Capiz State University Roxas City Campus: 105 or 115 years?

 This month, Capiz State University Roxas City Campus celebrates its founding anniversary as it reaches its 105th year. But CAPSU Roxas could actually be older than 105 years. In 2017, it held a festive centennial celebration. I initially started researching on its history as early as 2006 when, as a school paper editor, I was tasked to write the campus history. Through the years and with help from historian-friends, I  gained  access to several sources that may point out that the school may have actually been founded earlier than 1917.

Here are some facts, for now.

- The school shared the same building with Capiz Provincial (later High) School, which was founded in 1902, not 1912 as earlier claimed. 

- These schools were located in the building that formerly housed the municipal prison (carcel), which is the present location of the Roxas City Hall. 

- The original structure burned down in 1918. 

- The provincial government looked for a new school site. The family of a certain Fortunato Fuentes donated several hectares of the land, on hilly portions. Capiz Provincial School was established on one hill, Capiz Trade school on another. 

- The school closed at the height of World War II, 1942-45. It was heavily damaged. When it reopened, the teachers had to teach literally under the mango tree.

- 1953, Capiz Trade School was converted from being a provincial school into a national vocational school.

- 1957, CTS was renamed Capiz School of Arts and Trades and merged with Capiz High School (until 1960).

- 1969, RA 5711 merged CASAT with Capiz School of Fisheries, thereby, the birth of Capiz Institute of Technology.

- 1999 CIT merged with Panay State Polytechnic College, with the former CIT as the Roxas City Campus.

- 2004  RA 9273 converted PSPC into Capiz State University, with the former CTS-CASAT-CIT as the seat of the administration of the entire University.

Here’s a longer article I wrote about the history of my beloved alma mater via Christian's Chronicles: The Early Years of Capiz State University Main Campus (christiangeorgeacevedo.blogspot.com)

105 or 115 years old, CAPSU Roxas Campus has done this nation a great service!

Today on my garden

I left my plants untouched for a while now, letting nature take its course. Let's see to what extent they could ramble. 

Enjoy the photos. Happy Sunday! 🌿🌱☘️🪴

Gardening and beautiful memories

Sharing with you a long post of FB that I wrote  on September 11, 2021:

I have been mulching the earth, watering plants and pulling the weeds way before I learned how to read and write. I remember, my seven-year-old self would raise my own collection of "plants" on old tins and wasted rubber pots. Guess what they were? A bunch of tawa-tawa, amorsecos, and all the weeds around. For as long as they were blooming, i would pull it from the ground and transplant them on my own makeshift pots. I then arranged them at the back of my grandparents' house, tended them it's as if they were as valuable as my grandmother's orchids and annuals. My parents and grandparents would laugh at me, but they just let me be. But, hey, I felt satisfied with being my own "gardener." 

Thinking about this childhood memory now,  25 years passed by, I am still pulling weeds, mulching the earth, feeding my soil and watering the plants.  I still have some tawa-tawa around for medicinal purposes. But my choices of what to grow have also expanded as I aged. My garden is now a mix and match of vines, annuals, aroids, fruit trees, herbs and edibles, and so on, whatever that my eyes find delight. Whatever feeds my soul i take it. But i also know my limits. 

With this, I've learned this lesson. For as long as you are happy with it, plant it. You can buy it, if it makes you happy. You can ask for it and be happier if the owner gives you a shoot or cutting. I know at a glance if i like the plant. But i never let the fad take on my preferences. If it is a gift,  no matter how common, i give my attention to make that plant thrive and propagate. it's the story that goes with the plant that i remember and my memory of that person. I still have my grandparents plants with me and i try to keep them alive and thriving. So as the plants my friends and colleagues have given me. There's a story that goes with each plant.    If the plant - anything really - sparks joy within you, then keep planting. and keep thinking of that beautiful memory. 

Happy weekend! 🌱☘️🌿🌻🌻🌻🌻

Last Night's Dream, a Memory

 I wrote this on Sept. 7, 2021 - a memory of a dream I've had. It was those long weeks between August and September that i was sick in my body, followed by some emotional troubles that lingered until December 2021. Thankfully, prayers, friends, family and gardening worked wonders. 

I haven't dreamed like this in ages.  I have not even slept this sound for weeks! I usually sleep with my mind awake, so I'd also wake up feeling tired. Tonight though was different. I fell  deep in my slumber that my subconsious brought me somewhere else....

