Bidibidi's Interview at ANC (Part 1)

Bidibidi's Interview at ANC (Part 2)

Baao Fiesta 2009 in Las Vegas (August 8)

The Baaoeno expatriates in the U.S. celebrated the pintakasi last August 8 in Las Vegas, Navada.

Click on the following links to see photos and video of the affair:

Angel Martires' photo album

Angel Martires' video clip

Tony Martires' photo album (Aug 8)

Tony Martires' photo album (Aug 9)

Totie Mesia's Blog

"Finding My Roots" by Marj Mesoga Palencia

About Finding My Roots

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” -- Jane Howard, "Families"

Hello! My name is Marjueve Mesoga Palencia, a Philosophy and Humanities Professor at Far Eastern University (FEU), Manila, Philippines, and I am doing a genealogical research on the following families which have originated from Baao, Camarines Sur, Philippines, namely:

1. Juan Palencia and Paula Sta Maria Dato (b. 1820)
2. Francisca Palencia and Vicente Sta. Maria Dato (b. 1824)
3. Francisco Palencia and Patricia Esplana (b. 1900s)
4. Venancio Palencia and Margarita Bricia (b. 1900s)
5. Carlos Andres Esplana and Vicenta Asuncion Barrameda (b. 1800s)
6. Cerapio Barrameda and Ambrosia Vargas (b. 1900s)
7. Cornelio Breboneria Mesoga and Fortunata Bascuña Baesa (b. 1900s)

This site aims to present the genealogy of the above mentioned families which spans two hundred eleven (211) years of eight generations from 1798 to 2009. The family tree contains more than 5,000 names. Many living family members still reside in Baao, Camarines Sur, while others have settled elsewhere.

This site is primarily for the family members so that we may learn more about our family history, about each other and about our own selves. It is hoped that this will allow us to keep track of each other’s families as well as the new members of our expanding family and hopefully bring us closer together.

Click this to go to the site:

"FINDING MY ROOTS"

As most of us have experienced a “diaspora” of some sorts, family members leaving home for reason of work, opportunity or necessity, this tracing of our members makes some sense. This genealogy may also contribute to tie together the many loose ends in the family.

While the web makes it easy and convenient to share information, trace and interact with one another in spite of the great physical distances between and among family members, the same technology allows exploitation of the available information about an individual. This site respects and supports the right of individuals to privacy. Hence, this site has suppressed the personal details of all living family members. If you find any information here that you feel violates your right to privacy, please notify the webmaster by e-mail.

A genealogical research such as this never really gets finished or completed. It is always ongoing, without having to mention the errors or missing links and details on the family trees. If you are a family member, you can greatly help enrich our family trees by requesting membership to this site on the right menu button of this page, or by sending me an e-mail. I would be glad to get in touch with you.

Brief Background of this Family Research

In the 1960s, poet laureate Luis G. Dato started to chronicle the big families residing in Baao, Camarines Sur. He got these family trees published in the Baao Town Fiesta Souvenir Programs annually until 1966. At that time, there were just a few hundred names.

For the Palencia Reunion in May 22, 1971 at San Roque, Baao, Camarines Sur, Ernesto B. Palencia started to chronicle the descendands of Jorge Balayboa Palencia and Genoveba Bagaporo Malonda.

Then in 2000, Mr. Ernesto B. Palencia expanded his research to include all the Palencia in Baao, with Juan Palencia and Paula Sta Maria Dato (b. 1820), Francisca Palencia and Vicente Sta. Maria Dato (b. 1824), Francisco Palencia and Patricia Esplana (b. 1900s), and Venancio Palencia – Margarita Bricia (b. 1900s) as points of reference. As a result, the annual family reunions held every summer grew bigger and bigger.

The Esplana Family Tree which was started by Luis G. Dato, with the family of Carlos Andres Esplana and Vicenta Asuncion Barrameda (b. 1800s) as point of reference is now expanded by Ernesto B. Palencia and Marjueve M. Palencia.

Recently, we have started to document the family members of Cerapio Barrameda and Ambrosia Vargas (b. 1900s) and Cornelio Breboneria Mesoga and Fortunata Bascuña Baesa (b. 1900s).

To date, we have documented more than 5,000 family members and the family tree is available on this site and at MyHeritage.

