Ode to a Stream on the Wall

Ode to a Stream on the Wall
Mural by Dr Abe V Rotor

Markus 1 (in stroller), with friends at home in Lagro QC, 2016

Flow gently, sweetly with the breeze

and sing with the little children;

whisper with the rocks and trees,

make every creature their friend.

Sing the songs of the forest deities,  

the cheerful crickets and birds,

lullaby of Mozart, chorus of Liszt:

"Grow and be happy,” they urge. ~

Convergence in Nature

Convergence in Nature  

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Convergence in Nature, detail of painting by AV Rotor 2017

To see the world in every living tree,

And Heaven in dawn’s solemnity; 

Hold infinity in birds flying free

And eternity in peace and unity.

Adapted from William Blake’s

Auguries of Innocence

Waterfalls Under My Feet

Waterfalls Under My Feet 
"... when discovered they are made into a trade!
I wish waterfalls are seen only from above." 
Dr Abe V Rotor 

This waterfall, huge and imposing below,

where does it begin, where does it end?
minuscule from the air, the size of my shoe,
beyond sight afar, shrouded at the bend.

But I hear it hissing clear, tumbling down,
its rock walls shudder, the trees quiver,
flowing down the gully in leap and bound,
meanders and merrily pours into a river.

I've long wondered how a waterfall is made
Isn't by Nature alone, the presence of God?
yet when discovered is made into a trade!
I wish waterfalls are seen only from above. 

These are two of a series of waterfalls on the slope of the mountain along the cable car route. Scanty rainfall at this time of the year (approaching autumn) explains the low water supply of the falls and their tributaries. Vegetation of the watershed is likewise poor, since many trees are deciduous (shedding of leaves) and dormant in preparation for the coming cool and windy months.

 

 

A cable car connects the main island of Hong Kong to Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, where the Big Buddha, a large bronze statue sits at the top near Po Lin Monastery. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith. It is from the cable car that these photos were taken through its glass floor. Upper photos were taken at the summit showing the silhouette of Buddha, and the adjoining peaks, while the lower photos showing the harbor and newly opened settlement are views half-way the car’s descent. The pair of shoes belongs to Markus two and one-half years old accompanied by his sister Mackie, their daddy and mommy, and grandparents.~

Where have all the Gardens Gone?

Where have all the Gardens Gone?   

Dr Abe V Rotor

 

 

Death of a Garden.  Acrylic paintings by the author, 2015

Where have all the gardens gone,
    the butterflies and honeybees, 
dancing and riding on the breeze,
    dewdrops sparkling in the sun?

Where have all the children gone,
    reminiscent of old Pied Piper,
lured to a new land somewhere,
    and never again to be found?

Where have all the ladies gone,
    in "loves-me-loves-me-not" game, 
though lose or gain it's the same,
    flower and love knitted as one? 

Where have all the good life gone, 
    Nature's gift to the living world 
bound by a collective accord.
    Lo! to man the lost prodigal son. ~

Takip-kuhol (Centella asiatica) - a Panacean home remedy

San Vicente Botanical Garden  Series

Takip-kuhol (Centella asiatica)

- a Panacean home remedy

Dr Abe V Rotor

Takip kuhol which means literally the operculum of gastropods or snails, grows wild, often as weeds in the garden and field where the soil is moderately damp.  It is easy to raise it in pots such as this sample (At home, QC)

Takip kuhol is a highly regarded plant of many uses; in fact it has a panacean reputation in folk medicine. Ask an herbolario, a bona fide housewife, or a village elderly. And they would say, "Takip kuhol lang ang kailangan diyan." (All you need is Centella asiatica, the scientific name of the plant.) 

Of course they are talking about common ailments, referring to ordinary colds, fever, flu, skin infection, sore throat, boil (pigsa), headache, constipation, blows and bruises.  The herbal may be prepared as decoction (boiled) or fresh.  It may be toasted and served as tea or infusion.*  For external use, the leaves are crushed and applied as ointment or liniment with vaseline or coconut oil. 

In a research conducted, takip-kuhol leaf extract was found to be an antibacterial agent against three common infectious bacteria, which explains the efficacy on the plant against infectious diseases which these bacteria cause.

