Old Picture circa 1952, before I was born

I have often wondeed what Guihulngan looked like before I was born, and there is nothing like those old photographs, black and white, that can answer this.
Mr Fernando Villegas, lent me a picture dated July 4, 1952, taken during the 6th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. The shot was taken from the second floor of Dr Gualberto Rivera's residence, facing south.
We have a motorcade of old automobiles flanked by bicycles. Then Mayor William Billy Villegas (who later rose to boardmember, vice governor and eventually governor of the province of Negros Oriental) is here with his vice mayor, Hon Jose Tirambulo Trinidad.

On the foreground riding a bike with a box-like frame (maybe like a float?) is Mr Fructoso "Tusoy" Dorimon. Mr Tusoy Dorimon used to write legal documents, somewhat like a clerk in those days when lawyers were so scarce.

At the other side, Mrs Jesusa Penaflor Villegas (mother of Noy Fernando), then the only woman municipal employee (talk of discrimination against women, ha ha ha)at the municipio, with Raymundo Orcullo (principal clerk at MTO) ( with bike, how popular and a status symbol those days), and Gervacio Guzman (in checkered shirt, soon to become the policeman).

Those acacia trees is the parking area, and at the far end is Anoy Logronio's botica. All structures were of temporary materials, like nipa and wooden walls.

Take note, the third car is the weapon's carrier (model, that is, translated to the younger generation) of Mrs Memeng (Filomena)Alquizola Reyes, mother of incumbent mayor Ernesto Reyes.

The billboard advertizes Oriental Academy (one of the two secondary highschools here, the other one being Hibbard Institute which was a branch of Silliman University).

Noy Fernando recalls that every Independence Day (July 4 was later moved to June 12), the veterans were asked to recall their wartime experiences as Filipino soldiers defended democracy.

Fiesta in Barangay Kagawasan

Congratulations to Barangay Kagawasan which celebrated its fiesta last Sunday, September 20.

This place is one of the old places in the stories of my fathers and forefathers. My grandmother used to tell me it is where our greatgrandfather Vicente Villahermosa (Lolo Inting) Vergara and his wife, Margarita Tirambulo (Lola Garet) resided in one of their many travels during World War II. Although I haven't really lived here, fields of tobacco, corn fields and coconut trees register in my mind when people mention Barangay Kagawasan.

Kagawasan,it means freedom....Old man Uncle Doming Trinidad calls this place freedom hill! Along its boundery with Barangay Tinayunan Beach is a place called Tan-awan, where our old folks used as look-out against the Japanese soldiers during the war.

I feel joy when I visit Kagawasan, I feel affinity with my old folks, whom I have never seen but live in the places of memories, passed on through generations. I feel the beauty of the everlasting hills, to borrow a familiar phrase..the breeze that goes through the coconut trees must have been the same breeze kissing my greatgrandfather's cheeks, the same breeze that played with my father and his 9 other brothers....this is Guihulngan that runs through our veins, through our hearts and souls....

Much to thank for are the people who have been so blessed in life, they remember to give back something to the place...The heirs of Melanio Vergara has donated a lot for the elementary school, as well as fencing for the school .Thank you to the Vergara family of Tinayunan Beach, may you be ever blessed....!

NORSU Guihulngan Campus celebrates CAS Day

The Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Guihulngan Campus celebrated its annual College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) day last Sept 3, 2009. Guest of honor was university president Dr. Henry Sojor.
An agro-fair and products display was one of the highlights of the celebration. Students from the different levels of the agriculture department displayed fresh farm products, including organically-grown vegetables. The department is led by Mr. Pete Gargar, Mr Vincent Anthony Nunez and Mrs. Rosalina Indab. Engr Bobby Bustamante, barangay captain of Brgy Trinidad and himself a practicing farmer and Guihulngan SB member Jessica Villarmente were among the guests.

The activities also included the Smokers Day, an annual tradition of the Department of Criminology which features criminology students in amusing poses. First year students dressed up in adult diapers, while other batches featured macho men in mini skirts and ladies in cowboy attire.

On the more serious note, Dr Sojor said the university is the meeting of two souls..."the soul of the student and the soul of the community meets in the university."

Maniak School Grade 5 room needs repair

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.

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...

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).

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....