PARTY AT BOSS EDWIN

Boss Edwin tender a party during the last week of December 2008 at Martinneli Speech Center, we were there from 11AM until midnight. On that same day, Rene de los Reyes' house was blessed, and have a party on that same day, ang nahitabo, nagtabok-tabok lang ko sa duha ka imbetasyon, so as not to disappoint one of them, ug para way mahay...

Beer literally spilled and overflow on that day....and we really enjoy. Thanks to Boss Edwin.

Gerard, with staff of Congressman Codilla, and Festejo Sounds owner, Mr. Yon Festejo during that party at Martinneli Speech Center, December 2008.

Nagbaha ang Beer, og nalingaw ming tanan.

Tope, Benie, Mr. Lee, staff at congressional's office

JANUARY 2009

The front of the Municipal Hall in Kananga, Leyte

The perimeter fence of Kananga Central School- beautifully designed by Mayor Eming Codilla himself, who finish his course on architecture.

My officemates at the Office of the Municipal Mayor, (l- r) Roberto Dikit Borela, Maam Luz Fin, Maam Joy Fontanoza, incharge of the tourism programs, administrative assistant V and secretary to the mayor, Maam Marilou M. Aseo, Sheena Fuentes, Vincent Jun Jun Haliclic, Ritcho Limgas, and Gerardo C. Reyes Jr.

Last week of December 2008, few days before my transfer to Kananga LGU. We have some good time at the Congressional Office with Junel, Boyet, Benjie, Pareng Rodmar, Rambo, Tope, Mr. Lee, and others.

My wife, Cheng and my sis, Genim, do the shopping on the day before New Year.

CHANGE took place during the very first week of the new year, 2009.

We, together with my daughter, Angel, wife Cheng, sisters, Mae and Genim celebrated the New Year in our apartment in Bagong Buhay, in Ormoc. Unlike Christmas Day, my Mama was not able to join us. As usual, the start of the new year was done with some ceremonies since my Mama, and my sisters knows a little about Feng Shui, and I really enjoyed it.

I was there at Ormoc Superdome to attend Cong. Codilla’s birthday, and it was also my last day in the Congressional Office. I was there to spend some memorable times with my officemates, Orly, Boyet, Rodmar, Jonel, Tope (Christopher), Rambo (his real name is Randolf Mangle). Kim was also there, I called her ma’am. She is my colleague in media, 8 years younger than me. She is my closest friend in the industry, and we enjoy spending time with each other. More than 5,000 attended the birthday of Congressman at the Dome.

January 5, Monday, is my first day in Kananga –LGU. At first I feel an alien in the office. Kaila nako, gamay pa lang. We have our lunch at Barangay Lonoy, and then at 5:00 PM back to Ormoc again. My first two weeks in Kananga was indeed difficult for my part. I need to wake up as early as 4:30 in the morning so that we can have our breakfast by 6:00 AM and then ride a bus bound for Kananga at 7:00AM, but this did not happen. I can catch a ride at already 7:30 or worst, 8:00 AM, and arrived there at past 8AM or 9:00 already, which is always embarrassing. I need to adjust, and I need to solve this problem the soonest.

Another thing that needed my attention is to open a BPI account as required by our bureau chief of BusinessWorld. It was last November 2008 that I started writing for national paper and I love it. I earned P 5,000 for my first month, and the following month was already fruitful. I was able to open and I received my first honorarium last January 16, I think.

Saturday, Jan. 17 I together with Cheng and Angel was in Kananga, and look for a house. It was rainy and we have no other choice but to decide at once. We spotted a good place at Conejos house along the highway but the landlady later changed her mind. So we opted to choose the house of Alex-Helen Montesclaros along Pablo Tan St. in Poblacion. It is an old house across the house of Darayday Osmeña-Dacurawat, a known caterer and businesswoman here.

January 18, we finally transferred to Kananga on board Elmer’s multicab. Elmer is the son of our landlady in Bagong Buhay (BLISS) in Ormoc.

