by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya– Despite the global economic slowdown, the employment rate in Cagayan Valley went up in 2008 compared in 2007, a Labor Market Monitoring Report (LMMR) released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here revealed.

The LMMR disclosed that there was a slight increase (1.5% or 21,000) on the number of employed persons from 1,342,000 in July 2007 to 1,363,000 in July 2008 or a percentage increase from 97.7% to 97.8%. (continue)

http://karitoon.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1695

Typhoon “Ramil” (international name: Lupit) maintained its strength as its moves northwest slowly toward Northern Luzon.

The typhoon might affect the Cagayan-Isabela area starting late Wednesday even as its landfall is expected Thursday morning.

It is expected that the landfall will start in parts of extreme Northern Luzon on Thursday morning or afternoon, depending on the speed of movement. Ramil will move eventually faster towards the middle of the week.

The effects of the typhoon will likely be felt late Wednesday in the Cagayan-Isabela area.

Most likely, by Wednesday the eastern part of Northern Luzon will feel its effect and while there is still a possibility that Ramil may head for Taiwan, this possibility is “quite low.”

Ramil packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour, with gusts of 210 kph.

Moving northwest slowly, the typhoon was located at 1,110 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 10 a.m. Monday. It is expected to be 900 km east northeast of Aparri on Tuesday morning and 510 km east northeast of Aparri Wednesday morning.

By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 180 km northeast of Aparri. No public storm warning signals has been raised as of Monday morning.

This disturbance will not affect any part of the country within the next 36 hours.

Source: Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief Prisco Nilo on it’s 11:00AM Bulletin, with reports from GMANews.tv

As of 4 a.m. Monday, Pagasa said Ramil was estimated at 1,160 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

It was moving northwest slowly and is expected to be 1,070 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. By Wednesday morning it is expected to be 720 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan.

By Thursday morning it is expected to be 350 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan.

“Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms”.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the northwest to west will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country.

Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate except during thunderstorms.

Source: PAG-ASA Oct-19 5:00AM Bulletin

This is a repost of the latest weather news from GMANews.tv and the latest weather bulletin from PAG-ASA..
–
While state weather forecasters have yet to declare ‘Pepeng’ (international name Parma) as a super typhoon, US meteorologists project that the latest weather disturbance to hit the country has already become one as it approaches Northern Luzon to make landfall on Saturday afternoon.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said ‘Pepeng’ packs maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. It is currently moving west northwest at 19 kph.

At this strength and speed, Pagasa has placed ‘Pepeng’ as a typhoon.

But according to the US-based Naval Research Laboratory Monterey Marine Meteorology Division, ‘Pepeng’ already reached wind speed of up to 222 kph and gustiness of up to 269 kph as of Thursday morning, which places it in the super typhoon category.

Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz told GMANews.TV that the last time a super typhoon hit the country was in 2006, when ‘Reming’ battered the Bicol region. It was also the last time that Storm Signal No. 4 was declared in the Philippines. [See: RP's worst tropical cyclones]

32 areas threatened by ‘Pepeng’

With Pepeng approaching, Pagasa placed 32 areas under storm alert signals, prompting the government to alert officials to prepare for preemptive evacuation.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said its provincial counterparts in Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, and Bulacan should “undertake close monitoring, precautionary measures and implement preemptive evacuation as situation warrants.”

During the NDCC meeting on Friday in Cainta, Rizal, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called up various local officials to ensure that their constituents are prepared to evacuate when necessary.

Among them was Quezon governor Rafael Nantes, who said residents of Polillo islands are already evacuating their homes.

In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said residents of the province are also prepared to evacuate once they get the signal from authorities.

“Winarn na yung mga tao na i-pack na yung things nila para madali nang maka-evacuate (The people have been warned to pack up their things so it’ll be easy to evacuate),” he said, adding that local officials are now on standby.

Schools and covered courts which will serve as evacuation centers have also been prepared, said the congressman.

Pagasa advised residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under both storm alert signals to “take all the necessary precautionary measures against possible flashfloods and landslides.”

Areas under Signal No. 2 are also advised to be on alert against big waves generated by the typhoon, the weather bureau said.

“Pepeng” is expected to be 60 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora on Saturday morning.
It is expected to make landfall in Aurora-Isabela area on Saturday noon. It is expected to be 80 km west of Laoag City on Sunday morning, and 400 km west southwest of Basco, Batanes by Monday morning.

Last week tropical storm ‘Ondoy’ unleashed record-level rainfall in Luzon, including Metro Manila, causing massive floods and damage to property. The NDCC pegged the death toll at 293, but this figure is expected to rise as more bodies are found in areas still submerged in water. – with Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV
—
PAGASA’S CLASSIFICATION
OF TROPICAL CYCLONES

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration classifies tropical cyclones according to their degrees of intensity.

TROPICAL DISTURBANCE: A discrete weather system with an apparent circulation. It is characterized by a poorly developed wind circulation of weak velocities and with one or no closed isobars (isobars are lines of equal pressures). This is commonly observed throughout the wet tropics and sub-tropics.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION: A weak low pressure disturbance with a definite surface circulation having maximum wind speed of up to 63 kilometers per hour (kph). It has one or more closed isobars and is most common in the equatorial regions or intertropical convergence and less frequent in the trades.

