AJ, my older son, is the first grandson. He spent his first nine years in Manila with Papa & Mama. Both grandparents "offered" to be the overseer of the young lad while both parents traveled to the United States to seek greener pastures. When he turned 12 yrs. old, Erich, my younger brother, "advised" us to send him to Manila so he can personally perform the circumcision on my son. Who are we to say no?
The family and the doctor knew better. You all know how it is - they nudge at your guilt trip tapno pagawidin mi daytoy ubing.
Erich did perform AJ's circumcision. My very capable brother made sure that AJ went through The Rite Of Passage. Meaning - nag-palda met isso na itti mano nga aldaw after the kugit. Jim & I were not there to witness the whole drama. Andiyak ammo no nag-usar met ni Mama itti bulong itti bay-yawas, as the elders would say. The only part of the script that was not carried out was the "jumping into the ilog" after the kugit. Itti kuna da, masapol nga agdigos dayti "baro nga baro" idiay ilog tapno nabiit nga maungaran, nabiit nga maimbag. This might just be another story telling a lie or one of the old wives' tale. Who knows - the bulong itti bay-yawas did have some medicinal value into it.
I look forward to the Piyesta Eskina. Such a celebration wherein the culmination is a baile infront of the Eskina abode. The ancestral home then had big sliding capiz windows. My cousins and I positioned ourselves right by those windows and we have a direct view of the baile - kasla balcony ngarud itti view mi. Right across the home was the Nilo house. Mabalin nga agbuybuya met da Elmo ken Abel. Knowing Elmo maka-ba-baile met iso na. I have attached one of the favorite songs played during those bailes - mabalin nga agduron-duron kapet-kapet isso da balasang ken baro. As always, the wooden seats from the highschool were borrowed for the dance. This time, no fees were collected for participating in the baile. Addo itti umay umudong; naka-trubenize dagiti baro ken naka-pustura dagiti balasang. I did participate in those dances too when I was a teen-ager. No - the Electromaniacs by then was not the rage anymore. How about "Joy To The World" by the Three Dog Night and Colour My World by the Chicago Band.
I was a Manilena visiting for the summer. I did have my fair share of "Agno baros" nga umay makisala.
Baile in the middle of the street with bright lights to boot? Whatever happened to the disco blacklights then? Kasanno nayen no itti umay mang-kurtesya kanyak ket nabartek wenno saan nga nag-digos or nag-gisigis? That was the farthest from my mind then for I have these male cousins - Bongkil, Native, Sitong, Kiloy - my knights in shining armor- who will save me. Kunak ngarud, I grew up surrounded by cousins who looked after me. I have not seen them for quite some time. We all have grown up and old. We have taken different roads. One thing is clear though - we still carry the name SISON. Maipakaammo: The title of the songs you have just listened to are " I Miss You So" and "Faithful Love" by the Electromaniacs (Jose Mari's old band then). I have updated two other songs you might also enjoy. Please peruse No Duaduaem Pay blog entry and listen to my favorite Ilocano song next to Old Sabangan Beach. Another song I've updated is Dios Te Salve on the Dios Te Salve blog entry. Sapay kuma nga magustuan yo dagitoy nga tugtug. Makaawis latta maibsan itti liw-liwa. Disclaimer: These songs were all before my time (hehehe). I just know how to appreciate good stuff. Old music is just like vintage wine. The older the smoother the taste (excuses, excuses, excuses).
Before I begin, let me give credit where credit is due. Many of what is in here came from Noel F. Tamayo. Addo nga salamat. 1. Loves.. - CALDING - nga dinardaraan, nga caldereta, nga pinapaitan, nga kilawen.... - bisukol, kinur-itan, - pinakbet ken dinengdeng - apro, papa-et, libro-libro - saluyot - sinukaan - tambo-tambong, patupat - lazona, garlic - bagnet 2. You have a small garden with tarong, parya, sitao ken okra as main flowering plants 3. You enjoy eating with your hands 4. Snack is Kilab-ban 5. Favorite expression - Mangan Tayon!! 6. Seasonings - bagoong, bagoong & more bagoong ( no awannen, patis mabalin) 7. Adores - Manang Biday (hehehe)
You can all chime in and add on to this list. Mabalin nga pagkakatawaan no kayat yo.
