MAGSINGAL ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII GRANDE (MAHG) OFFICIALLY ENDORSES THE MAGSINGAL COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT
Bert Ugalino
by Vic Andallo
June 15, 2008 - Sydney
When I learned unexpectedly that there is a group of Magsingalenos here in Sydney, I felt so excited that I wanted to meet up with them straight away. Ronnie Tolentino and myself have been planning to get together with our respective families since the time he came out of the woodwork, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Now that we discovered this bigger group of kailians, most of whom have been living in Sydney for a few decades now, it gave us a stronger reason to make this planned meet-up happen sooner than later.
Leading up to this get-together that happened yesterday, Manong Bart Concepcion (from Quimmalapao, Manzante and San Basilio) and myself have been constant phone mates, as well as Ronnie. Manong Bart heightened our excitement when he said that Manong Chito Baldoria (from San Basilio) and himself will be going to his hunting ground to get some feral goats and if they get lucky, some kangaroos as well. The thought of kilawen and papaitan is enough to get us excited like children.
True enough, the weekend before this event, Manong Bart, Manong Chito and other friends of theirs went out hunting for our pulutan. Manong Bart has this property, 3 hours away from Sydney, where there’s an abundance of wild goats, kangaroo, and he says, even wild boar sometimes. His property has a shed which serves as their accommodation when they’re out there. Didiay da nga pugpugan ken partien diay maala dan. No iyawid da ket narangrangkayen. He has invited all of us to join them in their next hunting expedition so we can try the fresh kalabkab ken primera ti kappukan nga kalding. I must admit, it sounds like a real fun experience and we will definitely take him up on his offer one of these days. To William (Realon), I know you were asking earlier if there were any hunting opportunities here – well, I am sure Manong Bart will gladly bring you to his favourite spot if you visit Sydney.
The day before our get-together, I couldn’t really get myself to be excited just yet as I was so busy at work in the midst of some critical developments. I still had a meeting I had to go to on the last hour of Friday and have been preparing for this the days prior. It’s been a stressful week for me and I just couldn’t wait for Saturday to come and just enjoy the company of our kailians, and of course diay pinugpugan nga kalding. Once my meeting was over, I just tuned out and started to really get excited for the following day.
The day itself didn’t disappoint. It was one day to remember for me – the first time I have ever met any fellow Magsingaleno in Sydney in over 10 years that I have been here. We agreed to be at Manong Bart’s place between 12 and 1, and planned to hang around from lunch to dinner. Yes, ganyan kami kasabik na magkita-kita at magkakuwentuhan ng mahaba-haba, hehe. When we arrived at their place, Manong Chito and Ronnie and their families were already there. We were greeted by everybody with the usual warmth that is totally Filipino. Manong Bart and his whole family were very accommodating and served up a great feast for all of us to enjoy. Pagtugaw mi pay laeng ket adda dayta kilawen ken beer nga insigidan. The lunch menu included sinigang na bangus, dinengdeng nga karabasa nga adda marunggi ken parya na nga nasagpawan ti baka, pinakbet nga Ilocano style, tapa nga kangaroo, ken tay kaldereta ken pinapapaitan nga kalding. Nagadu met nga talaga ti handa ni Manong Bart ken Manong Chito.
So just imagine from 1pm all the way up to dinner time, it was non-stop eating, drinking and loads of story-telling. Manong Demi (Demetrio) Rosario from Quinaoayanan arrived with his wife, probably an hour after us. Nagadu ket nga napagsasaritaan min apo. Aglalo kenni Ronnie ta idi naruggian na tay Chivas Regal ket mayat met unay ti patangan min. Inuming pataranta, yon yata ang tawag ni Dole doon. We also talked about our proposed project for Magsingal and I am so happy to tell you all that our compatriots here in Sydney are very excited to support our community project. Kuna da ngarud ket, barbareng no saan to met laeng nga mapulitika daytoy nga gandat tayo. Isu nga adda kadatay amin nga mangsalaknib ken dagitoy nga plano tapno ti pagsayaatan kuma ti umili isu laeng ti aramiden tayo amin apo.
Idi bumaybayag ket malagip mi met amin nga sarsaritan ken dagitay kakabagyan kada gagayyem nga am-ammo ti tumunggal maysan. It turned out, adu met gayam ti ka-batch ko diay SWI nga kabagyan ni Manong Bart (Tita Alvarez, Ipay Uganiza, etc), kasta met kenni Manong Demi (Rodney & Alejandro Rosario, Erwin Tolentino, Danny Foronda). Idi naammuan ni Manong Demi nga Andallo-ak, dinamag na no am-ammok ni Benita. It turned out my sister was his classmate in North Central. Ket ni Manong Chito ket nagadu met gayam ti barkada na didiay San Ramon. Adda pay tay picture nga impakita ni Manong Bart nga picture ti classmate da diay TMI idi – ni kano Manang Elda nga taga San Ramon. Malagip ko diay balay da diay abay daydi Tang Asiong Costales ngem ubing nak pay idi babbalasang dan.
