MY LATEST TRIP TO PANGASINAN - (Part 4)
Scarborough-Canada
September 11, 2019
HOWEVER, just like any other trips, we cannot, because of necessity and circumstances, avoid visiting other places. Thus visiting other towns became a part of this trip.
VISITING Hundred Islands was a disappointing experience for me, not because the islands are not beautiful; but rather, it was because I was not able to join the boat tour that would make me see those beautiful islands in close up, as we were in the company of my wife’s relatives.
Nevertheless, we had a wonderful lunch at “Maxine by the Sea” (a restaurant, a section of which was built by the sea) of mostly freshly cooked sea food, but some I was not able to eat because of my gout condition.
While eating, some small boat, with one or two fisherman on board, would come close to that section of the restaurant and try to sell their catch on diners. With them were perhaps their catch an hour or two ago: shrimps, crabs, squids, all kinds of fishes….
They, like any other trying to earn a little amount, were ready and equipped to do business in a fair way, which I admired, because in the boat, a weigh scale is available.
“Crabs, Sir, Mam, only two hundred pesos per kilo.”
“Fish, Sir, Mam, all kinds of fish, only one hundred and fifty pesos per kilo.”
“Shrimps, Sir, Mam, only two hundred and fifty pesos per kilo.”
Once their catch were sold, the engine of the boat would roar, and the boat would accelerate further away to catch more, and they will come back again to try to make a living – a hard but honest living.
VISITING the adjacent town of Agno, which is another beautiful town - nature wise that is: from the mountains which are green with massive trees and vines; to the beaches with amazing sceneries; to the river, where clean water flows.
The owner of the van, driver, and tour guide being one person, and is from the town of Agno itself, we were able to see some of the beautiful places in Agno: from the picturesque view of the ocean when we were up in zigzag roads of the mountain and looking down; to the beautiful beaches with white sand; to a river so clean that it reminded me of a river not too far from my hometown of Malolos when I was a young kid.
We visited a few beaches and resort, but the one that catches my attention the most is the beach resort called Umbrella Rock. Why is it called Umbrella Rock is self-explanatory, or to put it on plain language, because of the presence of many umbrella shaped rocks.
But there are other rocks that I thought was interesting. These rocks, scattered along the beach, had surface textures as if they were submerged in water for a very long time. Does this indicates that this area was once part of the sea? This theory of mine can be collaborated by the discovery of giant clam shells high above the water at Enchanted Cave Park in Bolinao. Hey, this is only a theory, but there could be some truth to it.
Unfortunately I don’t see too many tourists enjoying the beauty of the beach. Ah maybe, because it was an ordinary day and people are busy with their regular life, and tourists coming from other places only come on week-ends and vacation times.
Seeing a thickly forested mountain, which according to Lyndon is part of the town of Agno and not of the Zambales Mountain Range, I pictured a picturesque view of the whole country during the Commonwealth time, where the whole country is basically seventy percent rainforest. How I wish that all mountains in the whole country is like this mountain, but it is nowhere close.
Talking to Lyndon, I was told that in that beautiful mountain, wild animals like wild pigs and monkeys could still be found. They seemed to be safe from the cruelty of mankind as they are not being hunted for food or trophies because in Agno, provided that you are willing to work, food is abundant: from an ocean and rivers where you can fish; to the vast rice farms; to the backyards of homes with fertile lands.
In Agno, I saw a river so clean that I imagined, or shall I say I dreamt that I will be fishing there one day. But Hey, I noticed something that may cause some future problems – the presence of fish pens. Haven’t we learned yet on what happened to Laguna de Bay?
IN Bani and Agno, I saw two towns that are green, and the people of these two towns should be proud of themselves for having kept it that way.
In a time when global warming is a worldwide issue, where the leader of the democratic world had called it a hoax despite the natural disasters happening now, these two towns are contributing, albeit in a very small way, to help halt global warming. But Hey Maria, is it not that a Chinese Philosopher once said, “Everything starts with a one small step”. I also hope that these two towns had set an example for others to follow.
In Bani, I met some people that interest me the most – the poor: from that boy who was being denied the joy of youth; to the Lei of Ilang-Ilang vendor, William, who after the death of his father, stopped his schooling and took charge of his family; to the lady vegetables vendor, who for three Sundays, would arrive at my wife’s ancestral home, a basketful of fresh vegetables resting on her head; to the house help that cooked and cleaned for us; to a Muslim Lady, who sells rubber sandals and slippers, left the City of Marawi in Mindanao because of poverty but perhaps found out it is no better in Luzon, and after the Siege of Marawi, found out she cannot go home yet; to…
Meeting the poor was indeed a very good experience for me, for sharing with me their experiences is what inspires me to write. Their struggle and sacrifices are the reasons they survive; their dreams are their hope to escape.
They are positive in every way: no reason to be downtrodden; no reason to have self-pity; no reason to lose hope - for losing hope means the end of their dreams; and their sacrifices and struggles are just means to survive.
ON Sunday, July 14, after breakfast, we boarded a hired minivan that will bring us to Malolos, my hometown, where this will be our home for the next three days.
THIS was not the most luxurious trip we ever made, and we had made a lot of them, but certainly, it was one of the most significant simply because my mother in law’s condition had dramatically improved.
It is also for me, one of the most interesting and enjoyable. You see, enjoying things are done in so many different ways.
It was love that brought us home, and it was love that made my mother in law’s condition better.
You see, love will cure all.
*****