ANG PROBINSYANA NOONG SEMANA SANTA

Posted by AC on Tuesday Apr 21, 2009

In one of my previous entries (click HERE), I shared with you my humble beginnings in the province.

Now that I’m grown up (ahem ahem.. sana nga.. hehehe :D ), I’m gonna share naman with you the things that I did in my beloved province last Holy Week. Since I am already based here in Manila, there are lots of things in the province that still amuse me but lots as well that I find really weird… things that I didn’t experience when I was just a kid.

Anyway, I’m really really tired coz I just got back from a weekend getaway and a sports “event” right after the outing, but these pictures are long overdue so here they are:

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climb pa! (notice the cross up there).. btw, that's CRIS na nagrereklamo na at pagod na daw sya pag-akyat

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sige pa.. malayo pa...

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paanan ng Sierra Madre... soooo hot!

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closer to the cross

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...ang talahiban sa bundok

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pababa sa kapatagan

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went nature tripping

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went to the beach (in this picture is my baby brother and his girlfriend)

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QT with the family at the beach

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Played yaya/playmate to Ali, my cousin/inaanak...

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...Ali again

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...Marikit, my niece/inaanak...

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...Coleen, my cousin/inaanak (again.. haaaay)

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...Kurt and Nico, nephews (oooops, di bastos yan ha.. baby pa naman sila eh hehe)

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naghula-hoop (oi oi champion ako jan nung bagets pa lang ako.. harhar!)

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Played with Paopao....

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... and Dalmacio

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nagfeeling bata pagswim sa pool na pinupuno pa lang ng tubig.. ang init eh! lublob lang ng lublob! haha!

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isa pang trip sa dagat

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nakipagbonding kasama ang aking mga kababata at mga kamag-anak na aking kasabayan (take note: lahat sila ay pamilyado/da na at yang umpukan na yan, ang ilan jan ay mag-aasawa.. so sila sila din.. korni noh? hehehe jowk!)

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namboso.. este... nagpicture pala ng mga babaeng kala mo ay nasa Boracay kung makajaporms.. ahihi..

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ayun oh.. kaseseksi.. lutang na lutang ang kanilang kagandahan at alindog sa islang itech.. hihi.. ;)

AT HIGIT SA LAHAT…

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... nagpicture sa aking BELOVED Cristina.. :P

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gusto daw nyang maging si Dyesebel :P

Beach Babe, Hometown, Nature Lover, Nueva Ecija, Photos | 9 comments »

AKO AY PROBINSYANA

Posted by AC on Monday Apr 13, 2009

Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I’m back!!!!

It was a very tiring but meaningful journey/vacation in the province. I feel like I was renewed. Seryoso. Hehe. Since Wednesday wala ako internet access at talaga naman buryong na buryong ako dahil ako ang tao na di makakatiis ng walang computer sa harapan at internet. At napakahirap pa magtext, sabi nga ni Kellie ay nasa Jolo daw ba ako at ang tagal dumating ng message ko. Kase po mahina signal ng Globe dun. Sabagay okay na din, kesa dati na pag umuuwi ako dun eh pucha nagpupunta pa ko sa kabilang ibayo para humanap ng signal. At talagang noong araw ay walang signal ng celfone dun. Pramis. At ang mga linya ng telepono dun iilan lang ang meron. Dati nga isa lang yata, dun kay Mayor. Hehe. :D

Para sa mga nag-iisip na ako ay isang konyita/maarte/sosyalerang Manilenya, nagkakamali po kayo dahil ako po ay isang certified probinsyana. The first few years of my life were spent in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija (my mom’s hometown) then we moved to Cabanatuan City where I finished my elementary and HS years. Kaya di po talaga ako Manilenya. Konti lang. Hahaha!

Come, I’ll show you my humble beginnings.. and how I “evolved” from a naive little girl from Nueva Ecija to an alluring a mature woman that I am now.

TWO DECADES AGO….

These were my playground.