·         Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria that lives in our intestines. Most types of E. coli are harmless. However, some types can make us sick and cause diarrhea. 

·         Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium  frequently found in the human respiratory tract and on the skin. 

·         Salmonella enterica. Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps

Pure extract of Takip-kohol leaves is effective against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis. Boiled extract is not as effective, especially against E coli. 

Panacea is often referred to as cure-all, which is mythological, Panacea being the Greek goddess of healing. There is no single remedy for all ailments. As a caution, takip kuhol should not be used as a prescription to serious ailments and diseases, specially those that require medical attention.~ 

Botany of Takip-kuhol

Family: Apiaceae

Scientific name: Centella asiaticaa (Linn) Urb

Synonym: Hydrocotyle asiaticaa Linn

Other common names: Gotu kola, hydrocotyle, Indian pennywort

 Illustrated life cycle of Centella asiatica;  plant in bloom 

Traditional Use:  Crushed leaves aare commonly consumed by Sri Lankanss as salad or hot beb\verage.  More rewcntly the herb acquired a conssiderable reputation as an aphrodisiacv, a agent that stimulates sexual vitality.

Phytochemicals: ALKALOIDS, ALKALOID CHLORIDES, ASIAtICOSIDE, BRAHMINOSIDE, BRAMOSIDE, CALCIUM, DEXTROSE, Fe2O3,  MADECASSOSIDE, MUCILAGE, PECTIN, P2O5, RESIN, SAPONIN, TANNIN, VELLARINE, VITAMIN B

Other properties/actions: Hypotensive, longevity promoter, sclerotic, stimulant, tonic, treatment for abscesses, dysentery, fevers, headaches, high blood pressure, jaundice, leprosy, mental troubles, nervous disorders, rheumatism, skin eruptions, ulcer.

Plant Description:  Slended, creeping plant with stems that root at nodes.  Leaves are rounded to kidney- or heart-shaped at the base.  Flowers are 3 sessile.  Fruits are minute, ovoid, white or green and reticulate. 

-  Reference: Rotor AV, De Castro D and RM Del Rosario, Philippine Herbs to Increase Sexual Vitality

*Infusion is the process of extracting chemical compounds or flavors from plant material in a solvent such as water, oil or alcohol, by allowing the material to remain suspended in the solvent over time (a process often called steeping). An infusion is also the name for the resultant liquid. The process of infusion is distinct fromdecoction, which involves boiling the plant material, or percolation, in which the water passes through the material as in a coffeemaker. Wikipedia 

Functional Literacy, "A Camilo Osias Story"

Functional Literacy, "A Camilo Osias Story"
Educator, politician and writer who produced works such as The Filipino Way of Life, Dr Abe V Rotor

RARE 1924 CAMILO OSIAS THE PHILIPPINE READERS

Here is a story* about Pedro and Jose I read in the elementary.

One day Pedro approached his boss and complained why his partner Jose is receiving a higher pay when both of them have the same nature of work.

“Ah, Pedro,” sighed the boss with a sheepish smile. “You will come to know the reason.”

Just then the doorbell rang. “Pedro, please find out who is at the gate.”

After some time, Pedro returned, “Someone is looking for you, sir.”

“Ask who he is.” Pedro went to the gate again, and reported back.

“He is a certain Mr. Carlos, sir.”

“Ask him what he wants.” Pedro went to the gate for the third again, and then returned.

“I did not get it well, sir. But he said he sells home appliances…promotion, something like that. He would like to meet the manager.”

“Tell him we do not need appliances.”

The next day the doorbell rang again. This time, both Pedro and Jose were in the office of their boss. Jose promptly rose from his seat to attend to the visitor at the gate. After a while he returned and reported back.

“Our visitor is an insurance agent, sir. He was offering insurance for our building, and knowing that it is already covered, I told him we do need his offer for the moment. He gave me his business card.” Jose handed the card and excused himself for another call.

“Now you understand,” said the boss to Pedro with a sheepish smile.

