A Walk in the Park (in Norzagaray)

My two kids were fighting over who was going to control the computer, so to take their minds off the gadget for awhile, I took them outside.   We went for a walk and told them that they have to look for "subjects" to which we can take pictures of.  I said "It doesn't have to be beautiful, it just have to be something that piqued your interest."

So we started with flowers, which the eldest took pictures of...

These are wild flowers which most of us consider as grass

My girl had taken a fancy on this single flower on a neighbor's fence

My youngest loves everything violet so he asked me to take a picture of these flowers

Wild white flowers

Gumamela

These wild white flowers grow in abundance along the side of the road but somehow                                                                        I have never given much attention to it until my kids started snapping pictures of it. 

These orchids above are my neighbor's collection

they must have gotten tired of flowers, so the subjects became my two kids themselves

He's one subject that couldn't keep still, behind him is the Poblacion Day Care Center 

another flower on tree

As we got engrossed with looking for interesting "subjects" we came across the tarpaulin of LGU's plan for our town's old tank.

This is  our town's old water tank which the LGU wants to turn into a rocketship...
just kidding, into a museum and a library

Closer View

  I am in support of the building of a museum and a library for the citizens of Norzagaray, but I am against this design.  This design is in violation of the 2009 Heritage Act wherein it states that buildings or structures 50 years old and above are considered as important cultural properties and therefore cannot be demolished or altered.  If the LGU will push through with this design, I think it will find itself lock in a lawsuit with the national government or private entities.

The kids posing in front of the old tank

The kids were curious about the old tank so we went around it.  I remember when I was a kid that there used to be an old cemetery for the departed ones of "Aglipayan" Church members very near the tank. It's no longer there. I wonder what happened to it.

We proceeded to the front of the fire station building.

 The kids had fun climbing the firetrucks parked beside the police and fire stations

behind the kids is the rear side of the Municipal Building

the old Grotto.

 An old unattended grotto near the police station. Years ago, I recall that this grotto used to be in  good condition.  It was not really so fetching but it was well taken cared of. Now there are no railings around it, which is dangerous considering that behind it is a cliff. The medical center of the town used to occupy the building at the side.

We headed at the park.

On the side of the park is a memorial for Filipino veterans who fought alongside the US forces during the Japanese Occupation.  It is just too bad that this memorial is badly managed and heavily vandalized.  I wonder why youths in our town have this penchant for vandalizing shrines and parks.  Their lack of respect for shrines, parks, and public places is awfully saddening. Something has to be done about this.  I wish our lawmakers would pass a resolution that will give more teeth to the law against vandalism. Go after these kids, fined them, and have them cleaned every vandalism made around town together with their guardian or parent. 

Is this a park?  Look at the piles of garbage at the left side of the picture.

The park needs some love and care.  It has to be re-painted, cleaned, and maintained.  There is no caretaker for the park.  I don't see any one cleaning and tending the garden.  Come to think of it, there is no garden anymore.  It is more like a huge parking space.  During weekdays, I can see cars and tricycles parked inside our park.  This should be prohibited. A park is for people, not for vehicles.

As we were going around the Municipal compound and park, I noticed how shabby the park looked and I could say the same about the buildings within the compound. All the buildings need repainting. Everything is unkempt and dirty-looking.  Whatever happen to the plans of the LGU to promote our town as a tourist destination?  It's a basic thing, if you want people to visit your place, you have to ensure its cleanliness and readiness to receive tourists.  Norzagaray is far from ready.  The government cannot just keep on erecting new structures without thoughts about the old and existing buildings and facilities that we have. Maintenance is the key word. Keep the place clean and beautiful.  Look at our park, it needs to be tended!

This is the new monument that the LGU commissioned in time for the 152nd founding anniversary of Norzagaray last August 13, 2012.  I am presuming that this man is Fernando Norzagaray y Escudero.  The Governor General or the chief executive of the country from 1857-1860. He signed the law separating the then barrio of "Casay" from Angat.  Hence, in honor of this man who made everything possible for the people clamoring for independence, the town was named after him.  

I am just presuming that indeed this is really that man--Fernando Norzagaray, but I look around the area and there is no signage that can tell you anything about the monument.  If this is intentional, they need to do some re-thinking.  People are not mind readers, we just can't look at a monument and immediately know what it stands for.

Curiously, they have not forgotten to put a signage indicating the names of the politicians during the time this monument was made...

Apparently, this jeepney had gotten my kids' interest.  They loved this little vehicle owned by Ka Linong Baterya.  I went to grade four with a son of his, and during that time, this jeep is already in existence. It really had seen better days.

This was the last stop of our walk. I succeeded in distracting them from their addiction to  computer gaming.  And for my part, it has been quite an eye opener. Sometimes, you don't realize that there is beauty in things you take for granted and there are things happening around you that you are no longer aware of because you were too busy minding your own business.  I have been so busy working and caring for my kids I haven't realized that my town has changed a lot.  The park where I used to play is no longer like it used to be.  Before, it was clean and there was a garden all around.  Now, it is just a huge empty cemented space. 

Maybe, the kids and I should do this walk more often so that the kids would be more observant and more appreciative about the little and simple things around them; and me, to be in the loop of what's happening around.  I haven't really look at my surroundings really closely until now.

