Tantuin nawa ng mga kababayan

It’s been a long while. I couldn’t even recall when was the last time we bumped at the streets of Nagcarlan or plainly noded at each other. Hindi ko na po alam kung natatandaan ninyo pa rin ako. Marahil ay hindi na. Dahil musmos pa ako nang mga panahong iyon. Mga tatlong dekada na siguro ang nakalilipas.......

It was during the summer month of May, kapag bakasyon kami sa eskwela. Sa daang Lopez Jaena, malapit sa central elementary school. Sa itaas ng tatlong-gradong bahay nila ma Idel. Tuwing hapon, habang ako nama’y nasa kusina namin at abalang nagsasaing ng aming panghapunan.......clearly I can hear voices singing “kundiman songs” together with romantic strums of a guitar. For the one singing and playing the instrument, it was perhaps a good trip down memory lane. For me, it was an enchantment of some kind.

Iba na ang usong musika ng mga panahong iyon. Iba nang tunog ang maririnig mo sa mga radio. Ngunit sa tuwing maririnig ko ang mga lumang awitin na iyon, kakaibang hagod ang dulot nito sa aking pakiramdam. I am being swept away by those kundiman melodies making my consciousness travel far beyond my imagination. It was good. So good that I can never explain.

Sometimes, in the darkness of the night. In between my restful sleep. I will be awaken by a soothing sound echoing in all corners of our neighborhood. It was a “harana”. A lady neighbour is being courted and serenaded. And in the stillness of the night, as the singer delivers his romantic songs, no one seemed to complain. They just let this sort of charming backdrop fill the midnight air. And while carefully listening to its sweet harmony eventually brings one back to a sound sleep once more.

Lumipas na ang mahabang panahon. Hindi ko pa rin nalilimutan ang mga lumang tugtuging iyon, Sadya kong inipon at itinago ang ilang mga piyesa na nabili ko ng nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon. Nakalulungkot lamang isipin, na kung hindi pa ako ang sadyang magpapatugtog ng mga lumang awiting ito sa loob ng aming tahanan ay hindi ko na talaga mapakikinggan ang mga iyon sa panahong kasalukuyan. Nalimot na ito ng aking generasyon at ng mga iba pang sumunod dito.

Sa kasalukuyan, kapag tinatanaw ko ang tatlong gradong bahay nila ma Idel at ang aming dating bahay na halos katapat nito, hindi ko maiwasang maalala ang mga lumipas na sandaling iyon. Ngayon, na halos nangibang bansa na ang mga nakatira kila ma Idel. At sa amin naman, na ang lahat ay may kanya-kanya nang sariling buhay at bahay na rin ----nakalulungkot isipin. Parang ako lang yata ang nakakaalala ng mga makulay na sandaling iyon.

Ang mga nakalipas bang ala-alang iyon ay bahagi ng kulturang Nagcarlan? O sa pangkalahatan---are those romantic “kundiman” songs part of what consists our rich Philippine cultural heritage? Ang alam ko pong sagot sa tanong ay oo. Kaya nga at aking pinahahalagahan ito ng higit, maliban pa sa kadahilanang tunay akong nasisiyahan na marinig ang ganitong uri ng musika. But why it is being forgotten by our generation? Why it is being thrown into shelves of oblivion. And why it is being tagged as “baduy” or “jologs” by the succeeding generations?

Kahihiyan for some, kamangmangan to others and the unreasonably larger-than-life admiration to western culture to me are the real culprit. I believe everyone should do something to bring this particular culture to life once again or at least put it back to everyone’s senses. Kailangan nating gumawa ng paraan para muling maipakilala at manatili na sa habang panahon ang kulturang pinoy na ito. Ang kulturang ito ang isa sa mga pagkakakilanlan ng ating pinanggalingan, ng ating lahi.

Has anyone thought that several years from today if someone from other country will ask you what song you can best describe yourself being a Filipino...what would it be? Or what dance can you demonstrate to clearly introduce your heritage? And food you can prepare that differs from others? Kung wala kang maisip maisagot at maipakita o maipaliwanang man lang sa kanila.....wala ka nang mapagkakilanlan. Then who can you possibly be?

Distinct identity from the rest. Kailangan natin nito. Bahagi nito ang kulturang kinakalimutan natin ngayon. Kaya kailangan na nating bawiin ngayon ang nawawalang pagkilala at respeto sa ating kultura. Hindi pa huli ang lahat.