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Brokeback Mountain -- sayang di ko nacapture ang moments nila kuya bago ito. Sa gitna ng tuyot na lupain ay ang sweet nila.

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PLAZA -- this is where I used to dance/cheerdance whenever there is a basketball league. Oha oha! :P

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THE ROAD that leads to Sierra Madre

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THE POND -- we used to catch fish here tapos luto nila.. tilapia. yum! :D

The spot where I grew up…

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Ooops.. this house is not ours. It's the newly built house of my Lola. We used to have a small house here.. in this spot. That's where I grew up. :)

They were my playmates…

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KELLIE'S BESFWENDS -- Tsong, pati ba sila kinakatakutan mo? E di naman matulis tuka nila ah. Cute nga eh. Hehe. ;)

My toys…

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IMPROVISED TOYS -- kahit anong prutas o gulay. Nung bata ako sanay ako naghuhukay ng rootcrops like radish and kamote tapos play kame ng cousins ko. Natatandaan ko pa nun tumulay ako sa pader na di makinis tsaka mataas talaga.. ayun nalaglag ako, sa sitawan ako bumagsak. Hehe. Etong jackfruit at patola na lang may bunga eh, di pa yata panahon ng ibang gulay. But my folks usually grow talong, ampalaya, kamatis, sitaw, kamote, papaya, chico, avocado, sampaloc, bayabas, cacao, atsuete, mangoes.. at maraming marami pang iba. :)

My “hangout”

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THE CHAPEL -- I used to be part of this chapel's CHOIR. Oha, wag na kayo magtaka.. makapal talaga fezz ko nung bata ako. Ngayong tumanda ako, narealize ko na WALA PALA TALAGA AKONG TALENT. Harhar!

My favorite snacks…

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MATSALAP -- hahahhaha! ano kaya yun... hihi ;)

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THE CULPRIT -- sa aking wasak na palad. Sa katakawan ko sa mangga ay muntik na matanggal ang aking thumb nung ako ay bagets pa lamang. Harhar!

The usual ulam…

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ANG GULAY -- mahilig po ako sa gulay :)

The quick getaway…

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DINGALAN, AURORA PROVINCE -- just a few minutes away from where I lived. We often come here for seafood tripping and family affairs, most expecially during the Holy Week.

Sa totoo lang madami pa ko kwento eh.. kaso mejo sumasara na mata ko.

Bukas na lang yung kasunod. Yung present layp ko naman dun. Hehehe. :D

Bukas ko na itutuloy at ikkwento ang aking “evolution” .. ;)

***sorry po kafanget ng mga pictures, eh kase naman nahihiya ako magpicture. Muka ako turista dun. So kung ano na lang matapatan ko at maclick.. pramis muka ako turista, pakalat-kalat with matching nakasabit pa na camera sa aking leeg.  :D

Beach Babe, Hometown, Nature Lover, Nueva Ecija, Photography Enthusiast, Photos | 28 comments »

ETO ANG TOTOONG BACK TO THE ROOTS

Posted by AC on Sunday Sep 21, 2008

Yesterday Amae, Che and I attended Maria Ysabela’s (Meekee & Juanay’s daughter) christening in Los Banos. Unfortunately we were not able attend the church ceremonies. We were so bangag after the Elbi Nights in Makati that we got up so late. Nevertheless, we were still able to come to the reception at UPCO.

But before coming to UPCO, we had a “photoshoot” first around the campus.. we opted to walk and have some sort of nostalgia. Yiheee…!!!

