The sea, my father and the setting sun. [Vancouver, BC / 16-August-2014@2000H]

KENKA NANANGKO

Sika -

...a nangidayyeng ti umuna a nota ti musika ti biagko;

...a namunganayan ti bersikulo dagiti dandaniwko;

...a nangted tadem iti di agsarday pannakaasana a plumak;

...a nangitunda kaniak tapno denggek balikas ti angin;

...a nangisuro kaniak tapno anglabek ti palayupoy ti aglawlaw;

...a nangilili kaniak iti yuyeng ti narnekan a turog;

...a namagrusing iti naganus a panunot dagiti bin-i ni arapaap;

...a nangted namnama iti manglanglangeben a tangatang;

...a nangibirrayon kaniak iti rawis ti masakbayan;

...a nangpalukay kadagiti et-et dagiti parikut;

...a nangatibay kaniak bayat idadaliasat iti akikid a tambak ti biag;

...a namaglitem kadagiti petalo ti lusyaw a rosasko;

...a nangbisbisibis tapno lumangto ti maganggangon a kinataok; 

...a nangmurmuray kadagiti matak tapno matmatakon ti masakbayan...

- KABLAAWANKAYO.

Ta no kas kalaka la koma ti umanges 

Ti agsubli iti napalabas a panagubing

Ket pulos a diakon kayat ti umaddang pay 

Tapno agsubliak iti narikut unay nga agdama

Ta kayatko addaak latta iti saklotmo 

Nga agsangsanggir iti nakatagibiak a barukongmo

Tapno paturogennak latta kadagiti indakdakkelko a kansyonmo 

Bayat panangililim kaniak tapno mayindayonak ken libay.

Naragsak a panagkasangaymo Inangko 

Agyamanak iti daytoy sagut a biag

No man rigat la ti biag ti pagpaspasaran

Di mailadawan ragsakko ta nasalun-atka

Ken addaka latta a mangtartarabay kaniak

Iti laksid dagiti nabinggasan lamuyot a bugkawko

Ken awanan unay unget ken gubsang a karitko.

***iloveyousomuch Inangko 

Manipud Kadagiti Editor ti Bannawag: Deadline ti panagidatag iti aplikasion iti Pasnaan 5: Nob. 30

Manipud Kadagiti Editor ti Bannawag: Deadline ti panagidatag iti aplikasion iti Pasnaan 5: Nob. 30

FISHING as a way of LIFE

It must've been my old man who's responsible why I'm so addicted with fishing. A father who loves the outdoors as much as anyone else in the entire globe. He's been trekking the woods as a hunter long before he was married to my mother. According to him as a kid he loves fishing and it must've been because of the bountiful fishes surrounding the place where he grew up. (The same place where I was born.)


Going back to my childhood years I could recall my fishing days with my Old Man using the old traditional way of hand fishing and weaved bamboo traps in the rivers, streams and canals of our farm at the foot of the beautiful Sierra Madre Mountain in the Northern Province of the Philippines (Barrio Luzon) catching delicious crabs, shrimps and fishes.

As a kid I used to steal my brothers' hooks and used rice sack's fibres as my fishing line with a bamboo pole as a rod. A very simple-innocent way yet so effective way of fishing for I caught fishes too. I remember one experience that's still very fresh in my mind when me and my sister Benalyn caught a big catfish from the stream beside our farm house. We were shouting, dancing and singing as we bring home the big catch trying to tell the neighbors how happy we were catching a big fish.

I was born a farm boy in a remote mountainous community where there's plenty of fresh water fishes but we moved to the plaza proper of our small town Claveria (they call the Coastal Paradise of the North) when I was eight years old and the house my father built is located few meters away from the seashore. So, I grew up literally around the neighbourhood of fishing folks where fishing is the primary source of living and it is a way of life.


They fish before the sun rises and retires late at night just to survive and feed their family. Poverty is so rampant in our community that most of the kids from these poor families can’t afford to continue in going to College or University that’s why they end up fishing in the waters of our hometown until they reach their maturity and finally starts their own family.

I have witnessed with my own eyes how people fish just to survive and it was inculcated in my very young mind from my childhood years to help these folks if I ever have the chance. In the fight for poverty I have seen with my own eyes how people in the coastal place of our small-town lost their fingers and arms or died from illegal dynamite fishing and seen how the big cruel waves of the sea wrecked small boats of our local fishermen trying to brave the storms of the sea just to go out and fish for the survival of their family.

