A day in Pagsangahan

We've decided to stay in the town proper of San Francisco, Quezon (a.k.a Aurora) to communicate with the other teams on other locations. Wala daw kasi signal sa Brgy na pupuntahan namin for the GPS observation. San Francisco, Quezon is about a 3-hour drive from Lucena City. And from the town proper, we have to travel about an hour and 45 minutes to get to Brgy. Pagsangahan.

RJV Lodging House. The only lodging house in town of San Francisco

We departed from our lodging house @ 5AM.
Getting to Brgy. Pagsangahan (also known by the locals by its former name - Brgy. Pugawan), means one have to travel a rough road which becomes so muddy even after a slight rain. 30 minutes of travel and the phone signals went off.

When we were about to arrive in the area, our vehicle finally was stuck up on the deep mud after its tumultuous battle against the sticky mud. There were no houses around the area, we worried no one would help us push the vehicle out mud. But God is still in control. A man in his motor bike, stopped to help us and so we were able to arrive to the area in time.

There we met Sgt. Angelo Jesus Tanteo; and the First Kagawad of the Brgy who also happen to be a Bisaya. After setting up the instrument, we literally spent the whole morning chatting with these guys.

Sgt. Tanteo, is now on his 4th month in the Barangay. An army with a Bible and a Copy of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines always in hand. He said, you need to know both the law of man and the law of God. From the conversation we had, i learned a number of facts about being an army:

• Paid by the Government Php 3,500 monthly food allowance
  
• Starting basic monthly salary of Php 16,000 for the newly-recruited armies
• Vacation Leave is every after 3 months (equivalent to six working days)
• Spends most of the time in the barracks ( they have more time to read books and to search for possible love interests. =D )
  

After having lunch the military way (nilatag na pagkain sa mesa), I and Kuya Lito strolled around the Barangay to search for phone signal and found some beautiful spots of Brgy. Pugawan.

By the Beach of Brgy. Pagsangahan

From the stroll that we had in search for phone signal, I learned some unbelievable things about the beliefs of other religions as told by Kuya Lito, who happen to have spent bible study discussions with different religions - Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses. Kuya Lito is a Roman Catholic but now being convinced to be baptized to be a Jehovah's witness. Though he now believes in Jehovah's witnesses' teachings, he refused to be baptized as he often says "no religion can save you". A very good alibi or reason indeed to refuse being baptized to a religion. Things I learned about Jehovah's witnesses' teachings include:

• Man has no soul.
  
• Jesus Christ is St. Michae, the archangel sent to earth
• The apparitions of Mother Mary is the work of the devil.
  

BOK-LIT : Si Bok at si Tolits

While on the road after the GPS observation, di ko maiwasang mapangiti sa dalawa kong kasama sa sasakyan – Si Bok at si Kuya Tolits. I was seated at the back, while the two were in front. Laging nagdedebate ang dalwa:



ROUND 1: Marriage
Lito : Okey yung sabi ni Kagawad ahhh. Katorse anyos na dalaga, pwede palang makasal dito.
Bok : Child abuse yun. Di naman pwede yun. Katorse anyos? Di pwede.
Lito : Eh, kung payag naman ang dalaga, paano magiging child abuse yun.
Bok : Child abuse nga yun. Menor de edad eh. Di yun pwede. Yung sa ospital nga, di nakakapag decide ang mga menor de edad.
Lito : Pwede yun. Eh, kung okey yung mga magulang na pakasal yung anak nya eh.
Bok : Di nga pwede makasal yun. Di naman papayag ang Mayor nyan.
Lito : …sa Mayor nga hindi..pero sabi ni kagawad pwede sa Kapitan…Kasalang Kapitan nga eh.
(Kuya 2lits wins)


…at biglang sumayad ang ilalim ng sasakyan sa putik.


ROUND 2: The Right Way
Bok : Sabi ko na nga eh… Dapat kanan pinili mong daanan..
Lito : Eh kung kanan pinili ko, lulubog din tayo dun…ang lalim at ang lambot dun oh…
Bok : Kita ko na eh…matigas na yung lupa dun. Dapat kanan pinili mo.
Lito : Hindi. Kaya ko naman yung daanan yung sa gitna. Nabitin lang ako pag bwelo…


Pinaatras ni Kuya 2lits ang van at pinili ang kanang part ng muddy road. Umusad na ang van.
Bok : Oh, tingnan mo... di ba okey? nakita ko na kasi yun eh...matigas na nga yung putik sa kanan.


(Panalo si Bok)


ROUND 3: Pagpapa-cemento
Bok : Dapat kasi ipa-cemento na lahat to. Dapat dumiretso na sila sa Senator. Magrequest dapat yung mga ofisyales ng Barangay eh.
Lito : Di pwede yun. Di ka pwede dumiretso sa Senator. Kailangan ka muna dumaan sa Mayor. Yung Mayor ang dapat magdecide.
Bok : Pwede yun. Eh Senator na yung lalapitan eh…Magagawan agad ng paraan.
Lito : Di nga pwede yun..
Bok : Pwede yun…Lalapit ka lang sa Senator eh.