Please request membership to the site to gain full access.

Thank you for visiting.

“No matter where you live, brothers are brothers and sisters are sisters. The bonds that keep family close are the same no matter where you are.” -- Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

Semana Santa sa Baao 2009 A - Miercoles Santo

Semana Santa sa Baao 2009 B - Viernes Santo

Semana Santa sa Baao 2009 C - Soledad

Remembering Papa Manuel

By Aida B. del Rosario

When did we, his immediate nieces and nephews, start calling him Papa Manuel? I've never thought of this before because it was just so. Children are followers and are not supposed to ask questions. Maybe it was because he was an idealist, a perfectionist and very strict like a pope that the family teased him by calling him Pope (Papa in Spanish) Manuel. Or is it short for papay, a title before the name of an uncle in Baao. There were times when I heard whispers from friends – Is he her father? - when they heard me say Papa instead of tio or tiyong. There are two answers to that question: Biologically – no, emotionally – certainly yes.

I can't remember when I learned that Papa Manuel was born prematurely, that he had a wet nurse because his mother died after giving birth, that he was so tiny, he had to be kept warm with a rubber hot water bottle; that he was left-handed and had to learn to be right-handed when he entered the seminary because in those days, this was considered not only as an abnormality that is frowned on but also the belief that the left hand is the devil's instrument or something like that.

I've read years ago about how difficult it is to change from left to right-handedness, that it could create behavior problems since it was ingrained in the fetal brain. Did the devil do that??? Whenever I see someone writing with the left hand, like President Barack Obama, Papa Manuel comes to my mind. I strongly believe that his short tempered behavior may be the result of being trained to be “perfect”!!! His irritable behavior made a negative impact on priests and others who were affected by it. I know that many despised him and it worried me.

The earliest memory I have of him was in Salvacion, when I asked my Lola (Grandma, his stepmother) what those two furry animals are and where they came from, as she allowed me to feed them with kangkong. She said that they are cuneos (rabbits) and Papa Manuel brought them for us, the same answer I got at different times when I asked what “these” are (uvas - grapes) or “that" (manzanas -apples); the Hershey's kisses and the Almond Roca were just dulces. Those were some of the goodies that appeared when he came to visit his parents. I've always wondered where he got those rabbits.

When he became the Rector of the Peñafrancia shrine, he made Papa move our family to Naga. We stayed in one of the big rooms of the combento. It was surprising to find bats almost everywhere especially inside the dark shrine. They were exterminated with the renovation and the shrine was painted inside and out in preparation for the silver jubilee of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The silver jubilee celebration was the biggest event I've ever experienced. My parents were greatly involved with the food preparation, while I helped with setting the very long table. After the high mass, the Papal Nuncio and the bishops in red robes and other dignitaries congregated in the big hall of the convent, socializing while waiting to be seated for breakfast, which was closer to lunch. It seemed as if all the bishops in the country left their diocese to come to Naga. Had I kissed all the bishop's rings, I could have accumulated enough indulgences to last a lifetime.

He started to travel to the US and Europe in the 1950s to raise funds for a church renovation or to build a seminary. He usually had something for us on his return, like my first camera from the US, a filigreed golden butterfly brooch from Spain, a small bottle of perfume from France, and my favorite – a pin with a dangling tiny golden bell that tinkled when I moved; it had an etching of St. Peter's Square and Basilica around it.

After I left the country, I realized that Gubat Sorsogon, Virac Catanduanes, and Calbayog Samar all had beautiful beaches and I wondered if he had the influence to get those appointments so that his nieces and nephews could vacation there. I had my first airplane ride from Virac, alone in a small plane that jumped through air pockets, to return home in time for our teenage group's party in San Nicolas. The scariest storm I experienced was in Gubat. I thought we would be blown away in the night with the nipa hut we were occupying near the seashore. After I passed the nurses' board exams, he invited me to the town fiesta in Calbayog. He introduced me to the medical director of the new hospital, who was also from Bicol (Sorsogon), who offered me a job there. I bet Papa Manuel had something to do with the offer I couldn't refuse.

I heard from my brother that he had visited remote barrios and islands by motorized banca, where the people had not seen a priest, much less a bishop; that he baptized and confirmed children and old people.