TROPICAL STORM: A moderate tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph and with closed isobars.

TYPHOON: An intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 118 kph.

SUPER TYPHOON: A more intense tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 220 kph.

Sources: Pagasa weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz and Pagasa’s article.
—
AREAS WITH STORM SIGNALS DUE TO ‘PEPENG’

AREAS UNDERSTORM SIGNAL NO. 1

LUZON
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Abra
Apayao
Kalinga
Cagayan
Babuyan Islands
Mt. Province
Ifugao
Benguet
La Union
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Pangasinan
Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Zambales
Pampanga
Bulacan
Rizal
Southern Quezon
Camarines Sur
Albay
Sorsogon

VISAYAS
Burias Island
Northern Samar

AREAS UNDER STORM SIGNAL NO. 2

LUZON

Isabela
Catanduanes
Camarines Norte
Northern Quezon
Aurora
Polillo Islands

Sources:
GMANews.tv
DOST – PAG-ASA

As a photo enthusiast, being acknowledged for uploaded images is good. As a blogger, being invited to write for a travel magazine is flattering.

Northbound Magazine: Issue 3

[You may DOWNLOAD HERE a free copy of the magazine and please find time to read my article ("Exploring Callao Cave")on Pages 27-30.]

Sometime July, I received an e-mail from a certain Robby Torres asking if I was interested to write an article for Northbound Magazine on Callao Cave of Cagayan Valley. I did not ask why and how it came to be me. My intuition was telling me, however, that he might have read my Blog, and that was enough for me not to ask any further. Inspired, I wrote the article with interest and pleasure. Unfortunately, my archive of images of the Cave is not suited for a glossy magazine spread. While I supplied some borrowed images, apparently, they provided their own.

It was only after submitting the article that I became curious about the magazine. I later found out that the Robby Torres who was earlier communicating with me is the Associate Editor and with Ivan Henares as the Editor.

Hereunder are the first two issues of Northbound Magazine:

Issue 2 DOWNLOAD HERE.

Issue 1 DOWNLOAD HERE.

Northbound Magazine is a publication of North Philippines Visitors Bureau especially dedicated to the four northern provinces which are Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordilleras and Central Luzon.

Having written an article for Northbound Magazine, dedicated to the Province(s) up North is my privilege. Afterall, it is what most of my Blog is all about. 

Dios ti Agngina, Northbound!

By FRANCIS C. HIDALGO JR.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Traffic between Cagayan Valley and all areas to its south was hampered for several hours yesterday (Aug. 7) as a result of landslides that piled up along sections of the national highway in Nueva Ecija with thousands of passengers and motorists stranded, as well as agricultural produce and other goods, from rains brought about by typhoon Kiko.

Rains from typhoon Kiko also brought along flood waters which inundated parts of Bambang town here waist-deep. Other parts of the region also experienced floods as Kiko cut a swathe through the region with storm signal No. 1 already raised over Batanes, northern Cagayan province, and Ilocos Norte. (continue)

http://karitoon.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1564

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The remains of the seven people on board the ill-fated Chemtrad plane are arrive here last Tuesday (April 21). after they were extricated from the jungles in Baggao town late afternoon (April 20).

Cagayan Valley police head Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, said that the bodies were already at the landing zone and ready to be transported any time today if the weather permits. (continue)

http://karitoon.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1146

By FRANCIS C. HIDALGO Jr.

TUGUEGARAO CITY , Cagayan – The director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Cagayan Valley was shot dead by still unknown suspects here about 7 a.m. last tuesday (April 14).

Chief Supt. Roberto Damian, police regional director, said that Gumersindo Lasam, DA director for Cagayan Valley, succumbed to gunshot wounds on the head and thigh while undergoing treatment at the Saint Paul Hospital here where he was rushed to after he was ambushed by at least two armed suspects in Solano town here. (continue)

http://karitoon.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1133

Zusätzlich zu meinem alten Blog habe ich nun einen weiteren Blog eröffnet. In diesem Blog werden alle bisherigen und zukünftigen Reiseberichte von mir und meinem neuen Mitblogger Andreas geposted.

Link

Napanood ko sa TV Patrol noong isang gabi ‘yung pagkakahuli ng lider ng mga sundalo matapos makorner ang kanilang buong grupo.  Pamilyar ang pangalan.  ‘Sana hindi, sana hindi’, napaso pa ang dila ko sa paghigop ng kape kakasabi nito.  Tuluyan na ngang pinakita sa tv ang mukha ng sundalo, na parang ‘photo grab’ lang mula sa kanyang Friendster account.  [Napaka-resourceful ng media].  Lintik.  Si Cammayo nga.

Nagbalik sa alaala ko ang nakaraan.  Upper class ko ‘tong si 1Lt Vicente Cammayo mula ROTC days pa lang hanggang sa sumubok akong magsundalo.  Mabait na tao si Cammayo.  Sobra nga ang respeto sa ‘kin ng taong ito kahit minsan hindi pa ako pinatikim kahit isang unday ng suntok.   Mas malaki kasi ako sa kanya kaya di niya ako magawang batukan. 

