November 2008 #9

Tapos na ba ang karanghan online at print, pero buhay naman si Mr. Borlagdan sa
kanyang spiritual life. Pang-siyam na ito ng Haraya, kung ito na ang huling hin-
inga, makalilimutan ba ang pahayagang imahinasyon?

Nakatatawa na ilang beses naisulat sa tudling na ito na baka ito na ang huling
isyu, pero tignan mo at may nababasa ka pa. Walang sementeryo para sa pag-ibig
sa pagsusulat, paglalahad, paglilimbag ng libag at kariktan ng mga kaganapan at
mga sentimyento ng mga artista ng ating henerasyon sa Albay nating mahal.

Abalang mga palad ng ABKAT, Oktubre hanggang Pebrero ng susunod na taon.

Nasuyo na rin sa wakes ang matamis na pirma ni Mayor Luisto-Lagman upang
maibigay sa An Banwa ang may 162,000 pesotas para sa mga proyekto nito.

Ang Haribol Jam, na co-sponsor ang Chaitanya Mission. Ang pagpapalabas ng

Neon sa Tabaco Mall parking lot at ang rakenrol sa simula at katapusan nito, ang
theatre arts workshop ni Ginoong R. Madrilejos na gaganapin tuwing Linggo ng
Nobyembre sa Pawa, Tabaco City. Ang mga patimpalak UNMDG sa pagpinta,
pagsulat ng sanaysay at maikling kuwento sa kategoryang Ingles at Filipino, at
ang Christmas play ni G. R. Madrilejos.

Sa isyung ito, mababasa ang matagal ng hinihintay na Molotov article ni Ahmad,

pero tamang tama naman dahil katatapos lang ng launching ng much anticipated
na musical original composition album. Ang bagong tudling ni Mr. Borlagdan na
“Mind works of the Most Fallen,” kapalit ng kanyang makasaysayang, Notes
from the Tabaco Underground. Ang Taon nin mga Ayam ni Johnny Escandor ng
Phillipine Daily Inquirer na nanalong unang premyo sa kategoryang Osipon sa ika
-5 Premio Tomas Arejola. Narito rin ang ang mga larawan ng ABKAT sa na-
karaang aktibidad nito sa Chateau Noveau. Ang Rock da Cope na may isang hu-
mahagunot na pag-iling dahil ‘di namin ito na-docu. At marami pang iba.

May mga pagbabago ring nangyari sa board ng Abkat dahil pinalitan na ni Jaque-
line “Jak” B. Guarin si Mercy Balantinsayo bilang tagapagingat-yaman. Musikero
si Jak at may abilidad ng isang sekretarya. Umaasa ang grupo ng marami pang
masaganang pagbubuntis ng mga ideya sa pag-upo ni Jak.

Nanganak ang asawa ng kasalukuyang presidente ng grupo na si Frederick Mau-

rice S. Lim. May dumating bang pangamba? Pwede kayang umalis na o lumamig
ang dugo nito sa grupo dahil siya’y ama na? Kung sakali man, naniniwala ang
lahat na magpapatuloy ang tatlong taon na tradisyon at pag-aalay ng grupo na
makapagbigay ng kagandahan sa mga tao ‘di tulad ng konotasyon ng mga tiga
lokal na turismo na ang kagandahan at ang libangin ang mga tao ng mga enter-
tainment at variety shows ang tunay na makapagbibigay ng ligaya sa mga ito.

“Ang naitanim na kagandahan ay ‘di mamamatay pagkat maski maikling pana-

hon, nakapiling nito ang lupain ng isip na diniligan ng pagmamahal ng puso.
Hindi maglalaon ay may sisibol na mga bagong binhi na magiging ilog papunta sa
isang sibilisasyon na kung saan marami tayong matutuklasan.

Magkita-kita pa tayo sa dako ruon ng alam na natin at sa mga bagay na aalamin

Frederick Maurice S. Lim
pa ng ating mapangahas na mga pandama. Nawa’y patnubayan lang tayo ng nasa
Itaas para maingatan ang ating sarili sa mga naglipanang ahas sa loob ng bakuran
ng ating isip”.
 3
Lover of Kardo: Kardo?

Kardo: Hoy, Kaloy, watch your mouth, ha. When did you start answering like
that?

Lover: I’ve been getting that answer since, last week, Kardo. (moves closer to
Kardo)

Kardo slaps Kaloy.

Kardo: Is that true?

No answer from Kaloy. Another slap from Kardo.

Kaloy: Aray ko, Tiyo.

Kardo: Is that true?

Excerpt from “The Dreams in the Dream” Kaloy: Iyo tabi. Iyo tabi.

Kardo crosses at Kaloy’s back and stops on his left.

Man and woman wear masks. They are in the dream of Kaloy. They are love
making. They are about to reach the climax when Kaloy opens his eyes and Kardo: You ungrateful bastard. Don’t talk to her like that!
rushes to the dream area of the stage – to his night dream. He hauls the man
away from the woman. The man falls on the reality area of the stage. The Kaloy: But she’s not my aunt.
woman is surprised.
Kardo: What?!
Woman: What are you doing?
Kaloy: She’s not my aunt!
Kaloy: I’m taking over.
Kardo: And you’re not even my son, you bastard.
Man: What the hell is wrong with you? Are you crazy? This is only a dream. A
dream while you are not sleeping. You’re out of your league. Go back… there! Kaloy: You’re my family. You’re the brother of my father.
(Gesturing the reality part of the stage.)
Lover: Your ungrateful father. (comes closer to them)
Kaloy: But, but, I’m taking over. I want to –
Kardo: Your father left you without hesitation. He left you because he doesn’t
Man: White is white. Black is black. The roses are sometimes red, sometimes believe you’re his.
white but lintian na dunong mo you can’t be in two places at one time. This is
your dream. There… is where you belong – the reality. Lover: Kardo?
(From offstage) Kardo: Don’t worry. (to the Lover) …Your mother is a parapakayo before he
Kardo: Kaloy! was –
(From offstage) Lover: Kardo?
Lover of Kardo: Kaloy!
Kardo: I know what I’m doing. Before he was married to your father. That’s
Woman: See what happens? right. You heard me… You want to know the truth about your past, right?
You’ve been wanting to know about your past – about your mother and father,
Man: See what happens! about what happened to them. Well, I’ll tell you… Your mother is a slut, a puta
before he was married to your father like your not so respected aunt Corazon
Kardo: Kaloy, get back here! here. Your father was a good teacher, a good man, had a one-month leave of
absence for a research in his college. When he came back, your mother was
Lover of Kardo: You lazy bastard! pregnant already, you were inside her already. But your father didn’t believe.
The good turned to bad then to ugly even worst. Your father became a drunk-
Woman: See what happens? ard. He drunk and drunk and drunk every night burning and flooding his lungs
out. What was worst was… him beating your mother to death without a miss
Man: See what happens! everyday. Until your mother disappeared, vanished like bubbles in a livid ty-
phoon. When you were four years old, your father willingly before killing him-
Kardo: Dai ka pa baya nakakaukod?! self with a tabak had left you to Lola (Suddenly, there is horror in Kaloy’s
face.)… Until you stow away to her and you plead, and plead to me to keep
Lover of Kardo: Lintian na dunong mo, noy! you, to safeguard you, make you as if you’re my son, you ungrateful bastard.
You said, “You’ll do everything.” You said, “You’ll work your ass of!” Well,
All to Kaloy: Stop day dreaming at night! this is work! I had given you a padyak for you to work your ass of. And what do
The man and the woman forcefully throw Kaloy downstage to the reality area you do? You day dream at night and you reply to your aunt Corazon like that.
with his Tiyo. Off lights on the dream area. Then, the man and the woman exit. Boy, give her, the respect, you are giving me!

Kardo: (making him stand by pinching his left ear) Magkayod ka! Kaloy: How about my real aunt, Aunt Zenaida?
Kaloy: Aray! Kardo: She’s dead.
Lover of Kardo: (pinching his belly) Work! Kaloy: She’s not dead. You just want her to be dead. But she’s not dead.
Kaloy: Aray ko man! (moves away) … You’ve no right (to himself but is heard Kardo: Do you see her, smell her, touch her in our house? … Then, she’s dead!
by the Lover) … Kabit ka man sana.
4
pagmati an paghimate. Sa paghiro kan daga o paglaen kan huyop kan
paros na minaagi sainda. Dai ka maaano kan dai mo aram. Kun siring,
para sain an mga huni? Tibaad iyan an paagi ninda ki pagtaram na “sige
sana, mantang dai pa.”

