Ni Rudy A. Arizala
11 May 2008
N – gayon araw ng mga ina
A – ng tanging nasa ala-ala
N – a naghahari sa tuwi na
A – ng pagmamahal at kalinga
Y – aring anak mong naulila.
English version
On this mother´s day
Always in their hearts
Predominating
Love, undying care
Of orphans like me.
Editor's Note: Ambassador Arizala, in his own special way, has been promoting Infanta, not only to Infantahins, but also to many others. Below is a response to an email he received from his friend, Ms. Gloria Ong, which might be on interest to others. IN addition, Ambassador Arizala wrote a feature article on one of our unforgettable characters in Infanta.
Although you (Gloria Ong) are not from Quezon province nor have you visited the town of Infanta, you expressed generous words about the tenacity or capacity of the people of Infanta to survive or make sacrifices to rebuild whatever is destroyed by calamities and modesty aside, one of the town in our Bayang Magiliw making progress through self-help and dedication of its people.
What could be the secret or what characteristics have the people of Infanta and its surrounding towns?
May I share with you an anecdote which might help explain what traits the inhabitants of said place possess.
Said anecdote is reproduced below, written by me some six years ago.
Rudy A.
P.S. Modesty aside, there are now two books written about Infanta, Quezon: 1) "Infanta: Passage to the Pacific", a coffee table book with colored photos and text published by the BPI Foundation, Inc., Makati City in 2004, and with accompanying CD Song "Alaala Ka Infanta"; and 2) "Labong ng Kawayan", a book on the history, tradition and culture of Infanta, published by Metro Infanta Foundation, Arvada, Colorado in 2002. RAA
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Patricio, the Altar Boy
By Rodolfo A. Arizala
Santiago, Chile 10 August 2002
After my book launching of "Labong ng Kawayan"(Bamboo Shoot) in Metro Manila, Metro Infanta Foundation president Mila G. Glodava and I decided to distribute some copies of the book to the schools of Infanta and General Nakar, Quezon. So, one late afternoon, we hurriedly went to the banks of the wide Agos River separating the town of Infanta from General Nakar, Quezon and boarded a rickety make-shift wooden ferry boat which would take us across the river to the other side of the banks. On board the ferry boat we met a serious-looking lanky old man in his early 60´s.
One of our companions asked the lanky old man: "Where are you going?" "Home," was the curt reply with a shy smile scrutinizing each one of us. As if on second thought, he added: " I now live in a barangay of Nakar," pointing with his lips towards the direction of a forested part of the mountain. As the ferry boat slowly made its way across the river, he noted we were carrying several bundles of book wrapped in brown paper and it was his turn to ask question: "Where are you taking so many books?"
We told him we are going to distribute them to the elementary school of Gen. Nakar and also to Mt. Carmel High School. He asked what the book is all about and we told him it is about Infanta´s history, culture and tradition including the establishment of the Prelatura of Infanta. When he heard the words "Prelatura of Infanta," his face brightened and asked if he could have a copy and would like to know who is the author. Our companion pointed to my direction and asked him: "Do you know that man over there?" He looked at me intensely squinting his eyes against the pale setting sun in the background and replied: "Of course I know him: he is ambassador Rudy Arizala son of Lola Coring. But I don´t think he still remembers me."
I told him that his face looks familiar to me and If I remember correctly, he was one of the first altar boys when the American and Irish Carmelite priests came to Infanta in the 1950´s. Regretfully, I forgot his name. He told me his full name is "Patricio" but he is called "Pat" for short by his friends. We gave Pat a copy of the book which he accepted gratefully saying he has now something new to read and show to his Barangay Captain.
When we disembarked upon reaching the other side of the river, we noted the sky was darkening and rain clouds slowly drifting towards the mountain. We hurriedly unloaded the books from the ferry boat and put them inside two waiting tricycles. Pat helped us load the books inside the tricycles securing them properly to avoid getting wet in case it would rain. He also gave instructions to the two tricycle drivers in faded T-shirts and old rubber slippers where to go and to take good care of us. Pat bade us goodbye with a limped wave of his hand and said: "Will see you again soon," as our tricycles started to climb the stony banks and laboriously negotiated their way through the partly cemented and rugged road of General Nakar. Then suddenly it rained and we desperately tried to keep ourselves dry inside the tricycles. The tricycles sputtered and groaned with their heavy loads under the rain.
