THE THINGS IN HER BAG

The ten story merelion statue (actually a building that houses gift shops, a sort of a theater, museum, and you can climb to the top floor and get a view of the sea and some Indonesian islands)

Lobby of Marina Bay Sands

Apartments in Buangkong Green, where we are staying, at the flat owned by a son at the 6th floor of one of the buildings.

     She sat beside me in a bus going to Buangkong Green, where I would be getting off at the bus stop a kilometer or so away. A young lovely woman in shorts, wearing a tight-fitting yellow shirt outlining the nipples of her breasts, with flawless Asian skin and Chinese-Japanese eyes. Now and then she would open her Givency bag, which I heard she said to a friend on her i-phone: purchased from an outlet mall in Florence. 
   Now and then I would cast my eyes on the bag: it contained Singapore coins (probably, because some S coins are cast like Malaysian coins) a Bottega Veneta passport holder, Gucci pouch, a bio-cellulose mask, Louis Vuitton wallet, one or two snicker chocolate bars, a leather channel diary. 
     She noticed my eyes and we looked at each other and I smiled and we both laughed. 
     My eyes followed her long white legs when she went down the bus. The blogger felt like singing Bruno Mars version of "Just the Way You Are." What would the other passengers say? Bagtit a lakay! There was a mix of Tamil laborers  as black as charcoal, Filipino looking Indonesians, English speaking Chinese girls, a Caucasian male, Filipino maids speaking Visayan.  
     It was past seven in the evening after a downpour in Lucky Plaza on the Orchard, where Filipinos converge especially on Sunday.

MARINA BAY SANDS

Marina Bay Sands, the world's second biggest casino (top and bottom photos by the blogger)

BALAY A BALITOK ITI BAYBAY





Balitok-diamante iti rusod ti sabangan

Pateg nga arigengen ti utek
Wenno gabsuon ti pirak ken sirib
Ti Lumaud? Ti Dumaya?

Ania ti pampanunotek, St. Henrick*,
Iti rimatrimat dagiti eskaparate,
Iti bitekbitek a gubbuay dagiti Asiana
Nga imnas a daeg ti pasdek?
Wenno annayas ken pisaw-pisaw dagiti gaud
Ti banka iti inaramidda a karayan
Iti pamuon, katkatawa dagiti naglugan?

Kasano nga iladawan dagiti kanginaan
A pagorasan, kawes, bangbanglo, taraon?
Uray arak, kalangiking dagiti kubiertos?
Ania ti sumken a rikna?
Gura wenno panangngaasi?
Ania dagiti agay-ayam iti isip?

Ti narsuod a balay dagiti daniw, salaysay,
Nobela ken sarita idiay Suso iti igid ti baybay?

Dagiti rutayrutay ti Sta. Maria ken Darayday?
Dagiti rutap a taeng kadagiti rangtay
Ti Quiapo, uray idiay Santiago,
Dagiti basura, narurugit nga estero?

Anansata, awan kadagita, ay, awan kadagita.
Iti daytoy a suli ti lubong a kankanayon
Nga aldaw, adda kadi umno a saludsod?
Ania koma dagiti dillawen ken amaden?
Adda kadi rituer iti korona-alahas a partuat?

Awan, uray aligagaw; arakupen laeng ti ulimek
Ti panagdayaw no di man ketdi  panagsiddaaw.*

*St. Henrick Juan Julian, 6, Isabela, Philippines

Marina Bay Sands, Singaporee
February 15, 2013

*Included in the new edition of "Umayka Manen, Ganggannaet/Come Again, Stranger", with introduction by Dr. Ariel Solver Agcaoili of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

A WAY TO HAPPINESS AND PEACE OF MIND

In Sentosa, top and middle pix.

Seragoon Chinese temple

The blogger accompanied the wife and her cousin this morning to do some shopping at Singapore's Shop and Save in Buangkok Crescent. It's Valentine's Day in another country. The blogger was outside the mart and looking at the high rise buildings when the thought came : Slay your demon. Be less than your ego. Be nothing.

MANO TI NAGASTODA ITI BALAY DAGITI MANNURAT?

 

The blogger and the late Gov. Godofredo S. Reyes, 13-time president of the Ilokano writing gunglo.  The patta (balay ti gumil) is on the right. The painted posts belong to the house of Mr. Brigido Daproza, then Gumil -Hawaii president. The said house (balay ti gumil) was supposed to be a 2-storey high structure.


SIMSIMPARAT ITI SIROK TI ANONANG*

ni ANDRES MIGUEL PASION


MANO A TALAGA TI NAGASTODA ITI BALAY TI GUMIL?