He visited me when I was in Minnesota and again in Canada, either on his way to Rome to attend Vatican II or from there going home.

He was in Rome when I wrote that I was getting married. He immediately replied that he was coming to officiate at the wedding. His wedding gifts were three crucifixes, one for each bedroom for a new house and a crystal bead rosary, all “blessed by the Pope” he said. The next time he came to visit me, I had two children. Although he was now their lolo (grand-uncle), I preferred that they call him Papa Manuel. It broke my heart to see him walk with a limp, with his arm (can't remember if it was the right or left) in a sling. This was the result of a stroke while he was in Rome. His speech was slurred but understandable. He always had a chewing gum to keep the saliva flowing to help his speech.

We went to Mt. Rainier, a popular tourist spot here. It was summer, (July) but the mountain was covered with snow, “...just like the Alps.” he said. My sister Salve and his priest attendant made snowballs and threw them to each other. Before he left, two of my friends asked him to bless their new house and he did, limping through the rituals.

Sadly, I became a big disappointment to him by getting divorced. He came for the last time. As soon as his volcanic sermon started, I went into a survival stance by bowing, and repeated in my head - “Lord, forgive him for I don't know if I can; forgive him for he knows not that there was a wedding but no marriage, that if I continue to be both father and mother to my three children and stay married, it would be suicide and that is a sin, so which is the bigger sin - divorce or suicide; and I don't want my kids to go through what I went through – losing my mother and step-mother before their children were grown; that I was wedded to one who was so sure somebody like me will never get a divorce no matter what.” I can't remember what was said before and after “...sayang ang pinag-aralan... you went to the best Catholic schools...” Life is full of irony, so I had to learn to smile with the punches.

My favorite funny story was told by my brother and male cousins who have served him at Mass – that he would get very upset at any little mistake and would scold them in Baaeño right there at the altar while his head was bowed, and since nobody else could understand the language, the other servers thought he was saying a special prayer.

When I was at UST, he came to visit me at the Nurses' Home. The Spanish nun-dorm-matron, who had never been face to face with a bishop, could hardly talk to tell me to go downstairs pronto, pronto! Since I was the only one there, I thought there was a medical emergency. With pursed lips, she signaled me with her eyes to the waiting room. And there was Papa Manuel pacing faster than an expectant father. Before I could kneel to kiss his ring, he had started to scold me - “Ono ta mala mong uban na pasini?” (Why did it take so long for you to come here?) What else could I do but to listen, that he had to hurry back to the seminary, that I better hurry and tell him what I needed for my graduation. Can you imagine seeing a bishop in a white flowing garb, walking from the seminary located at one end of the huge campus to the opposite end where I was!

That was my beloved Papa Manuel. There are many more stories, like bringing a green mango for me from the Philippines when I was in Canada. Maybe next time, I'll tell you how he got through customs inspection.

I used to feel bad and intensely frustrated that I was not available to take care of him, who anticipated my needs and gave me so much for a better future.

I am most grateful for the chance to have filed the fingernails and tied the shoe laces of the specially made boots of “the little bishop that could.”


Historical Note:

I thought it best to include the following note to show the inaccurate online news reports: The Second Vatican Council was opened on October 11, 1962 by Pope John XX111 (after four years of planning since 1959). There were four sessions. The last three sessions were in 1963 - 1965 presided by Pope Paul V1 ( following Pope John).The final session opened - September 14, 1965, and closed - December 8, 1965. Papa Manuel could have had the stroke after 1964 because that was the year I was married.

Oldest Filipino Bishop Laid to Rest

MALOLOS, Bulacan, March 27, 2009— The country’s oldest bishop and the only living participant to the Vatican II, Bishop Manuel Del Rosario, was laid to rest Friday at the crypt of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, here.

The ceremony was led by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams with Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, Balanga Bishop Socrates B. Villegas, Daet Bishop Gilbert A. Garcera, Calbayog Bishop Isabelo C. Abarquez, Kalookan Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez, Batanes Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio, Virac Bishop Manolo A. Delos Santos, Malolos Bishop Emeritus Cirilo Almario, Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros and several other bishops as concelebrants.

In his homily, Archbishop Adams praised Bishop Del Rosario for being “a priest for 70 years, a bishop for 53 years and a Christian for the past 93 years.”