After distributing the books to the Elementary School and Mt.Carmerl High School in General Nakar, we returned immediately to Infanta by crossing again the Agos River this time downstream on a narrow frail wooden banca with bamboo outriggers. The boat was full of passengers and other personal belongings including several empty tanks of gas use in cooking. A sign of progress or modern living in Gen. Nakar. The people now use gas tank for cooking instead of firewood.
We were able to catch the evening Mass officiated by Fr. Lou in Infanta before Mila and her companions returned to Manila. When we came out of the church, we were surprised to see again Pat.
"Pat, we thought you went home already to your barangay in Gen. Nakar." He ignored said comment; simply shyly smiled and asked: "Where are you going now?"
Mila told him to Manila and asked him if he would like to join the group. Pat shook his head and followed the group as they started to board one by one the van parked at the churchyard. Pat bade the group again goodbye as he did earlier at the banks of the Agos river that same afternoon.
A few days later, my sister and I attended a wedding mass and luncheon party at the social hall of Mt. Carmel High School in Infanta. To our surprise, Pat was also there with a big smile wearing his old but freshly ironed white shirt and pair of denim pants.
"Hey, Pat!" my sister called, handing to him a bell. "Take this bell and please be the one to assist the priest in celebrating mass." Then my sister asked him as if to reassure herself: "Do you still know how to ring the bell during elevation of the host?".
"Of course, although I have not done it anymore for many years!" Pat replied as he reluctantly but gratefully accepted the bell from my sister. And, indeed, during mass Pat performed his job well as an altar boy once again to the point of perfection ringing the bell at the exact moment of the elevation of the host.
Patricio or "Pat" reminded me of the story of another altar boys in Rizal´s novel "Noli Me Tangere." About Basilio and Crispin, two altar boys during the Spanish regime in the Philippine who were accused of stealing the church money -collections during Mass. Sisa, the mother of the two boys, out of desperation due to the sudden disappearance of her two boys, developed mental anguish and then insanity. Of course, the story of Patricio and the present altar boys in Infanta is different from the story of Basilio and Crispin during the Spanish regime. The altar boys of today are well-treated than those in the past. For example, Filipino priest Fr. Lou whom we met at the church door after mass the afternoon we distributed the books in Infanta and Gen. Nakar, commented happily upon receiving financial donation from us: "Now, I have some funds with which to buy a pair of rubber shoes each for my altar boys. Thank you very much!"
Patricio, the altar boy, did not disappear for having been accused of stealing anything. However, for some reasons, he simply faded away when the American/Irish Carmleite fathers left the Philippines.
When I met again Patricio or "Pat" while crossing the Agos River after not seeing him for many years, he looks old, thin, and emaciated. Perhaps due to hard work in the forest of Sierra Madre mountains. I hope he has not been forgotten, if not neglected, by the people and church he faithfully served during his boyhood.
A few days later. however, what I saw during the mid-afternoon wedding Mass was not an aging frail old man I met at the banks of the Agos river. I saw a young altar boy with that innocent look in his eyes. I saw again the young boy called "Pat," one of the altar boys when foreign Carmelite fathers first came to Infanta.
After the wedding Mass and lunch, we did not see again Pat. He simply faded away like the setting sun that afternoon. He must have already returned to his barangay in Gen. Nakar without saying goodbye to us. And as the afternoon turned into twilight, I heard the peal of vesper hour from the old bell tower. It sounded familiar as during the time Pat was an altar boy tolling the bells loud and clear, carried by the wind and heard all over the barangays of Infanta and neigbhoring communities. I could visualize Pat upon hearing the peal of bells paused for a moment, bowed his head and silently mumbled the vesper prayers he learned when he was still an altar boy. Then he resumed walking on the almost now deserted winding path leading to his home at the edge of the forest.
