back from masbate with love

Going to Masbate requires all modes of transportation and a whole lot of patience. First, you get a flight to Legazpi in Bicol then ride a tricycle to the terminal where vans to Pilar are available. You then board a van to Pilar, wait for the next ‘fast craft’ (which is a boat) to Masbate Port. When you get to the port, you ride a tricycle again to a terminal to ride a van to Nabangig (where my father’s family lives).

View from my plane window. <3 Mayon.

Whew equals 12 hours. Fortunately, my hosts’ place is almost along the highway so we were dropped off where we can walk to their house.

Neng, first time? :P

We left our house in Manila at 4am and arrived in our hosts’ house at 4pm. Until the Masbate airport gets fixed, this is going to be the way we roll.

Masbate is an island along the Bicol region. The land is rich in coconut fields and is surrounded by a body of water. Despite its richness, Masbate is the third poorest province in the Philippines. My dad says that the classic political structure contribute much to its present economic status.

The Masbatenos in Nabangig are mostly my relatives at some degree or another. My dad’s cousin, Tita Ling and her family, welcomed us into their home, which is one of the nicest houses in their block. Most of the people there were teachers by profession that’s why they call the place teachers’ village. On other parts of the town, some houses need serious repair as they were smacked right in the middle of modern-looking homes. As far as historical houses go, there were none left because apparently, the descendants of the older families disregarded the importance of keeping landmarks.

People here are very conscious of titles even when their jobs do not require having one. They call my dad CPA Asser Tamayo as if CPA is a tag like engineer, doctor or attorney. If I were to pick up the culture, I would be known as Superstar Xaris Tamayo or Xaris Tamayo, Superstar. Hahaha. That would be a hoot. I also noticed that some of the homes here display placards of the residents’ names attached with the profession they are in. There are homes that say (Name) (Last Name), Dentist even when the clinic is fifty miles away.

The people in town were relatively friendly but extremely tactless as if I do not understand what they were saying. It's pretty funny, actually when everyone who was introduced to me would remark how dako I am.  Para namang dili ako makasabot ng Bisaya. I thought it was cute rather than offensive. And anyway, they make up for it by saying they can't wait to see me on TV (somehow, they got the notion that I was pining for celebrity status).

In our family reunion the second day I was there, I met titos and titas who are my relatives twice over. I suppose intermarriage in the past was prevalent and I only had to juggle several surnames to figure out who are my relatives. Jerry Springer much.

My dad prodded me to host the reunion even when I had trouble speaking the language despite the crash course he gave me on the trip. Masbate language is a mix of Bisaya, Bicolano, and Spanish and I only had to catch a few words like baligya to know whether any one had plans of selling me. That was their usual joke even when I was little. Diri ka na mabaligya karuon sa Masbate.

I learned so many things about my dad’s side of the family. All I knew before the reunion was that my titos in Manila are my dad’s cousins and only recently has it sunk in that their mothers were siblings. My late grandmother had nine siblings and they all had families. Hardcore na family forest.

One common thing I discovered about my family is that we all love to sing! In fairness, despite the regional defect (e and i as well as o and u are interchangeable), they modulated pretty well and they definitely can carry a tune. I especially loved the videoke machine in our venue; I got 3 100's hahaha. I almost took the machine home! Hahaha.

On my third night, I had a first-hand experience with their local fiesta (I forgot which saint this is in honor of) and their folk dance, the Pantomina. The steps are very basic but I'd die before I dance it in front of those people. The dancing is also their way of fund-raising. As in required mag-abot ng moneys.

Pantomina time. :P

There were also so many stories about my dad's childhood that were told, istoryahon all day long. It's really good to know how crazy and childlike my daday had been. I shall now refer to those tales for future blackmail.

And I also found out were sorta kinda related to Kristine Hermosa. I do not wish to be associated with her as I firmly believe that members of my clan were smart. Harhar, buti na lang maganda!

My trip to Masbate was really meaningful. I think I'd go back there... as soon as the airport is in full operation.

Photos to be album-ized soon. :P