Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Remembering Bonifacio: The spirit of Hermenegildo Flores isn't far behind

"Andres Bonifacio" by Raymond C. Go of Boac, Marinduque was Grand Prize Winner of the Bonifacio Centennial Art Competition (1997). It hangs on display at the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite. The Tagalog poet Hermenegildo Flores who spent the last years of his life as the leader of the revolutionary struggle in Marinduque during the Filipino-Spanish War wrote the poem, “Hibik ng Filipinas sa Inang Espana”. The said stirring poem elicited a poetic response from Marcelo H. del Pilar (“Sagot ng Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas”), and eventually from Andres Bonifacio (“Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas”). The final Bonifacio poem of this historic poetic triad has been described as “the climactic moment to the history of Tagalog poetry during the 19th century” (Mabangio). Flores led the first direct assault on the Spanish quarters at Casa Real of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque on March 4, 1897. He was incarcerated at the Casa Real in Boac and executed as a prisoner of war on Oct. 10, 1897.  Bonifacio, whose 148th birth anniversary we mark today, a Philippine national holiday, was executed at Aguinaldo's hands in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite. Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite The Last Appeal of the Philippines (A translation of Andres Bonifacio’s poem, “Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas”. Trans. Teodoro A. Agoncillo and S.V. Epistola) Mother, in the east is now risen the sun of the Filipinos' anger that for three centuries we suppressed in the sea of suffering and poverty. We, your children, had nothing to shore up against the terrible storm of suffering, the Philippines has but one heart, and you are no longer our Mother. Other mothers cannot compare with you: your children's comfort are poverty and sorrows, when they, in appealing to you, prostrate themselves, your proffered balm is exceedingly painful. The Filipinos are bound tightly, they but moan when kicked, boxed, and hit with the butt of of the gun, they are tortured with electric wires, hung like an animal, is this, Mother, your love? You order them imprisoned and thrown into the sea, to be shot, poisoned to eradicate us, to us Filipinos is this the decision of a Mother affectionate to her vassals? We suffered all this even unto death, we are almost dead yet you don't stop your punishment, so that when you throw us into our graves, our bones are broken, our flesh smashed. The Philippines has not received any legacy of comfort from the Mother, nothing but sufferings; our suffering continues, patents abound, new charges and imposts are made. Various ways of cheating us are devised at the same time compelling us to give in, we pay for illumination, although we do not see even one light. The land and the house we live in, the field and farm so wide, and so also the trees and plants -- to the Spanish priest we pay taxes. Aside from this, the rest need not be recited, O Mother Spain, we follow all this to the last breath, still, the Filipinos are considered bad. You, O negligent and malevolent Mother, we are no longer yours whatever happens, prepare, then, Mother, the grave where many dead bodies will find rest. In the world today will explode guns and cannons like lightning, the terrible storm of blood that will flow from their bullets in the struggle. It is no longer necessary that Spain be pitied by the Filipinos, O traitorous Mother, it is our glory to die, it is your glory if you defeat us. The Philippines bids you farewell, Mother, Mother, farewell, this one who is suffering, farewell, farewell, pitiless Mother, farewell now, the last appeal. "Andres Bonifacio" by Carlos Botong Francisco

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Poctoy beach stop

Bikers view Mt. Malindig from the Poctoy white sand beach in Torrijos.

All of Marinduque's towns are linked by a 119-km circumferential road. Some who visit the island with mountain bikes in tow actually enjoy the experience of biking around and interact with the friendly people during stops.

Of Poctoy Beach, Pinoy Boy Journal blogger writes thus: "If you ask me about my thoughts, i couldn't point out why this place is unique. Its somewhere in between knowing that Torrijos is a poor man's beach but blessed with the whitest, clearest waters and knowing the people here are the nicest i've met anywhere in the Philippines.

"Besides the occasional brown outs and unlit pathways, this place has a charm that's hard to explain. Up until now, this particular stop seems so unforgettable to me. I have no idea why.."

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cong. Velasco fun dives at Gaspar Is.

Cong. Lord Allan Velasco takes time out from his busy schedule to fun dive at Gaspar Island in Gasan.













