Life in the Heart of Manila/The Early Manila Boy-part-3

The next time she came at home in Penaranda. She had brought her 3 kids and the youngest is Boy at 3 years old is wearing a graded contact lens because of his eyes cross sight.And this time,the bisperas of our town fiesta festival and it always being held every last sunday of month of May.We used to visit our town plaza together with my three kids nephews,Noel,Hapon and Boy and they looks so clean and white skin complexion and feeling so happy when my friends and neighbors find them asking who are these sons ? And suddenly my answer is: my nephews to my ate clarita ,when were walking on and stanby at main store.We've to ride on the ferris wheel and toy airplane during that late afternoon.They have a comments to Hapon that she looks liked a Japanese boy,during our visit to our neighbors high class family.After the town fiesta,my sister used to awake early in the morning to avail a first trip bus to Manila at 5:30 in the morning.She left her eldest son Noel to my mother and when he awake in the morning.He was crying for so long moments until I've to convince him that her mother will come back this afternoon only.But it takes another one week before her mother got to go back this time.
As time goes by,the family of my sister has grown up into seven children.From Noel ,Hapon and Boy,another batch was born ,and they are :Vic,Peter,Loloy and Ona.And everyday,is always a challenge to my sister to perform her duties and responsibilites to her kids in household activities.The 5th child Peter got a stomach digestive infection and died at 2 years old.The influence in their small community of different and mixed culture.They have lost a moral support from their parents to continued to study in higher education.Like Hapon,he could'nt completed his High sch. course,and become a group member of petty crime in their place.And one day,he became a suspect in a homecide case.But they could make a settlement to the victim and forget about it.He was accidentally died in a construction bldg.to do his job as steelman in 1991.And he forget to get married at the age of 30 yrs.And his story use to end up with nothing but myself.It makes me to remember him as part of my childhood mem.Until my sister have got a heart attack at the start of last year 2003 and she can recover from the city hospital.After a months ago,she has past away at the age of 65 yrs.old.We have to attend a last goodbye for our beloved sister this time with tears fallen down in the last moments of her story.

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Life in the heart of Manila/The Early Manila Boy-part 2

We have to walk an asphalt road of about half km.from Shaw boulevard into a residential houses,industrial areas and some man made shanty houses beside the road.And we cross the main street of nueve de febrero-a gateway to The National Mental Hospital,The Home of the Aged,The Correctional For Women and The Welfareville For Boys.And we step down a narrow gangway in a small commumity of urban early dwellers and cross a wooden bridges passersby where in a river drainage from the above government institutions waste water goes by.An open playground,while walks a corner vacant lot leads to five steps rocky stairway.And finally,we reach the elevated balcony entrance of my sisters home.Unexpectedly,a noisy playing scene by a kids like Noel and Hapon( my nephews) with neighbors playmate,when we arrive and suddenly stop the play.I walk around inside the 2 room and bathroom at the back corner of their house and absorb this fatigue feeling of mine.Before the sunset,my nephews has follow me to go to the nearby sari-sari store beside the playground for snacks and take a look to some kids friend with me.In the evening,we spent our dinner with boiled rice in family bowl,a tinola chicken soup,and sliced fried fish prepared by my Ate and ditse.My Bro. in law,kuya Manuel still not present this time and stayed to his job in The Home of the Aged as cook and server. A few mins. walk from their house,beside the compound concrete perimeter fence.And he is coming home before midnight through stair hanging at the opposite side. We sleep together with our nephews at the next room in a family size foam bed inside a mosquito cotton net.And the couple,spend the night at the living room part of the house.We awake by my sister,when the kitchen family table is ready for breakfast.After kuya Manuel used to deliver a pitchel of hot chocolate,pan desal and margarine.And come back again to his work site for a while.We used to play in the living room with my nephews and sitting down into window -nest to watch and views the area inside the government institutions by concrete fence top level.Pointing with finger the name of the buildings,the tower of welfareville,the trees covered of the correctional for women.Still a tall grass will found at the large vacant areas of the compound for this time to the most part.

