Of mabolos, chicos and kasoys

Right beside the Agno High School was a big tree which bears the fruit called mabolo. I have not seen this specific fruit for ages now. Su-dalen dagiti mabolo ta kannen mi no malem while ag-tutong-tong dagiti bab-baket ken lal-lakay idiay Eskina. Rumwar da Tiya Manay ta isardeng da pay itti pinag-dait da ti pantalon. Right beside the house is the Neypes Tailoring of Tiya Manay. I usually hear their radio blaring uray ting-nga ti aldaw. Kayat da unay ag-deng-ngeg ti drama nga ilocano.

Another option would be the chicos from Uncle Ponsing's backyard. Nakaro nga sam-it ti bunga da. Malagip ko nga nag-da-dak-kel dagiti bunga. Burasen dagiti i-awid mi nga agpa-Manila. Saan pay unay nga nalu-om iso nga ikabil da mama idiay pag-bagasan tapno matulungan ti paglu-om na. Aggapo ni Tiyo Nabe Apostol nga lakay ni Tiya Mameng idiay bantay sumungad addo awit na nga kasuy. The cashew nut sits on top of the fruit itself. The nut is toasted while the fruit is sliced & dipped in salt. No adda supli idiay tinda-an da nanay, mabalin nga igatang itti tinudok. I used to think I get special privileges in the store. I have easy access to the candies ken coca-cola. Come to think of it, Uncle Maning,s house, which was across the street, also had a store. Naimas met dagiti kendi ken coca-cola da idiay.

Mirrors

Pictures paint a thousand words... the first generation SISON with brother-sister Tatay & Lola Itay together with Uncle Mente.
Second set of pictures are Manong Rudy (Uncle Luis' son) & Papa
Third set are Raymond (Uncle Gening's son) Uncle Ponsing & Apollo (Uncle Tony's son)
I keep looking at these pictures & the similarities are just unmistakable. Ag-ka-ka-ingas da amin. I can see the younger Papa in Manong Rudy's face while Apollo & Raymond are just mirror images of Uncle Ponsing. Note Uncle Mente & Lola Itay's profile..saan nga ma-i-libak.

ANAK NI MANUELA

Mama was a nurse - a nurse anesthetist at the National Orthopedic Hospital. I was starting my internship then as a PT & the NOH was one of the facilities I need to serve. I was entering a facility wherein I knew almost everybody - from the Chief of Clinics down to the attendant at the operating room. My classmates all saddled up with me since we were all sure of a " no sweat " work - look at my "credentials" - ( anak ni Manuela) - geez - what are we in power for?

The better side of me overruled my laziness. I asked (not requested ) Mama to take a leave of absence while I was at NOH just so... Did it work? Nah!!! Sison kunamman. I pulled all of the strings I can pull & namedropped every corner I turned. I managed to secure one of the prime time slots to play tennis without the hassle of waiting in line. Dr. Roger Fabie (from Burgos) was there - anak ni Manuela kunamman. The technicians at the PT Department would rather have me sitting down & just observe since anak ni Manuela kunamman. Dr. Pineda & Dr. Inocentes were too embarrassed to give me a failing grade since like I said, anak ni Manuela. They even offered me a job after graduation - my credentials spoke highly of me; nobody, & I mean nobody dared to question that.