 I was in place different from home. Not anywhere where I have been to before. Tired, lost, sullen. I was greasy. I walked nonstop, for days and nights. I Smelled like the earth, my clothes worn out.  I grew my beard and moustache longer than i usually do. My hair was now dry, sticky and dishevelled. I was walking for days but i treaded empty highways that cut across verdant grasslands and led to vibrant golden ricefields, the grains dancing to the gentle caress of the gentle wind as harvest time near. The sky had always been cloudy, overcast. Nighttime only the crescent moon appeared. Never a half moon or full moon. And only the north star is visible. Not other sparkling cosmic creature brightens the nighttime desolation.  I have been away from home for so long i no longer knew how home looked like or if anyone else was still waiting for me.

 I waited for a vehicle to hitch along... Many passed me by, but they didnt let me in. D-Max, Hi-Lux, jeepney, truck, hooper, carabao-driven carts and wagons. Some are shimmering and almost new, sparkling clean. Neater than i was . Others are rusty, dusty, and outdated you knew it  because it coughs and emits heavy black smoke. It was one of those type that picked me up.  a jeepney, driven a wrinkled but kind farmer with her mild-tempered wife. they took me in at 4am, i just squeezed in the little space at the back. The jeepney was already stuffed with vegetables and they're bringing it to market in the city. Finally! I will be home. I knew it when i was nearing home when i already saw familiar streets and building. The trip ended in the market and I walked a little more until finally,  the doors swung open. It was empty, except for the spiders that lived on the cobwebs they made for themselves. i heard   a sound from the backyard, someone was sweeping the dried leaves on the ground. The sound of bamboo broom sticks scratching on the cement floor all gave me the familiar soun of home.  I hastened to the kitchen and opened  the door. Morning has dawned and a blinding light came in that I covered my eyes with my arms. it seems it was the first time that i have seen the daylight for ages! And when my eyes got accustomed to the morning light, I saw the plants i raised a long time ago before i left and got lost. They were thriving and are now full of life, greeting me... The philodendrons in earthen pots were oversized! The roses profuse with vibrant red and pink blooms, just like the bougainvilleas that burst with colour and trail on the fence.  

 "You're home!" I heard a voice I havent heard for a long time. I fell into tears, howled in happiness for I knew I was home...

And then i woke up with tears on my cheeks. i cried while i was sleeping, in my dreams. I woke up feeling better, like i have never slept this deep for weeks.

Christian's Cook Book: Stir Fry Luffa

Whenever i eat at Pizza Junction, a popular eatery here in Roxas City, the sauteed luffa in tomatoes is a favorite. Craving for this dish on a Sunday morning, i decided to prepare one for lunch. Here's my version. 

Ingredients:

Sliced luffa

chopped garlic, onion, and tomato

Long, green chili

For the steps:

1. Fry the chopped garlic then remove when golden brown. Set aside. 

2. Saute onion first, wait until the aroma comes out. Add garlic and stir. Wait until mixture caramelizes then add chopped tomatoes. Lots of them!  You can and stir shrimp, fowl, or meat if you like.  Mine is fine without it. 

3. Add chopped luffa and stir for 2-3 minutes.

 4. Add chopped chili. 

5. Add salt and/or pepper. 

6. Add water. The amount should vary to your liking. 

7. Let it simmer and wait until luffa softens. 

8. Sprinkle fried garlic. 

Enjoy!

Christian George Acevedo featured at Panagbo Exhibition

 

On Sept. 3, 2022 the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art inaugurated  "Panagbo: Encounters with Tradition"

 This is a group exhibition that features artists and art groups based in Roxas City and Capiz using “uga” (dried fish) as motivation, inspiration and point of trajectory. The group exhibit is curated by Marika Constantino.

I was featured at the documentary about dried fishing, produced by Eyecan Creatives  Creawhich premiered at the exhibition this afternoon. I shared my insights about Capisnon fishing culture and tradition, origins of dried fishing, and delicacies from fish and dried fish. 

About the Exhibit 

"Panagbo: Encounters with Tradition", a group exhibition that features artists and art groups based in Roxas City and Capiz using uga (dried fish) as motivation, inspiration and point of trajectory for new works in various forms: paintings, mixed media, installation, video and sound works.

Participating artists are John Alaban, Animô, Kim Raffy Astrolabio, Sheila Mae Bernaldez, Charline Bigbig, Rochel Calinao, Clinton Dellota, Lloyd Develos, Eyecan Creatives, Lorenzo Ignacio, Jonard Villarde.

Curated by Marika Constantino.

Come visit the exhibit at Hulot Gallery, ILOMOCA on September 4 to October 21, 2022 (every Tuesdays to Sundays only).

