. invited me to a Senior's affair at the People's park near the mayor's gate. However, it coincides with a CWL event to be held in Urdaneta Pangasinan. I was asked by Dra. Pacita Jover to bring my keyboard and play some tunes for the guests. Which I do not really mind since music is in my blood..But I might leave early so we casn see a bit of the Senior's shindig..The Seniors choir contest will be on the 14th...Asinganians in general are really wonderful people and they make Miggie ( who is from Sta. Maria ) feel at ease..Well, one or two here do not like me, but thats their problem..They can go to Hell for I care..:D..I want to enjoy my life in Asingan for that's what I came for..Relax, drink beer with close buddies like Alex, crack jokes and sing out oldies with the Seniors! Indeed ASINGAN is still the best place on earth!!! From: VIC MessageDomaquit, my present residence indeed is a nice place to hike..We make a bee line first to the MVelasco st. where the Mayora's house is located, then enter a small street and we could see our house from a distance because no houses impede the view. It is a big ricefield belonging to the Tayaba family, de Vera family and a 3rd one ( forgot the name )..We can cross the fields to go back to our house but Miggie do not like walking on the rice paddies..She has a phobia for snakes so she avoids walking through grassy paths. I like to see snakes, but only on picture books...So far, we have not seen any. We see only frogs which come out at night from the ricefield to catch bugs in our front yard..I asked if they are edible ( hmmm, frog's legs cooked in coconut milk ) but a neighbour said they are not..I guess this means poisonous or they taste like crap...:)..At nights, we sometimes look at this field and see only this black expanse of nothingness with a few blinking lights at he far corner ( However at daytime, the view is gorgeous ). There are various sounds one can hear: cicadas, crickets distant barking dogs..When it rains in the afternoon, at night the frogs give an all night concerto which could mesmerize you to sleep. Other nights too, you could hear some speeches coming thru PA systems because a dance or a program would be going in one of the schools ( may Angela Valdez or Narciso Ramos )..One night Congresswoman Agabas I think delivered a speech and she really is an eloquent speaker. No wonder she won the election..:) From: VIC Messagehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=337100869640054&set=a.337100346306773.100459.100000204318379&type=1&theater From: VIC Messageerratum---It is Gov. Espino, not Agbayani..My apologies..! From: VIC MessageThis morning, Rudy Manuel picked me up to take photos of the Medical Mission event taking place at the Ariston Elem. School...I saw Drs. Leo Guerrero, Cripin Villanueva and Simon Cardinez Jr. ( Crispin and Simon are dentists ) Carmen Munar, a retired nurse from Michigan now on holiday in Asingan.. I also saw Roger and Lita Daranciang distributing medicine to some people in need..I chatted with Roger for a bit and he told me his various activities and some plans..He visited Gov. Agbayani who is a good friend and Roger was given the use of Sison Hall for his wedding anniversary on June..Sison Hall, of all places is a very beautiful building in the provincial capital which is used for various provincial events and meetings with foreign dignitaries...Then Roger and asked me if I could help him and Lito manage the balikbaayan night on April 2012..What can I say?..I accepted it just for the experience and for working with Roger who seems to be a very busy person now a days involved in many civic activites... From: VIC MessageSalamat, Alakdan..Mabuhay ka rin! At mabuhay tayong lahat na nagmamahal sa ating bayang kinagisnan!..When I was in the Assesor's office yesterday, I saw a small drawing on the wall which is a map of Asingan's streets..I was not able to see it closely but will do it next time! The complete names of Asingan's streets are there!..The sitio where I live now is called Domaquit. The one lane concrete street in front of me was once a rice paddy, according to Marcie Uson and now it seems to be an extension of M.Bautista st. M.Bautista change its name when you cross the road going to Villasis. It becomes Ignacio st. Perpendicular to Bautista st. are 2 streets with similar names: one is MVelasco, the other is G. Velasco Sr. GVelaso Jr. ( RIP) is one of our friends from high school. He was called with so many names: Greg, Gorio, but his most popular nickname is none other than Bolog..:D..Andy Patotoy, our friend ( and handy man ) from Macalong lives near the aqua pools ( Dupac swimming pool ). According to his daughter Annabelle ( only one, the rest are sons ) he is from Batangas. No wonder. Patotoy is not a native Asingan name. But Andy is one of the most honest persons I have met and I will tell you why in a future posting. It is quite a long story...Anyway her wife belongs to the Bombay family..One of Andy's blessings ( aside from his skilled hands and aptitude for hard work under grueling conditions ) are his children. They are good looking. I saw his son already. His daughter Annabelle, who is only 18, has a face that would outshine the faces of many movie stars both local and foreign. I will post a photo of her in FB someday. She finished high school, her grades are quite high but poverty is the blocking factor why she could not go up any further in life. But she is still young and she learned to do hard work as a help...Asingan has many very, very good people. On the other hand, it has also a few that are very, very bad...:D From: Alakdan MessageThank you for those pointers. Manong Thomas Talania i think is still alive. His family is close to us in fact his siblings (most of them have their own families) address me Uncle. Met Mrs. Loida Ocreto Pagaduan (sister of Rafael Ocreto, Jr.) and hubby (my Dad's kumpadre) in their home in Las Vegas just 2 weeks a go. Manong David Tabin is a 2nd cousin (kapidwa) of mine.He too passed away. His life ended in a tragic twist after being alcoholic in the past years. Now i would dare challenge those who say that " Ang masamang damo ay mahirap mamatay". You are the complete opposite example of this old aged saying. Long live "Good Weed" so you can continue doing your "Good Deed". Mabuhay ka Manong. From: VIC MessageWhen you are inside the Assesor's Office, you could not help but overhear people talking with other people re: land problems and trying to find solutions to them..:) What is a piece of land anyway.On the other hand, it stands for the blood and sweat our forefathers sacrificed for us so we the next generation can be comfortable...We owe it to them to keep our heritage free from the clutches of greedy exploiters/squatters/land grabbers...The best way is to keep the necessary papers/titles and inspect our real estate properties where ever they are..Some of us abroad neglected to do this and cleaning 'em up now a days is quite a daunting task...But it can be done..Just follow the advices of friends at the Municipal Assesors Office who are there to help ya..:)...Christmas caroling in our area is a joke. The carolers mostly kids sing bad but what the heck, when we hear some brats singing (?) ANG PASKO AY SUMAPIT, TAYO AY MANGAGSI AWIT..I usually send out the maid to give em 5 or 10 pesos...Sometimes I tell her " tell those guys to practice singing better.." or " tell them to take the money and go. Their singing is hurting our ears.." Of course the maid just laugh. If you are new to a place, you have to be nice with people around...People here know us already. They would say "Good morning Uncle, Auntie" and we would answer back "Good morning"..Last night I said "Good evening" to a young boy and he called me AMERIKANO as I passed on. I might still be fair complexioned now, but in a few months I will be dark already..Then they will call me AMERIKANONG NEGRO..:D..;D....:D.... From: VIC MessageForgot to thank you for your accolades..Thru this Board, I would like to teach you whatever I learn first hand in settling in Asingan..This am, I went to the Municipal assessors to regiter my house ownership..I learned that I have to pay taxes for the house and a separate tax for the land on whioch it is on...It took several hours for them to enter my papers into the Computer thencalculate my municipal taxes..That is only the municipal tax..I had to buy a sedula so my papers will be registered..It is good, the clerk did not ask my citizenship..They only asked my age, date of birth and place of birth..Then I paid 12 pesos for that very important paper...I promised myself to pay the two taxes in a few days to avail for the 20% discount...All the hassles in dealing with Municipal Hall red tape is worth the effort..There is an ongoing throat virus that is very communicable..I got it 2 days ago and I just rinsed with warm water and salt and my throat started to improve..:) Living again in Asingan after decades of absence feels like a fantastic dream..The only hitch is that most of my classmates/friends are gone..According to Alex, Tomas talania is still around..But when I was in the cemetery, I saw a tomb bearing the name of David Tabin..born 1941..I wonder if he was that classmate of ours from Gr. 1 to Gr. 6,,He was quite a funny character from macalong..:) My other classmates from macalong are: Rafael Ocreto Jr and Cecile dela Vega, but both are already gone... From: VIC MessageYes, Alex mentioned that he has a sizable property which he wants to convert into wide lots intended for building houses/aprtments..This lot is located in macalong..Just do not know where but he promised to bring us and Miggie to visit that place..There are lots of agricultural lands there that were sold in the old days for very cheap prices..Now the value of these lands tripled because the Phil. is also imitating the trend of global escsalation of prices for most everything: real estate, buildding materials food supplies, etc. There are several families in Asingan that REALLY rich but no proof to it not unless you delve into their assets and it is not easy to do that!It seems as if like anywhere else, the middle class is dissapearing!..Some rumors go around like an Asinganian who receives 18 mil pesos per month in pay check! He mentioned the name but I won't..Hearsay stories put to print is like shooting a gun through your head. No responsible Journalist would do a thing like that!..But the poor remains poorer and my house is beside one such family..The woman was once a nanny in HongKong..Then came the day when her husband did not allow her to go back to HK..And the guy is just a tricycle driver..What happened was: when they stayed together, the woman soon started to have one baby after the other. Like she extracted her revenge on the husband's refusalby having more babies to feed! Of course, his job remained the same and the woman makes a few bucks by selling fruits, veggies, to neighbours, etc..One time i saw her two young kids who are not going to school yet. They are playing with some straws which they pick on the street oer in garbage cans..I can correctly assume toys are not in the family budget because food is the priority..When I saw them and they smiled at me, my heart just melted..My wife at present is sharing food with them because we have more than our fill and sometimes my sister Ester also give us a few cooked meals to save us from cooking..If you are from abroad and you see these stark realities staring at you in the face, you do not know what to think...We share some food with them not for selfish motives but to follow one of the Christian precepts : "whatever you do to the least of your brethen..." From: Alakdan MessageI feel envious about that part when you were drinking San Miguel beer with Manong Alex. (Kasla agtiltilmon daytoy karabukob ko, lol) We have Sam Miguel beer over here but the taste is different. Indeed, there's no place like home. Manong you are lucky, you still have the kicks and preserved masculinity (macho image) even in your retirement years. Enjoy!!! From: VIC MessageLiving each day in Asingan is like, to borrow and expression from Forrest Gump, "opening a box of chocolates.." You won t know what you will find in it, or something to that effect...Yesterday while I was having an online chat with a friend abroad, Alex Romero dropped by unexpectedly. "What are you doing? Got nothing to do so I dropped by for a chat.." ..Alex is one of my childhood friends, a true, loyal pal who stood by me thru thick and thin..He was with me before, during and after my wedding..BEFORE: We dropped by the boarding house of Miggie when she was still teaching at the Divine Word College, Urdaneta. When he saw her for the first time, he said : "Pare, she is a good one.." Ben Hur S. another good friend ( now a US Navy retiree also helped me in the courtship in absentia..It was one of the Hollywood movie courtship stories where the boy was separated from the girl for almost a year. He decided to visit again the girl after a spell and found out she was still single. Thats the only time he courted the girl and she accepted him..Sometimes marriages are made with the help of others. ( It could work the other way too, if you know what I mean )..Anyhow, Pare Alex was my best man during the nuptials..Then months later, he helped us move to Laguna by using his small pick up vehicle to carry our few worldly possesions. I found a job in UP Los Banios and Miggie decided to quit her job at the DWC just to join me there..That is the BEFORE, DURING and AFTER episodes which I hinted earlier,,Anyways, to continue my story, I went out with Pare Alex on his motorized tri bike especially constructed for transporting pigs. "Where will I sit?" I asked him. "At the back seat, behind me of course.." "What if I fall?".." Just hang on tight, you will be okay.." "I could stay inside the cage.." Pare answered: " I know but there is no seat in there and besides you are no pig.." Enough said and we proceeded to a drinking place in the ground floor of the old Dental Office of Dr. Sally Bugayong. Sally, the son of Mr. Pedro Bugayong, a retired school teacher and also a friend of my dad. The store with some tables is operated by one of Sally's daughters..We had a round of San Miguel beer for a start. I asked for chicharon as PULUTAN but they only had crunchy peanuts. Which was not so bad. So we started our mind trip to the early days. Nothing like San Miguel beer to sharpen our brain cells, or what is left of them..:)..At 4:45, we left because I had promised to rehearse a choral group composed of Seniors, all ladies. We were rehearsing HIMIG PASKO since yesterday..Former Imelda Nunez was the choir leader, I was the pianist and the piece was for a contest this Decemebr 14..The rehearsal was done in front of our house. There was an audience which gathered while the singing was going on, The audience was made up of Domaquit/Cabincolan kids...Well, I do not have to look for an activity here in Asingab to keep me occupied. Since day 1, an activity managed to find me.---# From: VIC MessageThe present San Roque Dam is still far off from being a tourist spot..It is so hard to get in cuz you have to ask special permission before you are in..And once you are in, there is not much to see except some concrete works, a body of water and some goats grazing about and a lot of Security Guards.As if the place is a target of a terrorist attack...Well our guide talked about a proposed river boat ride to Itogon, but that is still light years away..So much for that sight to visit..The old San Roque dam we used to visit in the '60s was mucho better 10 times than this one which has nohting much to offer..The old dam ( which is not accesible anymore ) is still there..One can walk across the dam ( ujst do not fall off ), then one can climb some hills to see a breathtaking view of the Agno river from the top...One can explore a river bed full of stones. One can also take a bath on the river..We visited this site several times in the '60s...One time we saw a young woman taking a bath there au naturel ( no kidding ) ..However some companions told us she has a child's mind with the body of a woman..She was sitting on the river bank playing with stones and smiling at people... From: VIC MessagetHAT is the best piece of good news I heard this am..You and your Missus can stay here for a few days if you like the ambience..Quiet, nice views and there are 2 bathrooms..Thats a plus esp. for Balikbayans used to houses in the US/Canada...I'd be happy to meet you and the Mrs. at last!..Have a nice day, Rod! From: Polly Bautista MessageOur deepest condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the late Mrs. Eufrocina Navarro Millan, wife of the late Congressman Luciano Millan of the 5th district of Pangasinan. She passed away on Nov. 30, 2011. Her burial is today, Dec 7, 2011 at the Asingan Memorial cemetery. May her soul rest in eternal peace. From: Rod Guerrero MessageYour relatives in Laoac should vow to you. You belong to the elite class akin to the bourgeois family category. I'll finally meet you in person in a few months. I already got my Flight Confirmation with Continental/United. Drat! the airline fares are now quite expensive. From: VIC MessageI gave away the Fundador..I think it is a fake..I gave it to one of the carpenters. He is overjoyed because all he can afford is RED HORSE..I hate that beer. It tastes like pee..:D..Will just buy St. Remy next time I go to SM Rosales where I can open the bottle easy..It costs the same as in Toronto, 1000 pesos..At least your BP does not go up each time you want to open the bottle..Some of my relatives in Laoac are not that friendly..I do not mind not seeing them for the next millenium, ha ha!..But I hope to meet you.My sis Ester told me nice things about..That you are a very good person..:)..She is also a very good reader of character..Titser kasi eh! From: Rod Guerrero MessageI hope you did not buy a fake Fundador. Philippines is famous in counterfeiting stuffs. If I am not mistaken, you don't have to remove the plastic thingy on the spout of the bottle. It will pour as it is. Glad you are having fun...I'm jealous. Hopefully I can visit you in March when I'll be there. Another topic...my wife (from Laoac)and me, together with Benavidez (you know him) and his wife spent a week in San Diego more than 3 weeks ago to visit some of our former USN shipmates. They went back to the East Coast 3 days before us. Anyway, my wife and I attended a Laoac Fil-Am party and met some of your "assumed" relatives on the Dolores side. I found out that the clan (Dolores, Lazaro, Bartolome)is planning a REUNION in Laoac the weekend following the conclusion of the Laoac Town Fiesta in March (first week). Thought you might be interested in attending. It's your chance to find your long lost relatives. From: VIC MessageToday, Tuesday started with a trip to San Roque dam with Carmen Munar ( which happens to be her birthday too ), Miggie and Mr. and Mrs Rudy Manuel...The dam which stores water from Itogon and some other tributary rivers helps farmers in their water needs so they can plant 3 or 4 times a year..Then Carmen treated us to a yummy lunch at Max Restaurant in Urdaneta, barangay Nancayasan. Max has a very pleasant and classy ambiance and the food is also very delicious..From urdaneta, we proceeded to Ariston where Miggie received some plants from Remy Manuel.. Albert and his family is also in Asingan from Canada and will be returning to Toronto first week of January. before we were brought back to our house, Rudy treated us to some chunks of Ubod, that tender part of the coconut tree between the leaves and the trunk..The Ubod ( young coconut ) is used to make fresh lumpia..Eating the Ubod as is gives also a unique delicious taste...We went home at around 2:00 pm..At about 5:00, some contestants for a choral contest in Asingan for a quick rehearsal of HIMIG PASKO a beautiful Filipino carol they will render during a contest this Xmas season in Asingan.. From: VIC MessageThe Package department which accepts for safekeeping the bags of the shoppers before they enter the mall SHOULD READ..The Package department which accepts for safekeeping the bags of the shoppers before they enter the MAGIC SUPERMARKET From: Vic MessageThis pm, we were in Urdaneta, checking out the Christmas shopping crowd at the Magic mall which is just in front of the old Municipal Building, a few blocks away from the Church Our Lady of Lillies school..The crowd in the Magic Mall Supermarket is now a bit rowdy, but not much. .The Package department which accepts for safekeeping the bags of the shoppers before they enter the mall is a mess! Many of the luggages and bags were already l on the floor cuz the personnel there ran out of shelf space!....I could not imagine how it would like on the eve of the 24th! In fact even if somebody would pay me, I will not go out already on Christmas eve!!... But maybe I will, just to see a bird's eye view. But then, jeeps will be packed and if take a car, there will be no parking!..And pick pockets ( and other lowlife scumbags in the Mall ) will be having an advanced Merry Christmas!...How to avoid CHECKING IN YOUR BAGGAGE?..Just tell the personnel there you have an EXPENSIVE CAMERA inside your bag and they will let you in..WITH YOUR BAG!!... Anyway, I bought yesterday afternoon, 1 bottle of medium sized Fundador Brandy, costing 399 pesos( very cheap when pesos are converted to dollars). My problem now is how to open the damned bottle. You can remove the screw in cap but there us a plastic thingy under the cap which seems to be impossible to remove with your nails or even a kitchen knife..ay yay yay!!!!PS..I think, they put too much security measures in those booze bottles to discourage SOME Filipinos from opening the bottles on the floor to do some unauthorized wine tasting!! From: VIC MessageHis name is Andy, and I think he will still be around to do some work in your house after it is built..A member of the Mariano family ( his aunt is Julieta ) is currently building his house a block away from ours..I forgot his first name but he is tall, good looking...Julieta he said lives not far from the Lavarias residence on the same street where he lives..Thats the nice thing about walking around here; you meet somebody then you got to know a part of Asingan history which you missed when you were away...Going back to our party with the CWL..I brought out this sound system with 2 speakers at 450 watts each, When guests arrived, I inserted a USB Flash with more than 1000 songs ( 60s genre ) and I saw everyone enjoying themselves, chatting, listening and then somebody gave me this Ballroom Music on CD and many of them started dancing on the concrete courtyard. We borrowed some plastic chairs from the church so the ladies can have a seat...Then kids from the neighbourhood started to gather around. They wanted to crash in and when the gate was opened slightly 2 or 3 just came in and took a seat on a low garden wall..I asked Nene to give them some chocolates then ask 'em to leave because it was a party strictly for the CWL..I remember someone said that when there is such an event here, kids and some teenagers even think it is a public affair and they would like to get in too!...Geeez But nobody entered anymore. A few of them still peekd through the gate from the outside and some even climb the fence ..Some of the ladies ( like Juanita ) ordered them to get down least they would fall down and break their blessed necks!..There was a microphone handy and every now and then Dr. Pacita Jover would say something just to liven up the party...:) They asked Miggie and me if they could have this Xmas party EVERY YEAR and we said YES!..They were such a good crowd..Norma Esperon gave also a speech of appreciation for us...Then it started to rain slightly so all chairs were brought inside and the party continued!..We had community singing ( Christmas Carols ) then someone asked Maria Lulu Sapigao to do a solo of A HOLY NIGHT..She obliged and her voice sounded still brilliant as ever. Her soprano used to grace the Catholic church before during weddings and special masses and even if her knees gave her difficulty in walking she still love these affairs..Love those dancing and singing ladies from the the time they arrived to the moment they left. Bless their hearts! From: fr the cow town MessageWho is the "guy of all trades" from Macalong? I'm planning to retire in about 5 years in Macalong, but hoping to build a house before then... From: VIC MessageWe had party this pm in our house,,It is a gathering of CWL members from church, One meaning of the acronym is Catholic Woman's legs...It was really a nice meeting and my ears had its fill of Asingan stories from long time ago...Well it is Xmas season here in Asingan and Juanita Orpiano from Dupac one of the story tellers with a treasure box of funny tales shared us this one..Remember DYANA?..It is the 3:00 am martial music especially played by 4 Asingan members L Antonio Sison, et al..One early morning on their usual march, the group were stopped by someone from the riverside section of our town..This guy was a reputed to be a psychotic killer whom no one dared arrested because he is really crazy..He is now dead anyway..But going back to the story, as thr 4 musicians made a turn at the Iglesia ni Kristo part of town ( this is near riverside ) who would be waiting for them but this crazy "killer.." He stopped them and then he told them to change the timing of DYANA.."Okay, play it as a cha cha!" The musicians just looked at each other and then being pros in their music, and they want to live for another Christmas, they played the martial music as a cha cha!!..Mr. Riverside liked what he heard and again he said, " Play the tune as a boogie"..The 4 musicians obliged again and played it as a boogie woogie!! Awright! By this time a crowd gathered to listen to them being tutored musically by that guy...Well, maybe the novelty wore off, or maybe somebody asked the crazy guy to leave them alone ( maybe his mother in law ) so he left the scene and the 4 continued on their way, in the usual tempo as if nothing happened!