Author's Note: There are other versions of the story which revolve around the same theme. .
_______

About Camilo Osias 

Camilo Osias (March 23, 1889 – May 20, 1976) was born in Balaoan, La Union. He was noted as one of the senate presidents of the Philippines, a nationalist leader who worked for Philippine independence and sovereignty, and is remembered as an educator, politician and writer who produced works such as The Filipino Way of Life, the Philippine Readers, and Jose Rizal, His Life and Times – a biographical work on Rizal. He also wrote a wide variety of articles with themes ranging from the nation to personal life and day to day living in the Philippines.

He edited the series Philippine Readers (known as Osias Readers) for primary intermediate schools. He translated into English Rizal’s famous novels Noli Me Tangere (1956) and El Filibusterismo (1957). He also wrote numerous books and essays on Rizal, education, religion, and the Filipino Way of Life.

Dr. Osias believed that education should secure for every person the fullest measure of freedom, efficiency, and happiness. Efficiency, he demands that one must be able to cooperate with the other members of the society to promote common good.

He also advocated that the educational system must contribute towards the achievement of the goals of education by inculcating their minds and hearts of the youth the value of preserving the patrimony of the country promoting the general welfare of he people.

Dr. Osias’ suggestions to Philippine schools:

• Preserve the solidarity of Filipino; 
• Maintain the unity of the Philippines; 
• Work out a proper equilibrium in economic order; 
• Develop social justice; 
• Observe the merit system in government service; 
• Promote peace and national defense; 
• Uphold the inalienable rights of life, property, liberty, and happiness; 
• Keep in their prestige majesty the fundamental freedom, especially freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of peace and assembly, and freedom of worship; 
• Conserve the principle of equality; 
• Hold high the ideals of religion; 
• Keep over aloft the torch of education, and 
• Make democracy a living and functional reality. 

Photos: Internet, Wikipedia

"Ur-urayenka, Anakko'" (I am waiting for you, my child.)

"Ur-urayenka, Anakko'"

Sarita ni Abe V. Rotor

Agladladingit ti langit.  Nangisit ken lumabbaga iti tangatang, bumabbaba ti ulep.  

Maisaak a Prodigal Son. Siak ni Inting.

Nasursurko ti uppat a suli ti lubong, binirbirukko ti makuna a Utopia ti las-ud ti lima pulo a tawen – mamindua a nasuruk iti kabayag a natnaturog ni Rip Van Winkle. Nagtungpal metten ti Cold War – lima pulo a tawen nga nabingay ti lubong ti dua a kampo a nagginginnura, nagsinsinnikap.  Ngen saan pay la a nagun-od ti pudno a kappia.

Ket itan agawidakon ditoy ili a nakayanakak ken dimmakkelak.  Simmabat ni tatang,  aginnarakup kami. Ti ragsat saan nga maibalikas. Ket napaut ti panagkatkatawa ken panagtedted ti luami.

“Pakawanennak, Tatang.”                 

Ngen kunana, “Agragsat tayo. Nagbiag ti natay nga anakko. Partien ti katabaan nga urbon. Ayaban amin ti kakailian.”      

“Ni Manong Tonio, Tatang?”

“Umayto. Adda diay taltalon.”

Agsangpet dagiti tattao.

Ditoy San Vicente  nasapa ti panagbaro ken panagbalasang.   Adu kaniami ti pimmanpanaw, sinursurotmi diay bangir ti Cordillera ken ballasiw taao dagiti ar-arapaap ti agkabanuag.  Lumakay ken bumaket no makasubli kami - kaaduanna, balikbayan. Adu ti saanen.     

Ngem sibibiag ni Apo Lagip - ti naglabas ken masakbayan kasla saanda  nagsina. Naanos ti tiempo. Bassit ti nagbalbaliwan ti ili ken umili. 

Saan a nagsukat ti abbong ti altar a naburdaan ti Ur-urayenka Anakko.  Ubingak pay idi adda daytoy nga isu’t mangsabat ti mata pagserrek ti dakkel a simbaan. Agkupkupas ti kaaapros dagiti agraem ken ni Apo San Vicente Ferrer, patron ti ili.

“Ibagam man dagiti napnapanam ken  nasarsarakam, Inting.” Kiddao dagiti kaubingak. Mammanudan. 

