Luis was a four-year-old boy in our neighborhood. He was cute and bubbly. My daughters, and his other playmates, fondly called him Ish.
But this post is not about him but about my farmhand Ramil and his classmate I called Luis.
Ramil came to me when he was sixteen years old and a second year high school student. He was reserved, dependable, and very industrious. His family lived in the mountains of Janiuay, Iloilo. I told his father that I would send Ramil to school in exchange for his help in the farm. He was a good helper. But as a student? Daw indi gid pang-Ten Outstanding Students of Iloilo (an award by the Outstanding Students Circle of Iloilo and DepEd - Bohringer).
One day I brought him a dictionary because Ramil had a school assignment. He started doing his assignment at 7:00pm after supper. At 9:00pm when we were about to sleep, he was still not finished. So I asked his older brother to help him. Then his brother started laughing. He laughed so loud that the neighbors woke up and switched on their lights. They thought a drunk strayed to our compound.
Ramil's assignment was to look for the meaning of the word ‘wife’ (wahyf). Ramil couldn't find the meaning even after 2 hours because he was looking for ‘wife’ under the letter 'Y' (wahy). So his brother laughed uncontrollably. I stifled my laugh so as not to embarrass Ramil. But while alone on my bed, I was laughing and laughing. In the morning I had bloated eyebags as I hardly slept the night before because even in my dreams I was laughing.
Ramil used brand names as generic representations. I asked him to buy Colgate and he replied 'Ano nga colgate? Close Up?'. Powder laundry soap was called Tide. When asked to buy softdrinks, he would asked 'Ano cooks? Ano nga cooks? Peepsi ukon sebeem ap? Ti pira ka kish?' Sometimes I corrected him, 'Ramil, ang tawag case, indi kish.' Astig gid.
When Ramil had activities in school, he brought to the farm some of his classmates who lived in far barangays. They slept in the farm because they would have a hard time going home. I welcomed the arrangement to help the students. Later, they were frequent fixtures in the farm and I already knew most of them. One of them was called Ish by Ramil.
One day, Ish was not with the group that accompanied Ramil. So I asked Ramil about Ish. ‘Where’s Luis?’. He asked back, ‘Sin-o si Luis?’. Then I told him that I meant Ish, and that I thought his name was Luis. He understood. He said Ish or Luis was sick that day. From that time on, I referred to Ish as Luis. And everybody, including Ish, understood.
After three years, Ramil graduated from high school. On graduation day, Ramil’s father and siblings came to the farm and prepared some food. Ramil’s classmates came for lunch. I asked them about their college plans. They answered with trepidation. I understood, as many of their parents were really hard up. Nevertheless, they were all very happy. As I was about to leave, Ish approached me. He asked me why I liked to call him Luis. I told him I thought his name was Luis. Then I told him the story of Luis, the cute boy who was the playmate of my kids. ‘Everybody called him Ish’ I added. Ish nodded. ‘But isn’t your name Luis because Ramil and others call you Ish?’, I asked.
He shook his head. According to him his name was not Luis. In front of everybody, he said that his real name was Ace.@
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The classmate called Ish
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ang Dapog
Kamo nga mga taga-abroad, kadumdom pa kamo kang tawag nga dapog?
Amo diya ang dapog sa akon uma. Ti, na-gets ninyo? For those who have totally lost their memories of the places they came from, let me explain.
Dapog is the Kinaray-a term for stove; or the place where cooking is done. It is like a table topped with soil, and on top stands a sig-ang, sometimes clay but usually welded iron. On the sig-ang is placed the caldero, kettle, or pans. Under the sig-ang is placed firewood or charcoal lit with fire.
With the current use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or electricity, dapogs are no longer vital parts of the Filipino home. Besides dapog is messy with soot, smoke stains, cinders and ashes.
But my late Owaw would never eat rice cooked with the use of LPG. She would request that her rice be cooked on the dapog using firewood or charcoal. She said the taste was different. It was better with the use of firewood and on the dapog.
I tried hard to determine the taste difference in rice cooked with the use of firewood and the one with the use of LPG. After years of knowingly and unknowingly doing the test, I still cannot discern the difference.
But, anyway I just want you to relive the days we still had dapogs in our homes. Of course, dapogs still exist in houses in the Philippines.
Ti diyan sa abroad, may dapog man kamo? Waay gid haay!@
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Mimosa Pudica or huya-huya
Huya-huya, known in science as Mimosa Pudica, is a creeping weed considered as a pest. It grows uncontrollaby everywhere in the farm, blocking paths because its thorns can cause cuts and allergies on the skin.
Lately, I saw in amazon.com and other websites that the plant is being sold from US$ 2.00 to US$ 20.00 depending on the location where the plant is to be delivered. It is considered decorative and is recommended for home use. It is especially attractive because of its sensitive leaves which fold up when touched. Its flower is also tauted as marvelous, and ranges in color from pale pink to fuschia.
Huya-huya grows profusely over my perimeter cyclone-wire fences, and wherever that is untouched by my caretaker.
With my latest discovery over the internet about this plant, I am reconsidering my predator attitude towards it. This plant could be my way to filthy richness. Think of the hundreds or thousands of these thorny weeds, which need no maintenance and extra TLC and grows endlessly even if you uproot or burn it, all over my property. If I get US$ 1.00 for each specimen, think how rich I will be. I will have a house bigger than my neighbors who are either seamen, working in the Middle East, or married to a foreigner. I am delirious by just thinking of the possibilities.
So, while before I seethed and grumbled as I uprooted each huya-huya I saw on my way, now I look at where I pass, careful not to step on any huya-huya. Sayang. And as I reach the property of my neighbors, I unleash my ire and uproot whatever huya-huya I can reach in their properties. Kay basi makita man nanda ang nabasa ko sa internet. Basi madugangan pa anda manggad. They may laugh now as they think I am helping them clear their lots. But when I get to ship to the US my expensive huya-huya, I will have the last laugh.@
Friday, June 20, 2008
ISAW and DUGO
Is there isaw or dugo abroad?
Isaw is barbequed marinated chicken intentines. Please don't squirm yet. Dugo is barbequed hardened chicken blood. Don't yuck-yuck there! In fact I only discovered lately that it is blood. I disregarded it before because I thought it was pork liver (see above photo), and therefore more expensive. The raw material may not come from the malls, but they sure attract a lot of avid foodies inside our subdivision. Students buy and nibble some on their way home. While many office workers who come home late buy a few as their viand for the evening.
The isaw stand comes to life late afternoon when students are just coming home from school and when the grown-ups are about to grab some ice-cold beer, or for the financially-challenged, to utang a lapad from the nearby sari-sari store. Indeed, the stand is supposed to sprout where a beerhouse thrives. Sarap daw talagang pulutan. At 2 pesos a stick, how can you complain?
My kids love isaw. While many tambay-types are crazy about dugo.
When you buy, you select which sticks you wanted, and the vendor will grill them for you. Once your orders are ready, you inform the vendor which sauce you prefer - the sweet one or the hot one. The vendor will then brush the desired sauce over the steaming hot and mouth-watering chicken whatever. You then have an option to eat your isaw/dugo straight from the stick, or you insert it in between slices of bread to have a tasty sandwich.
Now ask: Is there any part of the chicken which is not sold or eaten?
Ti may isaw man kag dugo barbeque sa abroad? Waay gid haay. @
