TRACING MY BISAYAN ROOTS SERIES [3 of 3]
“You cannot be a Filipino unless you become Pampanga first.” – Claude Tayag
These words kept haunting me. The need to discover my roots motivated me to visit our bukid in Capiz, where Popsy grew up before migrating to Manila for better opportunities. After 34 years, I finally understood and embraced my Bisayan roots.
My cousins gave me a grand tour of the Diaz-Fuentes Bukid. Each sibling got 3 hectares of fertile land in Sinabsaban, Cuartero, Capiz. We hiked for less than 30 minutes to reach the bukid.
Some of the farmers were tilling the land when we passed by late in the afternoon.
We visited Auntie Lilang’s (my Popsy’s older sister) house, where Lola Atis loves to stay when she is in Sinabsaban.
It is a simple bahay kubo with tarpaulin walls and things scattered around the house.
We stopped by for coffee and to have a brief chat about life in the bukid.
On our way to Popsy’s land, we passed by the source of spring water, which was covered to ensure that it is clean and protected from dirty elements.
A wide kalamansi plantation greeted us when we got there. We decided to pick some to bring back home.
I told Rache’s dad before that we own a dalandan plantation in Capiz. For the first time, I saw it for myself…
Kuya Jerry, pointing out the boundaries of Popsy’s property.
If we’re going to stay overnight in our bukid, we would have to stay in this bahay kubo. Can you stay in a bahay kubo like this?
It is solar-powered, so you have to charge the Superlite battery during the daytime. At night, the battery supplies electricity to the lights of the house.
This is a very organized house with a decent kitchen and bamboo bed. There is an elevated, enclosed room for the master of the house. 🙂
The toilet is supplied with spring water. Can you take a bath here?
You can cook your own food via the traditional way of using wood and charcoal.
We visited another cousin’s house and also met her four kids.
She caught a native chicken for us as a gift for visiting their place.
We cooked it pinaupo-style — one of Popsy’s favorite Capiz dishes.
After our visit to the bukid, we went to Igang Cave in Maayon, where Popsy used to rest after finishing his farming responsibilities.
It was a bit dark already when we arrived. If not for the camera flash, the photo above would be in total darkness.
Kuya Jerry and me in Igang Cave. We failed to climb up to see the name of my dad inscribed on the walls of the cave.
Kuya Udot (in the middle) and family. I finally got to meet and appreciate my cousins and their families.
Thank you to all my cousins and the Diaz-Fuentes clan for my awesome first time in Capiz!
Live an Awesome Life,
Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2009.
blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
prof. blog: AntonDiaz.com
mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
email: anton@diaz.ph
For some strange reason, sleeping on a bamboo papag (cot) is really comfortable. I think the freshness of the seabreeze (if you’re at the seaside) or the mountain/”bukid” air (if you’re on dryland) helps a whole lot 🙂
And yes, the provincial life is THE simple life 🙂
Hi! Its my first time to visit your page and I’m glad I did. my family’s roots are over at Capiz (Roxas City) , as well 🙂 Its always great to run into a fellow ilonggo.
I have not been there since 2000. I’ve missed it… but I didn’t realize that I missed it so much until I saw your post. The photos were beautiful and it brought back a lot of childhood memories 🙂
Thanks shara for letting me know that the post invoked nostalgia about Capiz
🙂
nakakamiss po sa capiz.naiyak po ako heheh
Hehe, oo nga, one of these days I imagine trying it at least for a night.
anton
Iba talaga ang buhay probinsya sa Capiz.. Napakapayak at simple, you live in the very soil you till. My dad’s from Ivisan. And our brood there are really close, helping each other out and passionate about everything. Capizenos are super hospitable and welcoming. Simple lang ang kaligayahan, konting bayle, konting inom ok na. 😀
Yeah, yung inom yung pinakamasaya 🙂 hehe
hi anton.