Pag pumasok kang opisyal ng ROTC kung anu-anong ‘rites of passage’ ang ipapagawa sa ‘yo.  Meron ‘yung pag MWF na pagpasok ko sa school dapat nakarubber shoes ako sa kanang paa tapos tsinelas naman sa kaliwa tapos may necktie pa na parang nareject sa audition na maging miyembro ng ‘Walang Tulugan’ ni Kuya Germs.  O kaya naman ay bigla lang akong pasisigawin ng tulang ‘Andres Bonifacio Atapang Atao’ sa gitna ng pila ng bayaran ng tuition fee.  May kasama pang matinding hand gesture ‘yan.  Tawanan ang mga nakapila kaya kilala na ako sa accounting office.  Siyempre basta kagaguhan game ako dyan, minamani-mani ko lang.

Nasa third year college na ako nang maireklamo sina Cammayo ng  ‘hazing’.  Pumutok ‘yung ugat ng isang ‘recruit’, nagkaroon ng internal bleeding.  Wala akong kinalaman dun, mga airheads upper class na naman ang may pakana nun.  At sa kamalas-malasan pinarusahan sila ng school ng non-readmission at ‘yung iba naman ay naexpel.  Alam ko walang kasalanan si Cammayo pero dahil andun siya sa pinangyarihan kaya sabit siya.  Dahil ganun nga ang nangyari, ako na ang tumayong corps commander mula noon at tuwing Sabado ay pinapagulong ko sa putikan ang mga bandidong kadete.  Clueless ang mga kadete kung ano bang kasalanan ang nagawa nila, isang misteryong dadalhin nila habang sila’y nabubuhay.  Wag mo ‘kong tanungin, nakalimutan ko na rin kung bakit ko pinapagawa sa kanila ‘yun.

Muli ko na lang nakita si Cammayo sa loob na mismo ng Camp Melchor Dela Cruz sa Gamu, Isabela, pareho naming gustong magsundalo.  Malaking adjustment din ang magiging ka-buddy niya ako sa training sa kampo.  Una, hindi ako sanay na may kasabay maligo. Pag ‘buddy system’ kasi dapat magkasama kayo kahit saan kahit kailan.  Inip na kakatok ‘yang si Cammayo sa banyo habang naliligo ako.

 ‘Hoy matagal ka pa ba?’, tanong niya. 

‘Sandali na lang ‘to’, pero ang totoo matagal talaga akong magkudkod ng betlogs ko.  Mapapasipa na lang siya sa pintuan at pag minalas malas ay hindi na makakaligo at maghapong mangangamoy poultry house.

Nasa ikalawang buwan ako ng pagsusundalo ng magkasakit ako.  Ni-radyo na nila sa bahay ang nangyari.  Doon na nagsimulang huminto ang mundo ko.  Umiiyak na ang Mommy, pinapauwi na ako ‘wag ko na daw ituloy magsundalo.  Ganun din ang tatay.  Nakakahiya mang aminin pero ganun na nga, isang lagnat lang ang tumapos ng lahat. 

Bakit ba gusto kong magsundalo?  Simple.  Wala akong ibang alam na trabaho.  Sabi ko noon, kung hindi ako magiging sundalo, dalawa lang ang pwede kong pasukin, ang magbenta ng kawad ng kuryente diyan sa may bandang Guadalupe o kaya ay magpakita ng titi sa strip club.  Wala naman talaga akong pakialam kung anong ideyalismo ang pinaglalaban ng kung kani-kaninong grupo, basta gusto ko lang sumweldo ng tama, tapos na ang usapan.

Kung tutuusin, wala naman talagang dahilan para mag-away away tayo.  Pare-pareho lang tayong mga Pilipino.  Pare-pareho lang na maiitim ang singit, siko at betlogs natin.  Sino ba ang pinaglalaban ng mga NPA? Wala. Pare-pareho lang tayong nabubuhay sa ilalim ng araw, pansamantalang nakikitira dito sa mundo at pagdating ng panahon ay mamamatay din tayo at magiging pataba sa lupa.  Kaya magbati-bati na tayong lahat, owkei? Tara, tara group hug na tayong lahat, at kasama ka seksing miss.

At sa pagbabalik tanaw, di ko alam kung sinuwerte ba akong mangyari sakin na hindi maging sundalo dahil kung nagkataon, kasama pala ako ni Cammayo ngayon na nasa kamay ng mga NPA.  Siguro papatayin na nga lang ako ng mga tanginang NPA na yan, magjo-joke pa rin ako.  ‘Yung tipong bago tadtarin ng bala ang katawan ko sasabihin kong, ‘Teka, teka lang kumander, last Erap joke ko na ‘to, makinig ka muna.  Pramis nakakatawa na ‘to’.   

Pero ‘yun na nga, magkakaiba na kami ng landas na pinuntahan.  Ang magagawa ko na lang ngayon ay mag-antay ng balita, makiusyoso at magdasal na sana.. sana lang.. makapiling na niyang muli ang ang kanyang pamilya bago man lang mag-Pasko.

Picture 1] Si Cammayo kuha mula sa screengrab ng isang video file na pinalabas ng mga NPA sa mga diyaryo. 

Bumiyahe ako pauwi sa bayan namin noong nakaraang Sabado, nakipagtunggali sa isang nonstop roller coaster bus ride ng mahigit dose oras na biyahe para lang sa isang bagay – ang kumain ng pansit.  Pag tinamaan ka nga naman ng baltik oo, kahit pa siguro nasa dulo ako ng mundo, uuwi at uuwi pa rin ako.  Mahirap intindihin ang simpleng bagay na ‘to pero ‘yan na ang kulturang kinalakhan ko. 

