E D I T O R I A L
After the rains...
Filipinos, more often than not, experience a rainy “Undas”---the two-day period of November 1-2 commemorated in local religious tradition as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day respectively. This year, 2011, Asinganians saw only a cloudy sky veiled the sun and dampen the afternoon heat thus tempering the adrenalin rush.
After the rains, the heat is on. Though the government’s weather bureau predicts two more typhoons will cross the country before the year ends, it is apparent that summer comes early for another prolonged dry season. Some parts of eastern Pangasinan—including Asingan—are now suffering from waterless improvised mini-irrigation systems washed out by previous typhoons.
Most unfortunate for the Philippines, typhoons were the very source of irrigation in most parts. Unlike in decades past where typhoons were less severe and evenly distributed during the rainy season, typhoons these days are devastating and comes close of each other. Yesteryears saw shorter dry season from March to May. The rest are the rainy period of June to August and the cool months of September until February the next year.
In sum, typhoon months of yore were mainly June-July. Today, it drastically moved to September-October courtesy of climate change. And yes, the archipelago have had enough plant and forest cover then to shield the country from extreme conditions of both dry and wet seasons. Now, severe flooding and prolonged drought were largely unchecked by any serious adaptation or mitigation strategies simply because of government ineptness, lack of funds, and technological inadequacy. Disaster preparedness and public awareness are wanting, too. Yes, after the devastating typhoon rains, suddenly comes the sunny days only to usher in a monstrous season of drought—a disaster after another. rmb
F E A T U R E
“Undas”
by: ruben “bencio” balino
This writer is no linguist as to scientifically dichotomize the origin and meaning of the word “undas”. Upon realizing though that the door to learning is unearthing the origin and meaning of things, this writer had to dig deep unto the pages of wikipedia via the google for the very “kernel” of the subject word, “undas”.
Apparently, “undas” is closely associated with the Spanish word andas, or possibly honra, meaning Day of the Dead (“Araw ng Patay”). Curiously though, undas is being observed in the Christian world in various ways and dates, in which case a more scholarly and lengthy discourse necessitates a separate article on the matter. For a tickler, some countries observed undas in solemn rights while others do it in festive mood. Others observe it on November 2 as All Souls Day while some do it on November 1 as All Saints Day. Mexico and the Philippines commemorate a two-day period of undas November 1-2: November 1 as Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day or Halloween, or Gabi ng Pangangaluluwa); and November 2 as All Souls Day or Araw ng mga Patay. Brazil’s Dia de Finados (Day of the Dead) is commemorated November 2. La Paz, Bolivia—for cultural reason of their own—observes it on November 9 as Dia de los Natitas or Day of the Skulls [the skull being associated with the dead].
More definitively, other countries commemorate November 1 as day of the dead saints, martyrs and innocents [as infants and children]; while November 2 is observed as day of the dead common man less beatified as the saints and martyrs [if one senses no distinction between the two…rmb].
Since the undas is more of a religious tone in this only Catholic nation in Asia, Filipinos like the Mexicans imbibe most the essence of this two-day bonding period for both the living and the dead. It has metamorphosed to be more festive now in urban centers as in the disco-type merrymaking, the boozing and the gambling right there over the catacombs.
Yet, the undas of old—for the likes of Asinganians still commemorating in the traditional manner like the “Atang” (food offering) and the “Tugkel Kandila” (candle lighting) both done at home and in the cemetery—is here to stay solemn for some time and dwell in our rural psyche, uniting families and friends and bonding old relationships stronger as ever. Hoping, as it should, a remarkably rich Pinoy tradition like the undas must be enshrined into our conscious and disciplined mind to become a stronger cultural fiber that holds us together to one solid nation now and into the future.“Killing trees is never fun”
By: Wena Agaton-Balino
ASINGAN, Pangasinan---“Three town councils sealed plan to kill 300 trees for a road project in eastern Pangasinan,” was the gist of a report from Inquirer NEWS early this month. For agroforesters like this writer, cutting tees is never fun, it’s a crime!
The road project referred to in the report is actually a widening of the existing old road from Binalonan town just north of Asingan [thaks it did not start from here where century-old acacia trees abound], winding through Pozorrubio and ends up at Pangasinan’s northernmost town of Sison in boundary with La Union province. Pangasinan and La Union lump up with Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte to comprise the Ilocos Region [or Region 1] nestled on the western seaboard of north Luzon claimed to be a potential growth area.
Road constructions and widening(s) are considered imperatives of the so-called modern-day progress and development. On the one hand—or at first glance—it looks true and correct. On the other, present-day realities require restraint and intelligence in light of genuine and sustainable development sought for by the vast majority of Filipinos.
Realities were real and disturbing. The country is such a small archipelago and its land area is no increasing. Conversely, land space is smothered by rude and unwise land use conversions into golf courses, exclusive subdivisions, fishponds, business and industrial enclaves and the likes, aggravated further by poor and inept community planning. Most of our inland waters were either “clinically dead” or badly polluted. So did our seas and oceans grossly threatened. Eighty to 90 percent of the country’s usable lands are owned by the rich 10-20 percent of the population. Meanwhile, 80-90% of Filipinos are either small landowners or landless families. Population is ballooning even as our “green mantle” of trees, bushes, shrubs and grasses in both the lowlands and uplands are vanishing fast much as the trees felled and killed in road building and widening.