   

The Best Day

For awhile, I kept this to myself. I am not really a very emotional person and I don't cry easily but the first time I heard Taylor Swift's "The Best Day," I cried.  It was weird because I couldn't really understand who or what exactly the song was all about that time.  I listened closely and learned that it was about her mom. There's something about that song that strike a chord  with me.  It's probably the husky voice, or maybe it's the tone and the lyrics. Taylor sings about her growing up years with her mom and family and how her mother was always there through her ups and downs--cheering her on, wiping her tears away, and helping her deal with pain. It's a song about a daughter's love and devotion to her mom; and, for me, it's Taylor's most beautiful song.  Maybe it's the mother in me that reacts this way to the song or maybe it's the way the song was delivered that gets me carried away each time.  To this day, I couldn't listen to this song without my tears welling up and my throat having lumps. But it's a secret, so don't tell anyone.

Missing My Coffee Buddy

I just miss my coffee buddy.  It's not the same without you.  Coffee never tasted so much better than when you're here across the table and we are having a conversation.

"Bakas" River

      the marble hills in Bakas        
Photo by Ibarra Castro, Jr.

Part of Angat River and situated in Bgy. Matictic at Sitio Kanyakan, in Norzagaray, Bulacan, is the pristine body of water surrounded by marble hills known as “Bakas”.  The place got its name from a giant-like footprint in one of the marble hills along the river. Beside the giant footmark, there is also a dented print of a dog’s paw. Tourists and locals alike frequent “Bakas” all year round especially during summer to swim in its water, making it a favorite picnic place of families and groups.

Its unique name and the enigma surrounding Bakas makes the river more exciting and challenging for some people. There are three popular legends surrounding the footprint on this huge limestone formation.  Some old folks believed that the footprint was made by “Bernardo Carpio,” others said that it was left by “Samuel Bilibit,” still some old folks averred that it was from “San Cristobal (St. Christopher)”.  An old version, one that is believed to be the oldest tale behind "Bakas" indicated that it was made by “Bathala,” the God of the Tagalogs. The story behind Bathala’s footprint, which my grandmother once mentioned to me, was forgotten long before it could be documented.

The three oral stories about "Bakas" which I gathered from old folks in Norzagaray.

The Legend of Bakas (Bernardo Carpio Version)

In his attempt to catch the lightning, Bernardo Carpio travelled fast and far, leaving footprints in places where he set his foot on, “Bakas” being one of them.  Before coming to Norzagaray, he was in San Miguel (Bulacan).  According to legend, he nearly overtook the lightning and was about to catch it.  But, when he reached Montalban, the lightning went straight between two limestone rocks inside a cave.  Bernardo Carpio tried to pass between these twin rocks but he was imprisoned by it.

Earthquake, according to old town folks, is said to be caused by Bernardo Carpio’s attempt to get free from that cave.

The Legend of Bakas (Samuel Bilibit Version)

The footprint in “Bakas” was from Samuel Bilibit.  This man has been in all four corners of the earth.  As punishment from the grave sin that he committed, God told him to walk until he finds what he is looking for.

He leaves footprints wherever he goes because of the heavy chain he carries around his calf.

The Legend of Bakas (San Cristobal Version)

In another old story, the footprint was made by a giant man named Cristobal when he crossed the river carrying a small boy with a ball in his hand.  The large man was puzzled as to why the boy was so heavy. He had carried men and women across the river but none was as heavy as the boy.  Later, he learned that the boy was actually Jesus who was holding the world in his hand.   

I'm Sorry, Father, But I'm Pro-RH

I love listening to our young parish priest during Sunday mass.  He is truly a charismatic speaker.  His words are very inspiring and uplifting.  But there is just one thing I think that he can never persuade me to do--that is, to ditch my support for the RH bill.

I support the RH bill because is it empowering to women.  I do not think that you are killing unborn children by using artificial methods of family planning. I believe that conception starts when the sperm fertilizes the egg.  If no fertilization occurs, then no life is created.

The RH Bill is about making choices.  I choose the path where people can have better lives by having the option to limit the number of children in each family and thus control population growth.  Of course the Catholic Church argues that it is not the growth of our population which makes the country poor.  It is corruption.  Sure, corruption is one of the main reasons, but so is our burgeoning population.  Somehow, we have got to find a way to improve the lives of the Filipinos at the base of the social strata. Because most Filipinos belong to that class.

I am really sorry, Father, but you don't know how it breaks a mother's heart like mine to see those little skinny children in the streets no older than my 3-year old kid braving the rain, the scorching heat of the sun and the speeding vehicles just to beg for a coin or two.  I could not fathom how you can talk about celebrating life and condoning the use of artificial methods of birth control when you can also see how depressing life is for families living in tiny squalid quarters in areas where they are not supposed to dwell. Are you aware how many kids cannot go to school and don't have a choice in life because their parents have so many children they can barely feed them?

Oh, Father, I do not know whether I should be mad at you for being so dogmatic; or should I just understand that you and the establishment you belong to have your faith and interest to protect--as if it will crumble if the RH Bill gets ratified?