In our community I have my own circle of friends we call it Barkada. They are all ascendants of experienced fishermen from our community. We never get tired of fishing. We fish every afternoon after school and spent our weekends mostly in the seashore fishing if not in the farm with my father. But even if my father and I had to work in the farm I always have a fishing line with me.


I remember when I was still in the Seminary that I was caught fishing in the bank of the stream at the back of the seminary instead of getting a mandatory siesta (short sleep) at one o’clock in the afternoon. This is the fun part: I was asked to kneel on my knees and say the rosary on that same spot where he caught me.

Fishing became a part of me that even when I already finished my Degree in College and already studying in the law school I always have time to fish even my schedule is so hectic that I have to read thousands of pages in my law books.

When I was second year in law school I broke up with my girlfriend and it affected me that much that I regretfully dropped out some of my minor law subjects. But I breathtakingly got over that break up because of fishing.

When I finally got my LLB and failed the bar exam I joined my parents in migrating to Canada and I thought that would be the end of my fishing habit. But I befriended Kuya Romie Millares who's also a fishing aficionado and found myself fishing again in the middle of Canadian prairie lakes almost every weekend especially during summertime.


Now I have my 18 year old nephew joining me as a fishing buddy who loves fishing as much as I do. I still smile every time I remember how I prayed one day we went out fishing and he hooked his first fish of the season. My nerves seems like holding on to the fish as he spins his reel to remove the slacks of his line in order not to loose his fish again just like what'd happened in our previous fishing trip. I was more excited as he was when he finally landed his first Canadian Northern Pike out of the water. With big relief gave him a congratulation high five and took my phone out and gave him few shots.


I still remember the days back in the Philippines when I was a kid and always arguing with my mom every time I go out fishing. And even now that I'm already old and mature enough to decide on my own, she still questions my fishing hobby. "Why don't you just rest and stay at the house instead of going out fishing in the cold?" my mother would always murmur every time but I always tell her that fishing for me is not just my hobby but a way of life and a medium to attain peace of mind and relaxation. A type of rest to take away my stresses from work.

It's true, there's a peace of mind that fishing does to my body that my bed can’t provide. Even how tired I am if I go out fishing in the rivers or lakes my body feels relax and my stress will be gone in seconds. It must have been the enjoyment and the happiness I felt whenever I catch a fish that relaxes my body and brings me the peace of mind.

People always ask me why I love fishing that much. I always smile back at them and says not a single word because tell them your reason today and tomorrow they'd ask you again.

Someone who'd never held a fishing rod before is like a person who’d never experienced sex at all. By the way, fishing is like cigarette, it’s highly addictive.

Not to mention about the beautiful sceneries that only outdoorsmen like me see outside city limits away from the roars of the developing industries and the foul pollutions that unknowingly killing us little by little.


Now we are a month away from springtime, the most awaited time of the year for us fishermen and I can’t wait till I will be casting my stresses away again in the lakes and rivers of Alberta, Canada.

To my mom and family, please don’t blame me for this addictive hobby. Blame Tatang.

Life's Bitter-Sweet Encouragement To Go On

'Though everyday's been an unending struggle
That makes me so tired and weary
And often brings me closer to giving up
But looking back at all the things I've done and how I've been
Although I know they'd never good enough
To the unsatisfied eyes of those nasty spectators
Life's still at its best and fairness sweetly smiling at me.

Counting all the blessings I have
Starting with a loving and understanding family
Whom I've always been treated as they're baby
Friends that always raise a glass with me
A girl who always argues and fights with me (and fights for me, too)
A decent work that pays my bills
Not maybe the best in all the world
But Oh, these GRACES from Him push me to go along.

As the new year starts, and 2012 is about to end
Deep wishes comes out on every (sigh) breath I take
And solemn prayers on every move I make
That a glimpse of a better life would somehow be seen.

Queries to you Lord

If ever I see you face to face Lord
I'd ask you plenty of questions
For these are the issues that bothered me so much
While living here on earth.

I'd ask you why you gave me only one heart that I can't love two souls at the same time?
Why the word infidel was ever known to man?
Why confusion ever existed?
Why religion divides people?
Why believing in you causes division to humankind?
Why they put faith in You to question?
Why misunderstanding triggers hate to every man?
Why hatred causes war?
Why hurt and pain cause tears to the eyes?
Why can't people live in peace and harmony?
And Why money is the the biggest thing in this world?