Any everyday man in the Philippines would associate an Ilocano with a one word description - "matipid", on extremes, kuripot - okay, English sounds better - frugal. We are known to be hard workers and success achievers. We never identify to the words "difficult and failure". I have been researching what keeps the Ilocano apart for him to earn this description. The only reason I could think of is the means of livelihood that was adapted by the forerunners in the Ilocos region. Most if not all of the Ilocos region descendants were tobacco growers (kitaen yo kadi itti litrato ni Manang Biday nakaam-mel itti tabako). Tobacco was the main agricultural product for this was a good match to the type of soil Ilocos has. This region is surrounded by the Cordilleras and most of its land is rocky and arid. Another reason why tobacco was a prevalent crop then was the tobacco monopoly during the Spanish times. If we all recall our History classes then, tobacco growing was encouraged if not forced upon by the Spaniards to the Filipinos to sustain the revenue this crop generates. In so doing, the Philippine colony then was not totally dependent on Spain for financial sustenance. Early on. the Spaniards recognized that the revenue generated from tobacco will be more than enough for the Philippine Colony to use.( colony - such an awful word then and now). The Ilocano then, has been used to tilling the soil under the sweltering sun. That could be the reasons for our skin attributes. But why the adjectives kuripot, matipid or frugal though? I still can not put my finger to the reason why. Maybe some of you do know.
Next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. I clearly remember my very first Thanksgiving here in the US. That was the day I arrived in 1986. I was allowed a brief stopover in San Francisco to join Mama and Jim before I flew to Temple Texas where I was assigned. I found it difficult to relate to the turkey Thanksgiving celebration - I had to brush up on my Pilgrim History. That was 20 years ago and here I am "celebrating" another Thanksgiving. We have a small community of Filipinos here in our town. A couple of medical professionals, professors from the university and a lot of children. We have our own dishes to prepare. The regular turkey and ham will be the staple fare but the table will be filled more of the Pilipino specials. You can pluck the Pilipino out of the Philippines but you can not erase the pagka-Pinoy out of the Pilipino ( or something to that effect). Most of us "oldies" have assimilated and adapted the American way of life. We in fact have been "mainstreamed". Our children might have the slight "twang". We might also be sounding like our neighbors (heaven forbid). Does that make us less Filipino? Not one single bit of iota. Remember the character Shylock from the Shakespeare play Merchant of Venice? He was a Jew -
Shylock: I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, do we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.
This was way back Maryknoll High School era but still very much applicable to this day. Walang pinagkaiba ang kapit-bahay ko sa akin. Nasa sa akin na if I would want to retain my pagka-Pinoy. Ang pinagkaibahan lang - nauna sila sa akin dito. Happy Thanksgiving - Dios Ti Agngina
The Tagalog translation of the word "Ag-Tapat" is Harana. This is (or is it now was) a practise of serenading a lady through love songs sung in front of the window during nighttime.
Remember the song - "Dungawin Mo, Hirang" "..Dungawin mo, hirang Ang nananambitan Kahit sulyap mo man lamang Iyong idampulay."
Mapan dagiti baro nga adda awit da nga gitara ta tapatan da dagiti balasang nga ay-ayaten da. Karaoke was never heard of then. There was always a young man in town who would have a good singing voice. He can belt out the song " I Can't Stop Loving you" with such fervor and good pitch. No awan met itti taga-kanta, ket anya nay - mapan pay uminom itti gin nga lako ni nanay. No mabalbalinnen (Ta napigsa itti pulso ken pinagpanunot dan) mapan da ag-tapat ten. Naka-sapatos da ngata? Kammo - itti ammok naka-pomada da. It would be the ladies' option to open the window and entertain the singers or let it be and just ignore them. My older girl cousins, Manang Emma and Manang Maribel, were lucky enough to experience how it was to be "Na-tapatan". That means then, addo itti immarem kanyada uuuyyy.
