Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Bangon Bayan Ko

There was an article from (a leading national newspaper) Inquirer that was posted in our wall a few weeks back.  Unfortunately, due to some unavoidable circumstances, your blogger wasn't able to at least introduce it to all of you.  With that much said, here it is:

"THERE IS no doubt that Camarines Norte province is poor. Why this is so is a sore point to local officials who lament that the province—the other half of the affluent Camarines Sur—has been cut off from its wealthy neighbors, literally placing it so near yet so far to progress. "
To read the rest of the article, please click here.

How many of us remember that once, Bagong Silang was a haven for travelers and business people alike?  It's where after a three hour bumpy ride from Capalonga we could finally stretch our cramped legs (given none of the bridges were broken or our ride didn't get stuck in a sticky mud, that way we would have had a minute to a few hours of stretch) and prepare for more hours to continue our journey to our final destination.  I do.  I will never forget that while I have thrown most of the contents of my stomach (my apologies to those having their meal right this moment) and was already hallucinating from carsick, an old lady or a really persistent kid will shout and bang my window just to say, "Ale...maruya...ilan?"

Back then, I was just a child, I have never thought that my paradise--your paradise, our Capalonga was even affected by poverty, I mean, who cares about poverty when all that you think was playing games with your friends?  But now, not only did I grew up and became old (and older and older), I see things I weren't able to notice before...and that includes the almost isolation of our town to the rest of Camarines Norte...to the rest of the world.

We're lucky that we have technology now.  We have cellphones and internet, well in most areas of Capalonga at least; and if one of us will just step back to our town, we can notice that a lot of things have changed...houses, schools, roads most especially...almost like the whole facade had changed from under-developed-always-brown-out and pain-in-the-butt-road (pun intended) town to a fresh, thriving and promising town.

So what if the flow of business were cut short because Bagong Silang--which incidentally stretches to Capalonga, was bypassed by the development of a new road, it doesn't mean and it shouldn't mean that our lives, our hopes and dreams should just sit stale and wait for opportunities to come. 

The article above describes how our town was one of the struggling parts of Camarines Norte province and the fact that we have a lot of resources in our hands, we just have to have a good government and cooperative townspeople. 

I agree.  What about you?

Gusto mo bang manatili sa dilim o sumama sa pagsulong tungo sa kaunlaran?

***
Our very own Mr. Richard Talento had some contributions to this article.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

United we stand, for Capalonga

Sometime last year after our Facebook pages were born, a few Kabihugs started a group called A.K.A. (Association of Kabihogs Abroad) with Megs Gonzaga as its administrator.  It was primarily made to ease boredom and kill homesickness of our Kababayans who are residing and/or working abroad.  At first it was just a mere chatroom then came posts of things which most of us miss and remind us of Capalonga.  As the group gathered more members, there came a time that misunderstanding arose, which I believe is inevitable given the group is consists of different people with different views, ideas and attitude toward life.  But as brothers and sisters, the group were able to conquer and went on past each others' differences.

Today, the group already has an impressive 323 members and carrying a new name--which for formality's sake was chosen by each member through a vote (like) system, a more appropriate acronym--UPCA (United People of Capalonga Abroad), sometimes tagged as UPcapalonga.

Here, they still talk about the good old times, things that are important to each and every member of the group.  When misunderstanding is brewing in the horizon, they try to catch it right away so it would not be hurtful to others who are more sensitive.  

But as expected, a group this big of different personalities is bound to clash with each others' nerves somewhere down the road. So they elected officers that would head them, make things organized and keep the peace, so to speak.

Please congratulate the newly elected officers of  UPCA 2011, sworn to uplift the spirits and shepherd every Kabihugs abroad.

President - Romeo Valles (Riyadh)
Vice President - Albert Ables (Qatar)
Secretary - Janeth Cadag Ibusag (Hong Kong)
Treasurer - Gloria A. Niones (Germany)
Auditor - Criselda Nava Ordonez (Canada)

Advisers:
Gener Talento (Malaysia)
Randy San Jose (Hong Kong)
Armi Mourtouvani (Cyprus)
Enrico Fermo (USA)
Abner Francisco (USA)
Alma Balce (Malaysia)

Thanks to Ms. Erma Zano for the above picture

This group has not only kept each other company even in the wee hours, gave serious advices to those who need it, caused a havoc of laughter, organized area/country meet-ups but had recently transcended being the usual casual FB friends by giving a personal help to one of the members who needed it.  

They aspire to help unite every Kabihug outside Capalonga/Philippines and plans to create projects that will somehow help our dear little paradise we once called home.  Now that is noble.

Kudos to every member of UPCA! 

If you wish to join the group, please visit their FB page here or find them through the FB search bar--United People of Capalonga Abroad.  Everyone is welcome to join, as long as you were from Capalonga and of course, you are abroad.

***
For the purpose of privacy, the above-mentioned Kabihugs weren't tagged, please follow proper internet etiquette if you know them and want to friend them.  Thank you.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Mga Bayani ng Lupang Sinilangan

Last year about the same day as today, a group of good Samaritans visited our quiet town carrying the banner CUSAC (Capalonga United States of America Connection).  They did a wonderful job bringing in medical help and reached out to our Kabihugs who needed medical assistance/attention. It was funded by the Fermo Clan and was assisted by a handful of volunteers.  They did dental, medical and even surgical procedures, right in our town plaza.

This year they are doing it again; and if I am not mistaken, the 'Missionaries' are already 'home' and are preparing for an early day tomorrow...of squeal from kids, grunts, ouch, tears, toothless grins, hugs and thank yous.  All for the love of our Kabihugs.

Due to some circumstances, I apologize for not updating earlier about this opportunity to volunteer as well, but I believe volunteering is open for everyone, the officers/members of CUSAC are open for registration of those who wanted to help, so if you want to be part of this wonderful project, head to the town plaza and ask one of the members on how you could lend a hand.  Don't worry if you are not in Capalonga right now but in nearby towns, the medical mission will run for three days, according to what I have heard.  So if you know anyone who is in Capalonga or already registered as a volunteer, time to send those text messages to know more information about it.  Unfortunately for me-your admin, this information is all I've got.  Again, my apologies.

Anyway, don't forget to tag us with any photo you will be able to snap during the Mission...even if it's a picture of you in the dental chair =)) we will all appreciate it, really.

Below are two of the photos from last year's medical mission, let's all hope this year's will be as successful, if not more than, last year.



Our inbox at ccn4607@gmail.com or our facebook wall and inbox are always open for the precious pictures you will share to everyone.