Monday, October 06, 2008

Memories of Bacon


The fragrance of the tropical flowers that adorned the altar is something I could not forget to this day. I do love the whole altar, the old walls and carved names, and of course the pulpit (I hope I did really see it then (charge the uncertainty to a very tender age) and if I am right, if only for the young to have an idea of how it used to be, I hope it still stands).
It is in this same church that I had the formal blessing and the short, but meaningful ceremony of wearing the “habito” of the Lady of Miraculous Medal. This is my strongest attachment to this church.

And in much later, still young year, though short-lived, I felt so proud being able to light a Petromax. Some German power of a light they invented! Wow! And I handled it well! And only in Bacon!
Jenny

I remember that church when I am in secondary at Annunciation College. I always amazed of the scenery of the altar, the grotto, the sculptors during our everyday holy rosary and once a week holy mass.

When we were playing with my classmates in front of the church and noticed the crumbled KAMPANARYO, I make a promise that if God gave me a chance to have a fortune I will someday restore the original structure, but unfortunately I'm just an ordinary worker here in Manila now...
2:44 AM, October 05, 2008
Inaki sa Bacon

I remember the time when I was still a kid playing around on top of the wall of the "Intramuros". We used to pick some "fruits" of a wild plant called dulce kuyumot. Being a nasty kid at that time, I don't mind the warnings of my aunt regarding engkanto living in that place, and the snakes that roam. All I want to do is to explore and play inside Intaramuros. Before going home, I drop by the pandayan and watch how the sundang are made. At night, when petromax are all lighted, when the moon is at its peak, we play patubigan (patentero, if I'm not mistaken) or hide and seek beside the old municipal building or at the corner house of the Atutubos.
El Muralla

How can I forget Bacon, on my high school days almost everyday I walked everyday from my alma mater Annunciation College of Bacon to the barrio I lived & grew up, passing by three barangays before I arrived at my house?

How can I forget Bacon, my classmates invited me for the “binyagan session” in an outskirt area of kalye Paalam & perform the classical procedure of soaking ourselves in “patubig” chewing guava leaves & slicing it using a “labaha?”

How can I forget Bacon when my first kiss happened in front of my beloved grandmother grave in Bacon Cemetery, when my girlfriend & I visited her?
Tony

If the smell of newly baked apple pie with cinnamon gives warmth to an American home, so does the “cocido” with the soothing scent of “suwa” in a Bacon home.Days would come & go, there’s “maya-maya”, there’s “turingan”, there’s “lapu-lapu” and who could forget the mild tasting “sap-sap”, and most of all “turos” its fins capable of inflicting swelling pains.Accompany any of these with mahumukon na pinakul-aw na langka and you could kiss delicately prepared Foie Gras good-bye.
Jenny

“Semana Santa” ini an dakulang okasyon masunod sa Navidad na nauruli an mga taga-Bacon.An mga pabasa sa mga balay, an mga handa nan an mga bisita na nakibasa.An mga prosesyon kan mga santo, an mga handa pagkatapos kan prosesyon. Ini an mga naroromdoman kong maogmahon sa Bacon.
An Viernes santo na dae dapat magribok, dai magkanta, dai magpasuhay, diit an pagkaunon, nan sira sana ta gadan si Jesus.
An Dominggong pagkabuhay, an paglukso ta baad daa humalangkaw. An mga lauya sa mga balay.An Sinaklot, na minaw-ot kong ako an maging anghel na dai man ako kinua ta siguro magub-at ako para mag sinaklot na dai ko man ikinamundo ta may bag-o akong bado na pansimba.

Saro sana ini sa mga magayonong kultura kan Bacon.
Annie

It was during the Second World War that I, as a budding teen had my 1st dance during an "Aurora Katapusan" at Kanda, Bacon. My partner, Pilar Latosa was a pretty young girl in the neighborhood who became one of my best friends. I still remember her as she was then. I wonder where she is now.
JJ
I was alone in my room when from somewhere, I heard the distant tune of a well remembered melody, and instantly I was transported back in time.
I was thirteen years old again & it was the 1st week of December 1941 at the Bacon Municipal building...
War had become a certainty.
Wives & parents of young men called up for training and service congregate every morning at the Municipal building for information. Between news flashes came the tune of " Come back to Sorrento" and in the background I could hear the faint sounds of sobbing. I turned & I could see the anguish & tears on their faces.
Since then, there never was a time I hear that song that I don't remember the wives & orphans that war has made.
JJ

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Taking advantage of my break time……….Inaki sa bacon and El Muralla, I'd like to join you in your recollection.

The fragrance of the tropical flowers that adorned the altar is something I could not forget to this day. I do love the whole altar, the old walls and carved names, and of course the pulpit (I hope I did really see it then (charge the uncertainty to a very tender age) and if I am right, if only for the young to have an idea of how it used to be, I hope it still stands). I am glad I am able to hold these images despite my earliest age of ignorance when these visual aspects, at the very least, were initially registered in my repertoire of memories. It is in this same church that I had the formal blessing and the short, but meaningful ceremony of wearing the “habito” of the Lady of Miraculous Medal. This is my strongest attachment to this church.

From my earlier remark to an article, “The Kuta, a reminder of the precious that it protected from a time that surely was historic, later on, a breeding place of guava and papaya trees, of lemon de china and other plants, their greenery vivid as well; as a child it seemed scary, yet loved for the sturdiness and perseverance, and mystery it exuded; yet inviting, but only the brave would dare tread as the unknown that lurks beneath was too much for the imagination……”

And in much later, still young year, though short-lived, I felt so proud being able to light a Petromax. Some German power of a light they invented! Wow! And I handled it well! And only in Bacon! That’s what makes it more precious. Much, much, much earlier though, when I was not actually supposed to remember, (because perhaps I haven’t even learned to spell yet), the heated glass of this beautiful tool has left a mark on me. Still, only in Bacon! I only see this high-powered source of light now in pictures, giving relevance to the energy and hard work of fishermen; but, it hasn’t robbed me of the connection it has and I have, to Bacon.

Anonymous said...

Very nostalgic. Those memories almost made me pack my bags and go back home to our beloved Bacon.

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