First stop: St. Therese Chapel (sorry for being a stubborn Ninang I wasn’t able to attend the baptism). The place is somehow memorable to Gogolosh since two (naging 2.5 because of Che) of the members (Sugar & Nheng) used to live there when we were in college). Minsan nakikisleep over din kame kahit alam namin na bawal.. ahahahaha.. It was also a place where we would kill time while waiting for our class (eto na kase pinakamalapit na pwede tambayan kesa naman umuwi pa sa kanya-kanya naming apartment). Ubos ang oras namin sa foodtrips (favorite ni Sugar yung PANSIT ULAM! hahaha.. kase naman nise-save money for Sun City wahahaha). Nakakatawa din dahil dito magugulat na lang ako pag palabas ng dorm at may biglang susulpot nakatago sa mga nakapark na car at lalabas na may hawak na bulaklak sabay sabi “Hi Annacel!” wahahaha.. Haaayy baket nga ba noon ay pwede na ko magtayo ng flower shop sa dami ng nagsusupply ng bulaklak sa kin noon. Baket ngayon Lord maski bulaklak ng kalabasa o plastik na bulaklak wala?! Waaahhh.. di naman ako panget Lord diba? Hahaha… :D

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After a short stay at the chapel, we tracked the dirt road kung saan kame nagdadaan before from Humanities dahil yun ang short cut. Noong panahon namin hindi pa sementado ang dirt road (helloww kaya nga dirt road eh) pero I think ginagawa na sya nung time na yun. Well, we’re not that old after all.. Hekhek! I took photos of CDL where we started our “career” in preschool teaching (well, only Nheng and Noelle had the chance to pursue this profession).

Tapos napadaan din ako dun sa tambayan ng org ko sa tapat ng PNB  kung saan naging isa akong salbaheng amuyong, hindi marunong sumunod sa mga masters kaya binubugbog. Hehehe. :P

Next stop: PhySci. We had photoshoot at Eagles’ tambayan na nagmove na pala ng konti. I took shot of Che pero syempre papatalo ba naman ako e I used to be an Eagle feelingera. hahaha. Madaming memories ang tambayan ng Eagles. Sa loob ng halos tatlong taon ay eto ang naging pugad ko ng pag-ibig, sakit, away at pananakit. Hahaha. At makakalimutan ko ba naman ang mga taong naging kaibigan ko dito? Whatever happened I know naging totoong kaibigan ko sila. I miss you Darlo injanero sa Elbi Nights!

Finally we reached Oble sa tapat ng Humanities. When we were still students, nakakahiya magtake ng pictures kay Oble. Pero ngayon bawal mangialam sa min kase turista kame! Kanya-kanyang trip yan! Kahit noon sa Humanities ako nakatambay, sobrang bihirang lumapit ako sa estatwa ni Oble. Umupo kame saglit sa Hum Steps.. ma-feel man lang ang pagiging nostalgic na noon araw2 kame nakaupo sa baitang ng hagdan. At hlos lahat ng dumaan at tumambay dun ay kakilala namin. Ang Humanities sa tingin ko ang isa sa pinakamasayang building sa UPLB.. at syempre naman kase nandun kame e. Hahaha. joke!

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Then we headed to Socius tambayan sa gilid ng Hum. Nagpicture sa isang spot na meron din kameng picture nung mga lampayatot pa kame. Masaya noon kase halos kumpleto kame, si Dane nandun pa. Si Gny lang ang wala. Ngayon kameng tatlo na lang ni Amae at Che na lang. So sad.

Tapos eto na nagpunta na kame sa mala-Lunetang Freedom Park ng UPLB. Ang saya.. ang dami nagbago. May mga benches na sa paligid. Yung mga damo green na green. Hintayin nyo at pagdating ng Feb Fair brown na naman ulit sila dahil makakalbo sila. Hehe. Ang sarap pa rin ng hangin. Ang sarap ng feeling lumanghap ng sariwang hangin. At ang sarap sa pakiramdam na dito at home na at home ka, parang kung pwede lang matulog dito ginawa ko na. Habang naglalakad nga kame napatanong sila (ewan ko kung sino kay Amae at Che) kung ano yung unforgettable memory dito sa field. Pwera yung memories na makamundo twing Feb Fair, one thing that I won’t forget about this field is nung nakasama ko si Little Drummer boy here. Sarap din pala nung ganun lang.. gabi, higa kayo sa damuhan, nood ng stars sa langit.. yung tipong walang bastusan (nyahahahah!) tapos wala, chikahan lang.. Kakamiss din ng ganung “date” noh? Tsuk.