Ano bang meron sa lugar namin at di ko maiwan-iwan? Wala.  Kung tutuusin, wala namang ‘extra special’ sa lugar kung sa’n ako lumaki maliban na lang kung trip mong mag-kayaking sa pinakamahabang ilog sa Pinas o magtaguan-pung sa mahigit 300 kuweba na karamihan ay ginawang boarding haus ng mga paniki.  Sa kabuuan, isa lang siyang higanteng oven toaster sa sobrang init.  Ang Tuguegarao city ang pinakamainit na lugar sa Pinas, mainitin ang mga tagarito at sa tingin ko ay isang konkretong paliwanag kung  bakit mabilis ding mag-init ang aking katawan.  Yes, we are badly burned madapackingsheet ‘hot ass’ people.  Pati mismo ang pangalan ng bayan ay nagmula sa salita na ang ibig sabihin ay putangina! sunog! sunog! [expletives mine]. At sa likod ng aking matipunong katawan [talagang kailangang i-emphasize na matipuno ano?] ay isang batang kailangang makauwi sa sariling bayan. May mga bagay ka talagang hahanap-hanapin dahil dun naman nagsimula ang lahat.  At may mga lugar kung saan ka nag-umpisang magkaisip, kumerengkeng, at bumuo ng pangarap.   

Habang kumakain ng pansit kasama ang barkada, nagbalik sa alaala ang lahat. Simple lang ang buhay ko noon sa kolehiyo.  Makikipag-inuman, papasok sa school, maghahanap ng gulo, matutulog sa klase, gigising na wala na ang mga kaklase, iinom ulit, uuwi, matutulog.  Kung kaninong bahay ako datnan ng antok, dun nako natutulog.  Bahay ko pati bahay mo.  

Mahirap ang naging simula ko nang magtrabaho dito sa Maynila.  Mamboboso ka na nga lang pahirapan pa, kailangan pa ng high tech na kagamitan.  Anhirap pa namang magkabit ng webcam sa CR nang hindi ka namememohan.  Di tulad sa probinsiya, sisilip ka lang sa ilalim ng kubo, o aakyat sa punong mangga, may live feed ka ng ‘porn show’ kaagad.  

Sa kabilang banda, nagbukas ang isang panibagong mundo sa ‘kin dito sa Maynila. Maraming taong nakasalamuha, nakilala, nakasubukan ng paninindigan, at ang iba ay nakapataasan ng ihi. Andaming realizations na nangyari. Na may malaking mundo pala sa labas ng pinanggalingan ko.  Na ang buhay ay hindi lang umiikot sa bote ng alak.  Na di kailangang manilip dahil sandamakmak naman ang libreng porn sites. 

Pasalamat din ako sa mga taong nakilala ko na nag-inspire sa ‘kin [kasama ka dun], nagpasensiya, nagbigay-aral at gumabay bago pa ako maging panganib sa ibang tao at sa sarili ko.  Matigas pa rin naman ang ulo ko pero marunong na ring makinig paminsan-minsan.  Minsan minsan lang. May upsides at downsides din ang pagiging matigas ang ulo. 

‘Bakit ikaw pre, kahit pinapagalitan tayo ng bosing natin dedma ka lang, wala kang paki’, sabi ng kaopisina ko.

‘Ganun ba.  Hindi ko napapansin’.  Talaga  ngang  walang paki.

‘Oo, ganyan ba talaga kayong mga taga-probinsiya?  Sana nga ganyan din kalakas ang loob ko’. Tsk.  Maling akala.  Wala naman ‘yan sa kung saan ka pinanganak, nasa tao yan.  O kaya naman nasa gatas na ininom n’ung bata ka pa lang.  Wag kasing umiinom ng gatas na may drowing ng power puff girls.  Pati na rin na ‘yung may kasamang freebie na hello kitty.

Dalawa at kalahating taon na pagkakalayo.  Andaming nangyari – nakipagtanan, nagtrabaho, live in, kinasal, naholdap, na-promote, nakipaglabing-labing, nakabuo ng bata at sa susunod na taon ay Daddy na.

Isang araw lang ako sa ‘min.  Balikan din ako agad matapos magpansit at konting inom kasama ang mga barkada.  Parang short time na ligaya pero sulit naman.  Hinabol ko ang huling biyahe kinagabihan.  Sakay na ko ng sleeper bus pabalik ng Maynila, napabulong na lang ako ng isang payak na panalangin baon ang isang pangakong binitawan dalawa at kalahating taon na ang nakalilipas – ‘babalik din ako, magpapayaman lang ako sandali, at kung di man mangyari ‘yun pagkalipas ng matagal na panahon,  sisiguraduhin kong uuwi pa rin ako at dyan ako mahihimlay sa katabing puntod ng aking tatay’.

*Picture1:  Kayaking sa Rio Grande De Cagayan ang pinakamahabang ilog sa Pinas. Picture2:  Sleeper bus.  Nakahiga kang bibiyahe para hindi ka tubuan ng almoranas sa pwet. 

…sind hier zu finden!

Nagdadamo ang nanay ko.

