Day: June 8, 2016
Cats, Cats, Cats Everywhere in Gotokuji Temple
Legend has it that a lord was saved from a horrendous thunderstorm by a cat who beckoned him to enter the temple.
It is now known as maneki neko or beckoning cats, believes to bring good luck, and are placed in front of restaurants and stores.
Gotokuji is said to be its place of origin.
There’s so many of them!
It’s interesting that they stay there in the vicinity of the temple.
I must tell you though, have an extra travel destination if you do plan to come here because the manike neko and the Gotojuki temple and its garden are the only place of interest in the area.
Don’t they look like protesters, or worshippers with their hands all raised?
Last Call …
after the rain
Ms. Bernardita S. Paclibar and Ms. Nenita P. Bernardo…my beloved cousins, my strict teachers
Ms. Bernardita S. Paclibar and Ms. Nenita P. Bernardo
…my beloved cousins, my strict teachers
By Apolinario Villalobos
Looking back to the days when I was young, I fondly recall my cousins who have been part of my growing up. One was “Ms. Paclibar”, a cousin who was also my teacher in Grade Three, and who was known for her strictness. She was fair, as inside the classroom, I was treated as just one of her pupils. I also experienced spanking and ear-pinching. But every time I visited my “lola” Sayong, their mother, she would offer me fruits from their yard, especially, ripe guavas. If none has been picked on that day, she would tell her younger sister, Heidi (but I fondly called “Lily) to pick some for me.
She chose to stay single till the day she died, as were most of the teachers of the past years. It was a most appropriate decision because when their parents were ageing, she contributed a lot in caring for them. When I was in college, I recalled her hair to have changed color from brownish black into cloudy white, but fitted her mestiza features. That was also the time that she began calling me by my nickname, while I called her “nang Deting”, as when I was in elementary she would call me in school by my family name. I failed to attend her wake and funeral as I was out of the country when the news of her demise reached me.
In college, a cousin was also one of my teachers, “Ms. Bernardo”. She handled our science subjects. A University of the Philippines graduate (BS Pharmacy), she was supposed to be a pharmacist by profession. But after a short stint in such field, she chose to stay put in our town and teach in the only Catholic school, the Notre Dame. Practically, she was among the pioneers of the school together with the Canzanas, Jamorabons, Romeros, Josefina Lechonsito, and, Mr. Nicolo who later became principal of the Tacurong Pilot School.
As a science teacher she was in-charge of the school “laboratory” with its donated few microscopes, few boxes of thin crystal slides, preserved insect specimen in jars of formalin, and science reference books. It was in that sparsely –furnished room where I saw my first amoeba and other flagellates, cross section of leaves and stems, and microbes in a drop of water from a canal. What took root in my memory was her admonishment of the whole class for the failure of one or two classmates , with a clear reminder that no one can help us but ourselves in order to have passing grades. Being a perfectionist, she expected all of us to pass, and eventually, graduate. We shared the same idea that the school and books can help but intellect is innate in all of us, hence, we become what we are by our own doing…which made me proud of her and our parochial school with its sparsely furnished library.
She exuded sophistication in her tailored dresses, mostly cotton, as she gracefully walked her way from their house to the school and her being slender helped a lot in radiating such image. Her seemingly eternally coiffed hair also added to her classiness.
Their father was our clan’s “Tata” who contributed a lot in making our town what it is today, a flourishing city, as he was a long-termer Vice-Mayor. When he finally succumbed to complications which forced him to stay home, my cousin and teacher whom we fondly call “nene Nita” stayed by his side, until a full-time caregiver was hired.
Today, at an advanced age of almost eighty, “nene Nita” lives at their ancestral house with her youngest sister, Judith, while the younger brother, Nonito, lives not far from them.
Both the Paclibars and Bernardos are among the pioneer families of Tacurong City. But, to my two strict teachers…and beloved cousins, my recognition is more than their being members of the prominent pioneer families of our place. They are among those to whom I owe much of what I am today.
Ang Salamin…
ANG SALAMIN…
Ni Apolinario Villalobos
HINDI NATIN NAKIKITA ANG ATING SARILI KAYA KAILANGAN NATIN ANG SALAMIN NA MAGPAPAKITA SA ATIN NG MGA DUMI NATIN SA MUKHA. ANG SALAMIN NA ITO AY ANG ATING KAPALIGIRAN KUNG SAAN AY MARAMI TAYONG MAKIKITANG MGA PANGYAYARI, MABUTI AT MASAMA NA MAAARI NATING NAGAWA. SALAMIN DIN ANG IBANG TAO NA NAGSASABI SA ATIN NG DIRETSAHAN O NAGPAPAHIWATIG SA PAMAMAGITAN NG KANILANG KILOS AT MGA PINO-POST SA FACEBOOK AT IBA PANG SOCIAL MEDIA KUNG ANO ANG ATING MGA PAGKAKAMALING DAPAT BAGUHIN.
KAYA, HUWAG MAGALIT KUNG TAYO AY NATUMBOK….SA HALIP AY MAGPASALAMAT PA NGA DAHIL SINABIHAN NILA TAYONG “MAY DUMI TAYO SA MUKHA”.
MAY PROBLEMA ANG IBA NA ANG TINGIN NILA SA SARILI NILA AY PERPEKTO KAYA HINDI SILA MAAARING MAGKAMALI. DAHIL DIYAN, FEELING NILA HINDI SILA DAPAT “PAGSABIHAN” NG DIRETSAHAN O SA PAMAMAGITAN NG MGA PAHIWATIG….SILA ANG MGA TAONG MAY MATAAS NA PRIDE!
MAS NAKAKABILIB ANG TAONG UMAAMIN NG MGA NAGAWA NIYANG PAGKAKAMALI AT KUNG ANO ANG KANYANG MGA KAHINAAN AT HINDI KAYANG GAWIN KAYA MAPAGPAKUMBABA NIYANG PINAPAUBAYA NIYA ITO SA IBA…PAGPAPAKITA NA HINDI SIYA SUWAPANG.
ANG GANITONG PAALALA NA PALAGING BINABANGGIT SA MGA SEMINAR AT NG MGA MATATANDA AY PALAGING NAKAKALIMUTAN NG MARAMI…KAYA PALAGING MAY PROBLEMA ANG ATING BANSA.
SA PUNTONG YAN DAPAT SUMENTRO ANG PAGBABAGO NG MGA PILIPINO PARA SA IKABUBUTI NG ATING BANSA!
The Umami Burger
If you have not heard of Elbert’s Steak Room then you are missing one half of your life. Elbert’s is one of the best steak places in the metro. If you are hankering from some great USDA (US Dry Aged) steaks, this is the place to go.
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Tagus Estuary & Fuente de Piedra~
Portugal and Spain have extensive wildlife reserves,
sheltering flamingos, black headed gulls and many other birds!
Tagus Estuary is the largest reserve in Western Europe,
and one of thirty natural protected areas in Portugal.
Fuente de Piedra Natural Reserve in Malaga Spain is known for it’s flamingos.
To mark the last day of our trip, we escaped the bustle of Lisbon,
and spent the day exploring,
enjoying the blooming flowers,
and belly dancing in little town of Alochete Portugal!
We are home at The Holler now, but it is still, cheers to you from Portugal & Spain~
Vegetarian Dining in Malaysia – A Photoblog
Flashback Travels: Bangkok
Coron: Calauit Safari Park
I’ve heard so much about the astonishing beaches in Coron but I never thought this place also has a piece of Africa- Calauit Safari Park!. This view adds up to my excitement.
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penpowersong 