Ceres Busa Musings
Essays forwarded to the ZambalesForum
discussion group open forum

-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyb
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2001 6:36 PM
Subject: [ZambalesForum] Blow-out in the Barrio

Dear Friends From Afar,

Greetings!
"Apoooo. Rosie, addaak manen". (Apooo takes the place of a doorbell. I am here again.) I loudly called from the gate. The dog barked once and silently retreated to his corner. That is because he already was used to me. Rosie opens the window. "Ahay, addaka manen" (So you are home again?). "Wen Dona", was my reply. "Ahay, (with a hearty laugh), sika a iti Dona" (It is you who is a rich lady, she says.) The pleasantries go on and on every visit. Before we part we both say, never mind being a Dona. It is enough to be out under this shady Talisay tree and enjoy the beautiful orchids that you keep blooming all year round.

Last week, Rosie's daughter passed the professional board exams to become a pharmacist. The proud mother invited the whole barrio. Two pigs were butchered and many fiesta cuisine sampled. From the ladies and the men's committee on preparation, marketing. and cutting vegetables, the making of the palapala, to the makeshift tent made of the leaves of the palm trees for everyone to gather, the barrio brigade was mobilized. They were busy for two days until the dishes were put away and the last drop of gin consumed. That was the blow out.

Proud Rosie had finally and properly done service to her daughter. The daughter, as in the olden days, would later give her first salary to her mother. She would also help in sending the next younger sibling to finish school. She will only be free from this obligation when the next sibling graduates and gives the first salary to the mother and so on.

Let me trace back my story.

Rosie is an old friend. We were classmates in elementary. There were three sisters who raised her. Two were teachers and themselves were the "old way" type, ika nga. (As the saying goes). Nana In-syang, as my Dad addressed her, was his Ninang sa kasal. I got to know The Apo In-syang, (Apo) as I would address her, thru the many stories of my Dad and also extended to Rosie as their taraken or adopted daughter.

The Apo In-syang was very strict in her teachings of life. Her teachings however were transmitted thru her actions. She was kind in words. There was no nonsense talk as she would never entertain such. Apo In-syang's cooking was also famous among the teachers. But what I remember most was the sponge cake that was sold in the little cantina. Rosie learned to beat the eggs and measured the flour and sprinkled the pinch of salt just the like the Apo. Usually I return to Manila with the sweet cakes I order from her.

Rosie would have not remembered formal school lessons, but what was ingrained in her mind were the actions of the surrogate mothers. She lived by example. Her yard is immaculate. Her orchids are blooming in wide array of colors. She is frugal. She is religious as she is gone to church even before the call of dawn. But most of all she honored the push for education that her mentors tried on her but she failed to grasp.

There, under the Talisay tree, we marveled the glorious day of a Mother's pride. A blow-out in the barrio. Then she said, "I thought the barrio did not love me". I said , why do you say that? After today they adore you even more. "Well, Dona, I have to beg off today. Have a grand blow-out. I must be back in Manila at one P.M. because of previous commitment. A little pakarawa (a rolled money slipped into her hand) is a barrio way of giving gift.

There is a Talisay tree that give shade and coolness in that small yard. Her oven is just like a small suitcase. Never mind the size of the house, the oven, the garden... It is like a balay-balay (a play house). Now you know that her balay-balay is the palace and Dona Rosie is after all rich in the many blessings she and I enjoy.

Friends From afar, I wish a Happy Birthday to our ZF Sari-Sari store.

May pag-asa,
Ceres Cawagas
Alusiis, San Narciso

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-----Original Message-----
From: sonnybusa
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 3:31 AM
Subject: [ZambalesForum] "Dream on Sari sari store Keeper"

Dear Willy and Friends from Afar,
Greetings! ......
Your dream is attainable. Who knows ,there might be some adventurous people who would like to risk in investing in a Sari Sari store owned by Zambales forum. ......

Risk? It is risky enough to adventure with me. But to manage the sari-sari store, yes that is risky. I might get into a Bantay Salakay or kabarrioan (barrio folks) who would come for a bottle of cooking oil or vinegar and will pay sa a kinse (mid month payday). I will not be surprised if the Cowboy will stop to buy a pack of Marlboro and say "keep the change Inday" coupled with a wink. I say. "Who is that big shot?". Or Carlos Bulosan to come at dusk to buy a liter of gasoline oil for his lamp. I will not have the heart to say, "Manong kulang ka pa ng dyis centemos". (Sir, you are short of ten cents).

At the end of the day, as I close the tiny windows and drop the wooden bar across it, I will look who owed me the most. I will then say hay buhay. But to think of who came by and by listening to the chatter, I will be amused to reminisce the news of the day: who eloped in the last fiesta, who got the most harvest this year, the promising student and the proud mother, who just turned 91 years old, who is the worthless sannama gun husband who is good for nothing, beating his wife just because she put on a little rouge and lipstick, or perhaps the new Balikbayan who can't drink anything but Coke. Tsk...tsk...tsk... This is better than Larry King Live!

At the end of the day, as I retreat to my quiet abode, the smell of ylang-ylang and the dama de noche will pervade the surroundings. The stars will light the sky and the kundiman can be heard somewhere. Ah, harana (love songs of courting) for the young people. I will then be lulled to sleep soundly with the rustling of the tamarind leaves and a sound of the geiko. It is still dark but the sound of the first trip Victory Bus to Manila can be heard. It is almost dawn. Soon I will hear the sound of birds and the rooster. It must be 0500.

I open my store, sweep the yard and splash water to the dusty earth. I will then cut sprigs of wild weeds, pluck some zennias and cosmos and arrange them to a small vase. As I drink my coffee, the wild chicken come around and wait for their share of pandesal crumbs. The sun rises and the color of Paite mountain comes alive.

"Good morning, Alusiis".

May pag-asa,
Ceres CB
Alusiis, San Narciso