==== From: VIC MessageThe following anecdote would describe a typical Asingan hospitality..It is 6:00 pm, the day is already short since it is already the 3rd day of December. I was out on the road looking for some Kamias for a DINUGUAN. I asked the neighbourhood convenience store if they got some..A young man came out, in jersey shorts and sando because of the hot weather.."Sorry, we do not sell any, but I know pare Rolly has a kamias tree laden with fruits.." I believe he was in the middle of supper ( now supper interrupted ) He put on a shirt and we proceeded on our way.People here really would go out on a limb for you...As we stepped out of their gate his wife gave us a friendly warning: "Just be careful, one of their dogs has just had some puppies.." Great, I said to myself ..All I need now is a protective mother dog chewing my ass...Pare Rolly's house was just a stone's throw away from mine..As we entered their gate I saw the familiar scene: a group of half naked men taking some shots from a LAPAD or CUATRO CANTOS.. Then a brown and white dog came to me and I asked the house owner : "Is this the dog with new puppies?" "Yes, but he is a friendly dog until you start petting her puppies.." Yes, friendly she really is. She just sniffed my crotch then she left wagging her tail..Well, we went to the Kamias tree and we saw that the fruits are up there in the higher branches. Every tree in Asingan seems to be a public tree. If ever someone needs some fruit, they would just say "APO, can we have some fruits?" The owner would be more than happy to share what he has..It is the principle of give and take..He gives, you take..:D..But it was too dark already so I just told the owner I will just come back the following morning..The pleasant mannered person who accompanied went back home, I guess to finish his interrupted supper.---# From: VIC MessageAndy Patotoy I heard is from Zambales and he "immigrated" to Asingan after marrying a Ms. Bombay. They have 7 sons and 1 daughter who is 18 years old at this time...The sons and 1 daughter are good looking children...He said he lives in a 37 sq. meter lot near the Aqua Pools near the cemetery which was endowed to him by her Mother in law..He is an independent contract looking for jobs related to masonry and house painting...He does an A-1 job... After a nice afternoon nap, Nene and I went out; she went to have a manicure-pedicure in a beauty saloon while I dropped by Francisco Malala's residence for a chat and to ask for some kamias which Nene needs for her DINUGUAN recipe...I arrived home at around 5:00 pm and a short time later, Dr. Ben and Grace Gurion dropped by and left a beautiful plant as a gift for Nene..It is called a WELCOME PLANT and I am very sure Nene would be joyful to see it beside the doorstep..A big THANK YOU to Ben and Grace..You are such nice friends and we can not thank you enough for your goodness of heart! God bless you always!!!! From: Alakdan MessageSee, with just one family opted to retire in Asingan can bring some livelihood to others. With that salary they got can go a long way and can feed many hungry innocent mouths. From: Alakdan MessageI know Moises Bombay. They are from Zone 1. We used to live in Zone 2 but we built a modest house in Zone 6. Maybe Moises still remembers me. Andy might be newcomer in that place. Nice to hear a story about honest people coming from Macalong he he he. No wonder when local Asinganian's time has come, they opted Macalong as their resting place. From: VIC MessageAndy Patotoy is a good handy man, a jack of many trades: masonry, house painting, a little carpentry and he has some other friends in the trade who would give you a good measure for your money..When we needed a carpenter, he introduced to us Vicente, a local master carpentry..They charged fairly but when they work, they give their all..Andy did some masonry and painting for us, Vicente built us cabinets, clothes closet, lots of book shelves, stereo/computer stands which would cost one an arm and a leg if you buy them from Urdaneta..They charge only 350 or 375 per day, and they take care of their own food..We are happy with their 2 week work and our house have improved after they were through..The fact is: they are honest with their work output, you can leave them alone if you want to go somewhere and you will find your house locked, secure and all your work requirements there when you come back..Andy have a beautiful daughter who also work for us part time ( she works also for my sister Ester ) and she has a quiet air when working and Andy told her years ago: " We are poor, we have to work for others in order to survive..So if are working for someone, give all your best: honesty, hard work obedience..My sis said Anabelle always returns to her whatever money she finds in the clothes she washes..So all in all, our holiday seems to be working like clockwork..Oh yes, Andy also told me some homespun wisdom..He might not be a religious religious, but he said he believes in the existence of God and He sees everything that happens..If someone did something bad to you, he said do not take revenge..Vengeance is mine, said the Lord Almighty,He takes good care of His Children and He will not let anything evil befall them...It is Christmas soon, and if there is anything that would make sense this holiday, it is our loving God even if we are poor or we have physical ailments...I am not perfect myself, but if I set my eyes on Perfection, sooner or later that Perfection will embrace my whole being and will guide my path to the end of my days!!!!.. From: VIC MessageMiggie said it is patotoy..His wife's family name is BOMBAY, related to Moises Bombay..His children however are all good looking! From: VIc MessageThe jck of all ytades name is Andy His family sounds different, not a common one..will tell it tommorow..forgot it! From: VIC MessageThere is not much difference between American and canadian rules when that apply to retirees..Supplemental will also be cancelled to retirees who go beyond the 6 month stay...And also their health Insurance benefits..We are not required to report to any Canadian Department of Immigration nor even to any consulate..Our Pension and Canadian Pension Plan will never be revoked unless we renounced our citizenship...Retiring in your home turf is quite an undescribable experience. A short period of adjustment is needed but beyond that, it will be smooth and happy sailing..Just beware of door to door sales people who would sell you everything from burial plots to second hand cars or would ask you for donations to various charities! From: VIC MessageAccording to Miggie, during the Christmas party this December, there will be a whole afternoon of singing, parlor games, snacks, drinks ( no alcohol ) and before they will leave we might give them some children's books as prizes. I will play XMas carols live on my Yamaha. Hosts will be Miggie and some friends who can spare an afternoon entertaining the kids..Thanks for the kudos, Alakdan.We are here anyway and we saw many of these kids who are quite destitute..Sometimes I would be sitting in our front yard. Some kids in the next door would appear and gave them something also for their snacks..I am not bragging but what are a few candies or wrapped biscuits as a gesture of goodwill..I am sure these kids ( and maybe their parents ) would remember us..Besides in the scheme of things one act of kindness would create a ripple that will travel very far...God is not asleep..He sees each act of kindness and cruelty that is committed in this part of His Universe... From: visitor MessageIn the near future, i'll also be returning home to retire. Since i immigrated here in the U.S.,(not Canada) this is what i know. You don't lose your Social Security benefits, just the SSI, which is supplemental, when you move out of the U.S.. Once a year you have to report to the Bureau of Immigration, used to be only in Manila, but now you can go to Baguio, less hassle, and a lot closer, for renewal of your ACR(Alien Certificate of Registration).. Isn't that weird, an alien in your land of birth?.. Anyway, don't renounce your acquired citizenship... just in case..btw, the rules may have been changed/updated.. hope others will clarify From: Alakdan MessageNasayaat dayta plano yo ken Manang Migie nga Christmas party for the kids. Ado ti kaanakak dita nga lugar (Lavarias da di balasang da pay, anak diyay kabsat ko nga babae a naikamang ti Lavarias )nga nagado met ti annak da itan. Sharing your blessings to the less fortunate is the best way to celebrate Christmas. Manong kindly ask the jack of all trade guy if he knows me. Maybe i know him too. Sapay koma ta agnanayon ti salun-at yo tapno ad-ado pay ti matulungan yo. Regards to Ninang/Madam Ester. From: VIC MessageTo Alakdan...We seem to connect to each other because of our affinity to the arts. One of these days, I will take out my colored pencils and try to make an art study of the ricefields in front of our house...Miggie is generous with her time and some money. E.G., this morning, she bought some household items from a traveling vendor who came all the way from Sta. Barbara..The prices are a bit more than the prices in the market, but she said she wants to help the poor guy who braves the hot sun walking about the streets calling out his wares...She also wants to invite the local children ( Domaquit/Cabincolan ) for a modest Xmas party this month. She likes to invite some of them in our yard, have some singing and dancing and some snacks and then would give them some gifts when the party ends. I felt good too because these kids are my townmates...There will be a Xmas party this Sunday in our house starting from 11:00 am until dawn, depending on the endurance of the party attendees. Right now, I am testing my high powered amplifier with several inputs outside in the courtyard. I discovered there are AC outlets in the front outside walls of the house. I just plugged the amp., then inserted a USB flash with around 1000 60s music..This is a common practice here in Asingan, esp. in Cabincolan..Outdoor music anytime and there are some players with 1000 watts per speaker, I guess. And they live in a crowded area...But me, my neighbour is quite far and the speakers ( which I turned up to 400 watts ) are facing the rice fields..If there are anybody to be disturbed would be that cow and carabao doing their daily grazing..Its the first time I did this ( outdoor music, something I could not do in Toronto ) and so far, I received no complaints yet from neighbours..:)..The music i am playing consist of MP3s of HERMANS HERMITS, CLIFF RICHARD, etc.. We have a jack of all trades guy from Macalong and he likes to work for us per day just to have some money for his family..He works hard and drinks hard at the end of his shift but we developed a very strong bonding with him ( Miggie and I ) and I am sure he would protect us too from bad elements in this town if we are pestered.He has also some buddies at his beck and call....The bottom line is, be nice to people and people will be nice to you...### From: Alakdan MessageThere you go. Thanks for the words of wisdom. After reading your postings the more i know that i have a lot of things to know more. From: VIC MessageTo Rain..Thank you for adding your voice to this Board,hija!..You are one of the first friends I met in the Pangasinan Org. since I stumbled on this site a long time ago!..Nice to hear from you, Alakdan! My sis Ester and I talked about you when they picked me up yesterday on a trip to Urdaneta..She said your dad is Manong Danel whom I also remember during the rice thresher days...I think I am gonna like it here in Asingan..Yes, I learned to take things on stride because it is a must in this life. Swim or sink!...What does not kill you makes you stronger!...Love is stronger than hatred...Revenge is a very destructive thing. One writer said, if you want to extract revenge, first you should dig two graves: one for your victim, and the other for yourself!...On the lighter side, yesterday I tried befriending some AsKals that pass by my street..Its is not easy. When one of them passed by our front gate, I throw a piece of sitsaron in his direction. He ran away, thinking it was a stone!A minute later, he came back, sniffed at the sitsaron, took it in his mouth and ran away to eat it somewhere. I threw out 2 more small pieces. Much later, the dog came back, accompanied by a 2nd dog!Somebody told me pretty soon, you will wake up one morning to fine several dogs in front of your house waiting for a hand out! Like a Salvation Army soup line!...:)...Miggie also said: "I have been saving the sitsaron for balatong or pinakbet!.."The other night, we were having supper when we heard a raucous "jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!.." WTF, I said.I took that high powered LED flashlight which was a gift from my brod in law and beamed it towards the carolers. Heck it was only Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day!..All but two of the carolers an away when I focued the light on them.."Give them a 5 peso coin.." I told Miggie. She took out something from her purse and handed it to the boy on the gate..He said Thank You, Auntie, Thank You Uncle..Yeah, but do not come back until Dec. 25, it is not Christmas yet!!, I answered..As they reached the curved part of the street, I heard a boy asking:"How much did 'they gave?" "20 pesos".."20 pesos??? WOW!!!"..Last night, nobody came. But again, there are 23 days more left before Christmas Day!...:D From: Rain MessageI'm an audience here all the time and reading all of your postings..ohhh boyyy!!! everybody is a good writer. From: Alakdan MessageI am with Icarus and Avid Reader in my observation. It looks like there is an orchestrated effort to spoil Manong Vic's retirement in Asingan. Who knows why? I wanted to respond immediately after reading the blog of that "multi-awarded writer" but i was sidelined by my inferiority complex coz i am no writer as he is. Good Icarus nailed it right. I think a demolition job is in the making. Can't understand the motive though. Manong Vic, good for you, you're taking it in stride. You cannot put down a good man so they say. Continue what you are doing by sharing your experiences with your readers. I am sure, you have more readers than the good writer who sarcastically attacked you. From: VIC MessageThanks, Avid Reader..Am posting this on this Board cuz I do not know your e-mail address..E mailed Icarus too ( with some surprise notes ) but I do not know if he received it. So I am thanking him too here, but I can not print here the surprise notes...:)..Well I just woke up a few minutes ago. I hear the endless crowing of roosters and these seem come all around, from near and far, in surround sound..:) There is also the chirping of rice and exotic birds. Once in a while I would see a bird with white breast feathers and a black head..Wish I studied Ornithology.Then there are those dogs ( asong calye I guess ) who love racing in the ricefields just in front of us. One dog is fond of teasing a young cow by barking at her til th e cow would get up and looks at the dog menacingly. Of course, the dog knows she is tied..:D...During clear mornings I love looking at that mountain range facing Sison. I could see it from my balcony. During certain afternoons when the sun is in the midposition to the western horizon, some shadows would be casted on the edge of this Sison mountain range..Then a strange illusion takes place. The shadows form a semi circle behind it and this mountain seems to be come a wide rimmed volcano, looking like Diamond head up in the sky seen from a low flying plane...So many beautiful sights of nature to be seen here in my place, but one has to be trained to spot them..It is during those short moments that I feel I am connected to God and the feeling is so undescribable!...Our life after all is not our own and we do not have the right to end it when chips are down..Nor do we have the right to inflict misery or death on other people..One time i was in front of the Asingan South central School ( my alma mater ) and i saw a vendor selling some live chickens right there on the roadside..I saw the eyes of the chickens. They were still alive, staring at passersby and they do not know once they are bought they will just have a few hours to live. There is no fear showing in their eyes! If I have only lots of money, I will buy the whole batch and set them all free!!!...:D... From: Avid Reader MessageYou have no respect with your elders especially to your former music teacher. God is watching. Be careful think about the golden rule. "What goes around comes around" per se you will realize it when your an old man From: VIC MessageI grew up in that part of Asingan near the Poblacion-Macalong boundary where our family home is located. It is weird now that I am back to stay, but circumstances relocated me to the area near the Cabincolan/Domaquit border. One of our duties as an Asingan resident is to pay taxes..Now I have to submit some papers to the Assesors Office so they can compute my Municipal taxes. Yes sir, the only 2 sure things in this life are death and taxes..Yesterday, we were in the municipal building..But before that we attended a session at the barangay Hall of Poblacion West..It is a very nice place with friendly staff who are mostly volunyeers with a modest honorarium. Didnt ask how much, too personal..But during the session, I saw how powerful the barangay is on the Municipal level..They try to settle some legal issues there, inside the Barangay hall. The people concern get face to face with each other to air their sides. Alain Sindayen is the Barangay captain and I think he handled the meeting well. It was not completely resolved but there will be a follow up session in a few weeks..The Capitan wields some powers and resposibilites and quite a prestige. I asked a staff in the hall if i can run even as a barangay Kagawad but she said, "No way. I am an alien. Even if I get a dual citizen?.." "Yes", she said.."What if I gave up my foreign citizenship and revert to Filipino citizenship?".."Then you can, but what would be the point of losing your pension and all the things you worked for?"..I just asked for info anyway..But even if I am an alien, thru the Barangay I can file a complain against anybody else if I feel maltreated or maligned, in person or online. The barangay Captain has powers and settling issues among people seems to be just a day's work for him..Anyway, I came back to Asingan, to relax, to contribute to the towns economy by giving work to some skilled labourers and to the municipality by paying my taxes. By reading some posters there, I found out that legal system is Universal, similar in many aspects whether you are here in Asingan or in Toronto. Any citizen has some rights and one of them is freedom from any kind of harassment. And Barangay system is swift. A discussion between people are set up by the captain maybe in 24 hours..It was only yesterday that I saw how a sort of legal system works in the grassroot level. Very efficient. Very swift. And I believe, very just!..From the Barangay Hall we went to the Assesor's Office to submit some papers for my taxes..I pay my taxes regularly in Canada..Why not here? From: VIC MessageI am dreaming of a white Toronto Xmas.But I do not miss it since we are now with lots of good, kind friends which we met since Day 1 here in Asingan!...http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=330272543656220&set=a.330272470322894.99502.100000204318379&type=1&theater From: VIC MessageIt is Nov 30, but my, the afternoon weather here in Asingan is burning hot..I had to go and get a haircut..at around 2:00 pm. Luckily, I just have to walk MBautista st. up to the marketside then entered a hair style saloon that serves men and women. The hair stylist, of course, is gay but he/she is a hairstyle wizard..First I asked what will be the activities of the BADINGS this Xmas and he said on Dec 16, there will be an all day event..Among other things is a singing contest participated by Gays who will imitate the style of their favorite female singer. If Beyonce, for example is selected, he will also don the costume ( and maybe hair do ) of Beyonce..Nice!...Then there is a Little Miss Asingan coronation, dance contest, and open Bikini contest participated by men and women in thongs and bras ( I supposed ) and he said, screening was already done 2 nights ago.. Sometimes it is so hard to distinguish men and women when all of them are in those skimpy costumes..One can tell maybe by their muscle shapes or maybe by the bulge in their thongs...:D...It coincides with the Poblacion West Barangay Fiesta which will take place on the 18th to 23rd of this month..This means there are more festivities now than before. Which is good for the entertainment of the masses and for a little economic boost for the sidewalk vendors who depend on these kind of events so they can make a little bit of sale..You will not see any kind of recession signs in Asingan..Recession?..What recession?..market is busy, vendors are busy and there are always the crowd of sidewalk groups swirling their gin together with their funny stories whether true or un...And there is always the blare of high powered speakers coming from the inside of sari sari stores and the children running about not minding the tricycles and motorcycles and small vehicles plodding the streets..This is Asingan on a sunny afternoon when school is already over!!! From: VIC MessageThanks for the invite!!..I would also like to visit your place in Manaoag after dropping by the church..Oh yeah, we will surely go to San Fabian too for the daing..:)..Thanks again and keep on posting here! From: VIC MessageThere just one reason why I should go to Urdaneta: am broke and I got to get some moolah,,:)Yesterday, I hitched a ride with Barangay Captain Alain Singayen, the son of my good friend Johnny Sindayen. It is funny, but when we old timers talk, we sometimes ask about our former high school classmates..Aren't we lucky we are still around, we say. Then we start sounding like the obituary page of a newspaper.....Can you still remember Miss ______?..Yeah..Where is she now? Oh, she is already gone...When? A year or so..Why?..Heart attack..:)...Or, you heard of Mr._______?..No,why?..He retired and he got a good pension...Then?..He came back to the Philippines and he has now three wives..Geeez! Having one wife is already hard enough! What more about three!!!Well, I had to cut my chat with Johnny so I can ride with Alain who is on his way to Urdaneta.....When I got down at the BDO, I went to the Information Officer. There are no line ups as we usually have in North America. One has to stand at the back of a line of chairs, and when a seat is vacated you go and fill it up. Its like playing musical chairs...:) Well, when my turn came, I told the lady that I need to use my ATM card and I want to know how much I can draw one time..I told her that last year, I used my ATM, the machine debitted my account but it did not spit out any money. However, it made a note in my receipt NO MONEY PAID. When I got home to Asingan and checked my laptop, I found that my account was already charged..So I had to go back to Urdaneta on one of those jeeps, just to complain. Oh they will give you back your money, the cashier said. When?..I asked..."In about 6 weeks.."was her answer..I told this incident to the BDO lady and she explained that it was a technical glitch..Happens sometimes she said..How much can I withdraw?..I asked. 