Manong at Work

              Manong is at work! Yes, Filipinos particulary Ilocanos are known for being hardworking.  That is just one of the many qualities Manong has.  He wakes up early in the morning, usually takes a cup of coffee while eating pandesal or eat the leftovers (mostly rice and viand) last night as his breakfast then go on his way out to do all the tasks of the day.  Manong ordinarily ignores everything like the heat of the sun, muscle ache, tedious work for the sake of his family.   The utmost reason why Manong never give up and keep on working because of his loved ones. Manong remains simple and humble.  His smile manifests contentment and happiness in his journey.  I salute you Manong for being one of a kind.  I hope your children will appreciate all your sacrifices and do their best also in everything to pay back all your efforts. 
   
              Manong, agbiag ka! :)

MANONG (Mah-noh-ng) is an Ilocano term principally given to the first-born male in a Filipino family. However, it can also be used to title an older brother, older male cousin, or older male relative in an extended family. The feminine "MANANG" is a term given to an older sister.

Have you seen Manong around? :)

              

Silet

        If there is one food in Ilocos I really can't desist because it's obviously a contra to our health...it's SILET. Yes, looking at the picture makes me salivate while pressing every letter in my keyboard.  "SILET" is an Ilocano term for ISAW. It is a street food in the Philippines made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines.  The intestines are cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again, repeating the process several times. They are then either boiled, then grilled, or immediately grilled on sticks. They are usually dipped in  vinegar with onions, peppers, and other spices in Manila and other parts of the country.  In Ilocos, we have our sui generis way of making it more tastier and sapid by dipping it in a mixed ketchup and Ilocos vinegar with chili.  They are usually sold by vendors on the street corners in afternoons. Well, in Ilocos if you want to challenge your judgment, try the must-taste silet at Riverside, Batac Ilocos Norte usually sold in the afternoon.  The best time to go there is not later than 5pm or else you have to go back again the next day because of too many people who visit and enjoy the bang of the famous SILET. :)

SMILE and ENJOY while you still can. :)

 

Throw back Grade School Days (lagip ti napalabas thrill)