As the last peal of the bells at the tower reverberated and then died down, I uttered to myself as if in solemn prayer,"Yes, Pat, I will remember you always as an altar boy who simply fades away. For once an altar boy, always an altar boy!"
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Rodolfo A. Arizala is a former Filipino diplomat now residing in Santiago, Chile.
Kapag buwan ng Mayo
Ni Rudy A. Arizala
01 Mayo 2008
Isang lumang liham ang natagpuan sa tampipi ni Sebia sa kanyang pinsan na si Ising. Ang kalatas ay may petsang ika 01 ng Mayo 1941. Naito ang nilalalaman.
Mahal na Kaka Ising:
Kumulog na kagabi at pumatak kaninang umaga bago magbukang-liwayway sa Silangan. Ito ang unang ulan sa buwan ng Mayo. Baka nakalimutan mong isahod ang palanggana o batiya upang ipunin ang tubig-ulan. Nalimutan mo na ba ang sabi ng mga matatanda sa una na ang unang patak ng ulan sa buwan ng Mayo ay gamot?
Tiyak rin na mayroon nang maglalako ng kabuti. Sabi rin ng mga matatanda sa una na kapag nakikidlat na at kumulog ay tiyak na susulpot o maglalabasan na ang mga kabute. Mag-ingat ka lang at baka maylahok na “payong-ahas” ang mabile mong kabute ay saktan kayo ng tiyan o malason.
Humanda ka na rin maatasan na maging “hermana mayor”. Mayohan na naman at dapat na mayroon ka nang listahan kung sino-sino ang magpaparama at magpapatapos ng “Mayohan”. Tiyak na mauubos ang mga puno ng saging ni Inang Sela upang ang mga saha nito ay gawing turokan ng mga bulaklak. Sitahin mo na ang banda ni Amang Pepe upang siyang tumugtog sa sayawan pagkatapos ng ramahan, pagaalay ng mga bulaklak at pagdadasal sa simbahan. Nais ng mga kabataan na mayroong sayawan.
Ang mga magrarama (dalaga´t binata) ay hahandaan ng may parama ng mga kakanin tulad ng “pancit”, “chicken salad”, mamon, suman, puto at sinukmani. Magsasaka na rin ang mga “hermanita” at mga “hermanito” sa mga linang (barangay ang tawag ngayon) upang manghingi ng mga bulaklak. Ma-aanit na naman ang mga bulaklakan ni Nana Petra sa Ilog, Inang Kulasa sa Pinaglapatan, Nana Tilde sa Binulasan, Inang Kaludia sa Silangan, Nana Sepa sa Anibong, Nana Epang sa Alitas, Inang Manang sa Tongohin, Inang Pinang sa Agus-agos, at Nana Sabel sa Banugaw.
Kapag buwan ng Mayo ang mga batang nag-aalay ng mga bulaklak sa Simbahan o sa altar ng may pa Santakursan ay ito ang ina-awit nila:
"Tuhog na bulaklak
Sadyang sallit-salit
Sa mahal mong noo
Ay aming ikakapit
Lubos ang pag.asa
At sa iyo ay pananalig
Na natatanggapin mo'y
Handog ng pag-ibig."