10K, she said and the service charge is 200 pesos. So, I said Thank you and good bye and went out to face that ATM near the doorway..Fortunately, there were 3 security guards standing there and when I started using the machine one of them stood at my back, but not close enough to see my password..When I pressed ENTER to confirm my transaction, I heard the sound of bills coming out of the machine..Oh was I relieved!..I immerdiately kept the wad of 500 peso bills and started walking to the jeepney depot for a ride back home..I had to skip my visit to the Magic Mall cuz Miggie is waiting for the money so she could pay the carpenters... From: Sunrise MessageSalamat po sa invitation. Dadaan po ako jan pag nagnbakasyon ako. Pakisabi kay mom Miggie pasyal kayo sa bahay sa Pangasinan at saka don po sa nipa cottages sa san Fabian kina uncle. heto po yung skype account ko: shalomshalom48 From: icarus MessageTo say your piece in order to restore what you perceive as your maligned person is a good thing. But to go on an extended tirade without further provocation is simply unjustifiable and indecent. To cite cases of alleged wrongdoings could help to better things. But to mention vicious idle talks unnecessarily and to drag other people’s name into the fray are plainly poisonous acts that belie your friendly intentions. You did not come to confront the fire starter. You come to douse the fire with gasoline! Overkill. On your very first post you came charging with weapons of mass destruction against one solitary bug – not even an iota of consideration for the resulting fallout and collateral damage! Doing so in a public forum, you hope to win some sympathy from the readers of AMB. Instead, you only succeeded in alienating the very readership you hope to draw over to your site. Out of the curiosity stirred by your outburst, I went over and read your piece. And yes, you are right. There was nothing libelous that could be made out - but only if one is literal and technical about it. But people do read between the lines and take meanings from their current and proper context. And if I superimpose your “satire” with your soured friendship with Vic, I could sense disgust and contempt in not so subtle nuances. Your open letter to a friend actually drips with defensiveness and naked sarcasm. Were you insulted or belittled much so that you felt compelled to enumerate your degrees and awards? Past laurels could hype your writing reputation but eventually it’s how elegantly you can weave your thoughts and convey your beauty of mind to the readers that could sustain their attention and maintain their patronage. You claimed insistently that “Buddy” does not refer to Vic but you included his photo and chided “Buddy” with his candid pose with “tabako”. Now, of the five men in the picture with FVR, how many are close enough to chide and call you buddy? Only Vic. So there you are. Clear as day. Of course Vic hurled back insults in response. But none enough to warrant your long-winded and venomous tantrum that talks voluminously but actually contains very little essence. So much for writing awards. Sorry to say but if you were reasoning and writing this way on your winning pieces, the Gawad Ka Amado must be dime a dozen. From: VIC Message..about some unsavory characters...NOT with unsavory characters From: VIC MessageAfter all 's that said and done, I still consider Asingan a very good place to retire..Yesterday, I was in Ariston having some chat with Crispin Villanueva the ABC President and my good friend/kumpadre Rudy Manuel..Of course we could not help but chat with some unsavory characters in their area, just for the sake of discussion..Then like real barangay leaders, they talked about concerns in their specific area..I also suggested the possibility of holding a choral contest among barangay groups to be held maybe this December..First prize is suggested to be 10K, then 2nd prize is 7K and 3rd is 5K...I will ask some Balikbayan compatriots to chip in the prizes. I hope there will be enough contestants..I was a choirmaster in Asingan for many years before i went abroad. I believe music is a driving force among people. Asinganians love music, esp. live music..And you can never say anything bad, or demeaning with music. It is the language of the angels... From: VIC MessagePlease do not add insult to injury, Mr. XXXX You used my e mail statements when we were still friends. And you used the word pokerface..You did not not specify the name to whom you are adressing that piece of writing which you called literature?.Well I am not adressing this posting to any specific name too but Mr. XXX who is a liar, an out cast and friendless in this part of the world....Have some respect to Mr. Marinias who is spending lots of money maintaining this Board so friends can meet friends in this Board. Do not turn this place into a stinking toilet with your foul smelling shit, Mr. XXX! From: VIC MessageMy holiday is a mixture of new experiences, of accomplishments, a few dissapointments, of meeting friends ( old and new ones )..Can not afford to feel stay in the corner and mope..So let us continue the usual thread, writing about Asingan thru my eyes...Have some good news to share with my friends...I received owership papers to the Bluhaus, and it gave me such a nice feeling...For the first time, I have my name to a piece of Asingan..We have family properties but it will take a long, long time before these could be transfered to me and my siblings..Philippine laws are so different, so full of red tape..You might have the original titles but one has to to pay not only the Municipal taxes but also the BIR!! And the BIR is a very powerful agency in the Philippines..Especially if our deceased parents did not " clean up " titles of real estate, the heirs will have a hell of a time clearing 'em up..Anyways, if you visit Asingan someday and you need a room to spend a night or two, just come over..We will appreciate your visit. We can have wine/any beverage of your choice on the balcony and chat of topics of mutual interest..Yesterday pm. we walked around Cabincolan the road between the Mormon church and the house of the Mayora..There are still spaces and ricefields around..poblacion is already saturated with people and houses, but Cabincolan/Domaquit is still quite spacious..There are a big number of new and big houses in the area, These are owned by townmates abroad. We saw on this area a very magnificent mansion called CASA VILLANUEVA.Eden Villanueva Torres mentioned to us the owner is their kinfolk...Holy, it looked so terrific that I could not resist taking a shot with my camera. The shiny letterings are embossed on the front wall beside an iron gate..These edifices symbolizes the hard work and achievements of townmates who dared to try their luck abroad..and they succeeded : in a big way!!! From: Benz MessageMANONG VIC: Regards to you & your good wife Miggie! /// What happened, Manong Vic!? I don't understand your coming up here on Asingan Message Board decrying that a certain Mr. Balino had attacked your person and criticized you in public. For what? You've not mentioned a thing! Where & how, none whatsoever, too! Reading your lines on AMB about this fuss, you seem to be on panic or paranoid on something ambiguous for any body to discern and judge upon! If you are referring to an article published in the November 2011 Issue of Asingan NewsLine specifically at the Literary Section titled, "Open Letter to a Friend", and addressed, Dear Buddy:, then you must really be too presumptuous, if not paranoid. I don't remember any point in time that I have quarreled with a friend, much less with an elder & co-professional like you whom I so much respect since high school. Go back and read the article and you were not even mentioned anywhere else in there by name or initial(s). Even when you leaked to Roger my constructive comments on his articles did I get angry on you while Roger was fuming mad at me and you kept contented in silence, Manong Vic! Publish said article in any media outlet and let truly brilliant minds interpret it if there is an iota of criticism or attack on your person. And who knows--not even you--can exactly claim that you were the person, Buddy, being addressed to in there. I have a lot of friends named Buddy! You are putting yourself ahead of the cart; putting your shadow on target and assassinating it too by your own aka "pa-bida" effect. /// I hate to say this in public, Manong Vic, but you already have shot me dead at your own "bagumbayan" which is here at Asingan Message Board [I don't even know about this AMB & your panicky shot at me but I was called upon by a close friend from California including on how to open it, at sabi niya domain mo daw talaga magsusulat dito kahit "kini-kenkoy" ka na on the net ng certain Mr Opina, et. al.]. Another local group is making fun of you saying "mahilig ka daw talagang "magdadadalo-makisawsaw" sa nga School at Family Reunions and I quarreled with them once defending you, a little pissed off and I said: "What's wrong with that? He's our music teacher way back high school and he knows a lot of people-friends!" On hindsight, I can sense now that you really have that "flair for assassination"! When I'm getting closer to our common friends, you have always a negative thing or two to ward me off them, saying to one group: "May raket ang mga 'yan, landgrabber ang isa diyan," you said of R___ & N___ , sometime July this year.Another is when you intentionally/purposely leaked my candid but constructive criticism of Roger's slant in reporting/writing for the Asingan Online. On Opina's group, you hurled a lot of "crap" on these guys that I now realize you may be wrong and they're may be right after all only that they use a lot of annoying aliases--ha! ha!--that turns you off your top! You also have the penchant for so many plans & promises to do for Asingan which I do personally admire until you made Roger mad at me and left our NGO-in-the-making, Asingan Development Forum. I received too an email from a California friend-relative that you are putting up a so-called "Super Body of Balikbayans" for an NGO of sort, we don't know...Good luck on this, and good you can help our needy Asinganians. That's you're right and prerogative. I'll play you up for good at Asingan NewsLine. /// You said pointedly as to demean my person: "I have a life to lead. I don't know if you have one." I will not get angry, Manong Vic. I still have in my PC your "confession" that when you're pissed off, you get unreasonable and there goes your "aging tantrums". You even apologized to me for your being "pikon" and unreasonable citing your age at 69 [you may be 70 by now] adding [and amenable to it!]that you may not change anymore as you are old to do so. So unscientific and lousy alibi! Where goes the wisdom of age!? You're hypocrite as a "menopause old maid" [sorry to all women for the "pun", just for poetic use this time] Manong Vic if you solely claim to have a life to lead while others like me don't have. You know only too well that you're only moving within your loose trousers and hardly care about the world. Your "writing" rotates just within your own axis [Opina et.al. suspect you're not even a writer as you claim to be!]. My profession as PO/NGO practitioner {MSAgroforestry-Major in Environmental Science] and my vocation as writer-journalist-poet serve thousands in a month. We're not rich but we're contented and happy serving this planet, not just my wife and family. You say I'm being paid by an "Association". That's crap! You know me better than that, Mr.music teacher! If I'm an "envelopmental journalist/agroforester", I'd been rich by now and I could buy my own digital camera like the one you've "given" me. And what "Association you're referring to? The RA Class '68 Alumni Association is one of the most prestigious Class Rizal Academy had ever produced with the cousin of FVR--Amelia Ramos- Oriel--at the top of the Class. A former town official of Asingan says: "That's the trade mark of Vic. When he meets his co-equal or one above him,he gets piqued and there goes his tirades!" Well said. /// Yes, Manong Vic, no ill feelings because I still respect you as an elder, as a teacher and FREN. Yuo say I'm eloquent. Yes, I am! True eloquence springs from an honest mind and heart. My honesty dictates that I should not stab nor shot you dead at the back as some people are doing to others more often than not! Thank you, teacher! Nota Bene: The writer of the Open Letter to a Friend is not a certain Mr. Balino or Mr. B but a certain Benz.--I am "Bencio" From: Eduardo MessageHello Joseph! Please contact me at FB message board. The Plebos are looking for you. Search my name Eduardo Padaoan on Facebook. If you know Joseph please inform that we (Plebos) are searching him for our possible reunion. Thanks. From: VIC MessageWriting, like anything in this world, can be used for good or evil..For some reasons, Mr. Balino attacked my person ( of course he can always deny it ) but it is plain as daylight..My lesson: Do not be fooled by first impressions. When I first met him, he was very nice, very eloquent and I fell for his seemingly friendly outward appearances. Thus I bought him a small digicam as a token of my friendship..Like anything in life, some friendships suffer some setbacks..Now yesterday he criticized me, in a public board..Well, I am laready used to being criticized since I started writing in this Board..That is expected if you write frequently on AMB..Thats why nobody writes here as much as I do..Takot silang makutya for nothing!..Pero tayo at beterano na diyan, mula pa noong 60s 70s when many of my writings against the pre Martial law administration were published by Fr. Ben Carreon..These writings came out in the Manila Times ( fr. Ben had a column there ) and one time he invited me for an Interview on Radio Veritas..It was fun at that time. I was not married and worse comes to worse i can always hide in Grandfather's sugar cane farm in Laoac when chips would start falling..But thanks God, I was a step ahead of the Martial law Gestapo and finally I was able to come to Canada from the Philippines. It was fun while it lasted..30 years in Canada also taught us other kinds of survivor instincts. Life in Canada is many times as bad as the Philippines..So, no ill feelings, Mr. B. You had your say, I had my say. I can not afford to feel sore. i have my life to lead. I do not know if you have one yourself, but good luck anyway!!..By the way, if you are being paid by an Association to write, be careful not to use it for airing personal grievances.The Association is liable for harassment. And harrasment is a felony..I will keep a copy of your article and if foul play is done to me in Asingan or manila, you will be one of the suspects!! From: VIC MessageLife in Asingan can be dull, if you allow it..:) But I get so excited when i get phone calls from friends who are in town...Yesterday, Roger Daranciang whom I met again during my first days texted me and asked if I like to go out of town..I asked for a rain check because right now there are some carpentry jobs ongoing in the house..But it would be nice to visit San Fabian and check out those dried fish there.."fresh" dried fish, wow!..There is not much to buy here in the Asingan market..Oh, 2 days ago, I visited the Asingan market with Miggie because we laid off our helper..She is asking for a thousand peso raise 2 weeks after working with us..She is telling others her work is hard! Heck she works from 9 to 5, serving only 2 seniors! She might think because we can not dispense without her..But she does not know we survived life abroad WITHOUT A MAID..Anyways, back to the Asingan market. I saw that meat vendors now have their names on top of their tables..I saw one that says Lita Gamazon..She was my former student at the Rizal Academy! "Hey, I did not recognize you immediately," I said.."Of course, I already look very much older than you," she answered with a laugh..We could have chatted more but some meat buyers started asking her for prices, si I had to say bye bye..Yep, for the record, she is one of the top notchers in her class..When she had her first born, she asked me to be the baptismal sponsor..of course, i said "affirmative"..:) You can not refuse such offers..She told me before we left that he is already working for Panelco..the electricity provider for Asingan..She seemed to be happy telling about my "inaanak.." Pangasinan electric rates seems to be a bit higher, but i am happy about their service..No brownouts ( not yet anyway )..But gee, some townmates are really conserving energy because monthly bills could reach up to 2000 pesos..ouch!! From: taga baryo Messagehttp://asingannewsline.blogspot.com/2011/11/anl-november-2011-issue.html?spref=fb From: VIC MessageIf you are looking for a good lawyer to take care of legal needs in Asingan, I would recommend Atty Deo Navarro. He is very approachable, amiable and he knows about legal stuff as any lawyer based in Asingan..Our carpentry needs are being taken cared by Andy, whose wife I believe is related to Moises Bombay from Macalong..I have been here for 2 weeks and a chronic cough I have on and off for several years is gone..The air in our place is really pure because of thr environment. Rice fields all around us and just a few houses. The neighbours are their kids seem to accept us. Our house is very near to Dr. and Dra. Ben and Grace Gurion..very nice people who helped in so many ways in establishing our residency here in Asingan..Thanks also to my sis Ester Costes Lomboy who has just recently retired from Pangasinan State University..I am sure she is enjoying her retiree years as much as we do... From: VIC MessageYesterday, I continued my biking adventure through the smaller back roads of Asingan..I took the street that serves as the boundary between Poblacion with Domaquit. Before I proceeded, I asked two guys where that particular road is leading to.. They said: To the Cemetery, sir was their answer..Great, it is only 9:00 am and I am heading straight to the graveyard, I said silently..But hey, where else could I go? I have not been to this road nefore, so I kicked my bike then sailed on northward...Midway, I passed by the western side of LMMSAT building. Then further on, the road veered to the right and voila! newly white washed tombs..I entered an opening there. To a newcomer, he/she would refuse to take another step but for me, it seems a trek through memory lane because I spent a lot of Oct. 31sts right in this part of town..We wanted to be home Oct. 31 2011 but it was not in the stars..We arrived the first Friday of November instead..So I went in and started reading names written on various tombs..The first recognizable name I saw was Hermogenes Esperon Sr. I remember him handling our elementary class once if my mind is not failing at this point. Rudy Esperon, one of his sons was my classmate and I think they used to live in Dupac, near thr school. They were neighbours with another neighbour named Rudy. Rudy Palisoc...Anyway, back to the graveyard tour..So I went on in search for my ancestor's burial places. I memorize the layout of the area and I navigated inside the Municipal cemetery, then I got out thru the front gate and proceeded to the gate of the Catholic cemetery which is just a few steps away..The shanties I saw last time are gone, save for one. I saw this guy beside a makeshift Nipa Hut and he was engraving some names on a plaque..Hey, I can do that! I said to myself. But then, I can not think of any other reason why I should be carving dead peoples names on plaques..Might as well carve my own, put my birthdate and leave my date of death blank, ha-ha! Just a joke, and I bet not a fuuny one..BUT I felt relieved when I saw the Costes place..Two days ago a lady came to the house selling me some plots at Heaven's gates cemetery..Told them we have already a family plot which is the right place for me and siblings when the time comes..The place has a roof and the walls were reconstructed with solid concrete..And there are some seats in them..But i saw there is no lock in the iron gate, and there were food wrappings scattered all over place. Wow, who ever ate there really deserves a visit from my grandparents and parents..The place really a hodge podge, a mish mash of concrete crosses, grass, creeping vines and other things unseen. I said some mental prayers and left, feeling better because I can now cross out that item in my list of things to do when I get to Asingan...:) From: VIC MessageIt is now 2:00 pm, Nov,25 here in the Phil. In North America it is only 2:00 am Nov.25, one month away from Christmas Day...I have a CD of Tagalog Xmas Carols by the Mabuhay singers which I bought only for 100 pesos, 2+ dollars. The most heart rending song in this collection is HIMIG PASKO..I am away rrom my daughters and one son and their children this Christmas...So, in a way I feel just like the rest of my townmates abroad, esp. those who have loved ones left at home.. From: Sammy MessageI was thrilled and happy to see long time friends, school mates and barrio mates in the person of Placido Orallo of Dupac, Belma Pagaduan and Manong Rogel Pagaduan here in Las Vegas. Never a dull moment with Belma and Placido. They were such nice jolly guys. From: VIC MessageLast night we were visited by long time friends: Alex and Menchie Romero. Menchie said she will be retiring next year ( September, I think ) after a lifetime career as a member of Asingan's teaching force. We tried to catch up with the long years of not seeing each other in just a few hours...Too bad it was not a Friday night then they could have stayed for a longer time. But still we had quite an enjoyable session jumping from the past to the present and back to the past again...Over some drinks and some light repast, naturally. The drinks makes recollecting the past much easier...:) From: VIC MessageIt will be a great pleasure, Richard!..My wife is an SLU grad and she spent several years in Baguio City..I am sure we will not see the same Baguio as in the 60s-70s, but I am sure you will update us on Baguio 2011!..Again, thank you! I will post here when we are about to go up and I will keep the directions to your place in my file...Does the air there still smells like Pine?...See ya!!!! From: richard MessageIf ever you come up to the highlands, you are invited to our place as I said before merienda is on me. Our place is located on the right side of the overpass going to Trinidad, infront of the barangay Happy Homes office. From: VIC Messageto Richard, thanks for the info, we might come up to Baguio one of these days as soon as some house carpenters have finished building cabinets and shelves..These local handymen do good job at a low rate compared to US/Canadian counterparts..Their pay is only 350 pesos a day..Sunrise!..when you come to Pangasinan, drop by and see us..You are welcome to sleep here!..And check the ambiance of the house in the ricefields ( thats what we call our house sometimes )... From: Sunrise MessageThank you so much dad Vic and Richard for the information.That is so timely cause I was just asking my cousin in pangasinan how much it costs and he is still trying to talk to those people that keeps on beating around the bush! "sa lagay ba eh".... From: Sunrise MessageFrom my family to Yours, Happy Thanksgiving and May GOD bless you more! From: Richard MessageWelcome back to the old country.Here in the city of pines I pay Php 1400.00 for cable TV and Internet, I did not apply for a land line because the cell phone is good enough. The FIl-AM golf tournament here in Baguio starts this weekend for a couple of weeks. This is a big event with 1200 players from all over the world mostly from North America, they will be playing John Hay and Baguio Country Club. I was going to play but I don't want to spend 20,000 grand includes entrance fee and caddies fee when I'm already a member of Camp John Hay. If some teams need a player and invite me for free then maybe I will play. From: VIC Message..last line is number one victim... From: VIC MessageIf you are planning to settle in Asingan soon, here are a few facts: Net and Phone cost 1200 monthly..2 months deposit are payable upon talking with a sales agent..Then some technicians will come to install your modem and you pay an additional amount for the cable that comes to your house..Amt. is length of cable times XXXpesos..I paid almost 4k pesos and it is only after 3 days that the damned phone finally worked....TV Cable is about 400+ pesos a month..again you have to pay 2 mos deposit in advance...You have 50+ channels..some broadcasts are in HD, mostly news coverage..The rest are movies, Asian programs, etc..You need TV to keep your sanity when things get dull around here...And when things really get dull, just go to Urdaneta to kill time in one or all of the shopping malls there..By the way the fare to Urdaneta is now 20 pesos..Better pay with exact change, just to help out the poor conductor in figuring out how much change goes back to whom...The seating arrangement in jeeps are so packed ..The conductor expects 9 or 10 passengers per seat whether they are slim, medium built or fat...Once the jeep is running, you can not take out your wallet anymore because you are squeezed like a sardine..Thats why, better get ready with an exact 20 pesos, in coins or as a single bill..Sooner or later, you would think of buying a car or a motorbike to avoid jeepney ride hassles..:)..By the way, the Internet service is very good..Some handy men's services are cheap, some are outrageously expensive...Minimum fare for tricycles are 10 pesos, much higher if you go to the barrios/barangays..So far the peace and order in Asingan is commendable..but it is always safe to padlock your gates and double lock your doors..JUST DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS, he might be a member of the much hated Budol gang that hypnotize victims in giving out their cash and valuables..This is no BS..Seniors ( like moi ) are the no. victims..:) From: VIC MessageI tried biking to Macalong thru the short cut road..I never got far because it was not concrete all the way..The concrete road veered sharply to my left and it continued thru some parts of Domanpot..The view during mornings is very exquisite. Morning bikes will become my daily routine because seeing a Phiippine countryside uplifts my spirit and evokes my creativity to write or sketch or do water colours. So many thing I wanna do, but not for now because there is so much activity in the house sprucing up the place. As the sun reaches the zenith, the temperature becomes unbearable. I admire the people who work out there doing fieldwork inspite of the heat, sunglare, and the risk of encountering some snakes.And 98% of tropical snakes are poisonous.. From: VIC MessageIt is still humid and warm in Asingan, as I type..I had many visitors coming yesterday, starting from 2:00 pm, up to 7:00 pm..They do not come at once..Miggie's kinfolks from Dagupan came first on a van. They brought goat meat stew with sampalok..Then I set up my keyboard (Yamaha ) in the dining room and they had an impromptu sing-a-long. I brought some song books from Toronto and it helped..Some booze also made them lose inhibitions and they began singing like they never sang before..They hated to leave and break up the party, but "they have promises to keep, and miles to go before they sleep.."