Going Tribal in Bukidnon is a Facebook page that i have created yesterday.
This turned out to be such an exciting thing to do :-) I can write about my cultural heritage and share it to the friends that i have on this wonderful networking site called Facebook.
I guess you can say that i am growing up and finding a lot of adventure in the FB world.
My father's first cousin, Waway Linsahay Saway, came and visited us in Manolo last summer while we were there. He has been to visit my family a few times before.He sees my Tito Vic (my Dad's younger brother) more often as Tito traverses the del Monte plantation fields constantly and Tito would swing by the ancestral village of Songco to visit.
I have not been to Songco yet but hope to visit a few days the next time we are home in Manolo.
The FB group i have created is put together for these reasons:
1. To help promote the products that the indigenous Bukidnon people create with skill and beauty. They have very pretty woven mats, beadwork (necklaces, earrings etc), music, paintings etc...
2. To help sustain their livelihood and a culture that is easily eroded by the modern times. I do have to say that Tatay Waway (as many calls him) has done a great job of incorporating the modern world into supporting the traditional livelihood of the culture. With the use of modern gadgetry he has printed and created his music without having to compromise his native artistry.
3.To allow people to see and participate the cultural heritage that is thriving in the mountains of Bukidnon.
So come and look us up in Facebook! Look up Going Tribal in Bukidnon!
My Family (Not All Here)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Crochet, Embroidery and Nitpicking
When i was living with my MamaLola and Lolo, with Manit and Tita Lyds, summer afternoon at times were long and tedious.
The heat is burning and there's really nothing to do but sleep until the heat of mid-day gives way to the coolness of the afternoon.
It was during the summer months when Manit is back with us in Lingion and there is really not much for me to do that i would be lying on the floor at the "balkon" (balcony or porch) watching her crochet endlessly.
She would crochet door and window curtains.
My favorite was the peacock design.
When she got tired of the design she'd pull it all apart and then start on another design.
Meanwhile, Tita Lyds would be combing my hair and nit pick.
Oh, yes! Lice was a common thing and almost every day, they'd comb my hair using a "suyod" or "sulod" to get rid of the lice. Then they would make me sit with a pencil and paper so i can draw or practice my alphabet while my hair is picked for nits.
Oooo, how i hated it :-))
It hurts my tender scalp!
But they won't let me have any lice so sit i did.
I remember when i was going to turn 6 and i will have to move to town with my Mamang ang Papang and siblings to go to school.
Mama Lola and Tita Lyds sewed all my uniforms.
Two sets of uniforms.
Navy blue pleated skirts with jumper tops and white blouses with puffy sleeves and baby collar.
And on the snowy white collars my wonderful Tita Lyds embroidered my names.
On the right side it said "Karlyn" and on the left side, "Kaye"
My Mama Lola also made me a couple of white cotton hankies and Tita Lyds embroidered letter "K" on them.
How i tried to keep those hankies!
Even then i was already predisposed to sentimental feelings.
I loved how much they fussed over me and loved me.
Even when they did hurt my scalp for nitpicking.
The heat is burning and there's really nothing to do but sleep until the heat of mid-day gives way to the coolness of the afternoon.
It was during the summer months when Manit is back with us in Lingion and there is really not much for me to do that i would be lying on the floor at the "balkon" (balcony or porch) watching her crochet endlessly.
She would crochet door and window curtains.
My favorite was the peacock design.
When she got tired of the design she'd pull it all apart and then start on another design.
Meanwhile, Tita Lyds would be combing my hair and nit pick.
Oh, yes! Lice was a common thing and almost every day, they'd comb my hair using a "suyod" or "sulod" to get rid of the lice. Then they would make me sit with a pencil and paper so i can draw or practice my alphabet while my hair is picked for nits.
Oooo, how i hated it :-))
It hurts my tender scalp!
But they won't let me have any lice so sit i did.
I remember when i was going to turn 6 and i will have to move to town with my Mamang ang Papang and siblings to go to school.
Mama Lola and Tita Lyds sewed all my uniforms.
Two sets of uniforms.
Navy blue pleated skirts with jumper tops and white blouses with puffy sleeves and baby collar.
And on the snowy white collars my wonderful Tita Lyds embroidered my names.