He added “now our brother, priest and bishop has gone ahead of us” and “death has come close to us again.”

He said “when someone we know dies the thought of their living in another dimension strengthens us in our sorrow.”

He added “we cannot but think of the life of our brother bishop, Bishop Del Rosario, who in so many ways had faith in his existence serving God – as a priest and as a bishop.” He said the late bishop never wavered “in his trust with our Lord God as Bishop Manuel is a child of God.

He concluded by saying the late prelate is “the exponent of hope” for “even in his illness, he served the Lord.”

The country’s oldest and one of the world’s oldest bishops died peacefully at Yanga Hospital in Bocaue, Bulacan early Monday morning after contracting pneumonia.

From CBCP News http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/8073

In Paradisum: A Tribute to Bp. Manuel Del Rosario

Sacris Solemnis: A Tribute to Bp. Manuel P. Del Rosario

A Tribute to Msgr. Del Rosario

To All the People of Baao:

Bishop Manuel Del Rosario was born in Salvacion, Baao, Camarines Sur, according to some written articles about him. We should therefore honour him for his achievement and his service to the catholic church in the country, especially in Salvacion where he was born and the whole of Baao and the country. He should be in our history book to be honoured and remembered in his death. Our sympathy and condolences goes to his his immediate family and to the church he loves.
May he Rest in Peace with our Lord!

Antonio Badiola & Family

+ Bishop Manuel P. Del Rosario (1915-2009)

te	Age	Event	Title
1 Jul 1915	0	Born	Baao
25 Mar 1939	24	Ordained Priest	Priest of Sorsogon, Philippines
24 May 1955	40	Appointed	Coadj. Bp. of Calbayog, Philippines
24 May 1955	40	Appointed	Titular Bishop of Zerta
25 Jul 1955	40	Ordained Bishop	Titular Bishop of Zerta
25 Jul 1958	43	Succeeded	Bishop of Calbayog, Philippines
11 Dec 1961	46	Appointed	Bishop of Malolos, Philippines
11 Mar 1962	46	Installed	Bishop of Malolos, Philippines
15 Dec 1977	62	Resigned	Bishop of Malolos, Philippines
23 Mar 2009	94	Died	In Malolos

A 1957 Photo of Children's Party to Celebrate Fred Perdon's 5th Birthday

An old photo, taken at the Imperial's residence in Santa Cruz, of a children's party to celebrate Fred Perdon's 5th birthday on 18 December 1957. (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Christmas in Baao 2008

This video features various Christmas trees with nativity scenes at the Barlin Park in Baao, Camarines Sur. The video clips were taken in 29 December 2008.


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Another Buhay na Masiramon

The place in this poem is my lolo Jose's farm in Salvacion, the paradise of my childhood, while the last stanza has a connection to Betty Gonzaga and friends in San Nicolas -- Aida B. del Rosario

Evensong

Well seasoned woman in solitude
awaits the solace of twilight
wistfully chanting of rice fields
full of ripe grain, of reapers in
wide brimmed hats hurrying to get
ahead of ravenous resident birds

Red and yellow tomatoes jealous of
green guavas sweet and heavy on
bent branches, many more are in
baskets, much more than coconuts
piled high by dwarfish Dencio

Gooey pure chocolate oozing from
Grandma's hand-turned millstones
Thick cocoa drink pouring on
children's puto, making merienda
a brown muddy brew

Chaperones gossiping at weekend
socials. Girl with handkerchief or fan
signals to puppy-love, first-love or
last-love or catch the eye of big boys
with songs and a guitar - harmonizing
practicing for moonlight serenading

-- Aida B. del Rosario

Click this to watch the music video:
"Buhay Masiramon"

Para sa Mga Burak sa Heidelberg
(To the Flowers of Heidelberg)
Ni Jose Rizal
Itinaga Baao ni P.B. Robosa

Pasadto kamo banwaan ko, dayuhan na burak
tagak sa raran kin mga nagbabaklay, iwinarak,
sa lomlom ka sirong kin azul na kalangitan,
sadto na an mga payaba ko pinag-iiningatan
iluyap ninyo, pagarang-arang kanakong rogan,
kining arayo pero di nalilingaw sa mga binayaan

