Kwentong Commuter Part 2

Gaya ng nakwento ko na, marami akong nasasaksihan pag ako’y nasa jeep. Sa ‘di malamang pagkakataon ay mas marami akong nakikita pag lulan ako ng Sarao. Isang uri ng pampasaherong jeep na matagal punuin lalo na pag sa may Balibago ka sasakay papuntang Dau. Pagpapawisan ka na ng malagkit at mabibilad ka na ng parang daing ay ‘di pa mapuno-puno. Kadalasang nangyayari ito ‘pag nagmamadali ka. Susumpain mo pati gobyerno ng Pilipinas kahit wala namang kinalaman ito sa dinaranas mo.

Ewan, ewan virus

Isang araw ako ay nabiyayaan ng tatlong araw na vacation leave…meaning, bakasyon na may bayad. Actually tira lang yon doon sa 18 days na pribelehiyong bigay ng aking amo. I did not spend those days gallivanting in the mall… namasyal ako sa klinika ng aking OB Gyn. Wala lang, naisip ko lang na sumailaim sa isang uri ng pagsusuri na para sa mga nanay na dahil nga 40’s na ko. Sabi ko nga, mahirap ng magsisi sa huli. Sa tatlong araw ko ng pagsakay-sakay sa Sarao, I suddenly became an expert paranoid pag may nakakasakay akong inuubo-ubo. Uhu, uhu, uhu… sabi ng katabi ko, feeling ko lahat ng bumulwak na virus ni tiyong na galing sa bibig niya at ilong ay nainhale ko. Wala pa namang panyo si tiyong. Ang pobre, pinantakip ang kamay. Habang binabaybay ng Sarao ang kahabaan ng daan, si tiyong nagbayad “heto po ang bayad,” sabay abot sa ‘kin na animo’y konduktor ang tingin niya sa ‘kin. “Di ko alam kung kukunin ko ba at iaabot kay mamang driver o magbubulag-bulagan na lang ako. Bandang huli, dahil umandar ang paging girl scout ko, inabot ko na kay mamang driver ang bayad niya.

Ito naming si Ate sa aking kanan, todo kwento sa kaharap niya na feeling niya nasa bahay lang sila sa sobrang lakas ng boses niya. ‘Di ko mapigilan ang marinig at makinig sa kanilang pinag-uusapan dahil malakas nga ang boses ni ate.

Ate: masanting a headband itang atin batu-batu. Bage ‘yang pagballroom katernu ne nitang kilap-kilap kung malan a matuling…

Kausap ni Ate: atin keng SM Clark, Karin ka sali…

Ate: blah, blah, blah…..

Maya-maya ay nakita ko na lang na yumuko si ate na parang sinisilipan ang sarili niyang boobs… sa isip-isip ko’y may topak si ate at binobosohan nya ang sarili nya. Hinawakan pa ang neckline ng blouse nya…mga less than 5 seconds siyang nasa ganoong posisyon… laking gulat ko nang bumahin (humatsing) sya nang pagkalakas-lakas…AAAATSU! Ayun si ate, dahil walang panyo pinantakip pala nya ng ilong at bibig ang kanyang blouse. At least, concern si ate. Ayaw nyang kumalat ang kanyang virus…

Ito namang kaharap kong dalaga, takot din sa ewan-ewan virus. Super takip siya ng papel sa bibig nya at buong diring tumatagilid para di mapaharap kay tiyong na inuubo at kay ate na humahatsing. Dedma din sya pag nakikisuyo ang kapwa nya pasahero pag pinapaabot ang bayad nila. Buong arte din nyang sinasabit sa mga tenga nya ang kanyang newly rebonded hair pag nahahangin-hanginan. In other words maarte si dalaga. Pati kapwa pasahero nya ay naartehan na sa kanya. Kulang na lang sabay-sabay siyang sipain palabas ng Sarao at sabay sigaw ng, “bili ka ng sarili mong kotse”. Buti na lang dina sila umabot do’n dahil bago pa nila nasipa si dalaga ay bigla na lang syang nasamid sa laway nya. Inubo nang inubo ng pagkaha-haba. At dahil walang panyo ang dalaga, di nya alam kung pano nya tatakpan ang kanyang bibig. Sa wakas nahimasmasan din si dalaga kaya lang muntik na syang mahulog sa kinuupuan nya nang makita nyang lahat ng pasahero ay buong diri ding nakatakip ang mga bibig nila habang nakatingin lahat sila sa kanya…

Para kanino ba ang sidewalk?