..After they left, Flora C and Baby from church dropped by..Flora lives just across the street and they came to see Miggie and socialize..Served what's left of the Paul Masson white plus newly cooked garlic peanuts bought from the market.There is a peanut vendor there peddling roasted peanuts with garlic and salt, and my, they were good!..15 mins. later some Seniors from the Poblacion came to join the shindig which was taking in front of the house ( the sun was about to set then )..I asked their names and found that they are sisters/kinfolks of some childhood friends...And then we went inside the house and they saw the Yamaha keyboard which I used earlier..Plus the song books. Again we had another sing along..It was almost dark when they left. ..Earlier during the day, I bought myself a blue bike at a bike store beside the Salcedo building at the crossing..Brand new bikes ( top of the line ) cost 20,000 pesos up..I settled for a demo one costing 2200 pesos. I am not planning to go bike racing so I opted for the cheaper ( but still good ) models. I chose one with a back carrier and a basket on its front. Heck it is only to use for marketting chores and we got it from the ladies bike section..I had Andy, a handyman doing some jobs for us do the selecting and the haggling. At first he selected one model. I turned it down because I did not like the colour. It was dainty PINK ..Hardy har har!... From: alakdan MessageThanks for the link. Mechanize rice planter is already existing in Korea. Ha ha ha , my idea is late. On the other hand, at least my idea of such machine is very much feasible. From: visitor Messageask, and you receive: http://youtu.be/_hfNY0qHHBY From: alakdan MessageThe arrowhead pointing to Macalong will lead to only possible location. It might lead to where our old house near the irrigation or might lead to the far end of Macalong. The far end of Macalong has some houses erected opposite of the by-pass road. It is like a sitio by itself. In few years, magdurogtong na ang Macalong at Toboy with out the usual ricefields. Puro kabahayan na lamang. From: VIC MessagePlanting rice is no fun..You have to wade into the muddy place, and bend while planting the young seedlings..A machine for planting rice?..How can a machine handle the seedlings?...Nothing like human hands...Found out that rice planting is not seasonal anymore..There is the Irrigation near us, so some arreas are planted in different months..Prices of agricultural land was cheap during the old days..Now it is many times the old price..But residential lots, like the ones in Dumaquit is something like 2K pesos per square meter.. From: VIC MessageThank you for the feedback...! Found out recently the shortcut to Macalong from Dumaquit..The Irrigation road which is beside the Irrigation ( thus the name ) crosses the Domanpot road into a smaller road..There is a sign that says TO MACALONG..As soon as I have my bike, I will try biking this path..I do not know where this road ends in Macalong..Well, I will find out...Right now Tuesday, the weather in Asingan is cloudy, humid, ..Better cloudy than sunny because walking under the sun seems to burn your skin...When I come back to Canada, I will belong to the black race..ha=ha!! From: alakdan MessageI was reading your stories and it brings back some of my childhood days. This is about the harvesting of palay. I grew up in a farmers house with my father as a kasamak or makitaltalon. We don't owned any piece of land except diay nadamili nga paglutuan. Here in the US pag-sinabi mong farmer ka ay iba ang kahulugan. That means you own an acres of land with all the heavy agricultural machineries. Going back to your story, mayroon na rin palang mechanize palay harvester. This will eventually replace the role of "makikigapas" paid daily or pakyawan. Havent seen one yet. So, adda pay met latta makitudtudtud. These are usually old women picking patiently leftover palay grains. Manong cant wait when the time comes when planting rice would be mechanized too. Maybe not in our generation. ha ha ha. Something to ponder upon by Filipino inventors. From: VIC MessageDaylight is back..On the ricefield facing the house are 2 animals, a mile apart for they seem to be natural enemies..A carabao and a cow. There is a Filipino legend about their enmity but I am not going to relate it here...The hay which I was thinking of getting for my home manger is gone. A black patch of ashes took their place..In the house right now are carpenters hired to build kitchen cabinets, bedroom drawers and maybe some book shelves..They are using handsaws. We asked thm if they have power tools but they said "No, those are too expensive.." What we take for granted abroad are too valuable for some of our townspeople here. Some power tools would surely make them more productive..Again if we bring home our power tools these will be incompatible with the power supply here which is 220 v..But life goes on here in Asingan as sure as day turns to night then turns to day again..People here do not talk about recession or global warming. They just talk aabout their neighbours, their kids and the future for them. They assume everything will be okay for all of them..No worry. Thats the way it should be. Years ago I shared that worry, Now I am back and the past is like a dream. All the hardships abroad just melted like ice cream during a hot afternoon. Now my real life seems to start.----# From: VIC MessageFrom Lito: Arent you scared being Alone in the House?.... To Lito: I am, in the beginning...My Home Alone experience has all the elements of an Edgar Allan Poe short story..A big empty house right in the middle of nowhere..Had no gun to defend myself...And the eeire part too is: I fell asleep after drinking this Paul Masson wine I bought in Urdaneta and in my dream, I found that I am not alone in the house..There are people there, so I was not afraid..Then I woke up and when consciousness came back completely, I told myself OMG, I am really alone!..And it is 12 midnight ..I heard noises outside because the wind is stirring and howling a bit..But the noises came from loose things OUTSIDE the house...I switched on the lights full blast ( anyway electricity in Asingan is cheap compared to the Hydro rates in Canada ) so I can walk up and down the stair case..What if there is a brownout?..I went to the kitchen, find some matches. I did found a box and some patio candles too..Now I am prepared..While in the kitchen, I switched on the outdoor lights. And what did I see?..Lots of bugs small and big playing about while a house lizard was trying to catch a few...Thanks God for the screen door and screen window! The fact is, there is an untended grass patch on our left and on our right and for sure, these are the breeding places of these insects that come out in the night!...A small tear in the screen windows would let those bugs in..Give me all the spooks to stare face to face, but no sir: not those bugs waiting outside to come in and stay in, permanently!!..These are what I saw last night and somehow, I overcame my fear of being alone...The worst thing to fear in life after all is baseless fear itself... I have to sign off and check if the Paul Masson has still some drops left in it...:) From: VIC MessageIt was my first time yesterday to stroll around the plaza..Earlier, I went to church to meet the choir members for a usual practice, but I was stood up! .. No adult choir came, just the children..So I went to check the plaza..It was soo humid I had to stop by a refreshment stand ( was it called a BIG MAK )?..First I ordered a can of coke,,which was only 28 pesos..Then I saw a list of their snacks: hamburgers and also a Siopao..The hamburger patties are too thin for my appetite so I asked for the siopao..Sorry Sir, all gone! said the petite tindera..So I sat down on a stool, watched the flow of pedestrians and cars and trucks..There is already an island in the middle of the road in front of the church..By the way, I saw a small pedestal in front of the crucified Jesus standing amidst the front yard..The pedestal shows a small bas relief of a fetus..Symbolizing abortion, is it?...Then I walked away, next to the plaza, admiring the work done on the walkways, the 2 old water fountains, the children and people;s parks which for some reason are padlocked..There was a young girl who wanted to play with one of the swings but the Mother said " you can not, my dear. Can't you see the door is locked..?" The breeze in the area was so refreshing because of the plants and trees that lend beauty and shade to passersby..I could stay inside the park for a spell, but..it is locked.So I continued further..I took a look at the ADESSA MOBILE EXHIBIT. They are selling TVS, electric fans, refrigerators, etc. Good thing is that you do not have to go to Urdaneta anymore to buy one of these items..Oh I saw the Poblacion West Barangay hall..They are beautifying it with grass cut from a talahib field near my house..So that is why some people are coming to cut some tall grass. They are making a small roof for some plants near the Barangay Hall of Poblacion West..There is quite an activity there!..In a while, the sun started to hover low over the fields of Domaquit and it is the sign for me to go home..End of another day in paradise..:) From: VIC MessageXmas sprit is now overwhelming Asingan,,Houses have Christmas lights flashing in their frontages..Radios are playing Xmas carols..Hearing them while you are in Asingan reminds you of many Christmases past, when we were still young and hopeful and our young hearts are easily lifted!!! From: VIC MessageLife is Good in Asingan, to borrow a phrase from an LG TV commercial. On our first day while settling down after the long, tedious journey home, I usually watch some farm hands work on the patch of land in front of our house. One patch is ready for harvest. ..At first there were some men reaping the rice manually..Then later a small machine came. It has something like giant scissors and snip, snip, snip down came the rice stalks. Some men just followed to gather the stalks into piles..The next day, came another machine. It is a smaller version of the rice thresher but it did the same job. They fed the palay stalks into its gaping jaws and from the other end comes out the golden palay to be stored in sacks. The palay will be dried on the roads when the weather is sunny. This practice has been going on ever since I was a kid and it did not seem to change even after 60 years...The last people to visit the harvested field are rice gleaners mostly old women,, These would pick up remaining stalks with grain in them, and they would do the same procedure, remove the palay then have it polished ( who knows, they might use the old fashioned mortar and pestle but i doubt if these are still around ).. From: VIC MessageThaats what I thought too! Fortunately a member of the church choir knew an employee in Digitel. She said she will phone him to cut through red tape. True to form, a day after, a truck of Digitel ( I guess this company has the monopoly of the business ) came to the house..They checked the existence of a phone line and thanks God there is one. To expediate matters, an employee interviewed me while writing the answers on an application form..Then I paid 2 months deposit of net and Phone services ( 1 month is 1200 pesos which is about cheaper than what I would pay for a phone plus Net in Toronto...) For TV services, we had about 50+ channels from Delmendo cable and it has a sport channel featuring atletes from various Asian countries..A couple of days ago, we saw some countrymen winning some gold medals one in Taekwando..The country gaining most gold medals ( around 100+ ) is Indonesia... From: VIC MessagePTL!! Digitel has just connected me to the net..And to my surprise, downloading and surfing is very fast!!..Well, this morning ( my 10th day in Asingan ) I went out jogging ( more like brisk walking )..I was with Miggie..We took the small road where the Mormon church and Mayora's house are located..Geez, I found people standing by tge oradside at 8:00 am staring at us; then dogs walking about and where there are dogs, there is always dog shit of all colors and textures..Watch your step, Miggie always warned me. We made a left turn into a smaller street, less estambays but it is already more like an agricultural area..Lots of people doing about their daily work: drying their hard earned palay, or going to the field to gather grass for their carabaos..The road became grassy but we keept on walking because soon, we will hit the Irrigation road..Before we did we met three dogs with no leashes blocking the road. They were staring at us as if they did nit have breakfast yet..I said to Miggie, whatever you do do not run..Well one of them started sniffing her ass but she kept her cool.She just said the Ilocano translation of "F...K you, dog!!"...We kept on until we hit the irrigation road..Sheesh, I wont like to take this jogging route anymore I said..Ditto, said Miggie..Heaven knows what those guys are whispering each other when we pass by them..Along that small road before we hit the Irrigation road was the house of Archie macanas' Uncle..They are from Vegas and their house is quite a beauty..We waved good HI and GOODBYE as we passed by..We saw them passing by our house jogging too..Lots of people jogging on the road in front of our house..Not much people gawking, just students hurrying to school or employees living in the area rushing to work to catch an Urdaneta bound bus..more stories to follow..I am a complete person again now that I have an Internet.. From: Mr Pogi Messagethanks for the info kailian wen i think adda diay shore duty/underway tay barko ni kabagis somewhere in the great south china sea this nov isu nga saan pay nakasanglad dita sasebo.... From: Sunrise MessageHi All Asinganians and kakarrubas... :) Dad Vic, matatagalan yata ang pagpapakabit mo ng Internet...mabuti pa pasyalan mo muna yung mga internet Cafe jan...but be very careful kasi may mga nilalagay yung iba na suspicious cable/wire sa likod ng pc...hackers!:)... From: Zeus MessageTi kakadwa mi diay grupo mi ket George Washington aircraft carrier ken walo nga warship saan nga Essex carrier sika mi ket barko mi ket supply halos agpareho ti kadakkel na diay carrier fleet. From: Zeus MessageUSS essex one of the old helicopters carrier, you are right this ship coming to sasebo unfortunately we didn't see or crossed path with them here yet, maybe busy hovering around Philippines sea. My brother should be in that ship this month to be a senior Master Chief but his detailer changed his order. That ship will go back to San Diego sometimes earlier next year and retired. I am not in uniform but a civilian military under DoD Military Support Command as a Radio officer/LAN Manager. I am Proud to serve the stripe flag and one of the Powerful defense in the world. Manong Vic, that is my uncle pedong and his wife auntie nora carig they are planning to build there kalapaw there in your neighborhood. hope to see you there b4 xmas. From: Mr Pogi Messagegreetings kailian, are you in the naval service ngamin my youngest brother is also stationed over there in Sasebo aboard the USS Essex...hope you're neighbors in service... From: Mr Pogi MessageDios ti agngina ken Apo Diyos ta nakaradkad kay nga dimteng dita Asingan Manong, hope you will enjoy every bit of your time over there and keep posting for our own delights...we'll be waiting !!! From: VIC MessageI will be staying in Asingan until April 30, 2012..Everyday, I see an uncle of yours taking a hike around Cabincolan, passing by our house. She is accompanied by a white haired lady. Both are using canes.He seemedto have suffered a stroke one time...Thanks God, it stopped raining already..When we arrived Friday last week, it was raining cats and dogs..We had 4 heavy suitcases, we took the Viron bus and we got down in front of the Sapigao Hardware..We hired a tricycle and we had to give 100 pesos to the driver because he had to lug those heavy suitcases, under a pouring rain...I think he deserves it...Last Sunday, we had our first reunion with the choir and they stayed with us until dusk..They had a gab and grub feast and Miggie enjoyed every minute of their boisterous company..Then people came and went everyday..What can I say? It is nice to be back home..Yesterday, Joe Delmendo and Roger Daranciang came to pay us a visit and to invite us to a book launching shindig to be held by the author, ex President FVRamos.It will be held today....Miggie was also invited to join the Asingan CWL which she accepted..The next meeting (and at the same time a Christmas party ) will be held December 4 and it will be held in our house..The new Priest in Asingan is named Fr. Igor..I thought he was a Russian because of his name. When we were introduced it was explained to me that Igor is just a shortcut of IGOROT a indeed he is half Igorot but he is proud of it.."I wear G Strings, " he said proudly on our initial meeting.."Oh yeah?.." I said.." Are you wearing one right now?" I asked.."Yes" he said.." Okay, can you prove it by showing it to us, right now?.' The ladies listening to our conversation just laughed, and like a good sport, he also chuckled heartedly, but he did not lift his vestment....He spent some time in Toronto, but we did not have time to talk about it anymore since my day's agenda was full ...My Internet will be installed in aa few days..Will tell more stories re: Asingan soon..:) From: Zeus MessageOlah! How are you Manong Vic? I heard you are in PI right now,are you there on Christmas? Maybe I'll see you there then. I'll be there on December 18 to 22 4 days and 5 nights. I'm station here at Sasebo Japan right now... getting cold here. We went around Philippines sea around Zam buwang ka and spraaaaaat lee Is looking hostiles like Abu sayaf and singkit. hope to see you there in Bangcag and chat with you. From: VIC MessageFirst posting for several weeks, I mean days, but it feels like it..Anyway, will post a joke I heard in Asingan, ..Anyway this guy went to his doctor to consult re: a drinking problem..H e said: " Doc, why is it that when I buy an alcoholic drink which I paid for at a store, I could hardly swallow it..But when I am in a party and the drinks are free, the drinks pass through my throat like water.." The doctor let him open his mouth, looked into his throat and then he said: The answer is funnier in Ilocano.." Naingpis ti karabokob mo, ngem napuskol ballet iti rupam...:D From: VIC MessageFirst posting for several weeks, I mean days, but it feels like it..Anyway, will post a joke I heard in Asingan, ..Anyway this guy went to his doctor to consult re: a drinking problem..H e said: " Doc, why is it that when I buy an alcoholic drink which I paid for at a store, I could hardly swallow it..But when I am in a party and the drinks are free, the drinks pass through my throat like water.." The doctor let him open his mouth, looked into his throat and then he said: The answer is funnier in Ilocano.." Naingpis ti karabokob mo, ngem napuskol ballet iti rupam...:D From: Sunrise MessageWow, just imagine what they must have done if you, dad Vic was dressed like a muslim, carrying those screwdrivers...hehehe...I concur with reder. I would fly via US and Japan airlines. Its worth the sweaty kili-kili! ha-ha-haa. From: Mr Pogi MessageLol!!!,bon Voyage ngarud Manong Vic, well you should have taken the KAL less hassle but i guess more stop over time in Inchon,SK, just like when we went home last time via Seoul, 5 hours @ the terminal in Inchon....anyway have a pleasant trip and hope you arrive safe n sound...MP From: reder MessageAfter evaluating your experience flying through a US and Korean Airline, I concluded that it is worth the hassle to be subjected to body scan and other TSA meat grinding process. I will have peace of mind flying on a plane whose passengers were thoroughly searched than a flight where the checks were not thorough. hehehe. From: VIC MessageTraveling to the Phil. now from Toronto via US is like going through a meat grinder..:) Next time, we will use a Korean Airline, less hassle..The customs people even confiscated a bunch of screwdrivers in my carry on luggage..They said "not allowed"..HTF do I know it is not allowed!..Anyways we got through but I sweated crazy and I had to pass body scan, etc..I did not get this treatment with the KAL last time.. From: VIC MessageDay of the Dead is one of the most colorful holidays which I looked forward when I was still a citizen of this venerable community..You will know that PISTA TI NATAY is just around the corner when people started visiting the graveyard with tombstones bearing their family names..For example there is one with Donato Costes and that is my eleder brother's name. But he is still very much alive and kicking. The one inside the tomb ( bless his soul ) is my grandpa, my dad's daddy..He was one time mayor of the town. When his spouse Modesta Gamboa passed her remains were deposited in the same crypt. Thus, even death does not part couples who love each other..It was my job before to do letterings on the tombs, for free because yjey are my kinfolks..But local artists then ( e.g. Pepe Opina ) made a killing each time tthe Day of the Dead comes because many would ask for his lettering skills in order to embellish their newly painted tombs..Then on the afternoon of Oct. 31, the exodus to the cemetery commences and there is a social networking within the walls of the graveyard..No, nothing scary..And houses in Asingan are not decked with pumpkins, skulls, fake bones and other shit like that..Houses in Asingan are cleaned up because guests would be expected to drop by..Most welcome would be the guests who would bring something to eat, ha-ha!..Tupig, suman, inkiwar, bibingka and I had an uncle before who is from Mangabol..He had a fishing right in Mangabol Lake so he always come to visit the graveyard with a big bundle of freid gurami..Gurami is now almost extinct and we loved the taste of the fish. It looked like tilapia, only smaller and tastier..As night deepens, the songs of the singers singing PAMPANTAWAG would be heard in many houses. We just wait for them to visit our yard with their lighted candles and cheerful faces..Their son is sad and long but the tune is unforgettable..There are two popular tunes..One tune started with the lyrics DAAKAMI DAGITI KARARUA. NGA NABAYAGEN NGA NAISINA..and it goes on and on..Then some drunken idiot would modify it and it becomes DAAKAMI DAGITI KARARUA. NGA AGTAK-TAKI IDIAY KALSADA!!... From: Sunrise Messagehahahaaa!thanks for the laugh, everyone!....and yes, Reder..."pistay inatey" is for the living! :) where people are actually celebrating life and socializing at the cemetery, while thinking of the departed. From: visitor MessageFollowing another fight with my other half, I was so depressed last night so I called Lifeline ... no, I was not put on hold but rather I got a call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal. They got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck! From: VIC MessageWon't be posting for a few days....Busy, busy, busy....Next posts will be datelined ASINGAN, PANGASINAN already..:)See ya all..Keep on posting, guys..:D From: VIC MessageThe irate customer calling our newspaper offices loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.%%%% > "Madam," I interrupted, "today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until Sunday."%%%% > There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition. "So that's why no-one was in the church today." ###################### > Norman is 90 years old and has played golf every day since retiring. But one evening, he arrives home looking downcast. > "I'm giving up," he says. "My eyesight's so bad that once I've hit the ball, I can't see where it has gone."**** > His sympathetic wife makes him a cup of tea. "Why don't you take Fred with you?"***** > "What use would your brother be?" sighs Norman. "He's 103."**** > "That may be," his wife says. "But his eye sight's perfect." > So the next day, Norman and Fred head off to the golf course. Norman tees up, &&&& takes an almighty swing and arrows the ball down the fairway.&&&&& > "Gosh, that felt good." he says. "Did you see where it went ?"&&&& > "Of course," says Fred. **** > "So where is it ?"**** > "I can't remember" From: VIC MessageWHEN you come to the first window of the link below, click the 2007 number on the right panel..Ahhh. the memories Christmas brings to us as December approaches..I am sure you have personal memories of your own when these days start knocking on our doors... From: VIC MessageFACING OUR FIRST XMAS ALONE AWAY FROM OUR FAMILY..Here are some photos and thoughts from 2007...Ghosts of Christmas past...http://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=50 From: visitor MessageMy wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said " I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds". So I bought her a bathroom scale.. and then the fight started... From: Reder MessageI'd like to share with all of you this article that I wrote years ago and published in the Sunday Punch. I used a penname AG..... (I believe that as we grow older, most of us will become sentimental about the past. The feeling of nostalgia is like a dream that lingers in our mind. Whenever we remember the past or feel homesick, all we have to do is play our mental tape recorder. I enjoyed my childhood years growing up in my hometown of San Carlos, Pangasinan. Among the celebrations that left an indelible mark in my childhood is the All Saints’ Day. During our retirement years, nostalgia provokes us to recall stories which gave meaning to our lives. Because we are not programmed to live forever, telling stories and writing memoirs are ways to keep our existence alive until our stories are forgotten. By Reder, October 29, 2011)****** Roots Posted on October 28, 2008, Under Opinion, Roots Column, section of the Sunday Punch, a weekly newspaper of Dagupan City, Philippines. ***** Pista'y Inatey ( All Saints’ Day ) By Marifi Jara**** One of our readers, a US-based Pangasinense who requested that we use his penname AG, contributed this piece saying he was inspired "to write about my youthful experience of the Pistay Inatey in San Carlos which is now like a black and white picture framed on the wall".