while i agree that people in the bukid (and even in city slums) are more predisposed to making babies for a variety of reasons that have to do with their circumstances, i reckon that it is politically incorrect to say, jokingly or otherwise, that making babies is a “pastime” or technically, a hobby of rural people. this is even more disturbing when one considers or is aware that many of these babies are actually conceived through marital rape 🙂
one time i tag along my american boyfriend in a filipinos party in one of the wealthiest european country where my brother was telling warning everyone not to go not to pass/walk in one particular place because of some rape incidents but my brother did not know was not aware that the ladies around us actually left the philippines for this secured wealthy european country hoping to meet the man of their dreams{educated or just plain decent}they are old maids o mga ‘matatandang dalaga’ who never ever had any suitors o boyfriends meaning they are all experienceless kasi hindi nga sila mga attractive looking nakakatakot yung personality ng iba but they are really nice & fun to be with but we were shocked extremely surprised when they almost grab my poor shocked brother just to asked him WHERE! WHERE! PLEASE TELL US WHERE!{at the same time} LOL!..we were laughing at hysterical yung iba nasa sahig katatawa lol! then months later we saw them in another filipinos party and we found out that these old maids o matatandang mga dalaga ay actually was constantly passing by in that particular raping incidents street lol! some even complains that she never saw any rapists in there lol! we were all hysterical hearing that from an old maid lol! but remember they are just joking MAYBE LOL!..so probinsya hobbies of making babies are true but we joke about it kasi what ‘good’ better costless happiness else to do but that lol
What would you consider as a marital rape? Thanks for the comment and you
have a valid point.
anton
….would be complete if all these BUKID will soon be planted with coconut trees papayas chicos lanzones corns ube avocados guyavanos mangoes beside sa sitaw mani upo at patani must be heavenly more pag maraming colorful varieties climbing plant na bougainvillas i can just imagine the ‘unique’ view it will create plus the usefulness later
marital rape here in america means a forcible unwanted sexual intrusions of spouses{both men/women}where verbal/physical arguments becomes violent[scuffles}but not necessarily means the traumas inflicted can be visually seen sometimes just a No to be intimate is enough for any of the spouses to be legally in trouble about politically incorrect to joke about making babies as hobbies in bukid or some slums
it might be politically incorrect but sometimes we should joke about things that are politically incorrect if they are politically extremely difficult o almost impossible to discuss to make citizens aware-understand that it is exactly what it is o what it become culturally jokes in good intent can be a helpful tool to express o talked about extremely sensitive remote o provocative social issues as not to offend someone else lifestyles
Good to see you getting back to your roots bro’. Didn’t get to meet up with you guys, I got sick in Caticlan on our way to Ilo-ilo and was just sick and tootired to go anywhere after that.
In my opinion, I find your statements ” I guess if you live in the bukid, your favorite pastime would be to make kids. :)”, “can you take a bath here or stay in a bahay kubo like this?” is a little too insensitive to your relatives feelings. Being that your blog has a lot of followers, I being one, making comments such as the ones mentioned above, even if it is but of your personal opinion and in a jokingly manner, still creates a feeling of being condescending to the way of living in the bukid.
I guess you are right. I should have been more sensitive in making that
comment even if it was meant as a joke.
no problem jin-jie! Thanks for the comment, and let’s meet up when you are
back.
Hi. My mother is also from Capiz (Tapaz) and I will go there on July to visit my grandfather. It’s almost 23 years since I last visited that province. I look forward to seeing my long lost relatives.
Your photoblog inspired me to make the best out of my one-week vacation.
Just like to correct you on the name of the town, Cuardero; It is Cuartero.
Good luck Eds! Make sure to get the best out of it…
Thanks for the correction and I reflected it appropriately…
Anton
hi Anton,
So, you’re a fellow Capiznon! I’m half Kapampangan and half Capiznon. My father’s side is from Sigma, Capiz. Last time I went home was back in 2002 when I was still managing a resort in Boracay. But I’m still very much in touch with my relatives there (thanks to the internet and Facebook hehehe). I miss the family gatherings there. Especially the home cooked food.
Saw your post on The Establishment. I think our former F&B Manager from Diamond Hotel now works there.
Peejay
hi Anton,
So, you’re a fellow Capiznon! I’m half Kapampangan and half Capiznon. My father’s side is from Sigma, Capiz. Last time I went home was back in 2002 when I was still managing a resort in Boracay. But I’m still very much in touch with my relatives there (thanks to the internet and Facebook hehehe). I miss the family gatherings there. Especially the home cooked food.
Saw your post on The Establishment. I think our former F&B Manager from Diamond Hotel now works there.
Peejay
Yes I am and proud of it! Thanks Peejay for the comment!
elow,,saw in my comment in your post. we have a greating for u anton
what do you mean, Cristina?
were u are from?anton
My dad is from Kapiz, here in Sinabsaban. But we live in Manila now,
but go back once in a while.
nice,,,,,,,,,,,place.
i was grow up in laguban salgan,maayon, capiz also.i like a maayonanon person because all of them are very sweet and lovingly person.
to all viewers please visit our town.
thank you…..
awesome picture.
everyone please visit our town. theirs a lot of beautiful view and places. in our province.
Your Bukid is like my grandparents’ place in Bukidnon. Simple-living.http://www.cdokay.com/