Velasco and fellow divers set foot on Gaspar Island.








This excellent divesite, one of Velasco's favorites, offers this underwater sight. In between Gaspar and the mainland, a sunken Chinese commercial junk was the subject of the only underwater excavation undertaken in Marinduque.

Recovered here once by a joint team of National Museum and MAUI, a foreign salvage group, were numerous Ming dynasty porcelain plates, jars, skillets and others.

Infra projects in Buenavista



CONG. VELASCO'S PDAF


Based on income classification for municipalities in the Philippines, Buenavista the smallest Marinduque town south of this island-province is a 4th class municipality. The luxury resort Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, one of top resort destinations in the country is located here, and is slowly but surely contributing to the town’s tourism development.




Infrastructure development in this town being implemented vigorously by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Marinduque district engineering office for boosting tourism is underway.




Recently completed and/or ongoing projects are the asphalt overlaying of the Daykitin portion of the circumferential road, concrete reblocking of the Poblacion section of the same road, the reconstruction of the Bancoro-Daikitin section of the circumferential road and the Tigwi-Dampulaan-Lipat-Yook road.

The last mentioned road leads to the Bellarocca resort and traverses the picturesque but less traveled southern coast to northeastward through Torrijos.




Repair of revetment walls are also being undertaken in the Timbo-Sihi area and Bagtingon while repair of slips and slope protection have been completed in the Sihi-Malbog and Malibago areas.


These infrastructure projects for Buenavista are funded through Cong. Lord Allan Velasco’s priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and regular DPWH maintenance and operating expenses.



Potions of farm-to-market roads have been concreted in Bicas-Bicas, Bagacay, Daykitin while improvements done in farm-to-market roads in Bagtingon, Bagacay, Bicas-Bicas, Caigangan, Daykitin, Libas, Lipata, Malbog, Sihi, Timbo and Yook.



Repair of multi-purpose buildings (MPB) have been also undertaken by the DPWH in Libas. Construction of the Buenavista Water System in Poblacion, Buenavista that includes the construction of a new pumphouse and water tank, installation of submersible pump, pipelines and fittings have, likewise, been undertaken.





Shown in photos top to bottom:
MCR Malbog Section
MCR Poblacion Section
MCR Malbog Section
MCR Daykitin Section
MCR Daykitin Section
MCR Daykitin Section
MCR Yook Section
Revetment walls Timbo Sihi
Revetment walls Timbo-Sihi
Revetment walls Timbo-Sihi
Revetment walls Bagtingon
Revetment walls Bagtingon
Water system Buenavista
Water system Buenavista

Friday, November 25, 2011

Maniwaya peace and freedom

There’s no running water there yet. It is common for residents to travel via motorized bancas to Gen. Luna, Quezon for fetching drinking water and domestic use. A few wells exist but rainwater collection systems for other uses are found in most houses. People raise chicken and pigs for their own consumption, grow vegetables, and catch fish.
Many parts of this island of powdery white sand beach are virtually deserted. You could pitch a tent under the coconut trees or occupy the few inexpensive resorts where electricity runs from 5 pm to 11 pm. When going there, best to bring your own provisions. This island, at this time, is for those who fancy cooking their own food in a fire they themselves have to build, although the friendly locals are there to lend a helping hand if you so wish.




Nights can be creepy with the strangest bird sounds you'll ever hear, but when the moon is full and the water is still, you might experience some state of freedom and enlightenment there.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Hidden Falls in Marinduque



Hinulugan Falls in Sabong, Boac, Marinduque is located between Brgy. Sabong and Sitio Kitay. It is accessible via Sibuyao, Torrijos. It has a small rock cave at the side of the raven where water also enters.


More hidden falls could be found in the central Marinduque area, Magdumog-dumog Falls and Batingaw Falls in Tumagabok (Boac). With 4-wheel drive vehicles or mountain bikes, access to areas near these sites has been made possible with the construction and rehabilitation of the Boac-Torrijos Road project that cuts through interior Boac to Torrijos.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Marinduque's Palarong Panlalawigan 2011

Unsportsmanlike conduct, negative practices such as tampering of official records and impersonation of athletes in sports activities are among those the Department of Education wants to discourage or avoid altogether. In the conduct of local sports activities, these are given emphasis, as in tomorrow’s opening of 2011 Palarong Panlalawigan in Torrijos.