This exhibit is made possible by the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Arts, EyeCan Creatives, and Roxas City Government. 

Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites, collected and edited by Cecilia Brainard

My weekend read - Magnificat: Mama Mary's Pilgrim Sites, collected and edited by Cecilia Brainard (Anvil, 2012). 

Excerpt from Introduction:" In this anthology, the essays are not only about visits to Marian shrines but also about faith, and they compel us to examine our own beliefs. The visits are to places where Mary has appeared, and to churches that bear one of her many names, such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Sorrow, and Church of the Assumption. Along with the head notes, they inform us on the origin of the site. We also get glimpses of history, for instances, the French Revolution and the Galleon Trade that plied Manila, Manila, and Spain in the seventeenth century..."

The preparation for a Marian exhibit curated by @mataji_sharma and hosted by Ang Panublion Museum of Roxas City (to be launched on Sept 8, Mama Mary's birthday) led me to read this book. It contains 25 stories told by different individuals from the Philippines and around the world whose lives were touched by their faith and devotion to the Virgin Mother. These stories are interesting first hand accounts, which, upon reading, in many ways or otherwise, may compel one to ponder upon his or her faith and take a deeper realization that faith does wonder and miracles take many forms. I feel the heartfelt narratives and the stories speak for what the writers deeply feels about how Mama Mary has touched their lives for the better.

The Origin of Cholera: A Folktale from Panay Island (Folk Story #2)

Between the late 19th century and early 20th century, cholera ravaged the Philippine archipelago, the outbreak being part of the wider Asiatic cholera pandemic. This folk tale about the origin of cholera was collected and documented by American teachers  Berton L. Maxfield and W. H. Millington  in the spring of 1904, when they were stationed to the island of Panay. Mr. Maxfield was assigned to teach in what is now Iloilo City proper, and Mr. Millington at Mandurriao, now a district of Iloilo City, on the island of Panay in central Philippines. 

The Origin of Cholera: A Folktale from Panay Island  (Folk Story #2)

A Retelling by Christian George Acevedo

Sweat dropped from Tanag's forehead as he treads the country road amidst the sweltering heat of the midday sun. Drought has withered the field that he tilled; once abundant with yearly produce, the earth now cracked and had squeezed every bit of life out of it. The famished brigands, now hungrier than ever with this famine and plague, raided his village and took every food and livestock. Tanag was left with nothing.  The wells, too, are poisoned, and it seems every villager who drank from eat turned blue and perished in a night's time.

"This village is cursed!" he lamented. "God has forsaken us!" 

In no time, when every villager has gulped the water from the village well, one by one they fell ill. First they turned feverish and repeteadly excreted fluid. Then they vomitted incessantly until delirium took the better, until finally they gasped their last breath. Only Tanag, who refused to drink the water from the well, survived. With no more food to eat and with his tadyao empty of rainwater, he decided to abandon the village. 

Tanag walked for miles and miles. Weakened by thirst and hunger, dusk found him by a small brook with a sheltered bridge. The brook opens up to the sea. The refreshing view of the sunset left with a glimmer of hope. 

"I hope tomorrow i could find a job or a shelter," he prayed. 

He wanted to gather some fish to sup that night, but he was mortified at the sight of them all dead! He never dared drink the water, no matter how thirsty he was for fear that it was contaminated.

Exasperated, Tanag rested early and decided to sleep at the sheltered bridge. But it eventually occurred to him that the bandits might pass by and hurt him. So, he settled beneath the bridge where  a payaw ( a bamboo raft with nipa cover) was tied.  He thought it would be wise to get down there, where he could not so easily be seen. 

That night, the moon was full and casted a beam that left the brook glistening. Tanag was, nevertheless, left sleepless as mosquitoes attacked him incessantly. 

 In the wee hours, he heard heavy steps upon the floor of the bridge, and by the moonlight he could see a huge giant with a long club approaching. 

A little later another giant arrived, his steps heavier than the first. Tanag, filled with fear,  never dared move,. The silence of dawn made it easy for Tanag to hear their conversation. 

"Did you kill many people?" the first giant asked.

 "Yes, I dropped my poison on the food, and in a short time those who ate of it were struck by cholera and died. And how are you getting along yourself ?"  the second giant answered.

"At first I killed many people with my poison, but I guess they  they have found out an antidote for it,” the second giant was disappointed.

"What is that ?" 

"The root of the balingay tree" he answered. "They boiled in water and suddenly their stomach ache was gone, their loose bowel was cured, and their fever subsided! It is very powerful antidote that the poison has no use." the first giant replied. 