Saan a dakami ti nagkuna a kurap ti gunglo dagiti mannurat nga Ilokano. Ni Dr. Dedicacion Agatep-Reyes nga asawa daydi  Apo Godofredo S. Reyes ti nangibbet iti daytoy a sarita iti pannakiumanmi kenkuana iti maysa nga aldaw ti Febrero idi 2009.  No nariing man daytoy a banag, kayatmi laeng a sungbatan dagiti mangibagbaga a putar laeng ti panunotmi ti saan a nasayaat a naaramid iti pannakaipasdek iti balay dagiti mannurat nga Ilokano idiay Suso, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, kas maibatay kadagiti iti financial report ti nasao a gunglo. Naiwaras dagitoy a report iti maysa a tinawen a kombension ti gunglo. Naisurat iti ima dagiti dadduma nga entry.

    The Balay ti Gumil report was signed by Mr. Fernando Sanchez, an education official in Pangasinan. He could have signed it during the Gumil convention at Callao Caves, Penablanca, Cagayan idi 2002.  Apo Fernando was GF's auditor at that time. Did he require Jose Bragado, who spearheaded the construction, to submit the plantilla and the receipts of purchase of the materials for the construction of the patta? Isuna laeng ti makaammo.

     If we summarize or total the amounts as indicated in Balay ti Gumil  financial reports, it appears that P731,100 was spent for the construction of the house. But the expenses are questionable because in 2001 the materials were comparatively cheap. And because there was the money, the house should have been finished during that year. (Kitaenyo ti dadduma a detailed cost or expenses iti peter blog).

     Iti umuna a paset ti financial report, naisurat dagiti nagan dagiti nagdonar iti kuarta nga agpaay koma iti balay ti gumil. Kastoy dagiti naisurat:

          Sonia Agarpo                                                                                           Php 10,000.00
          Ms. Gumil Greece                                                                                           11,500.85
          Gumil Pangasinan                                                                                              2,400.05
          Gumil Metro Manila                                                                                          1,000.00
          Gumil Benguet                                                                                                       600.00
          Mel Ramos Freedland($500)                                                                          25,241.60
          Fred Quibol ($500)                                                                                          25,040.00 
          Roy Aragon                                                                                                          1,000.00
          Greg Inez                                                                                                                 500.00
          Mrs. Gumil Tessie Fagarang                                                                            70,000.00
          $100 Pacifico C. Oamil                                                                                        5,000.00

     Dakayon ti mangdagup no mano ti indonar dagitoy a kakabsat nga awan duadua a nangnamnama iti pannakalpas ti sibubukel a balay.

       When Mrs. Pacita C. Saludes, former Gumil-Hawaii president came to the Philippines last December, he told the blogger, in a meeting at her ancestral house in Saud, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, that officials of GF, considering the amount involved, should have required Bragado to submit receipts of purchase of materials including the plantilla. Manang Pacing's association donated large amounts of dollars for the planned house that were usually given during GF annual conferences.

     Also, Apo Prescy N. Bermudez, a GF stalwart, said that he has written Judge Vivencio Baclig about the "dugol " of the association. Ngem awan sa kano reaksion manipud iti presidente ti gunglo. 

    Kas simbolo ti protesta ti blogger iti saan a nalawag a pannakagasto ti kuarta dagiti mannurat, insublina ti Pedro Bucaneg Award a naited kenkuana idi 2001.

    Tiempon nga ibaga, Apo Bermudez, a no balay kunam, balay a talaga--saan a patta.

     Imbagak idin dagitoy ken ni Apo Juan S. P. Hidalgo, Jr., estimado a mannurat nga Ilokano, ngem nagkatawa laeng.

      Ulitenmi a maysakami a periodista. We back our claims. Agsaludsodkami babaen kadagiti rimienta ti periodista ken uray dagiti mannurat a kas kadakami. 5 ws, one (1) h--who, where, why, when, what, ken how?

    Iti maysa a financial report, adda notasion maipapan iti kuarta a naawat ni Bragado ken inggastona iti balay. Dagitoy dagiti nagdonar ken ti kantidad nga intedda:

     Mrs. Pacita C. Saludez $300                                                                  P15,000.00
     Mr. Arturo M. Padua                                                                                20,000.00
     Mr. and Mrs. Mel Agag, Jr.                                                                        5,000.00
     Mr. Amado I. Yoro                                                                                      1,500.00
  
    Cash money kano ti intedda. Apay a saan a naited iti tesorero tapno ilibretana? Iti kasta, adda record ti withdrawal. Kasano nga ibaga lattan ni Bragado nga inggastona ti kantidad iti balay? Ayan dagiti resibo kadagiti naigatang kadagiti materials? Sadino ti nanggatanganda? Kaano?

     Kasano nga ibagada lattan a P100,000 ti nagastoda iti materials and labor nga awan dagiti resibo wenno nagpirmaan dagiti trabahador idi nagsueldoda. Manoda a nagtrabaho? Kaano a narugian ti trabaho? (Maysa laeng nga entry daytoy. Adda pay, materials and labor P90,000. Adda pay, labor, P45,000. ) Kasano nga inalimon lattan ni Apo Fernando a kastoy a kantidad ti nagasto ni Bragado nga inaprobaran met ni Eden. C. Bulong? Mano ti labor? Mano ti inggastoda kadagiti materials? Mano a supot ti semento? Adda kadi tarikayo a naikapet? Mano ti inggatangda? 

