Philippine Travel Notes

For now, maybe. But it looks like that's the new normal our planet is headed towards. Here's the story: I went early to Tacloban's Save More (near the pier) for some urgent errands. As in I was there before it opened. Done at 9:37AM, I was out to ride a jeep, and saw this: That scene could look normal to the unfamiliar or unconcerned. But having been in and out of this city for 11 years now, I just knew something was not quite the usual. At first I thought "parang lumiit ang kalsada" . Then it quickly turned into a bit of alarm and amusement. I told myself "ata, bakit umakyat na ang dagat, sasakay din ng jeep"? Anupangaba! Sugod Pinoy Traveler! Osyosohin alamin bakit kay-ano nasugad! Da! Total puzzler (to me at least). On a hot sunny morning, why would there be a 'flood'? It was not like that years ago. Well, things change - for the worst, very unfortunately! That's no ordinary flooding. Look at the water, it is clear clean gree...

Exit time! Time to leave the Pacific towns of Northern Samar. I wish I had more days. In fact, I even wish I could live in this place, at least for a few months, years, or kahit forever! Anyway, leave I must ! Now, this was a trip full of learnings - I dedicate to you, fellow commuting roamers! Planned itinerary for this day was: 1] walk to the highway in Potong (~100 meters) ; 2] hop on a vacant 'anything' going to Lapinig town proper (~3kms) ; 3] roam around Lapinig town proper; 4] take a bus or van going to Oras (~65kms) ; 5] stay overnight. There were other alternatives I considered - like going via Catarman, then Calbayog, down to Catbalogan and finally Tacloban. But I remembered: avoid the ' holy roads '! Flying out of Catarman, Calbayog or even Borongan were also options, but I already had a ticket out of Tacloban. So, reversing how I came was the best option this time. However... (eto nanaman ako) things do change. What actually happen...

A wonderful encounter.., in one of my morning-walks, I found a beautiful new friend. Can you see her in this picture? Wheh, malayo pa lang I already noticed her alindog! At 6:26AM, I was walking to a sari-sari store (upper left corner of pic, beside red gate, sarado pa kasi ang sa Momoy), and there she was on a sidewalk, confidently seated. She knew I was there though she was busier looking at a cat by the opposite house. But I just said "Good Morning Mingming" once, and she immediately walked to me! First it was curious about my phone. Maybe she thought I was giving it to her as my hands were outstretched. When I said no, she sat by my feet. I said now what? hehe! Oh eh, di tumambay kami sa gitna ng kalsada. Baka magalit pag iniwan hahaha! At nag-usap kami. OMG kinausap ko! I talked, she wagged her tail or bunt my feet! My most important question was "mingming, bakit naman white ang eyeliner mo, 'di ba pwede violet or green man lang"? Hahaha, wal...

This was it pusit! My roam of Gamay's central area - with no itinerary! I like doing this kind of walk, where I don't know which way to go, what to see, what to expect. Come what may or where my feet lead me to . Here I said: "which way now" ! Natawa ako sa sarili ko, as if I was asking St. Michael for directions! Eh on that shot I was standing at the church door , facing outside. That, is where I came from earlier. That big building is their municipal gym (or whatever it's called nowadays). I started my walk there going leftwards as I earlier saw a row of big houses both old and new. Ancestral Houses I was certain some would still be made of wood and old-era-style. Like this one: Still big and beautiful, right? But as we said in many past stories, they are difficult to maintain, mainly because wood is expensive and even by-and-by already prohibited. I went closer. Oh, the big doors are still made of wood, but the walls are 'corrugated galvanized...

I can say that this topic may be one for the nostalgia - at least to those who've been living on planet earth for 3 decades now. Yet this can also be additional learning , to the young and modern, with no actual farm exposure other than reels, shorts or tiktok! Umayos kayo, baka ang iba sa inyo eh, gawa sa lon-an ! Further to what I earlier told you, let's talk more about the LO-ON and LON-AN. This arduous task is an important if not crucial part of the copra production process. This pag-lo-lo-on activity is just a little past-halfway of many backbreaking activities, that farmers must endure, to complete their copra production cycle, to earn a living. Many farmers are by-and-by getting disinterested, slowing down or outright turning to other sources of livelihood, due to the amount of physical work, compared to the meager incomes that they derive from copra production. Baka maglaho na ito soon! Therefore, before this industry dissipates, let's document the...

I am not really sure if what I heard was "kayap" or "kayab" or "kayag", but I know this activity - WINNOWING in English. PAGTATAHIP in Tagalog? Not sure about that too! The act: separating the rice hull or husk (chaff and other impurities) from the 'usable grains' by making them fly away, when poured from a "nigo" (big bilao) at head level ! Ang hirap pala i-describe nyan mapa-english o tagalog! Good that I have that photo! But many Pinoys know 'winnowing', for I recall that word was in a gradeschool song! If you're Pinoy, I'm sure you will agree, what many of us remember, is the very same "activity" in the picture without those electric fans, right? Only with wind and gravity. Well, farming methods have apparently (or is it obviously?) been upgraded! At akala natin mga cellphone lang ang nagle-level up? Meron din pala sa palay harvest time! And it can now be done just in front of your very own house...

My roam of the northeastern towns of Samar Island continued. After the Rakitdakit Rock at Palapag, my scooter ambled the southward run to the next town, Mapanas. It is just about 9 or so kilometers. But there are always things-to-see along the way, right? Right. And I didn't anymore check my list - my driver knows them - plus more! As I marveled at the seemingly serpentine form of this coastal highway, Buyungaw (yes my driver!) was telling me about a waterfall just on the roadside, but "dry" now. But that waterfall topic was quickly 'shelved' (because it has no water now anyway), when we again saw, a number of rocks and boulders on the pacific side of the road! Plus, where there are no fallen boulders, the snake-like road really got my attention! Do roads really have to sway like that? Am just curious. I don't despise them. In fact, as passenger, I like invariably curving roads (when the pavement is smooth lang ha?) . Every ride is more exciting ...