I was an active browser and an occasional contributor in the www.Pangasinan.org/agno site. I wish I could still go back in its archives and search for those posts which tackled the names and panayods of the Agno townfolks. I have to hand it to them folks - these nicknames were extremely funny. There used to be a young man who worked for papa in Proj. 7. His name was Manong Erning; ngem itti awag da kanya na ket "Kiba-an" since he was vertically challenged. How about the Neypes men in Eskina, da Ka-E ken ni Estong, Tiyo Baloney, Mr. Pasayan. My cousins Buday, Bongkil, Native, Utong ( since Junelin was reed thin then just like the Utong), Kiloy, Boyting and Sitong. But of course, when we have grown, Kiloy became Ron (Roncalli) and Buday became (Sheila) but Native stayed Native latta. The new names (which actually was the derivative of the original)sounded more urbane,proper and formal - more professional to a fault. Do we still slap each other's shoulders when we see each other? Did the change in names proved to be a sign of "growing up leaving behind" phase? Boyting is now Dr. Gene Sison here in Illinois. I call him Gene in the presence of other people but he remains to be Boyting to me. The mere fact that I call him Boyting is proof that I still cling to those wondrous days of growing up. The "panayods" served to be a secret pact I share with my cousins and the rest of the people who played a role in my life - just like Kiba-An , Ka-E, Native, Kiloy.......
Coronation usually started at 12 MN. The queen, in all of her regality, accompanied by her court, would slowly make her way to the center of the plaza to march toward her prepped up throne. She would have her own flower girls and crown bearers - little boys and girls all fully made up for the special night. There were abundant fireworks that would light up the midnight sky. Our favored political guest was on hand to deliver his/her fiery speech and promises enough to convince us, maybe, to hold hands with him or her on the next election. The proud parents, all dressed to the nines, were ready to waltz to celebrate the big night of their daughter - or the night might have belonged to them actually. The social calendar of the queen was indeed intrusively active. The parade, which was held in the middle of the day, was definitely a chore. Imagine the heat and the tapok - she was in with make up, crowned and in long gown right? That was a weekend of hectic activity. She will be back again next year to crown her successor - in a new set or change of wardrobe.
Filipinos are very much notorious for their hospitality trait. This is greatly manifested in fiestas. We celebrate this specific occasion in honor of a patron saint. Our practise? Pakannen tayo amin nga tao. No matter how dire straits our lives were, adda latta baboy , manok wenno kalding nga ipatumba ken isaganna. This was the best time of the year to go home and visit. Aggawit tayo itti bisita nga aggapo Manila. We showed our wares and we gave these visitors our warmest welcome. Nangabak metten idiay kandidata for Ms. Agno. Her long gown has been prepared together with her expected change of costumes. The basketball teams have all been sponsored and their uniforms distributed.
