"OBRA":ISANG PAGLALAKBAY AT PAGBIBIGAY-PUGAY NG SINING SA PAGKAKAKILANLAN NG NUEVA ECIJA

marcella gabrielle giron speaks for novo ecijanos

marcella with his father- mr. armando c. giron (chairman, nueva ecija's council for history, culture & the arts).*

MULA SA MGA SALITA NI MARCELLA GABRIELLE GIRON, ANAK NI GINOONG ARMANDO C. GIRON NG NUEVA ECIJA'S COUNCIL FOR HISTORY, CULTURE AND THE ARTS:

"Ang tunay at taos-pusong pagbibigay ay hindi kailanman masusukat o masusuklian. Hindi batayan ang ating pinagmulan o estado sa buhay upang matukoy ang ting kakayahang magbahagi ng kabutihan at malasakit sa ating kapwa. Nagbibigay tayo hindi upang makatanggap lamang ng pauri o kabayaran. Ang walang pag-iimbot na pag-aalay ay nagmumula sa puso, walang bahid ng lihim o makasariling adhikain at hindi humihingi ng anumang kapalit.

Ang pagsasama-sama ng mga bantog na pintor mula sa Nueva Ecija at Maynila ay sumisimbolo sa kakayanan ng sining na pagbuklurin ang bawat indibiduwal o komunidad. Magkakaiba man ang pananw o istilo sa paglilikha,  lahat ay kumakatawan sa iisang larangan, sa iisang lalawigan at iisang bansa. Nais ng OBRA na isantabi muna ang mga pansariling hangarin at ibigay ang dangal at papuri sa mahal nating lalawigan.

Naniniwala ako na ang Sining ay isa sa pinakamaganda at wagas na paraan ng pagbabahagi ng damdamin at paghahayag ng mga katotohanang may kaugnayan sa iba't-ibang aspeto ng buhay. Ang sining ay hindi pasikatan o paligsahan, bagkos, isa itong dalisay na pag-aalay ng sarili, talento at pagmamahal sa mundo. Isa itong larangang walang hangganan at lugar para sa mapang-husga at saradong isipan. Isa itong daan tungo sa malayang pagsasalarawan at pagpapahayag ng mhahalagang istorya't mensaheng sumasalamin sa ating pakikiulayaw at pakikipagsapalaran sa mga reyalidad ng buhay.

Kung ating iisipin, ang buhay Novo Ecijano ay isang napakagandang OBRA ng Lumiha. Tayo rito ay pinagkalooban ng nakabibighaning mga tanawin tulad ng marilag na bulubundukin ng Sierra Madre at ang malalawak na bukiring pinagmumulan ng bigas, mais, sibuyas, at iba pang mga ani at produktong nagbibigay buhay at hanapbuhay, hindi lamang sa ating mga kababayan, kundi sa napakaraming Pilipino.

Ang OBRA ay nilikha bilang pasasalamat sa kabutihan at biyayang natatamasa natin bilang mga Novo Ecijano. Isa itong pagbibigay-pugay sa bawat taong bumubuo sa ating pamayanan. Sa pamamagitan ng mga larawang inialay ng mga tampok naming mga alagad ng sining, nais naming maiangat at mabigyang-puri ang ating pagkakakilanlan bilang isang lalawigan, mapukaw at mapsigla ang interes ng publiko sa kahalgahan ng turismo, kasaysayan, kultura at Sining ng Nueva Ecija; mahikayat ang lahat na isapuso ang kultura ng pag-aalay at malasakit, na nagbibigay-daan sa mas pinaigting na pagkakaisa at tuluyang pag-unlad ng ating lalawigang Nueva Ecija."


(SINULAT NI MARCELLA GABRIELLE GIRON)


(Ang OBRA ay isang Visual Art Exhibit for the benefit of Museo Novo Ecijano at kasalukuyang naka-display na sa nasabing Museo. Ang mga likha ng mga piling-piling pintor ay matatagpuan na ngayon at doon mismo sa Museo Novo Ecijano. Pasyalan na ninyo at saksihan ang OBRA!)

