Feature:

Iloilo: Shinning, Shimmering, Splendid! 

By Pepin 

Iloilo Province shines bright this Christmas season as homes, parks, and public places are decked with bright lights and lanterns. 

Leading the best spot to visit this season is the Municipality of Pototan, which is named as the “Christmas Capital of Western Visayas”. The entire plaza is turned into a wonderland as it is adorned with sparkling lights, huge lanterns, and artistic representations of Christ’s birth in the manger. Aside from the picturesque view, people also enjoy variety shows and signing contest nightly. 

POTOTAN, ILOILO
Photo credits to iloilohangout.tigasweb.com

The Municipality of Guimbal, Oton, and San Joaquin are some of the best places in the southern part of the province to spend the holiday chill. Apart from glittering lights that wrapped the plaza at night, there are also food fests and small trades that people take pleasure in. 

The city center is where Christmas trade happens. Its busy atmosphere is composed of people buying presents and doing some last minute shopping. Easy bargains are often witnessed at small business stalls that sell fruits, toys, clothes, and firecrackers. 

There are also a number of places in the city that are worth to visit every night. These include Angelicum, which is famous for its Sigaboom tradition, and Central Philippine University, which celebrates the Festival of Lights every year. 

Iloilo’s festive atmosphere is being enjoyed by people from all walks of life and creates a positive feeling for the coming year.

Inspiring Anecdote:

The Woman And The Hurt Spice 

Hilda (in white jacket) enjoys her time with her friends abroad.

By Pepin 

As from the words of Erma Bombeck, “There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.” Yes, woman, despite being considered as the most beautiful above all creation, possesses a fragile heart. 

Hilda, a 37-year old Filipino mother and wife to a chef, sees herself as a woman, who has experienced the discomfited effects of hurt and defeat. The predicaments that she has encountered in the past dwindled her self-esteem and brought her at the welcoming edge of recoil. “It is very difficult to raise yourself when you are engulfed with problems. Often times, I just let myself experience defeat so that I can start all over again.” 

Hurting is a natural process, yet people regard it as an awful-tasting medicine for kids. No one would dare to experience it, and many would find an alternative route to avoid it. But reality will not be reality without it, and no absolute escape plan can junk the process. 

After all, life won’t be as delectable as it should be without the “hurt spice”. Even the greatest women of history were all products of abrasions that remain imperishable. 

Defeat is rough, but it leaves marks that reinforce the person. As for Hilda, her positive outlook towards hurt and defeat shaped her to what she considers herself right now – a firm person. “I want women to remember that in every challenge, there is pain; and in every pain, there is a lesson learned. This entire experience will help mould a more mature and positive person,” she added. 

When asked what would possibly hurt her at this point of time, Hilda thought deeply and found a cliché response, “Betrayed by my husband.” She hid her face with an embarrassed laugh, but she admitted that it is one of her greatest fear. 

But despite the leeway, she remained optimistic. After all, her husband considers her as his strength and their love will reign supreme. “I feel blessed because I have him. If ever there will be another major trounce in my life in the future, I already have someone beside me to help me conquer the test.”

Announcement:

November 2: ALL SOUL'S DAY

Today, we remember our dearly departed and pray for the repose of their souls. May God's perpetual light shine upon them.

Feature:

Shaping culture with tales of creeps

By Pepin

Panay Island is known for its flourishing natural resources and warm smiles of its people. But it is also a place surrounded with hair-raising tales of supernatural occurrences that people often talk about during Halloween season. 

These tales were written in the past by the forefathers of Panay who claimed to have a first-hand encounter with supernatural beings. Their personal experiences were passed on from one generation to another with some fine-tuning done by people who talked much about these. 

Tikbalang, kapre, and tayho are only some of the legendary characters in most of these stories that scared children over the years. They lingered in people’s imagination and tamed noisy towns. These gruesome creatures may be part of the legends, but the playful mind of people can free them out of the book.

These stories, although fear-provoking and dreadful for many, were known to shape the region and added more colors to the Panayanon culture. People around the island have interpreted these stories into dances, songs, and poems. Some towns even created festivals to share these narratives in a creative way. 

Today, the present generation continues to speak about these creepy tales at class, at work, and even at bedtime; preserving a rich part of culture that Panay will always have.

Kata-kata: Blab 10

Sin-o mabato sa Barbero nga Ilonggo?

By Pepin

Wala man gyapon may maka pirdi sa barbero nga Ilonggo. Baliskad-baliskadon mo man ang ulo sang tawo, sa guihapon, ang gunting intsakto! Mu na guro nga lawig pirmi ang pilahay sa 3 Brothers Barber Shop ukon sa Twin Brothers Barber Shop kay damu ang gusto mag pagwapo.

Sa tuod-tuod lang, pirdi gid ya ang kano nga barbero, kay ang Ilonggo ya bisan nagakapiyong tadlong ang marka sang gunting kag indi papresyo.  Kag bisan bungi kag bakirason, todo ngirit man gyapon. Daw hari ka lang kung ila ikaw tulukon.

Ang manami pa sa mga ilonggo nga barbero, mahilig sila mag istorya. Halin sa pagkilalahay nila sang iya nobya asta sang nag bulaganay sila sang iya kirida, indi mag mala ang laway ya sa ka tikal kag ka bungisngis. Indi man makaluwas ang mga istorya nga la pulos kag kuris-kuris. Mu na gani nga pasakay ka na lang para indi siya mapahuy-an.

Kag ang pinakanami magpagunti sa Ilonggo nga barbero? Siyempre ang masahe sang ila nga mabaskog nga mga kamot. Daw ka tawhay lang pamatian ang ga lagtok lagtok nga tudlo sa imo likod, kag daw indi mu gusto matapos ang makatuluyo nga hilod sa imu dahi. Hay, sa kanami!

Feature:

Aklan as the pinya-weaving capital 

of the Philippines by 2016 

By Pepin 

Aklan will soon become the Philippine’s Pinya-weaving capital as such industry showed an unstoppable growth in the market for the past years. The demand continues to increase and become more popular that even some well-known producers of Pinya Barong in different parts of the country get their raw materials from this province. 

Government agencies and private sectors work hand in hand to achieve the goal by 2016. One of the strategies that they are taking is to encourage locals, especially the land owners and farmers, to participate in the expansion of the pineapple plantation in the province. 

This multi-million project does not only focus on hailing Aklan as a top producer of pinya cloth and fiber, but also to provide more livelihood programs for the locals and create a better life for many.