Si Tio Pabling at ang Okey Salad

Let me introduce you to my tio Pabling. He is the husband of tia Elena (Elina as we pronounce it because that is how it’s being pronounced by the rest of our neighbors). My tio Pabling and tia Elena are actually not our relatives. They are just neighbors who look after us when my tatay and nanay are out for work. Together with my Acharing, we felt that they are truly members of the family by their concerns and care shared to us during our childhood.

Tio Pabling is a “magkakawit” (coconut harvester) of our lolo Dino. There was not a single time I saw him wearing short pants. He works everyday carrying his tool: the “gala”. A “gala” is a set of several bamboo poles being assembled to become a very long rod with a steel halfmoon-shaped blade on top we call “karit” to pick batches of coconuts from the trees’ crown. He also has a “tapas” and some rubber pads which he puts on his wrist when dehusking coconuts. Sometimes, he worked as “magtatapas”. But most times, he liked to work as a “magkakawit”. By experience, my tio Pabling can identify the quality of the coconut meat inside even “without opening them. Merely by looks and the kind of sound it produces when being tapped by fingers he can foretell what’s inside: “mura”(buco) na “mala-uhog”, “gumaan”, “kain-buwan”, “macapuno”, matured “niyog” or even “pu-aw”(empty/spoiled). His earnings is based on the quantity of coconuts he harvested or dehusked. Since he is earning by the pieces, I can understand how fast he should work in order to earn an amount enough to feed a family of five.

No matter how fast he works to earn a living, my tio Pabling is rather a hypo-active and soft spoken man when not at the workplace. He seldom speaks. He just stared at us but seldom gave a smile. With meek and humble facial features, though never smiled, he was totally an unintimidating guy.

There were also times that we get to talk to our tio Pabling briefly but quite interestingly, those times were a special treat to us because we get to hear his voice and figure out what’s on his mind. Those special times that we get to listen to him were the times when he visited us after getting drunk from a “barikan” session with his colleagues. Tipsy and with eyes partly closed, he climbs up the stairs going to our house’s main door singing a kundiman song. Listening to him, we realized he has quite a good voice!

“Good evening sa inyong lahat” he murmured and sat on the floor in front of half-opened main door. “Ang tatay, nasan?” he asked. “Ay, wala pa po, nasa Balanga pa” I replied. “Okay” he said. “Likayo, manood kayo ng tv?” “Okay”, he again said. “ Sino kabarik ninyo, sila ma Manolo?” “Okay lang” he again replied.

“Uwi na ikaw, uy! Lasing ka na naman. Don ka na sa atin” Tia Elena scolded tio Pabling. “Okay lang” tio Pabling answered.

Sometimes after my tia Elena scolded my tio Pabling, he just went home but there were also times that he won’t and instead slept on our living room floor till the early hours of the next morning. “Okay” is the regular word I always hear from my tio Pabling when drunk.

My tio Pabling frequently brought us “mura”. And when my tatay is at home, he will bring a local “magkakawit” delight made up of fresh buco meat strips concocted with diced onions, black pepper, chopped kamias, “pinatis na katang” (crablet juice) and some crushed “siling labuyo”. Served chilled as their pulutan, I can still recall looting some and after a while, I can not help myself but grab some more and enjoy eating! It’s really good!!!

“Hoy, wag mo namang ubusan ng pulutan ang tio Pabling mo!!!” my father reminded me. “Ang sarap po kasi. Tio Pabling ano po ba ang tawag dito? “Okay, okay” my tio Pabling again replied. “Huh????” I shook my head and walked away from our dining room.

So that was my tio Pabling and his local “magkakawit” delight. To this day, my tia Elena still lives. We are not neighbors anymore. And my tio Pabling? He died of liver cirrhosis many years ago.

Sometimes in my alone and sober times, I look back and try to know more of myself by my past. What I am today is part and parcel of what I went through during my younger years. My colleagues and friends constantly wonders where in the world I get to know uncommon dishes that they haven’t tasted anywhere else. My answer is always short and simple: “Imagination” .

“Okey Salad” is just but one of the many innovations I did and reinvent the “what have been a local “magkakawit's” delight” that I used to enjoy eating many years back. “Okey Salad” the way I tell to my friends conscious enough to ask me what’s it’s called after appreciating it’s taste. “Okey Salad” I hope you already got the idea where it’s name came from.

Pa-Nagcarlang ka baga?