On the right side it said "Karlyn" and on the left side, "Kaye"
My Mama Lola also made me a couple of white cotton hankies and Tita Lyds embroidered letter "K" on them.
How i tried to keep those hankies!
Even then i was already predisposed to sentimental feelings.
I loved how much they fussed over me and loved me.
Even when they did hurt my scalp for nitpicking.
Patsy (My Father's Dog on the Saga)
This entry was written by my Dad a few days ago.
I will continue to document stories of my father's family.
I will continue to document stories of my father's family.
Patsy was my dog, he was black with a white spot in his left eye.
When he was born, an old man, Apo Gorio, a Baylan {medicine man} told me to fed him in his first food a burnt beehive mixed in his food so that he can smell enemies from a di...stance and will be a good hunting dog and will become a brave dog.
Patsy grew up in my care, papa bought a chain to tie him because he ran after everybody who came near our house.
One night, we were awaken with his barkings from the camote field which is about 5o meters from our cottage.
Papa took his shotgun and put his "lanterna" in his forehead {like miners} and he found out that patsy has broken his chain and run after a big wild boar that came to eat camotes.
When Patsy sensed Papa he ran to him and bit his pant signalling him to follow and not far away a still dying wild boar was lying down.
From that incident, Papa and some hunters does not go out without Patsy, he was always with the hunting party and they always have a catch, either wild pigs or deer and sometimes both.
From that incident, Papa and some hunters does not go out without Patsy, he was always with the hunting party and they always have a catch, either wild pigs or deer and sometimes both.
Patsy became a celebrity in the barrio and was kowon in far Santiago, Minlangit, Agosahis, Bayawa and other neighboring places, he was known as "Aso hi Boy".
Thus, one day, a group of men with spears and bolos following a man in a white horse with long hair and beard came to Silo-o.
It was a Sunday afternoon, Mama called all of us and we all hid in our bedroom.
Papa went to meet them, he introduce himself as Mandabao, the famous magahat.
Papa called the people around by ringing the school bell made of an end of a world war 2 bombshell. Mangabao told papa that he came to buy Patsy for he heard about the dog, but Papa told him he can have Patsy for free.
That night the barrio people hosted a party for the group, they were served foods and drinks.
The following day Papa told me that the magahat will take Patsy.
When he handed him his chain I started to cry until they were lost in the jungle.
BINAKI or TAMALE
Growing up on the mountains of Bukidnon, there is always something i look forward to during the corn harvest season.
BINAKI (i translate it as "froglike") the word comes from "baki" which means "frog".
It may have been named due to it's look which loosely resembles that of a frog.
It was interesting that i was not very successful in finding a recipe that i can work with (although there were a few from other blog recipes). It always calls for young corn which i have to admit, is not very easy to come by and i want to see if i can use the canned corn i have on my pantry.
Then i can have binaki whenever i want it.
Yesterday, my good friends came over for a tamale cooking session.
Tamale is from Mexico and they use masa which i believe is fine ground corn. The mixture was very simple for our chicken mole tamale. White 2 lb masa, corn, half a stick of Crisco and about 3 cups of warm water.
Mixed with our hands until it went passed the tacky consistency to a more spreadable, thinner consistency.
We filled it up with the mole and chicken, wrapped it with the pre-soaked corn husks and steamed for an hour.
Alicia then showed us how to tap it and listen to how solid the sound is and pronounce it as COOKED!
Alicia is the wife of one of the brothers who owns our local Mexican Restaurant, Casa Rojas. Such a wonderful and beautiful lady!
I have really enjoyed spending time and getting to know her better.
From the experience i had in making tamales yesterday morning, i had the courage to finally try and make my own binaki.
Here's the recipe for those of you who want to give it a try.
Binaki or Sweet Tamale with Meat Filling
1 can cream style corn
yellow masa
1 can evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1 T. baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 stick crisco
1 t. salt
_Mix the Crisco and sugar first.
-Mix in the eggs.
-Pour in the milk and the cream style corn.
-On a separate bowl mix the salt, masa and baking powder. (start with 2 1/2 cups of masa)
-Pour into the egg and corn mixture.