Pasadto kamo, ag mabareta bago magliwanag,
kung kamo ka sirang ka aldow ibinubuklad,
sa pangpang ag agnow ka Neckar na ararom
sadto siya nakatindog, nang-guiguiromrom
pamumula sa tagsibol, darang kolor na magayon

ipa-ngusip ninyo kun pag-abot ka saking ramrag,
ayaton kaninyo an hamot na kaninyong ambag,
habang luway na pina-iirongog “o ika, payaba ko”
siya man nagririmo-rimo, sa itaas ninyo tinotono,
kantang pagkaboot, sa sadiring bisara nya guinibo

kun su silaw ka ramrag aboton na su kaitaasan,
tuktok Koenigsthul kalayuwan kin kaliwanagan,
namumulaag na silaw ka aldow mang-guisong na,
sa patag, kadlagan ag kakahoyan nanbubuway na,
ining lagalag, sabat man tulos an silaw na dara,
na sadto banwaan man nya, minabulos biyaya.

isabi ninyo ku kamo luway na pinili ag pinutlan,
ku sya nag-agi-agi sa sadit ag matulid na a-agian,
sa rugbang torreng tuda ko panahon na nakaagi,
sa Neckar na may kadlagan, malimpoy na sabi.
Sabiyon su kanyang mga panambitan ag sinabi
pauno kamo luway-luway, tinulid, ingat na inani,
sadto kanyang libro isinuksuk ag pinagkahigo,
sa mga lumang pahina, kamo niyang itinatago.

Hatudan, hatudan, magayon na burak kin Rhine,
an biyong pagka-boot ko sa ngamin na nabootan,
katoninongan sa banwaan kong kinamondagan,
sa kababaihan-katangihan, kusog sa kalalakihan.
Ipagtaratara diaday, sa mga payaba kong marhay
sa ngamin, kabilugang banal, pauulian ka buway

Pag-abot sa baybayon kan pinayabang banwaan
matam-is na arok na pinamate di paglingawan,
ipatiprak sa pakpak kin angin na nakapalibot
tanganing su ngamin na inonra, ginalang, binoot,
mamate sa mga pisngi ninda--arok kong pina-abot.

Tibaad makaabot kamo sa banwaan kong tinubuan
dara pa gayon ag tinkad ninyong kolor na namasdan,
ta arayo kamo sa ragang kinabuklatan, nang-alisngaw,
namarong na amot, tibaad dagos nang naoda, nanlasaw.
An hamio ninyo, kalag ninyong tunay, di maisusuway,
di malilingangawan kan langit kun sari kamo nabuway.

A Simple Life, Two Friends

Excerpts from the speech delivered by Vic Ramirez Jr. at the Silver Jubilee Night of the Kausaran sa Ikararay ka Baao (Kaiba) held at the AFP Auditorium, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on February 5, 2005. Vic served as first President of Kaiba, after its predecessor—the Metro-Manila Baao Association—was reorganized.

Please click on these links:

• A Simple Town, a Simple Life
• When the Baao Town Plaza Was a Real Park...
  
• Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
• At What Price the Progress?
• Going Back to Basics: Education the Best Equalizer
• A Tribute to the Late Betty Gonzaga, a Friend to All
• A Salute to Renato Magadia, a Captain of the Industry

For the entire speech click on this link:

• A Simple Life, Two Friends

Buhay Masiramon

"Buhay Masiramon (Sa Poultry ni Isko)" -- sung by the Trio Los Mamboleros (Betty Gonzaga, Manny Gaite, and Gil Llorens); music and lyrics by Betty Gonzaga and J. Barrameda; recorded in 1989.

This music video is dedicated to the fond memory of BETTY IMPERIAL GONZAGA, who appears in this clip as a one year-old child being entertained with a bird in a cage by his father Angel Gonzaga (husband of Paz Buena Imperial). The pictures (of late-1930s vintage) were taken at the residence of Pilar Imperial Arroyo (now the Ramirez's ancestral home) in Del Rosario, Baao, Camarines Sur.

