Remembering Infanta
by Rudy Arizala
Mr. Roces, in his column about old customs or things past, reminds me of life in Infanta when we were kids and even during early postwar years.
At the struck of 6:00 p.m. wherever we may be and whatever we were doing, whether at work or at play, we stopped and rushed home for the "hable" or angelus. Mother would lead the prayers and we kids would kneel with our parents and respond or participate in the angelus prayers.
There was also a time when old people in Infanta, especially Nana Sepa, aside from the Angelus also prays at 8:00 p.m. and at 6:00 a.m.
After the Angelus, it was dinner or supper time. All members of the family should be at the dining table. There was no electricity, no radio or TV programs. We kids either study our lessons by kerosene light after dinner or hear stories from our parents such as "Juan Tamad", Don Juan Tenioso, Ibong Adarna, etc.
At an improvised altar in a corner of the family bedroom is the flickering light from a tiny kerosene lamp called "teringke". Its tiny glow gives eerie light night and day. And we sleep soundly until the crowing of the cocks when the older members of the family wake up at 5:00 a.m. to prepare breakfast. We school children, by 7:00 a.m., are on our way to school, rain or shine.
Speaking of the first rain in May -- "unang patak ng ulan sa buwan ng Mayo" -- I remember the old folks in Infanta used to gather said rain water in basin of water (palanggana) saying it is not only good for washing the face and hands but also for watering plants. Plants grow faster with that rain water.
We were also told by our teacher that the cleanest and safest water is rain water. And that was true because during my childhood, our air or atmosphere was not yet polluted as it is today. And if you will recall, behind the municipal building of Infanta, Quezon, was a huge circular concrete tank. It was used for collecting rain water. And that concrete tank behind the municipal building was the source of water of the people of Infanta during rainy or monsoon days, in addition, of course, to existing dug-in wells of concrete of the town such as the ones in Tata Apin´s yard in Isla, that of Amang Potes; and that of Amang Polon, to mention a few. There were no piped waters yet in Infanta at that time.
There were no door bells in Infanta at that time. People would knock at the door saying "Tao po" or if passing through the yard or in front of the house of someone else, although seeing nobody, the passersby would say "Makikilipas po", to signify that they are not trespassing or invading somebody else yard or property.
But I digressed. Mr. Roces is correct in suggesting that we better revive or at least remember our things past -- especially old customs and traditions. They are not incompatible with life in this modern "globalized world."