Alam nyo puko…ang Nagcarlang ay may sangkatutak na katangiang kaiba kahit sa mga karatig bayan niya. O kundima’y, maging sa maraming mga bayan na rin. Kalimitan ng tao ngay'oy hindi na napapansin areng pinagsasasabi ko. Minsan la’ang nama’y naiisip ko na maige din pala namang mayrong pagkakakilanlan. Kayamanan din puko iyon! Hindi na la’ang kasi namumuwangan ng marami ay! Pasalamat ako't inabutan ko pa. Naaare pa naman ang karamihan. Wag na la'ang sanang mawal'an ng malasakit ang taga Nagcarlang na pahalagahan are.

Mantakin mo….dine na la’ang may patay na kalabaw araw-araw. Prito la’ang masarap na’y…..iadobo mo pa sa gata, aydi lalo na!

Saan baga sila natutong kumain ng bayawak? Pulutan la’ang dati ya'an sa mga barikan, masarap kaulam sa lambanog. Pero paglaon nang matikman, madami na din ang naka-ibig.

Yang minukmok? Alam ng madami ang paggawa nya'an, dati. Sa dami baga namang niyugan ay di….. pangkaraniwan na la’ ang ang paggawa nya'an. Sa ngay'on, nalipol na ang mga masisipag mag-minukmok. Iba na nga din ang tawag sa minukmok ngay'on, ay!

Pagka-Biyernes ng umaga sa Sinipian…..gusto mo ng kinabog, maruya, aminudong tagalog, galang-galang, suso at pako, bibingka, tinalampakan, sagimis, turihas, puto-bumbong, at pati alpahor? Binayo? Ay mayron din no’on!

Papuntang Sinipian, tan-aw mo sa tabi ang Balay-balay, di baga? Masarap lumublob dya’an pag mabanas. Madaming paliguan sa mahabang ilog ng Talahibing. Mula villa Mercedes, villa semento, tapatan, laguerta, banahaw, Real, burubok, tu-ong, hanggang forebay ay preskong puntahan. May kalamigan ang tubig kaya magpapahinga ka la’ang muna bago ka sumuno. Tanggalin muna ang pangangalos ng paglalakad, kasi'y nga'y sa lamig ng tubig ay baka naman samain ka sa pasma. Sabagay, kalat naman ang mga hilot dya'an. Langis la’ang ng niyog ang ihahaplos dya’an.....lipas na agad! Yun nga la’ang, mura ang aabutin mo sa hilot…at sasabihin…"tampalasan ka sa katawan mo kasi'y!"

Ang langis ni Na Pilang, tanda mo? ay, ang alay pagpapagamot kay doctor Manok, tanda mo pa baga? Wag na la’ang natin silang pag-usapan kasi’y wala na naman sila pareho pero si Na Ner, pwede pang sadyain. May mga ganap pa din sa templo sa ibayew. Pumaron ka’t malalaman mo. Sa pagpunta mo kay Na Ner, maaari ka ring suminsay sa paliguan sa Yukos. Karamdaman kamo? …hugas ya’an do’on! Kadalasang nagpupunta diya’y mga Batangasin. At kung gusto mo pa ng ibang kinakasihan......dumiretso ka pa sa Maiit, sa Na Flora.

Kapagka-Linggo naman sa MH. Sumusuba ang mga taga-itaas. May mga baong kalakal. Magaganda’t sariwa ang mga dalang gulay at prutas. Tingi man o kaya’y pakyaw…pag napaubos na’y sila naman ang mamamalengke. Araw ng pamamarian nila ang Linggo. Ika nila: “Pag ga-medyo naka-agno, pangpasar ang dala pasaka hindi paalat la’ang". Kaugalian na nila yan ay. Maige nga’t hindi pa nawawala.

Nakakadanas ka pa bagang sumakay sa skeyts sa Calumpang pa-Manaol? Minsan ay gawin mo nang maalala mo. Hindi la’ang maalala kundi para makasarap ka sa ligayang dulot no’on. Atuhan mo la'ang ulit!

Ibig mo ng Minane? Kahit bola-bolang kamoteng-kahoy? Sa bayan…mayron nya'an. Lako o sa mga tapat-bahay la’ang.

Hindi ako naghahambog. Walang kabalbalan dito. Hindi ito imek la’ang! Tunay lahat ang iniuusap ko. Atuhan mong puma-Nagcarlang at nang madanasan mo.

O ngay-on, pa-Nagcarlang ka na baga?