The humorous lyrics of the song tell the story of Isko (guess who?) who used to spirit out the sickly chicken from his father's poultry in Del Rosario to be cooked and served as "sumsuman" (ginataan na adobo) for his barkada's drinking session in Kalangkawan (San Nicolas). The song celebrates the carefree and jovial life of young people in Baao.

The First of the Monicans

On April 2, 1950 SMA graduated its first batch of High school students, arrayed here in regal Elizabethan gowns and sat for this nearly 60 year-old photo. From the original 24, less than five survives today.

Left to right front row:

Liliosa Bigay-Aquino
Lourdes Bucela-Robosa
Monina Arroyo
Lilia Barreta
Helen Barrameda-Buena
Ofelia Magadia-Pilar
Ester Borja-Bibonia
Victoria Badiola-Briones
Remedios Imperial-Bernales
Rosa Baliuag
Liliosa Fajardo-Obrero
Isabel Gonzaga-Fajardo
Antonia Bigay-Lopez Dee

Left to right back row

Generosa Badiola
Concepcion Quintan-Badiola
Carmen Bañaga-Dimayakyak
Jovita Imperial-Garsiso
Romana Sanchez-General
Solidad Muños
Rufina Bibares-Balindan
Florentina Revilla-Bigay
Socorro Tirao-Badiola
Aurora Benosa-Zamudio

Concepcion Baesa-Razon

Padre Ochoa, Padre Inciong and The Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes in Baao


Fr. Aquilino De la Torre Ochoa was assigned as Coadjutor to Padre Inciong in Baao for four and a half years and was responsible for giving the town our own Lady of Lourdes Grotto. How it came to be he recounts in his “Talambuhay”, an autobiography written in Tagalog verse. He was born in Indan, now Vinzons, Camarines Norte this is why his tagalog is sprinkled with Bikol words. When he was ordained priest his first assignment was in Baao and was here during the waning years of the 1930's. Baao's Lourdes Grotto became the first of many of his accomplishments.

“ COADJUTOR SA BAAO SI PADRE OCHOA”

Ang kura sa Baao si Padre Florencio Gonzales
Balitang-balita mga coadjutor hindi makatiis
Mahaba na ang isang taon, coadjutor agad na aalis
Hindi magkaunawaan, pagsasama hindi matiis

Sa aking pagdating matapos sa kura ay mag-pugay,
ang kanyang ugali at hilig aking pinag-aralan,
nang mamasdan kong sa ahedres mahilig makilaban,
magkakasundo kami larong ahedres muli at muling naglalaban

Kaya sa tuwi-tuwina matapos ang hapunan
Ang tablero ng Ahedres dinadala sa aming harapan
Tinatalo ko siya, tinatalo din niya ako.
Pagdating sa hatinggabi saka kami naghihiwalay

Isang ping-pong table ang aking ipinagawa
Upang mapaglibangan ng mga kabataan
Nang Makita ni Padre Gonzales, siya ay natuwa
Kaya’t nagpaturo sa akin sa bola ng ping-pong pagpatama

Hindi naman mahirap si Padre Inciong Gonzales turuan
Hindi nagtagal ibig niyang palaging may kalaro
Kahit sa mga kabataan at sa mga kapaparian
Kaya’t liban sa Ahedres, ping-pong kanyang nauyunan

Nabalitaan ko araw ng kanyang kapanganakan
Hinding-hindi pa siya nagdiwang ng kanyang kapanganakan
Sa aming inasalto, kaarawan ng kanyang pag silang
Isang banda ng orkestra kasama ng taong bayan

May mga dalang pagkain, alak, litson at pulutan,
Maikling palatuntunan, talumpati, tula, awit at sayaw
Si Padre Florencio Gonzales, katuwaan nag-uumapaw,
Napilitan siyang mag-tapat na si Padre Ochoa ang may kagagawan

Nang makuha ko ang tiwala ng Paring Kura
Ano man sabihin ko sinusunod niya pag-daka
Sa tabi ng patio, may nakatambak na bato lumang asoteya
Kung ibig mong malinisan, papatayuan natin ng Groto

Sabi niya kung kaya mo ikaw ang bahala, gawin mo na
Kaya ako nagpasimulang usapin ang maga Hijas de Maria
nang aking balak, magpatayo ng Groto
Wala naming sumasalungat, lahat ay sang-ayon