Now, if it is too wet, keep adding a little of masa until a consitency that you can work with is achieved. Not too wet but not too dry either. (If you want it creamier then make it a bit more wet.)
You should have already pre-soaked your husks in warm water. Drain it and shake the excess water off.
We had some left over carnitas (meat filling for tamales) and so i used that to fill in some of the binaki before wrapping. Others i made without the filling.
Don't put too much mixture on the husks. I used a heaping tablespoonful each. Spread it a bit and put the filling on top and then start wrapping.
Watch on youtube how to wrap tamales.
Usually the other end is open which is not the same as for binaki in the Philippines.
I did wrap it like the tamales though (one end open) and it was just fine.
I am not used to writing recipes so if you have any questions just let me know and i will help you through it :-)
Steam for an hour.
BINAKI (i translate it as "froglike") the word comes from "baki" which means "frog".
It may have been named due to it's look which loosely resembles that of a frog.
It was interesting that i was not very successful in finding a recipe that i can work with (although there were a few from other blog recipes). It always calls for young corn which i have to admit, is not very easy to come by and i want to see if i can use the canned corn i have on my pantry.
Then i can have binaki whenever i want it.
Yesterday, my good friends came over for a tamale cooking session.
Tamale is from Mexico and they use masa which i believe is fine ground corn. The mixture was very simple for our chicken mole tamale. White 2 lb masa, corn, half a stick of Crisco and about 3 cups of warm water.
Mixed with our hands until it went passed the tacky consistency to a more spreadable, thinner consistency.
We filled it up with the mole and chicken, wrapped it with the pre-soaked corn husks and steamed for an hour.
Alicia then showed us how to tap it and listen to how solid the sound is and pronounce it as COOKED!
Alicia is the wife of one of the brothers who owns our local Mexican Restaurant, Casa Rojas. Such a wonderful and beautiful lady!
I have really enjoyed spending time and getting to know her better.
From the experience i had in making tamales yesterday morning, i had the courage to finally try and make my own binaki.
Here's the recipe for those of you who want to give it a try.
Binaki or Sweet Tamale with Meat Filling
1 can cream style corn
yellow masa
1 can evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1 T. baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 stick crisco
1 t. salt
_Mix the Crisco and sugar first.
-Mix in the eggs.
-Pour in the milk and the cream style corn.
-On a separate bowl mix the salt, masa and baking powder. (start with 2 1/2 cups of masa)
-Pour into the egg and corn mixture.
Now, if it is too wet, keep adding a little of masa until a consitency that you can work with is achieved. Not too wet but not too dry either. (If you want it creamier then make it a bit more wet.)
You should have already pre-soaked your husks in warm water. Drain it and shake the excess water off.
We had some left over carnitas (meat filling for tamales) and so i used that to fill in some of the binaki before wrapping. Others i made without the filling.
Don't put too much mixture on the husks. I used a heaping tablespoonful each. Spread it a bit and put the filling on top and then start wrapping.
Watch on youtube how to wrap tamales.
Usually the other end is open which is not the same as for binaki in the Philippines.
I did wrap it like the tamales though (one end open) and it was just fine.
I am not used to writing recipes so if you have any questions just let me know and i will help you through it :-)
Steam for an hour.
Friday, April 15, 2011
End of the story?
It was a humbling experience to post MaEm's story on this blog.
How very easy my generation forgets the stories that we grew up with.
As we grow older ourselves and we get busy with our separate lives, raise children of our own, the memories get hazy.
It is good to read and reread family stories.
It put things in perspective for us.
It reminds us who we are and tells us what life is all about.
Though financial stability and material possession makes living a lot easier, it is the loving, the struggling together as a family that builds the character that eventually shapes who each person is.
It is a contrast of who struggled most succeeded most in school that i found fascinating.
The first three who were there during the worst times and the last two who had more financial support but did not make it through college.
Life is full of irony.
The story by far has not ended.
We still carry the after effects of the challenges my grandparents have endured.
We are still a principled bunch.
This does not mean that we are spotless. Far from it.
But we learn from our mistakes and punish ourselves severely for it.
For how can we be so stupid!
My husband said one day that there is no such thing as "forgive and forget" in my family.