“Nasapulam kadi ti puon ti bullalayaw, Inting?” angaw ni Belen, maysa idi a princesa ti komedia no agpiesta ti ili,  maudi a martes ti Abril. Badong latta ni Badong, ti katuturedan ti klasemi ti elementaria. “Ania, umay manen ti gubat?” Sa nagmulagat.  Maymaysa’t petsa ti pannayanakmi idi gubat.  

Umad-adu ti tattao, awanen ti pagtugawan. Nagdalupakpak pay ketdin  dagiti dadduma.  Malutluto ti pagraramanan. Malang-ab ti maletletson.   

“Denggentayo ti maisa nga anak ti ili.”  Imbaga ni Mayor Simeon, apo ti dati nga alkalde.  Sa immabay kaniak.  “Mailiw dagiti umili kenka.”  

Narigat ti agsarita no saan a naragsak ti ibaga. Kayatko a saritaen ti saan a nasayaat a rupa ti panagprogreso ti lubong. Ti siudad a balitok adda laeng ti arapa-ap.  Ti Paraiso awan ditoy rabaw daga. Pantasia laeng ti Utopia.

Kasla mabasbasa ni Ven ti pampanunutek.  Ni Ven ti valedictorianmi ti high school diay Vigan, daidi CIC, Divine Word College itan. Iniarisa-asna, “Istoria-em dagiti Four Horsemen of Apocalypse.” Naadalmi daytoy ken ni  Mr. Rafanan, titsermi ti history.

  

Saan nga pantasia daytoy. Impakdaar dagiti propeta, kasta met ni Nostrodamus.  Dagiti saan a namatpati ti umuna a biktima. Daytoy ti ibagbaga manen ni Alvin Toffler, autor ti Future Shock, ken da Naisbitt ken Aburdane, ti naggapuan ti tema a postmodernism. Kunada, “Ti panagprogreso saanen a malappedan ket dumardaras pay. Palab-og iti laplapusanan a panagbiag.”  Kasla The Charge of the Light Brigade.

 

Immasideg, adu’t rigatna ni Lolo Silli, kalalakayan ti ili. Tinulonganda.  Immasideg met ti Apo Padimi. Inyam-ammo na ti bagbagina. “Siak ti anak ti Bernardo Rada.” Kasinsinko daidi tatangna. Karuprupana.

“Kayatyo a denggen ti istoria dagiti uppat nga nakakaballo ni Apokalypso?” Bimtak ti  iisemmak.

Dagiti ub-ubbing ti immuna a nagtung-ed.  Ipagarupda a maysa a sine.

 

“Adda uppat a nakakaballo nga akukuyog. Ti umuna a nakakaballo isu ni Genie, ti higante nga awan bigbigenna nga amo  no di laeng ti akin-iggem ti enkantado a lampara a balayna. Sibubutengen ti lubong manipud idi bimtak ti umuna nga atomic bomb diay Nagasaki ken Hiroshima.  Ita ti armas nuclear  napigpigsa nga adayo. Awan lisian ken pilpilienna.  Iiaddadayo ni Apo, saan koma  a maiggaman dagiti terrorista.”

“Dumanon kadi ditoy no bumtak dayta a bomba?”  Sinongbatan met laengen ti kaabayna, ket saanen nga intuloy ti bumarito. Narigat a maawatan dagiti bambanag maipuon ti gubat no saan mo pay nabaddek ti paggugubatan.

“Ket ituloyko. Maikaddua a nakakaballo isu ti al-alia ni Mathus, ti nangipakdaar ti panagbisin ti lubong gapu ‘ta nadardaras iti panagado ti tattao ngen ti kabaelan a mangted ti supapat a makan. Rirriw ti mabisbisinan ket umad-ado. Saan a mabilang ti matmatay.”  

Awan ti nagsaludsod. Naulimek. Adda manutbuteng idiay likod. Naka-abbbungot ti nangisit. Tinalliao dagiti tattao ingana’t nagsardeng isuna ket pimmanaw.   

“Ituloyko. Maikatlo, ni Frankenstein, ti naka-aramid ti  monster nga awanan puso ken kararua. Kasla daytoy a sientista  makaaramiden ti tao babaen ti “genetic engineering” ti mais, soya, manok, ken sabasabali pay a saanen a natural – dagiti makuna a Frankenfood. Saan nga adayo ti panagballegi a makaaramid ti “human clone,” kasla ti karnero a Dolly, ti immuna a clone.  Ag-agawentay ken ni Apo Dios ti panag-parsua, ken ti  panang-paungar ti natay!”   