The enterprising natives have already set up their halo-halo stands. You can get a glass full of halo-halo for 25 centavos then. No am-am-mum daydiay aglak-lako mabalin nga panayunan ti pinipig wenno sago. Nobody cared that the jeeps were distributing the dust into the halo-halo since the roads were without cement let alone asphalt. The plaza has been decorated with strings of lights. Iddi awan pay ti electricity, generators were used to light up the plaza. The wooden seats from the high school have all been arranged and specifically assigned to "boxes". You see, these boxes i.e. group of seats were sold ta idiay magsitugaw amin nga makibai-le no rabi-i. There were still no concrete seats to use. And so.. let the party begin!! Nabi-it nga naibos diay lako nga pamada ta ado nga baro itti im-may gim-matang. The ladies were all dressed in their finest and the high heeled shoes have all been polished. I remembered the RayMasters' Band - I think this was Agno's favorite. Mangrugi itti tugtug ket panay balse met itti tukaren da. Mangrugi idiay amyanan agginggana abagattan ket agtiwir-tiwir dagiti lallakay ken babbaket nga agbalse. I enjoyed watching them executing the waltz especially the twirls. I remember Tiyo Gudo Pecson. He was a family friend - naka-Americana pay. Isala na amin nga balasang ket nalaing met ni Tiyo Gudo nga agsala. Below is a picture of one of the Fiestas. The lady was Auntie Becca Espanol with my Papa. She was a good dancer so was my father. Auntie Becca, according to the stories, was also a student of Uncle Mente. She came to class one time unprepared. She was castigated by Uncle Mente - " Sika Rebecca all you know was to dance". Anyway, the music must have been "Fernando's Hideaway" since tango was my Papa's forte. Next stop - The Coronation Of Miss Agno.
There was a point in time when all of the Sison household in Proj. 8 were all attending school (papa said he goes to a special school - get my drift). Erich was in High School, Cecil was beginning College and I was in College. Mama decided to go back to School at UST. She wanted to pursue her Masters' Education. Brave soul I should say. Well, she took everything in stride. Agtugao met ta agbasa itti homework na. She never shared her grade with us (hehehe) but she will REQUIRE us to share our grades with her (hehehe again). I commend any individual with the want to pursue higher education. It is a daunting task considering its demands let alone the constant change with technology. One should have the ability to pace oneself to at least be at par if not ahead of the "educational tools".
What's good with Mama is her want to learn. She does not get intimidated easily with the "unfamiliars". What's bad with that is - nabi-it na nga ma-amwan itti sekreto mi - saan mabalin itti agin-lalaing ngen (hehehe to the fullest). Both her and Papa were with us then. She wanted to know what is the latest news back home. I introduced her to the computer. Insuot na dayti sarming na ken timmugaw infront of the computer. Lo and behold - she was surfing the internet and began reading the Inquirer.Net online edition. I just had to adjust the fonts to be a little "friendly" otherwise she was good to go.
I will "fess up. I will only be able to name half of these ladies. This picture was taken at Uncle Arning & Auntie Estrel's home. That was Manong Hide to the (R). I think this was Uncle Arning's "pabunar".
(L) to (R): Mama; Mrs. Maria Casiano; Auntie Estrel I am very sure the ladies in this picture will all be named soon. This picture was taken by Manong Erton (remember him?).
Uncle Tony was flying to the United States. Mano nga lugan itti napan idiay airport to see him off. Prior to, we all had a going away party for him at Sabangan. Notice the sling holding my (L) upper extremity. The month was April - pinag-kukuruminas. I remember that day - kunak no matay akon. Tanting, the son of Tiya Mameng from Eskina, rubbed my whole arm with either suka or naata nga mangga. Talaga- natalimudaw ak. I was studying piano then and it took a long time before I could go back playing. Since then, Sabangan became less desirable on those kuruminas months.
As you look closely on the picture, familiar faces emerge. Uncle Maning to the (L) with Cherrylyn Nagal; Manang Maribel and Manong Jesito together with Manong Ric to the (R). Notice that Nanay and Lola Tasyang were still up and able. To Uncle Tony's (R) is Auntie Flor, his wife, with Zhivago the baby. The world was considered wide and vast then. Going to the United States or to any country was a big step - kasla saan nga agsublin. Isso siguro nga addo kami nga nag-itulod kenni Uncle Tony. There was the fear of not seeing him again. He is now in his 80s living in Los Angeles. He is still healthy pinirmi nga tumawag idtoy balay agsaludsod no anya ti balita from his beloved hometown.