The Miracle of Krishna

Krsna’s Picture Book

AN MGA RIGNOS SA MOLINUHAN

May mga rignos na nagsisimot kan mga nawalat na pasi sa

palitadang pigbabaladan. Sa mga kahoy sa palibot, an huni kan saindang
mga pag-iriba nagpapataan.
Pataan para sa arog sakong nagmamaan, o para sa mga para-
balad na yaon pa sa baladan, gaba an lawas sa marang hinang, sa tanglay
kan gabat na pigdadara. Pataan na marot madakop sinda o magadan.
May rawraw sa apat na gomang buminalyo sa tahaw kan pali-
tada, garo hukol sindang durungan minaralataw. An pagpilik-pilik kan
saindang mga pakpak garo talibong kan labad-labad; garo paliwanag kan
paglayog an silag na bulaw na balukag sa tama kan sildang.
Dangan saro-saro sindang minabalik hali sa tinaguan nindang
tugdunan. Garo warang nangyari. Astang pano na naman an baladan ki
mga urumol-umol na balukag, nagkukurukiriki hali sa sarong pasi pasir-
ing sa saro.
Dangog ko sa iba, an isog daa nindang ini sa hampang kan
kagadanan ay mala sa saindang kabungugan. Garo pig-aagi ninda sa
 5
This column or this piece of shit is about a warning to my
friends to please help me stay clean. I respect you and I
tabak at don’t demand respect. I just want to tell you that I am weak
rosas... and at times I desire of getting a drink. Let’s just talk about
ourselves sometimes.

Frederick Maurice S. Lim
We are not losers if we learn from all those scars from the
shadows of yesterday. Yes, I get a timely dose of artificial
high, but what important is the desire to change like the
desire to speak up that arts and culture is about teaching if
not telling people how to get a better life.

It is not about being straight edge again. I don’t want to

And don’t just listen to anyone. Sincerity is the only safe
lose my friends because I’m pissed at smoke and beer. It is
door for you to know the truth. Me, I know the truth, we
also not about that I fear death. I don’t want to lose control
could talk about it without Red Horse or Solera. But I’m
anymore, a wrong decision because my head is clouded by
still in the process of achieving that truth. Life is an eternal
that artificial high that could cut me badly. I also don’t
battle to the real enemy and that real enemy is the devastat-
want to break more promises to my fiancée like I did in
ing lust in our heart, that devastating claws and paw of
Sugba bar and grill one Saturday night when a friend asked
envy and greed that gradually eats us.
me to drink… and I grab that damn bottle.
To all my friends and to the people who knew me, man
Almost of my friends get drunk often, sometimes they
we’re gonna make it someday. We’ll gonna have a good
could be tagged as drunkards. But I love them, like I love
laugh.
my cultural and arts group. Yeah, sometimes I got out of
place because I’m not drinking and I can’t immerse myself
in the discourse on the table, so I become a shrinking
flower. An Banwa: Kultura buda Artes kan Tabaco, Inc.

I don’t know but I get this epiphany again. Me and my RESOLUTION NO. OO2
friends could talk aesthetics and philosophy without me
getting high. Right now, in case you don’t know, I’m a Series of 2008
father now. It is a catapult of change. Like, me wanting to
read scriptures again. Praying to God that I always remem- APPOINTING of JACQUILINE B. GUARIN to be the
ber praying to God. TREASURER OF An Banwa: Kultura buda Arte kan Ta-
baco, Inc. in REPLACEMENT of MERCY BALATINSAYO
I want to get clean. No smoke, no drinks, no drugs and…
nah, forget the last one. Anyway getting clean is not just Whereas, ABKAT, Inc. represented by Frederick Maurice Lim as
clean living, not being a vegetarian. Being clean is being the president has decided to appoint JACQUILINE B. GUARIN
clean in greed, envy, gluttony, and feeling great and want- to be the treasurer of the said cultural organization.
ing to be great. Whereas, the former treasurer, Mercy Balatinsayo has resigned
her post to focus more on her studies because she needs ample
Man, time is passing by so slowly, like it’s already the time for her on – the- job training as a graduating student.
ninth issue of Haraya and I am the current president of our Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the organization shall appoint
cultural group. But I feel no different. It is hard to make JACQUILINE B. GUARIN to be the new treasurer of the or-
this world a better place, and it is much harder to gain ganization.
peace if I myself is not peaceful.
6
Noel B. Dorente
Sa lambang aldaw, banggi, buda kasiributan na nagsanli. An ka-
pagalan na nasasapar dara kang paghanapbuhay an dai na naglili-
wat ki pagbado. Dai man nanggad, ta an kapagalan pano huba
'an na plos. Sarong kataga na abstract noun o mga noun na dai
nahihiling. Katumang baga kang concrete nouns. Kun an kapa-
galan igwang gubing, dangan dai ki luwasan an satong hinang.
Ta an pagbulos kang hinang kang tawo ladawan kang pagbulos
kang pagkamoot. Ngaya ito pagpadaba na dai ki pighahalat na
balos, pagpadaba na dara kang pagtinurugang-tugang,
o kaya naman pagpadaba sa mga bagay na dai ki buhay kudi pano
nin pagpamati nin buhay; dangan an kapagalan apisar kang may
salak na sakripisyo iyo an pagkamoot na ginibong mapulot
sa alinawnawan.
Kapagalan. Dakol an habong mapagal. No-habo an lawas kang
saro, an salud kang saiyang kalag an inot na naghabo; igwang
hilang sa pagkamoot.
Igwa ki pig-aatangan an lambang kapagalan. Kudi ito nugad
minaluya dahil ito sa dai na kita nag-uugma. Siring kang pag-
tugtog ki gitara. Kudi namamati ta sana an mahaya-
hay na tanog kaini kun dugangan ta pa an satong kapagalan
buda makakanigo kuta nang barangaon an lawas ta sa sampulo
nganing mas dakol an talingang magsu-supsop kang sarong kab-
tang kang kagayunan kang buhay pasisiring sa satong
puso. Viva Musica! Isipon tang an gitara baga, anom an
kwerdas ka'an, kudi kulang-kulang duwang-pulo an frets, ngaya
anom na kag-pito (seventeen) labi na baga an na sanggatos na
nota. An paghimati sa musika bulong sa satong kapagalan. Sag-
kod kang nasasapar tang kaurisawan. Dai ki salak na gawing sa-
distahon an katukduan ta sa artikulong ini ngonyan. Kudi kun
nata minapaanod kita sa masulog na bulos kang tingog kaini,
dahil ito sa saro ka man na may pigdadarang komposisyon sa
saimong puso, kudi dai mo sana ikinaluwas tabaad dai ka sana ki
panahon diskubrehon ini. No-an saro bako maugay an boot sa
pagsurat, makakanigong dai kita mawara sa dalan na pasisiring sa
kamurawayan kang musika. Kudi dai na kita nahirasan kang ori-
Kudi dahil man diyan, minsan kita magbakli. An panugad-nugad
hinal na musikang Bikolnon. Dai nang gira kaini. Sabihon ta
na pagpatronisar ta kang sadiring tang tanog sa musika; mag-
pang igwa pang mga katutubo o mga indigenous people
bubulong kang kapagalan buda magtatanyog sa satong mga puso
sa ibang probinsiya buda sabihon pang posibleng haros pariyo
sagkod pa man.
man sana an tanog kaini; kuta na, may nagkatarada pa lamang
kuta kang sadiri tang grupong etniko digdi sa Kabikolan; kuta
nahiling ta pa sinda. Kudi an kabudyahan iyo sarong lalaw na
bagay. Dawa napara na an tipyatang sidyating kang suanoy na
Bikolnon, por dahil ta aktibo an musikang-Bikolnon sa ngonyan,
masasalming buda masasaling ta no-sisay kitang mga Bikolano
pag-abot sa musika.
An totoo, masakit mangaranan ini. Kudi siring sa nagkakapirang
grupong etniko digdi sa Pilipinas, na may instrumento arog baga
kang tambol buda an kubing. Kun hihimation ta an kom-
posisyon kang mga banda sa ngonyan, haros masasalming ta ki
diit an sa tambol buda kubing an binadol-badol sa drum buda an
sound effects na garo nagtawaltawal na balâ (bamboo) sa mga
banda sa ngonyan.
Halimbawa ngaya sa Syudad kang Tabaco, dakol ngonyan an
impluwesyado kang pig-aapod na reggae music, no-sa-siring an
badol baga ka'an luhay-luhay na pa-oro-otro sa kapinunan
sagkod na matapos. Arog man ka'an an ibang tribo digdi sa sa-
tong nasyon. Nangangahulugan na arog man ka'an an ipigpapa-
rumdom sato kang suanoy na budhaya (ancient civilization). Sa
magtubod kamo sa-dai, dai kita dyan makakabutas dawa umabot
an panahon na igwa na naman ki bagong istilo, mabuwilta buda
mabuwilta kita sa tanog na pigtu-tugtog kang mga Bikolano
kang inot na panahon. Dawa pag-abot sa sound effects, nugad
makakadangog kita ki siring baga kang 'sa namok pag naghi-
higda na kita an pagkabanggi. An tanog na'an harani sa tanog
kang kubing na nadangog ta minsan sa mga kansyon kang ban-
dang Asin (Saro Bañares+, Nonoy Pillora+, Pendong Aban, buda
Lolita Carbon). Kun siring may sa-namok palan o sa-balâ an sa-
tong musika. Bakong maka-ulok ini. ta dai ipigpipirit an musika.
Pighahalat ining magdangadang sa ibong kang dayaday na pagti-
wala sa sadiri. Kun dai ta uyon an satong komposisyon, dangan
magibo buda magibo kita ki paagi nganing gumayon ini. Dai kita
makakalansi gamit an musika; sa pagkanta o sa pagtugtog.
Kaipuhan maray an pakagibo, buda maray an pakagibo ka-iyan
kun tunay na gikan sa boot. Masakit malingawan an mahayahay
na awit. Kudi dulong masakit mapara sa isip kang mga tawo
an pagtao mo ki kasusopgan an saimong sadiri. An gira sa gu-
ramoy gikan sa dulos kaito, gira nanagpapadagos dara kang
kwerdas sa ngonyan. An tambol buda kubing na harani sa tanog
ngonyan, inot na paagi nin pagrokyaw kaitong panahon. Dakula
an impluwensiya kang satong kaugalian sa pag-awit buda sa pag-
patanog nin instrumento. Kadaklan sato bakong hilig an mga
masigkaton na tugtog buda mga tanog na dai kayang iprodyusir
kang mga simpleng instrumento. Kumbaga, dawa sa mga jovenes
ta ngonyan, bako ninda hilig an 'techno' na mas uyon sa pagdan-
gog duman sa Europa. Dulong kadakol an habo kang pig-aapod
na 'heavy metal'. Kudi makangalas na bakong pyerde an mga
album kang mga banyaga digdi sato. Bantog man giraray sinda
digdi sa ibong kang makangiya-ngiyang produksyon kang mga
plakang pinirata. Kunsabagay, an minsan na pagpahunod ta
sainda iyo an paghali kang babloy. Ta mauuyam kita no-pirmi na
sanang su sato an madadangog ta.

