The Return to Luneta

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC:

In my blog post The Lion, The Trip and The Photos – The Chronicles of Singapura, I made a personal commitment then that I will definitely "see" again and have my photo taken at our country's national landmark Luneta Park. The reason for this is the realization that I always had my photo taken at the official landmark of every place I visit but I’ve never done this in our country’s very own Luneta Park.

When I say "see" that means to actually take a deeper look, appreciate and experience our very own tourist spot.  Well I for one somehow overlooked Luneta.  I actually studied at a university in Intramuros which is just beside the park and worked at a company based in UN Avenue, which is also beside Luneta. And I must admit, I took for granted my geographic advantage.  I actually just walked through Luneta Park to cross from one street to another end.   (Well that of course is beside the numerous visits my family had when I was a toddler which my mom told me but I can't recall).

Finding the last craftsman of pastillas de leche wrapper of Bulacan

BAYANIHAN REPUBLIC

I started my blog in the week of February 22 to 25, 2010 and today, I have just written my 100th story / blog post.   And I wanted the 100th to be a special one.  As such, for the 100th story of Tatak Digitista, under the Bayanihan Republic section, I especially picked this one and and actually conducted field research and interviews to complete the story.

Nanay Luz Ocampo, considered the last craftsman of pastillas de leche wrapper of Bulacan

When new found friends or colleagues always learn that my family is from Malolos, Bulacan, they usually ask a request from me to bring and let them taste Bulacan's native delicacies like inipit, kakanin, ensaymadang Malolos and... pastillas.  I usually tell them the story about pastillas de leche and the lola (grandmother) who makes well crafted pastillas wrapper (also called pabalat), considered to be the last of her kind.  The promise I give my friends is, once I found this lola, I will surely bring the said delicacy as pasalubong (pasalubong is a Filipino tradition where one brings gifts, tokens or delicacies from the place he visited or came from).  Oh my, what have I gotten myself into?  =)

Talk the Walk... the Good Friday walk to Kapitangan

 Bayanihan Republic:

Like the "pabasa", the "lakad sa Kapitangan" (walk to Kapitangan) is another Holy Week activity I grew up with. There's nothing spectacular about this tradition except that we get to walk in woods and rice fields, see the standard Filipino Catholic activity like Via Crucis and penitensya, eat native dishes at the street, buy "langis" (oil) that said to possess healing power, witness the crucifixion of Mother Paring, an old woman who make herself crucified each year during Holy Week and of course bond with my cousins.

Photo shows a man who volunteered himself to do the penitensya.

I had the chance to do the traditional walk again last Good Friday. Well it's still the same thing except that most walk ways are cemented now (and thank God rice fields are still beside the cemented road) and the main street going to Kapitangan looks like a tiangge / bazaar! Well, at least, stalls for native dishes and products are as prominent as the "Divisoria" like goods. My cousins and I started the walk at 4 AM and reached Kapitangan at around 7 AM. We left the place at 8 AM and didn't wait for Mother Paring's version of crucifixion which takes place at 12 NN. I don't have a sleep yet at that time and honestly, I went there for the walk and not for that ceremony.

Video shows a man allowing himself to be scourged as act of penance during Holy Week.

Well, I actually witnessed it before and I didn't see any splurge of blood since I think, the yearly nailing makes is similar to putting of earrings - pierce the ears once and putting accessories will be blood free later on. Ooops, I don't like to play CSI agent or even judge here. They have my respect like with any other people's belief as long as their ways do something good for them that do not step on other people's rights. If the "penitensya" and crucifixion is something that uplifts their faith, then so be it. Let's all live in peace and enjoy life's mixes! =)

The Walk

Walking started at 4AM!

Everyone's excited for the long walk.

A stop at one of the farm lands

Reaching Kapitangan 

We finally reached the place but we took a breakfast first.

We're not in Divisoria.  This is the new Kapitangan.

Sanpit Harold's family buying a pet bird.

The long line to Kapitangan chapel.