 Nu kastoy a tiyempo ti pinagtutudo ket tila ketdi malaglagip kon aglalo iti napaspasamak iti napalabas. Malagip ko man idi agbasbasaak jay low school (mababang paaralan… hehe) dagitay simple ngem makapaisem ken makapakatawa nga paspapasamak nga parte ti childhood memories ko. Nagalisto ketdin ti panawen kunak ta kasla idi kalman laeng ket … kankantaek tay graduation song mi a Let There Be Peace on Earth… sayang ngamin awan la ketdi ngamin ti class picture mi metten idi nagraduar kam ti elementaryan. Madi pay ngamin uso ti gadgets idi, nu agpaletrato kam idi ngamin ket mangkalbit ka tay letratista nga nangina singir na hehe Wen, sangapulo nga lessons wenno experiences ti ingkay mabasa pwera gura a ti gumura narabaw ubet na... umisem wenno ikatawa yo lattan hehe….. my brotherhood and sisterhood for your eyes only! :)
Umuna: Mamiss ko la unay dagitay ay ayam mi idi nga bawang base, chinese garter, patalunton, balay ni kulas, langit-lupa, bending (agingana marigis tay sapin mi idi..hehe) text, laban lastiko, tetching, lumba taray, kamat kamat, linemmengan etc.
Maykadua: Daydi umuna a padas ko a pinagsida ti tukak nga naprito ken adobo. Ti kanayon ngamin a pabalon daydi nanang ko ket karne nga adut taba na wenno manok ta pumarti met latta idi kadagitay alaga nan a manok nga ti luto na ket adobo. Isu nga ti pamay ak idi ket makisinnukatak ken daydi kaklasek, napalubos unay ragsak ko nu umasideg ti pinnanganan ti aldaw ta makaramanak manen ti adobo wenno naprito nga tukak. Maragsakanak la unay ngamin nu luktan tay kaklasek tay dua a pinggan a pagbalunan na, ta nu ikkaten na tay maysa a pinggan ket innem nga tukak nga nakangato ti ima na ti umis isem kadakami. hehe
Maykatlo: Diak la unay malipatan daydi napasamak a kalamidad, maysa a malem adda kam nga agkakaklase diay garden mi ta mayat pamula wenno pakali mi idi kadua mi tay mestro mi ket bigla lattan nga naggingined ti napigsa, apunay laketdin nga ikkis mi nga babbai idin, ti ammok idi kua ket daydiay ti patengga ti pinagbyagko ditoy daga. Madi ngamin uso ti emergency drill idi gagayyem.
Maykapat: Ti agpayso na dua laeng nga subjects ti ammok di grade school ak… Math ken Sibika… Nu sibika, ammom dapat nu sinno ti brain of the katipunan, sinno ti pimmatay ken lapu-lapu ken ti national hero ti pilipinas… nu met math idi dapat memorize ken alisto ka nga agmultiply ken agdivide idi… infairness ! deta met innak namaster hehe
Maykalima: Adda dua nga kaklasek nga mayat ti pakanta kanta da tay man, days of the week, maysa a malem nga agawid kami, naggapu kam eskwela, gapu ta sarsarunuwen mi ida ken tay bespren ko napakanta kami met ngem tultuladen mi ida… kastoy ti kanta da ngamin idi….. lunis, martis, miyirkulis, huwibis, biyirnis, sabadu domingu… gapu ta tultuladen mi idi ket nagshudut da ket kariten na kami metten ti kabil ket makikabilak met idi a (ana ngarud!) ngem idi mayat ti papwesto min, bigla a bimsug tay buteg tay kaklasek nga nakarit, ket bigla kam nagkakatawa agingana a kinankantyawan mi nagawid nagtartaray ti buteg! A bimmsug ngamin buteg na! haha daydi nakarit ket ni apo padi peace apo padi! :P
Maykainnem: Naglabas ka ti grade school nu napadasam ti nagkuto ti bukal nga uray lang sugod ket agkapsut pay ti kina adu ti kuto ken lis-a na wenno anglit wenno tay madi agsipspilyo malpas mangan (adu ngamin tay ruot wenno iit ti bulong ti niyog a pagingat… nyahaha)
