CATCH OF THE DAY
Caught this Red Fish (take note of the black spot on the tail) with live shrimp along the jetty's of South Padre Island. Marc is as proud and happy as his Dad.
( I do not blame him --vic)
One my fishing buddies (Seferino Soy from Dagupan) caught these jack trebbles using an artificial lure (rattle trap).
(Wow, that can feed a whole household in Macalong!)
Foto Feedback....
Mng Vic, now that you mentioned it, i could recognize Mr Corpuz's handsome looks. His sons, Fred and Roger were my basketball buddies and his nephew Edgardo Sales was my closest friend in the elementary. Unfortunately, the four of them have gone ahead... Coach, Ill see you on Monday... Ricky, i missed your post on the first round... thanks for your tips, very passionate and provocative indeed. you must be an incurable romantic just like me and moonstruck he he he... Rain, may bilin ka ba, we're dropping by manaoag and silverio's tommorow. will have tupig, puto and bibingka. plenty of chico, lanzones too. im drolling he he he...
new photos from Asingan...
Antonio Luna, peeking out of a thick growth of shrubs..
Looks like a kid's puzzle..CAN YOU FIND ANTONIO LUNA???
Taken from another another angle..where was this shot taken?
The man who tried to start a violent revolution in the Philippines. He failed because someone tipped off the authorities. He was captured, then shot on top of a mountain..Such is the fate of people who try to do something good for their country........
at the base of the Bonifacio monument, circa 1950...
This is a very old photo of a class handled by Mr. Gil Manzano..It is dated 1950. The man with a necktie with a broad smile is the Rizal Junior College principal, Mr. Juan (Bong ) Salinda. He is now in California, in case he is still alive. The dance coach is Miss Jovencia Malong, and the group garbed in Filipina attire ( then men are in Barong, of course ) are called the HABANERA FOLK DANCERS.
The lady beside Mr. Gil Manzano is Pelagia Delmendo, one time Librarian of the Asingan Public Libray during the 60's or 70's...The pretty girl with a hair ribbon is Corazon Colet. Beside her is Miss Norah ( if I am not mistaken ) Vicente. Third from the right near Mr. Gil Manzano sitting is my elder brother, Donato Costes.
At present, Donato is here in Toronto. He is now 75 years old, just to give you an idea how vintage the photo is.
The structure at the back is the base of the Bonifacio monument. The base is huge. Only one side of three could be seen in this photo. Each side displays engraved artworks. Miss Vicente is in front of a single post, one of the three surrounding the monument.
They do not build this kind of artistic monument anymore and it is indeed a big pity why it was brought down for nothing.---#
more photos from:
Arsenia....
These are clearer photos and they show Valerie in close up mode with her gown...CONGRATULATIONS, VALERIE!!!
Indeed you placed Asingan on the map!!
It is not every night that one brings home a trophy!
Tired but still smiling..You have to exercise those smile muscles...:)
And the walking too...!
..from Deedee.."to market, to market to buy a fat...lobster (?)
..CHECKING THE MERCHANDISE
..stealing the show from the lobster farm..:)
Looks like the face grabber from THE ALIEN
GOTCHA!!!! to the pot you go, baby!
This is poem Taylor wrote for school and made everyone cry.
( editor's note: Taylor is the daughter of a long time friend, Rise who goes under the screen name Riseandshine)
September 11 Reflections
Awake to a normal day
Expecting nothing new
Run through the daily tasks
Repeat what you always do
This place you've seen so many times
Can' imagine it with dread
Don't notice the possibilities
No worries in your head
The cars pass swiftly
A taxi on every turn
The city of New York
No time to burn
Normal day
Not a cloud in sight
Hear the birds on the left
And the children on the right
The people pass briskly
Most without a voice
Even with their silence
You're overwhelmed with noise
A shadow cast across the sky
And took away the glow
Heads turned, people screamed
They ran, but which way to go?