Ang Mga Pintor: Fredi Agunoy, Hermes Alegre, Felix Beltran, Dante Castillo, Elito Circa, Rafael Cusi, Jeff Dizon, Domilito Iquio, Ramon Lopez, Jun Martinez, Nik Masangkay, Lydia Nabong, Mario Parial, Roland Santos, Danilo Taiplacido at Edwin Wilwayco.*

mr. giron being interviewed by a cabanatuan tv fiield reporter during the launching of OBRA.

A MUSICAL BREAK AT OBRA'S LAUNCH

mr. armando c. giron with very special guests at the launching of OBRA  early this year

the paintings on display at the Museo Novo Ecijano

THE BONGABON EXPERIENCE!

friends in bongabon, n.e.: mr. armando giron, beauty queen jane de joya and blogger robert silverio

beauty queen jane de joya and blogger rober poses at armando giron's veranda and receiving area

mr. armando giron and blogger robert at  a very beautiful river in barangay labi, bongabon, nueva ecija.

There were many reasons why. Why people suddenly decided to leave it all behind for the meantime, and took some short trips to discover an answer left forgotten...

To search, maybe to conquer a new horizon, too. To love, maybe to assure a presence of a lingering guardian that never failed to care. To find an answer, a closure, and solve a puzzle that's been haunting and troubling.

****  **** **** ***

IT WAS A RAINY DAY when a soul took a bus at Edsa, Cubao going to Cabanatuan via SCTEX. The little rains didn't hamper his youthful and vibrant spirit. Because the rains simply added more gloss, more artistic feeling and more lively colors. The Five Star bus was cool, cozy and spacious. The people inside it, were all looking glamorous.

"You have to take the Five Star bus in Cubao going to Cabanatuan City, and when you drop-off in the terminal of Five Star in Cabanatuan, take the Bojoda shuttle going to Bongabon. When you reach Bongabon, ride a tricycle and tell the driver to take you to Armando Giron's house", came the text message of Mr. Armando Giron, the Chairman of Nueva Ecija's Council for History, Culture & the Arts as it appeared on his cellphone.

He kept on reading it as not to forget and be careful not to get lost along the way. Going out of the busy Metropolis went-on fast and precise. In a little while, he was already on the smooth-sailing highway of the SCTEX.

The leaves of the trees along the highway danced and the rains melted on the ground. A little ray of the sun appeared from nowhere, signalling the brief ending of the water drops. The soul smiled a little. It's gonna be a nice trip, after all. The positive feeling went-on all too great.

**** **** **** ****


Finally, the bus going to Cabanatuan reached the terminal. It was fast and easy. There was only one stop-over for a quick lunch of Menudo dish and rice, and after that, a quick nap at the bus. He was there on terminal without much wait and false anticipations.

A corn vendor guided him to where the Bojoda shuttle was. It had been waiting there to accomodate passengers, and again, after brief wait for more passengers at Walter Mart in Cabanatuan, the shuttle jeep began its transforming short journey to BONGABON, Nueva Ecija.

Looking at the shuttle jeep passengers, how peaceful and simple they were, the travelling soul exactly felt the same. On this personal journey, he chose to be there- deep within the deep recesses of his mind. An angel told him to be there. To bond with his invisibility, with his ever-lasting guidance and protection. To celebrate a bondage, a marriage, a unison- with, again, the angel of his life. No one ever knew all too well, maybe.

Travelling souls chose the places they wanna be. Most of them, didn't choose the extravagance, nor the 'too much of it all'. They simply wanted some closures, the strengthening of their convictions, the power of their beliefs, and the quest for a silent sanctuary. A hidden garden, maybe, that could transform their souls in better dimensions of a worldly existence- and for an angel, the beauty of the life that was taken out.

Travelling souls, they say, were restless souls, too. Spirits that hang over for more answers. Spirits that lurks by in wide corridors and transparent halls. Spirits that wanted to be felt, hungry to be embraced.

Connecting were all they needed. And the welcoming gesture of MR. ARMANDO C. GIRON was one factor that could transcend lives and open-up new doors. For the living soul, he needed an answer, too, for one great puzzle he could not solve.


