On Commercialism etc.:a reply to Black Saturday

Prescript

There is a bit of disharmony between the way this blog is meant to be utilized and the way we write as a pair but we'll have to make do with what we are provided for free.

Dear Nanay,

I am uncertain if I am supposed to say you write beautifully, but I think I just did.

I could not recall hearing that belief mom but in case that's true, I have a question. What happens if you are already wounded days or a day before Good Friday? Does the belief still apply? No matter. The decision to heal is still yours.You can go eating foods rich in Vitamin K.

You are right about your reflection on our little journey. A place can only fascinate so long. But when put with wonderful people, it fortifies its capacity to lure, to fascinate and in our case, to heal; or another, to boost tourism in the place (lol).

Of commercialism in Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid, I think it cannot be helped for some resaons. One being that money is needed to improve its crowd-drawing capacity and two being a proof of man's quick-wittedness or more accurately business mindedeness. Where there are people, there is a need for basic needs. In my visit there on the day of the event, a whole truckload of bottled water was positioned halfway the mountain an sold to passers by. Those people see opportunity where others cannot and the government supports to increase revenue...

Anyway, enough of that. I enjoyed your company mom. That is not even to be questioned. What was the failure of that trip in terms of my spiritual uplifitng was my lack of strength to fully let go of the past. Instead of staying resolute, I bragged of our trip to him and as a result was only momentarily at bliss. But time has a way of healing, if only I let myself as I said many lines ago...

Thank you for the colorful band aid. I didnt know you kept it for so long that you were able to give it back now that I'm the one needing it. Let's both read "The Warrior of the Light".

Love you.

7:23pm
Black Saturday


Dearest Pau,

I have here a wounded finger. It was scratched when I opened the lock on my way out the restroom of Piamonte's Mansion (or whatever they call that antique house). There is a belief, which was instilled in my young mind, that once one gets wounded on Good Friday, the wound will heal a little delayed compared to ordinary days. Of course, from the scientific viewpoint that belief deviates the inflammatory process and the physiologic human function. Anyway, what happens on the other hand, if at this time, the heart is wounded?

We were both 'wounded' - due to different causes- when we reached the top up Balaan Bukid. But the simple therapy of companionship and photography gently erased the gloominess in me. How about you? I hope you are fine.

Seeing the people around Hoskyn's prepare the trail along the cross, amused me especially that it was my first time to travail the path. I have this great belief that what makes the place extraordinary are the people within the place, the person one travels with and not the place alone. The children, those who carried water up the trail captured, me. Innovative or shall I say, unusual. I should have tried what they were doing when I was young and used to water the plants in our garden. Corny...Wala lang. Baskog ang bamboo nga may kariton kag uluyatan.

What else shall I say? People there are really friendly - photo-friendly shall I say. They stopped and pose - but never blatant. I guess, it's another unique Filipino characteristics which soon we will discover if we'll be fortunate enough to travel the whole world.

I am lucky enough to see the preparations done by these people but I'm afraid that all these traditions are becoming commercialized. Stalls and stores sprouted like poisonous mushrooms after a rainy day. Mountain Dew - that mere thirst quenching drink- is VERY expensive. Nineteen pesos. Kumusta naman yun?

I seemed to equate "Ang Pagtaltal" to other festivities like Dinagyang. Both has something to do with religion but I'm afraid that most of us Catholics fail to grasp the real essence of these religious traditions. Basta ah... hehe...

Anyway, that afternoon was one historic event in our lives for we decided to make this blog. Keep writing, I'll keep writing too. We'll make writing our band-aids. 

-Daph