Blogging The World

Here’s a follow up post to this:START
Last May, I was on the “hot seat” again. With Irma and Monica (Lukie’s teachers), we had our end of the school year evaluation-‘colloquio’. I was told that his social skills improved and he’s even the most popular kid in school. In fact when I go shopping I often hear kids telling their Mom, “E’ mama d’ Lukie”(Its Lukie’s Mom). I know, being an Asian added to why my son would be that noticeable.

His drawings too are better now. Mountains, buildings, flags etc...supplements his “artistic side” with his usual captions or scripts boldly shown on his designs.

They have no complain and praised him for being a “molto educato”(very educated), well mannered and behaved boy...Huuhaah, can you see me floating while all moms are clapping? That’s the image I’m seeing during that time.

Then they asked me the big question, “How did you teach your son how to read and write that well?”. That’s something to them because proper lessons here start in the “Media”(elementary school)and Lukie has one more year before he goes to the "scoula grande"(school for the big one's -as he calls it). I was about to tell them, “GENES!”, to make things simple. I just said, “We only read him books, taught him a,e,i,o,u etc... once and he did the rest”. “THE REST” which I am going to blog next.

I was reminded to write about his evaluation when I found him scribbling words on his paper when what he usually do is drawing his F1 (Fomula 1) and Rally race tracks. He said he is blogging too.
Its just funny cause he gets confused with his Italian and English at times. “Lukie, what’s the English term for ‘crocante’?” I asked and he answered, “Crocants!”. He should have said “crunchy”. He mixes his two known languages like this written blog of his:

Everyone is a blogger now in my family. Lukie, whom we will soon be creating his account to stop him from just clicking ‘Yahooligans, googling “cars” and YouTube’. So is my husband, writing better than me here: Musashiboogie with his hobby of photography as a treat. For Dylan, say after 3 years for my youngest(LOL), we will be reading his post...I don’t need to elaborate on this: Writing is therapeutic!

'NUNTA' LIBERATION

Post 15: Lolo Ramon's Story

"After the liberation, it was a difficult time for us. everything was in the process of rebuilding and Ambassador was not spared of the recession. Food was scarce. Kaingins and fields were to be revived and it takes time before we could harvest what ever we planted. Animals were all consumed during the war. With five children to nurture, it made the situation even harder." recollects my grandpa.

Ambassador is the only 'barangay' of Tublay Benguet whose main population consists of the 'Kankana-ey' tribe. Only Ramon's family injected 'Kalanguya' into the place.

After the war, these 'Kankana-eys' became notorious thieves. They stole animals and crops from the 'Ibalois' who were situated in the lower part of Tublay. Such as Acop-Caponga, Ba-ayan, Daclan etc... These people from Ambassador were even hooked to gambling and stealing made them lazy to cultivate their own land. They were feared and disliked by the other tribes back then.

Ramon was determined to stop this abuse. He then gathered all the 'lalakays'(old folks) and and came up with set of rules and punishments for gambling and stealing. With the support of his brothers and his cousins, they became the implementers of these rules.

Any one caught with the crime would be sent to leave Ambassador or will be forced to work in the communal forest.These communal was picked and decided by the old folks under the leadership of my grandfather as a site owned by everybody. Its thickly forested with Pine tress. Trees were only allowed to be cut when someone died and they need it for his 'lungon'(coffin). Another is when a family is to build a house, they are allowed to cut not more than five trees provided they are to plant in exchange.

Below this forest is an abundant source of water supplying most part of the community. Aside from being a former boxer, these made Ramon a popular figure in his place and had been the long awaited help for the Ibalois.

"Your Lolo had a charm that makes a crowd listen. He was also a brave stubborn man who was feared of because of respect", my Dad continues.

Tagged: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

My first time to be tagged by TINA of My Good Finds.Org( http://mygoodfinds.org/2007/07/22/tagged-what-were-you-thinking/). Here's the mind cracking task: What Were You Thinking when you first met your current main squeeze? (husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, sex partner, WHATEVER!).

"What a Korean Snob! Suplado!" That's what my mind wants my mouth to say out loud. Still in my brain: "Don't talk to strangers" so I just held my chin up and gave him a face of "Bakit??? Sino ka?".

For the love of horses, me and my sisters were at Wright Park during one of the Gymkhanas and he was at the Haven. He was looking at me, up and down, with his crooked eyebrows. I just passed by him with my riding boots' 'tok, tok, tok' sound.

Ok, ok...I found him cute and instantly had a crush on him. He might be a rich foreighner to catch hahaha.

On one of my husband's post in a forum, he said, "My wife thought I was a rich Korean(I prefer Hapon)... 'kawawang cowboy pala'!" By the way, he only got close to "Hapon" with "Hapao" Ifugao as his roots :-)

I've later known what he was thinking on that Haven in Pacdal. Him: "She's got a big butt. Hmnnn, definitely lacking in height ngem 'napintas'..." He has to say that last word or else....!