Madamdama ket di mi napupuutan, dinner time gayamen. Manong Bart’s two older kids (and their partners) arrived too for dinner. Manong Chito’s eldest son came by as well for dinner but I think it was more to drive his dad home, hehe. Before we knew it, it was 9.30pm and we thought it was time to make a move and leave the family in peace. We’ve done enough damage for the day. It was such a great weekend though to be spending it with kailians who I have never even crossed paths with in Magsingal but met them all here in Sydney. I will leave some of the story-telling to Ronnie and Manong Bart.
I know that this will not be the first and the last time we will be seeing these folks. I hope di kayo nabigla Manong Bart and Manong Chito. We’re looking forward to the invite for the hunting expedition. Cheers to all of you especially to your respective families for being such gracious hosts!
This is the last serving of kilawen I kept in the freezer. Gusto ko lang kayong inggitin, hehe. I also just wanted to try the new feature that Manong Vjr developed where you can upload your own photo in the 'Comments' section. This is super!
Dole,
Sorry ha, diak pay nasungbatan diay maudi nga e-mail mo kaniak but I will write you later today.
Grabe, bilib nak met ti laing ti memoryam adingko. Amin nga tao diay Magsingal ket am-ammom sa.
But wait, no, Ronnie is right and you are right about Father's Day.
June is Father's Day for USA and its colonies (Philippines was once a colony of USA).
Australia, New Zealand and UK celebrates Father's Day in September....
Isu nga dandanik pay nalipatan a nga tawagan ni Tatangko idi Father's Day ta sabali met ti aldaw na ditoy hemisphere me...
Take care always....
Manang Chit
hehe...wen, maikadua pay laeng nga aldaw ket naibos diay bagi min. ngem di pay nagaraw tay kilawen. adda diay freezer para no bigat ken sunday.
Vic,
I just talked to you a while ago but on the way out of Berowra I saw the Public Library and decided to use the internet there.
Gayyem, kayat ko la nga i-share nga nagimas nga talaga amin diay niluto da.
Nagipatulod da ti maysa nga dakkel nga supot nga napunno ti amin nga niluto da.
It's been a happy week...
ronnie
apo ta inim-imas yo laengen diay pinapaitan nga pinulotanen ta aggingana tatta ket nabartekkay pay laeng? hahahaha...
nagimasen apo, madikay pay agparaman...diay paboritok nga makan: kaldereta ken pinapaitan. Ay basta kalding uray annia ti lutonan! :o) Bagiyo dayta kangaroo bagik diay kalding!!!! nagimasen...
Manong Mario, wen agpayso daydi imbagam. Ti kunank ket adu pay ti agbasbasa outside Sydney ta makitak diay online locator nga ingkabil ni Manong Vjr ket adda met visitors tayo ditoy website who are from other states. Barbareng no ad-adu pay ti rumuar nga taga-Australia ditoy website tayo.
Vic,
Agpayso daydi naibagak kadakayo ken Ronnie nga adunto ti ma-meet you a Magsingalenos dita Sydney. Nasayaat ta adu kayo nga agtitinnulong dita!
Wow! The pinapaitan especially the kaldereta looks appealing to see, that I went to Chinatown and bought some kaldereta for myself. Of course, it is not as good as a Magsingal kaldereta but....Ok for now.
VJR, maybe you could put it "live" on MVP next time Vic and company goes hunting for goats and kangaroos for us to see virtual live. Can you do it? hehehe!
BROD VIC,
I AM GLAD THAT NAGKIKITA KAY MET LA NGA AGKAKAILLIAN DITA....MANONG DEMI ROSARIO IS A FORESTER, AN OFFICE MATE OF MY FORESTER BROTHER GREGORIO BEFORE IN ANGAT DAM IN NORZAGARAY BULACAN, SAY MY HI TO HIM...ADU PAY LAENG TI UGSA IDDIAY ANGAT...DAMAGEM KANNIA NA....
WHEN YOU MENTIONED MANONG BART CONCEPCION IN YOUR FIRST LETTER...MEDYO SAAN KO NGA MATANDAANAN...PERO NOONG MABASA KO YONG SULAT MO NA KALDING KEN KANGAROO AT NABANGGIT MO SI MANANG PENA...THEN THEY CAME TO MY MIND.....WEN TAGA MANZANTE TI KAGUDDUA DA...IN FACT AMMOK NGA MALAGIP NAK PAY LAENG NI MANANG PENA TA KANAYON KAM NGA DUMAGAS DIAY BALAYDA NO MAPANKAM AGPABURAS TI MANGGA DIAY TALON MI DIAY SAR-SARAKAT...NADEKKET DAYDI MANANG SENAI KEN DAYDI NANANG MI.......SAY MY HI AND HELLO TO MANANG PENA..... NALAING DA NGA SUMALA TI BALSE KEN LA-JOTA....BARKADA NI MANONG CHITO NI MANONG VICTOR KEN MARIANO BARBADO THE BROTHER OF YOUR BATCHMATE ARACELI BARBADO IN ATHENS, GREECE..