The Penintensya
 

Penitensya

 There are people who wanted to follow Christ the literal way.

 

Effects of El Nino

 Drought hits the town too!

The "palaisdaan" (fish pond) is filled with mud now.

The Walkers
 

Sanpit Harold enjoying the fresh air with the toy bird.

Niece Queen looking at the toybird they just bought.

Sanpit Jessa talking to our nephew Harvy.  Is she explaining the El Nino phenomenon?

Sanpit Ruel possessed by anime or K-pop culture!

 It's a four hour walk with almost zero sleep but everyone had a good time!

 The Leoncio Cubs =)

Pabasa lives on and enriches relationships, spirituality and culture

 Bayanihan Republic:

After Christmas, Holy Week is the next most awaited occasion in our family as it brings us to valuable traditional activities that were started decades ago.

On Holy Thursday, we have the "pabasa" (public reading), an activity where people chant the book that narrates the Passion of the Christ. In pre-colonial Philippines, poems are not read but sang or chanted (like in epics Lam-ang and Alim). That I think is the reason why pabasa is done that way.

On Good Friday, we have the "Walk to Kapitangan" which I will blog next, the "prayer at Barihan" and "prusisyon at Barasoain". Come Saturday, since there are plenty of kids, we usually have a swim. =)

My Tita Elvie said they started in 1986 and Tatay (that's how we call our grandfather) were very much happy to learn that everyone's eager to do this Filipino tradition for it will not only bring the family together but it will also enrich our spiritual life.

the Leoncio's pabasa 2010

They are 13 siblings so you could imagine how fun and disastrous it is to bring us all together. =) The pabasa usually starts at 12 MN and ends at around 7 PM. Good food also accompany those who give effort and time reading and reflecting the life of Christ. And that's something that excites us too. At midnight, chicken sopas, chicken sotanghon and arroz caldo take turns each year. At lunch time, there should always be fish bundled with vegies and of course meat for the minors and seniors. Okay okay, we sometimes skip the rule! =) During merienda (afternoon snack), ginatang halo-halo and pancit are the favorites!

Tita Elvie doing the pabasa

Kids taking over

 Cousins Jelly and Myther grew up in this tradition that's why they can easily remember all the tones.

the book that we read during pabasa

Tita Elvie (left) showing grand daughter Rochelle (right) how to read the "pasyon".

In our family, it's glad to know that the young ones embrace the tradition which their peers may find "uncool".

One of the best singers in the clan, Nina shares her angelic voice in the activity.

Jessa and Nina used to be toddlers and just played around during our pabasa. Now, it's their turn to get serious! =)

Cousin Noemi makes a birit rendition. Inang (our late grandma) always wanted to do it the traditional way. We used to try to chant the verses using pop tunes. =)

Good food accompany the tradition. Photo shows Tita Elvie preparing the ingredients for merienda - pancit bihon and ginatang halo-halo.


 
Tita Tina checking the rice.

Insan Myleth, Tita Nene, Mama and Tita Elvie taking a break.

Inihaw na bangus await those who did the pabasa at dinner time! At lunch time, menudo and lumpiang sariwa were served!

The tradition is also a bonding time for the entire family. Photo shows (from left): Tita Tina, Mama, Sanpit Ruth, Tita Manlou and Tita Elvie.

I also remembered bringing my very good friends in Malolos to experience this wonderful tradition of our family. So if you've been invited here, that means you are an extended part of the family! =)

Tita Elvie said that she first planned of doing this just for nine years but it eventually became part of our lives. "Tuloy-tuloy 'to habang nabubuhay ako pero masmaganda kung ituloy nyo (This continues as long as I live but it would be better if y o u will continue the tradition)," added Tita Elvie.

And all I could say is why not? The tradition doesn' t only bring us closer to each other but to God as well as we read, go back and reflect on the life of Jesus - making our Holy Week celebration meaningful yet enoyable. To add, culture thrives only if people makes traditions functional in their lives and not just ceremonial. And I think families doing this will be able to keep a distinct Pinoy culture.