No. Not THAT kind of weed. I’m talking about her penchant for eating obscure backyard vegetables that somehow find their way to our family’s dining table.

Part Bulakena / part Ilocana / part goat, my mother eats all sorts of vegetables. Dahon kung dahon. Damo kung damo. And she expects all of us to show the same enthusiasm to pinakbet / dinengdeng / bulanglang.

Part Tondo Boy / part carnivore even at his senior citizen age, my father eats bulanglang with caution mainly because it’s slimy and looks so unappetizing. The famous Ilocano dish of easily available native vegetables like saluyot, dahon ng malunggay, bunga ng malunggay, and boiled kamote simmered with broiled fish (usually ulo lang) and bagoong never fails to instill fear among non-slimy veggie eaters.

In all fairness, bulanglang tastes really good despite its weird textures and colors.
But then again maybe my mother just cooks it so well.

I remember, a few years ago I attended a food festival at a hotel where they actually served delicious bulanglang which has long been regarded as mere “peasant food.” A Cagayan Valley food fest (in downtown Manila, of all places) opened my eyes and tastebuds to the pleasures of Ilocano food. I learned that the “queen province of the valley” which lies on the northeast part of Luzon definitely offers more than rugged mountains, beautiful caves, historic baroque churches, and vegetable dishes.

Chefs Gloria Pulusan and Luis Hipolito from the famous “Cagayan Pampanguena Restaurant” said it’s easy to please the palates of Ilocanos, or Cagayanos for that matter. Cagayanos are not picky with food. They love simple food like dinengdeng. Another favorite tummy-filler is a bowl of shredded corn with bagoong and calamansi. A vegetable dish called poke-poke is just as uncomplicated. It’s simply sliced eggplants with ground pork and bagoong alamang.

Cagayan food is influenced by an eclectic group of the province’s natives like the Ibanags, Itawes, Malauegs and Negritos and migrants like Pampanguenos, Ilocanos, Tagalogs, and Visayans. Pulusan’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simplicio Manio, were both Pampaguenos who found a new home in Cagayan. More than fifty years ago, they put up a small marketplace eatery in Tuguegarao which evolved and eventually boomed into what is now known as the three-storey “Cagayan Pampanguena Restaurant.” Hello “fusion”!

Cagayan food doesn’t differ much from the other food offerings in Luzon. The slight differences all lie on how the food is prepared.

For example, the Tagalogs’ adobo has always been flavored and made more aromatic with laurel. For the Cagayanos, soy sauce, vinegar, lots of garlic, and pepper are enough to work their magic on the adobo.

Their version of dinuguan is far from the almost soupy stew we usually pair up with puto. Their dinuguan is strictly ulam, not merienda. The pig blood’s stew is thicker and usually topped with chicharong bituka bits and garlic. What makes it really unique are the pork slices which are fried to a slight crisp first before stewing.

Pochero Ibanag is a delicious cross between nilagang baboy and pochero. It has assorted vegetables, saging na saba, chorizo de bilbao, and tender pork pieces but in lieu of tomato sauce it has pork and chicken broth.

Adobo Aramang is more akin to binagoongang baboy than adobo. It’s still the same scrumptious combination of pork chunks and bagoong alamang except that a few pieces of okra liven up the whole steaming pot.

A favorite entree on the fiesta table is the sarabasab nam manu — whole chicken stuffed with lemon grass, marinated in toyo and calamansi, broiled, braised, then baked. It’s a little bit more complicated than the other dishes because it’s fiesta fare. Other fiesta food staples are lechong carajay (lechon kawali) and igado (pork and liver stew with bell pepper and green peas).

Cagayanos also boast of producing two traditional yet much sought-after sweets. Alkala milk candy (named after a town where this goodie supposedly comes from) is made from pure carabao’s milk. It’s another take on the pastillas. But unlike the Bulacan version, Alkala milk candy is flat, un-sugary, and bare (no fancy papel de japon wrappers).

Not to be confused with peanut brittle is peanut candy which is a sweet combination of ground peanuts and sugar. Peanut brittle is peanut chunks held together by caramelized sugar. Peanut candy actually looks like a small brown bar. It’s not too sweet because the flavor of peanuts is still stronger than the taste of sugar. It’s a perfect meal ender.

See, there’s more to Ilocano food than green, leafy vegetables. There are so many other dishes and concoctions waiting to be savored, slimy or not.

http://bulatlat.com/2008/06/vizcaya-mine-suspended

Various people’s actions converged with a court decision and legislative initiatives to discontinue a foreign mining firm’s operations in Brgy. Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. This coincided with a corporate decision to suspend contract work amid financial difficulties.

BY SHERRY MAE SOLEDAD
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 21, June 29-July 5, 2008

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (200 kms. North of Manila) – Various people’s actions converged with a court decision and legislative initiatives to discontinue a foreign mining firm’s operations in Barangay (village) Didipio, this town. This coincided with a corporate decision to suspend contract work amid financial difficulties.

The Regional Trial Court issued a writ of preliminary injunction ordering Australian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. and all other persons acting on its behalf to cease, desist and refrain from demolishing or dismantling (the omplainants’) houses until further court orders.

Last June 24, Australian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) said that it is suspending work at its $117-million gold-copper project amid the controversies hounding its operations over the past six months. In a company statement, OGPI said it is suspending a number of construction contracts as it tries to cut down on company expenses while looking for additional funding.