The fish in Kananga is cheaper compared that in Palompon and Ormoc. Dinhi makapalit kag hasa-hasa nga tag-50 o 60 lang, or bariles nga 80 lang or isda nga tag 30-40 lang. I learned that the supply came from Carigara and Leyte, Leyte. Sa Palompon mas mahal, I don’t know lang ngano. To think, Kananga is a landlocked town, Palompon on the other hand is a coastal town, pero ang isda ngadto, (in my hometown) is more than 100 gyod. Naay less than 100 kadto na gyung mga di na maayohon.

Pork also is cheaper compared in Ormoc. Tag -140 lang diri while in Ormoc 150 or 160, I don’t know tag pila sa Palompon.

Our rented space is only a walking distance from Municipal Hall. Duol ra gyod kaayo. I learned that our neighbor Darayday is from Palompon, sister of Benjie Osmena, our neighbor in Palompon.

September -December 2008

At work: at the office of Cong. Codilla

With friends and colleagues at the Congressional Office, Orly, Boyet, Randolf and Benjie.

Inside the office of my boss, Congressman Dodong Codilla

My wife, Cheng and daughter Johnill May (Angel)

Ormoc, December 24, 2008

My return to Ormoc was indeed satisfying. I reported at Congressional Office on the 18^th of August, while my officemates in Palompon-LGU are not aware of my plans. I will not divulge to them my plan to look for another job---until I am already settled, I mean working well and satisfied.

I left my wife and daughter in Palompon. We rented a space in Ipil I along Zamora street at the house owned by Ogel Arevalo, a close relative, and whose wife, Teresita is a long-time friend. My daughter will celebrate her birthday this September 2, and I need to work double time to raise money for her 1^st birthday.

I sought the help of my best friend, Arnel Villarente, and he agreed to be my co-maker to secure a loan at Pure Cash in Palompon. He is a long-time and trusted friend. We were together when our former boss (the Oñates) was still the mayor of Palompon sometime in 1998 until 2004. I suddenly made a turn when I needed something important in 2004, and choose to support the other political parties. Until now, I cannot think how it happened. I really don’t want to put the blame to our former boss (I was working Palompon LGU in 1999-2004) that I was not able to get an item despite having with them for a long time—but they should be blamed for that. Anyways, all those things are already part of history….

The loan was approved a day before my daughter’s birthday and the following day was indeed very memorable. We have a celebration. It was a children’s party and everyone enjoyed.

After the birthday, I reported to Ormoc. I spent some of my idle time at night at Ormoc City Food Park, they call it, Parola or payong-payong, spending good times with friends and women. It really ease my loneliness since I missed my family so much. I want them to be in Ormoc this time, but I want them to be here if I already have an item/ plantilla at the City Government which is I think not attainable as of this time. The Municipality of Kananga, instead whose mayor is also a relative, Mayor Eming Codilla, offered me for a position in the LGU, which I am also very interested. Maybe I can work there if my chances are slim in Ormoc LGU.

I talked with Papa J and I told him that I already decided to transfer to Ormoc since I want to finish my studies and definitely I am looking for greener pasture. I find it difficult to talk to Palompon officials, or to Herville about this, so I just decided not to report in Palompon LGU. Anyways, there no need for me to tender a resignation since I think I am not in the Plantilla, and I am just a mere JO. I loved my work so much, as Budyong writer, but I have no other choice but to give my family a bright future.

During a news coverage in Western Leyte College, I was introduced to a young reporter of Ormoc Cable, Kimberly, later on I knew her well, we become close friends, and we forged that kind of bonding. Kumbaga, mas suod nako siya compared to other reporters and colleagues in media.

The middle of September, my family is in Ormoc and they stayed with me in Can-adieng at the house of Jun Tarroza, a colleague in media and city govt. They enjoyed their three weeks stay in Ormoc, going to plaza, church, Centrum, Gaisano, the newly-opened store—The Point, and other places. Then they returned to Palompon on the 1^st week of October.

I went back to Ormoc alone. I know that I am lonely if my family is away. No one will cook for my food, no one will prepare for my clothes, I eat my lunch late, and sometimes forget to eat my supper. Most of the time, I choose to buy goto at the terminal and then have some bottles of beer at payong-payong while exchanging pleasantries with some friends there. I used to go at Charo’s place, she sells beer, and everytime I went to her place, she introduced me to some beautiful ladies. And that was it. Ing-ani jud ning kinabuhi nganhi sa payong-payong.