Between Love and Respect; which would
you choose? I choose the former. The po-
lemics of these words is more than philol-
ogy and exact meaning of its semantics,
more often it is how we view such values.
I don't consider them as mere concepts for
it was the first mistake of the philosophers
to make such and the like as 'ideas'. I re-
spect Plato but I do not Love him. In the
book of Machiavelli it was said that a ruler
is better off respected and feared than
loved by his subjects. To a General or to
any leader who is oriented and geared to-
wards honor and victory; respect is essen-
tial. Sun Tzu's Art of War makes respect
as a psychological component that pro-
vides good morale to the soldiers and
brings apprehension to the enemy, if it
may not stir fear to his soldiers. Respect is
a powerful word. It polishes dignity. It
asserts self worth. It draws the line of
'when' and 'when not to.' It is the invisible
sign 'keep off the grass' on someone else's
lawn. It does not bend nor deign to any-
thing less that will jeopardize one's reputa-
tion and sometimes character. But most of
all, it must be earned and this is where I
choose Love over Respect. That's the truth
about respect. Love on the other hand, is
best given than earned. It entails sacrifice.
Unlike respect which requires fortitude,
Love can be experienced when one learns
how to be weak. It is an open door (--
according to John Denver) not a sign 'no
trespassing, trespassers’ will be shot'. It
asserts self-worth not by itself but by shar-
ing it to others. It has nothing to do with
reputation but more with character. Love
must precede anything in a relationship. I
remember my Dad telling Darryn, the hus-
band of my sister Den, that he's not asking
him to love Den but at least respect her.
Very nice, I said. It makes sense. At least
rationally. One will be respected without
being loved. But I don't like it. Respect
alone will not make anyone in relationship
happy. Sometimes it even sets the two
people apart. Annulment is worth
p160,000. nowadays; and rich people will
pay for it if it means keeping their
'personal space' and peace for themselves.
I don't know, but one of the reasons why
people divorced is not the absence of re-
spect but the absence of love. 'I could no
longer put up with him and I want a di-
vorce. I hope he could respect my decision
just as I respect his ideas on how to live
his life.' I am one of those who still con-
sider marriage sacred. The give and take
and the mutualism in marriage must be
made out of love of/with each other not
because of a compelling force called re-
spect. Let's try this; I (love, respect) my
cat. I (love, respect) my Mom. If you
choose 'love' I think you're just fine. If you
choose respect; well, can't you hear in
your inner ear that the statement requires
'...because of....'? Respect and love is dif-
ferent because the former requires expla-
nation while the latter does not. If you say
'I respect my cat' or 'I respect my Mom'
your mind will tell you automatically, like
fill-in-the-blank short quiz, 'because of
what?' You may answer it with: 'I respect
my cat because he is ferocious as a tiger'
or 'I respect my Mom because she knows
when to shut up when making my point.'
Very rational, isn't it? While if you say 'I
love my cat' and someone asks you 'why?'.
Your answer doesn't have to appeal to his
or your reason; 'because my cat sleeps 16
hours a day' or a simple shrug will do. We
7
often respect other people because of their
good traits and qualities; and people re-
spect us just the same as the way how re-
spect is ought to be earned. Sometimes we
respect others, even if they're not worth it,
for reasons that makes us feel better--and
for reasons that they will respect us by
doing so. Love, the more irrational of the
two words I'm talking about is simpler yet
more difficult. If you love someone no
explanation is needed. You just keep on
loving that person with all his/her flaws
and strengths. Without conditions and
returns. The cliche unrequited love and
unconditional love is redundant. Love may
not be requited and conditional at all
times, but it was meant to be so. Have you
ever thought how GOD loves us? He does-
n't need to explain Himself. Yet, most of
us tend to go and search for explanations
why GOD loves us. How can we prove
His love? If GOD loves me, why did this
thing happened to me? I tell you, this is
one of the philosophical traps that make
people confused. Just look around you
man, there are lots of things to thank about
--and for me that would be enough. Isn't it
funny? It makes sense that 'kung ang mga
hayop at halaman nga ay di niya pinapaba-
yaan, tayo pa kaya na nilalang niya bilang
pinakamataas na uri.' Between Love and
Respect, I choose Love--Respect if often
brought because of fear. And the opposite
of Love is not hate but fear. Kahima-
nawari. Word count: 882.
Giovhanii Buen
8
when driving. But if you are riding in a car, staled in the traffic
and has been stationary for ten minutes, what good will honking
the horn bring? If those drivers really think that the vehicles in
front of them can make way if they'll horn, then LTO should give
a common sense test before issuing a license to someone.

TARTICLES
There are a lot of things that we don’t want or we don’t need but
we have to deal with. Things that are thought by some to be im-
portant but are a nuisance to us. Those are the things that we can't
do nothing about. We can only hate those things and curse the
people who made those things happen. We can give malicious
insights by saying that some people reconstruct roads as a corrup-
tion activity, but it all ends there. Those people may not even
learn about what you think, and even if they'll know it, they will
not care. I once thought of stepping out of the jeep to tell the
driver of the car behind us to stop honking his horn, but I imag-
Its been two weeks since I suffered the very ill traffic from my ined he is an inconsiderate man. I feared his possible reaction.
house to my office. The usual three-minute drive has been drasti-
cally stretched to one hour. An hour trip means having to leave Fear makes us chill, it makes us run and the ugliest is fear makes
for work earlier than supposed to. One hour means one hour of us passive. It makes us endure the most horrible traffic and the
having to sit on the jeepney for so long while bathing in the heat most annoying road sound. Fear just makes us pray beneath our
and dust. That's all thanks to the road reconstruction. sealed lips that "this thou will pass. Soon I'll be in my aircondi-
tioned office. I'll suffer no more of this traffic and I'll hear no
In that almost 14 days of having to spend the longer travel time more of these sounds". I said that prayer many times within those
than usual, I heard fellow passengers and drivers said that the two weeks.
road reconstruction is irrelevant. Reconstruction should mean a
better road after the works had been completed. That should It has been almost two weeks ago since I thought about writing
mean happier passengers and drivers, but by the looks of it, many this article. I started writing after I came up with the idea, but due
think that the reconstruction is just a money-making scheme. to lack of time, I wasn't able to finish soon. The traffic is better
Something that doesn't cause any relief at all. Many of them said now. I no longer have to wake up earlier than usual. I no longer
that whoever wanted to drill that road is someone wanting an have to suffer the heat and dust. But I wonder if there was really
abundant Christmas. I agree that the reconstruction is irrelevant. something I could have done. I hated myself for saying that
But to it being a money-making scheme, well, that's a compli- prayer.
cated question. No one in politics has ever admitted to pocketing
a part of the people's money. After the traffic episode, a severe misunderstanding happened in
the office. I knew I was right so I didn't obey my boss. There
Why I think the reconstruction is irrelevant is because the road were long talks and several consultations with the human re-
was fine. By fine, I mean no cracks that causes jeep-bumps and sources department. I prayed 'this thou shall pass' but I made sure
shakes. Looking at the finished portions, the only difference it I wouldn't wonder if there was anything I could have done. The
has with the old road is that it is a newly-hardened cement. I am issue is all bridge under the water now, and it ended up with my
no engineer but I think five months from now, it will look like the boss admitting her fault. I felt relieved and redeemed.
old road again. Like what those drivers and passengers said, they
Herlyn B. Cenita
would have been tolerant with the inconvenience if what's caus-
ing it is something that they would be benefiting from in the next
ten years. Mayon Volcano Vintage Postal Stamp

Those two weeks of miserable trips were aggravated by the honk-

ing horns. I couldn't quite comprehend why those drivers have to
horn. I haven't driven a car but I know that the horn is a road
communication tool. It is practical to have a good-sounding horn
 9
Bathala’s session guitarist) were stolen (not the Stolen Shotz)
wrecking the glass window of Joaquin (Krear Bathala’s bass
player) Ko’s car.