Environmental group Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), together with its partner non-government organization (NGO) in Northern Luzon, Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (RDC-Kaduami) said in their statements, “We want to congratulate the people and the local government units of Nueva Vizcaya for successfully halting the operations of OceanaGold.”

Tactical victory

“Though temporary, this is a big tactical victory for the communities,” says Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of militant environmental group Kalikasan-PNE.

Based on the annual reports of OceanaGold, it lost US$23.43 million and US$69.04 million in 2006 and 2007 respectively. This was despite the company’s infusion of additional capital of Canadian $90.00 million in its initial public offering in Toronto Stock Exchange last July 2007.

“It is not under the good grace and consideration of OceanaGold why it suspended its mining operation,” Bautista said. “For two consecutive years, this company is losing tens of millions of dollars while the opposition to the project becomes broader and stronger at the local, regional and national levels. These reasons forced the company to halt their operation. OceanaGold’s Didipio gold project is becoming more unsustainable and bankrupt everyday.”

Congressional action and provincial board’s withdrawal of support

At the national level, Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Teddy Casino authored House Resolution Nos. 594 and 211 mandating the Congressional Committee on National Cultural Communities to probe Australian mining firms OceanaGold and Royalco Resources, respectively, which both seek to extract the mineral wealth of Nueva Vizcaya “to the detriment of the indigenous peoples, remaining forestlands and the critical watershed areas in the region.” These resolutions have led to on-site investigations held last June 7-9 in Brgys. Didipio and Kakidugen.

In a statement, Casino said, “Reports reveal that OceanaGold has ’suspended’ its operations – meaning their timetable to get into full swing mineral extraction and production is thrown off course. I am further galvanized by this positive initial victory to work harder to protect the long-term interests of the indigenous peoples and the environment in Nueva Vizcaya.”

Meanwhile, the provincial board withdrew its support to OcaenaGold June 25 with a 7:4 vote. One abstained and another was absent.

The provincial government earlier issued a cease and desist order against the company because of its failure to pay local taxes worth P28 million ($625,139 at an exchange rate of $1=P44.79). Also, Atty. Edu Balgos, a senior board member proposed an ordinance outlawing open-pit mining in the province.

Peoples’ action

The move is welcomed by different organizations as about 200 people rallied to the provincial capitol carrying placards calling for the pullout of Oceana Gold’s operation.

“However, our call is not based on the failure of the company to pay local taxes but because of the adverse impact it will bring on the lives of the people here,” said Allan Barnacha, spokesman of Nueva Vizcaya’s Save the Valley, Serve the People Environmental Alliance.

According to local leader Lucas Buay of the Kasibu Inter-Tribal Response for Ecological Development (KIRED) the people’s struggle would continue against OceanaGold and other foreign mining companies encroaching in indigenous people’s territories.

“We have no recourse but to fight back,” Buay said. “The Arroyo administration, the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) have all shown their indifference to our rights as indigenous peoples. They disrespected and ignored our local officials.”

Buay added that the national government and its agencies have forsaken IPs for its pursuit of selling out their mineral and ancestral lands. “They have the same interest with foreign mining companies to plunder our patrimony,” he said. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat

Food security of indigenous peoples in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya is threatened by the large-scale mining operations of OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) and Oxiana-RoyalCo. At the same time, the FPIC process under the IPRA law brings disunity among the IPs residing in the mining-affected areas.

Different organizations like the Philippine Network for the Environment (PNE)-Kalikasan, Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (RDC-KADUAMI) which is a member of the EED Philippines Partners’ Task Force for IP Rights (EED-TFIP), joined the Congressional hearing with their partner Save the Valley Environmental Alliance together with the local people organizations and other civil society organizations. The House Committee on National Cultural Communities conducted two on-site hearings and investigations in June 7-8, 2008 in Brgy. Kakidugen and Brgy. Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya which are the sites of Oxiana-Royalco and OceanaGold,respectively.

Indigenous peoples expressed their concern about the adverse impacts that these mining operations will bring to the environment and their sources of livelihood and subsistence. “How do these mining operations address the food crisis of the people? We have been displaced from our ancestral lands in Ifugao and Benguet due to mining operations yet we are still facing the same problem here. We have witnessed the destructive impacts that these mining operations brought to the environment and we cannot allow this to happen again here. The people in these areas already have a sustainable source of livelihood than what these mining companies claim to provide upon entry of these operations,” said Lucas Buay of Kasibu Inter-Tribal Response for Ecological Development (KIRED).

The municipality of Kasibu has a wide forest area, about 30% of the total land area is forest land. It is proven that almost all crops except mango are suitable in this area.The primary agricultural products of the province are still rice and corn, but this gateway to the Cagayan Valley is envisioned to be the regional center for fruit and vegetable production and spice-based industries. “We cannot let the entry of these mining companies destroy our lands as Kasibu is considered the citrus capital of the country, with an annual output of about 10 million kilograms of oranges from an estimated 20,000 hectares of citrus plantations. The citrus farmers stand by its position that agriculture is still the sustainable development for the people as our independent study on the success of citrus industry here would show. We do not want mining here,” Alfonso Namuhje II of the Mallabing Tribal Development Association (MTDP) said.