Dimmadakkel ti mat-mata dagiti agdengdenggeg. Maysa kaniada ni Maestra Karing, titser ko ti elementaria. Inawisko saak nagmano. Inongngonak.    

“Ket ti maika-uppat a nakakaballo isu ti nangpadakder ti Torre ni Babel,   agdan a mapan langit.  Napugipug daytoy. Nangatngato nga adayo dagiti torre a maar-aramid ita. Atitiddug dagiti rantay. Agtutuon dagiti kalkalsada ken reles. Riwriw ti luglugan. Dumaddadakkel dagiti siudad, ket umad-aduda.  Dumaddadakel met dagiti makina ti industria. Amin dagitoy ti pagtaudan ti pollusion ken panagdagaang ti tangatang.  

“Awanton ti lugar nga saan nga maabot ti komunikasyon.  Kasla baryo ti kabassit ti lubong, awanen ti paglemengan. Napukawen ti karbengan nga  agmaymaysa.  Ket posible a makadanonto metten ti tao idiay Mars? Ammoyo kadi nga ti skylab nga umik-ikot ti tangatang agbalinton a siudad?

   

“Siak ni Superman! Siak met ni Batman! Flash Gordon!” Ikkis dagiti ub-ubbing nga agpipinnalsiit diay liklikudan.  

“Agay-ayam kayo diay adayo.” Kuna ni Kapitan Inggo. Ket pimmanawda.

“Ay, dagitoy ub-ubbing, ay-ayam amin ti ammoda.” Adda gayam ni   Basang, ti nalaing a mangiturturong ti sarsuela idi. Isu idi ti  Carmen a nalaing a kumanta.  

 

“Umay ti Armageddon. Magunao ti lubong. Agbal-baliw tayo.” Timmakder   ni Tacio a mangakaskasaba. Pinagtayegteg na ti unina a nababa.   

Saan nga agpa-udi ni Cosme, agpadi koma idi. “Quo vadis?” Ig-igananna ti dumaan a biblia. Binirotna ti pagina.  Sakbay nagbalikas tinaliaonak.   

“Maysa nga parbagon naglibas ni Pedro ket addan idiay ruar ti pader ti Roma. Sakbayna data binirbiruk dagiti soldado isuna. Ngen nakalisi ngamin nagsalawasaw - saanna kano nga am-amo ni Kristo. Sakbay a sumina ti sipnget, nakasabat ti  maysa a lalaki nga nangdamag, ‘Quo vadis? (Sadino ti papanam?)’ Apagkanito nagpukaw ti lalaki. Nalasin ni Pedro – isu ni Kristo! Nagsubli isuna  ket nagbalin nga martir ti Kristianismo."

Intultuloy ti dadduma ti nagsarita inggan’t oras ti pannangan.

Linukatan ni tatang ti iduldulinna a burnay ti  basi. Intakona ti ungot.  Pinaramanannak nga immuna.  Kaiimasan met la ngatan a basi.      

Binirok ko ti kabsatko ta paramanak met.

“Adda pay la diay taltallon,” sungbat ni tatang.

Binalonak ni Manong Tonio diay taltalon. Kaduana dagiti katalonan. Tallo a  natatayag a mandala ti mangipakita a nasayaat ti ani ita a tawen. Saannak nabigbig daras.  Sinallabayko. Nagsubli daras ti lagip di kaubingan. Kasla idi kalman laeng.     

Nabayag ti panagin-innangawmi. Nagsadag kami ti mandala a nakasango ti bumabbaba nga unit.

“Nagbassit aya ti libong, Inting.”

Awan nangegna kaniak. Intuloyna.

“Malagip mo pay ni Mrs Villamor?’ Nalaing daidi dios-alluadna a maestrami ti literature.

“Malagip mo ti inpamemoriana a berso a naadaw ti obramaestra ni William Blake?”

“Uh….saanko malagip, manong.”  Nalipatakon.

“Auguries of Innocence.”  

Malagipkon. Nalaing a mannurat ni Blake, narigat laeng nga anagen ti pilosopiana maipuon ti panagbiag.