Kung ganito ba naman mga kasama mo…di ka tatahimik at matatawa sa isang tabi? Hehe. Kulet nang mga ‘to.


-to be continued-

(next round: RELIGION)

Back to FIRST-ORDER (South Luzon)

After being pulled out from the First Order project last April 14, to lead the Ground control Team for the NGCP Flight, ngayon I'm back in the adventure-filled project. Adventure kasi, you'll be spending a day or two either in an island, in a place so remote, sa bundok, or if you'll get lucky, in one of the tourist spots of South Luzon. Di mo expect ang tutulogan mo.

First Stop - Catanauan, Quezon.

The team spent 3days (if I'm not mistaken) in one of the hotels in Catanauan. Now, I'm back in the very same Hotel, only that I'll be spending the night by myself, all alone. The receptionist have even given the same room we used a two months ago. Kaktauwa yung receptionis, galing the memory. hehe.

TIDAL OBSERVATION in Sariaya, Quezon

Indeed, it was great to spend time with people who share the same interests as you do – who jams with the music you like, eat the food you like – people whom you could freely laugh your heart out with.

Dominggo, March 13 – Mobilization kunohay. Gibati pa tawn kog pamugnaw niadto sa dihang miabot cla Kiko og Ruby ann aron kuhaon ang mga gibiling instrumento sa balay aron dalhon sa Sariaya, Quezon. Maayo nalng nadala nako ang akong jacket kay bugnaw jud intawn kayo ang aircon sa bus. Alas 12 sa udto nakaabot kami sa Sariaya. Diretso mi sa balay ni Kuya Barok. Og sa dihang, wala diay tawo sa ilang balay. Wala ang iyang asawa. Haha. Naniudto mi sa balay sa iyang inahan, who entertained us so well. Gitabangan pa kami nya actually sa pagpangitag balay nga katulgan og beach nga kaobservahan sa among tidal. Didto nako hinay-hinay nga nailhan ang mga tawo nga I believe has just become part of my life (syempre, pirmi nimo clang kauban sa trabaho – part na sa life, di ba?.hehe).

It was fun watching Ate Lala scream when crossing a tiny canal and a river in getting to Paraiso beach resort. Haha. Kakatuwa na cute. The beach resort was good – safe for everyone, hindi kasi “kantilado”. With a swimming pool na walang masyadong naliligo at the time of our stay - (natakot daw kasi ang mga parokyano ng resort dahil sa tsunami) – kung kaya naman inangkin namin ang swimming pool ng resort! Haha.

PHOTO: Me, nagbabasa ng reading sa rod.

72 hours of observation...san ka pa? at every 15 minutes mong babasahin ang reading ng rod. Si Machele at Kuya Alex sa umaga, kami naman ni Kiko, Ruby, at Ate Lala sa gabi. Haha. Kakapagod but then enjoy naman kami sa panonood ng Glee sa laptop ni Kiko. Yun nga lang, nabibitin cause every 15 min kailangan mong lumusong sa tubig para basahin ang reading ng rod. Magdamag kang pa-lusong2x sa tubig.

PHOTO: Inside the Cottage

                                                        

   PHOTO: Sa tindahan ni Aling Nena...namili ng maiinom

                                       

     PHOTO: Si Machele ginising namin para lang magpapicture. :D

                               

Huwebes, end ng observation pero naa pa diay pakapin nga leveling... og GPS observation. Ug sa dihang alas 9:30 na nahuman ang GPS obsevation. Sa Batangas City port ang among point. Ug tungod sa kalaay didto gihimo og gipasundayag ang Concert ni "Kiko and Abai", with only one audience -- si Ate Lala. Haha. Included in the repertoire were songs by the famous Boybands of the 90s...Boyzone, Boyz2men, Westlife og uban pa. haha.

Mga tomjones nah... just look at Kiko.

Ginabi na po kami...Dito kami nag concert ni Kiko

It was so nakakapagod kasi wala pa kming mga tulog. After kasi ng duty namin di na kami natulog in the morning dahil nag leveling pa. And in the afernoon, diretso nang GPS Observation. Di pa namin naabutan ang 10PM trip pa Maynila kung kaya nagantay pa kami ng next trip -- 11PM. I was so tired, kung kaya nakatulog ako sa bus (na hindi ka madalas ginagawa). Nagising nalang ako ng nasa Ortigas na kami. Diretso sa office nang parang nakalutang. 30 hours na walang tulog. At may pasok pa kinabukasan. Hooh...

But it was worth it all. Ang saya ng experience.

And from the "Glee" movie marathon that we had during the night hours, I came to love and learn the song "I look to you" sung by Amber Riley on the "Glee" show.

I Look To You lyrics


As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I'm lost without a cause
After giving it my all


Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to?


Chorus:
I look to you,
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong
I look to you,
I look to you
And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song
I look to you


Have to lose my breath
There's no fighting left
Sinking to rise no more


Searching for that open door


And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm go'n make it
Nothing to do but lift my head


Chorus:


My levees are broken
My walls are coming down on me
My rain is falling
Defeat is calling
I need you to set me free
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me!