***** As a little boy, I anticipated the "Pistay Inatey" holiday because that would be the only time when I could visit the cemetery without any fear of the ghosts and other supernatural bodies that I had presumed to have lived in the cemetery. Stories about ghosts were handed to me by friends and older relatives who would scare me when I would pass through mangroves of big acacia and mango trees for fear that I would disturb their tranquility. In grade school, I admired a classmate who lived adjacent to the cemetery for his bravery and composure in confronting the spirits of the dead. I had always avoided getting near the cemetery but during this holiday celebration, the watchful eyes of the people visiting their loved ones provided me comfort and safety. My day would start early in the afternoon when my friends and I would venture to the burial place of the dead. We would walk around and take notes of the oldest dead person in the cemetery, the biggest tombstone and the biggest gravesite. We would try to avoid nooks and other areas that were not easily accessible for fear that the ghosts would be waiting. With multitude of people milling up and down the aisles, the place would eventually be enveloped with clouds of dust and then the thousands of flickering candles would produce the burning candle redolence that would remind my superstitious young mind of the eerie presence of the dead people in the vicinity. From morning till late evening, the cemetery would be the place to go where people would meet other people and the place would descend into a rendezvous for relatives visiting their common ancestors. My grandparents died before I had any recollection about them and my memories were only confined to my visits to their gravesites. This occasion would also be the time to meet my distant relatives and cousins and renew friendships to those who lived a distance away from my hometown. At the end of the day, when I came back home, a plateful of ginataan mixture of deremen and young coconut would be waiting for me to feast on and the leftover would be cooked by my mother to avoid spoilage. There were times when we would be victims of mischievous acts perpetuated in the still of the night by some bored and creative teenagers. As I grew older, the holiday would take a different tone for me. I would still care to visit the gravesites but a more interesting scenario would make the visits more enjoyable. This time I knew where my friends and the girls would be hanging out and I would never miss to flirt with them but at the end the girls could handle better the art of flirting. I remember meeting girls and starting new friendships that had lasted for decades. My participation to the All Saints’ Day celebration ceased when I went to college in Manila which was quite a ways for a one day holiday. Soon after I graduated from college I immigrated to the USA and I had never had a chance to experience again the Pistay Inatey holiday so whenever I had opportunity to visit my hometown, I made sure that visiting the gravesites of my relatives would be my first priority. Nowadays, I just take comfort that I had had good childhood experiences which became part of my cultural heritage, a heritage that makes me proud of my San Carlenian roots. From: Eddie Seson MessageWe will have an alumni reunion on October 6, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV at the Circus Circus Hotel. The contact persons are the following: Eddie Seson – Hawaii, H - 808-676-4091, C – 808-741-6943, email – sesone001@hawaii.rr.com; Alex Advincula – Los Angeles, CA, C – 626-379-9218, email – ava3402@yahoo.com; Jessie Arzadon – Las Vegas, NV, H - 702-897-6936; C – 702-574-0691, email – oan19@yahoo.com; Rene Fernandez – Maui, Hawaii, H - 808-877-6634, email – Reynaldo.Fern@prudential.com; Carl Badua – Chicago, Illinois, H - 847-788-9076, C –847-385-8316, email –cgbadua@yahoo.com; Estela Mendoza – Los Angeles, CA, C – 818-923-0249; email – epmndza6345@aol.com; Beatriz Ventura – Los Angeles, CA, H - 818-701-1027, C – 818-667-8915, email – miss_bea_vent @yahoo.com; Alex Untalan – Seattle/Tacoma, C – 253-232-5917, email – aguntalan@comcas.net; Arturo Gante – Indiana, H - 812-342-0453, email – augante@hotmail.com; Wenceslao Nonales – Florida, H - 904-620-7321, C – 904-333-1639; email – wnonales@yahoo.com; Luz Agpaoa Yambao – Florida, email – perling87@bellsouth.net.com; Jun Colobong - Vancouver, Canada, juncolobong@gmail.com From: VIC MessageThis joke came from the movie CHINATOWN with good ol' Jack Nicholson..He was telling this joke to his buddies at work....Joke starts with the next sentence:..:)..A man was talking with male friend at work about how he could spice up his sex life. The friend adviced>"why don't you make love like a Chinaman?" "How does the Chinaman make love?"..The friend answered>"Well, He makes love a bit, then he stops. Then he would recite Confucios. Then he would resume making love/ Then he would stop again and listen to classical Chinese music..Then resumes his exercise again then stops and look at the moon from the bedroom window...Then he would resumes until it ends gloriously.."..Well the man that night, followed all the steps his friend told him but before he could do the last step, his wife commented with an irritated voice:"What's the matter with you?? You are making love like a Chinaman !!" From: Alakdan Message(Continuation) Makahiya. Ang side effect nito ay kung masagi ang naka-flag ceremony ay biglang yuyuko din. har-har-har. From: Jewish Pinoy MessageThose must have come from malnourished trees kaya manipis. You have just given me an idea. Next time I visit, I'll fill up my luggage with better quality tissue paper and sell them for more over there. From: VIC MessageShalom!! Yes, we always have such tissue for emergencies..especially when walking about in shopping malls..SM Baguio have toilet attendants selling toilet paper for 2 pesos..But the tissue paper is soo thin you have to buy at least 4 pesos worth so your fingers won't get soiled..ha-ha!! From: VIC MessageMadaming MAKAHIYA sa backyard namin noon sa Asingan..Bata pa ako noon. Di ko pa kailangan. ..Noong high school kami, hayan labasan na ang mga classmate naming malilibog..Mahilig mambuso ng mga magagandang titser. Lalo na yung mga taga Maynila..Pero yung mga kababayan naming maestra, takot naman nilang silipin.Kasi magsusumbong sa mga magulang at babatukan yung mga salbaheng anak..Minsan daw may nambuso sa silong ng isang klassroom. Yung classroom sa 2nd floor..Yung kuwartong nasa silong ng klassroom ay bakante at dating bodega. May butas ang sahig ng classroom..Nakakapasok yung mga ibang lalake sa silong na kuarto, then gagamit sila ng upuan na tungtungan para makasilip sa mga butas ng sahig..Minsan daw, may mga naninilip..Take turns sila..Then may kumalabit sa kanila.."ako din ha?" sabi ng nasa likod..Pagtingin nila, yun pala ang lalakeng principal...Takbuhan lahat ang mga salbahe..:D From: Jewish Pinoy MessageHey, I know you're packed up and ready for the road. Don't forget to stick some toilet tissue in your back pocket. I hate for you to experience what happened to me at the airport. I rushed to the washroom as soon as we got off the plane in Manila. Lo and behold, there was not a trace of sanitary supplies in there. I had to use my hanky! As always, have fun and share us the joy of being home again. Be safe, buddy!! From: Alakdan MessageMakahiya (bain-bain sa ilocano)is a native weeds/shrubs in the Philippines. Mas mabisa daw ito sa kaysa Niagara. Boil the leaves then drink the potion (diay pinaglambungan na). Ang bilis daw mag "Flag ceremony", kaya lang may side effect. Iyon ang hindi maganda. (sa susunod na kabanata.) From: Sunrise Messageano po yon? tinamaan ng hantik??? hahaha...di ko po yata na-"gets" pero ibulong niyo na lang baka PG-13 hehe. Tungkol naman po sa "niagara" ingat lang po kasi ang daming side effects daw niyan. para daw pong kung baga sa hapon eh "banzai!!! niagaraaa!"...naging "kamikaze pilot" nga pero baka hindi makayanan ng "twin towers" ninyo, ...hindi na nga mararating ang disability kasi "paktaylo"...hahahaa (joke lang po)... From: Sunrise Messagehehehe...napatawa naman ako jan....pero sa totoo lang pag matagal nang nagsasama, sarap mang asar ang mag asawa! kadalasan, pabulong pa eh, pag tinanong ng isa: "anong sinabi mo!!!??"...sagot bigla, " wala dear, ang sabi ko mag sasaing na ako!" hahahaaa... From: VIC MessageLucky you for being still active..:D..But for those who lost their mojo, they can always avail of the modern fountain of youth, that boon to mankind, for both sexes the name of which rhymes with Niagara!..:)..I remember an advice given to a young man by a grandpa ( not me )..Funnier to say it in Tagalog.."Anak, habang malakas ka pa, pasakan mo ang lahat ng butas, huwag lang butas ng hantik.."..Before you go rushing to a book to find the meaning of HANTIK it means BIG, RED ANTS..:D From: alakdan MessageCome visit us often. You make my day. I still have long way to go to get my disability benefits. ha ha ha. From: Alakdan MessageCan you visit us often. You are exactly opposite to some buwisitors who dropped lines in our town's message board. You make my day. Long way to go for me to get disability benefits. From: visitor MessageI went to the Social Security office to apply for early retirement. The woman behind the counter asked for my driver's license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told her that I was very sorry but I would have to go home and come back later. She said "Unbutton your shirt" so I opened my shirt, revealing my curly though sparse, silver hair. She said "That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me" and she went ahead and processed my application. When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the SS office. She said "You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too" .... and then the fight started. From: Mr Pogi Messagenaimbag nga rabii dita ayan mo manong, it's really fun reading your postings here in AMB and whether it's taglish ,ilocano or pangasinan ...it doesn't matter we can all understand it as long as it has a subject and a predicate lol!!!anyway yes you can post whatever language you feel okay with your heart's desire and we will gladly accept them...BTW the kundandits in Manaoag are getting smaller and expensive too so when you really wanted to taste one forget about the price and grab one umm umm umm yummy kundandits....thnks and good evening to you... From: VIC MessageThank you, Hija..Much obliged! Mas comfortable ako sa English kasi gamit ko yan sa trabajo for so many years when I worked at UP LOs Banios..Kayat Taglish na lang ang gamitin ko..Anyways, I invite you to check my Facebook account..I posted a story about my teen years there. Wish I can post it here, but the photo that comes with it is essential..But I will still post articles/essays here in AMB for my friends who told me online and when I was in Asingan that they read my ramblings everyday..Huwag sana kayong magsawa..:D..I will surely visit Manaoag soon because it is my 2nd best-loved Pangasinan town..Mainly because of the kundandit, just kidding!..It is like visiting Lourdes of France because of the Manaoag shrine..I always go inside, pray a couple of Aves , ask the Virgin for guidance through life..Then I stand up, feel like a new man, go out of church then start checking the snacks that are on display outside..:D From: Sunrise Messageilocano, tagalog pangasinan o sa iyo dad Vic~ English...:) From: Sunrise Messagedad Vic, at sa lahat, sana okay lang po ang sinabi ko sa ibaba...ang ibig ko lang pong sabihin eh, okay lang kung sagutin mo ako sa tagalog o ilocano o pangasinan...nagkakaintindihan naman tayo...kung sa hindi naman nakakaintindi ng salitang pinoy, eh pasensiya na po kayo...makikiraan po.... From: Sunrise Messagemas well versed ka sa enggles dad Vic kaya mag post ka na lang sa enggles. hayaan mo na lang ako sa tagalog kasi mas hiyang ako diyan at mas nararamdaman ko sa puso ko ang pagsususlat sa sariling wika ko. ang enggles sa akin ay para lang sa pang araw araw na pakikitungo sa trabaho at mga banyagang taong kausap sa bansang ito, at mga terminolohia na dapat gamitin upang lahat ay nasa tamang pahina kapag nasa trabaho. Gusto kong magbalik sa aking pinanggalingang sariling panitikan at balarila. gusto kong matutunan muli ang mga malalalim na kataga na tunay na Pilipino lamang ang nakakapag hiwatig at nakakadama, sa sariling wikang tagalog o ilocano o pangasinan. sige po....hanggang sa susunod na kuwentuhan :) Sana lahat ng makabasa nitong munti kong sulat makina ay maantig ang damdamin at muling mahalin ang sariling atin. Mabuhay! From: VIC MessageYun nga!..Thank you..di pa ako nagkape nuong sinulat ko yun..:) From: Friend Message"Then tumawid siya ng makitid na talaytayan." Baka Manong ang gusto mong sabihin ay "makitid na tulay" From: VIC Messagepasensiya na kayo sa typo error..hindi ako nag eedit..Just take in the context of the story...Pag dating ko sa Pangasinan, mas madami akong maikwento dito sa AMB.. From: VIC MessageNang nabuhay uli, may nagagawa siyang kababalaghan na hindi maipaliwanag.Hindi ko na sasabihin dito.Maraming bagay sa mundo na nangyayari ngunit hindi maipaliwanag..Marunong din siyang magdasal. Mahirap ang buhay niya hanggang namatay uli ng pangalawang beses. Alejandra Dolores ang pangalan niya. Ibinurol siya sa Laoac. Sa piesta ng patay huwag kalimutang ipagdasal ang mga mahal niyo sa buhay na pumanaw na... From: VIC MessageUso nga sa mga taga Manaoag ang ganyang pangyayari..Yung nanay ng nanay ko ( Lola ko )ay ganiyan din nangyari sa kanya. Hindi na humuhinga at tumigas na. Nakahiga na sa papag at nagiiyakanna ang mga kamag anak.Pagkatapos ng maraming oras bigla na lang umupo at humingi ng tubig..Nagsigawan at nagtakbuhan ang mga umiiyak. Then kinausap siya. Sabi niya ay nanaginip siyang naglalakad at umaakyat ng mataas na bundok..Then tumawid siya ng makitid na talaytayan. Mataas daw at may ilog sa ibaba. Nung nakatawid siya, may nakitang matanda na puti ang buhok at balbas. May manok sa tabi. Baka si San Pedro yun..May tinignan na malaking libro. Wala ang pangalan niya. Sabi ng natanda, balik ka pa sa lupa. Kailangan ka ng mga anak mo.Isa sa kanila ang nanay ko. Doon siya nagising uli at umupo. Mabuti nga hindi pinatuyuan ng dugo at binalsamo. Nakita at nakausap ko pa siya ng ilang taon. Thaga Laoac, Manaoag siya.. Namatay nuong 1980..Taga Laoac, Manaoag siya.Totoong nangyari ito...Hindi kwentong kutsero... From: Sunrise Message* ibinurol na= ibuburol na From: Sunrise Messageself assigned caretaker wika ninyo, dad Vic? Ok yun ah, kasi papano na Asingan MB kung mawawala na ang mga postings ninyo dito?....at saka pa lang kayo ma mimiss ano? Kung ang pag uusapan po natin eh ang tungkol sa mga ibang "nilalang" o multo, sa palagay ko naman, hindi ang mga mahal sa buhay natin ang magpapakita bilang "multo" dahil sa ayaw naman nila tayong takutin, baka nga naman atakehin tayo hahaha. Pero kung ang pag uusapan natin ay mga "near death" experience, marami pong makapag sasabi na yan nga ay totoo dahil yung mga mismong naka experiencia ang nagbibigay salaysay. Meron po akong kilala na naging teacher ko sa Manaoag na namatay na raw siya, ibinurol na pero hindi siya inalisan ng dugo o nilagyan ng "preservatives". Hinihilamusan na daw siya para iburol pero BUMANGON! ngiyaa...totoo daw po yan. Naging teacher ko po, grade school sa Manaoag. From: VIC MessageONCE UPON A TIME IN ASINGAN..This story was related to me by Rudy Manuel my good friend from Ariston. I will narrate it in the first person as if he is the one talking to us..There was a time when rice threshing machineries were still non existent and processing rice from cutting it to bundling them and stacking them up in huge piles were done solely by hand. At that time, we and some other kids were asked to help in whatever work we can do. One can see the spirit of BAYANIHAN when barriomates helped each other in the tedious work of rice harvest. When all work is done, I and my other young friends would continue playing in the rice fields where the rice harvest were piled up in high mounds. One night my friends discovered a river and in the river we discovered several kinds of fish. We caught some of them and wanting to eat them right there and then we decided to bar be que them on the spot. To start a fire, we took some rice stalks from a nearby PEMPEM ( palay mound ) and then we started a small fire to broil the fish we just caught.. In the middle of this joyous event, and elder man one, of the farmers, came to us suddenly with a belt and started whipping us on our rear ends! We all scrambled away like frightened chickens leaving the fish and bonfire which he extinguished..The old farmer screamed expletives at us and saying in addition.." if one of these palay mounds will catch fire, we will all starve for the next several months!!" From: Alakdan MessageSalamat sa iyong pag-bati. Tanda na tayo. he he he. From: Rain MessageHappy birthday Sam..wish you all the best. From: Alakdan MessageJust an observation. Asingan has produced topnotch politicians (President, Senator, Governor, Congressmen etc.) but according to my limited knowledge nobody yet excelled in sports in national level. Calling the attention of local historian, i am dying to hear any feedback from you. The closest one i knew was in cycling when some of our kababayans participated in national level but did not land in the top position. From: Alakdan MessageWe will wait for your news about our town. Icarus, you are right, we need sports program for the youths. Kudos to the organizers and municipal/barangay officials for their effort. From: VIC MessageDO NOT WORRY, once I get settled down in Asingan first week of November, I will provide coverage for worthwhile town activities: sports, dances, school affairs, etc. I LOVE ASINGAN...;D From: icarus Messagehmmm... so basketball tournaments in asingan are now done in october. in our time, it was always in the summer months of april and may for two main reasons. first, we cant afford to be rained out - there was no roofed gymnasium back then, we just play under the open skies of the audituriom. but there were a few occasions also when the venue was shifted in the old market building because of rain - but its to small to accomodate the usual crowd most of which came all the way from the barrios. second, the best basketball talents who are the college boys are usually home from manila and baguio during these months. anyways, congratulations to the participnts and the organizers. a good sports program is always a positive thing especially for the youth. thanks for the update, sam. From: Alakdan MessageUPDATE: 2011 Asingan Inter-barangay Basketball Tournament: Carusocan Norte basketball team won this year's basketball championship by defeating the smaller but faster hard-fighting team of Barangay Macalong. It was a close fight game with only two points separating the two teams. Congratulations to the champion!!!Macalong boys, better luck next time. From: VIC MessageWe celebrate DAY OF THE DEAD but what do we feel about them? Some of us remember them fondly, some miss them badly some are scared they might appear to us in the middle of the night!...There are a few spooky tales about our old house in Asingan which happened during my childhood and lately when we visited Asingan and we slept in there..Let us start with one that took place during one Balikbayan trip...On our first night in Asingan we slept early because there was no TV yet and we were tried from the Manila-Asingan trip. We slept under a mosquito net and there was a string beside the bed connected to the switch of an electric bulb in the ceiling. In the middle of the night, I was awakened by the sound of a pair of slippers walking around our bed, back and forth, circumventing our bed area. "What the.." I said when I was fully awaken. I was not scared because Miggie was with me. Even at a totally awakened stage, I could still hear the sound so I could not say I was dreaming. Then I remember the string beside me. I reached for it then pulled it. The room was immediately illuminated by the high wattage. I got out of the mosquito net, looked around and what do you think I saw?....NOTHING! "Why did you turn on the light?" asked Miggie in a sleepy voice. "Did you hear what I heard, sound of the walking slippers scraping on the cement flooring?" "Yeah,but I was too sleepy to mind it.." she answered in a drowsy voice. I stood up, looked around. No sign of even one slipper. Went back to bed. Switched off the light. There was no more sound, that night or in the following nights of our stay in the house. (more stories next time, maybe...:)..Hey Sunrise, maybe you could share some supernatural stories too from Manaoag! There not many posters in the AMB but I am quite sure there are a number of readers checking the new postings.Yep..there are several incidents of disembodied voices I heard inside the house ( and in the gardens too ) in the years of my growing up there. I am not surprised because the house was built in 1920 and there are already several people who lived and died in that house since then... From: Sunrise Messageganun po ba, lahat nasa facebook na? Wow, pero iba pa rin dito kasi ibang "group" naman ito. Kung baga eh, special pipol lang pares natin hehe ( joke onli), saka isa pa, nakakatulong ito sa project ni dahman. Samantalang sa facebook, iba naman pinapayaman natin na di naman nakakatulong sa madlang Pangasinan. Maibang dako naman tayo, kung gusto ninyong may kasama kayo sa singing ministry ninyo,meron akong kilala sa Manaoag na napakadunong sa kawayan na xylophone. pag nagpunta kayo sa manaoag pasyalan ninyo si lolo Corning. Kaya lang po medyo mahinhin pero napakabait po... :) From: VIC MessageWhat I miss is the Day of the Dead in Asingan..What I REALLY miss are the native foods as snacks after coming home from the camposanto..Well, in the old days, we go to the tombs of our ancestors at about 3:00 or 4:00 pm when the sun is not so hot anymore. We have to put on our Sunday attire because everyone is..:D..We brought candles and some matches. Two candles in each tomb..Maybe say a short prayer and maybe say a few lines of greeting to the spirit of the ancestor whose bones are inside..:)..Then the fun begins when we are visited by friends/family members who are out of town..We wait until dark, then we snuff out the candles, take back whatever photos we brought to the camposanto..Another ritual then is to ask for the visiting priest with some Sacristans to say a short prayer. A donation to the church is usually given. We hurriedly went home then so as not to miss out on the TUPIG brought by some friends from the barrios..Sometimes then we built a small pile of burning rice husks we called tem tem..The rice husks are burning slowly and inside are several tupigs. That is one way of cooking them then. We gave some tupig to the singers of the Pampantawag ( a traditional ballad of dead soldiers and such with a very sad tune )..We love to hear this dirge when we were kids. We pay them with cash or a bunch of tupigs...Those were the days...:D From: VIC MessageHello Sunrise..Wala nang tao dito..Andoon na lahat sa FaceBook..Self assigned na caretaker dito..:)..You can join me para may kasama naman akong nagbabantay..:D From: Sunrise Messagehindi na kayo nabiro...talagang binaliktad ko lang po yan kasi matagal na kaming di nag usap ni rain.... :) From: Sunrise MessageApay gayam nga ibaga da nga fiesta ti natnatay ket sibibiag met agrag-ragsak ken ag fies-fiesta?...no kumaket ta tennga ti rabii ti panag sindi iti candila iddiay sementeryo? Baka laeng makakita tayo ti ag fiesta nga nat natayen?.......(Kidding aside, I pray for our dearly beloved who passed this life, may they find Peace in the hands of GOD! ) From: Sunrise MessageRain, rain, come again...go away another day! :) ....kumusta na po kayo dad Vic, Reder/reader at lahat dito sa Asingan MB? From: VIC MessageI do hope I could also find a Senior's group in Asingan who loves singing ( non Senior's could also join, of course ). I want to play my keyboard so I will not forget my music chords and tunes..I am now collecting my Tagalog song lyrics, plus Music from the 50s. Sing along is an enjoyable activity..Basic requirement is not a very, very good voice but it must not be out of tune..(desintonado)..:)..I will make several copies of my song book once I am in Asingan at the Xerox copy centers there in front of the Market. Printing in Asingan is still cheaper than in Toronto... I will also be playing at church, in the meantime but we can not sing Kundimans and Pop music in there!! From: VIC Message..... was quite an emotional experience. We missed going there for 2 Mondays. When we showed up last night and especially when I started playing some piano selections, I saw their faces brightening up listening to my music. I usually play some bouncy tunes like SCOTLAND THE BRAVE, LOCH LOMOND or HAIL HAIL THE GANG'S ALL HERE and you would see them attentive in their wheel chairs..Most are already helpless and can never get any better. I found out that there is nothing like music participation to perk them up. It really works both ways: Miggie and I enjoy enjoy the stint giving us something to do than watch TV, ,,Then when we announced we are leaving November, most of their faces saddened and immediately asked "are you coming back?" and we answered "of course~! We are only allowed to be out of Canada for 6 months...otherwise" One senior jokingly finished my sentence saying "..the police will come to arrest you for overstaying?"