"That does it! These humans are very clever. But they will never know that there is a more powerful potion against our spell!" said the second giant. 

"What is it?" Asked the first. 

"The root of the alibutbut tree!" the second giant revealed. 

"That shrub with the small, white flowers?"

" Yes, that plant. They thought it's of no use, just an ornament in the backyard. But if they boil it in water and drink it, they would heal of the disease that we're spreading. And many more diseases! Luckily, no mortal know about this antidote, and so they will just keep dying while we drop poisons on the wells, and the rivers and the fields. And then one day, this entire island would be ours!"

Unknown to them, Tanag heard every thing that they muttered. As dawn neared,  the giants went to the shore, where many people were fishing with their nets. The giants flung their poison on the fish, and then disappeared from Tanag's sight. 

"No, it's the giants who were causing all these maladies and deaths!" he concluded. "I must  do something for these people. And for myself too!"

That very day, he searched the forest for the roots of the balingay and alibutbut trees. After gathering these herbals,  cooked them and bottled them.

But Tanag was clever. To convince people to drink his product, he went around announcing that he is a well-trained doctor who will protect every from the deadly disease. 

"No cholera would ever strike you if they drink this potion," he told people as he peddled his concoction.

 True enough, those afflicted by the malady who took  his medicine were cured of the disease. Many people flocked to Tanag and he earned so a lot of money that he became a wealthy man. 

What  became of the giants? With less and less men were dying from their spell, they became disappointed and retreated to the mountains, never ever stepping foot on the lowlands again.

©️ Christian George Acevedo

Art  by Cathlen Artuz

Reference: 

Visayan Folk-Tales (1906) is by Berton L. Maxfield and W. H. Millington.

Why the Sky is High (A Capiznon/Hiligaynon Folk Story)

I decided to start retelling and sharing Capiznon/Hiligaynon folktales. So here is the start. I hope you'll like it. 

There was a time when heaven and earth were so close they almost kissed cheek to cheek. In fact, man could even reach the edge of heaven by merely standing ang stretching out his arms upward.

The time came for man to plant rice. He found an expansive field and there he  sowed the grains that Bathala sent forth to him so he would never be hungry. The earth fertilized it, heaven showered rain. At times the sky would clear the clouds so that the sunbeam would awaken the seeds. Finally, life sprouted and the grains grew to become healthy rice plants. Long and slender bladed leaves finally gave way to the grains that danced with the whistle of the wind. At last the time came for man to harvest them.

"Mighty, Bathala, thank you for this blessing!" Exclaimed man. 

When the green fields turn gold and the grains grew heavy that they begin to bow, man spent the day gathering the grains.

Close to sundown, he had become tired and exhausted. His empty stomach grumbled, but he none to eat as of yet. He still had to pound  the grains!

"Goodness, heaven! You gave me  grain to eat, and yet after a day's toil, i am still deprived of the joy of harvest!" 

Angry and hungry,  furious Man poured the grains on the pestle, clasped his wooden mortar and started pounding the grains. In his rage he raised the pestle high enough that it knocked sky. Repeatedly he banged up and down that it annoyed the sky. 

She felt man's rage and in retaliation, she commanded the wind to blew forth and raise her higher and higher, higher than the clouds. 

When man was through pounding, he cooked the rice in an earthen pot over the flames. He was pleased with his fare and when he has had his fill, he felt better and decided to thank heaven for the blessing.

But to his surprise, when he raised his head to look up, the sky was no longer just above him, but was now far away in the firmament. 

"I sent rain and told the sun to awaken your grains because i want to feed you and nurture you," the sky blasted, then thunderous sound came forth with streaks of lightning.

"But what did you do? You were enraged with the bounty of earth and you blamed me! You never even remembered Bathala while you savour his blessing. So from now, I will stay here up above the clouds and closer to the sun and the moon and the stars!" 

Man wallowed in sorrow. He kneeled on earth and prayed for forgiveness, but the sky was long distant enough to hear his pleas.  While he showered the earth with rain to cultivate the earth, the sky no longer came down close enough to listen to man. When she saw from afar man's foolishness, she raged in anger and threw bolts of lighting to the ground.

And so, that is why, to this day, man could no longer reach for the sky.

Painting:

Ang Magbabayo (The Rice Pounder) by Vicente Manansala, 1979.