Isang araw uli ‘di ako nakasakay sa jeep. Nilalakad ko ang kahabaan ng Plaridel St. sa Angeles papuntang San Nicolas Market. Madaming tao sa daan pero ‘di hamak namang mas marami ang sidewalk vendors. Sino ba ang mga sidewalk vendors? Ah, palagay ko sila ang nagmamay-ari ng sidewalk. Yung kasunod kong mag-ina na nang-overtake sa kin sa paglakad, sa daan mismo na sila dumaan dahil di nga sila makadaan mabuti sa sidewalk. Maya-maya ay may narinig akong lumagutok na parang nasagasaan na plastic cup. Pagtingin ko, nakaupo si boy at may dugo ang paa nya. Naipit pala siya ng gulong ng jeep dahil nga sa daanan na ng jeep sila naglakad ng nanay nya. Tinulungan naman sya ng mga usyoso na maisakay sa jeep para dalhin sa ospital.

Long time no see

Isang araw na naman, naisip kong maglamyerda sa Apo. Biyernes kasi ‘yon at walang pasok. Wala lang, gusto ko lang lustayin ang konti kong pera. Naging masaya naman ako dahil naibili ko ang pamangkin ko ng sapatos na nagkakahalaga ng 125 pesos. Naibili ko rin ng original na blouse na faded glory ang tatak ang anak ng kaibigan ko. Tuwang-tuwa ako sa nabili ko. Sumakay na ko ng jeep pauwi. Feeling masaya. Maya-maya, may sumakay na ale. Nginitian ako dahil dati ko palang kaklase sa Holy Angel nuong first year high school. Mga 31 years ago. Ganito ang nagging takbo ng usapan naming.

Ako: Kumusta… (di pa ko natapos sa sinasabi ko ay bigla na lang siyang nagbitiw ng…)

Kaklase: ang taba mo… ba’t ka tumaba ng ganyan…

Inis na inis ako sa nakakasakit na katotohanang sinabi nya. Totoo naman na tumaba ako pero kailangan bang ipamukha nya sa kin. Mantakin mo yon, more than 30 years kaming di nagkita at yun ang bati nya sa kin. Ewan ko ba at anong kultura meron ang Pinoy. Parang lambing sa kanila ang pagsabi sa kakilala na tumaba ito. Pwede namang “mukha kang okay,” anong ginagawa mo ngayon,”…yun bang parang sa Ingles na “you look good,” what keeps you busy,”

Feeling kasi natin, yung dati nating kaklase o kakilala na dating 90 pounds nuong mga bata pa tayo ay mananatiling gano’n. Nakakalimutan natin na lumilipas ang panahon at kasabay ng paglipas ng panahon ay ang pagbagal ng ating metabolism. Pero sa isang banda, okay pa rin kahit nakakapikon. Kasi may hatid pa ring tuwa ang makakakita ng dating kaklase. Ito’y dahil na rin sa madidiscover mo na mas mukhang matanda pa sila sa ‘yo kahit kasing-edad mo lang sila o mas bata pa sila sa ‘yo. Naisip ko tuloy baka di nagsa-sunblock si classmate kaya mukhang tuyo ang balat niya…JOKE!

Tell me Tang, are you in heaven?

Thirty five years ago, you were full of life. You showed happiness collecting books about your favorite sports – basketball. Eventually you became one of the most sought after coach for every liga ng barangay in those days. Your favorite basketball team? Jaworski’s team(s) – YCO, Meralco, Toyota, La Tondena. Remember the simple happiness you felt eating your favorite karyoka (a street food made of glutinous rice shaped like balls, deep fried, then rolled in sugar) and preparing your signature spaghetti with meatballs and hamburger sandwich? But tell me Tang, are you in heaven now? Do you still prepare your specialties up there?

Tell me Tang, are you in heaven?

Twenty five years ago you were not afraid of life. You ate the best food in China Town. You can name the ingredients used by just tasting the food. You used to tag us (my sister and I) along to educate our tongue on different types of food – American and Asian. But tell me Tang, are you in heaven now? Were you able to finish trying European food?

Tell me Tang, are you in heaven?