The mood was festive around the City, as the LGU will celebrate the 60^th charter celebration of Ormoc. Secretary Yap visited few days before the 20^th of October. He inaugurated the bio-ethanol project in Ipil, Ormoc City, in Leyte Agri Corp. which is the first and only bio-fuel plant in the country.

Escudero, who is rumored to run for President visited Ormoc, and after the press conference at Sal’s Bar, he distributed gifts for the newsmen and reporters. I attended a Civic Journalism Seminar at Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban for three days and I was informed that my daughter was not feeling very well. Our speaker was Vergel Santos of BusinessWorld, Isagani Yambut of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yvonne Chua of PCIJ and other known personalities in the field of journalism. It was very fruitful.

Then back in Ormoc, I spend time for CFD and we have our fellowship at beach of Jovenal Alesna, my colleague in CFD, located in Brgy. Macabug in Ormoc. Two days later, I decided to go home to Palompon even if it was still Tuesday. My daughter was sick. Pagbalik nako nawala ang iyang hilanat. Gimingaw ra diay nako. So I decided to bring them to Ormoc on the first week of November. But our stay in Can-adieng will be only until the middle of November, so we look for a new place, and we find a good one in Bagong Buhay, some 4 kilometers from the city proper. Good that the fare is only P 6.

I was among those who covered the visit of former President Estrada, Jojo Binay, and other opposition leaders. They visited Kananga, Palompon, Isabel and other towns of 4^th district. The Codilla’s accompanied them. As early as November, I was informed that I will report to Kananga the soonest time possible. I decided to have it by January. During this month, I was accepted as one of the correspondents of BusinessWorld, a national newspaper and I am very happy for it. I was told to open a BPI Savings Account for my honorarium.

My decision to transfer to Kananga was finalized. Mayor Eming and Maam Rowena requested me on the phone to work with them. And the offer was good. But I am still contemplating if I will stay there or I will commute everyday to report for work. Ako pang gitimbang-timbang kung di ba ko maglisod kung mag byahean ko everyday.

December 2008, I was not able to go home to Palompon during the Fiesta on December 3, but I was there when Ambassador Peter Sutter visited the town on the second week of December. We celebrated Christmas in Bagong Buhay together with Mama, my sisters, Mae and Genimae, my wife Cheng and my daughter Angel. Our Christmas Party became controversial when some of our names did not appear in the list of DPWH-4^TH LED.

I immediately texted Kim and informed Ormoc Cable about this and it was aired on TV. The officials of said agency reacted, and they looked for me. I was also awarded as one of the top-10 as best feature writer sponsored by Express It At the Park. The awarding was held at Leyte Park Hotel.

The old church in Palompon

For more than forty –years, early Palomponganons labored for the construction of this towering structure.

Some 300 native forced laborers including skilled mason Balarisay, Tumbalasay, and Alha constructed the church from coral stones, which they took from the sea, cut into square blocks, and piled on to each other. They used bamboo to move and lift the stones in position, and used the white of a million eggs as to cement them together.

A walled stone was built around it. And the belfry was separate from the church (near the present location of the acacia tree). It has big and small bells, that were heard even to faraway villages then. Here, the Spaniards were said to be collecting taxes from people who were very poor.

The church, when constructed was buttressed by artillery pieces in defense against the Moro raiders (pirates). The weapon is now prominently displayed at the plaza, to remind us that long time ago, our forefathers fought against the invaders and generously shed their blood to protect this place from the invasion of the Muslim bandits many hundred years ago.

The church was finally completed in 1784, the same year, Palompon gained parochial independence from its mother parish – Hilongos.

It housed many important relics, like the century-old statue of St. Francis placed in a wooden and glass urn brought by the Jesuit missionaries in 17^th century.

Unforgettable stay in Manila

I sometimes (or oftentimes) eat goto along the sidewalks for only P 12, just to save some penny.

Roaming around in this crowded city

It was four years ago when I visited Manila for the fourth time, and this time at the age of 24 I am already finding my luck in this big and crowded city.