Cholera and the Devotion to San Roque

 At the turn of the 20th century, cholera ravaged not just the Philippines but also spread terror and death in the different parts of the world. With the advances of science and medicine barely reaching the peripheries of the archipelago, locals would cling to their own worldviews to explain how they understood things. With Roman Catholicism blending well with folklore, the locals believed that cholera was an act of God to punish the sinful and unbelieving.  Here is an excerpt of the article I wrote for Philippine Journal of Librarianship and Information Studies (volume 41, no.2, 2022).

“The people of Capiz attributed the cholera to the three  evil  spirits  which  poison  the  people  (Barza, 1927), while the Sulud people of Panay believed that cholera and other epidemics were caused by spirits called  ibabawnon (Jocano,  1966).  In  he  town  of Sibalom in Antique province, cholera was thought of as caused by black magic that engulfed the locals after a priest and his servant visited the community. Others alleged that people in the community vomited, endured loose bowel, and suddenly died after being touched by a man on the loose. Rumors also spread that powders were spread on the streets and anyone who stepped on it met their death right there and then. Fearful locals abandoned the pueblo, burned their houses, and fled to the mountains, further spreading the disease wherever they go (Worcester, 1909)

Part of obtaining remedy and salvation from the grip of cholera was believed to be the devotion to San Roque. The excerpt continues:

“As a way of alleviating fear, the residents painted the cross in front of their houses and doors, wore a wooden cross on their neck or kept one on the pocket  as  protection  when  living  their  home. The blessings of San Roque was called upon to deliver the natives  and  the  Spaniards  from  the  deathly  grip (Worcester, 1909). A novena for the saint would be read for nine days or longer starting at the 16th of every month followed by eight days’ indulgence by the cholera patient. These practices, however, met the dissatisfaction of health officials during the American period, who thought of these gatherings as disease super-spreaders (de Bevoise, 2002)”

To read the full copy: http://phjlis.org/index.php/phjlis/article/view/84/64

San Roque, Infectiologist of God

The devotion to Saint Roch (San Roque), especially in times of health outbreaks, is historically deeply rooted. Filipino folks now and then appeal to Saint Roch's intercession to spare them from harm. In the town of Cuartero, here in Capiz, during the COVID-19 lockdown, locals would have Saint Roch's image go around the town's poblacion while being conveyed by a "traysikad" with a recorded prayer amplified so that every house could listen and pray along. A century ago, locals from other Philippine towns would implore Saint Roch's intercession for protection against the cholera outbreak. 

In an article the scholarly journal Religion and Health,  researchers  Antonio Perciaccante, Alessia Coralli, Saudamini Deo and Philippe Charlier surmised that "The story of the life of Saint Roch provides useful lessons to combat the current pandemic. It is a reminder of the importance of social responsibility in difficult and trying times. It is commonly upheld that Saint Roch not only actively helped during the plague’s epidemic but taught us the importance of respecting measures aimed at counteracting an epidemic’s spread. When he discovered that he was sick, he accepted the rule of social distancing, retreating to a cave or hut to avoid contact with others. In this way, saint Roch could perhaps be given the title: 'Infectiologist of God.'" Read the full article here

Prayer to Saint Roch:

O Blessed St Roch, Patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering.

Image of St Roch

Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases.

Now that you are in heaven, your power is no less. Offer to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek:

(Share your request…)

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St Roch: Pray for us, that we may be relieved from all diseases of body and soul. (Repeat 3 times)

Lord Jesus, may thy will be done.

The Pubic Hair and the Devil (A Folk Tale from Capiz)

Tuba Drinkers by Vicente Manansala (1954)  

Here is a folk tale, which, according to anthropologist E. Arsenio Manuel, was popular among the tuba drinkers of Capiz. This was relayed to him by his brother, Lucio, who, by the time the story was told to him, had been living in Capiz for almost two decades and “has acquired a very good command of the native language.  

Here is the story:

The devil was campaigning for followers when one day he met Juan. He promised all the comforts in this world Juan could wish for, besides everlasting happiness thereafter, if he would join his recruits. But Juan doubted the devil's powers and wanted to put them to a test.

So he asked him to perform three tasks upon the accomplishment of which he promised to be his slave forever.

True to his word the devil came on the third evening to confront Juan who was supposed to pose the third and last task for him to accomplish. The devil had already solved the first two problems. Now Juan was greatly worried, for he had not yet thought of a task and the devil was already there in front of him.

At last, something flashed in Juan's mind. He plucked one of his thick pubic hairs and showed it to the devil. It was curly, sure enough, and he asked the devil to straighten it out with three conditions attached: it must be straight as a needle, it must not break, and the task must be done before sunrise the following morning.