I got this picture from one of the "reminiscers" just like me. For the uninitiated, this is the calesa. During those days when the tricycles were still unheard of, the mode of transportation was the calesa. For 10 centavos one can travel from this part of town to the other side. The drivers were very eco-friendly. There was a big burlap sack idiay likudan ti kaballo which will serve as the harness to receive the future fertilizer.
The calesa is still being used in some parts of Manila especially Ongpin. It has endured all these years and has proven that its existence remains to be a necessity to many of us. Some might not be able to relate to this mode of transportation now. Remember the car made by Ford called Pinto? I'm sure many of you don't. This was our first sports car. At any rate, when one rides the calesa, one is literally riding a local car run just like the Pinto (read - Pinto is a kind of a breed of a horse).
Look closely now - ming-mingan nga nalaing... foreground ladies were Auntie Estrel and Auntie Pining; right behind them were mama in skirt and Auntie Mensing with Roncalli most probably. Fashion statements with Sabangan as backdrop. Scrutinize the sunglasses and the hats..I have these jeans too - but these are now called capris. I also have those sunglasses - but I refer to these as my wayfarers.
This picture must have been taken in one of the Sison's family outings. You see, then, it was a family affair to have a picnic at Sabangan Beach. Saan pay nga malugan itti apan Sabangan so motor boats were used to transport families. Awiten amin nga balon from inna-poy nga naka-kaldero to sida ken inumen nga danum or coca-cola ( nga inala idiay tinda-an idiay Laud). It was a cumbersome and a very orchestrated affair. Ag-uray dagiti bancas assideg kada Uncle Arning and magsi-lugan amin nga ubbing. Of course, I have my supot of candies to sustain me during this boat ride.
Unfortunately, this picture is without Lolo Florentino. The family is well represented including some of the younger nieces and nephews. Let us go ahead and try to identify them.
Before Proj.7, there was P. Leoncio. There was an apartment complex where most of the Sison(s) lived. Mama was working the nightshift at the National Mental Hospital (where the National Orthopedic Hospital all began) so I am left at the care of Ate Volet. She was my ever loyal yaya - she saw me grow up. She later on married Manong Watoy Rosete and presently live at the Eskina too. Papa, Mama & I lived with Uncle Tony and Uncle Ponsing. Kasla kami sardinas idiay pinirmi pay nga ag-layos since the drainage was totally unheard of. When Erich was a kid in Proj. 7 then, he loved to eat rice with sabao. Mapun-no itti inna-poy dayti plato sa nan to ilabay ta sabao - he called it P. Leoncio attributing the "layos" to the inna-poy napunno itti sabao. At any rate, Papa would come home from work nga adda itti balkot nga pansit ginatang na idiay Quiapo. Napudot pay daytoy isso maimas mi amin itti mangan. On certain days, the pasalubong would be the chocolate candy called "Serg's". A couple of pieces maybe, and I was happy. On "dry" days, awan itti Serg's. Sapulek kenni Ate Volet dayti nga candy. Itudo na kanyak itti sida mi - dilis. This staple, according to her, is the "kapatid ng Serg's" therefore its taste is just as good as the candy itself. I believed her then so my taste buds were conditioned with the "similarities of Serg's and its kapatid, the dilis". We moved to Proj. 8 and either Papa or Mama would always prepare the "kapatid ng Serg's" for breakfast. Nalaing pay latta nga aglabay ni Erich kasla P. Leoncio. There are some traits and acquired behaviors just worth keeping. Thank you for the pictures co-blogger from Multiply.com
As far as I remember, there was always a leg of ham nga nakabitin idiay kusina da lolo Inocencio at Serrano Laktaw. He could have been a stockholder of the great Excelente Ham at Quiapo for I swear- there was always ham in that household. Gayam - this was a gift from the Intsiks as a sign of gratitude for the help that lolo gave them. He was a lawyer & was then working for the Immigration & Deportation in Manila. Just like Lola Guillerma (Columbus), Lolo Inocencio's panayod was Shine - Ino-shine-cio or maybe because he had that slick white hair look that shone especially when hit by the sun. His personality was very contagious; he had a good singing voice and had a biting sense of humor. Apay Lining (Manang Lining, the