*****  ***** **** ****

the beautiful champaca tree at the heart of the giron botanical garden

a small alley with plants adjourning at the giron botanical garden

an artisitc angle and facade at the giron botanical garden

the big duhat fruits that was served at the giron residence

a rare flower at the giron botanical garden

harvested duhat fruits

champaca flowers in the dining table at giron botanicals

champaca tree fades out, other plants fades-in at the giron botanicals

"Heto na po ang bahay ni Armando Giron", the tricycle driver told to the travelling soul. "At mag-enjoy po kayo sa garden niya na ipinagmamalaki po namin dito sa Bongabon."

What a sigh of relief for finally reaching the destination. The travelling soul was feeling a lot better, because the first step of the "great transformation" already happened when the shuttle jeep crossed-over from Palayan to Bongabon more than 15 minutes ago. Because on that instant, the wind suddenly changed, the scenery became more alive, the picture went on to fully LIVE.

You could dramatically notice it. The transformation, we meant. It's as if you suddenly reached a new dimension of place and time. Because more than fifteen minutes ago, as the shuttle jeep reached Bongabon- there was a more beautiful feeling we could not comprehend. The ambience, the environment, the clarity- went on so GIGANTIC in nature and exposure.

And there was the host, as the travelling soul saw him from garden alley leading to the Veranda of his artistic Bungalow house, wherein plants sorrounded it everywhere- very rare and expensive garden plants, and carabao grasses on the floor.

The host, Mr. Armando C. Giron was entertaining friends from the Veranda. He finally saw the travelling soul and smiled and said: "Mr. Robert Silverio, welcome to Bongabon!", he quipped. "Come! Take a seat and enjoy my special noodle soup that I cooked for you."

(from left to right: armando giron, jane de joya, blogger robert)

After introducing him to his friends which included Beauty Queen (Mutya Ng Pilipinas) in 1969 in person of Ms. Jane de Joya and some others, the merienda were served at once. The noodle soup was so delicious and heavy, with chicken and other spices as ingredients and the noodles were thick and flat. There were also a very special kind of a Puto delicacy and rarity which could only be bought in Bongabon, and also cakes, Duhat fruits (which were so big), plus some flashbacks on Ms. de Joya's childhood in Bongabon, with Mr. Giron as her playmate.

After the childhood flashbacks and more, Mr. Giron invited everybody to tour his Giron Botanical Garden and pick more Duhat fruits that was located on the far end of the garden. Along the way, the travelling soul saw more beautiful and almost-extinct kind of plants, flowers, fruit-bearing trees like Mulberries, guavas, mangoes, rambutans, and more. Even if these trees appeared bonsai and small, the fruits they bore were big, so round and heavy. Wow.


**** **** *** ****

standing by a bridge, blogger orbert poses at the top of barangay labi river in bongabon, n.e.- right at the very heart of the sierra madre mountains (bongabon side).

the memorial of Donya Aurora Quezon at the back, as mr. giron and blogger robert poses for a picture

the boundary to aurora province, from bongabon side.

"I will let you feel more about the Bongabon countryside, 'coz I will take you on a trip to the Sierra Madre Mountains leading to the boundary of Aurora province", Mr. Giron told the travelling soul. Almost as if, an angel smiled from nowhere after he said that.

The Sierra Madre mountains meant something for Artists, Historians, Culture-lovers. It inspired poems, songs, film backdrops and hidden messages of space and time. It's a long range and line-up of mountains so big, some small and others wide that starts from the Isabela province in the North, leading to the Bicol region in the South. These mountains protected people from floods, heat and cyclones. And its alignment to the plains and the view of it, attracted many tourists far and out.

So happy that Mr. Armando Giron took 'them' there via a comfortable drive in his pick-up truck. They first visited the many pieces of lands he owned, up in the Sierra Madre (Bongabon side, leading to the boundary of Aurora province) mountains. He talked to some people residing there and continued-on with the trip.

They were already at the very core of the Mountains, deep inside there. The zigzag road was safe, and nature was at its finest.