Elementary and high school athletes across the Division of Marinduque will meet for the formal opening of the Palarong Panlalawigan 2010. The activity is scheduled from November 24-27, at the Torrijos Central Athletic Arena.

This year’s Palaro aims to promote physical fitness of everyone in the division, bring together all schools as one family in a well-managed sports competition to foster self-discipline, teamwork, excellence and other values; identify sports talents who could be honed for regional and national competitions.




Dr. Teresita S. Bacudo, OIC, Schools Division Superintendent, will declare the formal opening of the Provincial Meet after the traditional rituals that include hoisting the DepEd Marinduque Banner and Delegation Flags, lighting of the urn, oath of amateurism and messages from barangay, municipal, and provincial leaders including Congressman Lord Allan Velasco.

The amateur athletes will compete in arnis, baseball,badminton, basketball,boxing, chess, lawn tennis, table tennis, sepak takraw, softball, taekwondo and volleyball.




Luneta Park in Torrijos

Monday, November 21, 2011

Closer look at Biggel's Tagalog


Item: “ONE OF THE most engaging housemates of “PBB UnliNight” is the 19-year old Joseph Biggel, the fisherman-farmer from Marinduque who speaks Tagalog with a very “promdi” accent.” (PBB Unlinight’s Joseph Biggel and Slater Young winning many fans, Showbiz Portal. 11.10.11).


“Promdi” is a corruption of “from the province”, so the description is quite accurate. It is for the same reason why Biggel was tagged the “Promdihirang Tisoy ng Marinduque”.



But this really gives us an opportunity to take a closer look on the Tagalog that Biggel speaks.

So we go back a bit. The “development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native dialects” was actually provided for in the 1935 Philippine Constitution. A National Language Institute was created thereafter which, after a study and survey of existing native languages, recommended the adoption of Tagalog as the core of the national language.

Eight major languages in the country were identified during that period on the basis of the number of native speakers: Tagalog (4,068,565); Cebuano (3,620,685), Ilocano (2,353,318), Hiligaynon (1,951,005), Bicol (1,289,424), Waray (920,009), Pampango (621,455), and Pangasinan (573,752).

On January 12, 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon appointed the members of the Commission on National Language for that purpose with the following as first members: Jaime C. de Veyra (Samar-Leyte Visayan), Chairman, Santiago A. Fonacier (Ilocano), Member; Filemon Sotto (Cebu Visayan), Member; Casimiro F. Perfecto (Bicol), Member; Felix S. Salas Rodriguez (Panay Visayan), Member; Hadji Butu (Moro), Member and Cecilio López (Tagalog), Member and Secretary.

Now it is the same Cecilio Lopez, the only native Tagalog speaker in the Commission and who would eventually be known as the Father of Philippine Linguistics, who made a study of the Tagalog spoken on Marinduque island. He wrote conclusively that it is “the root or among the roots from which modern national forms of speech have sprung”, and this is “where remnants of archaic Tagalog could be found”.



So Biggel’s Tagalog should really be something of interest.

Even Filipino language researchers from Surian ng Wikang Pambansa are one in saying that languages are fluid, taking on different words and phrases depending on outside influences and that no language remains the same.

But when you start looking at the roots of a language, and we now have a fairly good idea where the language started based on Lopez’ studies, we can at least see or experience where that language took its ideas from.


So how about going back to the roots of Tagalog by travelling to the beautiful island of Marinduque and listening to how the natives speak it. Then when you get used to, perhaps you could enrich your own Filipino (which is essentially Tagalog, anyway), with the version of Tagalog spoken here? In the process we could even help resolve the language problem that confronts us, Filipinos.



If something prevents you from doing it yet, listening nightly to Pinoy Big Brother housemate, Joseph Biggel’s speech could probably serve as an interesting and very practical start.