The Early Manila Boy- in memory of our beloved sister,Ate Clarita

Her mother is our sister,and she is the eldest daughter of Mateo and Filomena Mabalay of Peñaranda,Nueva Ecija.According to my parents,she was born on June 10,1938 after two yrs of their marriages.As the only child this time,she always helping to my mother in preparing and cooking foods,washing the clothes in the river of Peñaranda and other household activities.As I recall when I was a child:Nakita ko sa aming sala,na nakasabit ang kanya diploma sa pagka Deaconisa at may maliit na litrato nya ng siya ay dalaga na.At sa kahon ng litrato ni Tatay ay may kuha ng siya ay nag aral sa High school dito sa Peñaranda.Isang litrato nya na may dedication ng pagmamahal ng isang lalaki at ito ay si Kuya Manuel,nakilala nya pala sa Maynila,ng siya ay nag-aral dito.At minsan nga,dumating sila sa amin,namasyal sila dito sa Peñ.sa aming kamag-anak sa sinasajan at ipinakilala raw ni Ate at nagpakasal na nga sila dito sa amin.At nagsama na nga sila at pagkaraan ng ilang taon.Umuwi uli sila Ate sa amin,at magpipiyesta ng Mayo dito,.may anak na sila,si Noel nga(ang nasa litrato)at si Hapon,ang totoo raw na pangalan ay Normando Barrientos,.na labis kong ikinasaya at natutuwa sa bago kong kalaro at mga pamangkin.At ng minsan,pagkatapos ng aralan ng grade-I ako, ay bakasyon na.Dumating uli si Ate,sakay siya ng Bautista & sons at bumaba sa tapat ng aming bahay,mag-isa lang siya at maraming dala pasalubong.Mga Tinapay na Baliwag pandesal,Mga delata lapad na Sardinas,corned beef,mantika sa lata na parang margarine , mga isda na pinirito na , matamis ,at harina,na nakalagay sa dalawang paper bag na nakatali. Kinabukasan ng Tanghali,napag-usapan na isasama ako at si Ditse Miriam na isasama paluwas o pagbalik nya sa Maynila.At sa unang pagkakataon ay makakaluwas na ako sa siyudad ng maynila sabi ko sa sarili ko:At maganda raw doon,marami ako mapapasyalan na kakaiba sa amin..at sumakay na nga kami ng dyip papunta sa Gapan at pagdating sa Gapan,ay parang hilo na naman ako. At lumipat na uli kami sa Bautista na nakaparada doon sa Gilid ng Bukana sa Gapan.Habang nagbibiyahe na ay nahihilo na ako at nakahiga na ako at kalong ni ditse Miriam.At malapit na ako masuka,pero nakatulog ako.At nakarating na sa Grace park,dito sa caloocan at lakad na naman kami at lumipat ng dyipni uli,punta raw sa may divisoria,at lumipat na Uli sa bus Marikina,bumaba kami sa Torres raw iyon papunta sa kanila 9 de Febrero st.Mandaluyong,Rizal.

Life in the heart of Manila- All by Herself-part -3 Justice for Bebe

Were still a non democratic country until now and our family code is incomplete regarding the maltreatment offenses by the head of the family being committed to his wife,sons and daughters when they growing up.Its very unfair to the in-laws to learn about what they suffered before during her burial moments.Feeling so hurt in our mind and soul as our beloved sister who become a victim of her husband's owned interest and benefits.And the children,like Lolit and Louie has lost their trust and confidence from their father and shouted to seek Justice for the death of their mother.A martyr for the love and welfare of her family.They wish and pray to God that Justice must be on their side now After the peaceful process of last goodbye to our sister last Oct.9,11.Lolit remind us that she has a peace of mind now that her mother had in rest in peace.And Lets forget the sad memories of her past and make it as a lesson and values of life for tommorow with her family.Reminding us against the common practices of maltreatment case by every head of the family towards to his wife and children.This is not the proper way to make a disciplinary action or to discipline our household members.And to the Authority in charge and to the readers:You can be the next victim,if you pretending like nothing at all.,but to make a movement,to be a part of wish to minimize this cases in our society.