In Nueva Vizcaya, about forty percent of its total population of 366,962 (based from the 2000 census) is comprised of indigenous people, e.g. Bugkalots, Ifugaos, Ibalois, Gaddangs, Isinais, Ikalahans and Ilongots. Bugkalots, a group of indigenous people from Nueva Vizcaya has entered into a peace covenant through a blood compact in 1950s with other IP groups who have migrated to this area after they had been driven away from their ancestral lands. The areas stated in the mining permit granted to the mining companies are within an ancestral land applied by the Bugkalots for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADC), through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). “We were not consulted by the NCIP during the process of securing the FPIC certificate because we are only migrant IPs in the areas and we are not holders of CADC. But there was no such thing in the provisions of the IPRA law that migrant IPs could not be consulted, especially that we have been here for three decades now,” Fidel Opay of the Lower Muta Valley Farmers’ Federation (LMVFF) explained.

The FPIC process is being questioned because of the bribery and deception controversies in securing the certificate. “ Our peace pact with the Bugkalot tribe is also threatened to be negated because of this conflict that arises due to these controversies,” Opay added.

Mayor Romeo Tayaban of Kasibu, who was one of the resource speaker during the hearing said, “mining operations claim that they will bring development to the people in Kasibu. But what kind of development is this if our people are disunited? We were once a peaceful community but these issues have divided us because of these operations.”

Lahat naman tayo may bahagi sa buhay natin na kelangan na talagang mag-pamilya.   Kung kelan, depende ‘yun sa threshold ng kalibugan.  Kung kaya pang idaan sa pagtitikol, bakit hindi.  Wag ka lang mawili sa pagsasariling sikap dahil baka pag kelangan mo nang mag-asawa, mamya pakiramdam mo e nagiging ‘unfaithful’ ka na sa sarili mo kapag nakikipag-shoot-dat-bol ka sa iba.  At pagkahaba-haba man ng prusisyon, heto at redi na kami ni BebeKo na makipag-exchange gifts ng singsing sa isa’t-isa.  Pag naisuot na sa kin ‘yung wedding ring, malamang maraming holdaper na ang magkakainteres na lagariin ang daliri ko.  

Redi na nga ang lahat.  Church preparations.  Hotel rooms.  Reception.  Wedding cake, etc etc.  Heto na nga ‘yung moment na sinasabi kong kumakalabukab na kakabakaba ang pakiramdam.  Nakatayo na ako sa harap ng altar ng cathedral habang hinihintay ang bride na si BebeKo.  Di ko madescribe ‘yung pakiramdam.  Basta halo-halong emotions: senti, may kaba, parang nauutot na parang kakabagin atbp.  Nagrerebolusyon nga ‘yung tiyan ko, para ngang gustong makipag-chat sa akin pampalipas oras.  “Ngowwrk… Ngerk… Iutot mo na ako please”.  Siraulong tiyan, ayaw makipagcooperate, may sariling yatang mundo.  Inaliw ko na lang muna ang sarili na magmuni-muni kesa ibulsa ang kamay at maglaro ng pototoy.  Heto ang mga laman ng isip ko:  

1.  Dapat sinusunod ang mga nakakatanda.  Alala ko noon, sabi ni Lola, “Apo wag kang titikim ng mani, nakakaadik yan”.   Kala ko bluff, may malalim palang kahulugan ‘yun.  Kaya ng makatikim ako ng pekpek, dun ko lang naintindihan ang wisdom ni Lola.  Aba’y totoo nga, nakakaadik nga.  

2.  Walang tabo sa hotel.  Pag tumae, pedeng gamitin ang tumbler ng Tokyo Tokyo bilang tabo.   Ingatan ang tabo.  Kung hindi, mawawala ito at makikitang gamit-gamit ng room boy na humihigop ng malamig na orange juice.  

3.  Huwag mangulangot sa simbahan dahil kelangang makipag-sheyk hands sa pari pagkatapos ng misa.  Lalong hindi dapat mangulangot dahil kelangang hawakan ang pisngi ng bride pag sinabi na ng pari ang ‘You may now kiss the bride’.    

Mamya, tumunog na ‘yung pinto ng cathedral hudyat ng pagbubukas.  Sa labas, putukan ang fireworks [di sa amin ‘yun, may celebration yata sa labas].  Espesyal dahil si pareng Ice, isang dabest na kaibigan ang nagbukas ng pinto.  Tan-tan-tanan… Tan-tan-tanan… dahan-dahang nagmodel-modelan si BebeKo sa aisle ng simbahan.  Muntik ko nang di makilala, kasi mukang racoon ‘yung mata sa meyk up. Kala ko tuloy sa ibang kasalan ako napadpad [Biro lang].  Pero seriousli, iba pala talaga ang pakiramdam ng kinakasal. 

Nung gabing ‘yun, nadiskubre kong may tear duct pala ako.  Kunyari naman napuwing ako kaya nagpunas ng panyo.  Sobrang mahal ko ‘tong babaeng ‘to.  Ay lab ebriting abawt her.  ‘Yung pagyakap niya.  Pagsimangot.  Paghalik.  Smile pa lang niya, ulam ko na.  Hindi ko alam kung ano nakita nya sa ‘kin [besides pagkakaroon ng mahabang titi] para mahalin din nya ako.  Everything is a puzzle.  In this lifetime, somebody’s waiting to complete you.