You see, sizing humps could lead to 2 lovely boys. To Lukie and Dylan: Here's a story to tell your kids - 'HUMPY BUMPY' hehehe.

I'm tagging Miss Bugias, Bill Bilig(hehehe, baka ayaw ni Sir B) and Russel(sa comments) for the tradition of 'passing the tag'.

DANIEL

Post 14: Lolo Ramon's Story

" July 12, 1944, Daniel, my fifth son was born. We evacuated Ambassador and we're on our way down to Itogon. We have to leave because many Japanese were going to Saddle(km 26 Halsema Highway) on to Ifugao. They were running away from the American soldiers. Desperation and frustration from a foreseeable defeat, they kill every Filipinos they come across with."

"We could see the Japanese from the other mountain coming towards our way. Baby Daniel was crying so hard and Meding could not pacify him. I would not let my wife, my other four kids and my relatives die, we have to leave the baby. We covered him with grasses and left."

"We avoided the Japanese's path and we could see them pass by where we left the baby. We were suppose to go on walking but I could not take Meding's sobs and she was pleading for us to wait till the soldiers would go. They were gone. I hurried back to take Daniel and Meding was behind me."

"We couldn't hear anything, no noise and the grasses weren't even moving. I took off all that covered him and there he was so cold and blue. Meding took him in her arms. He was so weak but opened his eyes. After her mother rubbed him, he gave us a loud cry. I was very thankful to God for that burst or I will forever regret what I have done."

Daniel is my Daddy Danny. Our Dad who also became our mother when my Mama died. He was left with six girls. Me being the eldest was only twelve years old back then and our youngest Ica was only two.

Had my grandparents left or baby Daniel cried louder when the Japs passed by, I wouldn't be here relating this story.

The picture above is Daniel's first baby."BABY LOVE-Lovelyn" was written by her Mama Normie at the back of the photo.

PINE TREE

I was looking for my son Lukie outside and found him playing with a pine cone. He asked me what are those black things coming out and I told him those are pine seeds.

It was only then that I actually saw 'pinoli' (pine nut) that we use here for 'pesto'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesto.

I pounded it this morning after I finally thought of writing about it. We buy this for 2 euros for every 150 grams, that's the cheapest depending on the brand.

When I was still young, I thought Pine trees grow only in cold places basing it from the Philippines where you can only find it to where I came from. Saying I am from Baguio back then to other folks from the lowlands, they see me as a Pine tree, strawberry or even a 'bundok'(mountain).

There are actually different species that grow varying from what type of soil to temperature, place etc... What we have here in Italy is mostly the 'Stone Pine'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Pine. Its not as tall as to what we have in Baguio and you can't smell the scent of 'saleng'.

The cone is bigger and the pine needles are only of 2 strands.

Seeing these trees everyday when I put up the window blinds give me the feeling of being in my hometown. One of the reasons why Boogs and I chose to keep this place over a cheaper, wider and a cozier house. Aaahh, never mind the birds starting their day as early as 4 AM, they're just reminding us there are trees outside.

WORLD WAR II

Post 13: Lolo Ramon's Story

"1939, Me and my cousins who just came from Tinoc had dug a tunnel from our house down to the abandoned mines Amekano made. Then we continued digging the old "usok"(tunnel) to make an exit to Babatan. It was an everyday hard work for almost a year."

" Bado that time joined Dennis Molintas and both led the 66th infantry Battalion, Igorotlandia. He had let all his buses to be used by the Filipino and American soldiers that made him the Japanese's most wanted head in the Cordillera."

"1942, We hid Major Bado Dangwa and his soldiers. If the Japanese would be near Ambassador, Bado's troup goes to Babatan making use of our tunnel. If the enemy goes to Kapangan, Bado will go up to Ambassador."

"Bado and his troop stayed most of the time in Babatan and all our animals were butchered for their food. There was a time when his men went on a mission and he was advised to stay. We hid him in a pothole only to see him when we bring his meal."

"Meding was pregnant with Beatrice that time. We were always evacuating and it was difficult to do it with 3 children but, the 'usok' made it easy for us."

"1944, the Japanese were being defeated and they became more cruel. They take it on us the civilians. One of my nephew was killed and they unmercifully ate his poor heart."

MUSASHI

The "cookie" again and some technicalities, I can't directly upload videos from 'youtube' and url's are showing when I try to link a site. Just do the clicking for now.

My next in line to read book is MUSASHI by Eiji Yoshiko that was translated by Charles S. Terry. A classic samurai novel dubbed as "The Gone With The Wind of Japan".

My husband finished the book and was consumed with the story. He searched 'youtube' hoping to find reactions of Musashi enchanted readers like him and WALAAH! The TV series could be viewed there... I felt cheated! Now I'm half through watching all the episodes and it could have been nice if I've read it first.

MUSASHI 1-1 series http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CeqrPrjgY

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