WOULD YOU MIND BROD TO ASK MANANG PENA THE E-MAIL ADD OF HER SISTER TERESA, SHE IS OUR BATCHMATE...I THINK SHE IS IN HAWAII....OR ASK THE E-MAIL ADD OF MANANG PENA PARA MAKUMUSTA KO DIN SIYA OR HER PHONE NUMBER...HINDI KO PA NAKITA YONG MGA PICTURES NIYO DAHIL BUSY PA AKO RITO AT BAKA MAMAYA AY MAKALABAS DIN..PARA MAPAN MET SUMOKMON WENNO MANG DIES TI AGUA DE PATARANTA....TELL TO RONNIE NGA FATHERS DAY KET JUNE NGA DINAKET IBAGA KANNIAKON NGA SEPTEMBER KANO....BAKA MAY HANG OVER PA ANG KAIBIGAN NATIN...NASOBRAHAN ATA NG CHIVAS.....RI-INGEM MAN TA BUNGAREN NA MANEN...HE..HE..HE..KEN IPAPUDOT YO DAYTA SINGKUTSAR NGA KALDING PARA MAIGOP MANEN....THE FIRST TIME NGA NARAMANAK TI KANGAROO KET DITA PORT HEADLAND...NAIMAS... WITH A BOTTLE OF HEINEKEN BEER
CHEERS KADAKAY AMIN DITA...
Anian nga raksaknan ti panagkikita yo amin! Dayta la ti il-iliwek met. I've always been away from home and everytime I'm in a new place I look for a kailian. I've been lucky so far to even find a relative in almost all places.
Nakaap-apal pay dagita panag hunting yo. Talaga nga napintas dita Down Under - addan sa amin. I am really proud to know there seems to be a tight group of Magsingalenos all over. Although our group smaller, we're tryng to do that here too, in Anchorage. We're going to have a Father's Day day and will serve my old stash of 'rabong' ken 'katuday' nga naggapu pay la diay 'Barikir' and saksaka ti baka nga naragadi from the store nga pangpabulon ti 'ispiritu.'
Happy Father's Day to all of you Down Under!
Easy on the spirits...
Ni Ronnie-n sa ti kursonadak nga gaygaymmen to agpada kami ti magusgustuan....Prost!
ronnie, manong chito, manong demi,manong bart ken vic,
once and for all ...happy fathers day to all of you na kaillian diyan sa sydney,
just got the mail of vic right now.....at happy pala ang fathers day niyo diyan....
nagimas met dayta kaldingen....aglalo tay kalabkab na....aglalo dayta bibingka nga kasla na-aramid diay bar-barit...
hi manong chito...sapay koma ta malagip nak pay...kumusta ka diyan....hi manong demi....sapay koma ta malagip nak pay laeng ...the last time i saw you was when we are still in hilltop (BFD) in angat dam in hilltop, norzagaray bulacan....mangibati kay man ti tapa ti kangaroo...he..he..he...please let me know your e-mails add para makapagistoryahan tayo...
just arrived here in capetown, south africa...barbareng madam-dama ket maka shore leave para makalidok met ti nasanger para selebrasyon met ti .....ALDAW TAYO NGA TATANG...CHEERS SA INYONG LAHAT AGLALO KADAGITA FAMILYA YO....
NABARA NGA KAB-BLA-AW KADAKAY AMIN DITA,
DOLE
M/V NELE MAERSK
CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Uray la nga nagtilmotilmonak nga nakabasa kadaytoy pinapaitan nga kalding ken lalo ta tapa nga kangaroo. Naramanak ti ugsan, pero ti kangaroo saanko pay nga naramanan (mangi pakete ka man ta ramramanan...hehehe). Anyway, babaen dagiti retratoyo nga kasama daytoy nga article, makitak ti bonding ken immediate camaraderieyo. Nakaap-apal. No mabalin la koma ket umayak met makiam-ammo ken makisarsarita uray saanak nga imbitado. Bart, mabalin ti umay makipaghunting ti ugsa inton maminsan nga mapankayo aghunting? Uray saanak nga makaala, just to join the hunting will be quite an experience. Vic and company, enjoy each others company as well as help each other when one is in need. That's my advice to all of you.
Mabuhay kayo lahat,
Ranolfo Ugalino
Ni daytoy pay ti pinangrabiik manen, hehe. Nalipatak gamin nga kinunan ti picture dagidi makmakan idi kalman. Imbag ta adda take-away mi nga inted da Manong Bart. Ag-imagine kay laengen kakabsat nga saan nakaraman ti kalding ti nabayag.