ON THIS DAY 4 YEARS AGO

the day the typhoon arrived in Albuera, Leyte and slashed by gusting winds 

It all began on November 8. The killer typhoon’s landfall lambasted the Philippines without exemptions. Still quite unthinkable remembering the gravity of destruction which took many lives. Who could have known that it would be such a catastrophe. Millions were affected. Thousands perished and died, shocked and traumatized, left homeless, thirst and starved. Many hopes and dreams were shattered and fell apart. Crushed by that fated ramifications. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) claiming the lives of thousand many, marked history as the strongest typhoon ever struck the Philippines. That, she left behind the stories of great struggle of near-deaths, sorrows, pains and miseries that etched forever in our hearts and minds.

Days after Yolanda

The world felt the grieving of our country. All allied nations unconditionally extended their pledges and assistance in whatever forms. Both local and international volunteers came to aid helping the wounded. Continuously gave relief, support and assistance to those most in need. The aid was extremely overwhelming which gave hope to the weeping victims and despaired survivors. We were overloaded with kindness from every corners of the earth.

Irene, Brian, Peejay

My good friends Irene, Brian, PeeJay and I witnessed the typhoon’s aftermath while we volunteered on a medical mission in a local town, Albuera that was also struck by the mishap. It’s thanks to the efforts, donations and financial assistance of Marichel Igana and Bellou Oclarit-Erazo all the way from Belgium who took the initiative of ”helping their fellow Filipino ‘kababayans’.

Marichel and Belo pleaded for help...

Our own government’s utterly claimed to have had “admirably responded” the aftermath on the first “sixty days” of the calamity (Mar Roxas, DILG 2014). But, what about the next “three-hundred-sixty-five- days?” The years after next? And, until the end of term? As much as I want to state the obvious, I gave to them the “benefit of the doubt“. The officials and authorities, the one responsible on to its efforts at that time were clouded with questions and doubts. 

The present administration carry the burden of the past, doing it's best to end the problems created by the previous corrupt officials and administrators. It was not just Tacloban City, it was the entire Samar Island and Leyte Provinces and other places in Visayas as well. As I was watching the news fed on television, I'm quite astonished by the reports of the Commission on Audit how astronomical the funds and pledges were donated by other countries and other sectors. It's quite frustrating how the previous administration screwed up and bungled the billions of pesos intended for that calamity. Now, by facing lawsuit filed against those corrupts before the court, I hope justice will be served. I have my faith and confidence on this current government to continuously strive a great effort in responding to the calls of those victims and survivors whom still patiently waiting for help from the great misfortune brought by Haiyan (Yolanda). 

The beautiful Balugom Albuera 

We are always students in life. We exist once, however we live every day and aim to survive by learning our existence and true purpose. There are storms in life that sometimes shake our midst. We face trials and challenges day to day, night and day. Somehow, sudden fate changes the course of our life that we never foreseen. Such it happened to our fellows and ‘that’ those known survivors have once known what prodigious defeat, sufferings and struggles are all about. Have known great loss and pain, and they have found a deeper hope dwelling to its way out of the depths and move forward. Who could ever forget “on this day 4 years ago.”

SIMPLY "PATER"

This is a "PATER". a cup of steamed rice stuffed with chicken or beef meat. It is a famed food serve in almost every canteen and eatery in Marawi City where I was born and grew up. I honestly don't know the origin of the word itself but that's what it called. I remember when it was introduced way back in the late 90's from a certain canteen, it was a blockbuster. A word of mouth spread like a wild fire inside MSU campus, and the rest is history. It has become a comfort food for every folks of different walks of life in Marawi. You can eat it with your bare clean hands (kinamot/kinamay style). No spoon and no plate needed. You'll just throw leaves afterwards. No hassle to wash. (except your hands, of course). Actually,  it varies on different flavors and style on how to prepare and how to cook it. Somewhere in Maguindanao, they call it Pastil. But it turned out to be one in the same: packed on a banana leaf to add some extra distinct flavor and aroma. Generally, it's a Filipino traditional way of preparing food (baon) to bring along with in travel way back in provincial life. But Meranao's took it seriously  on preparing it. 

I came up with my own version. As my family's home cook, through the years I took the opportunity to prepare it with many trials and errors. I want to make it more different in taste yet the touch of a Meranao accent flavors remained. Rice with turmeric powder added with  some spices, so it will turn yellow. Top filled with chicken strips saute'd on with different spices. What's unique about  this dish is filled with spices that are abundant in the province of Lanao del Sur like the herb of what they called 'sakurab', somewhat  akin to scallion. But with my own way, I added some other variants to make it more fun, more distinct,  more striking in flavor on the taste buds. For now, this is the best Pater I can prepare. I am planning to market it here in my place. Pater is slowly and gradually becoming known to students and folks where I currently live. There's a place offering this kind of dish. I bought one and tried it. It actually taste good. It brings me back home to the place where I came from. I really this food. Kind'a instant. Simply done, simply prepared.

Vintage Travel Brochure: Simply Philippines

I found this interesting vintage promotional travel brochure from my dad's drawer hidden and stipulated altogether with his office old documents. 

This brochure was printed on September 1975.  Following the Department of Tourism' creation, it was established in 1973 following Marcos' declaration splitting the Department of Trade and Tourism into two separate departments. Included in the new Department of Tourism, the agency Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and the Philippine Convention Bureau (PCB) were created. The Department of Tourism was then renamed Ministry of Tourism as a result of the shift in the form of government pursuant to the enforcement of the 1973 Constitution (wikipedia)

I maybe wrong but I guess this is one of the earliest printed brochure after the department's re-organization following then the 1973's.  