Life in the heart of Manila- All by Herself-part -2

After 10 years of their marriages,the couple have got 3 beautiful kids and they are Lolita,Luisito and Lorelei.Until one day,her husband was lay off from his job in P.N.R.,a government owned railways in the Philippines.And this time is the start of my sisters looking for livelihood to her family.She used to buy and pay later , a wholesale of early morning arrival of freshfish and vegestables and sell it inside of Muñoz Public Market place in Nueva Ecija for the daily needs of her children.While my brother in law,Kuya celso taking care of his kids start to become selfish and irresponsible father to do his part.It develop a mutual misunderstanding bet.her wife esp.about their children when growing up.And another children were born,and they are Lanie,Leslie,Lotis,Lili and Lorna is the last child.According to Lorelei,2nd daughter-my niece:His father has a new family and forget his support to us and stay with another woman,.and lived for so long time in Barangay hall in their place.Through her mother,Lolit the eldest, have tried to completed her studied as B.S.E.Ed and supported her study also when she've got to work as a teacher.While Louie,become stubborn child of the family,withnessing the many days mis- agreement discussion bet.her parents. He has got a hard penalty from his father during his wrong doings.And one day,Lolit had try to stopped and display to her father a sharp kitchen knives to defend her beloved mother, when sometime she find a maltreatment bet.their parents. And shouted,.she wish to file a case against her father for maltreatment practices towards her mother,.and put him in jail for the rest of his life..Until my sister have got a heart attack on August 2009 and survive in nearby hospital.Since then,she stayed at their home and stop from her selling job in San Jose.We used to visit her,all of us- last Sept.26,09..to show our respect as brothers and sisters who still on her side what ever happened in our destiny only God knows our future.

Life in the heart of Manila- All by Herself-part -1

She was born on Sept.4,1944 as the 3rd daughter of Mateo and Filomena Mabalay of Peñaranda,Nueva Ecija.They called her Teresita or Bebe,as known for us until now remembered well about her..Ng siya ay magdalaga na ay nagka-kilala pala sila ni Kuya Celso sa San Jose City.Dito raw nakatira si Nanang Rubing at ang kanyang pamilya,nakababata kapatid ni Inang.At pagkaminsan ay umuuwi siya sa Peñaranda,upang kami ay dalawin.Tumutulong siya sa Hanapbuhay nila Nanang na pagtitinda ng pagkain sa harap ng kanilang bahay,na naka-pwesto sa malapit sa paaralan elementarya ng bayan ng San Jose at ganoon din sa pag-aalaga ng mga pininsan namin,na mga anak na maliliit pa noon.Napunta narin ako dito noon kasama ni Inang, ng ako bago palang,nagkaka-isip at kalaro ko si Ben,na kasing laki ko noon,at ng umuwi kami sa Peñaranda:ay sumakay kami sa Bautista & sons,ang bus na uso noon sa amin at hilong parang gulay ang pakiramdam ko pagdating sa aming bahay. Pagka umuuwi sa Peñ..ay dumadalaw siya sa mga dating kaibigan,kila Ate Luz,(pinsan namin),Tia Linda na Bautista(kapitbahay)at marami pa iba..At sa pagdating ng hapon..uuwi at papanik na ng bahay..lagi ako mapapansin at uutusan,..minsan tinuruan nya ako ng paghuhugas ng mga plato at baso at isang araw matapos ako makipaglaro sa likod bahay namin:may mandala,bundok ng dayami at pupunta kami sa tuktok nito,kalaro sila Ante(pinsan ko at kapitbahay) at magpapadulas at gugulong kami mula sa itaas nito.At kasabay ng pamimitas ng matamis na kaymito ni Kaka itang..ay marami akong nakuha na basag at napakatamis kainin..Pagpanik ko ng bahay ay tinanong nya ako,.saan daw ba ako galing at ganon ang hitsura ko? sabay pingot sa tainga ko...Minsan isang gabi,maraming bisita na dumating sa amin,at nag usap-usap sila sa sala ng aming bahay kaharap ni Tatay at inang ang ama ni kuya celso,na nakaupo sa kabilang panig at katabi si Bebe.Nakatayo naman ako sa may tabi ng pintuan papasok sa aming kusina at narinig ko na ikakasal na pala sila sa susunod na buwan. At dumating nga ang itinakdang araw ng linggo,maraming nagdadatingan na mga bisita sa amin,at mga nilutong handa mga pagkain,na nakalagay sa mga malaking kaldero at palanggana,pati mga kakanin sa mga bilao,at isa-isa inaayos sa aming kusina.Napanood ko rin sa kapilya ang ginanap na pagkasal sa kanila ni Pastor Cornelio Ramos Bote,pagkatapos ng panlinggo sambahan noon dito.At sa pananghalian na ginanap sa aming bahay:marami ako nakain na pinya sa lata at sorbetes na in-order na dalawang kahon.Pagkatapos ng kasal,dito muna sila namalagi sa aming bahay,,..sa umpisa ay matamis na pag-ibig at pagsusuyuan,habang ako ay nakahiga sa aming upuan na mahaba sa aming sala at nakatingin sa mga butiki na naglalampungan sa kesami ng aming lumang bahay noon.Ako lang mag-isa kasi ang nasa sala namin, galing sa pakikipaglaro at sila inang nasa kapilya,si tatay nasa kanyang gasolinahan at nagbabantay,uuwi na iyon kapag tanghalian na,..naririnig ko ang kanilang mga biruan , tuksuhan at habulan sa aming kwarto na tulugan sa aming bahay ng oras na iyon..At grade II nga ako,sa pagpasok ko sa tanghali,ay nagpapahingi ako kay Bebe kay kuya celso ng baon na 5 o 10 sentimos bago ako umalis. ,