Reversing the edgy situation including the inequity in land use and ownership is far from sight. On cutting of trees, it is painful irony to see government selling the national patrimony like hot cake to private business [contractors-developers] obviously for cash and profit to prop up the budget, if not the pocket. Private business dealing with a local government unit, and then government [LGU] to government [DENR] dealing with each other for and in behalf of private business is not only insulting delicadeza but wanting in safeguards, if not tempting for fast buck. Why not the private contractor directly asking government for permit to cut trees with provisions of appropriate remedies like abiding by the Forestry Code of the Philippines ordering replacement with at least three saplings for every tree cut, and the likes?
Government units caught in between hustling of private business and the highest government authority concerned should serve as overseers—not as brokers—to ensure the integrity and success of a project. Bureaucratic wrangling along the way—endorsements, recommendations, etc.—saps the budget and the peoples’ taxes.
L I T E R A R Y
Open Letter to a Friend
Dear Buddy:
First and foremost, my apologies for this audacious piece as it dares trading some punches on the air albeit in comic blows to lighten up threading the punch lines.
Matter-of-factly, it’s suiting up to versatile writing so I can be a ghost writer rather than a spokesman. You see, I disdain speaking for and in behalf an asshole as it reduces man into a poker-faced simpleton, ha! ha! As the saying goes: “Problem arises when the tongue works faster than the mind.” Am likewise trying on “satire” as this is an “anti-aging pill”, prescribes my “herbolario”.
Oh! might forget.., how are you doin’, Buddy? Quite amused at the candid poses with “Tabako” on Fb, huh! Old, familiar faces provide the perfect backdrop for a nice portrait. The good life, indeed! Or shall we say, “ang buhay nga naman!” He! he!
Sharing further, please read on.
It flatters to read you once on email saying: “You really can write…” No, not really. Just an ounce of guts, Buddy. The rest is a rash of necessity and experience borne out of contingent times as the seventies, not from the comfort of exclusive school. I write for people, not for myself; much less for the sake of writing, or for passion. That’s preposterous for our time then. Glad though for the compliment.
I started writing way back my junior year at Rizal Academy for the student publication, “Rizalian”. Early in college at UPCF, I joined the “FORESTRY Newsletter”. When martial rule was declared, I joined the “alternative press” and worked there for 13 years, doing vital research work, feature stories and news items while doing organizing work and periodic politico-military exposures. I worked with the Press Bureau of the LABAN Party of Ninoy Aquino during the 1978 Interim Batasang Pambansa elections. No cash rewards and medals here, Buddy! Just a modicum of courage; the rest is pure and simple sacrifice.
Going aboveground shortly after Ninoy’s assassination in 1983, I pursued my college course and became Editor-in-Chief of both the university’s student publication, “The FURROWS”; and the Alumni Book, “The HARVEST”. I finished my BS Forestry course October 1984 and capped the Outstanding Graduate for Campus Journalism Award.
While serving as Department Head for Education and Research of the Kilusang Mayo Uno- National Capitol Region 1987-‘89, I pursued my Master’s Degree on Environmental Science as Dean’s Scholar at De La Salle Araneta University. I also worked for a year as Co-anchor at DWLR’s Weekend Radio Program, “Tinig Manggawa”, 1988. In 1992, while working with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and at the same time serving my term as elected Vice-Chair of the Philippine Environmental Action Network 1990-’93, I went back to radio as Co-Anchor in yet another weekend talk show, “Breaktime”, at DZME.
When as a Marxist revolutionary, we were taught not to brag on little learning as this would be dangerous. We were told to build edifices, not destroy them down. Edifice built on one’s own sweat stands as one’s own monument, so goes the doctrine. I worked to build my own only to prevail in quite a few.
I felt honored to be part of a six-man convening group that put up in September 1977 the now famous League of Filipino Students. Six years earlier, upon transferring to DLSAU from UP-CFNR in 1971, I put up the DLSAU Chapter of my mother fraternity UP-ZBR—a fraternity for outstanding students, campus leaders and journalists.
In the literary circle, I belong to one of the pioneering batches to join the Galian sa Arte at Tula [GAT] in 1976; the Pambansang Unyon ng Manunulat [PANULAT] in 1987; and the Pambansang Lupon ng Manunulat [PLUMA] in 1988. I was fortunate to bag three Gawad Ka Amado writing awards from the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center—two for Essay [Sanaysay] and one for Poetry [Tula] in 1986 and 1988 respectively, among other awards.
Until now, I still write for several NGO/PO publications either on request or voluntary basis including this online newsletter, “Asingan NewsLine”. Until now, I still write for the people as I do write for Asinganians.
Yes, I remember you once, saying: “I’ve so much plans for Asingan.” But of course, I do believe in you, Buddy. I do hope that in one of those plans, I can join you in writing for the people—the Asinganians, in particular. So you may finally can say if I really can write…
This is all for now. Again, my apologies, Buddy.
Very truly yours,
Benz
Nov 2011
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