Ang buwan ng Mayo ay buwan rin ng bakasyon. Kaya´t ang mga nagsisipag-aral sa Maynila (“Nagkakaleds” ang tawag) ay babakasyon rin at magsisipag-uwian sa Infanta kahit na bako-bako, at madulas ang daan sa bundok ng Sierra Madre. Siksikan na naman sa sasakyang “Raytranco” “L.T.B.” at “E.T. Bus Co.” Halos lahat ng mga Infantahin ay babakasyon maliban doon sa mga nagsisipag-summer at nais makatapos na madali ng pag-aaral o yaong may mga “back-subjects” sapagka´t di naipasa ang eksamen noong “regular school year”. Uuwi rin ang mga “nasisipagbulakbol” sa Maynila na may suot na cinturon ng ang “hebilya” ay may mga titik na “U.P.”, “Ateneo”, “U.S.T.” Ang akala ng kanilang mga magulang ay talagang nag-aaral sila at pumapasok sa paaralan dahil sa panay-na-panay hingi nila ng pera na pambile raw ng libro at pambayad sa “tuition fee”. Ngunit lingid sa kaalaman ng kani-kanilang mga magulang ang mga anak nila pala sa Maynila ay di pumapasok at ang inaatupag ay ang pagbibilyar, pagiinom, “night club”, at ibat-ibang uri ng pag-aaliw.
Siya nga pala, baka malimutan mong manulongan kana Ate Daming na padasal o “Santakrusan”. Ang balita ko´y magbabati raw; maglilitson; magsusuman at gagawa ng kinakaw. Magdala ka na rin ng darak o ipa upang ipaglinis ng pinggan, kutsara at mga tenidor na gagamitin sa kainan. Bumile ka na rin ng gulaman bilang ambag mo o pasalubong kina Ate Daming na “Santakrusan”. Ako na ang magdadala ng sigarilyong “Abutin” para sa mga matatanda at sigrilyong “Piedmont” para sa mga binata. Magpapasadya na rin ako ng “urabay” kay Mang David upang magamit ni Kaka Imong mo sa pagbubukid sa tag-ulan. Yaon palang mga tuyong bulaklak na sinahod ni Endong sa “Osanahan” noong nakaraang Mahal na Araw ay nasaan? Mailahok sa paghahasik ng palay sa ating bukid na dalatan (Upland rice) upang huwag dagain at ohurin ang palay. Tiyak na mag-aani ng mabuti kapag may lahok na tuyong bulaklak galing sa “Osanahan”.
Hanggang sa muli at kumusta na lamang kana Tata Pedok at Nana Karing.
Ang nagmamahal mong pinsan,
Sebia
Ito ang buwan ng Mayo noong tayo ay mga bata pa sa Infanta. Ito ang takbo ng buhay, kaugalian at paniniwala sa ating bayan na ngayon ay baon na sa limot. Isa na lamang lumang ala-ala.
WAKAS
APPLIED IN PRESENT DAY
By Rodolfo A. Arizala
Santiago, Chile 21 April 2008
Today is Good Friday and we recall to mind the “Seven Last Words” uttered at Mt. Calvary more than two thousand years ago before our Lord Jesus Christ expired on the cross.
Hereunder are the seven last words and my comments:
1. FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO.
(Luke 23:34). Comments: Forgive the graft and corruption, mass poverty, hunger, injustice, etc .
2. TRULY I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.
(Luke 23:43). Comments: Many people would be in paradise on earth if there are peace, order, security, food, water, medicines, shelter, education, decent means of livelihood and allowed to worship freely.
3. BEHOLD YOUR SON; BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER.
(John 19:26-27). Comments:Today, there are many families in the world without sons or mothers to behold. They either perish by war. terrorism, revolution or leave their home countries to work abroad.
4.MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
(Mat. 27:26). Comments: My God, my God, have the people forsaken you also?
5. I THIRST.
(John 19:28). Many people are not only without clean drinking water but also thirsting for justice, love, kindness and human dignity.
6. IT IS FINISHED.
(John 19:30). Comments: May wars, political upheavals, terrorism, religious intolerance, economic inequality, destruction of the enviroment, other forms of sufferings be also ended.
7. FATHER INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.
(Luke 23:46). Comments: We commend our fate and spirit to the Lord and we pray for moral regeneration and resurrection of the family of nations.