Maykapito: Tay dumawat tak ti zoom zoom ken tay kaklasek ket dinak inikkan (nagimut), adda kaklase mi idi nga feeling genius, agitugot ti darakkel nga libro ken anchukos tas agimbabasa nu madama ti recess tay pakaan mi ti bulgur, agingagana awan ton ti makannan hehe, adda dua nga kaklasek nga umay agbasa idi ket pitak pitak kanayon saksaka da ngem you know? never been absent da ha, nadiskubre mi ti source ti laing na tay maysa a kalalaingan mi a kaklase … adda lupes ti uleg a naypalipit diay notebook na hehe, adda nabaut ko ti bukot na idi a kaklasek iti bislak ta nagsutil unay, jay garden daydiay, malagip mo? Haha, tay bespren ko ket kinalaban ko ti drawing for audition nangabak isuna ta ngamin diay bondpaper na adda mantika na wenno lana na ket obvious la unay nga pinatugutan na, daydi met mestra mi dina la inangot, kayat ko unay ti makilaban idi isu nga nagpuyatak nagdrawing ngem ayanna a dakes diak met naala, daydi immuli tay dua nga kaklasek ti kayo ti granatis nga adda baboy na a nakagalut diay baba na ket siak ti inaramid da a parasippaw…katawa ak la katawa ta diak makasippaw basta adda mapuros da nga dua ket diak masippaw ta kanen met daydi baboy min nalalaing a mangsippaw tay baboy ngem siak hehe idi bimmaba dan agsapul da ti granatis ket awan mayted ko ta nilamot amin tay nakagalut a baboy haha, nasileng ti bubuok dagitay dadduma nga kaklasek idi ta managlana da hehe, awan uniporme mi idi ingkam eskwela ket kaskamla nakapangbalay, shorts and shirts ang peg! Hehe, adda dua nga kaklasek idi nga lallaki nga peg da ti umay agbasa nga nakiting shorts da, infairness! napudaw legs diay maysa haha maysa pay tay kaklasek nga kakaasi lang unay nga mangbalikas ti nagan mi nu ayaban na kami (pero itattan ket alisto met agsaon and clear voice ha, nagpraktis cguro ng ilang taon) hehe adda met tay kaklasek nga kanayon a nakared ti sapin na hehe tay met maysa ket kanayon nga nakatak-in uray nakail ilet la ngarud tay shorts nan hehe uso pay idi ti pinnangan mi ti marbik kas kam la manok piso ti bayad ti maysa a marbik idi, ti binting makagatang paylat kendi idi, uso ti agpakulot idi nu recognition day, (looking at my pictures way back, my hair was likened to a cauliflower… kulot diay bangs ko ken ti dulo diay buok ko hehe) uso pay gayam idi ti buok nga seven cut, mayat pay a pag gel wenno pagpatangken ti buok tay kalamansi, ken naimas a susupen tay sabong ti santan hehe, adda kaklasek idi nga nu mapan sentro ket libre aglugan lang ti bus sabay kidday hehe, adda kaklase mi nga kinakabil nansa idi diay mestro mi isu madi met immay pulos nagbasan...naglaklakay sa lattan, awan met damag kon.. :)
Maikawalo: Gaput kinalampong mi ket naladaw kam diay eskwela maysa a malem ket binaot na kam ni mestro mi, pinak ulan ni maam ti ulok idi ti libro ta diak intugot daydi librok, para pidot kam ti lugit ti manok idi diay klasrum mi, uso ti star scout ken girls scout idi ken softball player ka, inkam maki laban idi diay sentro uray napigsa ti tudo ket uray kam la mabasbasa diay uneg ti traysikel ni mestro mi idi ket ala latta, agyamanak sir ti determinasyon ken sakripisyo yo, inkam agbasa ti bigat ket malpas morning ceremony ket agkaykay kam nga umuna kasdiay tumet ti malem bago kam agawid agkaykay kam tu manen, aglako kami idi ti lako tay mestra mi a tag bibinting, tsokolate, bukayo basta dagitay sinam-it tiltiladda nu di malako ket pautang bayad nu bigat, karurud ko unay idi ti agdalus ti washroom wenno c.r. ta nagrigat ti agsakdo ti