Mag-kapi tayo sa Tindahan

All the many fabulous tourist destinations and attractions in different places always begin from its people. Here in my home city, La Carlota in Central Negros, are exciting spring and nature resorts, pools, the exceptional Pasalamat festival and other well-appreciated civic programs. And yes, these features only start from the friendly La Carloteños.

If you want to have a dose of friendship with the people of La Carlota, try to have a visit at the “kapihan community”. Actually, i just coined that name since it’s a place where there are series of coffee shops where people gather together to have coffee klatches.

It's located inside the city market serving good tasting native coffee early in the morning until the afternoon. Besides, they also dish up halo-halo, batchoy and arroz caldo. They also dole out “puto”, bread and “bingka”.

TALKS OVER COFFEE
Since it was my first time to have some coffee in that place, i needed to have some acquaintance until I discovered that the common people there developed a unique brand of daybreak table gatherings. Mangkasanons who almost always go there for a coffee are of various classes as engineers, architects, businessmen, photographers, officers, laymen, drivers and others. However, they have made it a habit that while sitting on the plastic chairs facing the wooden tables with aluminium linings set along the cemented pathways in the market, they are all equal. No one’s higher than the other. Everybody has the win-win attitude. No unpleasant totem pole of positions.

I joined their talks and asked few questions about their daily gatherings. Kapihan community has been these people’s preference to filter out the pressure from work and other problems. “If you’re here, you can live longer. Why? It’s where you can laugh out loud.” one folk said. Laughter is the best medicine as it is often retold. It is also a fact that a good laugh is equivalent to a 20-minute work out in the gym. A very nice day start, indeed.

The setting is also a good source of updates on current issues and information either local, national or even international. In this community, they often talk about politics, religion, work and problems in offices and problems in the country. “We can solve some problems from the city hall here than the employees do.” quipped one fellow. There are also talks that really encourage debates. That’s why, nobody sensitive should stay there or else tear will just dim your eyes.

Times come that some of the city’s councilors join the people in the kapihan community and share their thoughts and plans for the city.

HATE DULL MOMENTS
Several minutes past of staying their, i noticed they never run out of topics. The men’s chats often reaches topics about women, cocks and derbies. They also talk about sports, the “white elephants” in the city and sometimes about families and relationships.

Every table has their own choice of issue. They exchange ideas, they give out smiles and laughs. They plan and design for a day’s goal. They converse regarding everything under the sun. Some enjoy the make-believe stories, sundry punchlines and some even dig up “kutso-kutsos” and “chismis” about anybody on their table. Not to the extent of badmouthing. It’s absolutely just for laughs.

Unfortunately, after that stopover, i never went back. Ang tatanda na nang mga tao dun, di ako masyadong maka-relate. hmmp! Just kidding. I'll surely go back there in time.

Joint efforts to care for those in need

Hi po sa lahat ng bumibisita sa blog ko at angbabasa ng entries ko kahit na medyo stupido. Nakakataba po kayo ng puso.

Mayron po akong kuwentong isi-share sa inyo. Mejo mahaba po pero siguro its worth your time naman po. Nagsimula po ang estorya noong January 2007.

Eto po yun. While some people enjoy the bounty and luxury of life, this family residing at Uriarte Subdivision in La Carlota City seems hopelessly deprived of the good things in life.

This family is composed of an 80-year old lady, Fortunata Bayog and her grand-daughter Joanabel Bayog, 14 years old, mentally ill and extremely undernourished, who was abandoned by her mother when she was only one year old.

The breadwinner is Fortunata's son, called "Baruk" (because his brother was a.k.a. "Tarzan"). He is in his mid-40s, unemployed and accepts part-time, menial jobs. The other children of Fortunata have gone to other places and might have their own family now.

Close to her mother, Baruk, could not afford to leave Fortunata in her present state. He opted to remain single. "Mabudlay pa kon magpangasawa ako sa amon situasyon subong," (Mas magiging mahirap kung mag-aasawa pa ko sa sitwasyon namin ngayon) he says sadly with tears dimming his eyes. His meager income from the odd jobs he has could hardly suffice for their food every day.