The devil thought it was the easiest task Juan ever had given him and he was overjoyed inwardly for he believed that he would solve the problem within one minute. Confident that he could do it easily, he took the pubic hair from Juan and began toying with it. Then he stretched it with his fingers. But since he had long nails, it slipped from his fingers every time he did this. Many minutes had already passed and he could not straighten it. The minutes grew into hours until the first crowing of the cocks could be heard for miles around.

Growing desperate, the devil thought of another trick. He tried to fasten a weight to one end while holding the other: from time to time he would unfasten the weight to check the result, but the pubic hair remained curly!

Now the devil became aware of the streaks of dawn lighting up the east and the cocks' crowing becoming more incessant. He had very little time left and he was becoming nervous.

As a last recourse he produced a flat iron at a snap of his fingers and pressed the curly hair beneath it, but, stubbornly unyielding, it always curled back. So when the sun rose over the eastern mountains the devil was still hard at work straightening the thick recalcitrant hair until he flung it away saying: “To hell with that damned pubic hair!”

Source:

E. Arsenio Manuel. Philippine Oral Traditions: Theory and Practice. Philippine Quarterly of Culture & Society  8:7-27(1980).

Five Women: A Collection of Poems by Jubail Andong

Capizeña artist and teacher Jubail Andong releases her debut book, "Five Women: A Collection of Poems". Here are the details of her book: 

Five Women, a collection that spans years of Jubail Andong's creative journey, is almost an autobiographical glimpse to her multiple inner lives that have evolved over the years, those five women of wandering, wrestling, and weaving words into poems. The undoubtedly gentle energy is present as the spirit of her lines and verses, and her voice that speaks in each poem is like spoken word, albeit quiet and private in the mind of the reader. Within that intimate space of reading is a kind of presence that listens to the stories of pain, discovery, authenticity and realizations, like reading a diary of someone from the past, witnessing how feelings and insights are finally set free. This collection debut is a beautiful testament to Jubail’s journey as a woman and a courageous creative. Jubail Andong, a proud Capizena farmer, entrepreneur, is a teacher, painter, musician, poet and creative by heart.

Jubail's in-person book launching will be held on Sept. 17, 2022 at Cinematheque Center in Iloilo City. 

Grab a copy of her book via Amazon .

Capiz, “An attractive town of neat appearance”, from the notes of Reverend Walter C. Clapp

The Presidencia of the town of Capiz. Inset: photo of Walter C. Clapp

In November 1902, Walter C. Clapp, the first Episcopal priest in the Philippines went to Panay Island, where he visited Iloilo and then Capiz  to do a "prospecting tour" on behalf of the Episcopal mission. On November 25th he left Iloilo for Capiz. His short stint in Capiz was later included in a report he presented to the Episcopal mission in the United States. Here are extracts of his notes about Capiz, providing a glimpse of how the place looks like at the turn of the 20th century.

Out-of-town: Uma Cafe in Dumarao, Capiz

My out-of-town trips have been farther and lesser in between since the onset of pandemic. There is a part of me that crave for adventures to far and away places, and I hope one day sooner, I could once again hit the road less traveled.

One weekend, thus far, at @umacafe.dumarao in the town of Dumarao, about an hour away from Roxas City. Situated atop a hill that sits by the high way, the cafe offers a breathtaking scenery of surrounding mountains amidst a Balinese feel offered by the design of its architecture. A nice choice of food is available at a reasonable price. Uma Cafe is very accessible and is an ideal escape for a relaxing day off.

Here are some photos. Enjoy!

PhiloFlora Exhibition 2 opens at Istorya Forest Garden

 PhiloFlora Exhibition 2 was officially launched on June 11 at Istorya Forest Garden in the town of Panay. I love this hideaway, just 15 minutes away from Roxas City, with its lush forest, colonial-era-inspired architecture, and the laidback feel complimented by the sumptuous food on irs menu. The cool shades underneath the trees with the background of giant, exotic flora offer a refreshing feel amidst the grilling noontime heat now that early summer has come.

 In this initiative the medical artist-doctors take the essence of being a plant parent to the next level:  awareness of the medicinal properties of plants  and understanding of the balance between plants, modern medicine and the ecosystem. 

The first leg of the exhibit was held last April at Ang Panublion Museum in Roxas City. This month, the exhibit was hosted by Istorya Forest Garden in the nearby town of Panay, the exhibition installed in partnership with the museum. 

Scroll down for more pictures at the launching of the exhibit and the enchanting Istorya Forest Garden... Enjoy! 