ever loyal kadwa da Auntie Aida) addo itti asin tayo anya.. saan met lolo sungbat ni Manang Lining apay aya? Ngamin na-apgad daytoy dinengdeng mo. That would have earned him less pogi points from me but adda kasta nga klase nga humor itti Rosete talaga ( I probably would earn the garrote kill for that statement). I can imagine that same comment from lolo Eduardo and no less from my mother (okay.. that did it ). His everyday outfit was an Americana - a suit matched with those white derby shoes. He rode the bus to work and in the afternoon, sumardeng idiay Quiapo nga ag-palengke. No airs - he just enjoyed this chore. He suffered a stroke when he got older. Auntie Aida requested me to come over and help him out. I willingly obliged and was religiously at Serrano Laktaw for Physical Therapy sessions with Lolo Inocencio. It was not at all smooth sailing between the two of us. I could barely make him follow my instructions - di na kayat itti ag-exercise wenno magna or ag-tugaw. The professional relationship between a PT and a patient was totally thrown out of the window - Madam ngarud itti awag na kanyak (there goes that biting humor again). Saan ko met mabalin nga ungtan ni Lolo - lolo ngarud. I eventually recommended a colleague to come and see him. My friend most probably brought home a leg of ham or two during the whole duration of PT treatment. I missed on that one for sure.
She was the matriarch in the Burgos household. She held court right there in the dining room area naka-ammel itti sigarilyo. Apong- saan la kadi nga masinit dayta dilam? You see, she smoked her cigarette with the the lit end inside her mouth. Karaho - sungbat na. Umay ak no mapan ag-palengke. The mercado in Burgos was just a walking distance from the Amianan house compared to the Agno palengke - masapol pay nga aglugan itti tricycle. The picture above shows Apong Baket with Uncle Porping, Auntie Rose, Uncle Renato & Auntie Concesa, the baby girl. She used to have a cabinet where she kept her linens - supot ti pungan ken akep ti pag-id-daan. She would bring these out upon arrival from Manila. Maimas ko nga anguten dagiti supot - since the cabinet was packed with mothballs ( vice at an early age). The "kumot abel iloko" was so stiff which eventually "softened up" after everyday use. Since the people from Manila arrived, then the spoons and forks were also brought out. Kasano met ket di mi am-mo kano itti ag-kam-mel. These utensils were shiny and I noticed that the letters JLR were engraved roughly behind the handles. I wondered why - no buluden dagiti kar-ruba da ti cuchara ken tinidor, ammo da no sinno itti pagsublian. It was a common practise to borrow utensils during big events - weddings, luwalos and the likes. Below was her last picture taken with AJ, Jim & me. This was AJ's first visit in Burgos & was formally introduced to Apong. I don't remember how old she was then when this picture was taken. Her facial expression barely changed compared to the first picture above. I want to think that there was an extra flicker in her eyes in the picture below. Or was it just the color of the picture?
Auntie Nieves was the other half of Uncle Ponsing. She was a teacher at the Agno Elementary School. Nalaing nga agkanta ni Auntie Ibos. Mama made it a point to visit her before we trek back to Manila then. Sumungad kami pay laeng idiay ruwangan da ket mang-rugi nga ag "Kyrie" ni Auntie. Kyrie was a hymn sung during mass. Ay ket agpas-ya da kenni Mama - first voice and second voice. I've never seen her mad nor have I heard her raise her voice - except to hit the high notes for O Salutaris. I still have to show you a copy of her and Uncle Ponsing's picture that hanged in their living room - que posterioso for both of them. Instead, I have these two pictures taken when James & Mokong were younger. I remember how vocal she was then to have Uncle Ponsing be buried in the Naraval plot when he passed on. Papa would not take nothing of it - he was adamant that Uncle Ponsing lay beside Tatay and the reset of the Sisons. Not that it really mattered to anybody else - natangken la itti ulo dagiti Sison. Auntie Ibos had her way (but of course). Soon, the tomb just became a spot to visit - to say a prayer - to reminisce. It really did not matter after all - uray adinno itti paggiyannan ni Uncle Ponsing. There is nothing anymore inside that tomb, it was just another marker at the kampo santo. Napatpateg dagiti imbati na nga laglagipen tayo.