danum sapay nagangseg diay padalusan da hehe, kay ayuk met ti agluto ti bulgur ta ngamin exempted ka diay klase hehe, diay H.E. room mi idi ket hunted room adda marmarna na, kabuteng mi unay idi tattan ket adda met kolores nan, adut kayo ti mangga a darakkel diay eskwela mi isu kanayon kam agkaykay idi, uso idi ti fido dido, felix the cat, rambo nga headband, tsinelas shorts t-shirts etc., ti notebook ko idi ket rupa ti artista rupa ni romnick sarmenta, sheryl cruz wenno ni jennifer sevilla ken nino muhlach, nu saan nga artista ket sabsabong ti cover ti notebook ko idi, dagitay gayam memestra mi idi ket babbakket da ken kulot ti bubuok da hehe, makitak lang nakasapatos da idi nu tay recognition wenno graduation mi wenno adda mangbisita diay eskwela mi hehe
Maikasiyam: Siak ti maysa a katatayagan idi, adda ak kanayon diay likod nu aglinya kami (according to height) ngem itan siak met kababassitanen hehe, maysa ak kadagiti  three drummers (as in drummer girl hah) ti maysa parade nalidayanak la unay ta lumabas kam diay sango ti maysa nga eskwela ket booooooh! Kuna ket ti taon (dida nakita ti rigat mi… urayak la lingling eten ken makabutbutegag nga agdadrum idi), saak la sumapatos idi nu agpasentro ak nu adda misa ti domingo ken nu inkam maki compete diay sentro , feeling discriminated ak idi nu inkam diay sentro kas kam la tay naggapu diay far-flung place ngamin ngem gapu ti suporta dagiti memestra ken mestro mi…ala ket go kam latta met idi a…
Maysangapulo: Idi napanak nakilaban ti kanta nga ti title na ket MAY BUKAS PA, adda met naalak bassit a premyo sangagasut sa idi ngem impadonar daydi mestrak mapan eskwela ta ngamin pagbayad kano kuryente hehe, indonar met ni nanangko, piso lat balon ko a kwarta idi tas rebisco, ti libro mi idi ket mabulod diay eskwela bahala ka nga mangcover nu kurang page nan diskarte amon, kay ayuk idi ti inartem nu pumasentro ak idi puro inartem a balayang innak pangigatgatangak kwartak uray ung ungtannak to ni nanangkon, kanayon kam aggabut ruot idi… hehe Lastly, malagip kuman daydi kaklase mi idi a dios ti alwad na a ni mary jane … eternal rest grant unto her o God and may perpetual light shine upon her, may she rest in peace amen.
Gagayyem uray naggapu kam ti nakurapay a pampamilya ken simple kam laeng nga uubbing idi, uray nu kaskasanu ket maapresyarak unay dagitay nagbalinan dagitay bentesingko nga uubbing nga naggapu ti away, nagradawar diay mababang paaralan ken awan pulos ti exposure na ti technology.
1. Arnel – nagbalin a U.S. navy
2. Glenn – dakilang ama
3. Lester – maysa a seaman
4. Joburd – maysa met a seaman
5. Julius – dakilang ama
6. Jay- dakilang ama
7. Christopher – maysa a barangay watchman, tumultulong para ti linak ken talna ti barangay
8. Joseph – dakilang ama
9. Benidin – dakilang ofw
10. Mar – dakilang ama
11. Alex – (awan damag ko)
12. Mario – dakilang ama
13. Loreto – dakilang ama
14. Roberto – maysa a padi ti aglipayan
15. Jodelyn – dakilang ofw
16. Annalyn – dakilang ina
17. Genalyn – dakilang ofw
18. Evelyn – isang manager
19. Eva – dakilang ofw
20. Rachel – dakilang ina
21. Laura – isang dentista
22. Milagros – dakilang ina
23. Loane – isang negosyante
24. Mary jane – heaven smiling at us… ilualwan na kami
25. AKO – kunada nasutil lak idi agin ana ita nasutil latta, hehe isang hamak na manggagawa na ang nais lamang ay makatulong sa abot ng aking makakaya sa mga batang Pilipino lalong lalo na sa mga kababaihan…