I first visited this place in 1988, when I was still 8 and no other things in mind but to roam around and made some lakwatsa and pasyal elsewhere in Big Bang sa Alabang, (No SM in Las Piñas at that time yet), RFC, Uniwide, Sangley Naval Base in Cavite where my uncle, Papa Juan worked as soldier, Manila Zoo and many other places of interests in this beautiful place? (that was my first impression of this city, some hundreds of miles from my hometown in Leyte).

All that I’ve seen in Manila was the imposing structures, sophisticated vehicles and machines, everything that is high –tech (at age of 8 I have not visited the places which is the other face of the city). I thought then that Manila is all beautiful and all people living here were rich and riding in their cars.

My uncle, Daddy Vic has his own car, (he is a bank executive in Makati) and he drove us to Jollibee or Mac Do or anywhere we wanted to.

1995, I am back in Manila, with my family. I am already in my highschool but since our relatives live in a posh subdivision in Moonwalk Village, I have not (again) seen some other places in this city where ordinary folks live and work. All that I see is the grandeur and spectacle in this lively place on Earth. I’ve heard about traffics, brownouts, no water, or flooded places in this city, but did not care to listen since I didn’t experience those things in this place. We live in the house of an affluent family and we have everything in my uncle’s house.

In 2002, we made a short visit again in Las Piñas for two weeks and our activities limited only to visits of our relatives and some shopping at SM Southmall.

But my most unforgettable stay in Manila was in 2004. At this time, I am no longer accompanied by my Mama or any of my brod or sis. I travel alone and stayed for few weeks in a military camp in Sangley Air and Naval Base in Cavite City.

I meet the woman whom will be my life’s significant other, the 18-year old Ritchel “Cheng” Caabay from Palawan (who is 6 years younger than I am). We’ve met some three or four years ago, and it was just a simple, unfussy acquaintance. Now she’s is our house taking care of our one –year old baby girl, Johnill May (Angel).

The tragic twists of events and the indifference of my relatives in Manila compelled me to stand on my own feet. I don’t want to be enslaved anymore by anybody or I don’t want to be hurt by a relative, if they discriminate us of being poor then I’d better find a way to survive here in this city.

It was truly very unexpected. My Mama and her siblings were very close. We received any gifts (almost everything) from them without knowing that they have hidden agenda against us. I must admit that they accommodated me in their house, where I stayed for weeks or even months but instead to hear pleasant things from them, it turned out to be a disaster. I pray to the Lord that I can forgive them, so that I will be forgiven too.

They did not help me to find a job instead they used me in doing everything (errand) and pressured to do what they wanted. I cannot rest, I spent some sleepless nights, and I am depressed. Wa ko kahibawo sa akong buhaton.

In those troubled times, I frequently visited the Baclaran church with very small of money on my pocket but I spend time in praying and asking for God’s guidance. I asked the Lord for his grace, I prayed and told Him that I am about to surrender, I did not know what to do, and I am nothing without Him.

During noontime, I will spend P 8 for my lunch of goto or any streetfood in Baclaran and along the sidewalks in Las Piñas. Sometimes, fishballs, or squidballs would be enough for my lunch or dinner. Nag practice ko nga mag tipid because I know that sooner I will leave the house of my uncle. His son (my first degree cousin) has already packed his bags and I did not where he is. Those difficult times were spent in reflections and prayers. I roamed around the city by foot looking for any job hiring posted on the walls, but it often ended in nothing.

This things lurked in my mind, I been helping my uncle in their house and whatever he instructed me to do, but he did not bother to help me in looking for a job. He has the connection, and friends ang nakapait kay iya ko gisultihan, kaya tika nga pasudlon sa kompanya sa akong mga amigo, pero dili ko kana buhaton.

It turned out that going away from this palatial house would mean blissful freedom on my part. I did not depend from anyone else’s help I do my own work and ask some help of my friends. It was my first time to do such thing in my entire life. I live in a friend’s house, I help them in household chores, and earn some few barya for a living.

My sorrows then turned to joy. My friends shared with me their angst and sentiments in daily lives. We eat together, drink together, sing at the videoke, and talk everything in this crowded place and the houses are dikit –dikit. Garbage are everywhere in this place, the old dumpsite was cultivated for pechay production and the people here plant camote and other vegetable.