Anyway, nevertheless, they were from Tabaco and it’s only in

by Richard D. Madrilejos Tabaco where you would find youths, adults or professionals who
are into music and will stay for the music. By the way, the sound
“It’s only in Tabaco”, a comment made by Ius Bariso last Octo- system was powered by HighLites Sound System owned by San
ber 18, 2008 band jam in in Amando Cope College (ACC) Gym- Juan’s baranggay captain, Manolito Berces, managed by Ton
nasium dubbed as “Rock Da Cope.” Berces (pioneer graduate of ACC).

The said jam was sponsored by the Student Council Organiza- Images from the underground
tion of ACC and the Dr. Amando D. Cope Memorial Hospital
(DADCMH). It was scheduled to start at 6:00 PM but because of
the usual “I-don’t-want-to-be-the-first-one-to-perform” syndrome
of bands (maybe in Albay only), it begun around 7:00 PM al-
ready.

The first 2 bands ought to first “Rock Da Cope” were made last
because they came late. On the master list made by the SCO Ad-
viser, Richard Madrilejos, there were 27 bands but only 17 per- Mass Mind Rape YParusa
formed. Imagine that; 17 bands out of 27. It’s only in Tabaco.
One night, one event, 17 bands. Of course, you have Overload in
Bicol University with more than 20 bands from all over the three
districts of Albay. Here in Rock Da Cope, one band was from
Malilipot (By Laws) and another band from Legazpi (Catacombs
of Displacer). The rest of the bands based on what I know so far
were all from TABACO.

The bands were (order of performance) By Laws, Play As One,

Catacombs of Displacer, Spoiled Bratz, Off Limits, Hypromilose
(not sure if this band performed), Bowanz, Nikitz (Sir Altair
Cope-Berces, ACC Registrar was one of the vocalists), Purga-
toryo, Iscariot Plays the Piano, Wavelength (the lead guitarist
almost wrecked one of the amplifiers by standing on it), Kal-
baryo, Amadeus, Rash, Dark Dungeon, Binhi, and the last but not
the least, of which I will personally invite again for the next Rock
Da Cope (maybe 2nd Sem or next school year), the band
Youthopia.

Each band performed two songs; almost all were cover songs
except Rash who belted out two original compositions
(“Tampalasan” and “Kanina”). Amadeus also played one of their
original compositions entitled “Nothing Else.” Krear Bathala and
Flat Earth Society (FES) who were also enlisted and have origi-
nal compositions did not perform because they were in Albay for
the launching of RIBOK ALBUM (A Bicol original compilation
Album from Bicol Bands). Unfortunately, the bass of the FES
and the Fender guitar of Eric Realizan (Blackpage and Krear
10
11
12
13
14
nang nagdanay nin tolong siglo.

“Mga katugangan gabos niyatong irokyaw na kita salbado sa

Ni Juan Escandor Jr.
Napukaw bangging Sabado si Padre Almeda, kura paroko kan
Basilica, sa baratokan sa ibaba kan saiyang kuwarto, tanda na
igwang ibang tawo sa kombento. Sa kahaditan na gayod igwa na
naman parahabon, dali-dali siya nagbaba nganeng isihon an dahi-
lan kan kariribukan kan kaayaman.
Pagbukas ni Padre Almeda kan pinto kan kombento, nagkahibi
siya, napaluhod asin sinakom an mahal na imahen ni Ina na basa-
basa kan nagrarapado gayong makusog na paros asin uran ni
Bagyong Titang. “Milagro. Salamat, Nuestra Señora de Peñafran-
cia, Patrona kan Bikolandia, Sasalbaron kita,” sabi kan padi na
nagngangayo-ngayo.
Mayong nakak aaram kon siisay an nagdara kan hubang imahen
ni Ina sa kombento kan Basilica, na pigiistaran kan mga ka-
padian, pagkalihis nin pitong bulan na ini habunon sa saiyang
patintihan sa laog kan simbahan. Basta nagosyoso man sana an
padi sa baratokan kan mga kaayaman, alagad pagbukas niya kan
pinto, nahiling niya dali-daling nagharorot pahali an sarong
closed van.
katibaadan pagkatapos kan paglahos sa satuya kan Bagyong Ti-
tang kasubanggi. Miracles happen with the grace of God na pina-
pahiling sato ni Ina, na sa paghuna asin paghorop-horop ko, iyo
an nagpasabong sa parahabon na iuli Siya kasubanggi. Sarong
milagro, na pagkatapos na maipamutang an imahen ni Ina sa sai-
yang dapat kamumugtakan, an grabeng paros kan bagyo nagpoon
magluya, hasta na nagkalmada mga alas dos nin aga, asin nag-
aram kita paduman na, parayo sa satuya. Kita gabos testigo sa
mga katibaadan na nag-abot sa satuya sa kada panahon na naw-
awara o may insidente si Ina. Maromdoman niyato, kaidtong
daing tuyong nahulog si Ina kan siya pabalyuhon sa pagoda, an
satuyang ciudad nakaekspiriyensya kan pinakadakulang kasulo sa
istorya. Mismo anom na bulan pa sana an nakakaagi, primero sa
istorya kan Naga na talagang an syudad iyo an sentro kan
Bagyong Sabater, sarong bulan makalihis na habunon si Ina. Ala-
gad, kan makabalik Siya kasubanggi, sarong milagro, biglang
naglikay si Bagyong Titang, asin kita gabos nakasalvar sa dagdag
na katibaadanan sa panahon na kita dai pa gayong nakakabangon
sa nakaaging bagyong nagsentro sa satuyang ciudad. Thanks be
to God. Salamat Mahal na Ina,” sabi ni Monsignor Bondok na
naglalagong an boses hali sa pulpito. Nagtirindog an barahibo
kan obispo sa dagmang na parasimbang nag-urupakan pagkata-
pos kan saiyang sermon.