Nakigtotak idi ni-recite ni manong ti berso. Kasla umininom a kunada.   

      “Sarming ti lubong ket maysa a bag-giing laeng,

                  Ti langit agparangdiay ruot nga agsabsabong;

Lawa’t tangatan, ta dakulapmo umanayen,

Ti maysa nga oras  patinggana’t agnanayon.”

Insaruno na. 

“Sinno ti makaimatang ti lubong, wenno langit babaen ti dagiti babassit a bambanag a pakakitaan, wenno dagiti simbolo ti panagbiag? Aglalo no kaub-bingam, kabanbannuagam?  Anianto ngatan nga maawatam ti patingga ti lubong, ti panagnanayon ti biag?”

Kasla umis-isem ni Mrs. Villamor ti abaymi.  Nakababan ni Apo Init. Nalabbaga it annaraar na. Nakaawiden dagiti kannaway. Nagaponen dagiti manok diay sanga ti kaykayo.

Awan iti maibangak. Mariknak ti bain apay a naglibassak idi.  Pinanawak da tatang ken ti katsatko. Linuktak ti bentana saak bimmaba ti maysa a parbangon, lima pulo a tawenen ti naglabas.

Tinipedko ti luak. Nagpangressak tapno mabang-arannak.   

  

Saanen nga intuloy ni manong. Nakadlaw.

Ket intuloyko nga anagen. Nauneg daytoy a kapanunotan.

Narigat awaten ti biag. Isu nga awan ti sardeng ti panagadal. Bag-giing, bato agbalin nga bantay?  Ti kabusbusor a ruot, apay a nakapinpintas ti sabongna?  No saan  nga ukraden ti dakulap kasano ti  itutulong?  Makigayyem? Makikappia? Apagkanito kadi ti biag tapno ammo tayo ti agraem, ken agpakumbaba? Pumanaw ti biag tapno ituloy dagiti sumarsaruno? Inggana’t kaano?  

Kasla nabasa ni manong ti pampanunotek.

Kunana. “Maysa a libro ti biag, Inting.  Ngen saan a kasapulan a napuskol daytoy.” 

Itan malagipko ti kuna daidi Santo Papa John Paul II.

Kunana:

“Daytoy nga lubong nga kadadakelan nga pagadalan tapno mapunuantayo ti kinasarib, ditoy nga maimatangan ti progreso ti sibilisasion, manipud iti kinabaro  ti sistema ti panagiwarnak, iggana’t sistema ti wayawaya nga awan tungpalna – daytoy a lubong,  uray kaanunto, saanna nga maited ti kapupudnuan a ragsak ti tao.”

Immay ti panagtutudo.  Simmaruno ti kalgaw. Awamen dagiti tallo nga natatayag a mandala diay taltalon.

Agladladingit ti langit.  Nangisit ken lumabbaga iti tangatang, bumabbaba ti ulep.  

Napintas unay nga dengdenggen ti kanta nga aggapu ti kuro! Dua kami ni manong Tonio nga abibiolin idi no dumanonen ti  misa aginaldo. Paspasurutanmi dagiti babbaro ken babbalasang nga agkankanta.   

Diay altar maiang-agin ti abbong a naburdaan, Ur-urayenka, Anakko.  Agpaypayapay.

Lukatanyon dagiti bentana tapno sumbrek ti nalamiis nga agin nga aggapu’t daya.  Ket bay-an dagiti kandela nga maiddep a saggaisa.

Simbrek ti nalamiis a pul-oy, kinuyog ti rissing ni Apo Init, ket sinurotda ti dua a medalla nga agbitbitin, agkilkilap, agtintinnupa kasla kampanilia.  Adda iar-arisaasda.  xxx

No ti mumalem ket nangisit ken lumabbaga ti tangatang, ken bumabbaba ti ulep a subaten  ti sipnget, istoria-en dagiti lalakay ken babbaket nga makita iti aninag  ti dua a tao diay puon ti dakkel a kayo diay turod. Adda met aninag ti tattao diay kataltalonan. Mangged pay kano ti katkatawada.   xxx

Ababa a sarita daytoy ni Dr. Abercio V. Rotor, maysa a propesor ti UST, SPU-QC, UPHR; autor ti Living with Nature Handbook a nangabak ti Gintong Alkat di 2003. Maysa isuna a pintor, poet, ken radio instructor ti Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, DZRB. Dati a director ti NFA ni Dr. Rotor. Nalpasna ti Doctor of Philosophy diay UST.  Tallo ti annakda ken ni Cecilia Rojas Rotor – Matthew Marlo (propresor met), Anna Christina (engineer) ken Leo Carlo (nagturpos ti Fine Arts, industrial design).  Tubo ti pamilya Rotor ti San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.   