Kailangan ng isang arketekto, gagawa ng plano
Bantog noon si Barcenas at eskultor Neglerio
Subalit ang mga ito, mga propesyonal eskultor-arketekto
Mahal ang kanilang bayad, sa dyaryo at honorario

Naghanap ako ng larawan ng Groto sa Lourdes
Sinikap kong puntahan mga simbahan may Groto ng Lourdes
Sa Naga, Iriga, Guinobatan, Quezon City hanggang Baguio City
Inisa-isa kong puntahan at ako ay gumawa ng plano

Sapagkat kailangan ng pera upang makagawa
Isang “Fund Raising” kailangan isimula
Naisipan kong isang Velada makapaghanda
Upang sa fiesta ng bayan ipakita sa madla

Upang maging magaan humanap ako ng kasama
Si Guinoong Jorge Barlin, mahilig sa musika at kanyang “Sabrina”
Isang melo-drama at komedya, kumuha ng mga artista
Sa bahay ni Tomas Guevara inihanda ang numero sa kaarawan

Dumating ang kapistahan ng Patron ng Baao
Maraming dumalo galing sa ibang bayan
Punong-puno ang liwasan na pag-bibeladahan
Kaya’t sa kahilingan ng marami, inulit sa kaarawan

Sa awa ng Diyos, ang “Fund Raising” naging matagumpay
Nabili ko kaagad ang kasangkapan sa Groto’y ilalagay
Mga semento, hollow blocks, kabilya at iba pang kailangan
Punto ng lumang asoteya aking pinalinisan

Nag-hanap ako ng isang panday-kantero
Marunong gumawa sa kahoy at semento
Sa awa ng Diyos nakatagpo din ako
Naging katulong siya nina Barcenas at Neglerio

Ang aking plano sa Groto ay susundin
Ako ang arketekto at artista paman din
Ang kantero na upahan ko ako ang susundin
Hindi ang sino paman dahil sa Mahal na Birhen

Sapagkat ang pera hindi magkakasya
Kailangan ng donasyon ng larawan ni Birhen Maria
Kaya’t si Guinoong Julian Barrameda pinakiusapan ko
Na kay Neglerio magpagawa ng Lourdes at Bernardita

Maganda ang larawan na gawa ni Guinoong Neglerio
Nang Birhen de Lourdes at Bernardita de cemento
Si Neglerio ang nagayos ng larawan, sa Groto itinayo
Gayon din si Bernardita nakaluhod sa malayo

Sa apat na kanto nitong “Asoteyang Groto”
Pinalagyan ko ng parola tigta-tatlong ilaw
May mga donantes din na mga Maestro at mga Maestra
Kaya’t ang Groto sa Baao, ay naku kay ganda

Wala akong panahon sabihin sa inyo lahat
Ang Groto ng Lourdes sa Baao, tunay na nakakagulat
Kung kayo may panahon sa kabikolan maglakad
Tumigil sa Baao, Groto ng Lourdes inyong mamalas

Apat at kalahati din ako sa Baao
Sa tabi ng Kura na mahirap na kasamahin
Sa Naga ako dinala, Coadjutor sa katedral
Kura si Mons. Penilla at Vicario Heneral.

THE CHARGE OF THE HORSEMEN
AT THE BATTLE OF AGDANGAN
P.B.Robosa


Ahead! Down the hill the horses led
to rise again on another hillock
lit by the morning light the sun bled
and revealed to the enemy our attack.

Ahead! The blue shirts advanced
and came the sound of rifles readied
disturbing the silence of the ground
drowning the charge of our steeds.

Charge! And we headed to the center
and fifty muzzles pointed to the riders
and the horsemen rode as if unaware
the guns loaded, fingers at the triggers.

Crack! And a screen of smoke erupts
and our chests heaved with scarlet
we steadied, legs steeled to the stirrup
and then rolled down, giving in, death.

Like leaves we fall on desolate ground
plucked from flowers to be transplanted
no glory, no monuments to be found
amidst faith and longings unrewarded.

I was born into the love of a happy home
and heart gladdened by the wakening land,
rearing to be free to trace its destiny alone,
to draw paradise on earth with my hand.

To ends that God, History point the way,
the way of peace, and pride, and purpose,
ends songs are wrought and heroes made,
ends where lives are gave and joys repose.