Our old Family in the late mid 30's: From Peñaranda with Love

During the 30's,the people of Peñaranda,Nueva Ecija has a common wealth of life.A part of rice granary here in the Philippines,and my grandfather own a lot of hectares of land in Dulangan,a part of sinasajan,Peñaranda.He is Marciano Mabalay,married to Juliana Legaspi of barrio San Joseph,and got 2 children-Mateo and Adelaida.At the age of 10 years old,her mother died from desease.My father used to help at the farm works and pasturing the lot no. of carabaos ,milking and selling it to the town proper every morning until completed his Grade 7 school- a meaning of individual higher education this time.The town location is subdivided by Peñaranda River and they used to lived and awake early to walk from the town's railway bridge passersby going sinasajan to the farm.And one day:he met my mother,Filomena with our Lola Anselma Leodones-waiting a train in sinasajan station for trading a heart leaves(ikmo in tagalog) bundles to Cabanatuan City,the daily source of livelihood for this time.Until my Grandfather and Lola Anselma agreed to marry their son and daughter in March 1936.Don Mariano Paras,the owner of town's birds can't fly hectares rice farm as one sponsor and Mayor Casiano Abes-present Mayor as one sponsor and my grandfather was new elect town councilor.They've a gracious and elegant wedding for this time affair and event for our family:My Auntie,adelaida/nanang ida own a family's Bakery shop,send the most bread products to horsedrawn calezas to sinasajan and pass to high water level river of Peñaranda to sinasajan,my mother native place.And start of new life,Mateo use to employed at the town municipal hall as collector of town income and secretary to the treasurer.The people of Penaranda has a productive income due to the railways line from Manila to Cabanatuan City.Farm Products and livestock are easily transported to any part of the country.The Town Market has fully commercialized by different people from some part of the philipines during this time according to my father.Until they raise a five children, namely: Clarita,the eldest daughter,.. was born on June 10, 1938,Lolita on Jan.1,1941.And the world war II begin between Japan and all allied nation of the United States of America.The people of penaranda suffered the hardship of life in history,after corregidor was conquer by the Japanese Imperial Army during the Christmas of this year.My father remain in his position as resident certificate issuer by this town guerillas who always requesting my father to do his Job as password to Japanese guards around the town perimeter that always entering at night in our house.Until my sister Bebe was born on Sept.4,1944,where in mother and the whole family going outside in the farm to hide from Japanese Army's all baby hunter for death.A group of Japanese Army used to stay in our house and spend the nights and my father supplied them with foods and live chickens to eat until they going to far area in Minalungao,a boundary of Nueva Ecija and Bulacan for Hiding from the incoming American Troops in our town.And Liberation of the people comes,ernesto was born on July 4,1946,my eldest brother and died from phenomonia desease when he was at 2 years old,another sad story for our family.After my granfather was committed his christian belief to U.C.C.P. mission in Peñaranda and start to evangelized and baptised every member of our family.They contribute the front area of land where in our house use to remove backward to give way for early U.C.C.P. church in Peñaranda.All the guest,Pastor and Deaconese were stayed in our home as host and my mother actively committed to every activities to the church.In Feb.5,1948,ate yolly was born,followed by Ditse Miyang on June 16,1950,Gardy on Jan.14,1953 and myself on Oct.31,1956.My eldest sister,clarita was send by my Grandfather to U.C.C.P. central church in Manila to study and completed the course in Evangelism as Deaconese in the church in 1959.At the same time,Roy was born on August 9,1959 and my sister arrive with fiancee,kuya Manuel and got married for this time.Until elsa,our youngest was born on June 20,1961 and I still recall the moments when my mother delivering her last child.