Biggel as trending topic


Alvin Patrimonio, PBB's Biggel become trending topics

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 11/19/2011 6:42 PM | Updated as of 11/20/2011 4:48 PM


MANILA, Philippines - Philippine basketball legend Alvin Patrimonio and "Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited" housemate Joseph Biggel became trending topics in the social networking site Twitter on Friday night.

Following the PBB Unlinight episode aired on Friday, wherein Patrimonio made a special appearance, several netizens actively tweeted about it, making “Alvin Patrimonio” and “Biggel” among the top Twitter trending topics in the Philippines.

“Alvin Patrimonio” landed on 4th place, while “Biggel” made it as far as 9th.

Several netizens were thrilled to see Patrimonio, an icon who reminded them of their younger days.

Twitter user @TheNurseOnline said, “OMG! Alvin Patrimonio is trending. I remember my childhood crush and long time basketball hero. #Purefoods forever. <3”

Some, on the other hand, were disappointed for missing the special PBB episode.

“Why did I not watch last nyt na-miss ko tuloy all the talk with my PBA idol forever Alvin Patrimonio #PBBunlinyt”, @Angelsdg tweeted.

Meanwhile, since Biggel and his daughter Tin are considered a "couple-in-the-making" inside the PBB house, Patrimonio’s visit raised interest among some netizens.

Several PBB fans were moved with how Patrimonio got along well with his daughter’s “suitor.”

Twitter user @alberthegreat05 tweeted, “Alvin Patrimonio nice athlete, nice dad, i think he doesnt judge biggel by his status in life.”

Netizen @darrahsweet, on the other hand, commented, “Naks. Swerte naman ni Biggel :) so bait ni Alvin patrimonio sa #pbbunlinight.”

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Vistans and Buenavista

A day before he celebrated his 34th birthday with the populace in Buenavista town, Congressman Velasco's "Team Velasco" engaged the local basketball team "Team Vistan" in a friendly match at the Buenavista Covered Court.

The Vistans led by Mayor Madrigal won 79-67.

Team Velasco led by the Congresman himself (second from left), is composed of his staff from the district offices in Manila, Boac and Sta. Cruz that includes Michael Vincent Velasco, Montano Nazario, Erick Abad, Arnold Isorena, John Carlo Mendoza, Erick Anthony San Juan, Roldan Jalos, Nestor Recto, Fernando Rendiza, Dadong Lunay and Ogie Morales.

Team Vistan is composed of Mayor Madrigal, Mandy Navisa, Dodong Olores, Emmanuel Sarili, Joker Madrigal, Rannel Castillo, Roy Mandac, J. Jamolin, Fernan Manansala, Christopher Janda, Ernesto Navisa, David Vitto, M. Quejano and J. Luna.







Buenavista has an area of 8,127 hectares with a population of 21,018 (2007 figures).

A major tourist destination in this island-province, Buenavista's top favorite attractions include the Lourdes Grotto in Sitio Sapinit, Brgy. Bagtingon, Bulusukan Falls, Malbog Sulfuric Hot Spring, Marinduque Hot Spring Resort, the Malindig Volcano, the Yook Cove, and the luxury resort, Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa for the high-end toursts.

Buenavista's elderly in sheer fun

In some areas in the countryside, the Elderly Filipino Week was conducted by introducing Hataw exercises for the health and well-being of our senior citizens.

In Buenavista, the elderly, together with former Mayor Ofelia S. Madrigal, incumbent Mayor Russel Madrigal, Office of Senior Citizens Affair President, Elenita Oblea, Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and members of the town's barangay senior citizens orgs celebrated the week by doing what they really love most - singing, dancing, simply exchanging jokes and having sheer fun.

The theme adopted for the celebration was "Nakatatanda, Gabay, Tulay, Kaagapay at Bantay tungo sa Kaunlaran" to emphasize the elderly's role in our society.







































From left, former Mayor Ofelia S. Madrigal, Mrs. Elenita Oblea, Congressman Velasco and Mayor Russel Madrigal.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Maniwaya Is.

Small group enjoying another weekend at Maniwaya Island. No noise, no huge crowd there. With their own laughter just continuously drowned out by the gentle breeze.