..Everyone will grow old, that is a fact. And I believe that if you are good and kind to people, people will also be kind to you when you are already old and helpless like them. Nobody remains young forever,---# From: VIC MessageThis is a true anecdote about a middle aged woman who has just arrived in Toronto. She and her daughter visited one of those dollar stores where mostly everything are sold for a dollar..The woman while walking about saw some hair brushes and she tried using one on her. Wow she said it is good and it is only a dollar!..So she called her daughter and asked her if she could buy it for her..The daughter took the brush, checked for the brand. Underneath the brush was written DOG BRUSH!..:D From: visitante MessageCancun,bonito sitio para pasar una semana de vacaciones inolvidables :) From: VIC MessageThanks fo the "padigo" Mr. Pogi..Give us more!...I see you can write Spanish too very well. Maybe it is the tequila..just joking!..I took Spanish as a requirement and CARAMBA, I never learned anything except a few cuss words..:).. From: Mr Pogi MessageBon Voyage indeed Manong and Manang, well maybe by the time you arrive in Asingan there will still be left-over ingkiwar and linatian and suman nga binalkot from the fiesta ti natnatay lol!!!!but beware those delicacies are full of natural sugar so if you are D-Abetic a word of caution......control..., yes, me y mi esposa pasiando en la ciudad de Cancun especialamente a Riviera Maya en la bonita resort llame Hacienda Tres Rios... amigo, ayayyyaayyy. el hotel y resort quinta estrella todos inclusivos de comer y tomar.lol!!.i mean me n my wife visited the city of Cancun especially in Reviera Maya at a beautiful resort named Hacienda Tres Rios, a five star resort with all inclusive offering of food and drinks...i don't know if my facebook has already been loaded with photos but you can view some in my wife's FB..check n type Arme Olivar Nicolas and most of the activities photos were there..once again a very pleasant trip up ahead and may God Bless both of you in your journey ,,..hope you arrive safe n sound...aloha and mahalo!!!! From: SHEILA AQUINO MessageHELLO EVERYONE! We cordially invite all Pangasinenses & Ilocanos who wants to invest in a our EXCLUSIVE SUBDIVISION at CAMELLA WEDGEWOOD located near Magic Mall Urdaneta. We have available HOUSE & LOT PACKAGE but for those Investors we also offer LOT ONLY PACKAGE. "Definitely flood free". If you are interested you can email me or get in touch with me through my mobile number 0919-2034627 or you can visit my website http://www.pangasinanhomes.webs.com From: VIC MessageMany may not know it but there are several places worth visiting in Pangasinan. Maybe this time I could visit some which I have never seen yet. If you do not have wheels yet, there are always vans ( driver included ) for rent in Asingan. All you have to do is to ask around..Anyways, let's talk about tourist spots beyond Asingan..Balungao, I believe is one of them. I have always wanted to climb that volcano with a round dome compared to Mayon's pointed top. I heard they put up some resorts there. By the way, it is not an active volcano so you just relax...Then San Roque dam, near San Manuel would offer you a relaxing afternoon if you have one to spare..:Last time I saw the place was in the 60s so I believe there is more to see now than before. The dam control office itself has been improved. What attracted me last time were the hiking trails going north. To test your climbing skills, you can try one upward trail which is rewarded with an unforgettable panorama of the stony river banks, the brown and green hills around you. If you love Nature you won;t like ever to leave this place. When I was younger ( and still single ) I had visited and passed through an Roque dam several times with a couple of Asinganians. We even dropped by the dam late afternoon and presumed on the hospitality of the caretaker and his family for a night's lodging. We slept in there. After supper, the caretaker took out a shotgun and showed it to us. He said that one can never be sure about the security of the place and the policemen are staying in San Manuel proper..His wife was very nice to us. When we woke up the next morning and bade goodbye to continue our journey on foot to Agpay, San Nicolas, she gave us a few canned goods..It is Filipino hospitality in its best! From: VIC MessageWe will fly on Nov. 2..Thanks for the BON VOYAGE wishes..Hey, you should also share some highlights of your last Holiday. Was that in Mexico?..Madam Esther will surely appreciate your remembering her..For sure they will come down to the lowlands as soon as they know we have arrived. We will also cross the bridge spanning the Agno river to visit St. Mary to see her old friends there..Such reunions are always happy ones. esp. when they serve those carbohydrate-rich native cakes cooked with sweet rice ( diket )..As a song goes. "How sweet it is, how sweet it is.." From: Mr Pogi MessageHi Manong, greetings from sunny california ,when is your scheduled flight manen aya, happy trip ngarud , hope everything's fine for this many months R/R lol!!!!regards to the clan in Asingan,and in Sta. Maria, especially to our dear Madam Esther...MP.. From: VIC MessageOur flight this time is via Detroit, then Tokyo then Manila..Means he will be confined for more than 15 hours..Next time, we are planning to go home via Vancouver for a stopover then proceed for Manila..That is the time we will be bringing him..He wont suffer that much traveling. A stopover will be good for him...I will ask for your contacts when I will see you in Baguio!..We will visit my sis in law in Trinidad for sure..Thanks! From: RIchard MessageWhy don't you take your dog with you to the Philippines. I brought my pet dog with me and cost me $300.00 for his plane ticket. All you need is his vaccination and a certificate from the Bureau of Animal Industry in the Phil. If you need more info I can try to find the contact in in PI. From: VIC MessageAm quite busy now a days, preparing 19 Dixon for the months without us, except for regular visits/check ups from friends and relatives..Sometimes I do not open the computer for 2 days during which I get the cold turkey shivers..:)..In Asingan, we have a phone line. It is free. You can receive calls but you can not call anyone. You just have to use your cel or make use of a live courier..I have mixed feelings about this long holiday, but I have been dreaming of it for a while. Now that it is here, I think of the house and life I am living behind and boy oh boy, I feel soooo..(I can not describe it)..The one I miss the most is our dog. Not our kids that much cause they do not live with us anymore. But our pet dog..He is very loyal and loving, and he communicates with us with barks, stares and whimpers. For me he is like a kid. Each time I go out, I always bring him a new toy ( stuffed animal ) which I buy in China town for a dollar..You can not beat that price!. His bed is lined up with his small stuffed animals. They gave him, I think a feeling of security. He has other human like qualities plus his usual dog instincts..When I give him a piece of pork bone ( no chicken ) he goes to a corner of the kitchen. THen he pushes imaginary dirt as if he is burying it...Then he leaves it there. I do not sweep it away because in the next few days I know he will check it up and maybe chew it..If I try to sweep it away he would bark and tries to block the broom...:) From: VIC MessageI give thanks for the rainfall that makes the planet green and the sunshine that unfolds the flowers that make the world bright with color...:) From: Rain MessageIn everything give thanks...HAppy thanksgiving to all!!! From: VIC MessageNever thought of that, ha-ha! Indeed it is..! I will write ( and publish ) some photos of Sta Maria next month..For sure Miggie's sisters ( Esther and May ) will come and visit her in Asingan as soon as we arrive. Then to Sta. Maria. Tayug and Natividad. Their kinfolks are all over those places..I am happy to know you are enjoying the MP jacket. at least in your closet because it is too hot to use it in Mexico, right?..Mayans? Ask them if they are related to the Mangyans in the Philippines...:D From: mr pogi MessageGreetings from cancun quintana roo yucatan mexico....been here for the last 4 days,,very pleasant weather,,,missed your asingan news but it's hard to get internet here in the mayan forest in the forest lol!!!!!anyway the MP in the jacket actually stands for my nickname right?? it's Mr Pogi...lol!!!ciao!!!!! From: mr pogi MessageGreetings from cancun quintana roo yucatan mexico....been here for the last 4 days,,very pleasant weather,,,missed your asingan news but it's hard to get internet here in the mayan forest in the forest lol!!!!!anyway the MP in the jacket actually stands for my nickname right?? it's Mr Pogi...lol!!!ciao!!!!! From: VIC MessageMaybe I was already away when the joints you mentioned were the fad..Lately when we visit the Philippines, we do not stay long in Manila. We are wary about the existing conditions . My niece was robbed of her purse inside a jeepney and nobody dares to help out...One time ( this was in the 80s,) we traded some currency inside one of these $$ exchange joints in Quiapo. Minutes later, we saw a man tracking us as we walked in the dense crowd of Echague. We turned right in Avenida then hailed a jeep and fortunately there were only 2 empty seats. Bad luck for the would be mugger. I could sense he is after us because each time I turn around, his eyes were fixed on us and he was walking in a very fast gait.I do not trust Taxi Drivers even.They say some of them have contacts who would rob you depending on the modos operandi between him and the driver...I really hate Manila when we do not have a chaperone and a car to use... From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/10/haunted-tree-in-dupac.html From: Rain Messagelibre rin po ba ang kapi? hapbang nanonood? kasi kulang sa akin ang 4cups:) From: Frequent Reader MessageThe movie with seats for two is like a modified version of the dinner theater in the 70s. The movie is free but you have to order dinner. (I don't remember the name of the restaurant). From: VIC MessageThanks for the invite! I didn;t know such movie houses exist in Manila right now. I wonder how much are the tickets...But I prefer good image and surround sound just like the good old days...Now a days, 3D is in, but I still have to check it out. IMAX is the equivalent of the 70 mm during the 70's ( no pun intended ), where the picture is sharp and bright even if it is projected on a huge screen. The prices for IMAX movies in Toronto is 20 dollars ( in AMC theater ) compared to the 12 bucks for the ordinary format..Anyway I will check out out Eastwood cinema even just once just to satisfy my curiosity...:)..Hey Rain, you should visit Asingan more often...:) From: Richard MessageOk naman ang mga ka Tribo ko dito, hinahanap ka nga tinatanong kung kailan ka magbabakasyon. Are your kids with you already? hope they are so you can have a happy family.... Don't you miss the city of pines?.... From: Rain MessageHi Richard kumusta mo na ako sa mga ka tribu ko dyan.. From: Richard MessageWen Manong, Im in Baguio and if ever you visit the city of pines, just give me a buzz and merienda is on me. Resort World Casino is in front of Terminal 3, the new domestic airport. Eastwood City is in Libis Quezon City near Cubao or Mega Mall. Still raining here almost every afternoon, but weather wise its nice and comfy compared to Manila weather. From: VIC MessageNo I haven't! Sounds different.Where? It is only soon that I will get know more re: the Philippines. Did not have much time during our last journey cuz of personal matters. Now that these are over I will enjoy what our country can offer. Thanks, Richard. You are from Baguio, aren't you? From: Richard MessageManong Vic have you watch a movie either at the Resort World Casino or Eastwood City Cinema 7. The seats are for two people side by side and you can recline it almost lying down. And here is the best part, pop corn and drinks are free and it's unlimited and they even serve it to your seat.Only in the Philippines, and yes, they have senior prices. From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/10/dupac-playground-as-i-remember-it.html From: VIC MessageYesterday, we watched THE DREAM HOUSE at the AMC theater, Toronto's best movie house as of now. I do not know if it is an American company or it is related to AMC TV Channel but the movie house is a joy to behold ( and to enter ).In the main lobby, you will see several facial montages of classic and contemporary movie icons: Judy Garland, Marlon Brando, Brad Pitt, et al..The only thing I noticed ( I am very particular about movie theaters since it has been my favorite escapism since I was a kid )is the presence of lines of resolution on the screen..WHAT??? I asked myself silently when I saw them. It is like watching a giant f...g TV! Not many would notice the lines but since I had my eye operation I acquired a very sharp vision for distant objects. When the background of the image is white, the lines could be discerned. I can not explain it, maybe it is the trend now a days long before I noticed it..Now let us go to the movie. Daniel Craig ( the last 007 agent ) played a NY based writer who quit his job and bought a house in a small community. Maybe to get away from it all. His family is already there in the house and they had a happy reunion of sorts: his wife, his 2 very young daughters, when he arrived. ... The next day, he went out and noticed that the people there are very unfriendly to him. Thus the tense atmosphere of the movie starts to set in. He noticed also his neighbour ( a man, woman and a teenaged daughter ) had a morning squabble screaming at each other. The woman, played by Naomi Watts,looked at Daniel as if she knows him very well...Then as the movie unfolds, it revealed that a family consisting of two young girls, a mother and another adult was murdered in that house a few years ago. Oh, I forgot to tell you that this is a GHOST STORY. In fact the reason I picked to see the movie is that I saw the poster. It shows the two young girls standing in front of a wall. The wall paper's design is the same as the pattern in their two dresses so only their heads, arms and legs stand out legibly. Sometimes the poster art could hook a movie goer to watch a certain show...Anyway, midway through the movie when things start to unravel and the plot started to tighten up and one may find it hard to breathe one could not wait to see the ending. And when it came, you will find that it is not an imitation of an imitation of a well known ghost movie you have seen in the past. For a perfect score of 5, I would rate it 4...:) From: VIC MessageThe MP initials on those popular Philippine Flag jackets stand for our man Manny, but some jacket manufacturers who have no license to use Manny's name just do not want to get in trouble in case his lawyers would bust them..Filipinos are the best imitators ( we learned this in the Elementary school before )and many of them love to circumvent the law. Some say something is not a crime unless you are caught, ha-ha! The Asingan market is full of pirated DVDs and practically all of them are marked Blu Ray..:) Of course that is false advertisement, since Blu Ray technology, according to a friend of mine who works for a Toronto movie processing company ( De Luxe co. )there is still no way of copying Blu Ray disks..But the image of this format is so clear that you would think you are watching FILM instead of digital video. Blu ray machines are coming down in price and so with the disks..I saw some Blu Ray players in Urdaneta and the prices are astronomical. And even if you have the machine, you would still rely upon relatives abroad to send you the genuine Blu Ray movies..Me? I am a movie nut. Maybe I got this "vice" from the Asingan Theater in our backyard a long time ago, but that is another long story..When Beta Max first came out, I bought the first models. Cost? 1200 dollars..Heck what a waste of money. They were big, bulky. heavy and primitive..Down the road. VHS was born and it killed Beta. I brought to Asingan several of my Beta tapes ( originals and pirated ) to be rented. The video rental business in Asingan died a natural death years later along with my video rental store..:(..I also found out that the excessive humidity in the country screws up the video tapes, both Beta and VHS..When Laser Discs came out. again I bought several of them. I bought a whole box of Laser Discs and Laser Disc player for only 100 dollars from a mall Janitor. He was disgruntled with his Laser Collection when DVDs came out that he dumped them to me..The guy must have spent more than 1000 dollars for the discs and player ( it was a Karaoke LD Player and mind you it is still working ). The Laser Players those days cost 500 plus and many people were sucked into buying them! Laser Discs cost about 50 each if brand new..But would you believe the first VHS and Beta video tapes of original movies cost 100 each? Earlier home movie formats were the super 8 movies..I still have a STAR WARS 8mm movie which I bought for 70 bucks..It was one reel and the playing time was only 15 minutes!..Still I bought it without batting an eyelash and played it over and over thru a sound super 8 projector in our basement projecting the image on a white bedsheet..My 3 kids ( still children ) really enjoyed watching them..I also bought Wizard of Oz, same format same price!..Home movie technology. if one is not wary would burn a very big hole in one's pocket..Holy Toledo!..I wonder what is coming out after Blu Ray?... From: VIC MessageMr.Pogi! Mahalo! Just received your letter today!..This is a true anecdote: We gave one Pilipino flag jacket to a haole, a good friend of ours..He liked the colors and what the colors stands for since his wife is a Pinay..When he saw the initials MP on the upper left side of the jacket. he said to us: " I know what MP stands for!" "What?" I asked..Then he proudly exclaimed: " Manila, Philippines!"...:D From: VIC MessageI have to say that I know now that you are a good person...Am sorry for losing my temper.. From: VIC MessageApology accepted..As a practicing writer I learned to write about "good" and "bad" persons..With my age I learned how to be tolerant with people because I usually write about them. I love people because if I love them I also learn how to love and accept myself. Self acceptance for me is my basis for mental peace and happiness... From: TGC MessageI am sorry if I misunderstood your intention why you took time to write about his adventures with the “ladies”. You took time to elucidate his ways that is why I thought you were taking him with high regards. So sorry if I hurt your feelings but I just want to express my views and not to hurl hurting words. I was just surprised because you always write about good things. From: VIC MessageIf you read my posting very carefully, I reported it objectively I did not idolize him, but I did not condemn him either ..I do not condemn people as you do, you pompous ass..Who give you the right to condemn and judge me. I do not think you are sinless..and you hide behind an alias! Stupid and coward as you are.Ha-ha!.If you have to post, be a man and tell us your name and address..At least I know Mr. Pogi... From: Vic MessageThe plan has been in the back burner for a long time. I have to do it pronto before time runs out of me..:)..Anyhow, the format is simply a collection of stories most of which have already been printed long time ago in my Blogs ( so many pages now in cyber space )..It is just a matter of pulling them out and stringing them together and printing the master pages to be brought to the Press as hard copy or as digital on USB or disk...The format might be in pocket style ( easy to carry and to be read in the bus / car )..I will get an ISBN for it of course. Am not expecting it to be in the NYTimes list of best sellers. Am just doing it primarily for my kids. grandkids, for close friends and posterity in general.Of course I will put a few copies with some books which I will sell during Book Fairs here in Toronto. And maybe send a few samples to Indigo, Chapters, and some other Toronto Book stores..My main concern now is finishing the job while I am in Asingan..typing and editing in between socializing with friends over San Mig light...:D From: TGC MessageThe L.A. Surgeon should be congratulated for working hard to earn lots of money, but I would not congratulate him when it comes to his values in life. The fact that he enjoys the ladies of the night explains why he is twice divorced. But what I find pathetic is you, the supposed good boy with common sense patronizing the surgeon as the person you admire because of his adventures with what you described as the best call girls. Do you know that his action is selfish, that it is an instinct that people have in common with the Chimpanzees. Indeed the instinct to propagate our genes is with human beings but because we are endued with thinking brains, we control our instinct to perpetuate our genes with anybody for sale. The surgeon is acting like an Alpha Chimp who has power with the females available because of his money. What he does with his money is his own affair but it is pathetic of you to idolize him just because he is loaded with money. From: Mr Pogi MessageIt's nice to know about your plans writing the story of your life from your hometown in Asingan ,since the title is still in the planning stage, are you thinking of an english or ilocano title, because in that case i can help you brainwash possible title in ilocano and i'm going to e-mail you, and you can select one, as a suggestion ....about your story of this retired surgeon from LA, my comment is, he is wasting his ..money, health, and reputation as a well known and respected person because of what he is doing,(gigolo/DOM) i understand he has all the money to spend but the moral aspect is what is at stake...i know it's not our freaking business whatever he wants to do with his money but i'm sure there are other things to use that accumulated wealth for a just cause, especially in the Phil..anyway continue doing your endeavour and consider me as one of your dear assistant if in case you need one, how about that...good luck and have a nice day!!!!!..... From: VIC Message"...He dates them..." must be "..He dates the ladies.." From: VIC Message"..you should really write a book about it and somehow i'm sure many will be excited to read it...good luck and i really enjoyed your contributions to this town's site.." Thank you, Mr. Pogi! Yes that is one of my pet projects when I go home this November. I already have a temporary title to it: SUNSHINE STORIES FROM ASINGAN, PANGASINAN, PHILIPPINES..It is a rather long title but as I have said, it is still temporary. One month holidays in Asingan is not enough to start something serious like this eandeavour..Even without a car, as long as there is the Viron Asingan-Manila bus, I can commute to Manila and back to visit PARAGON Press which is owned by ex Gov. Colet, for following up the project..I believe printing services is much cheaper in the Philippines, just like any other kind of service..:)..Well, just to mention in passing..I know of a retired Californian who opted to spend his retirement in Manila. The guy is super rich because he was a surgeon in LA. And he is divorced, two times and he is still slim and good looking inspite of his age.!He bought a multimillion peso condo in Makati and when I chatted with him last, he was not hesitant in discussing his dates with some "ladies" in Manila. He selects the "best" ones and he said their hang out is some where in the airport area. It is logical because the that is the entrance of rich tourists from Asia coming to Manila for their kicks. He dates them in the 5 star hotels in the city and he does it regularly. He has his own car and driver and he said he also picks a "date" for his driver. But he said he gets him a medium priced one, and the guy does not really complain..:D From: VIC MessageLONG marriage is right..that is the moment when some men start looking for younger girl friends, and on the other hand, some women ( those who are still pretty and rich inspite of their age ) will also start hunting for younger friends ( studs) in retaliation for what the husband is doing..ha-ha! That explains the saying "What is good for the gander is also good for the goose!.." From: visitor MessageSecrets to a long, happy marriage : While sitting on the patio with her husband, an old woman was sipping a glass of wine, and she says, " I love you so much. I don't know how I could ever live without you".... Her husband asks, "Is that you, or the wine talking?" She replies, "It's me ..talking to the wine" From: Mr Pogi MessageIt's really amazing how after all these years your memory of Asingan life in the 50's to the 70's were pictured so vividly that as if everything just happened the past few days..like you i spent all my grade and high school days across the river from your town including yearly summer and weekend "allatiw" ken 'panagudong" no tiempo iti gapas ken panagbunag/ reppet ken panagirik lol!! over there in Macalong...i find it very fascinating how you described every aspect of your childhood days and wow...that's all i can say...you should really write a book about it and somehow i'm sure many will be excited to read it...good luck and i really enjoyed your contributions to this town's site...keep it up Manong.. From: VIC MessageKUMIRIRING ang telepono nang madaling araw.... "Hello, Master Carlos? Si Arnaldo po ito, 'yung katiwala niyo sa bahay-bakasyunan niyo." ... "O, Mr. Arnaldo, ikaw pala. Ano't napatawag ka? "May problema ba?" ... "Um, napatawag lang po ako para abisuhan kayo na namatay ang alaga niyong parrot." ... "'Yung parrot kong si Pikoy, patay? 'Yung nanalo sa bird show? ... "Opo, Master Carlos, 'yun na nga po." .. "Putris ... sayang! Ang laki pa naman ng nagastos ko sa ibong 'yon. Hay, buhay! Teka, ano nga ba ang ikinamatay niya?" ... "E, kumain po kasi ng bulok na karne...." .. "Bulok na karne? At sino namang salbaheng tao ang nagpakain sa kanya ng bulok na karne?" ... "W-Wala po. Nanginain po siya ng karne ng isang patay na kabayo." ... "Patay na kabayo? Anong patay na kabayo, Mr Arnaldo?" ... "E, 'yun pung mga thoroughbred horses niyo, Sir. Namatay po kasi lahat sila sa pagod, kahihila ng kariton ng tubig." ... "Nasisiraan ka na ba ng bait? Anong kariton ng tubbbiiiiggggg?" .... "'Yun pong pinampatay namin ng sunog." ... "Diyos ko po! Anong sunog naman 'yang pinagsasasabi mo?" ... "'Yun pong halos tumupok sa bahay niyo.... Tumumba po 'yung isang nakasinding kandila, tapos nagliyab 'yung kurtina at mabilis na kumalat ang apoy...." .... "Ano? Puuut.... E, may kuryente naman diyan sa bahay-bakasyunan, a. Para saan 'yung kandila?"