La Golondrina, the Grandest Kite of All

La Golondrina, the Grandest Kite of All

By Dr. Abe V. Rotor

Winning Team in Kite Flying, UST (circa 2000)

      Kites always fascinate me, thanks to Manong Bansiong, nephew of Basang my auntie-yaya.  He made the most beautiful, often the biggest kite in town.  His name was very popular, especially to us kids in our time.  Remote and small a town San Vicente is, we had the reputation in the neighboring towns for our best kites, best pieces of furniture and wooden saints.

    Manong Bansiong made different kites: sinang gola, agila, kayyang, golondrina  – in the likes of bull, bird with outstretched wings, maiden in colorful, flowing dress, and many other designs.  His kites were known for their strength, stability, beauty, and height in the sky.  In competitions he would always bring home the trophy, so to speak.

      “Can you make me a La Golondrina?” I found myself asking Manong Bansiong one afternoon.

        La Golondrina or the swallow has slender streamlined body, and long pointed wings, which allow great maneuverability and endurance, as well as frequent periods of gliding. Her  body shape allows for very efficient flight.  Her wings have nine primary feathers each, while the tail has 12 feathers and may be deeply forked, somewhat indented, or square-ended. A long tail increases maneuverability, and may also function as adornment.

     As a child, I love to watch swallows in flight. And there is something special about them  because I discovered their nesting ground in Caniao, the source of  water for our faucet. Caniao is a spring on the edge of Cordillera facing the South China Sea, some 20 kilometers away. The swallows would perch of a nearby tree and one particular bird came close and posed to us picnickers. She seemed unafraid and even sang a beautiful melody. I wanted to get closer to have a good look at her, but on sensing my closeness, she took off into the sky and soared like a kite in the wind.    

     Actually La Golondrina is a difficult design of a kite to make. But Manang Basiong was a real expert.  He won’t back out at any kind of kite especially if it is for a kite flying contest. He always wanted his kite to win.

      “When will the contest be?” He asked in our dialect.

      With that statement and a kindly smile I knew Manong Bansiong would make me one. “Yehay!” I could not help keep it a secret, especially to my classmates.  

      The day of the contest came. There were many kites from our  town and nearby towns. Vigan, the capital of the province had the most entries and the biggest kites at that. When I saw kites with designs of castle, airplane, and dragon, my confidence sagged a little. These kites were huge and colorful, and they dominated the sky.  

      Manong Bansiong and I were the next to fly our kite.  La Golondrina indeed was unique. She was not really very big.  I asked my brother Eugene to help me carry her across the field while Manong Bansiong held the string at the other end.

 

   “Farther … some more,” he signaled. “Stop.”  He paused and whistled with friendly notes calling for the wind to come.  It is a technique in kite flying.  Release the kite at the moment a strong breeze comes.  We waited for the precious wind.

     Then it came.  It was a gust that came from the North.  It is called Siberian High, the wind that brings in the chills in October, lasting until the end of the Christmas Season.  It is the wind of Amihan, the season we harvest our ricefields, when the grains have turned to gold in the sun.  It is the season farmers build haystacks (mandala) that look like giant mushrooms. But to us kids, Amihan is the season of kite flying.  It is a season of games and laughter in the field.

      “Steady now,” Manong Bansiong shouted, and Eugene and I raised La Golondrina up and waited for the signal.  “Now!”  We tossed her up and there she soared above our heads, above the nearby trees, above the church steeple. Our town mates and my classmates rallied. They followed her ascent, and clapped, coaching her to the top of their voices.  “Up, up. Go up some more! More! More!”  She mingled with the other kites, bowing here and there, and sometimes flying close to the castle or dragon, and to the airplane kite in some kind of courteous greeting.   

