There is also another public elementary school in Maniak, in Maniak Proper. While the buildings from Grades 1-4 are done and in good shape because it has been completed under the TEEP Program under the supervision of principal Danny Gantalao, the Grade 5 room is a makeshift building which is not conducive to learning. Its thin metal roof is in need of immediate repair due to holes, the walls badly need painting and the windows need blinds so the children can be protected from the strong midday sun.
Newly assigned teacher Miss Jessica Albino is appealing to kind-hearted individuals for repair materials, paint and blinds to help her children have a more conducive atmosphere for learning.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Maniak
The JBES, as it is called, is set in the middle of abundant ricelands belonging to the Baquilta family, who is also the donor of the lot on which the school is situated...This is a very abundant land, and deep in my mind I was very impressed by the success achieved by the Baquilta twin doctors (in education) as well as for their children and family, considering that Maniak is a very remote place and at the time these respected gentlemen were still in their elementary and high school days, they had to walk to Hilaitan and even to Guihulngan, many, many kilometers away because there were no motor vehicles then.
Few Guihulnganons can equal the effort they put in to achieve success in education, but they are indeed models worth emulating by our younger generation. In turn, they are instrumental in the putting up of the school location, they have helped their hometown...
Few Guihulnganons can equal the effort they put in to achieve success in education, but they are indeed models worth emulating by our younger generation. In turn, they are instrumental in the putting up of the school location, they have helped their hometown...
A visit to Maniak
My hometown Guihulngan is a relatively big town...it is composed of 33 barangays. No words nor pictures can describe its rugged beauty...and one of the few barangays I've had the luck to visit is Barangay Maniak....
One of its landmarks is the elementary school at Ubod, which is now named Jacinto Baquilta Elementary School...ancestor of Dr Joe Baquilta and Dr Gil Baquilta, both of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).
One of its landmarks is the elementary school at Ubod, which is now named Jacinto Baquilta Elementary School...ancestor of Dr Joe Baquilta and Dr Gil Baquilta, both of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Trees of my childhood
Childhood in Guihulngan (circa 1960s, forgive the age, could be too young or too old, it depends), also meant fascination with trees. In my grandmother's frontyard, in front of the municipal hall, was an old tambis tree which we used to climb. My other grandmother planted a lot of fruit trees in our house in Bateria, including santol trees. we were told it was bangkok variety, with big and sweet fruits. Our own version was sweet, I don't know what happened with the size, but long after my dear grandmother Lola Paro was gone, the santol tree was still there, giving sweet fruits even to my sons who brought in his classmates for a picnic of climbing up the trees.
yes, trees were part of our childhood. i remember there were some mansinitas trees which grew from my aunties side of the fence, which overlooked the backyard of the old parish convent. the american franciscan priest fr. melvin stanley (may god bless his soul), often shouted at us to get down from the trees, how we loved to slide down from the branches. my cousins were also my playmates then, we had big families and there were so many of us, just for an idea, my father had 9 other brothers and a sister, so i have around 70 cousins!
there was a tambis tree in front of my Lola Naning's house, in front of the municipio. it was a survivor of the second world war when Guihulngan was razed by invading enemy troops, a witness to history. and because we lived next to the old catholic church, i also got to know the old mahogany trees which grew big as we grew, it was so sad when these were cut down. there were also old teak trees planted by the american franciscan fathers, now gone, gone like the priests themselves.
when i see old trees, i remember childhood in guihulngan....and when i go around town and up the mountains were nowadays we have very few trees left, my heart yearns for for the old trees...trees which may save us from global warming....so soon i will go and plant a tree with my children....
yes, trees were part of our childhood. i remember there were some mansinitas trees which grew from my aunties side of the fence, which overlooked the backyard of the old parish convent. the american franciscan priest fr. melvin stanley (may god bless his soul), often shouted at us to get down from the trees, how we loved to slide down from the branches. my cousins were also my playmates then, we had big families and there were so many of us, just for an idea, my father had 9 other brothers and a sister, so i have around 70 cousins!
there was a tambis tree in front of my Lola Naning's house, in front of the municipio. it was a survivor of the second world war when Guihulngan was razed by invading enemy troops, a witness to history. and because we lived next to the old catholic church, i also got to know the old mahogany trees which grew big as we grew, it was so sad when these were cut down. there were also old teak trees planted by the american franciscan fathers, now gone, gone like the priests themselves.
when i see old trees, i remember childhood in guihulngan....and when i go around town and up the mountains were nowadays we have very few trees left, my heart yearns for for the old trees...trees which may save us from global warming....so soon i will go and plant a tree with my children....