Salakot ni Ana Kalang sa panahon ng Dota

Bakit ganon, summer pa pero super lakas ng ulan araw-araw? Nakakabagot na dito sa bahay. Masakit na ang mata ko sa computer games at psp kaya pasyal na lang ako kila Jun-jun. Pagbukas ko sa pintuan ng bahay namin at bumuelo na sa pagtakbo…..”Ooooyyyyy!! magdala ka ng pamandong at baka magkasakit ka!” Boses ng lola ko! Pero dahil pasaway……dead-ma lang sa sigaw at nawala na ako sa paningin niya he he he.

Pag dating ko kila Jun-jun, wala pala siya. Kasama daw ng tatay niya at nagpunta ng Pila. Maniningil daw sa ibinentang ani ng palay ngayong tag-araw. Sigurado ako, bibili na naman iyon ng pirated dvd movie sa Sta. Cruz bago umuwi. Ayos! may bago na naman kaming gagawin.

Bumalik ako sa bahay. Siyempre, tumakbo ulit dahil sa walang tigil na ulan. Ano kayang magawa? Si nanay (tawag ko sa lola ko), he he he kukulitin ko!

“Nanay, ano ba yung sinasabi mong pamandong, ha?”
“O, ay di saklob! Kayo talagang mga bata kayo….”
”Nanay, noong panahon ninyo, anong usong saklob?”
“Salakot”
“Nilalagyan din ba ng mga designs yon para cool?”
“Ah hinde na…gamit la’ang namang pamandong yon. Meron ang tatay mo na ibang mga saklob noon. “Sure fit” ang tawag nila pero stateside ang mga iyon.”
Hmmmm….sabi nga pala sa kwento, si Ana Kalang may salakot din. Ginto daw iyon. “Nanay, totoo bang may gintong salakot si Ana Kalang?”
“Ewan ko”.
“Mahal siguro iyon kahit noon, di ba? Saan nya kaya ipinagawa iyon? Hindi nagsasalita si nanay. “Uuuy…(sabay kuhit sa matanda.) nasan na ba iyon ngayon, sabi ko? Bakit wala nang nakakaalala sa mga iyon ngayon?”
“Ay hindi ko rin alam, ano ka baga!”
E nanay, meron kaya akong makukuhang record sa simbahan o sa munisipyo kung halimbawa ay gawin kong project sa school yon?”
“hoy, wag mo ngang galawin iyang pinaplantsa ko at baka magasumot pa! Umadyo ka sa bahay, magpalit ka ng damit mo’t basa!”
“Nasan na ang gintong Salakot ni Ana?”, panalong title iyan, di ba, nanay? “ Ang salakot, sumisimbolo sa madaming bagay” “matutuwa ang mga teacher ko sa akin he he he…. tapos, baka pwede pang material sa teatro nila kuya Kris he he he……
“Kanino kaya magpapaalam sa simbahan kung hihingi ka ng record? Kay father ba?”
“Sinong father? Ay bagong distino la’ang naman iyon sa parokya….”
“Oo nga pala, no?”
“E, sa munisipyo? Syempre, hindi din si mayor dahil, hindi din naman niya alam ang bagay na iyon!” Wala namang municipal library dito sa atin” hmmmm…..pano nga kaya?”
“ itanong mo sa maestra mo…..”
“ e, project nga kasi no? dapat surprise sa mga teachers para impressive!”
“oy, hala-hala…yumaon ka na dito sa harapan ko at magpalit na ng damit, sabi…!
“yes, granny hi hi hi…..”

Mabilis akong tumakbo sa hagdan papunta sa kwarto upang magpalit ng basa kong t-shirt. Agad ding bumaba tumakbo sa computer at i power-on ang pc.
“ Hey granny, igu-google ko na lang ang mga tinatanong ko sa inyo, di ba? Computer age na ngayon, makakahanap ako ng sagot dito sa pc, I’m sure he he he….”
Hmmmm…..tik, tik, tik…tak, tak, tak…..pinindot-pindot, pindot ng mouse……..”gintong salakot ni Ana Kalang”; pinindot-pindot…tik tik, tak tak…Ana Kalang….wink, wink…..

“Teka, teka. Nake-carried away na yata ako, ah. Awat na muna to! Dota na muna, bah”, sabay close ng window sa monitor at pumindot ng ibang icon sa desktop.”

Habang naglo-load:“ Hail Elven!!!! Ha ha ha ha” Tumingin ako sa nanay at kumindat lang sa kanya.