Pardon my words Lord but indeed my mind is so curious
That I can't leave this world without making a list of queries
That if I ever see you face to face
I may forget them because of the peace to my heart you bring.

One more thing Lord before I put down this pen
Why did you give me a curious mind to ask you these questions?

So long Winnipeg...

From the place many called "the winter bay or Winterpeg" I’m back here in Calgary, my second home away from home after that three weeks of working there. I supposed to be bringing home good memories and not a sickness, because it’s not every time you're given a privilege to travel for work. I am just lucky and proud to be part of a gigantic Canada-wide Company, ARMTEC INC. 

It must have been the weather that pinned down my health because it varies a lot from the place where I used to live with which is Calgary, Alberta. Winnipeg, Manitoba is so humid and hot that the normal temperature ranges from 30 - 33 degrees celsius and sometimes on days that is so unfortunate it goes up to 41 degrees celsius which is so different from Calgary which is dry and not so hot that the summer temperature is only mild. Now I am coughing and having colds and fever that made me missed my work for two days in a row.

The altitude difference must have been an additional factor why I got sick for Calgary is sitting near the rocky mountain alps of Canada with almost 3500 feet above sea level compared to Winnipeg which is only more than 500 feet above the sea level. 

For that three weeks of working away from home the “Canad Inns” in Garden Park served as my temporary home. I have felt the comforting pleasures their professional services have offered not to mention about the sweet stunning gorgeous smiles of the Filipina waitresses working in the Aaltos Cafè where I regularly ate my meals and even snacks. 

Much as they have those delicious foods to enjoy, the waitresses or servers also have the nicest services and sweetest smiles. Filipinos by the way are the majority of the workforce in this Hotel especially at the cafè which might be the reason why I enjoyed that much (not in the workplace but in the hotel).

Talking about working with the people of my company’s Winnipeg Plant my temper was being tested and almost lost it again for there were guys who don't really work hard but took their work for granted plus the gigantic communication barrier. They really can’t speak good English and that's what made me mad. But anyway there are some guys also who really worked hard and they are mainly the older and mature ones like Greg Porter, Lope Polvorosa and Jose Ordoñez. They are the guys that I had fun working with and became my close friends while I was there. 

We made that friendship even stronger when we spent some time together for a beer spree, and good Lord we had so much fun drinking that we almost met our limits and can't even count how many beers we drunk. All we remembered is that we drunk only couple of beers, the FIRST and the LAST.

The day after that was my last day with them. I don't know and I wasn't really sure if I was happy and excited that I came to the last mile of my journey with them because I actually found myself wishing that my stay with them would be longer.

It must have been the change of the weather that change the mood. Temperature dropped to 20's saving me from the fiery experience of hot Manitoban temperature. Another must be the attachment I begun to initiate with those funny guys. But there's nothing more I can do but to say adios/adieu to them. So with teary eyes I said goodbye to them.

I know very well that waving goodbye to these friends is not easy and the thought that I'd somehow be missing their company kills me. The jokes, the horse playing and funs that we had while working together somehow gave me aftershocks now that I am home. But anyway life's like that. They say that the only constant thing in this world is change. But for sure another painting in the canvass of my life will be hanged again in my wall and that's the painting of the beautiful and unforgettable friendship created in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I finally said goodbye to them and left flying back home on a plane, hoping that they learned something that will somehow help them and will make their workload easier and make better work efficiency. It's all up to them if they want to listen and implement those suggestions and learning for their own improvement.

Win in Winnipeg

With a sort of excitement and a little wave of scary feeling, I got board on a plane with my boss bound for Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Excited for it’s my first time heading this way and not to mention about the pride that boosts me for being chosen from numerous good employees from my company to travel with my boss and to provide a hand to our company branch in Winnipeg.

Scary for the reason that I absolutely have no idea what kind of workers they got and what kind of working habit they have. Would they be so difficult to handle and mingle with or would they be so serious that will make our two weeks stay so boring and dry?

We were welcomed by the very warm greetings of Winnipeg weather, a climate so different from the place we get used to live with, Calgary, Alberta. Not so far different anyway from the Philippines, which is the place where I grew up because of its high humid environment. I murmured to myself that I’m going to love this place.

Expectations flipped otherwise by the time I got to know the guys we got to work with for even the very first time that I met them I already liked them a lot. Two Caucasian funny guys, a Spanish not-to- young-silent “abuelo” (Spanish for grandfather), and an almost-retiree fellow Filipino “lolo”. Bottomline is that I like them a lot and that would be an assurance that I’m going to enjoy my stay here.  