Fifteen years ago you discovered your clock was ticking so fast. You had it coming but you chose not to pay attention to it. You seldom made appointments with the doctor. You were more afraid of the dos and don’ts rather than the damage it would do to our finances. You continued living your life the way you lived it thirty five years ago. But tell me Tang, are you in heaven now? Is there such thing like element of time in heaven?

Tell me Tang, are you in heaven?

Four years ago on June 11, you joined the innumerable caravan. You succumb not because you ran out of breath but you ran out of good cells in your blood. You were crushed by our God physically to become perfect. You emerged victorious from the rubbles of diabetes complications and said good-bye peacefully in your sleep. But tell me Tang, are you in heaven now? Do you still feel the pain of dialysis, blood transfusion, and mild strokes? I know you are in heaven now. A place where peace is eternal. You may have died physically but death set you free. As what the bible said in the book of

Job 3:17 - "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest”

Golden Sunset, Calatagan Batangas

 
 
 
 

Had the chance to live like a queen for two days...enjoy nature, watch the sun rise, watch the sun set, wade in the water, eat without minding the size of my waistline, sleep, take pictures of anything, watch butterflies, take a glimpse of Philippine history, and enjoy a cultural show. It's for free! Thanks to my employers. Thank you our Almighty Father!

Tell me Ima, what gift can I give you on Mother’s Day?

Tell me Ima, what gift can I give you on Mother’s Day?

Something Soft? Something Hard?

Maybe I will give you a soft heart that can yield easily to pressures and pains. Or maybe I will give you a heart as hard as steel that can withstand all pressures and pains.

Something Long? Something Short?

Maybe I can ask God to give you long life so you can be with your children for the longest time. Or maybe I can ask God to shorten the time that you are not with us.

Something Big? Something Small?

Maybe I will build you a big house so you can enjoy moving around. Or maybe I will just build you a small house so you won’t tire yourself moving around.

Something Colorful? Something Plain?

Maybe I will give you something colorful to make your life picture perfect. Or maybe I will give you something plain to make your life purer in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Something Sweet? Something Sour?

Maybe I will give you something sweet to make your meals complete. Or maybe I will give you something sour like Vitamin C to keep you away from colds.

Something Comic? Something melodramatic?

Maybe I will give you something comic to make you laugh all day. Or maybe I will give you something melodramatic like a volume of telenovelas that will make you sit and relax watching them all day.

Tell me Ima, what can I give you on Mother’s Day?

I guess I don’t need to give you any of the things I mentioned.

You don’t need a heart that can yield easily to pressures and pains nor a heart that can withstand all those. For you know nothing about pains and sorrow because our dear God gave you a heart that knows only happiness…

You don’t need longer time to be with your children for in your heart you know it’s not how long you are with them but how long have you been keeping them.

You neither need a big house nor a small house for in our Holy Father’s house you have a mansion.

You don’t need a colorful life for in the eyes of God you are pure and picture perfect.

You don’t need something sweet for dessert for God’s words are your bread of life.

You don’t need to watch comedy shows nor watch telenovelas for your life itself is comic and melodramatic full of laughter and tears, beautifully written, scripted and directed by God.

Left Photo: Ima in 1950, photo taken at Selegna Photo Studio
Right Photo: Me and Ima in 1969

Note: Our Ima is now 82 years old and very active in the church.

X- MEN Origins: Wolverine and Jollibee Tuna Pie

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Just had bonding moment with my youngest son. We watched a movie together. What else would it be but X- MEN Origins: Wolverine? He was supposed to be with his dad but lucky me, Manny Pacquiao is more powerful than a wife. So he stayed with Pacquiao and I stayed with my son and Wolverine. Before going to the movie house I decided to buy my son something to nibble but ended up buying him something that would stop his stomach from complaining. He actually requested me to grab him a double burger, a large fries, an upsized iced tea and a mango flavored ice dessert. Whew… what an appetite. Got myself a piece of tuna pie. I am not writing this account to make a review of the movie. Am not so good at that. If only I have the head of Ricky Lee and Mario Bautista. Anyway, I am better off writing about food…your guess is right, I’ll be talking about the Tuna Pie I had while having a moment with my son and Hugh Jackman.