This brochure fascinated me as it showcased the old map and its colorful print ads of different tourist destinations and signature products of different provinces and its places offered to both local and foreign visitors.  

Travel brochure is still important and very effective in promoting tourism. Evident that you can still find it anywhere in a place you want to go. Philippines is indeed colorful, full of wonders and creates more fun that can bring smiles to every tourist.

The Philippine Map showing its colorful lines and trails as legend to follow

OUR DAILY CENTS

“Every centavo counts” as economist would basically say. But rather I vividly remember these words coming from a very straightforward yet soft spoken and gentle reverend who was once a parish priest of one humble church back then. When it comes to the parish’s financial details, be it simple or complex, he’s one furiously I reckoned with on it. One centavo difference or unexplained deficit on your suppose thorough list of financial statement is a taboo. So just make reservations. Expect to be scolded. Believe me, when it comes to money expenditures, he’s too judicious. Most of the time, too inconsiderate and uncompromising but that is, if you fail to justify the missing single cent. He’s no economist or either an accountant. For two simple reasons:  First, “Honesty” is his ultimate policy. And, second “Transparency” is foremost obligatory. He isn’t acting stingy or cheeseparing either. That’s how he is… He’s learned it from his mother of how important a single centavo during his younger days. For money is earned with blood and sweet should a one single drop of cent is much of its worth. That’s a great learning coming from a humble man.

But in an ordinary days, recently these coins seem appear treated so very least than much of its face value. More likely you see them lying on streets and corners yet being snubbed, if not totally ignored. Few are still shiny which as good as glitzy new, but numerous are defaced by repeated trampling. Mostly, there are five and ten cents. Very few twenty-five centavo also but that, too, is often ignored and flouted for the same reason. Such a pity though that even street children and beggars along sidewalks just pass them by and wouldn’t even care to pick them up. I retrieved these poor coins whenever I see one or few lying along my way. Yes, even for the most traffic of people rushing along the isle and sidewalk, I too am dignified to stoop down, pick them up and handed it over under my pocket. Really, no one is picking these lowly centavos, except me (I guess). And, I put those found-coins on a small canister whenever I’m home. Such habit I came to develop for quite some time. My canister, at this point, is almost full with coins ranging from 1, 5 and 10 cents. Some are 25’s. Several are still shiny but mostly are battered and rusty. By estimation, I think it’s more than a hundred pieces already. That's by just picking them up from lowly streets. 

I wonder what people are thinking about these kind of deprived coins. To think, it is still considered money no matter how small the value…

Here’s for real: One time (back then), I ask my younger sibling to buy a pack of ice worth a peso. Then she went in the nearby store to buy one by bringing up these cents with her. When she came back, she brought nothing and the lady in the small “sari-sari” store told her that they won’t accept the money (which I gave) because it’s all centavos. It was a bit absurd. I asked the reason why but she had no idea nonetheless…

Curious, I went by in the same store to do the same except trying to buy other stuff out of it. Of course, I used those pitiable coins. True! I asked them why but a simple “not acceptable” was the only answer they could reason out.

To mention, even small vendors in streets and in parks won’t accept it. Even an old man we saw in a cashier’s refuse to accept his 20 cents change from the amount he paid on his groceries.  Centavo coins are no longer valuable anywhere in the community’s. It’s totally “useless”, completely unusable.

As I remembered, coins on their marred conditions lying on the street seem treated like a piece of trash. Thrown away in the garbage bin because of “no-value”, that is. How pity. You can’t even buy a piece of sweet tooth lollipop out of it and or a sugary menthol candy for you to enjoy with. I wonder if our little nephews, nieces, and godchildren toddlers would be happy to accept these monies as cash gifts. I wonder if young carolers during Christmas seasons would be delighted if some of these coins are given to them. I wonder if people in the church, the ones collecting the alms and offerings, would be pleased to account it. I wonder what could be the reaction of your co-church goer seatmates if they saw you giving some of these lowly centavos on coin and alms baskets during mass offering services. I wonder if our long fervent wishes will come true if you offer and throw these centavo coins on a magic “wishing-well”.

For some reason, I keep on retrieving unheeded coins on streets. Somewhere in my heart is telling me to pick them up whenever I crossed of it by chance. It’s not only more than that of a hobby and or more of that on mere fascination. It’s beyond something  giving respect to the coin itself. I still recognized its worth because the face value remained the same. Even in blighted conditions, a coin is a coin used for intended purposes. They need to be used to be useful.

Accordingly, these can be of used in payment for groceries in big stores. My mother keep used  of these for payments on water and electric bills. To think, the Government and the Central Bank continually produced centavo coins. In fact, they spend millions of money buying specific metals from other countries just for reproduction and public used for its continuous economic activities and functions. Yet, most people don’t seem to care. They just threw it away anywhere like a piece of dirt.

Whenever I see a centavo coin being snubbed, am reminded of the good reverend I once knew. But beyond from that learning, I have thoughts of a mere possibility that, at any moment of our lives come, we may be like such of these wretched coins lying on the lost dirty corners or filthy streets and we might be treated the same as worthless and rubbish. That people whom we thought we cared too much about might strode, ignore and reject us all the way. Because, that in our image, we maybe seem less of a value yet more of a burden to their account. At some point in our life, we may feel unworthy and undeserving. We may feel very small. But it does not mean we are less important. Like our daily cents, we may barely recognize and soon be out-of-circulation, but knowing the value isn't utterly lost. We are always part of something big and much greater. Hence, what we need to put on is to give a chance to be useful and worthy once more.

What about you? Would you care and dignified enough to pick them up?