Ricola

   It was not  a lucky day for me.  I really didn't feel well but still,  I went to work and pretended everything was fine.  In the afternoon, I decided to participate in the mass but I keep coughing.  The couple infront of me gave me this soothing Ricola to ease the tingling cough.  I was hesitant to accept at first but the woman told me to try it.  She said it's good for the throat. 

Well, all I can say now is.... God bless your beautiful soul fellows. :)

Rifa, The Ant

 

 If there is one tiny creature that can schlepp an amount of hardwork and simplicity... let us all learn a lesson from the way ants live.  :)

Unexpected Moments...

   
Unexpected early morning visitor in my place of work...an amazing beautiful bird...in the afternoon while on my way home.... an eye-catching big yellow butterfly... and before bedtime a racy call from a good friend..."let's meet up!"... what a day! :)  Life is good! :)

Taraken

                                            

    The Philippine Carabao is the national animal in the Pearl of the Orient Seas.  An Ilocano term "NUANG" or "KALABAW" (tagalog) is the most hardworking animal for me in the animal kingdom.

    Have you ever seen a mushroom grows in a caboodle of carabao poop?  Now you see it! A small white mushy!

    The most hygienic of them all maybe? Goats eat grass.  An independent animal.  They are low maintenance. You don't need to spend much money to tend this kind of animal.   When I was a kid, I had three of them with 2 baby goatees!

   It's RED, no it's WHITE! It's cock fighting! (",) ROOSTERS are not meant as food on the table they are bound to entertain men... (",)

The Smaller Beatitudes

I'm absolutely back! (",)

I would like to share with you what keeps me going in my life now and how I deal with circumstances.  The copy of this Beatitudes is actually posted in my station at work.  It was given to me by our Directress.   A guide to an incredible happiness!  (",)


Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves;
they will have no end of fun.

Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill;
they will be saved a lot of bother.

Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses;
they are on the way to become wise.

Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and listen;
they will learn a lot of new things.

Blessed are those who are sane enough not to take themselves seriously;
they will be valued by those about them.

Blessed are those who think before acting and pray before thinking;
they will avoid many blunders.

Blessed are you if you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly;
you will go far in life.

Blessed are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitudes of others, even when the signs are unfavourable; you may be taken for a fool but this is the price of charity.

Blessed are you if you know to hold your tongue and smile, even when people interrupt and contradict you or tread on your toes; the Gospel has begun to seep into your heart.

Above all,

Blessed are you who recognize the Lord in all whom you meet;
the light of truth shines in your life for you have found true wisdom.


If we live out the following beatitudes, the best thing in life then is to be happy anytime, anywhere. (",)

Abal-abal Boys

 

 

Have you ever tasted an exotic food?

 

I find abal-abal as an exotic food though in our province, it is a delectable dish.  Honestly, I never had the courage to taste it but some people I have asked attested that it tastes really good!(",)

 

The Philippine Beetle (salagubang in Filipino, ABAL-ABAL in Ilocano) usually comes out before the rainy season, May and June.  It is considered a delicacy mostly in the northern part of the Philippines.   

 

When cooking salagubang, it is best to choose those which just passed the larval stage because they are still soft. Removed their wings before cooking.

ABAL-ABAL SAUTE

INGREDIENTS:
Salagubang
oil
vinegar
pepper
salt or soy sauce

Sauté salagubang into a small amount of oil then blend with salt or soy sauce and pepper. When it is already half cooked, add a small amount of vinegar. stir until it becomes dry and toast.

 

You can also fry salagubang when you want it to be brittle.

 

This is what I miss being a kid, you always have the courage and fearless way of exploring many things in life even food.  I've tasted fried frog, dog and goat dishes back in my grade school days, I enjoyed the swapping of viand with my classmates during lunch.  When I was about to graduate in college that was the only time I've tasted the famous Philippine Balut.  Next thing in my list is to try the abal-abal menu, I will let you know what the taste like.(",)

It feels gratified to say, "Been there, tasted that!" (",)

Election Fever 2013

Election fever 2013! Election in the Philippines is as ruthless as the weather especially in other provinces, including the metro.  We are fortunate because in Ilocos Norte, the election went as smooth as eating ice candy!  My sister and I decided to go to the precint in the afternoon at exactly 5:30.  We agreed to walk while taking photos as we were enjoying the quite freezy afternoon since the precint is just 15 minutes away from our home.  We were the last fellows who cast our votes.  After we finished our prime purpose, I took the opportunity to take lots of photos to a remarkable place.

 

Thumbs up to our baranggay watchmen, officials, assigned police and teachers for doing their job well. (",)

 

 

                        PHOTOGRAPHED BY A LITTLETHINGCALLEDRAGSAK, MAY 2013

                        ILOCOS NORTE, PHILIPPINES

SMILE, for you have done a great thing today! The future is in your hands.  Don't be fooled with golds, guns and goons. Do something rare for our country. Use your power, VOTE WISELY!(",)