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Looking back
WITH 2005 behind us now, I wish to look back once more to thank
all the nice people that have been around me, behind me and those
even miles away. Their hearts are as close as the memories that
always bind us together, in fair weather or high water. Who needs
a mirror when you can see yourself among your friends who tell you
what is right and what is not and that you have stepped on the
line and advise you to avoid them next time? Who needs company,
when they are on call anytime, especially when you are down? And
to those who are not always physically around, I comfort myself
with the thought that love is like the wind which one can’t see
but can feel anytime.
I have to thank people who collaborated with me in the promotion
of Bicol culture and the arts. These are people from the
Developmental Institute for Bicolano Artists (DIBA), namely: Madam
Amelita Zaens, Lilibeth Guysayko, Joe Obias, Frs. Louan Jarcia,
Mario Gaite and Dan Imperial, City Councilors Nene de Asis and
John Bongat, Ms. Teresing Aureus, Letty Ong, spouses Andy and
Ningning Belmonte, Ding de Guzman, Ower Andal, Ping Federis, Fabie
Arejola, and Macky Barachina. My grateful appreciation is in
order, too, for piano wizards Cristina Roco-Avila and Michael
Martinez of the USI, as well as the UNC Glee Club and the USI
Chorale.
As in the past, we had one joyful pre-Christmas party at
Lilibeth’s home garden. As if the perfectly prepared food of
Italian strain (fettuccini, lasagña) that only the Guysaykos could
prepare home-style were not enough, everyone went home with
bagfuls of giant chicos and sweet corn. The piped in music was
70sh, interspersed with the newly-released CD of classic Xmas
carols by Fr. Louan Jarcia. When Fr. Gaite had to leave earlier,
everyone protested. “Naghahalat kaya si Misis,” he quipped, which
sent everyone laughing and allowed him to go home, or rather, back
to his parish.
From the business community, the people who matter most to me are:
Colats Guysayko, Nicolas Beda Priela (also a member of DIBA),
Jesus ‘Lolo’ Hernandez, Tony Concepcion, Aping Olivan, Jun Amaro,
Johnny Las, Matt Velasco, Toto Tan (of Naga Regent Hotel), Reuel
Oliver, the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce ladies (Eva, Lil and
Hanni).
From the religious community, aside from Frs. Jarcia and Gaite:
Monsignors Romulo Vergara and Zozimo Ma. Sañado, Fr. Nelson Tria
and Fr. Louie Occiano.
From the tourism industry: Director Nini Ravanilla, Pilar de
Guzman, Lyn Santy, Danny de Leon, Mae Palacio, Jorge and Cristy
Palma of Bob Marlin and Boy and Telly Abella of CocoLeaf, among
many others.
From fellow mediamen: Al, Joe, Ed, Renan, Mike, Ammy, Anjello,
Cyril, Manny, Orbel, Des, Ruben Babar, Jovan Galvo and the
officers and members of the Naga City Press Corps led by Roy San
Ramon.
I also have to thank the following who made my life less miserable
during my detention at the Naga City District Jail: Naga City
Mayor Jess Robredo, Vice Mayor Gabby Bordado, publisher Nilo
Aureus, Danny Aureus, Johnny Escandor, Jason Neola, Joey Co, Sandy
Vargas, Atty. Henry Briguera, Atty. Joe Anselmo Cadiz, James Jacob
and Melo Reyta, Atty. Ruben General, the jail warden, jail guards
and my fellow inmates at Selda #10. The city mayor and I
personally visited the inmates in the morning of Dec. 31 with
kilos of fresh pork just enough for their New Year’s Eve salo-salo.
There are more I like to reach out but which this limited space
cannot fully accommodate. They have been part of my life and will
again play key roles during my interesting days in 2006 and
beyond. One of such group includes my batchmates from Ateneo and
USI high school1972 whose gift-giving and free feeding to the poor
since August 2005 gave us reason to celebrate a meaningful
Christmas.
Incidentally, on Dr. Jose Rizal Day, which was my birthday,
friends from the media were the first to come to my house with
their own gifts for me (they are the rare kind of newsmen who
bring gifts, not receive them).
In the evening, spouses Aquiles and Cherry Lo invited us to their
house for shabu-shabu with lots of other dishes on the side as a
treat for my wife and her sisters Lays and Ebline, our children,
as well as for my birthday. The food was terrific, including the
langka cake for dessert, specially baked by Cherry, a gracious
host who saw to it that even our tots and teenaged kids enjoyed
the dinner-party. Full that my tummy was, I made sure that there
was still room for the “tiak han”, or bamboo shells that Aquiles
cooked, Chinese style. Tiak han, or tik han to our local sea-water
fishermen, also abound in China, Aquiles told us, but which only
come out in the cold months of November and December.
Actually, for practical reasons, I normally celebrate my birthday
on the New Year’s Eve. This time, my wife hosted dinner and
merry-making ‘til 12-midnight with all my sisters-in-law on my
wife’s side and their spouses and children turning our small house
into a kiddy garden. They came in exchange for everyone having
agreed earlier to partake of the Christmas Eve noche buena at brod-in-law
Jovy Alvarez’ residence.
Many more phoned or emailed their greetings, which include those
from my brothers and sisters from everywhere (I am the eldest in a
brood of 12) who reminded me of my heart condition and to take
“Lipitor” before or after feasting on such sumptuous dishes as
lechon, crispy pata, pork asado, ham, crabs, cakes and all those
cholesterol-filled gastronomic delights of the season.