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Goodbye Tita Cory
Guihulngan joined the Filipino nation in paying tribute to the late President Corazon Aquino.
A solemn mass dedicated to her memory was held at the Nuestra Senora del Buensuceso Parish Church, celebrated by Father Raul Engan.
Municipal officials led by town mayor Ernesto Reyes, councilors Jessica T. Villarmente, Hon Carmen Rivera, Dr Leticia Pasigna, Alfredo Javier and Simplicio Mijares were among the yellow-clad supporters of Tita Cory who joined the mass last August 5, 2009.
A solemn mass dedicated to her memory was held at the Nuestra Senora del Buensuceso Parish Church, celebrated by Father Raul Engan.
Municipal officials led by town mayor Ernesto Reyes, councilors Jessica T. Villarmente, Hon Carmen Rivera, Dr Leticia Pasigna, Alfredo Javier and Simplicio Mijares were among the yellow-clad supporters of Tita Cory who joined the mass last August 5, 2009.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Reunions
Reunions, how I love reunions! Over the past few years, I've been privileged to attend class reunions, family reunions, school reunions. Reunions at birthdays, at weddings, and yes, even during funerals.
Reunions allow us to look back to the days when we were young and full of hope, and to the times when we were up and down and up again, to measure our achievements of today against the tentative steps of yesteryears...Reunions remind me that what I am today is a product of my interaction with a group of people like my family, my classmates and schoolmates.
Reunions are times of thanksgiving for being in each other's company then and now, it's a time for remembering, a time for renewal of ties, for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Last weekend, a group of St. Francis School (Guihulngan) alumni got together to help plan a school reunion for the coming founder's day in October 2009. With us during that meeting were members of the adhoc alumni association, namely Atty Anthony Trinidad, Mr Jurdan Erojo, Dr Edgar Pialago, Landbank Manager Ms Jeoferdine Cui, Dr Cesar Carampatan, Dr Wing Baquilta of NORSU, Bro Mayok Ricablanca, OFM, Mrs Charisse May A. Dael who is now an instructor at SFC, and yours truly aka Ana Carla Trinidad Villarmente. Some other officers were not around, on seminars or out of town, like Dr Mary Rose Genisan-Sancelan, Ms Eleanor T. Rodriguez and Ms Marites Rizon. We opted to go on with planning since we'll be submitting these plans to the body.
The adhoc officers would like the coming October 2009 alumni homecoming to be the kick-off for the 50th anniversary of St Francis School Guihulngan in 2012. And because this is worth 50 years waiting for, we would like to solicit your suggestions to make this occassion very memorable. We're even asking all alumni, in the Philippines as well as abroad, to reserve your vacations in 2012 so we'll see each other then.
We're asking each batch, from each year, from elementary, highschool and college levels where applicable (there were years when we only had high school batches) to please organize themselves and have your own batch or class officers.
Please get in contact with anyone of the officers. Dr.Pialago also made an e-group which you may contact at sfcalumni@yahoogroups.com.
Reunions allow us to look back to the days when we were young and full of hope, and to the times when we were up and down and up again, to measure our achievements of today against the tentative steps of yesteryears...Reunions remind me that what I am today is a product of my interaction with a group of people like my family, my classmates and schoolmates.
Reunions are times of thanksgiving for being in each other's company then and now, it's a time for remembering, a time for renewal of ties, for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Last weekend, a group of St. Francis School (Guihulngan) alumni got together to help plan a school reunion for the coming founder's day in October 2009. With us during that meeting were members of the adhoc alumni association, namely Atty Anthony Trinidad, Mr Jurdan Erojo, Dr Edgar Pialago, Landbank Manager Ms Jeoferdine Cui, Dr Cesar Carampatan, Dr Wing Baquilta of NORSU, Bro Mayok Ricablanca, OFM, Mrs Charisse May A. Dael who is now an instructor at SFC, and yours truly aka Ana Carla Trinidad Villarmente. Some other officers were not around, on seminars or out of town, like Dr Mary Rose Genisan-Sancelan, Ms Eleanor T. Rodriguez and Ms Marites Rizon. We opted to go on with planning since we'll be submitting these plans to the body.
