Good Morning Anahawan, Goodbye Anahawan

The thing that bothers me about buying a round trip ticket for a vacation is that it reminds me that the good time being planned is also going to end soon. Even worse is that it could psyche one into a countdown towards the end of the vacation, the day to leave home again. I just wish that, someday, I would be able to go home without thinking of the day that I would leave again, or at least be able to stay there for as long as I wanted to.

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Blog Commenting System and Site Loading Speed

For those who have been visiting this blog for the past few days, you might have noticed the changes that have been occurring to this blog. It was part of an attempt to speed up this blog for slow speed internet connection. Last week, we conducted a survey to determine how this blog is performing for its readers. One of the most important problems pointed out is the slow loading speed of this blog. I was suspecting it was the facebook comment plug-in that is causing the slow speed of this blog. I tried replacing it with disqus and intensedebate for a few days but they do not seem to improve the speed. Besides, I understand that many readers of this blog are facebook users so comment systems other than facebook’s make it inconvenient for users to share their views.

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Problema sa Tubig?

It is hard to imagine that Anahawan’s water reserves could finally dry out considering its relatively untouched forests, that is, when compared to those of fully developed towns or cities. Complaints mostly came from residents around the upper areas of Barangay Dijo but there were also few coming from certain areas of Lo-ok. Water shortage has been mostly experienced around 6 to 7 in the morning - also a common case in many other communities.

I first learned of this issue when I uploaded a picture of that pond-and-statue at the center of Anahawan park a few months ago. Some commented that there was supposed to be water coming up that statue. After few exchanges of comments, Anahawnons were airing problems of water shortage in their own households.

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Ang Kinalami-an Nga Sud-an

Responses to that article about ginamos (salted fish) posted in this blog last month has proven that ginamos really is gold for many Anahawnons, especially to those who have been away in other countries for a while now. Some people who saw the links on facebook got the impression that I was also selling ginamos. Though most of them were just "kiddie" comments, I think I got at least one serious inquiry on how to place an order. If I was ready that time, I would have jump-started on that business opportunity. :) For those who have not read that post yet, you can read it here: Ginamos for Sale.

So what else is gold for the Anahawnons?

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Anahawan Central School - A Recollection

June 1986, first day of classes, it was a scary day. A 6-year old is about to encounter one of the most fearsome experiences of his childhood.

My sister pointed me to that small building at the Southeast corner of the campus. On slippers, and with that very cool net bag on my back, I walked anxiously towards an entirely unknown territory, out of the comfort of my home and away from my parents’ safeguard. Every kid is a stranger and not one of them looked familiar. They were all playing, running around, and seemed to already know each other well. And then, few meters away, fear knocked my senses out and could no longer take another step.

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Ginamos for Sale

Warning: This post is not for the demure :).

“Order ka ginamos? Just text us, we deliver.”

This is what I imagine selling of ginamos would be in the near future. As time and society change, product selling is no longer limited to the stores, tiangge, or display houses. The internet today has now become one of the strongest marketing tools in any industry and any business that is not able to adapt to this change will have hard time keeping up.

And so I predict that even in this so-called “facebook” generation, Anahawnons will always love this humble delicacy that we inherited from our ancestors many generations back in our history. Even those who have reached the furthest islands in the country, or those who have now achieved certain levels of success and are enjoying the greener pastures in the first worlds would, at times, crave for and hope for their love ones back home to send them scoops of ginamos. In fact, I believe that any Anahawnon who does not love ginamos have no absolute bragging rights of being an Anahawnon :).

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Pacquiao vs. Margarito

The Pacquiao vs. Margarito fight is one that I enjoyed the most, of all the Pacquiao fights. But only because, unlike previous Pacquiao fights, this time I was able to totally get rid of all the spoilers who leak the results of the Pacquiao fight even before it is aired on GMA7, which is already few hours delayed.

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Tuna, Tuna, Tuna Fish

One of the best things that I miss about Anahawan:

Tuna, tuna, tuna fish

fresh from the fisherman's boat

get 'em cheap

or buy 'em high

if he's your man

y'can get 'em free.

"Tuna, tuna, tuna fish" is a poem that Mrs. Armonia taught my class in Grade 6. Today, I'm a trying-hard poet trying to construct a similar one. Pardon me though, the crap don't even rhyme!

In common Anahawnon terms, we don't usually refer to those fishes as tuna. What we have are tulingan, mangko, and bulis. I'm not really good in remembering fish names but I notice that in Manila, our tulingan is tuna, and our mangko is tulingan. So that confused me at first, and probably, you too. Anyway, the wet market is not my favorite place, so it does not really matter to me.