Napasulyap lang ng konti sa akin si nanay dahil sa sigaw ko. Walang anumang pagbabago sa expression ng mukha niya at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. Hindi ko alam kung huli niya ang excitement ko sa Dota ngayon o kaya naman ay carry niya ang salakot issue na ikinukulit ko sa kanya kanina? Pakelam, ba....!

Maganda din namang malaman ang bumabalot na misteryo tungkol sa salakot. Mukhang wala naman akong makukuhang impormasyon kay nanay, tsk, tsk. Alam kaya nila ma’am ito? Sino ba ang makakatulong sa akin dito? Meron kaya? Sana meron….

Meanwhile….Dota na muna!

Our own San Isidro Feast

Early hour of May 15, 2008, while having breakfast with my wife at our P. Burgos residence I heard knocks on our door------it’s "aling Pina" (Josefina) saying “ihahanda na namin ang kubol”( it’s time to prepare the altar).Oh yes, it’s time! Our one-day San Isidro (St Isidore) celebration has to begin.So I opened the gate of our garage as children and neighbours eagerly await to make native “pahiyas” (decors) bringing “palaspas” (young coconut leaves) to adorn the improvised altar of San Isidro. As everyone twists, curls, cut “suman-like” shaped coco leaves and cut banana trunks to pick some fresh flowers taken from neighbors’ gardens and where else but from the municipal cemetery and central elementary school located just adjacent to our place. In about an hour, the kubol is ready so my wife and I (the annual host of the celebration) prepared snacks for everyone. This year it's chilled almond jelly with raisins and pinipig and lots of “jacobinas and paboritas” bought at a local bakery.

After the kubol it's also time to set-up our "tungko and tulyasi” (big wok) at the side of the street. Beside the tungko is a table for all the ingredients, some chopping boards and kitchen knives to be used in the preparation of this year’s handa: 10 kilos of macaroni shells for sopas and its traditional ingredients: chicken, hibe (dried shrimps), cabbage, potatoes, carrots, milk, some peppers and patis (fish sauce). Meanwhile, back at our house, some of our neighbours are busy preparing another set of food for the afternoon’s handaan: 4 kilos of native sticky rice with beans, corn, tapioca and coconut milk. We call it “tutong”. Another traditional delight is the suman to be served for the elders after the saying the novena prayers.As everybody enjoys preparing, three of our neighbours helped me set up another highlight of the celebration: the “hampas palayok” (hit-the-pot) traditional Filipino game. Rope ends were tied at the electrical post infront of our house and the other end at the handrail of our veranda. I asked kids to buy 6 pieces of palayok at our palengke (market). Later, the palayoks will then be filled with coins, candies and some flour to have it ready for the game.

Weeks before the celebration, my wife and I have to prepare for the main highlight of the annual feast: “The paagaw”. Several thousand peso worth of coins and a few thousand peso worth of twenty peso bills. Aside from money, we also prepare goodies like old toys, clothes and old personal collections (rag dolls, bags, jackets) we already decided to give-away. For the past three years, my wife’s stuffed toys collection was the special treat for everyone. This year is my baseball cap collection that I finally opted to give in the name of fun and sharing. Understanding the joy of the celebration, our relatives residing outside the country contributes goodies by sending us balikbayan boxes once in a while.

Interesting idea we devised to include bills in the “paagaw”. We placed a folded bill inside a knotted plastic (small icecandy-size). Then put the knotted plastic (with a bill) into a bigger plastic filled with water then sealed again with a knot. These are one of the several special treats for the paagaw. The effect of the water filled plastic when thrown is to break on impact leaving the catcher wet but not assured if he gets the bill inside (lol). It’s so interesting that everyone seems to like it and loves to get wet. It’s summertime, remember. And getting wet is very refreshing.

At about three o’clock in the afternoon, the neighbourhood elders then begin prayers for San Isidro. “Dalit” and some songs for the patron saint were then delivered. It is interesting to note that some young adults and kids are showing interest in learning the prayers reciting the dalit and songs together with the elders. Good thing though that the interest will then be transferred to the next generation to continue this simple tradition.Next to prayers and adoration is the much awaited "handaan". After some “paputok” or firecrackers prepared by a neighbour who happened to be celebrating his birthday, both the sopas and sticky rice kakanin is served. First, to the elders, then to everyone else. So if you happened to pass by at our neighbourhood around the time of our handaan...you will be delighted that everyone would accommodate you and care to give you food.