I had mixed intentions why I ordered tuna pie. The first half of the intention is not to let my budget suffer in the coming days. The second intention is to feed my curiosity about this tuna pie. I was trying to find out how long had this pie been in Jollibee menu. Truth is, it's my first time to try this treat. Amidst the darkness in the movie house I took a bite on the thing. The first bite made me imagine I was actually almost slurping a well thickened fish chowder enclosed in a crispy tasty crust. The filling was so creamy and finely seasoned. The second bite made me imagine I was eating deep fried sliced bread with delectable rich tuna filling. Considering that I was in a movie house, I started guessing and enumerating in my mind the filling ingredients as each bit touched my tongue – tuna flakes, pimiento, mayonnaise…soooo yummmmy! So my next mission, grab another pie and eat it not in the movie house but in the house... with lights on.

Food Tripping in Balanga Bataan

Last Saturday I was with my family in Bataan. Whatever came into my mind was something only moms understand. Just wanted to have feel good moments with the kids. I suddenly thought that I need to tag them along while they’re still happy being with us – their parents. You see I am investing happy thoughts with my kids. Thoughts that will make them smile every time they look back when they become adults. We left the house at 25 minutes past 10 in the morning. Bringing nothing but ourselves and a little cash. Our mission: food tripping; destination: Aling Mely’s Sampalukan. By the way, early on we were oriented by my husband not to expect a classy restaurant. After all, Sampalukan is a carinderia type of eating place with good food. My husband has been talking about this carinderia for so long. This was introduced to him by his officemates from the East. After an hour and a half we finally reached the place. Thanks to the convenience of SCTEX. I was not at all surprised with the place but I was surprised to see an almost empty food showcase (escaparate). My grumbling stomach has no time for joke. Besides, we didn’t travel more than an hour for nothing.Thanks to the male cook (who I think can read minds) who was all agog in telling me that they only cook what we order. The next thing I knew was our food was being prepared excitedly by the chefs with no toque, using their literally blazing built-in stove. By the way, they use rice hull for fuel. This I think gave our food an inexplicable taste. My husband advised me to go to the Pamilihan ng Bayan ng Balanga which is very near Aling Mely’s while food is being prepared. I thought of spending his hard earned money for pasalubong back home. I really didn’t have a hard time spending my husband’s hard earned money, though, since I only have enough. However, for a moment my head was in a state of confusion trying to decide what to buy. Will I buy boneless tinapang bangus, tinapang tilapia, or bataan tuyo? Well, the woman in me decided to buy all.
The food we ordered was ready to be devoured when we got back from the market. Picture this laid on the wooden table – Sinampalukang ulo ng Tanigue, Hinalabos na Sugpo, Igat (eel) na niluto sa toyo, and inihaw na liyempo. Believe me, I could hardly get up from my seat after enjoying the feast. As for the children, it was such an experience…incomparable, unforgettable…