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Remember the Mango Tree

Photo by Tan-tan Galendo

About 20 years ago, this picture would have featured a proud and sturdy mango tree overlooking the roof of the convent and maybe even higher than the church bell tower. She provides a really wonderful shed underneath that we never missed to play under her shadows during our Flores de Mayo classes every summer.

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Anahawan's Shot for the Next Gerber Generation Star

Our fellow Anahawnon, Baby Chloe, has been joined by her mother in a Gerber Photo Contest. Winners will be posted in a Gerber Ad plus a scholarship.... and for me, another Anahawnon to be proud of!

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Through Tacloban With Not Much Love

For the average traveler like me, the current affordability of plane tickets is undeniably the most important transportation breakthrough of this generation. Most recently developed airport that is close enough to Anahawan is in Ormoc City. However, there have been very limited flight choices to and from Ormoc City so many of us would still end up flying from or landing in Romualdez Airport of Tacloban City.

During our recent vacation this June 2010,

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SAHS Alumni Homecoming and Anniversary – Part 5: The President Says Thank You

Finally, here is Part 5/5 of my blog series about the recent SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming. To view the previous part of this series, just click here.

Our vacation this June 2010 was so filled with daily fun activities. We were enjoying every moment of it that I almost did not notice that it was already our last vacation day. It was already the late part of the day yet I still need to do one important thing to complete our vacation:

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SAHS Alumni Homecoming and Anniversary – Part 4: Success! Success! Success!... and Some Lessons to Consider

Here is Part 4/5 of my blog series about the recent SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming. To view the previous part of this series, just click here: A Vista of Inspirations.

The success of an event is usually measured by how people would react to it afterwards. Listen to what people would say about it, or in the case of facebook :), read their comments. For the recent Anniversary and Homecoming of St. Anthony’s High School, well, it is already one month and I am still blogging about it; and new pictures are still appearing on facebook - a pretty much obvious clue on the level of success this event has achieved.

For some reasons, not everyone was able to make the most out of this event. In my case,

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SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming 2010 - Part 3: A Vista of Inspirations

This would be the 3rd of this 5-part series. The previous part is right here: Every Alum is a Star.

Not even the feeling of being a Hollywood star could match the experience of meeting old friends, classmates, and batch mates whom we have spent four dramatic, rebellious, painful, joyful, adventurous, or confused years of our lives. No words could describe the

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SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming 2010 - Part 2: Every Alum is a Star

This will be my second post about SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming 2010. You can view the first part of this series here: A Blast! Perteng Alegreha!  By the way, I'm using Alum to refer to both alumna and alumnus.:)

On June 11, 2010, the streets of Anahawan turned into long spreads of red carpet for all the alumni who seemed like stars shining brightly not even the rays of the mighty sun could overwhelm. The entire Anahawan was

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SAHS Anniversary and Homecoming 2010 – Part 1: A Blast! Perteng Alegreha!

Never before have I seen such a long line of smiling faces under the scorching heat of the sun. Everyone was just smiling and laughing and yelling the whole day and probably the whole night long.

“Perteng alegreha! Maibog jud mo!” commented Gene Tse, a batch ’93 alumni.

“It was a blast! Bahala na mga salingpusa mi, basta it was a blast!” posted Arianne Cuizon on Anahawnons wall on facebook group. She’s not an alumna but she’s a welcomed guest to her network of Alumni friends, besides, she also comes from a family of SAHS Alumni.

I ran out of words to describe how successful the festivity was. However, I am pretty sure that the pictures about this event will be able to say it all. As of now,

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Happy Fathers' Day to Me!!!

Sunday, June 20, 2010, mommy woke up a little early to prepare daddy’s favorite siomai breakfast with her own version of yang chow rice. Truly there is nothing more rewarding than waking up to mommy’s breakfast. Happy fathers’ day to me!!! :)

While daddy was still snoozing the alarm clock many times already, little banana woke up few minutes after mommy. Daddy did not know she also had her own version of surprise for daddy

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Anahawnons Facebook Group is Now Online

I am excited to announce that Anahawnons Group is now online on Facebook. The creation of this group has been  greatly inspired by  the overwhelmingly active presence of Anahawnons on Facebook, initially suggested by our fellow Anahawnon Tan-tan Galendo, and with some encouragement from Dodong Juanich.