Kalpasan Naunday a Tawen

Aglumoten ti singgalot

Nangbegkes ayan-ayat

Nga uray kasano kapigsat' apres

Ti ayus ti karayan ti biag

Ket saanyo intulok a mapugsat,

ketdi lallalo pay a pinakidser nepnep ti lua

Ken pudot iti kalgaw ti rigat

Nga inkayo nagbuligan.

Awan sardayna a pannaripato

Ti inpaayyo iti belo a nangbalkot

Pinagmaymaysa puso ken riknayo

Ta uray no dadduma adda man umapay

A sagursor wenno puris a mangdadael

Simbeng ken linay ti panagdennayo

Ngem diyo intulok a marakrak -

Mapisang iti uray kasano kadawel

Nga aplaw ti kapigsaan a bagyo.

Wen, main-inuten nga agregregreg

Dagiti masagsaginnit nga aggango

A bulbulongyo ngem agsaringit latta

Ti sarantat’ kaungganyo a mangbuybuya

Kadagiti nalalangto ken lumanglangto pay

A saringit a nagdaludal manipud sakloloyo.

Angaw kadi pay aya ti nagdaliasatan

Ti kagudua dekada a panagdennayo?

Marukod kad’ pay dagiti lingling-et ken lulua

Rimsua panangtagibenyo ti karin-kari

Inmaldityo iti maysa ken maysa

A taripatuenyo ti maysa ken maysa

Iti rigat ken nam-ay

Sanguanan ti altar ti Apo a Namarsua

Singkuenta a tawenen ti napalabas?

Dawatmi lang a saringityo

At-atiddog pay a biag, kired ken salun-at

Tapno dakami pay ti maatibayyo

Ken kadakayo maipaaymi met ti ayat-pannagibi

A sinagrapmi bayat panagubingmi

Nga inkayo kaniami panangmuli

Tapno madanunmi ti ita pagtaktakderanmi.

Adu a lua ti inkay inbubos

Tapno dakami ti mapadakkelyo

Ngem ala sapay ta naragsakkayon

A makakitkita nagbanbanaganmi nga annakyo

Agraman kaingungotmi ken appoko

(malaksid kaniak, hehehe).

____________________________________________________

*Nasapa a sagut a daniw kada Tatang ken Nanang para iti pannakaselebrar ti maika-50 nga anibersaryo ti panaglantip dagiti puspusoda inton Abril 21, 2011.

Limeriko para kenka Uliteg

1.
Lagidawek unay uliteg ti inpapetpetmo a dapo
Ken pinangperresmo lulonan toy ulo;
Ta gandatmo idi mayanakak kanu a tagibi
Ton dumakkelak naamonto kaniak lames ken babbai,
Ngem kitaem ita banag toy kaanakam a tarantado.

2.
No agpaypayso man ti inuugma a pammatim
Adda yamanko ngem adda met innak kenka panagalumiim
Ta apay ngamin a kastoy kalokoan nga inaramidmo?
Tatta siakon ti linipat da Tatang ken Nanangko.
Talekda kaniak isu pay ngatat’ maisublim?

3.
Uliteg saan laeng a dayta ti kenka pilawek
Ta pati arak siak ti sinuruam nga inwawek;
Kunam idi ubingak a saan a dakes ti uminom
Turongna la ketdi tiyan saan a dita ulom,
Ngem ita kitaem banagko ngipenkon ti natumek.

4.
Lipatenka koma metten nga uliteg
Ngem ay-ayatenka met a kas panagayatda kadaytoy lateg;
Ngem ala ammok saan pay naladaw ti amin,
Ngem tandaanam no rumuarto apokom ken ni kasinsin
Perres ken dapo isunto met aramidek.

*LIMERIKO wenno LIMERICK iti sarita nga Ingles ket maysa a kita ti daniw nga addaan iti lima linya a rukod a pinasikat ti mannurat wenno ilustrador a ni Edward Lear a nagbiag iti baetan ti tawen 1812 ken 1888. Agka-rhyme ti maudi a balikas ti dua nga umuna a linya, kasta met ti maikatlo ken maikapat, ken ti maudi a linya ket umarngi iti umuna ken maikadua wenno AABBA. Kangrunaan a panggep wenno tema daytoy a daniw ket makapakatawa wenno makapaisem. -[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick_(poetry)]