Ikaduwa na si Bagyong Titang na kuta tuminama sa Bikolandia Kasabay an mga deboto, nagpangoros asin nagkurahaw nin pi-
poon na habunon Enero si Ina. An pinakahuri an pagtama kan tong Viva La Virgen si Padre Almeda, kura paroko kan Basilica,
Bagyong Sabater kan nakaaging Pebrero kan gulpe an naggadan na saro kan biente-unong padi na ka-co-celebrant ni Monsignor
sa Albay nin huli sa pagrasay kan rinibong toneladang binugang Bondok. Kaiba sa nagselebrar kan misang pagrokyaw asin pasa-
gapo asin baybay na natipon sa abaga kan Bulkan Mayon sa kada salamat kay Ina, an sekretaryo asin driver kan obispo, si Padre
pagtuga. Maski ngani nasentro an Naga, diit an nagkagaradan, Archangel, na haros nakakaaram kan gabos na gibo o akti-
alagad iyo man an may pinakamahiwas an distroso sa kabuhayan bidad aro-aldaw ni Obispo Bondok, minsan mga personal pa, na
sa bilog na Kabikolan. an iba sinasaboot na sana.
+++++++
Milagrong nagsiko si Bagyong Titang sa direksyon na pasentro
giraray kuta sa Naga, imbes an direksyon nagpatoo bago Sabi sa osip kan kapanahonan, an orihinal na imahen ni Ina inukit
magtugpa sa daga, paduman sa Japan kan mga alas onseng bang- alay bilang tanda nin pagpairarom sa bendisyon kan Simbahan
ing Sabado, nin huli sa segun sa weather bureau nagkaigwa nin Katolika kan Cimarrones, na enot naperwisyo kan obligasyones
sarong high pressure sa ibaba kan maraot na panahon. na tinugdas na limos para sa simbahan kan mga prayleng Fran-
ciscano. Inapod sindang Cimarrones nin huli ta nagsinutil sinda
Nagpoon magluya an paros asin uran kan mailaog asin mailaag asin nagdurulag asin namuhay harayo sa simbahan, sa abaga kan
na sa sarong altar si Ina na pinatintihan ni Padre Almeda pagkata- Isarog,=2 0asin nagtanom nin tabako na pinapangalad kan Kasti-
pos na mapangadyian, kaiba an iba pang kapadian, na kairibanan lang gobierno asin Simbahan Katolika.
niya sa kombento.
Sarong prayleng Franciscano an nagkombinsir sainda na
“Viva La Virgen! Viva La Virgen!” pagrokyaw kan mga deboto magbwelta na sa bendisyon nin Kagurangnan na kaglalang kan
ni Ina na nagkukuno-kunong gayo hasta sa luwas kan Basilica sa gabos na bagay sa kadagaan, katubigan asin kalangitan. An dalan
pagkaagang Domingong misa, pagkatapos na makasalbar an sa Kagurangan igigiya ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, an inor-
Kabikolan sa grabeng paros na dara ni Bagyong Titang na mina- den kan Obispo kan Simbahan Katolika sa banwaan nin Nueva
rapado hasta 220 kilometro kada oras. Nakakasula an saldang sa Caceres, bilang propio nindang patrona. Sa dikreto kan Obispo
luwasan asin an aloso-os sa laog kan simbahan nagkakalayo sa kan kapanahonan, tinugdasan sinda kaineng sarong patrona, na si
grabeng namamatian kan lambang debotong dai mapugolon an Ina, na mamato asin madangog sa gabos na pagmawot nin kau-
paggilid kan luha sa tahaw nin pagmating kasalvaran. Nagkurura- mayan sa mga kadipisilan. Nakumbinsir ni Padre Segovia, sa
haw pa nin sarong Viva La Virgen an mga deboto bago maka- nagkapirang beses pagtukad niya sa komunidad kan mga Cimar-
poon kan saiyang homiliya ni Monsignor Perfecto Bondok, an rones sa abaga kan Isarog, sa paagi nin pagosip sa gabos na gu-
prinsipe kan Simbahan Katolika na nagpapastol sa labi sa sarong rang, na dai na maobligar an simbahan kan tinugdas na limos
milyon na deboto ni Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, an Patrona kundi boluntad nang reresibihon an maski anong maitatabang,
kan Bikolandia, na taon-taon sarong semanang pigrorokyaw sa nin huli sa sinda tatawan nin lugar istaran asin tanoman. Mahiwa-
paagi nin sagradong pagbisita sa Cathedral, an temporaryong son pa an kadagaan na pwedeng tamnan na sa paglinang ninda an
istaran ni Ina sa panahon nin fiesta, na pigtutubudan tradisyon banwaan makinabang asin madanay an katrangkilohan.