I was happy, but my concern is that I don’t have any money. How can I survived. For several days I was given food by my friends usahay kung asa ko agdahon adto ko mokaon, unya anha ko matulog sa gawas sa balay, sa bilyaran (outside their house) nga gitabilan ug trapal.

Pagka pait sa akong kinabuhi. I left my uncle’s house with only P 20 on my pocket. The good thing is that Cheng helped me and we shared our meager resources, since she also packed her bags to escape her boss’ (a lady physician) maltreatment. We stayed in one house, there in the squatter’ area where I live (in Pulo, I forgot the name of the barangay I think it was Talon 2, near BF homes). We rented a room in a very crowded, messed up neighborhood near the creek. And since then we live together in one house, and the rest is history.

I find a job as merchandiser/ management trainee in an international company DS Max and we sell imported merchandise at very low price. But since it involves house-top-house selling di gyod ko kaagwanta, dili sab ko mahalinan, naay higayon nga nahalinan ko ug more than daghan my commission reaches more than P 200 pero kausa ra to mahitabo. The rest of my experience was really a disaster. Alkanse gyod. You need to spend your own money for the fare going to the area (sometimes Cavite, or Muntinlupa, one time we were in Bicutan, and then we also have some house-to-house in BF, Parañaque), then spend some money again for the lunch and pamasahe bound to the company’s office in Las Piñas and then pamasahe again for the homeward bound –PUJ. Usahay alkanse gyod kay ang gastos nako all in all let’s say P 40 unya kung ang commission nako inig ka hapon is only P 30 how can I recover that. I left because of the unfair practices and violations of our rights (gihurat pa ko sa among boss) his name is Ramon, I forgot the family name somebody from Zamboanga.

Looking for a job in this city was never easy. Pagkapait gyod sa akong kinabuhi pero ing ani man gyod ni. I and Cheng was planning to go to our home provinces pero unsaon man? We have meager resources nga igo lang gani sa among pagkaon.

I got sick in Pulo (still in squatters area) and was in bed for almost two weeks. I did not know what happened to me. But I suspect napasmo ko kay magpalipas man ko sa gutom o basin sab overfatigue. I thought it would be my end. But thanks God, He gave me another life.

My second work in Manila, as agent of Powerex energy saving device has saved me. I worked in Las Piñas for more than 1 month and I tried to perform well to become close to our boss, Sir Wayden and Mr. Dee. Then since the group will go to a provincial sortie (caravan) in Biliran and Leyte towns, naniguro ko nga makakuyog.

It was also during this time, when Cheng discovered the address of her elder sister, Liit in Zapote and we live there for few weeks. When I have already earned some money in the caravan (siguro mga 5,000) ako na siyang gikuha sa Manila and I brought her to Leyte this time.

My childhood days

I grew up in 1980’s in Palompon, which was a small coastal town some time ago. My father (Gerardo) and my namesake was a teacher first in Lomonon national high school (7 kilometers from town proper) then transferred to Colegio de San Francisco Javier (CSFJ) and finally in Northern Leyte College (NLC). My mother (Nimfa Molon Codilla) was an engineering student in Arellano University in Pasay but chose to stay at home as plain housewife, taking care of my Papa and the six of us (I am the eldest of 6). We live beside the ancestral house of the Codilla (My mother was the eldest of eight siblings, and the rest of them are studying and working outside Palompon) My grandfather (Papang Juaning), a retired soldier, was left alone at the ancestral home, my grandmother (Mamang Leoling) died in 1982, when I was still two years old.

The town was dusty and full of holes (libaong) almost in all streets of the poblacion, with exception of the main thoroughfare, known as Rizal street, where the terminal, public market, municipio, sentro, was located. Other known landmarks in this town during my younger days were the big house of Chinese businessman Diyong (Chiong) in Rizal street (still existing today), Kadiwa, near the public market (a coop operated by the government), the Lampakanay (floating restaurant near the wharf), ABC building adjacent to the municipio, another is Sentro (health center) near municipio, I could no longer recall its exact location, the store of Insek Jose (Soy Tsan, also known as Jose Sanchez) which was burned down in 1984 fire. Most of the businessmen in this town are of Spanish and Chinese progeny, like Hoga Lim, Bernardita (Liok), Byawha (is that the correct spelling) An Kok Yu (who own as bakery), Diyong (Chiong) owner of sea vessels, and many others.