Stop muna kame dito sa field dahil we went to Ysa & Mara’s party na. There we met a lot of old friends. Si Patrick Mallari na tatay na tatay na. Na parang kelan lang walang ginawa sa Elbi kundi makipagbasagan ng mukha. Ngayon yung anak nya syang-sya.. sabi nga ni Amae very Patrick nung ikikiss sya at nakanguso ng sobra. Sayang lang at di ko nacapture yung moment.. ang cute pa naman sana nun. Lalo na at yung ama nya ay may nabuong paghanga kay Amae dati.. ahem.. ahem.. Nandun din ang mga footbolero at tropa ni kalbo like Memen na tatay na tatay na din (ang laki ng tiyan!) and his daughter na sobrnag cute at charming at walang pinipiling taong samahan. Ayun ang tagal nya nakatambay kay Tita Che. Si Jaz at ang kanyang dalaga nang anak na si Ging. Si Ate Jean at si Tokits na going strong. Haaayy.. sino pa ba.. hmmm.. sayang lang at late na dumating si Abooh kung kelan pauwi na kame. Sinupladuhan pa ko. Ayun wala tuloy kame picture together.

Pagbaba from UPCO another picturan sa may mga puno ng ilang-ilang (what’s the name of tha park again? yung may kalabaw and fish pond.. sorry naman hehe). I love the colorful boxes at the pond, sayang lang kase I’m sure kapag gabi ang ganda-ganda nila. Doon ko din nalaman na may SocSci 3 na pala (Gender & Sexuality) dahil may nakita akong isang poster about it. So what happened to HFDS 121 (tama ba?) diba Human Sexuality naman sya? So what’s the difference? Enyweis, picture naman sa centennial logo.. I’m so sorry joke lang po ang paghawak ko sa birdie ni oble. Walang halong malisya.. hahaha.. ;)

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Picture taking’s finally over sa gate ng campus kase paubos na din battery ng camera ko.

Dumaan muna kame sa Mer-nels along Grove to buy cakes na iniuwi ko dito sa Manila.  Naalala ko dati ang Grove na lagi kong nilalakad nung time na nakatira pa kame sa Umali. Every Thursday night makikita mo nun punong-puno ng tao sa Grove dahil di na magkasya sa IC’s na dati naming gimikan. Dalawang pangyayari ang di ko makakalimutan sa Grove. Una: may isang nilalang na nabugbog ng isang nilalang dito dahil sa akin. Pero hindi ko naman talaga sinabi kay nilalang #2 na hellow bugbugin mo sya para sa akin. As in tipong nasa loob na ng kotse si nilalang #1 e nilulusot pa ni nilalang #2 ang kamao nya sa bintana ng kotse para sapakin ulit si nilalang #1. Tsktsk. At ang isa pang di malilimutang pangyayari ay ang madalas na pagbabangayan namin ni Rasta Man dito sa kalyeng ito, saksi ang lugar na ito kung paano kame magmurahan at magbugbugan sa kalye.. Hahaha.. too much information. :D

Haaay.. ang saya-saya kahit tagaktak ang pawis ko at off ang suot ko dahil naka-knitted top ako yun pala e sobrang init dun. Nanlalagkit talaga ako at libagin na ang ichura sa dami ng nilakad at nilibot namin. Pero okay lang. Worth it naman.

Ngayon masasabi ko handa na akong bumalik ulit dito. Tingnan natin sa Fair kung talagang kayang-kaya ko na. Ikaw Che? :D

More Photos: Click HERE

Laguna, Photos, The Explorer, University of the Philippines | add comments »

DIGGIN’ THE ROOTS

Posted by AC on Tuesday May 27, 2008

penarandaI grew up in Nueva Ecija.  I am a certified probinsyana.

When I was a kid my parents went abroad since most of my dad’s siblings and his mom were already living in the US, he was also petitioned.  But I stayed here in the Philippines with my 2 siblings under the care and guidance of my aunt and my uncle.