From left to right, Ang Panublion Museum Director Cheryl Anne del Rosario,  the PhilFlora president, Roxas City Vice Mayor Inday Teresa Almalbis, and Istorya Forest Garden manager Cheska Bermejo, during the ribbon cutting.

Spiritual Fire, Divine Flicker

 Tonight we talked about the fire and how staring and focusing on the flame make you think of nothing else - problems, desires, and so on - nothing. The fire entices you to put your gaze on a still moment. Then a sense of cleansing occurs in your mind and spirit and you throw all your cares away to the fire. The fire then purges you and purifies you. When the flame dies down you emerge as a cleaner slate. 

In Hindu tradition, Mataji said, fire is the purest and cleanest of elements. Water can be contaminated. The earth can be contaminated. The air can be contaminated. The fire cannot.  You can neither charge it nor destroy it. There is only the presence and absence of fire. No wonder God uses fire to make His presence felt. He appeared to Moses on the bush in the form of fire. God led the Israelites out from Egypt in the form of pillars of fire. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven to Mary and the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The fire is a connection to the divine. A channel to prayers. Which is why we light a candle when we pray. Amidst darkness and in the direst straights, that littlest flicker  serves as our connection to our faith and to the Divine that keeps our inner flames burning. 

#fire #bonfire #thoughtoftheday #divinethoughts #spiritual #spiritualfire #divineguidance #spiritualthoughts #spiritualawakening #fierythoughts 

Mataji's gift of art and light

I have been collecting artworks lately, and perhaps, my guru Mataji just knew how to excite my spirit. Earlier today  she messaged me about gifting me a painting of a pink rose. When i came to pick it up tonight, this huge canvas featuring forest was lying on her sofa. And i immediately thought, this is it! Within a moment, she gave it to me to without second thought.  I felt  bliss. 

I have known Mataji and her family since 2017. Over meditations, Indian meals, and feeding programs, we have shared stories, laughter, and life lessons that have enlightened me. She has influenced me a lot, in many ways, from the gifting me the power of prayer and compassion, to instilling in me the miracle of kindness and love for others. How these virtues transform us to become better people. Since the turn of 2022, we have become closer than ever, our Seva work have become more frequent and I couldnt thank him and Rahul enough for the gift of wisdom that has given me clearer perspectives about our life and existence... That while prayer works we should learn to surrender everything to God. And I am learning it, learning to surrender the things I could no longer control....Surrender my desires and let the hands of God takes it course in my life. 

#painting #paint #artlover #arttherapy #artishealing

Moonlight over the sea

 Some contemplations...

I know many people are envious because I get to live in a place where the beach is just 15 minutes away from my house. But there just comes a time when I also envy others because they get to indulge on the four seasons, explore old castles, climb alpine peaks, or enjoy the bustle of big city life. True enough it is always green on the other side of the fence.

Summer  is here. It is this time of the year when sunsets mean a burst of orange and gold on the late afternoon skyline. When dusk settles and as the moon awakens, the orange and gold slowly turns to reddish vibrance until heavens beam lavender and dark and darker blue, until the stars appear from afar. What a sight! Then you wonder, who would want to leave a beautiful place like this? 

Bite-Size Book Review: The Newspaper Widow by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

 Here's a bite-size book review of The Newspaper Widow, a novel by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard. 

I fell for the works of California-based Cebuano author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard after reading her first novel, The Rainbow Goddess Wept. In that book, the author stitches Philippine folklore with World War II history as told by a young girl from Ubec (Cebu spelled backward), whose genteel life was broken and shattered by the horrors of war.

Now, in The Newspaper Widow, Manguerra takes us to the turn-of-20th century Ubec. The American colonial authorities, by now, have already established rule over the Philippine islands. The novel centers on the mysterious death of a Spanish priest and how the protagonist, Ines de Castro -  a steely, businessminded mother - took it upon herself to seek the truth and justice for her wronged son. I appreciate how Ms. Brainard integrated history and social narratives in this novel, reflecting the reality of the period which this book attempts to impress. The thick, layered plot is also an interesting point. Every character has a story to tell, I think each one merits getting featured in a novel. How she ended it with a new beginning for the love story of Melisande (Ines's French friend) and Samir (Ines's lover) is just perfect against the mind-boggling dective-story-like start. 

Interested? The Newspaper Widow is available at @lazadaph and @shopee_ph .

About Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (from the author's official website)

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard was born after World War II in Cebu, Philippines, the fourth surviving child of Mariano Flores Manguerra and Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra. Her father, a civil engineer, came from Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Her mother belonged to a political family of Cebu and was a successful business woman and realtor.