* Photo1:  Sinusundo ko na si BebeKo kina Daddy at Mama, Photo2:  Promise ng ‘one love in a lifetime’ sa harap ni Papa Jesus, Photo3:  Post-Reception picture [change costume] ilang minuto bago maglabing-labing

Civil wedding sana namin ni BebeKo nu’ng June sa probinsiya pero dahil nga childhood dreams niya ang maglakad pagong sa gitna ng simbahan, naging December para makapag-ipon ng maipapakain sa mga kung sinong ‘hu u ba?’ na iimbitahin.  Sabi ko nga baka pwede namang mag-packed lunch na lang ang mga bisita, ayaw ba naman.  Kung pwede lang naman. Haha.  Hirap magpakasal ngayon, di tulad nung panahon ni Eba saka Adan.  Lambutsingan to da max agad, wala nang rece-reception na nangyari.  Ang handa nga lang nila ay isang epol na naging mitsa pa ng pagiging makasalanan ng mundo [at di ko pa din makuha ang logic na naging makasalanan ang bilyon-bilyong tao dahil sa pagkagat sa epol na ‘yan].  

Pero kahit sabihin pang conservative ang Pilipins, nire-recognize ng ating batas ang pagiging natural na malibog ng mga Pinoy.  In pak, Article 34 ng Family Code of the Philippines, ang pagsasama ni lalake at babae as live in pakners for a minimum of 5 years ay ground for exemption para kumuha ng marriage license bago magpakasal.  In short, di na kelangan ng lisensiya para maikasal.  Sayang, dapat no’n pa lang nag-living together na kami para nakasama sa exemption.  Ang ganitong pagpapakasal ay tinatawag na ‘ratification by marital cohabitation’. May natira pa palang latak ng istak knowledge kahit papaano ‘yung pag-aaral ko ng abogasya no’ng nakaraang taon.    

Sa Muntinlupa na kami nag-apply ng lisensiya sa kasal.  May kasamang seminar pa ‘yun.  Eksaktong bagong sunog ang cityhall kaya dun kami malapit sa bangketa ng palengke kina-counselling.  Habang inihahanda kami ng mga marriage counsellors sa buhay may asawa, may sumisigaw ng ‘Kangkong! Kangkong kayo diyan.  Limang piso lang’.  Kala ko kangkang, papakyawin ko na sana. Haha. Pansin ko parang mga abnoy na frustrated comedians ‘yung mga marriage counsellors.  ‘Yung una isang government employee, anlakas manlait ng mga nagseseminar [nakatsinelas kasi ‘yung iba, tapos ‘yung iba buntis na]. ‘Yung pastor naman, nag-ooffer ng catering package.  Napaka-profound nga ng natutunan ko dun.  ‘Yung nars naman nagturo kung paano magsuot ng condom.  Watda. Ineexpek ko sana ‘yung medyo mahirap naman.  Halimbawa, tuturuan ‘yung mga babae pano isuot yung condom kay mister gamit ang pilikmata.  Mga ganun.

Pagkatapos nun, mga papers naman sa simbahan ang inasikaso namin ni BebeKo.  Tatlo ang magiging pari namin sa kasal.  Si Archbishop, si Fr. Rannie na dean ng San Beda college of law na isa din sa outstanding philosophers of the century at saka isang kamag-anak na pari.  Di ko na kinulit si BebeKo kung bakit kelangang tatlo, para di halatang engot ako sa religious churba churba.  Inisip ko, baka siguro mas malakas ang signal ng prayers pag tatlo ang pari.  ‘Wow!  Three bars, anlinaw nga’, baka mapatalon pa si San Pedro sa tuwa.  Nung pinuntahan namin si Archbishop para kuning pari sa kasal, medyo nakangiwi ako.  Baka kasi maalala nya ako at ‘yung kalokohan ko nung college.  Curious lang naman ako e.  Kasama si pareng Ice, tinanong ko si Archbishop ng, ‘Monsignor, nakakaramdam din ba kayo ng makamundong pagnanasa?  Anong ginagawa nyo pag ganun?’ [read:  Monsignor, pag nakakita kayo ng seksi, nagtitikol din ba kayo?] na sinagot naman ni Archbishop ng ‘Syempre naman.  Tao din kami’.  Pagkatapos nun, hindi na kami muling pinaapak sa Archbishop’s Palace. 

Pero mabait talaga si papa Jesus.  Sa lahat ng katarantaduhan ko sa buhay, binigyan pa nya ako ng mabait na BebeKo – my soulmate, bespren forever, saka wrestling partner.  Papa Jesus, I owe you much.  Pramis, magpapakabait nako.

Unser heutiger Ausflug führte uns zur Calao Cave.
Im Gepäck:

Alle möglichen Verwandten (Insgesamt 15 bis 20) und leckere Verpflegung für den ganzen Tag.
Los ging unsere Fahrt um 7:00 Uhr morgens in einem voll beladenen Jeepney in Richtung Tuguegarao.

Nachdem wir die Höhle besichtigt hatten, wurden wir von einem der Fischer am Fluß unter der Höhle an ein einsames Ufer gefahren worden und haben dort einen traumhaft schönen Tag verbracht.

Den kompletten Bericht inklusive aller Bilder gibt es auf meiner Homepage!

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