An gabos na hahagadon sa Kagurangnan kan mga Cimarrones
ipapaagi kay Nuestra Se ñora de Peñafrancia, patrona ninda, nin
huli segun kay Padre Segovia, Siya sarong Ina na nagtataong
umay sa maraot na kamatian, na dinara niya hali pa sa probinsya
nin Caceres, Espanya, mantang pinapahiling an istampetang na-
kaladawan an santa.
Sa irarom kan bendisyon kan Simbahan Katolika, an mga Cimar-
rones nagpairarom sa debosyon kay Ina na santang masalvar
sainda sa katibaadan , madara sa buhay na daing kasagkudan sa
Kalangitan asin maligtas kan kalag sa kalayo nin Impiyerno. Sa
tinaong dagang omahon asin erokan sa kapatagan kan lambang
pamilya Cimarron, nawara an saindang hadit na magabot pa, so-
brang taggutom nangyari sa kabuboldan na minaabot kon tag-
alang, basta magsunod sana sa orden kan kagsadiri kan tinatam-
nan asin ineerokan kabali an Simbahan Katolika, mga mestizo sa
banawaan asin mga purong Kastilang nag-aaprobuwetsar kan
nagtatalubong oportunidad sa negosyong Galyon, na nagparikas
sa pag-abante kan banwaan sa Tierra de Ybalon paduman sa
bagong sistema nin panahon, an pinaghalian kan Naga ngonian.
Tanda nin pagpasalamat asin igot na paglaom sa bagong pag-
tubod, tinalikdan na ninda an saindang mga anito20asin nagsugo
an saindang Babaylan, an pinakagalang-galang asin kinakataku-
tan na may llave sa mundo nin Kaanitohan, na ukiton an ladawan
kan santang nasa istampeta ni Padre Segovia, mismo sa aldaw na
nag-abot sinda sa kapatagan sa gilid kan bikobikong kasalugan.
Sa paglihis nin tolong bulan, nakapamutang na an mga Cimar-
rones sa bago nindang kinamugtakan asin nahaman na an imahen
ni Ina na nakatukaw na kogos an aking Diyos, an hadi kan gabos.
Nganeng magkaigwa kapangyarihan nin buhay an saindang
santang Ina, nag-orden an Babaylan kan mga Cimarrones na pin-
turahan, nin dugo kan nagpapasosong inataman niyang inang
ayam, an imahen na inukit kan pinakamaurag nindang paraukit
nin anito. Sa komunidad nin Cimarrones sa kabuboldan, gina-
galang an ayam huli sa ugali kaineng pagbisto asin pagbantay sa
maysadiri saiya hasta sa kagadanan. Sa altar na kawayan sa laog
kan ginibong sambahan na pigtarabangan mahaman, pinahigda an
ayam na nakagapos an mga tabay asin nakahigot an ngimot. Sa
atubangan kan gabos na mga Cimarrones na nagbaraba na
nganeng magpairarom sa bendisyon nin Simbahan Katolika asin
ni Ina, makusog nagpangadyi an Babaylan na akuon an atang na
dugo na magtatao nin kapangyarihan nin milagro sa imahen ni
Ina, an patrona kan mga Cimarrones. Mantang nagbuburabura nin
panambitan na nakadupa sa atubangan kan inukit na imahen sa=2
0pamitisan an ayam, an nakalugay na kolor pirak na buhok kan
Babaylan pinapalid kan malipot na paros nin tag-uran hali sa ka-
salugan sa pamitisan kan Isarog. Nag-aarotoot an tinuob na sina-
ralak na dahon, ubak asin dadiangaw sa laog kan bagol na may
baga na kapot nin duwa pang gurang na babayi na nagsusumay-
sumay sa pangadyi nganeng mabukasan an balyuhan paduman sa
mundo nin Kapangyarihan.
Kinua kan Babaylan an punyal asin sinisi an ugat sa liog kan
ayam asin nagkuprit an dugo na nagsalidahan salodon, sa bagol
na may tuob, kan duwang babaying gurang, hasta mapano an
duwang saludan. Inipit kan Babaylan an sinisian; nawara an hi-
nangos kan ayam na ginagalang. Naghangos pa nin sarong ha-
rarom an inang ayam kan butasan an inipit na ugat sa may liog,
nagbulwak an dugo na nagdalihig sa daga. Dai na nasundan pa
nin hinangos an muklat alagad gadan nang ayam. Sinugo niya na
15
ipaanod sa salog an sinakripisyong ayam nganeng mabuhay gira-
ray na magsirbi kay Ina. Nagluhod sa atubangan kan altar an Ba-
baylan, kinua an duwang bagol na may dugo kan ayam asin ki-
narigos an imahen kan saindang Ina.
Pitong aldaw an nakalihis, nagbalik an ayam na nagsakripisyo nin
dugo para kay Ina, na malalata asin may lugad pang diit sa
tagiliran kan liog. Kinarga kan Babaylan an nahahapo na ayam na
nangalagkalag, naghahanap kan saiyang tolong kaidoan na
nagkagaradan kan sinda bayaan dai pa napapatod asin naghihilom
an pugto kan inulnan. Nagrokyaw an kagabsan sa komunidad
kan mga Cimarrones, sa saiyang pagkabuhay liwat na tanda kan
tunay na kapangyarihan ni Ina. Nagkaedad an ayam na nagbantay
kay Ina sa pawod asin kawayan na sambahan na minimisahan
kada Domingo ni Padre Segovia, alagad makaturotristing na-
gadan an hayop sa paghidaw sa binabantayan niya kan ibalyo an
patrona kan Cimarrones sa dakulang simbahan sa sentro nin
Nueva Caceres dara kan pagkabantog kan milagro, na nagtaong
debosyon sa mga poderoso asin maimpluwensya sa banwaan,
hasta ideklarar kan Papa na si Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia,
Patrona kan Bikolandia.
Nin huli sa kasalatan nin kasuratan, pagdalagan kan panahon,
dipisil tubudan an osipon kan nagpapasosong ayam na nagadan
asin nabuhay-liwat sa kapangyarihan ni Ina. Nagromarom asin
dai mapatunayan an osipon nin milagro sa ayam lalo pa an osipon
na kon baga, iyo o bako, Cimarrones=2 0an kagibo asin kagsadiri
kay Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.
Pigdiskusyonan sa akademya an osipon kan pagpinta nin dugo
nin ayam sa Ina sa panahon na dai nang mababasehan sa eksak-
tong bulan, taon asin petsa nangyari an seremonya, na segun sa
osipon napasiparahan sana si Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia nin
sarong prayleng nagtatala kan nagkapirang nangyari kan ika-17
siglo. Mayong kaseguruhan kon baga an nangyari sa isip sana o
interpretasyon simbolikal kan nangyari sa panahon na sinurat an
osipon sa historya kan Naga. Basta sa osipon kan historya, na-
mensyonar si Ina sa kasong sinangat laban sa nagkapirang per-
sona, nin huli sa kinompisakar na sinakong bagas na ipapakakan
sa mga nagtatatrabaho sa ginibong simbahan para kay Ina.
Sarong osipon an totalmenteng nagpapara kan nosyon na may
pakiaaram an mga Cimarrones asin ayam sa paggiging milagrosa
ni Ina, nin huli ta sinasabi sa talaan nin historya na bako kon
siisay kundi an mga suanoy na artisanong Intsik an nag-ukit sa
Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.
Sa lektura ni Propesor Danilo Gerona sinasabi na nagkamarag na
an mga residenteng Intsik sa Nueva Caceres, na nabubuhay bi-
lang mga artisano, parahalyaw asin parasira na minakompwes-
tong sarong puwersa sa banwa na may impluwens’ya na sa ka-
panahonan na inukit an imahen ni Ina.
“Hilinga an mata ni Ina ta may pagkasingkit baga,” segun pa kay
Gerona.
Segun sa saiya mayo man nin osip na nagaaragawan asin nag-
boborolyahan an mga paraboya kan mga enot na panahon kan
bago pa an imahen ni Ina, nin huli sa an mga paraprosisyon asin
deboto ni Ina an mga elitista, poderoso asin maimpluwensya sa
banwa na pormal asin selensyong nararalakaw sa dagang kalye
kan Naga, na rota kan andas kan santa sa kada kapyistahan Niya.
16
Nagsabi pa si Gerona na nagbutwa na sana a n istorya nin bulawan.
aragawan asin borolyahan makarani sa andas ni Ina sa paglaog
kan ika-biente siglo, kan pigispalto na an mga tinampo asin nauso Nakisalak si Monsignor Bondok, Padre Almeda, Padre Archangel
na an mga buratserong voyadores na naroso sa traslacion, na asin iba pang co-celebrant na mga kapadian sa mga parasimba
nagin tradisyon na nin debosyon asin pagsamba sa Patrona kan pagkatapos kan misa nin pasasalamat asin pagrokyaw; asin naki-
Bikolandia. pagrinibarayan nin mga pangungumusta sa mga pangyayari;
hasta ihatod kan obispo sa pinto kan Basilica an mga pinakahur-
Sa modernong panahon, sinasabi man sa sarong diskusyon na an ing maghali kaiba na an mayaman na debotong Intsik na nagpa-
mga ritwales para kay Ina tanda nin sistemang patriarkal na kon gayon kan Palasyo.
sain an imahen premyo sa kamachohan kan nagburolyahan na
kalalakihan, na garong nagdudurulak na ayam, lalo pa pigpangal- Magkaiba si Monsignor Bondok asin si Padre Archangel paghali
adan an partisipasyon nin kababaihan sa pagdara kan santa pa- sa Basilica pasado alas dose nin udto lunad nin SUV pabalik sa
ghali sa Basilica paduman sa katedral kan Naga. Palasyo na dai naggigirongan. Nakahuyom si obispo sa sobrang
kaogmahan nin huli ta nagbalik na si Ina, duwang bulan pa bago
An diskusyon nagtulod sa paghiling na kombinasyon nin ani- an selebrasyon kan pagrokyaw sa Patrona kan Bikolandia sa bu-
mismo asin kristiyanismo an pangkagabsan na pigura sa pag- lan na Septiembre. Kasyahan pa an panahon na maibalangibog sa
samba kay Ina, na kon sain ine natural na manipestasyon nin pag- gabos na mga deboto sa laog asin luwas kan Pilipinas na nagbalik
tubod na minaabot sa asimilasyon kan dati nang pagtubod sa na an Patrona nin Bikolandia.
kaanitohan sa bagong sistema nin relihiyon na nagtataong buhay
sa pagdanay kan debosyon. Ireberente man an parehong Pinakaimportante an presensya kan imahen ni Ina sa fiesta nin
diskusyon na sabihon na ginigilid kan pagsamba kay Ina an dapat pagrokyaw ta paraki pa magdalaw asin magdara nin atang an mga
na pagtubod na sa paagi sana ni Jesus Kristo masasalvar an kalag deboto kon mayong nakalunad sa andas kan santa, mayong sam-
kan nagtutubod S aiya. nong rarabnoton an mga may panata asin mayong imahen na
rorosnosan kan mga panyong lalanganan ninda. An pagboya na
Sa pagtubod kan nagaadal kan saga kan debosyon, maski mawara pirme nang mikskla nin emosyon asin intensyon, magigin silen-
pa an orihinal na imahen kan santa, nakagamot na asin madanay syong prosesyon nin paglubong kon an Patrona nin Bikolandia
pa an pagtubod sa milagro ni Ina sa kolektibong kaisipan kan mawara sa kamot kan mga parasamba.
mga Bikolano. Alagad posibli man magluya an selebrasyon kan
fiesta kon dagos nang mawara an hinabon na imahen ni Nuestra Pagmati ni Monsignor Bondok na kon dai makabalik sa tamang
Señora de Peñafrancia. panahon an Mahal na Ina, maluya an malaog na atang, limos asin
donasyon para Saiya na sa kahaloyan pwedeng magparumpag
+++++++ kan tolong siglong tradisyon na pinunan, segun sa osipon, sa dik-
reto daa nin sarong Obispong Kastilang nagdeklarar patrona kan
Tapos na an misa asin nagkaranta an mga deboto ni Ina kan sai- mga Cimarrones, an primerong nagtestigo sa milagro ni Nuestra
yang himno nin pagrokyaw na kinomposo nganeng ideklarar an Señora de Peñafrancia. Sa ngonyan na panahon an milagro ni Ina
pagtubod sa “Patrona del Bicol” na pigtistigohan kan dagmang na garo nang milagro nin tinapay an minalaog na kuwarta sa simba-
istoryang nagsasabing an pagsamba kay Ina nakakatabang sa han kada fiesta.
pagpagian kan katikapuhan asin nakatatao nin kaumayan sa
maraot na namamatian. Sinugo kan obispo an saiyang sekretaryong padi na mahigot na
makipagkoordinar sa Crime Investigation and Detection Group
“Resueño vibrante el himno de amor…Que entona tu pueblo con (CIDG) kan Philippine National Police nganeng parikason an
grata emocion…Patrona del Bicol gran Madre de Dios…Se siem- paghanap kon sain na napaduma n an pighabon na imahen ni Ina.
pre la Reina de Nuestra Region…Patrona del Bicol gran Madre Nagkapirang leads na pigsusog kan CIDG an direktamenteng
de Dios…Siempre la Reina de Nuestra Region…Maski an kasa- pinondohan ni Monsignor Bondok, ta kon dai, mahalat na sana sa
logan sambit an Simong ngaran…Maski an kabukidan Ika an bagolbolon na hiro basi sa rason na mayo nin bastanteng pondo
rokyaw…Kami simong aki pano nin kaogmahan…Simo nangan- an pulis sa mga imbestigasyon na kaipuhan susugon an mga ta-
gako Ika kamotan…Kami simong aki pano nin kaogmahan… wong imbwelto na posibling nagkawaragas asin nagpairipli na sa
Simo nangangako Ika kamotan…Awiton an awit nin pagka- kanya-kanyang distenong taguan.
moot…Sa simo samuyang idinodolot…Awiton an awit nin pag-
kamoot…Sa simo samuyang idinodolot……Patrona nin Bikol Hinangaan ni Padre Archangel an urag sa imbestigasyon ni Sen-
Ina ka nin Dios…Magdanay na Reina samuyang rehyon… ior Supt. Elmer Dialogo, an pamayo kan CIDG na an sakop an
Patrona nin Bikol Ina ka nin Dios…Magdanay na Reina samuy- duwang probinsyang Camarines, nin huli sa nagkapirang insi-
ang rehyon……Patrona nin Bikol…Inang namomoton… dente na garo nang mabubugtak sa entonses an daralagan ta mayo
pamanang banal balaog nin Dios…Pakihimatea mga inagrangay nang padudumanan, siya pirmi an nakakabungkal nin bagong
kan simong banwaan na napaalaw……Patrona nin Bikol…Inang direksyon hasta maresolbiran an kaso nin paghabon.
namomotan…pamanang banal balaog nin Dios…Pakihimatea
mga inagrangay kan simong banwaan na napaalaw.” Sa primirong apat na bulan, dai naghiro an imbestigasyon nin
huli sa dai masumpay an detalye kan impormasyon sa sinususog
Nagrilinya sa atubangan kan altar an kadakli kan parasimba asin na grupong parahabon. Mayong nagbutwang bagong impormas-
naghapros kan saindang panyo sa hawak asin lalaugon kan kahoy yon hali sa black market kan mga antigo, hasta magkaigwa nin
na imahen ni Ina na binistihan nin kapang ginansilyohan nin sinu- breakthrough paglaog kan ikalimang bulan poon ilarga an imbes-
lid na bulawan asin pinutungan nin mas makinang na ko ronang tigasyon, kan an saindang informant sa Ongpin nadangog, na