I, to boundless hope these ends followed
bearing honor, life, and my soul unafraid
bearing it for all the countless tomorrows,
for my end, my home and sweet tender grave.

Our SMA Days
P.B. Robosa

We were young and we were free
we'd walk the gate and into the end
it looked old and bare but it was cheery
crawl through a hole, smelled the floor
cracked the old desk covered with scrawls

We're proud but we knew how to have fun
brave the horrors of the grotto under the moon
plant crops in the morn or haul sand in the sun
we'd jump the high window and bang the bell
stole fried bananas on sticks and cursed like hell

We pretend joy and we pretend sorrow
liked a storm on occasion but during summer
hated math and physics but the ballyhoo
said “Good Morning Miss”to a sour face
eyes strained reading but quick for a little lace

We were all yours as we were all there
said goodbye in the end but never lost touch
We return and sing “Hail, Dear Alma Mater”
Passed the make shift gate and the gray halls
We've had laughter, light and loved in these walls

Baao Church and "Convento" Before the Fire of 1971

Some readers were wondering if I have a good photo
of the Church and "Convento" before it was permanently
altered by fire and the subsequent rehabilitation.
This I think was how "Padre Inciong" envisioned
the church and the patio when it was being
rebuilt during his time.

The Baaoeño talents behind the SMA Alma Mater Song

During my college years and I was away from Baao for years, one song that stirs up nostalgia in me is the SMA Alma Mater which I sang for years in school with my classmates. Later, I would hear it either being played briskly or sonorously by the school band or sung during alumni homecomings. The lyrics are so simple but elegant and the melody so catchy that I had no problem memorizing it in Grade two. A fellow alumni revealed in later years that he was using it in other schools which did not have a graduation song as a kind generic alma mater song, all he had to do was replace SMA's with the name of the school.

The lyrics of the song was written by Baao's poet laureate Luis G. Dato on the occasion of the graduation of SMA's first graduates, among whom, my mother, Lourdes Esplana Bucela-Robosa was a member. The words were set to music by one of Bicol's foremost musician's of the time, the famous Marcial L. Briones of the King's Orchestra fame.

Luis G. Dato and Marcial L. Briones

SMA Alma Mater Song

Hail dear Alma Mater, thee we honor

Proudly in the dawn we raise thy banner

Santa Monica, Sweet Alma Mater

With thy praise thy loyal sons and daughters

Fills the land wherever they may roam

Alma Mater, Alma Mater never

Shall thy glory wane but shine forever,

Joyous to thy call we come and rally,

Far or near, from mountain, shore or valley,

For in thee our spirits finds its home

Chorus:

Santa Monica, O Santa Monica

In thy fold a true and valiant band

Through the years whatever time may bring us,

Alma Mater, we shall ever stand.

L.D.

SMA's 70th Birthday

In 2010, the SMA community plans to celebrate the school's Diamond Jubilee, five years shy of the costumary 75 years. The reasoning behind is that it is common practice now and perhaps there is truth in in the maxim that "a good idea now is better than a great idea tomorrow" and everyone seems to be enthusiastically behind it. I myself could have waited for the beatification of Mo. Consuelo Barcelo, who in 1939 along with a sister companion went to the Bicol Region looking for a place to put up a school. SMA would have been blessed with a co-founder with title of "Blessed" before her name. The other hero of the founding of SMA is Rev. Fr. Florencio Gonzalez or fondly, "Padre Inciong" who did not let the chance to slip of having the Augustinian Sister's first school in the Bicol Region put up in Baao. He started the school on his own expense at the then huge sum of P18,000.00 so it could open immediately the next school year of 1940.


Padre Inciong at the time of SMA's opening and as a young priest.
The school's main building being built by Vicente Fernandez

and workers. The name of the school was "Colegio of Baao"

Padre Inciong (far left in eyeglasses), his Coadjutor
Padre Ochoa and the pioneer Sisters pose with
SMA pupils. The school's name, "Escuala Parroqial
de Baao"(the school building still lacked its window panes)


Rare Photo of the Pioneer Sisters

The SMA building during its glory days

This photo of SMA students and pupils was taken
November 30, 1941, 15 days before the Japanese entered
Baao.