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READING, TIME FOR LOVE, FORGIVENESS
By Rodolfo A. Arizala
Santiago, Chile 11 March
Everytime the Lenten Season comes around, I remember that in my father´s hometown of Liliw, Laguna my auntie used to have the reading (actually singing) of the "Pasiong Mahal" by a group of reader-singer at her ancestral house. Said annual ritual lasts 24 hours marathon or non-stop reading - singing of the sacred book. And during those 24 hours, people come and go at my auntie´s "pabasa" (reading-singing of the Pasion). The people are feed breakfast, lunch, "merienda", dinner, mid-night snacks and then breakfast again. My late old auntie (God bless her soul) was not a very religious person. She does not go to church on Sundays nor I see her pray except whenever she goes out of the house, she always makes the sign of the cross. She might not be a religious woman, but has this "ako" (vow) of having a "pabasa" every year. She really sees to it that she save enough money to spend for such yearly ritual.
I also recall to mind the words I heard when I was still a teenager from the reader-singers hired by my auntie. The scribes, pharisees, high priests, the Roman rulers, etc., were described or referred to in the "Pasiong Mahal" as "sukaban," (traitor), "malupit" (brutal), "uslak" (foolish), "lilo" (renegade), "dulingas" (almost crazy), "taksil" (traitor), "balawis" (scoundrel), "halimaw" (wild beast or bestial), "ganid" (preying animal), "tampalasan" (wicked), "palamara" (wretched), "kuhila" (betrayer), "baliw" (maniac), "bulaan" (liar), "sulupika" (prone to telling lies), "balikiyot" (deceitful), and "alipala" (rash or irresponsible).
It occured to me if the above descriptive words in a religious book called "Pasiong Mahal" or "Sacred Passion." are forms of lingering expression of "hatred" against the scribes, pharisees and Roman rulers in the Holy Land in the past because our Lord Jesus Christ was made to suffer, and nailed to the cross at Mt. Calvary by them. That despite some two thousand years ago while Christ was agonizing on the cross He had forgiven them already, are we still incapable of extending "forgiveness" to those who have wronged our Lord? It may be recalled among the " Seven Last Words" Christ uttered before He expired on the cross were: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."
Lent is time for sacrifice, abstinence, prayers, meditation, love, forgiveness and hope for all mankind.
E n d
By Rudy A. Arizala
14 February 2008
Contrary to popular belief, the significance of Valentine celebration goes beyond red roses, chocolate candies in the shape of a heart and historical ties to Pagan festival of fertility called "Lupercalia" observed on 15 February. But it is the true love of a young Christian (St. Valentine), who gave up his life rather than renounce his faith In Jesus Christ. Since his death, observance of Valentine´s day was moved from 15 to 14 February by the Catholic church.
St. Valentine, according to church historians and tradition, was a Roman Christian who chose martyrdom when Christians were persecuted during the Third Century under the regime of Emperor Cladius II. It is said that Valentine while in jail continued to minister even to his prison guards. One of the prison guards had an adopted blind daughter. He asked Valentine to pray to his (Valentine´s) God so that his adopted daughter be given back her sight. Valentine prayed and the sight of the young girl was restored. The guard and memhers of his family were converted into Christianity and baptized. When Emperor Claudius learned about it, he was furious and sentenced Valentine to death.
Before Valentine was led out to his death, he wrote a note to the jailer´s daughter whose sight was restored through prayers. In said letter to the girl, Valentine expressed his unconditional love and devotion to Christ even upon pain of death. He signed the note: "From your Valentine". Since then, the sending of love notes or cards started.
Thus, it could be said that the present practice of sending love notes or cards grew out of that note sent by Valentine to his jailer´s daughter on the eve of his execution.
So, on this Valentine´s Day, allow me to share with you as well as with our kababayans the followng thoughts:
ROSES & VALENTINE FAITH
By Rudy A. Arizala
14 Februry 2008
One Valentine, I remember
Bouquet of roses I gave her
Although their petals have withered
If fragrance remain forever.
May their fragrance still linger
Although the rose petals withered
That the words of love we uttered
Despite the years live forever!
This Valentine and every year
Lord, I have solemn prayer
That she be happy forever
Though the red roses have withered.
And Valentine we celebrate
Not only love among lovers
But martyrdom of Christian saint
Who chose Christ than renounced his faith.