interesado sa sarong 17th</ sup> century church artifact kan ma-
hal na birhen an sarong poderosong art collector, na ino-offer nin
sarong middleman, na naghahalyaw sa mga antique shops
nganeng magtransaksyon nin mga palusot asin hinabunan na mga
suanoy na mga bagay na kaiba sa historya nin katawohan.
Inapodan tolos ni Dialogo si Padre Archanghel manungod sa di-
nadalagan kan imbestigasyon na tolos man nagbareta sa saiyang
Among na igwa na nin breakthrough an saindang pinapangadyi
sa Kagurangnan, na lugod man itao an dalan na makabalik gira-
ray an Patrona kan Bikolandia bago pa man iselebrar an fiesta
para Saiya.
17
Ineksplikar ni Dialogo an mga sirkumstansya asin tinawan nin
presyong kabangang milyon nganeng ma-recover an imahen ni
Ina, na garo sa interpretasyon kan padi mayo nang ibang paagi,
kundi uyunan nin huli ta mayo man an ebidensya nin paghabon.
Segun pa sa pulis, sinda an delikado na kasuhan nin illegal deten-
tion kon sinda magpursigir na duonan an middleman sa paghabon
sa Patrona kan Bikolandia.
Dai giraray nagduwaduwa si Monsignor Bondok na bakalon na
sana giraray si Ina asin tinugon si Padre Archangel na darahon
Sabadong banggi sa kombento kan Basilica an imahen ni Nuestra
Señora de Peñafrancia.

Nagkaluha asin napangoros si Monsignor Bondok sa maogmang “Aram mo Padre Archangel, an gabos na nangyayari sa satuya
bareta nin huli sa pagtubod niya, an Diyos talaga masuripot asin pagboot ni Ina. An pasabong sa sakuya, likayan niyato na total-
dai nagpapabaya sa kahagadan ka mga aki niya sa daga, na nag- mente nang mawara an mahal na Patrona kan Bikolandia.
pakusog pa sa saiyang pagtubod sa Inang nagpasabong nin Mayong pinapasabong sa satuya na paagi, na magtatao nin segu-
dunong asin nagtao nin kabanalan saiya. radad ni Ina lalo pa kapot pa nin iba an imahen Niya. Kon ibubul-
gar ta an pagkakua kay Ina, dai matugot an midya na dai bungka-
Nagkaaregluhan sinda20Dialogo asin Padre Archangel sa siento- lon an detalye kan saiyang pagkakua na magpapahalaba pa nin
singkwenta mil na budget sa operasyon pag-recover kay Ina na istorya, lalo na harani na an fiesta. Sa sakuyang paghiling , mas
dai magsobra sa duwang bulan na nangangaipo nin limang ahente maray na an pagbutwa ni Ina sarong milagro na sana nin huli sa
na ide-deploy sa Kamanilaan; na mayong pagduwa-duwang nakonsensya an parahabon, kaya binalik niya si Ina,” sabi kan
inuyonan ni Monsignor Bondok asin ora mismong dinuhal an obispo sa saiyang drayber-sekretaryo.
saro-may-kabangang bundle nin manarangatos sa saiyang sekre-
taryo, pagkatapos na maeksplikaran kan pinagkasunduan. Nagrarapado na an paabuton na si Bagyong Titang kan makaabot
an closed van hali sa Manila na iyo an binabantayan ni Padre
Nagdesenyo an CIDG nin “Oplan Salvation”, an koda kan pag- Archangel lunad si Monsignor Bondok sa laog kan SUV sa gilid
recover sa imahen ni Ina, kaiba an partisipasyon sa operasyon ni kan simbahan kan San Fernando, otso kilometros hali sa Basilica.
Padre Archangel, na iyo an makapot kan budget, na itatao kada Nagpailaw an padi asin nagmenor an closed van na papaabuton
bulan an pampersonal kan mga ahenteng imbwelto kaiba na an asin puminondo sa ibong na lane kahampang kan SUV, kon sain
allowance sa behikulo, hasta arkila sa apartment na safe house nakakirilagan an mga nagsasarakbatan na kaayaman, sa tahaw
kan saindang grupo. Nagsusunod nin standard operating proce- kan dalan.
dures an saindang hiro, an padi nagbibisita sa safe house pag-
kaipuhan kan mga ahente an desisyon niya sa mga osipon nin Nagbaba sa SUV si Padre Archangel asin nagdalagan na si-
pinansya. nusudo kan paros paduman sa closed van, mantang nagbaba man
si Dialogo hali sa enotan kan behikulong linulunadan asin nagdu-
Bago magtumba an duwang bulan nin operasyon sa Manila, nasa- man sa likodan nganeng bukasan asin ipahiling sa kaulay na padi
kote kan mga ahente kan CIDG an middleman na nakaulay kan an darang iniingatan. Aban-aban, tinao niya an sarong botog-
poderosong art collector paduman sa sarong antique shop sa Ong- botog na folder, nag-abrasahan asin nagbalik na sa saiyang
pin, Manila. Dinara an middleman sa safe house asin pig-int ero- Among nagmamasid sa mga transaksyon sa saiyang tagiliran, na
gar manungod sa imahen ni Ina. Dai naghaloy nagtuga an mid- piggilidan kan duwang ayam na sinisiraman kan saidang kina
dleman na talagang hali sa Basilica an imahen na gustong ipa- ab’tan asin kinamugtakan sa kadikloman. Pinaenot ni Padre
bakal kan sarong grupo. Alagad bilog-an-boot kan lalaking nasa- Archangel an paghali kan closed van asin nagsunudan sinda
kote na mapagadan na sanang dai nanggad magtuga asin paduman sa Naga hasta sa tinampo kan Balatas. Nagbubugabog
magtokdo sa parahabon ni Ina. Karibay kan pagtuga niya, segun an uran, nagsisiwik an paros, luminaog an closed van sa Basilica
sa middleman, an kagadanan kan saiyang pamilya. Sinabi niya sa asin hinatod nin hiling ni Monsignor Bondok an lunadan hasta sa
mga ahente na pwedeng bakalon na sana giraray kan simbahan an kombento kon sain nagbaratokan an mga ayam. “Hamos na,” sabi
imahen, kon gusto nindang makua an imahen ni Ina, maski tres- ni Monsignor Bondok kay Padre Archangel na nagkambyo
sientos mil na sana hali sa orihinal na deal niyang kabangang paatras asin nagmaniobra pabalik sa Palasyo pagkatapos na
milyon sa saiyang kliyenteng poderosong art collector. maidiskarga an imahen ni Ina. (EM)

Kon dai magtuga, nag-atid-atid si Dialogo, ini dead end na, asin
magkakaburukayo na sinda. Kon tortyuron asin gadanon ninda
dagdag sa konsensya, probelma pa an padispatsar kan bangkay …Unang premio
niya. Naisip kan pulis na imbes na makipagkulitan pa sa middle-
man na pwede sindang untalian, tano ta dai paandaron an isip an Taon nin mga ayam sa kategoryang
niya asin saiyang pag-iriba? Mas maray na makadelihensya sinda
sa sitwasyon, total libre sa kompromiso ta sinda-sinda man sana, osipon sa ika-05Premio Tomas Arejola.
luwas si padi. Nagdesisyon an hepe imbistigador na apudan si
Padre Archangel. Kudos. Padayon!
18
19
20

CHRISTOPHER “YATOY
YATOY”
YATOY CARRETAS
 21

RAFAEL BANZUELA 3TX

TX III
22
 23
erik, djai and george vibar erik

jimple and reywell

cebika paintings

julius and jimple

Djai, thanks for the photographs

24

too. For one day I will also go through this solemn brutality; this

As Lola Laid Dying tearing away of the non-degradable from the degradable.