I have an inkling why.
We hold each other in too high a standard that when we do commit mistakes the disappointment is too much to bear.
Maybe someday, i will write down these disappointments that had happened.
For now, even though years had passed, it is still too fresh.
And all of us still have to build our lives and live it.
Meanwhile, there is the Library.
I have always intended it to be named after my grandfather but i believe, that it should be dedicated to Cirilo and Petra Dumotan.
Hmmmm, maybe this summer i will get around to having the plaque made.
How very easy my generation forgets the stories that we grew up with.
As we grow older ourselves and we get busy with our separate lives, raise children of our own, the memories get hazy.
It is good to read and reread family stories.
It put things in perspective for us.
It reminds us who we are and tells us what life is all about.
Though financial stability and material possession makes living a lot easier, it is the loving, the struggling together as a family that builds the character that eventually shapes who each person is.
It is a contrast of who struggled most succeeded most in school that i found fascinating.
The first three who were there during the worst times and the last two who had more financial support but did not make it through college.
Life is full of irony.
The story by far has not ended.
We still carry the after effects of the challenges my grandparents have endured.
We are still a principled bunch.
This does not mean that we are spotless. Far from it.
But we learn from our mistakes and punish ourselves severely for it.
For how can we be so stupid!
My husband said one day that there is no such thing as "forgive and forget" in my family.
I have an inkling why.
We hold each other in too high a standard that when we do commit mistakes the disappointment is too much to bear.
Maybe someday, i will write down these disappointments that had happened.
For now, even though years had passed, it is still too fresh.
And all of us still have to build our lives and live it.
Meanwhile, there is the Library.
I have always intended it to be named after my grandfather but i believe, that it should be dedicated to Cirilo and Petra Dumotan.
Hmmmm, maybe this summer i will get around to having the plaque made.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Epilogue
We face life, its joys and its pains with our family.
This three-syllable word contains everything that is beautiful about life and how we manage to move on within its chapters where certain faces are left behind and new faces are welcomed into the fold.
No matter what happens, our family is where we will always belong even beyond eternity.
Life is full of surprises, indeed a never-ending mystery.
For all its twists and turns, secrets and pains, far beyond it all, lies its real beauty and will always remain wonderful.
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain
Laughter and teardrops, pleasure and pain
Low tides and high tides
Mountains and plains
Triumphs, defeats, losses and gains
As we act out the great drama of life---
May we find the strength within ourselves to rise beyond our challenges and continue looking out for one another
And remember each other in all our prayers.....
THE WRITER
This three-syllable word contains everything that is beautiful about life and how we manage to move on within its chapters where certain faces are left behind and new faces are welcomed into the fold.
No matter what happens, our family is where we will always belong even beyond eternity.
Life is full of surprises, indeed a never-ending mystery.
For all its twists and turns, secrets and pains, far beyond it all, lies its real beauty and will always remain wonderful.
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain
Laughter and teardrops, pleasure and pain
Low tides and high tides
Mountains and plains
Triumphs, defeats, losses and gains
As we act out the great drama of life---
May we find the strength within ourselves to rise beyond our challenges and continue looking out for one another
And remember each other in all our prayers.....
THE WRITER
The Empty Nest Syndrome
The days flowed like a river into the ocean of years.
Each one of us have made our own lives and the three of us have retired from our teaching jobs.
The children as well are grown-ups now and most of them have their own families too.
The grandchildren did not take long in coming.
We are hoping that we will have the rest of our loves to spend enjoying their company.
In the latter years of marriage, as children began to leave home, there is the unselfconscious awareness that life together has been good and that marriage, in all its challenges and in all its pain, it's hard work and its exquisite joys is truly a wonderful way of life.
Have our lives truly come full circle?
Each one of us have made our own lives and the three of us have retired from our teaching jobs.
The children as well are grown-ups now and most of them have their own families too.
The grandchildren did not take long in coming.
We are hoping that we will have the rest of our loves to spend enjoying their company.
In the latter years of marriage, as children began to leave home, there is the unselfconscious awareness that life together has been good and that marriage, in all its challenges and in all its pain, it's hard work and its exquisite joys is truly a wonderful way of life.
Have our lives truly come full circle?
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