After about 30 minutes of the handaan, more paputoks will then be fired to signal the start of the “hampas-palayok”. The first palayok will then be readied.We prepared 6 palayoks in different categories: we have 2 palayok for senior citizen (for lolos and lolas), 2 palayoks for Adults (for tatay and nanays including dalagas and binatas) and the remaining 2 for kids (inengs and utoys). The game hampas-palayok merges with the paagaw highlight. The cue to start the paagaw is when somebody hits the palayok. The fun and excitement is indescribable when someone is about to hit the pot (Imagine the yellings and shoutings and what not!) This year’s prizes for the lucky palayok hitters are: Stanley cooler, bath and body works toiletries, Kipling travel pouch, Paul Mitchell Shampoo and Conditioner, a battery operated toothbrush, and John Parker body spray plus fifty pesos more for each of them. All senior citizens who joined the game were given additional metal key chain which my wife bought from our last trip to Singapore.At the verge of fun on the paagaw, interesting to see that our neighbours also prepared water filled plastics (though empty of twenty peso bills!) that were also thrown while everyone is crazy scrambling for the paagaw. Water is thrown from all directions too, using planggana and plastic balde from someone elses’s bathroom. I let my nephew take charge of the water hose being aimed at the crowd while we were throwing goodies from our veranda. It was really a blast!The celebration ends around 6:00 pm. After which, very noticeably you can immediately expect everyone to clean the area while the Patron San Isidro will be staying with us for the rest of night. Early hour of the next day, we will bring the patron back to our barangay chapel and thank him for another year of bountiful and joyful celebration.

Posted by MonteAlto at 2:44 AM, May 29, 2008

More pictures posted at monteza.multiply.com

"Lambanog"

I grew up in a place where anything from a coconut tree has countless functions. It’s a haven, that I remember my “Acharing”, our yaya uses variety of “walis ting-tings” for our front and backyard, our “kural” (pig pen) and our “kamalig”(barn). “Bunot” (husk) is used to bring our narra tablon flooring to a shine. In our living room, we have a coconut husk sculpture of a monkey smoking a pipe. In the kitchen, we use bunot to wash the plates and “uling na bao” ( coconut shell charcoal) at our “kalan” (stove). At a young age of 14, I’m proud to say that I personally make our “uling na bao”. While making the “uling” I was joyfully playing “pusoy” with a neighbour in their house far from my charcoal pit. And between each game, while cards are being shuffled I run fast to the pit to add a batch of coconut shells. Honestly, I was not always successful making good “uling na bao” while playing pusoy. Good thing though, my tatay would not know until after 1-2 weeks when my "Acharing" starts using uling in the kitchen and finds out later that my uling were all in tiny pieces! Lagot...!

During the summer we always go to a nearby river named “Talahibing”. We have an exclusive-secluded area that we in a way developed for picnics, campings etc. “Ilog-batis” a special name we call this hideaway where we could bathe and wash our clothes and let them dry in the sun as we delight ourselves even more playing pusoy. Sometimes, when pusoy is not the mood of everyone......it’s barikan ng lambanog naman!

Lambanog is our version of Mexican tequila. Other’s said its more like a local vodka. Whatever it is, we never care to know but just enjoy it’s goodness for its taste and price. Mura lang kasi because it came from coconut. Real value for our money!

We buy lambanog by the “gatang” (size of a pale pilsen bottle). We bring our own bottle when buying. We have a lambanog “dama juana” container in our house with lots of raisins inside for added flavour. My tatay always buy lambanog during the summer when all lambanogs being made are of higher quality than those made during the rainy reason. As much as possible, my tatay keep our lambanog and use it only on special occasions or when we have out of town visitors who eagerly would like to try it.

We drink lambanog with a “pulutan”, be it a dish or an appetizer that goes very well with it. Anyone can be fancy on preparing a pulutan for the lambanog. It can be as grand as “kalderetang kambing”, as simple as fried cornik or just plain “sipol” (whistle) after a “tagay” (shot). Either which, drinking lambanog is an exciting experience that each “tagay” is worth waiting.

We are fortunate that we still have good lambanogs these days. Like lambanog, we still have “tuba” (coconut tree nectar) and sukang puti (vinegar) at our barrios. We still patronize and enjoy drinking the lambanog with or without a “pulutan” even at the brim of its endless popular bottled competitors. You can still buy them by the gatang, just don’t forget to bring your own bottle when buying.

Lambanog is still here and its here to stay .....................at least in my lifetime.

Posted by MonteAlto at 7:42 PM, April 26, 2008