Cecilia grew up in the port city of Cebu in Central Philippines, a place that retains its Spanish-Colonial influences, inspiring Cecilia to create her mythical setting called “Ubec” which echoes the Santo Niño Church, triangular Spanish fort, and old buildings and streets of the real Cebu. Her three novels — When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, Magdalena, and The Newspaper Widow are set (even partially) in Ubec. Ubec also appears in her three short story collections — Woman in Horns and Other Stories, Acapulco at Sunset and Other Stories, and Vigan and Other Stories.

She attended St. Theresa’s College in Cebu and in Manila and she earned her BA in Communications Arts from Maryknoll College. She migrated to the United States to do graduate work in Film Making at UCLA. She later turned to writing which suits her individualistic personality better.

Remembering Jovita Fuentes

An autographed picture of Jovita Fuentes, signed December 27, 1925 in Bologna, Italy.

 
Long before Lea Salonga conquered Broadway, our very own Jovita Fuentes achieved stellar heights as a stage legend.

Jovita Fuentes was born on February 15, 1895 in what was then the town of Capiz, now Roxas City, in the province of Capiz.

Her parents were Canuto and Dolores Fuentes. The Fuentes Family belonged to town’s landed elite. As the Fuentes Family, especially Jovita’s father, Don Canuto, delighted in music, Jovita was quick to learn popular songs of the day. One day, she heard a servant girl sing a wistful song while doing household chore. The song was so sad it struck the young Jovita. The song seared itself in her memory. The song was “Ay, Kalisod,” a Capisnon folk song, the song that immediately evokes her name whenever sung or mentioned. 

Don Canuto saw his children’s potentials in music. At first, Jovita and her siblings would have piano lessons at home. When she was 8, she was sent to Santa Isabel College in Manila where, aside from learning religion and mastering the Spanish language, her musical talents were steadily honed.

In 1924, after a successful farewell concert in Manila, Jovita travelled to Milan, Italy to study voice. With the prodding of her teachers, maestros Arturo Cadore and Luigi Lucenti, she gave the European stage a try. 

On April 29, 1925, she debuted as Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madam Butterfly and she was an instant hit. It took no time before Jovita conquered the theatre circuits in different European cities. From 1925 until 1927, she crisscrossed  Europe – Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and so on. 

By 1929, she has established her reputation among royalty and the aristocracy.  Jovita enthused Queen Marie of Romania and her court, while she endeared herself to the titled nobility of Germany. 

In 1930, Jovita returned to the Philippines. She arrived in Manila on August 23. It was declared a public holiday and a rapturous welcome greeted her.  She visited Iloilo and then returned home to Capiz before touring Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan. Finally, she headed to the United States. She was the first Filipina to perform in operas and recitals in the United States. 

Jovita Fuentes returned to the Philippines before World War II erupted. Following the war, she embarked on fulfilling a role as a music missionary. By now, she taught music in Holy Ghost College, Santa Isabel, and University of the Philippines. Her students would all agree that while she was strict and terrifying, they knew that she wanted them to understand that singing demands hard work, daily practice, and concentration. 

By now it was clear for Jovita that the cultural development of a nation is a responsibility of its government. And so she took it her mission to involve the government intimately and intensively in art. Using her connections, she lobbied among lawmakers to pass a law that would create a foundation to promote music.  At last, her hard work paid off. On May 12, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed Republic Act 1370. The law establishes the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines and Jovita was appointed the chairman of the board.  Under Jovita’s stewardship, the organization subsidizes radio series, music competitions, individual performers, and cultural groups. The foundation’s support was a lifeline for Philippine arts back then, and encouraged even more activities among music organizations. 

At the twilight of her life, a grateful nation honoured Jovita Fuentes with the highest award bestowed to any cultural icon. On March 27, 1976, Jovita Fuentes was hailed as the National Artist for Music. She died on August 7, 1978, an esteemed icon in Philippine cultural scene.  

In celebration of Jovita Fuentes' birthday and the honor she earned for the province, the provincial government of Capiz proclaimed February 15 as Jovita Fuentes Cultural Day. Also, a street in Roxas City was named in her honor. 

Related reading:

Jovita Fuentes: Teargas incident and career turning point

Same old things, brand new perspective

A January 2020 post on Facebook, but still rings true until now...

Someone envies another because he lives where there are autumn leaves and snow. Another envies someone else because she basks on sunshine and eternal summer. Yes, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but for one left with no choice but to stay put, happiness means looking at the same old things with brand new perspectives.

[In photo, Roxas City Bridge, taken in January 2020. Capiz was then recovering from typhoon Ursula]