It was breath-taking, magnificent, no words could perfectly describe how beautiful the Sierra Madre Mountains were. They were thick and green, not bald at all. A river (the Barangay Labi river) runs through in one quick break of the road, and the journey still went-on smoothly.

Going-out of the truck for some quick selfie's, smiles and heavenly feeling of the gushing wind became a MUST. From there, you would fully feel, you could fully embrace, you could totally bond with these great Mountains.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, AFTER ALL.


*****  *****  ***** *****


Suddenly, they reached the spot in Philippine History wherein the late First Lady in 1940's was ambushed and killed. It was the very spot that Mrs. Aurora Quezon (wife of Philippine President in the 1940's- Manuel L. Quezon) died. There was a memorial there, a block of cement reminding people that it was the very place that Mrs. Quezon got killed.

The travelling souls got-off the truck to pay respects and have pictures. The feeling was so serene, and the Filipino Nationalism ignited upon the heart of one living travelling soul. It was located at the very heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Then, they went on.

Until they reached the boundary leading to Aurora province. Again, pictures were taken.

And went back to the house of Mr. Armando C. Giron as the night and the darkness came fast moving-in.


*******  ********* ******

A great dinner of Hamonado Longanizas, Dinuguan, Ginisang Saluyot, plus more, were served. Mr. Giron taught the living traveller how to cook a Hamonado Longganiza, a heritage dish of Novo Ecijanos. You must first cook it in boiling water and set the gas range fire on low. As the water dried up, the sauce and the fats of the Longganiza will melt and cook on its own. Pretty incredible.

Then, a quick call from one person named Jerry who's connected from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The living traveler learned that an event on July 2 was coming-up. NCCA people will teach Dance and Festival Management workshops to the people of Bongabon. And Mr. Giron was all too-glad to act as host for this artistic event.

As night came-in and the travelers were feeling sleepy, Mr. Giron took them to the Giron Stone House, a three-bedroom Hostel in Barangay Casugay, Bongabon. And yes, Mr. Giron also owned it, by the way.

And wow, a very expensive bed mattres (worth almost a hundred thousand of bucks) was waiting there inside one room. With a very cozy atmosphere that could be compared to the rooms of very expensive hotels in Manila. Many paintings also hanged inside the room, a flat TV and an air-condition. The bathroom was artistically-designed, too.

Because of that, the sleep of the travelers went-on soundly. Until the morning after.


*******  ******  ******

the very expensive mattress bed which blogger robert slept on

the facade of giron stone house hotel

The very good male staff of Mr. Giron, named Ben, took the travelers back to the Giron House around 7 (seven) in the morning, the day after. And a perfect American breakfast was served. Of course, there was cup of Brewed Coffee and fruits again.

A special visitor was coming on that very morning. No less than the Mayor of Bongabon, in person of Mayor Ricardo Padilla. As everybody prepared for the arrival of the Mayor, the living traveler looked-upon the very beautiful brook beside the Giron Botanical Gardens, adjacent to the Veranda.

The brook was singing songs as its water flowed so gracefully along with the rhythm of a perfect melody. It went on with unison with the Classical music that Mr. Giron played on the speaker of his cellphone. It was, yes- it was PERFECT.

Suddenly, it was TIME to face a feeling. A moment for CLOSURE.

As the living traveler stared by the brook, it whispered to him an ANSWER. And the answer was FORGIVENESS.

He's been wanting to open-up with Mr. Giron since they traveled inside the Sierra Madres. But he hesitated and lingered to keep it inside him. This time, he's on his own.

This was the end of a PUZZLE. Just like a jigsaw he could not solve, now, he's embracing it.

It's been years now that he could not fully move-on. Because he could not FORGIVE.

The very person who raised him up was the very person he could not forgive. But NATURE has its own way of getting through inside the deepest recesses of your heart and soul. When you got to be embraced by trees, plants, flowing brook water, and birds flying up in the air- your stubborn heart will melt. And the angel beside you simply took you there- for you to KNOW.

On that moment on, you'd forgiven. Not only the FATHER who raised you up and died more than two years ago, but also your very SELF.