The adhoc officers would like the coming October 2009 alumni homecoming to be the kick-off for the 50th anniversary of St Francis School Guihulngan in 2012. And because this is worth 50 years waiting for, we would like to solicit your suggestions to make this occassion very memorable. We're even asking all alumni, in the Philippines as well as abroad, to reserve your vacations in 2012 so we'll see each other then.
We're asking each batch, from each year, from elementary, highschool and college levels where applicable (there were years when we only had high school batches) to please organize themselves and have your own batch or class officers.
Please get in contact with anyone of the officers. Dr.Pialago also made an e-group which you may contact at sfcalumni@yahoogroups.com.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to our new blogsite...I just want to start a small site about Guihulngan, the only hometown I have known, and a hometown many of you out there know and long for.
Yet what is there to go home to? After visiting friends and relatives, strolling around the market or the boulevard, or going to church, where and what is the real Guihulngan?
I've asked many younger friends and many older friends, they give me different answers....
My friend Junjun shares the idea of just going around, taking pictures of a beautiful Guihulngan. I like the idea too... though I am more on the writing side.
There is so much of this place that touches inside me. I think its the stories my father and uncles told us when we were young, of how our greatgrandparents who came from Barili and Toledo, in Cebu, came to Guihulngan. It's about local history...many times I really want to get in touch with someone who can tell us the living history of Guihulngan. My father used to tell us of wartime stories when they just moved around, all 10 children and my grandparents and their friends and alalays....from Kagawasan, to Lulukhan, to Villegas to Binobohan.
When I visit these places, the wind seems cooler and the mountain breeze reminds me of grandparents I haven't even seen, yet I feel this is my home!
I remember the old town market and the old movie house, the old tennis court, I must be getting old! I remember when I was about 5 years old, my grandmother Ana Vergara Trinidad ran a dressmaking school and at graduation time we would watch the graduates drink to drown their insecurities and bravely march down and around the stage to parade dresses they have made themselves.
The master of ceremonies was a grandfather who always spelled out his name B-I-A, we never forgot Tobias "BIA" Vergara...
And at the end of graduation rites, we feasted on pineapple juice and "pinisi" coated with white sugar, diabetes was unknown to us then.
The school's name was Oriental Vocational School.
We are loosing these tidbits about Guihulngan, help me recall those childhood memories that make up our living past.
Stories and pictures are welcome... Please tell the world about our hometown!
Yet what is there to go home to? After visiting friends and relatives, strolling around the market or the boulevard, or going to church, where and what is the real Guihulngan?
I've asked many younger friends and many older friends, they give me different answers....
My friend Junjun shares the idea of just going around, taking pictures of a beautiful Guihulngan. I like the idea too... though I am more on the writing side.
There is so much of this place that touches inside me. I think its the stories my father and uncles told us when we were young, of how our greatgrandparents who came from Barili and Toledo, in Cebu, came to Guihulngan. It's about local history...many times I really want to get in touch with someone who can tell us the living history of Guihulngan. My father used to tell us of wartime stories when they just moved around, all 10 children and my grandparents and their friends and alalays....from Kagawasan, to Lulukhan, to Villegas to Binobohan.
When I visit these places, the wind seems cooler and the mountain breeze reminds me of grandparents I haven't even seen, yet I feel this is my home!
I remember the old town market and the old movie house, the old tennis court, I must be getting old! I remember when I was about 5 years old, my grandmother Ana Vergara Trinidad ran a dressmaking school and at graduation time we would watch the graduates drink to drown their insecurities and bravely march down and around the stage to parade dresses they have made themselves.
The master of ceremonies was a grandfather who always spelled out his name B-I-A, we never forgot Tobias "BIA" Vergara...
And at the end of graduation rites, we feasted on pineapple juice and "pinisi" coated with white sugar, diabetes was unknown to us then.
The school's name was Oriental Vocational School.
We are loosing these tidbits about Guihulngan, help me recall those childhood memories that make up our living past.
Stories and pictures are welcome... Please tell the world about our hometown!
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