There are old houses in Palompon during 1980s, some of those have already perished to this date (either gutted by fire, demolished, renovated or abandoned by owners). During my childhood, we can still see that this place is really a colonial town and the Spanish leave its mark on some of the structures here. The house of Esperanza Marilao (Tacan) was built before 1900 (still existing today), another old houses of Salvino in Ipil and one in Zamora (which is influenced by Hispanic architecture).Other old houses are in Libertad and Arellano streets, the Delgados house, Eamiguel, and the other one beside it (atbang ilang Dodong Selpa). Although there are existing old houses here, most of the residential buildings are built after the war (some others built before the war was spared from Allied bombings in 1944).

Riding in a pot-pot is indeed a bumpy and bouncy ride since the holes were filled with stones and gravel especially during rainy days (aron way pita nga maglatak sa karsada). Very few people ride on potpot and most of these vehicles preferred to traverse the concrete pavement along Rizal street. I remember walking from our house to the house of my grandparents, Tatay Oloy (Rufino Reyes) and Nanay Tesia (Patricia) in Washington corner San Francisco street (known then as Ipil, today Ipil was divided into 3 barangays).But people of Palompon before refer the southern part of the poblacion as Ipil while the northern part of the town proper as Guiwan and Look (now San Isidro). People as far as Guiwan preferred to walk in going to church and market (merkado) than to ride potpot.

Today, potpot were still there, but no longer traversing a muddy and rough road, the streets are already concreted and Palompon has changed a lot from my childhood days up to now. Daghan na kaayo ug kausaban. And I know that it will be a positive change as this town faces a bright future.

Palompon was a simple town then. And as I grow up I witnessed how it metamorphosed into a bustling town in this part of Leyte.

The acacia tree

The 225-year old church in Palompon and the acacia tree is a landmark in this place since I was a child. I grew up in Libertad St. Central III which is walking distance from the church and the acacia tree. (photo from Pa J, Palompon.multiply)

The church and the acacia tree. (pics from palompon. multiply.com)

(picture from Papa J)

The acacia branches spread far and wide to cast their willing shadow on a larger area. The tree has been there for more than sixty years. The old photograph of Palompon dated 1944 proved that acacia tree has been there even before the war era. The tree is less than twenty meters from the church, but the elderly recounted that the place where the old belfry of Palompon church is located is near where acacia tree stands today. The church in this town, which was constructed more than four hundred years ago is a mute witness of the town’s colorful history.

The church was partly destroyed during the conquest of Leyte of the USAFFE Liberation Forces in 1944. The belfry was smashed, and a part of the structure was reduced to rubble. The acacia tree was spared however. The bomb almost hit the young acacia tree then, but the tree survived and grows taller, and sturdier, becoming the brawniest trees hereabout.

After the war, the church physical appearance has changed, and yet the acacia tree is still there becoming more sturdy as the years past by. Transient vendors displayed their novena booklets, statues, rosary beads, necklaces and other wares under the acacia tree. They built their umbrellas and tents under it, especially during fiesta. Every churchgoers are familiar with the tree, and almost all people in this town. This is the only acacia tree within the poblacion, the other one is outside the town proper, in San Isidro (Lo-ok) one kilometer from here. It was believed that the priests or somebody from the church planted the acacia tree.

Today, the church details were very visible-its imposing stone façade and magnificent design that made compatible of its original architectural make up. Its antique characteristics was masterfully restored during the time of Msgr.Cesar Petilla, H.P. now in the United States, who was the parish priest in Palompon until 2005.

The church looks mysterious and magical. Unknown to many, it has been the place of refuge of the Palomponganon forefathers who was spared by the onslaught of Moro raids in the 16th and 17^th century.

My memory of acacia tree was when we celebrate the Biernes Santo. We gather at the tree in decorating the carro (carriage) of the Santo Entierro (Jesus of Nazareth) during that celebration. We look for flowers and lukdo-lukdo around and then helped other in decorating the carro. After that, Arroz Caldo is served or landang, which is common during Holy Week in this town.

Until now the acacia tree is still there, and it looks greener and greener. I hope that people will not remove or uproot it, whatever development that the Church will introduce in that area.