Because you knew, you haven't forgiven your self for not being a good SON to your DAD.

And both ways, you'd forgiven. Both ways, you must move on.

The flowing water by the brook answered it all. It was LIFE speaking to you.


***********  **********  ************

two friends

YES, THIS WAS THE BONGABON EXPERIENCE you would not forget.

They never knew, someone was with you along the way. In a special bondage- some sort of a marriage, between a guardian angel and a human being, things happen if you would only BELIEVE.

No matter how far the distance, nothing separates between two hearts that really care.

Form this moment on

until

Forever.

The lady in white

will look

so



BEAUTIFUL IN WHITE.

(a travelogue specially written by robert manuguid silverio, with some photos taken by mr. armando c. giron).*

meyor ferdinand bote: dumalo sa 112th founding anniversary ng gethsemane united methodist church...

mayor ferdinand: doesn't fail the expectations of his people

THE BOTE CLAN/FAMILY AT BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MRS. MAYVELYN BOTE AND HUSBAND FERDINAND BOTE

MR. DAVE MACARIOLA AND THE WOMAN IN MAYOR BOTE'S AUDITING AND TREASURY STAFF, WITH BLOGGER ROBERT SILVERIO

BLOGGER ROBERT WITH VICE MAYOR MELVIN PASCUAL

AdBLOGGER ROBERT WITH THE HANDSOME SON OF THE LADY SPEAKER THAT DAY- JESVIR FAJARDO.

Hindi pinahiya o binale-wala ni Mayor Ferdinand P. Bote ang mga kapatid at ka-deboto niya sa Gethsemane United Methodist Church, na bale 'sister' church ng Bethany United Methodist Church (kung saan naman kabilang si Mayor Bote) dahil dumalo siya mismo ng personal at binati ang lahat sa GUMC sa kanilang 112th Founding Anniversary.

Kitang-kita ng isang blogger ang labis na tuwa sa mga miyembro ng GUMC sa pagdalo ni Mayor sa importante nilang okasyon na iyon. Sa isang espesyal na numero ng programa, nag-conduct si Mr. Dave Macariola sa adult choir ng simbahan nila ng isang napakagandang awitin.

Guest speaker naman nila nu'ng araw na iyon si Dr. Jesvir S. Fajardo na mula pa sa Antipolo, Rizal. At bukod kay Mayor Bote, kabilang din sa mga espesyal na panauhin sina Vice-Mayor Melvin Pascual, District Superintendent mulka sa MNED na si Renelyn Mari Fajardo, isa pang District Superintendent na mula naman sa SNEED na si Alexander de Guzman, at ang blogger na si Robert Silverio.

Kay gandang pagmasdan na ang mga kabataan at mga batang paslit ng Gen. Tinio (formerly known as Papaya) ay nakibahagi sa mga espesyal na numero sa kanilang programa. Nagsipag-awitan ang mga ito at nagsipagsayawan din.

Lalo ding napamahal sa kanila si Mayor Ferdinand Bote dahil maski kasabay ng okasyon nila ang okasyon din sa church nina Mayor Bote, nagawa pa ring humabol at magpunta sa kanila ni Meyor.

More power sa lahat ng mga taga-UMC at mga taga-General Tinio, N.E.!


(sinulat ni robert silverio)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MR. DAVE MACARIOLA'S FB PAGE & mayor ferdinand bote's fb account.*

"idaan na lang natin sa ma-BOTEng usapan" ( si mayor ferdinand bote ng papaya, n.e. at ang kanyang mga magagandang gawain sa papaya)...

mr. dave macariola with meyor ferdinand bote of papaya, nueva ecija

Saksi ang blogger na ito kung gaano ka-effective na Meyor si Mayor Ferdinand Bote ng Papaya, Nueva Ecija. Maka-ilang bese na kasi kaming naka-attend sa mga iba't-ibang charitable projects nito and activities sa kanyang bayan sa Papaya. Siya 'yung tipo ng Meyor na kumikilos talaga at tumutulong sa kanyang mga kababayan at constituents. Kitang-kita ito ng dalawang mga mata namin sa tuwing dadalo kami sa kanyang mga events sa Papaya, sa pag-iimbita ni Ginoong Dave Macariola, isa sa mga kaibigan ni Meyor Ferdinand.