This part wherein you wouldn't know where to go: you are too
Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan set up for leaving life but your are too afraid to embrace death.
Lola may die tonight, repeated the ambient voice over in my head, And I guess that's what will transform us. Okay I guess I have wet
as I looked down at her shriveled form--almost no longer human, myself enough.
disconnected from any memory, almost impossible to create as a
I have many approximations of what we will "see" in death, one of
possible idea or an imagined image of her, none, nulled. The bulge
these is the classic falling into a bottomless vortex. But I wish
and outline of her skull, as if itself alive, pressed against her face,
from here to the moon and back, that what I'd be seeing
wanting to tear away from its body. But she was still technically
there would be all the best moments in my entire life and all the
alive. Only in a comaesque sleep, and breathing with much effort.
worst fixed into best moments, played out before me in eternal
Her hollow mouth, all teeth gone with every son or daughter she
repeat mode. Amen.
bore, gapes and shuts like a tired socket. Her tongue receding to
that dark place in her body. She even had that look behind the
glass. The family she could no longer see--which she hadn't seen
Art Education Workshop at Tabaco National High School
for a long time anyway--gathered around her, as if suddenly, in
contest for her attention. But she was just there, part of the bed and
the crumpled sheet, her face an embossed design on her pillow.

I have seen a lot of dead things. Fishes mostly and dogs. And I
could not trace any difference from those things and with what I
was seeing then. A thought passed me, that as the soul perfects
itself, the body deteriorates. I can only imagine the darkness she
was seeing behind her cataract-blinded eyes. As she was almost
dead in the waking world, I can feel that she was, as if given a
second childhood, bouncing, running or even gliding in that dream
-state, in that delirium, in that buffer between the living and the
dead.

My childhood was made up of pretty sick, superstitious, and terri- Miss Raquel Almonte and Co-teacher
fying stories of moments like this. It was mentioned that she had
called for a name belonging to a dead person. Which only meant
they were beckoning her already. Which only meant she was walk-
ing that path lined with flowers and a bright light at the end.
Around her house/chapel filled with saints and misalettes, inter-
woven with laminated pictures of the dead and the living, in gray
and in color, I had felt the room was crowded, yet my skin felt
flushed with a certain chill. I'm a sucker for horror stories, but I
felt the fear in this one was more of awe rather than just fear for
pain or even death. The awesome mystery of death. Death, the
misunderstood. Notions about dying came to me...everything I had
read or seen. Reincarnation, the afterlife, heaven and hell, merging
with the void, but none of these had calmed medown. I just felt so
lonely and pitiful, that I was sure I would breakdown. Not that Im
too crazy about Lola. But I guess my sorrow was for myself Resource person Alma Quinto and friend Erik Lim
 25
By Ahmad Sohiel Tanji Months have passed and the drive was waning. There was no way
we could find an audience to donate at least 10thou for the re-
cordings of all the bands. Then by sheer chance of good mood and
maybe good alcohol, SMB soberly closed a deal with us to let our
bands play with pay on the Magayon Fest stage for 3 days. We
were back on track.

May 2008, the bands started recording their songs in Naga City and
I’m going to make this it took 5months of mixing because of lack of working stations and
short but classy. of proper equipment. Still crawling from the stinky ground of Ifs
and Hows, another sweet deal was closed: a real Album Launching
Club Molotov stood for concert on the Oktoberfest stage.
something that its main
proponents themselves October 18, 2008: The night was a riot. Despite the freak burglary
cannot ever handle: to incident (we feel for you Krear Bathala and Flat Earth dudes. We
trample the mentality that want to skin dem thieves alive too), everyone was in high hopes
mainstream radio is the and in good vibes to make the most of his performance. It was
only way to go in Albay. more than a celebration; it was a success story. The audience was
Yes, anyone can smirk at obviously awestruck from the beautiful noise they were witnessing.
this helpless plan. So, what It has been an epiphany to some, another drunken night to others;
more can they do but own but 3hours of Molotov music in flesh will be a story to tell for sure.
the burden in constructing
a new alley, a backdoor of Pepsi Paloma Experiment and Mudflow, two bands who began the
some sort, a new platform for every Albayano to mosh and riot trend of recording their own songs, were coincidentally scheduled
with their original music served as the sole generator of this move- to play after the event, making it a true night of Albay indie spirit.
ment.
It took more than a year before a single spark ignited by that blog
Molotov has been a concept without a name ever since a blog turned into a real vehicle for aspiring musicians to be heard. I am
posted by Weng (from the band The Doldrums) on friendster enti- just crossing my fingers that fresh bloods nagging their parents to
tled “the definition of talent fee” elicited countless unexpected re- buy them a six-string and those geeks making up rhymes at the
actions. The blog was a brief perspective from a neophyte musician back of their class would notice that the carpet has already been
about Albay’s bias against paying rock bands. The online discus- rolled down for them.
sion through blog comments was converted into some idealistic
musings that maybe someone just has to start a revolution, as len- Yes, there are still debts to be collected and expenses to be paid.
nonish as it may sound. I was ranting; “We have a scene and we The hell isn’t really over.
have the goods, but what is holding us back is the media’s unsup-
portive stance. There should be reeducation that there’s more music But In the end, it’s all about the music. Pure, uncompromised mu-
out there other than what you hear on the radio”. Complicated? sic. And I admit, this compilation may not be the best of the best,
Yes believe me, I know. but it sure is one big aural assault, Albayano style.
And the rants became the fuel.

The plan was to choose 10 bands from a 2-day audition that will be
given a chance to record one of their original materials for free. The
catch was there is no catch at all. We just want an alternative for
the heck of it. And who knows, a chain reaction may ensue.

But it was like a flying kick to the groin, to put it lightly. From
politicians smirking over the proposal and nonchalantly donating
50 bucks for the cause or usually nil, for us organizers crossing out
other priorities for the purpose of revving up the engine for this
project continuously, and even for collecting sympathy stares and
often ridiculous misinterpretations when some expectations were
not met. Yes, we were martyrs. But for what, we’re not sure. We
just know the Molotov gang was fighting for something real, some-
thing good, something courageous.

One sudden loud bang. Like a Molotov.

The first gig “MARIBOK NAMAN KAMI” held in Market Mar-

ket, Barriada complex, was a triumphant first step. There were
more or less 150 people who bought tickets (and that is with DIY
advertising, mind you). Good enough, but with a measly 1thou + as
income to be used for recording, everything was still farfetched.
26

The afternoon of October 26, 2008 was initially a usual park-day and Tabaco bands Rash and Krear Bathala, performed their
for the regular Sunday loafers at the Tabaco City Plaza. But
around four o’ clock in the pm, a bunch of youngsters, with gui-
tars, a conga drum and tarpaulin banners started setting up the
plaza kiosk into a mini-stage. A sound system was also hired, and
from the mobile disco speakers came not the hip dance music of
the time, but this strange at first, eerie to some, relaxing recorded
music of what was later to be known as Yoga Sound. The event
was later announced as Haribol Jam.

Side information: These youngsters are not new to the Sunday-

crowd for every Sunday for years at around 7 o’ clock in the eve-
ning, the group regularly hold, what they call sankirtan, or congre-
gational chanting of the Yoga Sound drawing a crowd of kids and
a few inquirers.

Haribol, which the group also use as a form of greeting, is San-

skrit, roughly translated as “Chant the Holy Names of God” or
“Sing the names of God” or “Glorify the names of God”; the vi-
brations of such names is what is then called the Yoga Sound. To
these youngsters, saying Haribol is a reminder of the importance
of chanting the Holy Names in this day and age. And although
Sankirtan would have been a more proper title to the event, Hari-
bol Jam is adopted to give chanting of the transcendental Yoga
Sound a more accessible, rock-sized appeal to the masses.

The event was organized by Tabaco City’s foremost, or may per-

haps be the only authentic cultural group, in partnership with the
Yoga Club of Tabaco, a group devoted in educating everyone
about identity, yoga meditation, vegetarianism, and many more.
The event was funded by the LGU of Tabaco, as part of its drive
to boost socio-cultural agenda in the growing city.

As soon as the equipments were ready, part of the group started

the singing of the said Yoga sound, inviting curious bystanders,
passers by, and park-goers to either watch the delirious chanters,
or check out the stuff in the banners, or read the booklets offered
by the rest of the youngsters.
socially and transcendentally relevant songs to the intimate crowd.
Somewhere in the program, veggie burgers and sweets were dis-
tributed by the group to the delight of the listeners. Distribution of The program ran for more than four hours of what Eric Lim, AB-
Parasadam, or foodstuff offered to God, is a common practice by KAT Inc.’s president observed “a time filled with sense.”
the group. It is their
belief that chanting
and hearing of the
Holy Names, and
eating of Prasadam,
can both purify our
hearts of material-
ism.

In between breaks
of the group’s
chanting, local mu-
sic artists like Jim-
ple Borlagdan, a
folk singer, Los
Pajeros, a rap
group from Bonga,
 27

Haribol Jam article and photo (top) by Jaime Jesus U. Borlagdan

PLANT A TREE 28