This kindness inherent among Filipinos reminds us that life is still beautiful in this wide world.

The miserable plight of the family came to the attention of the Peer Counselors' Society (Isang peer helping organization po sa alma mater ko where i was a member). With the help of the incumbent president of M.O.R. Kaberks organization, Alberto Carbajusa (he happens to be my pal) and the College Voice (student publication ng alma mater ko), these organizations visited the hovel where the Bayogs lived. They took pictures of the family members, interviewed Baruk and their neighbors. Then, they sent a letter with the pictures seeking for assistance to ABS-CBN TV 4 - Negros, Lingkod Kapamilya office, in Bacolod City.

Soon after, the news team headed by Mitch Lipa, TV Patrol newscaster and reporter, went to La Carlota to document the family's dire situation. The team was accompanied by Vice-Mayor Demi John Honrado (now mayor of the city) and city administrator Homer Bermudo. "We will see to it that DSWD will provide assistance to the family," assured the vice mayor.

Unfortunately, after the story was flashed on tv screens, Fortunata passed away due to acute cardio pulmonary arrest. The City Government of La Carlota and barangay officials shouldered the family's burial expenses. Joanabel was given a wheelchair and was sent to her mother in Bicol. But sadly an information reached us that she had a fatal heart attack in Manila.

Despite the death that claimed the lives of two persons, the PCS, CV, M.O.R. Kaberks and ABS-CBN feel a sense of fulfillment to have given time and effort in making the Bayogs feel that people care in the worst moment of their lives.

Gusto ko pong sabihin na this kindness inherent among Filipinos reminds us that life is still beautiful in this wide world.

Salamat po sa pagbasa ninyo. :)

Pasalamat Festival '07: No less than spectacular

The Pasalamat Festival ’07 is an event hard to erase in the minds of the Mangkasanons and to the thousands of visitors who trooped to the city of La Carlota in Negros Occidental to witness the mega celebration.

Inday Kitchie Benedicto, a well-known and veteran tv producer in Metro Manila, and yes, she happens to be the doting mother-in-law of our mayor and now congressman Jeffrey Ferrer, made this hard-to-match festival a reality in the city.

As usual, there was a galore of show biz luminaries who graced the occasion, especially the Pasalamat Beauty Search held at the public plaza. The pageant has no less than the hottest reel and real love team of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo as emcees. Hard to believe, but they appeared lived on stage, a dream turned reality to many fans who only saw them in their tv screens.

The crowd was in frenzy when drop dead handsome, Sam Milby, current heartthrob of countless women and he-women appeared on stage and serenaded the beauty contestants. Sam Milby, in flesh and bones, showing his irresistible dimples and tantalizing eyes. Many girls almost fainted with ecstasy when Sam shook hands with them. “Sam, oh, Sam, pakiss naman o”, begged a fan.
Another superb performance was that of chanteuse Sarah Geronimo. Glittering in her pink get up, Sara mesmerized the crowd with her marvelous voice hard to match by other singers of her genre. Young, energetic, and attractive, Sara proved she’s a real performer as she belts out song after song.

As usual, the overall production is something not seen in the whole of Negros. All the sophisticated equipment were transported from Manila and turning the public plaza into a giant tv studio with all the crane camera, lighting and computerized special effects. Joe Tecson, the stage designer, is acclaimed one of the best in the industry.

All these dazzling presentations can only be seen in La Carlota City Pasalamat Festival. Indeed our city mayor's words are true, "Let's go La Carlota!" Thanks to the creative minds behind it headed by forever youthful Inday Kitchie whose resources were unlimited and to all the city officials who jointly worked hard to make the grand presentation a reality to the people of the city.

*I just thought of boosting my beloved city's style at the same time giving thanks to our city mayor, now congressman, Jeffrey Ferrer and KB Productions, Manila.