... "Para sa burol po." .... "Ano? Kaninong burol? .... "Sa nanay n'yo po, Sir. Bigla kasi siya dumating dito nu'ng isang gabi, walang kaabi-abiso. Lampas hatinggabi na. Akala ko po magnanakaw. Binaril ko."---:D From: VIC MessageMany times we can pick some nuggets of Asingan history from ( of all places ) Facebook which is meant to be just a social networking site..Here is an example: I wrote the following lines on a site hosted by Sonny Espejo: "Will be visiting this school ( I graduated from here too ) when I will be in Asingan ( Nov.2011-April 2012 )..Graduated here April 1954..Tempus fugit.." The school referred to is the Dupac Intermediate School. This is how we called it at that time circa 1955. In return Sonny answered : " Time flies, indeed Mng Vic. I climb on that front stage to claim my diploma in April of 1973. We were the first batch to graduate under the shadow of Martial Law. For the first time, there was no Town Fiesta in April of that year in keeping with the austerity program of Marcos' Bagong Lipunan. Muslim Rebellion in Mindanao and War in Vietnam were raging, OPEC countries were just starting to flex their muscles which eventually led to an Oil Embargo raising the price of gas from an unbelievable P0.90 to the liter to what it is now! On the brighter side, the Philippines was still king of Asian Basketball winning the ABC championship in December of that year with the heroics of Jaworski, Reynoso, Mariano, Melencio, Adornado, Paner, Cleofas, Arnaiz, Martirez, Fernandez, Guidaben and coach Eduque. That started my lifelong love affair with the game."..To which I could not help but to answer in this Board: " Sonny, while those years in North Central taught you the love for basketball, the same Alma Mater taught me the love for music and drama..During our Commencement exercises from Gr. 6 that closing ceremony included a song ON WINGS OF SONG ( originally written by Felix Mendelson a prolific classical music writer ) sang by our class tenor, Alex Romero. Years later he became my kumpare and good friend up to now. While he sang the classical song about India, he was garbed in a Hindu costume complete with a turban. Aurora Pascua did an Arabian like dance garbed also like an Arabian princess..Alex sang without accompaniment and without microphone but his voice stood out like a bell...With the emotional atmosphere of the evening thinking that we will never see each other regularly again in school, the tune etched permanently in my memory. I rediscovered the tune again later when I took music appreciation seriously. On the side while studying piano, I listened to classical music played over DZFE AM Radio. FM was not existing yet then. not in Asingan anyway. Those years ln Asingan North Central or Dupac Intermediate school taught its pupils outside the classroom different things especially in its convocation programs. Somehow seeds of learning are propagated in the child's mind during these formative years to bear fruit and blossom later in life as the child would grow into maturity... From: VIC MessageMy dad was born and he lived in Asingan all through his life of more than 80 years..He never got sick seriously, never was hospitalized and he seldom left Asingan. If he did go to Manila, he always came back at night. If he ever slept in Manila it was during a family outing where all his kids and my Mom were together..One thing I noticed with his eating habits was: after a meal he always drank lots of water..He had this big white cup which he filled up to the brim with water from a big jar. The water came from an artesian well ( bomba ) but we presfered it to stay in the jar first to get away with the bad metallic taste..It was safe to drink though. I took up that water drinking habit. I drink lots of water everyday. The human body anyway is made up of 70% water. We have to replenish the supply because we sweat and piss very often especially during the summer months in Asingan. He was also fond of walking. Every day he walked. Sometimes in order to visit one of his farms in Toboy, he would hike to the barrio just to have a good exercise. Thus he lived a happy ( I think ) healthy life in Asingan. He never had to work because he inherited lots of property from his parents. But when we all went to College, he pawned or sold a few of them..So he never knew the stress of working for a boss from 9-5..Maybe in staying in Asingan half of the year, I could stretch my life a little bit more than living all year round here in Toronto, Canada..:) From: reder MessageYes Mr. Pogi, most hospitals have ambulances, even in Pangasinan. You will probably reach the Emergency Room safe and on time if you live in the provinces. But occasionally, a patient is dead on arrival (DOR) at the ER of the hospital. But in the Metro Manila where the traffic is very bad, the patient is DOR instead of DOA, which means (Dead on the Road). From: VIC Messagevictorio-costes.blogspot.com/ From: VIC Messagevictorio-costes.blogspot.com/ - Cached15 May 2010 – ... a very interesting blogsite about our hometown by our common friend, Vic Costes. ... http://slcpiceuae.blogspot.com/ a Blog by Icarus ... From: VIC MessageThank you sincerely for the feedback..I do believe there should be a daily routine or list of THINGS TO DO EVERYDAY while we are in Asingan ( or any other place in the Philippines )..I have 2 sisters in law in Trinidad, one also in Manila..For sure, regular visits to the City of Pines will be a part of the routine...I have also a few crazy ideas on what to do with my time here in Asingan..One is to bring home a top of the line projector that could be connected to a Blu Ray player, a PC,and other devices and show some movies regularly to kids in schools..I know that movies are still the most attended functions in town ..Well, I just read something about the new models of Projectors: they now employ HD technology and I want to see it for myself first..I do not know if the image is as good as the HD TVs ( maybe not ) but some reviews say that the HDMI projectors gives an amazing image on a proper movie screen. Brochures say it could project brightly an image 300" diagonal ...Some big homes in North America have projectors instead of TVs and coupled with a nice surround sound amplifier then you are set!..On the other hand, while in Asingan, sometimes I prefer walking about, take some photos ( especially in the rice fields, rivers, etc. ) , put them in Blogs, with proper captions or stories..I love to write about the town and check out the old classmates who stayed behind..Along this thread, Pare Rudy Manuel and I had a long phone chat re: a class reunion we are planning on April 2012..Nothing like the friends you met in high school and seeing them after 50 or 60 years..you will say in modern lingo: WOW, THAT'S COOL!!!! From: Richard MessageRegarding retiring in the Philippines, I've been here for a year now so far so good. My recommendation is when you retire here you must have something to do to keep you busy otherwise you will get bored. For me I play golf, and a resto that serves pasta burgers, hot dog and pizza. Also, concerning health care, just go back to the States or canada every year for medical check up. Mind you guys, there are very good Doctors here, just the equipment that we are lacking. You are right St. Lukes is a five star hospital comparable to the best hospitals in North America. From: Vic MessageI myself am concerned with health issues..Ontario has one of the best Medical coverage in the world..Free medicine, free Nursing aid, free hospitalization, free surgery ( some anyway)..Miggie said that when the day of reckoning arrives we might sell our house and move back permanently to Toronto..That is why we want to add some cabinets in our kitches and shelves in our bedrooms..Our carpenter who will make cabinets is from Natividad, one of Miggie's cousins..We like to keep the sellability of our house there..Assuming our kids do not want to keep it as a vacation house..Every thing depends on Kismet!!!..Thank you for the moolah, it did not arrive yet, but give it a few more days!..Bye for now Mr. Pogi... From: Mr Pogi Messagegreetings from sunny california, so Manong, you and Manang Mig are going back once again for some longer R/R from the big city of Toronto, well i agree with mr Reder, you have to pack with good and excellent health in order to survive over there, am not saying the comparison between the environment hare in the west and the one over in our province is very different but still you need to point out the sorroundings especially around your home..tropical illnesses abounds in our country and they don't spare even the balikbayans ...am not really into retiring over there because of health care issues, i guess the only modern hospital comparable to US standard is St Luke's and it's way way far from Pang...plus i don't know if the gov't has a 911 emergency system lol!!!!,,anyway i still have Hawaii at the top of my choice for my retirement place so ..good luck to your next trip and may the Good Lord always keep you healthy and well ... later.....ps. did u receive my payment 4 d jacket lately???..hope it reached you in one piece lol!!!.. From: VIC MessageThat is true, and we have to face that eventuality if and when it comes..So far, I seem to be in good health because I am taking 2 tablets since 2003. One is Red Korean Ginseng and the other is Echinacea capsules/tablets..Nowadays, I never had any flu..If I get a sort of flu like symptom, it usually dissapears after 24 hours..Before I started taking those tablets , I suffered flu very frequently. Then a naturopathy practiocioner recommended Echinacea to me to boost my immune system..Since 2003, I never suffered any kind of flu or even colds.And this is no fibbing....Well, after I had my cataract operation ( both eyes) last February,, i felt like a new person...My vision is now so sharp I can see a persons face very clearly at a very far distance..That means I can see a stripper very clearly even if I am at the back row..JUST KIDDING!..Anyways, I am not recommending this treatment to ANYBODY..I am just saying that it is works for me and before any body tries this, he/she should first consult a physician or a Naturopathic Doctor... From: reder MessageIt is wonderful to go back home, I mean our birthplace. Life is living with our memories and we have tons of memories of our hometown. But I have friends who tried to retire in the Philippines but came back to America for one and only reason, health care. Because retired people are susceptible to old people’s illnesses which are plenty, then health care issue predominates. But as long as you are in good health, there is no reason why you will not enjoy the Philippines. From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/ From: VIC MessageOne month from now, we will be back again in Asingan and will be there for 6 months!..It is actually an experiment in living..We want to find out for ourselves whether life in Asingan is more enjoyable than life in Toronto..Well, during our last visit, we stayed in our new house for just 2 weeks, and part of those 2 weeks was spent in fixing some parts of the house!..That is the trouble in buying a house in Asingan IN ABSENTIA..without any sales agent..In Canada/USA you have the licensed agents who would help you select and buy a suitable house for you..But in Asingan, you must expect the unexpected.Bahala ka sa buhay mo when the chips are down!...So the viable alternative is to build one under your supervision..Of course, this option has also its pros and cons..:)...Moving back to the Motherland is just like starting again fresh..You are retired. You like to relax from the hustle and bustle and pollution of a big American city. So you opted for the nice and quiet life in the old hometown.Oh boy, it remains to be seen, and of course, I will surely keep you posted..Jeez, there are already some free WiFi areas in Urdaneta ( like Jolibees or McDonald )..And some Bus Lines going going to Ilocos have free Wi Fis too in order to keep the passengers amused...We might wait for a few more years before the Asingan bound Viron will have a free Wi fi service..:)For now, the best way to use your laptop in the Viron bus is to buy a SmartBro USB in Manila and subscribe to its Net service..That would cost you 1000 pesos a month for unlimited service..I need Net services to pay my bills online...Well after one has sorted out all of these technicalities, including acquisition of a dual citizenship from the Phil. Consulate here in Toronto, then I guess we are ready to try out a holiday away from the snow in Toronto.And from the commercialism of the Holiday here in North America..!...Well, several Asinganians have staked out their retirement in our town and they seem to enjoy it...right guys?..:D From: VIC MessageAsingan is far from Lingayen so we visited the Capital not very often. I was scared of Lingayen Beach because of stories that circulated, one of which that the Beach claims at least one life every year. The surface seems to be quiet and calm but some old folks believe there is an undertow that would suck unwary swimmers down under and would only resurface as a corpse..These tales ( whether true or not ) scared the crap out of me that is why I never learned how to swim. I just amused myself with gathering shells and peebles along the shoreline and gazing at the point where the sea meets the sky. I dreamt of the day when I would leave the Philippines for abroad....But Lingayen is a good place for writers and artists..Writers need a quiet place for inspiration, for thinking and day dreaming... Lingayen is also noted for its furniture factories..One time we visited this strip of furniture shops and befriended a Mrs. Villanueva, the owner of the shop that bore her family name and she gave us some rocking chairs below the marked price. She mentioned also that she was an ex-teacher and her most notable pupil then is ex-President Fidel Ramos who spent some childhood years in this Provincial capital... From: reder MessageTalking about our growing up years, here's a journal of my youth. As we aged, we look back at the past to live the moments when we had good times. During my adolescent years, the beach was my favorite hang out on Saturday mornings. I was old enough that my parents would allowed me and my friends to go to the beach. Our early morning trip in the red Pantranco bus would take us to the shoreline of the Lingayen gulf, at the back of the Capitol building. The early morning sun and the cool breeze would add rhythm to the pounding waves pushing towards the shore. My friends and I would frolic along the beach, picking up odd looking shells before settling on spots that have the view of the horizon. There were times when we would be entertained by young ladies enjoying a walk while the water splashes up and down their beautiful leg. My eyes would be transfixed on them, watching their every step as the wind disheveled their hair sending strands to their faces. I was just starting to discover my sexuality, so when the young beauties paraded themselves, I felt like being teased to grow up very fast. The sight of the young beauties would make me wish that I would be a breeze so I could steal kisses on their cheeks. The sea became my inspiration to my dreams, where I would imagine crossing the ocean, hoping to find paradise in the land beyond. As I grew older, the sea lost the language of my poetry, so it became the place to rest and play. It would become a place for picnics to let the time waste itself away. From: VIC MessageDo not worry..I heard that it will be a better and friendlier BB Night that will take place next 2012...:)..It is about time, right?..Have a nice day! From: Maui Girl MessageI just read your posting regarding the Mr. & Mrs. Balikbayan. I'll just e-mail you my response. My best wishes to the future King & Queen whoever you will be. Word of caution: be sure you know exactly what is expected of you before you say yes. From: VIC MessageYes, if we can turn back the hands of time, I would like to go back to those days when the only thing to do is to play and go home only to eat..Then at night, when the moon is full, we play again with kids that fill up the street in front of our house and play whatever we can think of until it is time to go to bed...What a life that was..played with girls and boys with no discrimination, kids from other parts of Poblacion would come to our street just to play.....Yesterday, Miggie and I visited the St. Lawrence Market..It is one of the tourist attractions of our fair city. It is a very small building ( similar to the Asingan market before it was wrecked and a new one took its place. I prefer the old one better )..It was a basket ball court, or an auditorium when the plaza is unusable ( rainy night ) ..Anyway, the difference between St.Lawrence market and the "modern " supermarkets like SM Supermart or Loblaws here in Toronto, is that the St Lawrence offers fresh meat and homemade bread, fish from various places of Canada and you can haggle there..I sampled the grilled ctopus in one seafood restaurant there..15 bucks for 3 small tentacles..It was a rip off!..After our meal, we walked around and saw some stalls selling octopus salad..For 15$, we got a whole pound of chopped octopus tentacles in olive oil and pepper, and it tasted almost the same as the grilled one!What a place..Next time I visit this joint, I will buy 2 lbs. of chopped octopus tentacles and invite some friends to relish that pulutan with San Miguel beer!.This hometown brew is available here in Toronto!...:)---# From: jeff MessageYour message Comparing Asingan and Toronto is very well said and bring backs childhood good memories...If we can change only the world...the best thing I want to is "maisubli daydi panagubing tayo"... From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/09/sketch-of-old-agno-river-asingan.html From: VIC MessageComparing Asingan to Toronto is like comparing apples to oranges, but for me each place is dear to my heart for each of them helped in my growing up..Asingan saw me grow as a child, Toronto saw me attain maturity as a man...So how can you forget the scenes you saw through the eyes of your child hood?..You can not..These are always be lingering in remembrance like an old song which you heard when you were still going about as a happy, carefree individual..I loved to be alone then..So sometimes I walked to the riverside and played amongst the thick underbrush ( talahib ) and sand dunes of the old river.But I do not wander too far from the houses beside the river.The old wooden bridge going to aragaag before..There were many clothes washers at the river below looking up at whoever would pass over the bridge: carromatas, Pantranco busses, cyclists..no motorized tricyclists yet at that time...A few meters away from this bridge was a sort of trail going down to the river..It was quite an experience going down this elevated downward trail riding on a carromata just to see the splash of the river as the wheels hit the water..This place then was scenic. There were lots of CAMANTERES ( KAMACHILE ) trees all around, and a bit upriver were the remains of an old bridge..It looked like a pier or a dock at that time and some kids used it as a diving board because the river was deep ( lipos, they say in Ilocano ) and only the good swimmers dared jump into its waters...Alas, one rainy season came, the river overflowed its banks and it took away EVERYTHING changing the topography of the land forever..Afterwards, the river banks became flat and plain looking. That scenic spot where we used to visit every Saturday morning ( where Mom and the servants spent the whole day washing clothes ) disappeared forever..It taught me a lesson: the constant law of life is constant change. Nothing stands still. There is always motion even if you say you are sitting down on chair or lying down on a bed. The chair and the bed are moving with the earths rotation on its axis and rotation around the sun. Such is one of the miracles of daily life which we mortals sometimes take for granted. But then, we must not be afraid. Fear not, because as the hymn goes: HE GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS..Amen!!!---# From: VIC MessageErap ordered a pizza. The waiter asked him..Shall I cut it into 4 or 8? ERAP: 4 na lang. Baka di ko maubus kung 8..( Just make it 4. I may not finish it if it is 8... &&&&&&&& INTERVIEWER: Sir, what can you say about the violence in the Philippines? ERAP: I can not even play the guitar. What more about violins? ( violence ) ****** While in NYC, Erap almost bumped into a black guy..The guy said: "Watch where you are going, MADA FAKAH!" ERAP said: MADAPA KA RIN SANA! The black guy said in a scared tone: "Be Cool, man..Be cool!" ERAP answered: "Ay taga Bicol ka pala, OK lang yun!" ^^^^^^^^ ERAP was translating a speech: We must strive: Dapat tayo'y magsikap! We must help others: Tumulong tayo sa iba. In union there is strength: SA SIBUYAS MAY TIGAS! ***** reporter: Mr.President, What are the Pollutants in the Philippines? ERAP:Several! Example:bopis, sisig, sitsaron, liempo, daing at mani! ******** From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/09/calling-rizal-academy-class-58.html From: VIC MessageLucky you for being able to ride on an airplane at an early age..My family was back in Asingan in 1945 when the armistice was signed. But when we were still in hiding, I remember being inside a deep ditch in a rice field. My whole family was with me cowering inside and I never felt any kind of fear. Some memories stay with you starting at an early age. In my case I was about 2 years old then. Two objects remained in my mind from this hiding place: one was an airplane hovering in the horizon. It was quite close and the other one was a big centipede that ran on the wall of the ditch very close to us. I guess nobody screamed. My family must have been hiding from some Japs then.. From: reder MessageTalking about GIs during the Liberation, my aunt was nineteen and attractive so the GIs loved to flirt with her. A pilot invited my aunt and I, I was then a little boy, to ride in the piper cub plane. I barely remember the flight, but what I remember vividly was the plane taking off on a rice field. I also remember evening dances where the local girls would dance with the American GIs. When the GIs visited my aunt, they brought as gift boxes of chocolates and chewing gums and canned goods. I remember it as everyday fiesta with the GIs around From: VIC Message"very ruddy"..must be "very rowdy"..Our next trip to Asingan will be November..For some reasons, Miggie seems to be more homesick for Asingan than me..:D..Maybe because she met some very nice Asingan ladies there during our last visits and she really enjoyed their camaraderie ..Me?..I grew up there and sometimes the days of growing up is not all sunshine and roses..There is also the rainfall and the thorns, you know what I mean..:)But I learned to put everything behind and most of my "enemies" are already dead or out of town anyway, so...Well, those "enemies" are really those kids ( classmates ) who were quite mean to me when we were in the Elementary years..But once you hit the 69th mailestone, everything seemed to have changed ..You see the world through rose- colored glasses..Well, if there are "meanies" in Asingan, they are not from there. Like one time, I was walking in the market looking for something..Some vendor offered me something and I said no thank you..then I continued walking..He started saying some unruly remarks and I felt like turning back to tweak his nose but I held my temper..He was much younger and there are people around..I did the proper thing and that is to ignore him and keep my cool..Next time, I will just send someone to the market before I will beat the crap of some rowdies in there...JUST JOKING!.... From: VIC MessageI was born in the "spring of 1942", a line used in the movie..A few months before the day of my birth, my family evacuated from Asingan to Laoac, then a barrio of Manaoag..I first saw the light of day on May 21 and my parents waited until the Japanese left Asingan before they went back to our town..My mother said they traveled from Laoac to Asingan on foot because part of the roads were pock marked with big craters by grenades or bombs and the Pantranco was still unoperational right after the end of the war..Being one of the big houses in Asingan, my Mom said some Japs used it as headquarters or sleeping place. My Mom said they found scattered papers filled with Japanese inscriptions ..They also found several Japanese currency ( they called it Mickey Mouse money )which were kept by my Grandma as souveniers because they were brand new and hardly been used..I saw some of those also and and me and my siblings eventually used them as money when we played store..:)..I also remember a big GI camp in front of our house on the west side of the Catholic church..Two GI officers named Joe and Steve slept in our house which was good because there were times at night when some of the privates became drunk and very ruddy..It was either Steve or Joe who kept them at bay each time they would want to enter our house because I had two aunts then from Laoaca living with us who are not married....When the 2 left, they gave my mom what was remaining of their rations ( C-rations?) which consisted mostly of ham, bacon and powdered eggs..When Joe also got married he sent a photo of him and his new bride and my Mom treasured the photo dearly. From: Vic Messagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmO3r1Yu7iY From: VIC MessageOne segment is missing, part 5..will post it tommorow..sorry.. From: VIC Messagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7om29xBjUOc From: VIC Messagehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iLPS2yjhrc From: VIC MessageI Googled the movie title and came up with the following:... Iliff David "Rich" Richardson (April 9, 1918, Denver, Colorado - October 10, 2001, Houston Texas) was simultaneously a US Navy Ensign and a US Army Major whilst fighting with the Philippine resistance during World War II. He recounted his exploits to author Ira Wolfert, who published them in the book American Guerrilla in the Philippines in 1945. A character based on Richardson was played by Tyrone Power in the 1950 film of the same name. ****Richardson was the only surviving child of Methodist Minister Royal Richardson, who died when Iliff was three years old. His mother Velma Weston Richardson taught Latin and music[1] and raised Iliff in a variety of Colorado towns and her father's Nebraska ranch. After his death, the Richardsons went to live in Los Angeles. Iliff studied at Compton Junior College, then travelled through Europe, the Near and Middle East, returning to the US after the fall of France in World War II. [edit]Wartime career In 1940 he was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy and was posted to the USS Bittern, a minesweeper in the Philippines. He later transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, commanded by John D. Bulkeley. Richardson was the executive officer of PT 34.