Ang isa sa hindi namin malilimutang okasyon sa Papaya, N.E. ay 'yung Christmas Party ni Meyor Bote para sa more than 1,000 scholars niya sa bawat barangay sa Papaya. Mga kabataang magkakaroon na ng magandang kinabukasan dahil napag-aral na sila ni Meyor.  Oo, isang libong estudyanteng pinapag-aral ni Meyor ng libre, at wala siyang hinihiling na kapalit sa mga ito kundi ang tapusin ng mga ito ang kanilang mga pag-aaral at maging proud na kababayan niya someday.

Nagbigay pa nga si Mayor Bote ng mga aguinaldo o "pamasko" sa lahat ng mga kabataaang nandu'n sa naganap nang event na 'yun, and to think, ang mga ito pa nga ang dapat mag-regalo kay Meyor dahil pinapag-aral nga niya ng libre. Still, out of being kind-hearted, siya pa ang nagpamasko sa mga ito nung holiday season ng December last year of 2016.

Bukod doon sa mga scholars ni Meyor, mayroon pa siyang Medical and Dental missions, in coo[rtstopn with some groups,  para sa mga less-fortunate people ng iba't-ibang mga barangay. At sa mga misyon na ito, laging sinasama ni Meyor Ferdinand ang mga Dumagats, isang grupo ng native aboriginal Filipinos na hindi pinababayaan ng Meyor.

Sabi nga ni Dave Macariola, one of Meyor Bote's most trusted friends: "Ang mainam sa kaniya, walang taong naka-screen, walang frontline people na pagdadaanan mo para makausap siya. Siya na mismo ang haharap sa iyo sa bahay niya pag naroon siya. Hindi ka pababalik- balikin pa. At hindi siya itinatago ng mga kasambahay. Ituturo pa sa iyo kung saan mo dapat puntahan. Ang pinakamaganda, walang umeepal sa buhay niya!

"At hindi na nila pinapapirma sa papel ang mga taong tinutulungan sa bahay nila!", pagpapatuloy pang sabi ni Dave. "Lalong hindi siya nagsasayang ng pera sa mga irrelevant strategists, who lord it over the disenchanted yet voiceless coordinators, para lamang maisulong ang kandidatura niya. He deals directly with his supporters and he gets to know the pulse of his townmates by allowing them an open access to him."

Korek talaga si Dave sa mga nasabi niya. When this blogger met Meyor Ferdinand Bote in person, napakagandang impresyon talaga ang maibibigay o makukuha mo sa kanya. Hindi siya plastik, totoong kausap, sincere at may kakaibang charm. Para siyang artistang pang-"action films" in person. 

Mas lalo pa ngang uunlad ngayon ang Papaya, N.E. sa leadership ni Mayor Ferdinand Bote. Kaya nga, "idaan na lang po natin sa ma-Boteng usapan ang lahat. Dahil tiyak niyan, malaki naman talaga ang maitutulong ni Mayor Ferdinand sa kanyang mga kababayan!

Mayor Bote, may your tribe increase!



(SINULAT NI ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO)

WITH MORE PHOTOS BELOW, BY: DAVE LEODONES MACARIOLA

A DUMAGAT MAN BEING TAKEN CARE OF MEDICAL HISTORY AT MAYOR BOTE'S RECENT MEDICAL MISSION

THE DUMAGATS, NATIVE FILIPINOS

MAYOR BOTE GIVES A SPEECH ON HIS MEDICAL AND DENTAL MISSION IN PAPAYA, N.E.

THE PEOPLE BENEFITING FROM MAYOR BOTE'S CHARITABLE PROJECTS

MAYOR BOTE'S MEDICAL AND DENTAL MISSION, IN COOPERATION WITH DEPT. OF HEALTH

MAYOR FERDINAND BOTE WITH HIS STAFF

THE "DUMAGATS": HINDI PINABABAYAANG NI MEYOR BOTE