     Manong Bansiong let the string glide on his hand.  It made a crispy whistling sound as the kite continued to rise.  Now it was higher than any of the kites.  It appeared as if it were the smallest of them,  and one won’t recognize her if he did not see her first on the ground Beyond lies the blue Cordillera the home where this beautiful bird.  I could see Caniao in the back of my mind.  There in the blue sky she hovered steadily, like the lord of the sky.  I wondered at how she looked at us down below.  I had not flown on an airplane yet.  I just imagined we were also just specks on the ground, and if my T-shirt were not red, she would most likely mistake me for any spectator.    

       Then the unexpected happened.  The string broke! La Golondrina  was adrift.  She was flying free, and she was not coming down.  Instead she went farther up riding on some wind current. Everyone was silent.  All eyes were focused on the ill-fated kite. Soon it was but a dot in the sky.  No one could tell what was going to happen to her. 

      Manong Bansiong rolled the remaining string back into its cage.  “She didn’t get much string.” He muttered.  My first impulse was to run to where she would most likely land.  “No,” he said, catching me on the shoulder, even if most of the children had gone for the chase. 

      I remained dumbfounded, staring agape at the wide, wide sky.  Time stood still. There was a deafening silence. Nothing seemed to move. Not even the kites.

       La Golondrina was swallowed up by a dark cloud and the cloud was heading for the mountains, as it often does, momentarily becoming part of its top like a veil or a blanket. In the Amihan season the cloud is thin and high because the wind is cool and dry. It is also time for birds in the North to go down South, and return in the dry season, but for birds of  La Golondrina’s kind, it is time to go home to nest and rear their young. 

     With that thought, I said, “She’s going home.”  Manong Bansiong nodded in submission to the fate of his masterpiece. Eugene had just come back panting, brushing away weeds and dusts.  He had given up the chase together with our town mates. Everyone talked about how they crossed the fields, climbed over fences, forge streams and even climbed trees to get better view of the route of the lost kite.

      No one reached where La Golondrina landed.  

      We soon forgot all about the contest as we sadly prepared to go home. The plaza was empty now. It was already dark.

     That night I dreamt I found La Golondrina in Caniao, hanging on a branch where I once saw her as a bird. How different she was as the once beautiful  La Golondrina.

       Manong Bansiong did not make kites anymore since then. But because of him I became a kite maker, too.

      But time has changed. Kite flying has become an endangered art. Kids are more interested with other playthings. They would rather stay indoor in front of the TV and the Computer. And they seem to be more serious in their studies than we were then. They seldom go out to the fields.  Rivers and forests to them are full of danger.  No, their parents won’t allow them to go to these places.   In fact many of them have moved to the city. And flying kites in open spaces, is very dangerous, what if the string touches a live wire!

 

      It consoles me to see a kite flying around, whether it is made of simple T-frame or plastic. Or one made in China. How different kites are today from the kites we had before - skillfully crafted bamboo frame covered with colorful delicate papel de Japon, and bearing the imprimatur of the expert maker. 

     When I had grown old as Manong Bansiong was then, I made kites for children. Of course, I am not as good as him.  When Leo Carlo, my youngest son, took part in kite flying at the University of Santo Tomas, I helped him re-create La Golondrina. It was turning back the hands of time. He carried her across the football field with Marlo, his brother helping him, and I, at the other end, held the string. We waited for the old friendly wind.

 

     Then it came, it came all the way from the North, and La Golondrina rode on it, flew above our heads, above the trees, above the grandstand and the chapel and the tall buildings, and up into the blue sky.

      La Golondrina is the grandest kite of all. x x x

Kite-Flying Free

By Dr. Abe V. Rotor

If freedom were kites flying

And clouds in summer free;

Lilting sounds across the fields,

Rolling on the hills like sea;

If freedom were the empty fields,

The harvest now stacked asleep,

To wake up little by little

To satiate a craving deep;

If freedom were a wooden bridge

In the idleness of time,

A little bird perched singing

The song of a distant chime;

If freedom were the carefree,

Let the sky clap and the rain to fall;

For summer is for boys designed,

To men they’ll grow after all.

AVR 6-19-08