I went to UP Los Banos for college (with my cousins) while my siblings went to Manila to study. That’s where we had a taste of independence. After college I took a post-grad course in UP Diliman and stayed with my sister and brother here in Manila.  We acquired a property here. And I stayed here for good. At first I wasn’t so comfortable.  The probinsyana  in me kept on screaming out loud. But I was confident I will get through those hard times in my life.  I succeeded. Now I love Manila.. a great place to fall in love.. at hinahanap-hanap kita Manila.. ang ingay mong kaysakit sa tenga.. hehehe..

Hmmm.. so much intro..

Last Saturday I was back in the province to celebrate the town fiesta in Penaranda (I grew up in Cabanatuan City but my dad’s relatives are in Penaranda and my mom’s hometown is Gabaldon.. just a few minutes away from Aurora Province) and to have a quasi family reunion. Next year my dad’s planning to come home again together with his whole family in the US to have the grand family reunion (kahit ayaw ko yung iba namin kamag-anak!)
perya
Here comes the fiesta… Lots and lots of food! (I missed Tita Flor’s “kusina”). I watched the parada, there were bands and beautiful people riding the “karosa”. Come evening we went to the perya where we played “hulug-hulugan” game (I forgot the name of the game.. basta may tatayaan ka na cards tapos ihuhulog yung bola tapos yung matatapatan na card nung bola yun may premyo ka! ).. I missed those times.  My source of joy when I was a kid.. simple libangan like that.  Then we went to the bazaar.. it was like tiangge sa Divisoria or Greenhills but surprisingly the prices of the items were cheaper. I bought a pambahay na shorts for PHP35 and some earrings worth PHP5/pair. Not bad for a kuripot like me. hehehe. Then we went home…

I didn’t sleep coz I had a serious talk with my favorite cousin. I learned a lot of things re our uncles/aunts/cousins that made me sad again. They never stopped criticizing and making stories out of my parents’ kindness to them.  And it really hurts me coz I know dad and mom made everything to please them.. even forgetting their own children… even hurting me. It’s okay anyway, look at what happened to them… greed and envy can never elevate them.. worse they were condemned.  Hay.

Well, back to excitement.. I just love indian mangoes with bagoong (yun dahilan kung bakit muntik na matanggal ang thumb ko nung nasa grade school ako.. hehehe).. we picked some from our neighbor’s tree (nasa Isabela naman sila eh).. nakaw lang.. hihihi..   then nagbalat ako ng 1 sack of corn from the farm then nilaga and inihaw. yum! Super plain life.. but I missed it.

Next time when I go home I’ll try to ignore the negative vibes, I’ll just focus on the beautiful side of the province.  Yung mga masasama ugali PANGET. :P

Hometown, Nueva Ecija | 2 comments »

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

Posted by AC on Thursday May 8, 2008

p5070779When I say I’ve moved on, it doesn’t necessarily mean I forgot everything about us.  I’ve realized that at this point in my life where I already left traces of him behind, I begin to appreciate everything and everybody who became part of our lives as a couple.

Yesterday morning I was in doubt whether I’ll stick to the plan of visiting his relatives in the province or not.  His sister in law is in the country right now for a short vacation and she requested if I can drop by for a visit at their place.  I obliged.  Not because of my ex-boyfriend.. but because of the fact that his family became my family.  I remember the moment when we broke up, it was the first thing that entered my mind.. the pain of losing this wonderful family which I have learned  to love from the day I met them up to this very moment.  The warmth was still there.  I can see excitement and bliss in their eyes when they saw me.  But it was not just a one way street.  I also felt delighted.  I missed them terribly and I was surprised that everything is still the same.

Whatever it is that makes us close again, romantic involvement with my former flame is not feasible.  It’s just pure friendship with people around him.  I know it’s kinda cruel of me to keep in touch but this is what I truly feel.  Don’t criticize me, you’ll know it when you’re here. ;)

Hometown, Laguna, Lover Wannabe, Ms. Congeniality, Party Animal, Photos | 2 comments »