To the street ahead
Though you know the shadows there
Turn to go behind you
But escape is found nowhere
They all hoped for a miracle
As the plane came into view
But the chances of that were slim
Magicians there were few
It was coming quickly
With no intention to stop
We ran and we quietly waited
Knowing the aircraft would drop
Unsuspecting in the towers
Awaiting their vicious fate
Not knowing they'd be placed as 1000's
In a sorrowful history date
Not one for the books
This would be stored in our hearts
The day our feeling of safeness
Crumbled and fell apart
The first attack we've ever seen
We mourn for those we don't know
How could someone that's human
Stoop to something so low
Children cried out in numbers
Wives fled to the scene
Friends stood shoulder to shoulder
Neighbors made way in-between
Speeches were spoken
Flowers in dozens were laid
We hoped for them, dreamt for them lived for them
We marched on day by day
Hurt echoed in our eyes
Denial whispered from our ears
We shed our stories and feelings
We shared our flow of tears
We were angered by it all
We fell into a frantic state
We wanted the peace that was so hard earned
Of that there was no debate
We sent out our troops to find him
To save the U.S. from its fate
Days were no longer joyous
They passed by only as dates
Prisoners were taken
Sons and brothers were lost
We'd taken down the enemy
But we're left only with costs
Family has been further broken
Prices have gone through the roof
They ensure us its all for the better
And yet we see no proof
The storm hits us big
And we cry for some more
We've lost more of our family
As much as before
They say that we're improving
But I'm a little dazed
If anything we've gone backwards
We're slowly losing our way
They just keep reassuring
But we see it isn't true
We've fallen far behind
What can anyone do?
People are dying daily
Cities are now public pools
We continue to build all these weapons
But lack the money for schools
Our future leaders are scared
Afraid that soon we will fall
The country that's come so far
Now isn't standing too tall
The fighting has poisoned our souls
It's polluted our very minds
It seems we've forgotten our morals
Were falling behind on our time
The past has taken our present
We believe it can't be the same
We need to step away from our sorrows
And leap right back to this game
Take a silent moment
Remember all we've lost
Think of all those families
Think of all the costs
Remember the pain you held onto
Remember the tears you cried
Remember the people that risked themselves
Remember all those lost lives
But remember them as stepping stones
Like a bridge across the water
Once you step across it
Going back is just a bother
So keep moving forward
Down that crazy curving street
If you think you see a shadow
It's probable under your feet
Look straight ahead
Don't look back
If you don't pay attention
You might jump the track
The past is the past
And the future is almost here
No sense in hiding
Or constantly living in fear
Forget about tomorrow
Soak in the sun of today
Stomp on yesterday's pain
Something brighter is on the way
Stop sulking in the memories
Whatever was is gone
Step back and learn to grow
It's time for us to move on
Move on to a brighter future
Move on to a better you
Move onto better times
The past just isn't for you
Passageway to the East
We do not really appreciate where we live and what we have until we are exposed to a different situation. As I roamed this foreign land called China I could not help but to thank what I have in general in that I really do not have any business complaining about the minute details that happen in my life everyday. In the West it is almost a need to have complains about everything that does not go according to what we have planned. We tend to forget that what we have in this world is mere temporary yet we learn to be ingrate and tend to take things for granted. For a Westerner the way of life in most parts of China is oppressive yet looking through the eyes of its people I see nothing but contentment and somewhat a glimpse of happiness somewhere in their own simple ways.
As I walked through the narrow and dusty passageway of the small town where I was I felt history have enveloped my soul. It was almost as if I was experiencing my cultural history. The similarities of the culture of the Filipino and the Chinese people are almost identical then indeed the history of the Philippines came suddenly flowing so freely into my mind. I have come finally to embrace part of my culture something that I had not a chance to enfold whilst I was growing up. I was too occupied about my Western culture that I had managed to ignore the richness of my culture to the East. The people whose blood share what isin my veins with its obvious rich cultural provenance. My intimacy with this country which I initially thought was alien to me slowly made prominence in my being. I do feel richer in a way to have linked that missing piece in my cultural lineage. Now I do not say I am not Chinese when someone mistakes me for being one. There is nothing to be ashamed of since I was given a chance to experience a walled culture that most Westerners find it interesting yet oppressive. China is filled with contradiction. It was probably one of the most capitalist countries I have ever been in my entire life.
My brief expedition in the heart of Eastern civilization left and etched a magical impression within the depths of me. Everything seems familiar in my surroundings yet nothing appears to be the same. I initially abhorred the “hole in the ground” referred to as toilet yet its simplicity brought something into me that is so humbling. The vexation of not being able to connect to the internet whenever and wherever I wanted to was a little inconvenience to pay compared to the insurmountable amounts of knowledge and experience I implored upon myself during my brief stay in the East. The arrogance I have felt prior to going was simply replaced by graciousness to what was demonstrated and extended upon me to make certain that my stay was as comfortable as it could possibly be. I do feel a sense of embarrassment to myself and to what pioneered my first thought of the place.
Now I stand tall and can honestly say to the world that I keep no prejudices towards anyone’s culture but extend affable and high respect to what is learnt from it. My mind is wide open to accept whatever newness that may come cross my path.
Deedee Connors
I was overwhelmed by the fact that you buy the live fish then they bring it to the restaurant next door and they cook it to your liking!!!
LOBSTERS GALORE!!
I have not seen such a colourful lobster before! Yum! I had that for lunch...
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