The original Dr. Sison became the Rural Health Officer of Agno. He served in this capacity for as long as I can remember. Uncle Gening was the " doctor on foot" from the eskina-daya to the most remote barrio of Agno. He used his government-issued green jeep as the mini-ambulansiya. Mangrugi ak nga agmaneho iddi ket sublatek kuma. Natur-turay ni Johnny nga i-atras-abante na dayti jeep ngem siak. Uncle Gening was the only brother or kin who did not live at the Eskina. He and Auntie Auring together with Marissa & Menchu then, lived close to the pharmacy at the daya before they moved to the big house close to the two simba-an(s) - taga-bassit ken Katoliko nga simaba-an. Those two churches will be another story telling a lie later. The next generation Dr. Sison(s) were Manang Meg (daughter of Uncle Luis Sison), Boyting (son of Uncle Gening Sison) and Angel Erich, my brother. Anya kadi - kunak la ngarud - saan nga maawannan itti nalalaing nga annak itti Agno.
Lolo Pedro was the brother of Nanay & he was married to Lola Toyang. They had 2 sons - Lolo Sabilo & Lolo Arting. We were more familiar with Lolo Arting for he was around more often than Lolo Sabilo. He was stationed at Masinloc Zambales & when he goes to Manila he stayed with us at Proj. 7. His regular pasalubong was the big bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce. He was staying in California then with Lola Mameng Paz & his daughter Amy. We invited him to visit us when Papa was in St. Louis baby sitting. They both flew to Michigan then to Canada to be with the family of Uncle Luis Sison. Napateg itti memories ni Lolo Wackie kanya mi amin nga agkakabsat. He was the epitome of a cousin to Papa. I am aware of the stories ( for real or story telling a lie again) that the two of them swore into secrecy never to reveal. Dimmateng idiay airport ni Lolo Arting adda awit na nga karton iddi sab-ten mi kadda Papa. Apay anya dayta awit mo? Mulak - isungbat na. We opened the box & adda itti parya, tarong ken karabasa - kurang la itti bug-goong ngen adda ti dinengdeng wenno pinakbet nga sida. Agpakada kanyak nga tumawag kanno idiay Pilipinas. Wen - kunak met knowing it might just be Manang Arlene he was planning to call. Lo & behold - he took out his pocketbook directory nga agrugi idiay letter A to probably end in letter Z. Nabayag nga kumusta-an nangrugi idiay Canada to Dagupan to Las Pinas then finally to Agno. Mabalin nga natawagan na met siguro ni Padre Troadio.
The family of Lolo Alfonso & Lola Cristina Nano. Auntie Nieva & Auntie Guia are the two girls while Lolo Tirso was one of the older boys and Manong Junie was the youngest. I understand why Manong Junie is Manong Junie since his age is closer to mine; Lolo Tirso was called lolo by us probably because of age too. Below is another picture as they aged. naka-sapatos da aminnen. Auntie Guia was a teacher. She used to tutor Cecil & I with our school work. Mapan kami idiay balay da idiay Matimyas. They were neighbors with the Rayos Family from Agno. Below is their most recent picture. Lolo Alfonso has already passed on. Lola Cristina's hair turned whiter - she earned the nickname American Woman - nalaing pay nga ag-ingles sika.Lolo Tirso was very close to our family - especially with Papa. Agkadwa da nga ag-happy-happy.