     Iti maudi nga aldaw ti GF kombension idiay  Suso idi Mayo 2005, idi sinitar dagiti mannurat maipapan iti kuarta ti balay, impakaammo ni Bragado a "kalienda ti pamuon ti balay" ta dita KANO ti kaaduan a nabusbos ti kuarta. Adu ti nakanggeg iti daytoy nga imbatad ti katugangan ni CR. Dumdumngeg idi ti blogger, kasta met daydi Apo Godo ken ti kasimpungalanna.

     Kimmanunong kadi kenkuana ni Apo Honor Blanco Cabie, periodista, a nangibando kadagiti " teddek" ti Literatura Ilokano iti maysa a pasken ti gunglo idiay Quezon City iti imbatad ni Bragado?

    *Naedit a gapuanan a naipablaak iti maysa nga Ilokano-Ingles a magasin iti Amianan

THIRD DAY IN SINGAPORE

     News of another earthquake rocking Baguio. Earlier, it was 4.5 and did no damage, according to UP professor Junley Lorenzana Lazaga.

     The cloudy weather with occasional showers  not conducive for the visiting senior citizens to go places. Ate ready-made Chinese food at the restaurant at second floor of another building. The servers were talking to the seniors in Mandarin, undoubtedly thinking they were Chinese. But they just laughed with the servers and pointed to the dishes they wanted.

LAST CHAPTERS OF 'SIKSIKA LAENG'

     Genaro R. Sumaoang's romance novel "Siksika Laeng", currently being serialized in Timpuyog Journal, has two more chapters to go. Will Jennifer marry Froilan, a town mate, or will she jilt him for the widower Rafael San Diego, a customer at the disco pub, where she and friend Marissa work as guest relations officer?

    React to the novel and the question and we will gift you with a free 1-year subscription to  Timpuyog Journal, Amianan's best Iluko-English magazine. First come, first served.

LEAVING FOR CLARK, ARRIVING AT CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

     Last minute checking of things at the apartment.  Dropped by J. Cafe France for brunch (French de luxe breakfast-lunch) along NLEX. Esteling and her cousin Cielo (Leticia,  ngem Cielo ti naganna iti sirok ti latok ta managsakit kano idi ubing, kas iti blogger nga Andres ti maikadua a naganna) and Raul driving his Montero Mitsubishi.  It's 7:35 AM. Sign on wall with art work: Bon comme le bon pain. Chinese-looking guys and Filipinos on separate eating tables. Coffee in plastic cup with Cafe France marking.

     Conversation on trips to Sagada and other points of interest in Amianan. It's now 8:10AM. Done with breakfast and finishing my second cup of coffee. Esteling and cousin to the comfort room while I do the laptop, finishing my coffee, waiting for packed lunch. Asked female waiter wearing  French beret  what the French words on the wall meant but could not get the correct translation and pointed to the English below the words: tender loving hands humble dough something good to eat.. Recalling French 1 taught by a pale tiny French lady in university days, Parle vous francais, mademoiselle? the blogger said to another Filipina waiter wearing a French beret--she came with our bill- and we both laughed. To a French looking man in a nearby table, Puorquoi ils nes parlent francais? who looked away.

    The young Filipinas, how nice and beautiful they are, giggled--they made the blogger's day.

     That's what life is all about, said Cielo, when the blogger told her and Esteling about the incident. She said going to Singapore would save her from worrying, among others, what menu to cook for her son's family in Santiago.

    Raul dropped us in front of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and we hugged him before he went out of the terminal for Baguio. Boarded Cebu Air Pacific and the plane left at 12:15PM and landed at the Changi International Airport at exactly 3:38 PM. Christoffer, our youngest son who works in a multinational company met us at the lobby, and we piled into a taxi for Buangkong Crescent, where he and his brother live on the 6th floor of a high-rise building in Block 981-B--the equivalent of a housing subdivision in this clean and green island-state.

RECONSIDERING DECISION

     Only fools can not change their mind, so they say. Taotayo laeng,  kunada man. Iti kaso ti maysa a kameng,  we are considering his economic situation and the unity of  the organization.. He has maligned the blogger ngem ilawlawatayo ti panunottayo. No dadduma, nangato la unay ti panangipapantayo iti bagbagitayo ket agjuramentadotayo no adda manginsulto kadatayo. Kasta ni Filipino. Nakarkaro pay ta no madin ti panagkita kenkuana ti masabatna iti dalan, palapalennan wenno paltogannan. Saan a sibilisado. Nagasatka, lakay, ngem sapay koma ta baliwamon ti ugalim. 

     Dios-ti-agngina iti palagip, Herdy. Agbiagka!
   
   The blogger and his wife and her cousin, recently widowed from her husband of 40 years, will be leaving for Manila today. On Monday, we will fly to Singapore, the 6th wealthiest country in the planet, via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark. Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity, our third, to visit the smallest is-land state in the world.