For now, the immediately visible purpose for this group

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Shopping at Green Hills

Whether you are a balikbayan dropping off at Manila or a Manila worker on your way to the province, bringing pasalubong items to our families, friends, and neighbors is almost always a necessity before hitting the airport or the terminal towards our beloved probinsyas. There is this one curious place in San Juan where even foreigners shop for cheap but quality items, probably for their Filipina wives' families as they may be on their way to their provinces too. Actually, I heard some foreigners on the way out of the country are also buying goods in Green Hills Shopping Center, also for their loved ones back home. The last time we strolled through this place, we even spotted TV Host and Comedian Arnel Ignacio. Even if you are just looking for items for your own use, there are dozens of spectacular reasons why Green Hills is the place to go.

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The Road To Anahawan

At least for the many Anahawnons coming from Manila, the road to Anahawan starts at this point in Malibay, Pasay called the Philtranco Terminal. There were some Manila-Leyte passenger ships before but they somehow got lost, probably due to safety issues and trip availability. Recently, many of us would now start the road back home at the Manila Airport

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A Personal Commentary on the Recent Anahawan Elections

This post is inspired by some comments and discussions among fellow Anahawnons on facebook about the alleged vote-buying incidents during the last May 2010 elections in Anahawan. I actually heard direct reports from voters who claimed to have been offered money in exchange for their freedom to choose their candidates but

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Results of Anahawan Local Elections 2010

Here is the final vote count of the local elections in Anahawan, May 2010. (Based only on my informal sources in Anahawan).

Mayor

• Berto Loquinte 2672
• Odo Patual 1844

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Saint Anthony's High School 60th Anniversary

The St. Anthony's High School Alumni Association (SAHSAA) Officers, lead by its president, Mr. Dojane L. Locsin is inviting all SAHS Alumni to its 60th Founding Anniversary to be held on June 11, 2010. The venue will be at the recently completed SAHS Auditorium.

The entire occasion is planned to commence in the morning of

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List of Anahawnon Sites

Stucked on the same project for a few days now and not being able to make significant progress, I decided to provide some update on this blog, just to unwind for a few minutes and hope I could go back to pretending busy after a few minutes break. It looks like hell week so I decided to keep it short this time.

On my previous post Anahawnons and the World Wide Web, I mentioned a number of sites which are either related to our home town or maintained by our fellow Anahawnons. Well, a few days after posting that one, I discovered few more interesting Anahawnon sites online.

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The Stockholders of Anahawan Corporation

There are only three kinds of people in this world: those who make things happen; those who see things happen; and those who do not know what is happening. - Anonymous

A friend with good background in Public Administration and Law was generous enough to punish me with a 2-hour one-on-one lecture about public governance. It was a very rare learning opportunity though.... and I still remember most of his lectures 5 months later even though it was done over few cans of smb. Now that election time is near,

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Anahawnon Entrepreneurship - Taking it to the Next Level

The fruits of hard work and persistence have always been the same - achievements and success, no matter how modest. If you are looking for another proof you need not look further, for another Anahawnon has just taken another step to the next level.

On April 23, 2010, Ormoc City witnessed the opening of its newest business establishment set by our fellow Anahawnon.

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May 2010 Election: Complete List of Anahawan Candidates

Finally, a friend provided me additional list of candidates for Anahawan Leadership this coming May 2010 Elections. Here is my updated list of candidates:

Candidates for Mayor

• Doroteo 'Odo' Patual, Jr.
• Roberto "Berto" A. Loquinte

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Anahawan Election Candidates May 2010

I have been trying to do my research on who the Candidates are for the Anahawan leadership this coming May 2010 elections. So far I have only learned of the Patual-Luta Ticket. Here is what I have in the list:

Mayor: Doroteo 'Odo' Patual

Vice Mayor: Enrita 'Ern' Luta

Councilors:

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A wedding and a funeral

A close cousin just got married yesterday. It was a simple celebration with the usual wedding rites. Judging only by the loud laughter and smiles on our faces, we were all very happy and excited about the new couple. However, there was something unique about this wedding. On the couple's table was an extra set of food and utensils for a loved one who can never be physically there. It was for my aunt who died a week before,

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Anahawnons and the World Wide Web

Roughly a decade ago, searching Anahawan in Google almost always return really home-sickening results. We were already satisfied with seeing "Anahawan" in few government websites with only 2-3 paragraph contents.  The Anahawnons yahoo group hardly had 3 members and remained at that number for about a year. It took about 3 years for the group to hone a membership of just about 40. It was a time when the Internet was, for many of us, just a high-tech fantasy concept that exists elsewhere.

Today, Anahawnon voices are heard much more than ever, reaching places on Earth much further than they do a few years back. Anahawnon sons and daughters from the other side of the globe can

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