>>> After it was sunk by the Japanese, Richardson served with the Army, setting off demolition charges in Cebu City.*** Richardson and a dozen Americans attempted to sail a native outrigger to Australia, but the boat was sunk in a storm. Richardson swam for 24 hours to the island of Mindanao, where he was chased by the Japanese. The men eventually joined the Philippine guerrilla forces. Richardson, a former ham radio operator, set up a radio network to keep the various bands in touch with each other and Allied forces in Australia. For his work, Richardson was made a US Army Intelligence major by General Douglas MacArthur, holding commissions in the army and navy simultaneously.[1] [edit]Memoirs After the liberation of the Philippines, Richardson transcribed his memoirs to Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent and author Ira Wolfert of the North American Newspaper Alliance. Wolfert turned it into a book, An American Guerrilla in the Philippines, which became both a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and a condensed book in the March 1945 Readers Digest. Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century Fox bought the film rights and had Lamar Trotti write a screenplay by August 1945. The end of the war led Zanuck to shelve all films with a World War II theme. It was eventually made five years after the end of the war. The name of the central character was changed to "Chuck Palmer" and he was given a fictional love-interest for dramatic purposes.**** From: reder MessageAfter the fall of Bataan in 1942, a certain Lt. Edwin Ramsey joined the Filipino resistance and rose to command thousands of guerrillas. I read somewhere years ago that the movie “American Guerrilla in Philippines” was loosely based on his exploits. A book written in 1990 titled “Lieutenant Ramsey’s War” by Ramsey is a good read where it related all his exploits in Luzon including some familiar towns in Pangasinan. I read the book and I enjoyed it. I imagined myself in the time frame walking the areas he described in the book. BTW, Gen McArthur landed first in Leyte in late 1944 and then in Lingayen Gulf in early January 1945. From: VIC MessageThis is the link to part 4 of the current movie which was described in the posting below....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhAH8dbu7dU From: VIC MessageIn this segment of the movie, a Captain ( played by 50s star Eddie Infante ) suggested to Chuck Palmer he should go to Mindanao to contact another US Army personnel Col.Phillips so a stronger Guerilla network would be organized in preparation for McArthur's return..Then Palmer could ask Finch for a passage to Australia to join McArthur's army..Palmer agreed and with the help of some Filipino Guerillas, they stole a Japanese motorboat while the Japs were having a good time in a local brothel..Palmer reached Mindanao after a narrow escape from his Jap pursuers..He was able to contact col. Philips, but Philips had other things in mind for Palmer. He wanted him to remain in Leyte to help fortify the Guerilla network..And so he did and the movie showed the many things the underground soldiers did to fight against the Japanese conquerors..This segment ended with a TINIKLING dance performed during a town fiesta in Leyte..( more to come in the next segment ) From: VIC MessageAN AMERICAN GUERILLA IN THE PHILIPPINES is by far still the best Hollywood movie ever made in our country. No other film can match it's finesse, story line, star power and dramatic suspense. Fritz Lang directed it and he is no two bit director when it comes to movie making. **** I saw the movie several times when I was young: once in Dagupan, then in Urdaneta and when it was shown on TV, I never missed any broadcast. That is how much I like the movie. *** The film's main star is Tyrone Power, the top money maker for 20th Century Fox during its hey day. Until his untimely death, he was drawing fans and money into the box office. Among his popular movies are: PRINCE OF FOXES ( a costume film about the Borgias, ) EDDIE DUCHIN STORY ( a movie about the brilliant pianist Eddie Duchin whose face carries an uncanny resemblance to his ). **** There were also hits like BLOOD AND SAND (he was a doomed bullfighter who was helplessly in love with a vixen played by Rita Hayworth,) BLACK ROSE,( he played a an exiled European who went all the way to Asia to escape from his persecutors and in China, he met and befriended Kublai Khan. The noted Asian conqueror played by the legendary ORSON WELLES.)His last assignment was SOLOMON AND SHEBA but unfortunately he died while the film was in production. In his place, the producers took in YUL BRYNNER and they have to let him wear a wig for his part as SOLOMON. *** In AMERICAN GUERILLA..he played the title role. When the Americans lost the Philippines to the Japanese all US troops were told to escape, hide in the mountains or surrender. He opted for the second and his true to life escapades make up the plot for this war thriller. It was filmed on location in the Philippines in Technicolor and during those years, the 50s, this film process was still very expensive. It showed some very beautiful shots in the Philippines during that era when all Filipino movies were still shot in Black and White. He engaged in a cat and mouse game with some Japanese soldiers led by Filipino actor Cris de Vera. Other local stars like Rosa del Rosario, ( who one time played Darna ) Eddie Infante, Ben Perez appeared in cameo roles. Cris ( who was then also a comedian appearing in a radio weekly EDONG MAPANGARAP with Pugo and Togo ) stole the thunder from all of them. After seeing the movie for the first time, I began to develop a phobia for any Japanese. I thought they were all mean like the character played by Cris who slapped, shot and brutalized so many Filipinos in the movie. The music director also used some familiar Filipino melodies in the soundtrack like Dandansoy for the love scenes between Tyrone and Micheline Prelle who played his leading lady. **** The movie ended with a thrilling shoot out inside a church. Then when things seemed to be lost, the American troops led by Gen. McArthur arrived. A close up of him ( the real General ) appeared in the movie spliced into a long shot of the warm reception given to General ( played by a look alike ) just minutes before the movie ended. **** The setting is in Leyte. I read somewhere that some people are questioning whether the General landed first in Leyte or in Lingayen.. ***** I would opt for Lingayen. The highway from Lingayen going all the way to Manila is named on his honor, the MacArthur Highway.---# From: VIC MessageAMERICAN GUERILLA PART 3 -- The plot starts to thicken here. Palmer and his group made their first encounter with a Japanese patrol killing all of them. He also met again the French woman who gave him quite a surprise.Check out for a cameo appearance of Mila del Sol ( ONLY FOR VIEWERS above the 60 age group..ha-ha )...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndaDbHsGSe0 From: VIC MessageHa-ha!..I know what you mean, the old time serials!..These cliffhangers are made up of 12 or 15 chapters. When I watched these suckers, they were already shown as one movie.Albeit a very long, 3 hour film...They were entertaining to kids before, dialogue was minimal but fistfights, chases and narrow escapes were abound!..Not even kissing was done by the hero and the heroine.Most popular ones are the serials made from comic book characters..Superman was no. 1, then Captain Marvel, Phantom, Spy Smasher, Nyoka the Jungle Girl, Flash Gordon,..etc. And I saw all of these in Dagupan!!..When I was a kid, I spent so much on the comic books, then the movies..And now, 50 years later, I still spend some $$ on the VHS, Laser Discs and DVD versions of these serials!..Love to watch them once in a while because I become a kid again watching these "silly" movies..Its attraction is still there ( for me at least )...Same trend is going on on now a days. This time with Marvel comic books heroes..With digital technology, they can make Superman fly seamlessly, or Spiderman shoot super strong webs from his wrists,..The modern Superman has no wrinkle in his suit whereas the 50s Superman or Captain Marvel had creases in their pants!..Well, thanks for the kudos re: AMERICAN GUERILLA, Reder..!! Would like to upload the whole movie in one sitting but Youtube allows only 15 mins each time.. From: VIC MessageIn this chapter, Palmer and his friends continued with their plan to sail from Leyte to Australia on a banca, with some funny results....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQnVYno7Vvk From: reder MessageVic, The movie had a good start. The problem is I like more. This reminds me of my high school days when I had to wait a week for the next part of the serial story. I hope it won’t take that long. Thanks anyway for the entertainment. From: VIC Messagepart 1: AN AMERICAN GUERILLA IN THE PHILIPPINES..I would consider this movie the best ever made on location in our country in the early '50s..Unfortunately, the master copy seems to be already missing so no quality print of this movie has ever been released on DVD by 20th century fox..Tyrone Power is the leading man and he was the top money maker during those days..Uncredited appearances by the creme dele creme of Filipino stardoom at that time were made by :Mila del Sol, Cris de Vera, Eddie Infante. Rosa del Rosario, Pedro Faustino and others. All other Hollywood movies about the US-Japanese War filmed in our country would pale in comparison with this terrific movie. The trademark of Hollywood expertise in the making of action movies show from the opening frames to the final ones....Other segments will soon follow---#...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tab7LpT-nYQ From: VIC MessageI visited some of the churches shown in that video.. Sta Cruz is the most frequent because it is near Rizal Avenue, the movie house strip in Manila during those days..The funny thing about Sta Cruz church is its proximity to 2 burlesque theaters in Plaza Sta. Cruz, plus the DRAGON and KINGS in Ongpin....And sometimes while walking there along Ronquillo you would hear the priest delivering a fire and brimstone sermon thru its PA system condemning people who read porn magazines and watch indecent shows..:) The Catholic priests in Manila are also fond of classifying some movies as BANNED BY THE CHURCH..Don't they know that banning a movie there makes people want to know why the movie is banned?..At least the last time I was there, there were no more porno periodicals on sale along the sidewalks of Avenida Rizal..But Manila streets are not safe anymore compared to the 50s era..Last year, my niece lost her hand bag to a holdupper who warned her to give up her bag or be stabbed, right inside a jeep. Her bag has a brand new cel phone..The big Malls are now the safest places where to kill time and to check out the latest fashion or electronics gear.But restaurant prices are so ridiculously expensive its advisable just to buy food stuff and cook them at home. You do not know how long those viands in the turo turo joints have been displayed there. One time I sampled a bopis in one of those snack joints and I spent the whole day in a hotel room because of a serious LBM..sad!!..:( From: VIC MessageYour postings really brought me again back home..On Nov., I will fly back home for the 3rd time this year and we will stay there for at least 6 months...I have collected quite a number of Filipino kundimans ever since I returned in 1988, 12 years after I left the Motherland.. One of the best advices I heard was: do not go home to the Philippines until you have bought a house of your own in Toronto..We bought a starter's house in 1983 and it was the first and the last one we bought. I do not want to sell it anymore because it has a 50x150 yard, and it is located within the metro area..These kinds of lots are not available anymore NOW A DAYS. You have to go way way out of town to get a lot this size .. Our home is near a bus stop, which makes it easy to go downtown Toronto. In our block, all the house and lots have the same backyard size.. My three kids grew up here playing games with their friends. Years ago, they flew away from the coop and it is just Miggie and me left behind..:(...I never bought a car, since our jobs were located downtown...There is a big shopping mall with groceries, hardware store, electronic shops and video stores near my house so I never missed driving a car..Now a days, we just walk going grocery shopping and take a taxi going back home. So a friend of mine said I saved a bundle by not buying a car because now a days, gas prices and insurance rates have hit the ceiling..We paid the mortgage weekly ( I do not know if you can still do this now a days ) but this method of payment reduced the principal so fast pretty soon a house is all yours..When I was in Asingan the last time, my relatives told me it is so easy to get a driver's license here..:)Especially if you know someone in the LTO in Urdaneta....And that I would do just for the heck of having one for ID purposes....A recent eye operation gave me a pair of brand new eyes ( I could see clearly distant objects ) and there is also that stretch of narrow concrete road in front of my house In Cabincolan where I can practice when I have the time ( and a 2ndhand car )..Would just be careful cause if I make a mistake my car would dive into a deep ditch in both sides of this road..wooo--Disaster!..If I practice driving hard enough in Asingan, I am pretty sure I can pass the road test here in Toronto where driving is more orderly than driving with those crazy motorists in McArthur High Way...:)... From: visitor Messageand finally this http://youtu.be/s82lw7TFHQ8 and remember, the best time to listen to these is around midnight From: visitor Messagethis too http://youtu.be/jdgBBlvh2R8 From: visitor Messagefor your listening pleasure http://youtu.be/r6U14HXNPTI From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-winery-at-niagara-penninsula.html From: VIC MessageMy Mondays will not be complete if I do not visit my Senior friends at the Humber Heights Retirement and Long Term center..We leave the house at 5:45 pm, me dragging a Karaoke amplifier and Miggie carrying a mike stand..It is just a 10 minute walk on a slightly uphill road and she walks slowly because then she would be out of breath due to her asthma/allergy..The funny thing is: her breathing problem decreases when we are in Asingan, but when we are back to Toronto it is back to its usual level....She uses a puffer to alleviate herself but in Asingan, she does not use the puffer that much even if the weather is so hot and the roads are sometimes dusty. Especially when we are in our house which is surrounded practically with rice fields and a few houses..A longer stay in the Philippines might help her get rid of it completely: we will see if this happens. Sometimes the environment determines some health issues of individuals.Toronto like other big cities, has some smog problems even if it is not as bad as Los Angeles...Anyways, back to the original thread...When we reach the sing along hall, I set up the PA system with the 2 mikes while Miggie goes to the Community Room to pick up the books to be used for the session...Last Monday, Mohamed a 40 year old stroke patient who loves piano music came after a few weeks of absence. Sometimes he does not feel well. He resembles a young Gandhi in facial features. While I was warming up with the piano, he came beside me and he was also playing on an invisible keyboard with both hands..He could hardly talk anymore but he conveys with his gestures how much he likes me and the music I play for them..The rest of the group that comes on this day and time have individual health issues: but they have not lost their love for music..And I took pains of printing other songs which is not in the Singing with Seniors booklet. Due to copyright reasons, other good songs can not be printed. But knowing the old titles I just downloaded them from Google and run some copies on the Xerox machine of the Home and voila! Song books with the unforgettable song s from the years past....THus Miggie see their faces brighten up when we do other songs: from movies, from Broadway, from the 50s, 60s, comic ballads, name it, I can play it if I know the tune...A few of the singers are amazed why I can memorize them. If one loves what he is doing, everything becomes easy. I started playing the piano since I was about 10 years old, and up to now I am still "playing" with it..:) From: VIC Messagehttp://asinganian-journal-book2.blogspot.com/2011/09/stratford-ontario.html From: VIC Messagepardon the multiple postings..The Board froze while I was posting it..might have clicked it several times... From: VIC MessageYes, practice makes perfect Pangasinan, PPP..:D...The highlight of my week when I was a kid before was the visit to Dagupan with my Dad..First, we visited our favorite Panciteria, then watch a movie in our favorite theater which was Dagupan Theater..During those years, it showed mostly action movies like the serials, or Superman or the westerns..Then my dad let me buy one American comic book ( these might cost a fortune already if I saved them )from Marigold book store. And then we visited his friend, a copra vendor, in the Dagupan public market and they talked in Pangasinan. I listened intently and then I would wander around the market not too far. ..Before going home, my dad bought some fish to cook for my Mom, and last but not the least is a loaf of freshly baked bread from a favorite Bakery near the Pantranco station. When I was already old enough to ride by myself, I went to the city alone..I had so many experiences in the city too that I could write a whole book about it, something like the book I bought last April entitled "Nandaragupan"...I am familiar mostly with the theaters, restaurants, the bakeries and refreshment parlors of the old Dagupan..At that time, the old fashioned Wurlitzer juke boxes were still very popular..Only 10 centavos per song..I also bought sometimes some records there, 45 rpms for my brod in law who owned a sound system, one of the pioneers of the trade here in Asingan...My favorite snack then was the garlic peanuts sold by the sidewalk vendors. It was cooked to perfection, with the golden skin still on, lightly salted and you could savour the garlic and salt taste..Since I was still a student then, I did not patronize the first class joints like Dagupenia or Pampaguenia..I just ate at the cheaper panciterias ( like New Asia ) along Bugallon ( now called Fernandez st. )..99% of the vendors then spoke Pangasinan. I love listening to their sing-song intonation. But now a days, Tagalog is already the prevalent dialect. I hope Pangasinan won't become extinct, that is why I am trying to brush up with the dialect. Who said you can not teach an old dog new tricks?..:).. Our house by the way, is still in Cabincolan and it is being taken cared of by Linda, the daughter in law of Mariano Ong..She, by the way, was born and she grew up in Dagupan. What a coincidence..:) From: VIC MessageYes, practice makes perfect Pangasinan, PPP..:D...The highlight of my week when I was a kid before was the visit to Dagupan with my Dad..First, we visited our favorite Panciteria, then watch a movie in our favorite theater which was Dagupan Theater..During those years, it showed mostly action movies like the serials, or Superman or the westerns..Then my dad let me buy one American comic book ( these might cost a fortune already if I saved them )from Marigold book store. And then we visited his friend, a copra vendor, in the Dagupan public market and they talked in Pangasinan. I listened intently and then I would wander around the market not too far. ..Before going home, my dad bought some fish to cook for my Mom, and last but not the least is a loaf of freshly baked bread from a favorite Bakery near the Pantranco station. When I was already old enough to ride by myself, I went to the city alone..I had so many experiences in the city too that I could write a whole book about it, something like the book I bought last April entitled "Nandaragupan"...I am familiar mostly with the theaters, restaurants, the bakeries and refreshment parlors of the old Dagupan..At that time, the old fashioned Wurlitzer juke boxes were still very popular..Only 10 centavos per song..I also bought sometimes some records there, 45 rpms for my brod in law who owned a sound system, one of the pioneers of the trade here in Asingan...My favorite snack then was the garlic peanuts sold by the sidewalk vendors. It was cooked to perfection, with the golden skin still on, lightly salted and you could savour the garlic and salt taste..Since I was still a student then, I did not patronize the first class joints like Dagupenia or Pampaguenia..I just ate at the cheaper panciterias ( like New Asia ) along Bugallon ( now called Fernandez st. )..99% of the vendors then spoke Pangasinan. I love listening to their sing-song intonation. But now a days, Tagalog is already the prevalent dialect. I hope Pangasinan won't become extinct, that is why I am trying to brush up with the dialect. Who said you can not teach an old dog new tricks?..:).. Our house by the way, is still in Cabincolan and it is being taken cared of by Linda, the daughter in law of Mariano Ong..She, by the way, was born and she grew up in Dagupan. What a coincidence..:) From: VIC MessageYes, practice makes perfect Pangasinan, PPP..:D...The highlight of my week when I was a kid before was the visit to Dagupan with my Dad..First, we visited our favorite Panciteria, then watch a movie in our favorite theater which was Dagupan Theater..During those years, it showed mostly action movies like the serials, or Superman or the westerns..Then my dad let me buy one American comic book ( these might cost a fortune already if I saved them )from Marigold book store. And then we visited his friend, a copra vendor, in the Dagupan public market and they talked in Pangasinan. I listened intently and then I would wander around the market not too far. ..Before going home, my dad bought some fish to cook for my Mom, and last but not the least is a loaf of freshly baked bread from a favorite Bakery near the Pantranco station. When I was already old enough to ride by myself, I went to the city alone..I had so many experiences in the city too that I could write a whole book about it, something like the book I bought last April entitled "Nandaragupan"...I am familiar mostly with the theaters, restaurants, the bakeries and refreshment parlors of the old Dagupan..At that time, the old fashioned Wurlitzer juke boxes were still very popular..Only 10 centavos per song..I also bought sometimes some records there, 45 rpms for my brod in law who owned a sound system, one of the pioneers of the trade here in Asingan...My favorite snack then was the garlic peanuts sold by the sidewalk vendors. It was cooked to perfection, with the golden skin still on, lightly salted and you could savour the garlic and salt taste..Since I was still a student then, I did not patronize the first class joints like Dagupenia or Pampaguenia..I just ate at the cheaper panciterias ( like New Asia ) along Bugallon ( now called Fernandez st. )..99% of the vendors then spoke Pangasinan. I love listening to their sing-song intonation. But now a days, Tagalog is already the prevalent dialect. I hope Pangasinan won't become extinct, that is why I am trying to brush up with the dialect. Who said you can not teach an old dog new tricks?..:).. Our house by the way, is still in Cabincolan and it is being taken cared of by Linda, the daughter in law of Mariano Ong..She, by the way, was born and she grew up in Dagupan. What a coincidence..:) From: Zeus MessageJust talk to someone who knows pangasinan, I know you understand just can't speak. Constant practice lang yan Manong. From: VIC MessageNope..we are still in Toronto..thanks for asking..:).... By the way, I was looking at some parts of the book about Dagupan and in the back I found this glossary of Pangasinan expressions.For the non Pangasinenses, here is your chance to learn a bit of Pangasinan especially if you are in love with a girl ( or a boy ) from the province of bangus, bagoong and patupat...First section concerns PRONOUNS..I ( siak ), you singular ( sika ), you plural ( sikay |