Soledad sa San Vicente

 

Charmae is a member of the Baao District Choir

Charmae Blanquera (daughter of San Vicente Baranggay Captain Ben Blanquera and Mrs. Cherry Blanquera) sings Ave Maria. Lolo Jose Bulalacao is on saxophone.

Soledad sa San Vicente - 2

Nikki Blanquera during the Soledad at San Vicente, Baao, Camarines Sur. Nikki is the older sister of Charmae and is also a member of the Baao District Choir.

Semana Santa 2011: Biyernes Santo

Images from the procession on Good Friday. Sta. Teresita Parish, Baao, Camarines Sur.

San Pedro, looking all freaky!

Amateur Singing Contest staples

Summer's almost here and I can't wait for the fiesta season in Baao. Nothing much have changed during fiestas:  the pa-bayle, the parade of majorettes and bands, of course, there's the novena and the amateur singing contest that comes after.  When I was little, me and my brother would always go to the ermita (chapel) every Saturday to watch the amateur singing contest. There was this one summer, when my uncle joined the contest but he was instantly eliminated. Hehe.

Huwatcha! Tom Jones ca. 1970s. This hairy-chested crooner is popular among contestants and watchers alike!

The reason that I know a lot of old songs now is probably because of these singing contests that I frequently watched when I was a kid. What I remember most are these two songs:

These two are the staple songs during amateur singing contests. The contest is held at least 2 months before the fiesta. There are usually 3 contestants every Saturday.  Whoever wins every Saturday will compete for the grand finals on the night of the fiesta. The prize ranges from 1 thousand to 5 thousand and I always wonder why there would be contestants from as far as Polangui or Canaman. The prize money would probably be not enough to pay for the bus ticket and food and costume. But there would always be contestants from towns far away. And they're usually the ones who win.

3 poems by Jomark Baynado

Burubuskay

A latigo ka pagsakit

bakrod sa tutulnan

Ita, kamot, ag lalawgon.

Malalatang kanbas ka pagtios

Kulog ag agrangay sa buhay.

Tangad! Tangad!

Abuta a suripot na lalawgon

Tanganing a paglaom

Na tinadtad sa tapalan nin pagsuko

Na nagkasuruway-suway

Mabilog otro.

Aplosa,

Padalagana a pagtubod

Sa pagrukot ka kamot mo

Sa lalawgon niya.

Ayat sa kusog boot

kusog sa pagtubod,

na a burubuskay na dara

ka latigo ka pagsakit

Usad na aldao miglupos man

Ag a bakrod mauuda man,

Migkipil man.

--

Amamangi

Amamangi sa dahon nin mangga
Paboritong kawatan ni Nena
Suminakat siya duman sa sanga
Kuminalag-kalag,makahiling baga.

Yinugyog niya an puon
Pero an naragrag mga dahon.
Ano daw ta warang amamangi?
(Hapot niya sa saiyang sadiri.)

Si Nena herak man ta naghihibi
Wara kayang nakuang amamangi
An pu-ngaw sa mata niya aldao- banggi
Asin an panahon marikas nang uminagi.

Si Nena ngunian daraga na.
Magayunon na, seksi pa.
Pero kawatang paborito niya
Iyo pa an amamangi sa dahon nin mangga.

Kaya rinegalohan ming amamangi
Anong ugma mi ta ako sinewerte!
Sa amamanging dara mi siya namuya.
Namuya man mi ta nakua ko an puso niya.

--

Naliligaw si Nena

Estatwang itinuturo ang malayo, 

‘di matukoy kung ang nakaraan
o ang paparating
kung silangan o kanluran,
kung timog o hilaga.

Umiiyak si Nena na noon ay pito
na naliligaw sa siyudad
ang mga sasakyan ay paroo't parito
pakaliwa pakanan
paliko sa mga eskinitang nagliliitan.

Estatwang itinuturo ang malayo

‘di matukoy kung ang nakaraan
o ang paparating
kung silangan o kanluran
kung timog o hilaga.

Estawang sumasayaw si Nena na ngayon labingpito
sa entablado ng aliw
hubo't hubad na pinagnanasahan
ng mga asong ulol
at siya ay naliligaw pa rin sa mundo.

--

About the Author

Jomark Baynado, 22, recently graduated with an Academic Distinction from Baao Community College where he took up Bachelors in Secondary Education - English. He currently resides in Sagrada, Baao, Camarines Sur.

Exhibit and Poetry Reading: Burikbutikan

(via PS Fajardo)

RINCONADA POETS AND PAINTERS TO HONOR LUIS DATO

Bikol poets Kristian Sendon Cordero and Frank Peñones Jr. and painters of the Burikbutikan Arts Collective, a group of visual artists from Baao, Camarines Sur will pay tribute to Bikol writer Luis Dato alongside with the opening of the art exhibit on April 2, 2011, at Café des Artes in Baao, Camarines Sur.

Cordero and Peñones, both recipients of the Palanca Awards will read some of the poems in English by Luis Dato and some of their recent works in Rinconada. A small collection of Dato’s works and memorabilia will also be unveiled together with a book bazaar of contemporary Bikoliana materials.

Luis Dato who was born and lived through out his life in Baao is a widely anthologized poet in many landmark literary studies that trace the history and development of Philippine writings in English particularly in the works of poet-critic Gemino Abad of the University of the Philippines. Aside from being a poet in English, Dato also wrote in Bikol and served as editor for various newspapers in Bikol from 1930 up to 1980. He also pioneered the study of the Bikol language by producing several lexicons and monographs, which include the Vocabulario- Bikol-Ingles-Kastila (1963), Kantahon Na Bikol (1969), Morfologia kan Tataramon na Bikol (serialized in Naga Times), Patotodon sa Bikol (Bicol Mail) and the Sarabihon sa Bikol.

The Burikbutikan Arts Collective is composed of Paulix Robosa, Fr. Nunilon Bancaso, Bembot Briones, Paul Stephen Fajardo, Julius Bicaldo, Meryll Barandon, Emmel D. Barbara, Jerric John S. Paulo and Bernadette De Los Santos who runs the Café des Artes. The public is invited to attend.