Kwentong Sisig at iba pa

Ang kwento ko ay iikot sa Crossing, lugar kung saan nauso ang sisig ni Aling Lucing (+)...Isang lugar sa Angeles na sakop ng Bgy.Recto ba o Agapito del Rosario.
Noong bata pa ko, mga trese anyos pa lamang ako, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makasalamuha ang mga tao sa Crossing...kung sa anong dahilan ay di na importante yon. Crossing...isang lugar na kung saan nauso ang inuman ng pale pilsen ng san miguel beer. Kadalasan ang beer na ito ay tineternuhan ng inihaw na manok o barbekyung manuk o di kaya inihaw na tenga ng baboy, leeg ng manok at kung ano-ano pa Hindi pa uso ang sisig ng mga panahon na yon...pero darating din tayo don... di pa rin uso ang mga home along the riles dahil masiglang masigla pa ang PNR nuon.Nasa pagitan ng taong 76 hanggang 78. Tanda ko ang mayor, si Lazatin. Hindi si Tarzan...yung tatay niya na lolo sa tuhod ng dati kong estudyante.Wala pang lisensya ang pagtinda ng beer nuon sa crossing. Ang buong hilera ng mga nagbabarbekyu sa lugar na yon ay hinuhuli ng mga taga city hall...Nuon ko nakita sa pangalawang pagkakataon si Tatang Peleng Lazatin.Siya mismo ang nagmomonitor ng mga tindahan sa crossing pagkatapos siguro niyang manghuli ng sidewalk vendor sa palengke. Tinintingnan niya kung di ba lumalabag sa batas ang mga nagtitinda ng barbekyung manuk. Kaso, matatalino ang mga may-ari ng barbekyuhan. Isa si Aling Lucing sa mga yon. Ang ginawa niya, bumili siya ng napakaraming tall plastic tumblers at duon niya sinerve ang beer. Para nga naman hindi obvious na nagtitinda siya ng beer kahit wala siyang lisensiya. Buong akala ng mga tindera duon magogoyo nila si Tatang Peleng kaso, ‘di hamak namang mas matalino ang mayor kesa sa kanila. Isang gabing nagronda si mayor, lumapit siya sa customer at inamoy niya ang laman ng plastic na tumbler...nuon ako nakakita ng nagtutumbahang ihawan dahil sa lakas ng sipa ni Tatang Peleng. 'Di naman nagtagal at kumuha na rin ng lisensya ang mga nagtitinda ng beer. Siguro napagod na rin sila sa kaka hide and seek kay mayor. Dumaan ang mga araw na nagsawa na sa kakapulutan ng barbekyung manuk ang mga tao. Ewan ko ba kung pano pumasok sa isip ng mga kampon ng mga nagbababerbekyu at naisip nilang maging adventurous sa pagluluto nila. Ang impresyon ng mga mamamayang Pilipino, si Aling Lucing o Apung Lucing ang unang nagpauso ng sisig... wrong! Isa lang siya sa mga nagpauso sa pagkaing yon. Paano naman si Apung Kadok Dinio na asawa ni atsing Beth? Naaalala ko na unang sinubukan ni Apung Kadok (lalaki po siya) na gawing sisig ang tenga ng baboy. Pagkatapos niyang hiwain ng bite size ang almost gelatinous sa lambot na tenga hinahaluan niya ito ng suka, paminta, asin, at sibuyas. Wala pang sizzling plate nuon. Simpleng sisig lang okay na. And the rest is history, sabi nga nila. Pero sana, sa mga nababasa kong history ng sisig, isali naman si Apung Kadok Dinio. Sabagay di na makapagreklamo yung tao dahil maaga kasing pumanaw...na heart attack yata. Bago pa man nagboom ang Crossing, binawian na ng buhay ang pobreng tao.'Di na nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na maexplore ang lahat ng possibilities ng sisig. Diyan papasok ang galing ni Apung Lucing. Nauso naman niya ang pagserve ng sisig sa sizzling plate (feeling ko siya lang ang may kakayahang makabili ng sizzling plate). Naisipan din niyang samahan ng inihaw na atay ng manok at gawing pisngi ng baboy ang sisig (oo nga naman, mas marami ang yield at mas malaman ang pisngi kesa sa tenga). Sa pagkakataong ito, nakisabay naman sina Atsing Fely (na asawa ni kong Arthur na may dalawang anak na magandang dalaga) at Apung Naty na hipag ni Atsing Afric (siyanga pala, una munang nakapangalan kay Atsing Afric ang pwesto ni Aling Naty. Nuong kalaunan pinalitan na lang ito na Aling Naty). Kaya lang naunang huminto sa pagtitinda si Atsing Fely. Kung bakit, di ko alam.
Nuong magcollege na kami ng kapatid ko, sa HAU na ko nag-aral. Sa hirap ng buhay nuon, naghanap ng pwesto sa may harapan ng crossing ang nanay namin para makapagpatayo kami ng bistro...ay, carinderia pala. Pinagtulungan naming magkakapatid yung carinderia namin. Si ima ang tagapalengke, ang tatang namin ang chef, ako at yung kapatid ko ang assistant chefs, samantalang ung isa naming ate at kuya ang sellers. Malakas ang kita sa pagtinda ng pagkain. Kaya lang patay katawan mo sa pagod. Baka naman kala nyo sa carinderia ako natutong maging gourmet and gourmand...wrong again! Bale ang boss ko ang nag-expose sa kin sa different types of cuisine. Pero syempre, ibang kwento naman yon.
Balik tayo sa crossing, sa pagdaan ng panahon unti - unti naming nasaksihan ang pagbabagong bihis ng crossing. Nagkaroon ng gotohan si Mang Larry sa tabi ng mga barbekyuhan. Unti-unti ring napapalitan ang mga may-ari ng mga pwesto kasabay ng pagkukulong ng mga tindahan na parang ibig ipahiwatig na something private is hapenning inside. In other words, ang mga tindahan ay nagmistulang mga beer house na naiilawan ng pulang ilaw. Buti na lang, nagdesissyon ang ima namin na iwan yung lugar na yon. Wala na kasing magbabantay sa carinderia at mga propesyonal na kami ng mga kapatid ko.