The Illustrious Son of Cabatuan in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines.

The Illustrious Son of Cabatuan in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines.

(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia- January 15, 2019)

"The old Municipality of Cabatuan in the Province of Iloilo, Philippines was founded in the year 1732. Many believed the name was derived from the Hiligaynon word "Kabatuhan" meaning full of stone or "bato". This 2nd class municipality situated at the heart of Panay island is about 24 kilometers away from the City of Iloilo.” --dinggol.d~~~

FLAVIO ZARAGOZA CANO was born on June 27, 1892 at Barrio Janipaan in Cabatuan to Sinforoso Casten Zaragoza and Agapita Montero Cano. He took his early schooling at Centro Escolar de Molo under the Salas brothers where his grades were “Sobresaliente” or Excellent. At age 14, he first showed his literary genius when he began writing poems and essays in both Hiligaynon and in Spanish.

After he obtained the Bachiller en Artes degree from the Instituto de Molo, where he was president of the Sociedad Recreativa Literencia; he taught for a while in the Escuela Parochial de Molo, administered by the Rev. Father Nicolas Valencia. Later, after helping in the political campaign for governorship in the 1906 elections of Don Manuel Locsin, his teacher who greatly influenced him, Flavio Zaragoza Cano decided to further his studies in Manila as a working student.

While in Manila, he produced articles and literary pieces (Spanish section) which he contributed to the popular newspapers in Manila, Visayas and Mindanao; and to the Philippine Republic in Hong Kong. His much inspired La Roca Eterna was published in Mexico.

In 1914, the Ilonggo Poet Flavio Zaragoza Cano married Josefa Francisco of Manila. Thereafter, they relocated to Albay in the Bicol Region where he established a printing press and a newspaper “Heraldo Bicolandia”. In the year 1916, the people of Albay, Albay, in recognition of his literary powers and journalistic achievements, elected him to their municipal council. In 1917, in order to help the working man, he organized the first labor union in the Bicol region.

As fate would have it, the bard from Cabatuan left Albay in 1919 and came back to Iloilo where he dedicated into full-time writing. He served in 1922 as Municipal Secretary for a year in his hometown of Cabatuan; then served in the same capacity for the municipality of Dumangas, Iloilo, from 1923 to 1927. After his stint in Dumangas, he became the private secretary of then Senator Jose Ma. Arroyo of Molo.

He received his earliest major public recognition as a Poet in 1926, when he was crowned as "Rey de Balagtas en Poesia en Dialecta Bisaya." The second honor came in May, 1938, when he was proclaimed "Poet Laureate" in Bacolod City. . In 1929 he gained national recognition when he won the Zobel Prize for Spanish poetry.

In 1940, Flavio Zaragoza Cano made a scene when he tore a P2,000 check in front of President Manuel Quezon, then stalked out of the August hall stunning the audience during the awarding ceremonies of the Commonwealth Literary Contest. Zaragoza's magnum opus, the book-length “De Mactan a Tirad” was adjudged second place in the contest, next to the entry of Jesus Balmori, a Tagalog.

Impartial critics as well as Zaragoza himself expected it to win the coveted prize. It was believed that Zaragoza was intentionally made the second-placer because he was a Visayan. During the ceremonies, he tore the check just after Quezon awarded it to him. The poet contended that his work was superior to that of Balmori in historical facts, in style, in beauty of expression and in eloquence.

I distinctly remember the bespectacled Don Flavio Zaragoza Cano, the famous Bard of Cabatuan, the great Ilonggo and Spanish literary genius during the twilight of his years. He was living at Victory Road along Quezon-Delgado Streets near our house in Iloilo City during the middle of 1960’s.

He almost always wore white attire with matching shoes and buri hat with a lighted cigar in his mouth. He always walked with his cane assisted by his caring wife Socorro “Tia Coroy” Araneta of Molo, an active officer of the Sta. Teresita Parish Catholic Women’s League (CWL) at Juan de Leon Street in Iloilo City. May their soul both rest in peace! ~~~

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Happy “Bert’s” Birthday Celebration!

Happy “Bert’s” Birthday Celebration!

(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - January 6, 2019)

Yesterday Saturday, January 5, 2019 Bert Baldonado, the be-moustached war veteran and a retired naval officer of the United States Navy (USN), dubbed by fellow ilonggos in San Diego as the “Burt Reynolds look-alike”-- together with his family and some close friends stormed the more affluent Japanese Restaurant inside Mission Valley Mall at Mission Valley Center in sunny San Diego, CA.

Awaiting them was the sumptuous dinner buffet of fresh sea foods that included raw oysters; crabs, shrimps and lobsters; delicately made selected A-1 sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese gourmet delight; tender and juicy steak, chicken meat; yes! also manok, mamoy, maka; complete array of culinary arts with fresh vegetable, noodles, hot soup, cakes and pastries, a variety of ice cream and more dessert.

Giving the double 30 years old birthday celebrant a helping hand was his wife Shiela Banglay-Baldonado who came with the delicious Mango Cake with the Numero 60 displayed on top, and of course the apple of their eyes, cutie pie baby Halia.

Conspicuously present, was Bert’s younger brother Tuping carrying his long black umbrella with a Samurai sword handle that caught the attention of the waiters and many customers. He came together with his Leonor forevermore and their only teenage daughter Audrey.

The Ruiz brothers, the amiable Edsel and USN Commander Eric were closely guarded by Marichu and Rance, also by the unica hija Nomi and unico hijo EJ respectively.

Golf aficionado Mistah Anthony and Sheila Evangelista came just in time together with their kids.

The Jereza clan was represented by Rey and Abi Jereza and their tres Marias. Cora Joy Hechanova came armed as usual with her dimples always ready for instant smiles.

Birds-eye view (at left): Rey and Abi Jereza with baby Sofia. At right (clockwise): Cora Joy Hechanova, Marichu & Edsel Ruiz, Anthony & Sheila Evangelista, Bert and Shiela Banglay Baldonado with Baby Halia, Dinggol, Navy Commander Eric, Tuping & Leonor Delarmente Baldonado and Rance L. Ruiz.

The good-nature Bert Baldonado’s second 30th birthday celebration was a great success as everybody enjoyed kag busog kaayo. Salamuch gid! Arigato! looking forward for the third 30th Happy “Bert’s” Birthday Celebration to come! Meanwhile, Sayonara! ~~~

 

A Tale of the Ilonggo "Wonder" Rooster

A Tale of the Ilonggo "Wonder" Rooster

(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - January 1, 2019)

One Saturday at midnight on a full moon sometime in the late 1960's, my good and amiable friend the late Igmedio "Tio Meding" Mesa of Mandurriao in the City of Iloilo Philippines was awakened by frantic noises in his backyard. He heard a deafening trumpet-like sound as if an announcement of the birth of someone or the new arrival of somebody very important. Immediately, he went outside and upon checking anxiously and diligently, he discovered inside his chicken cage area that one of his native roosters conspicuously grew a pouch-like appendage just below it's throat.

Thereafter, he named the rooster "Bulsahan" meaning “one with the pouch”. Curious and believing that it was a good omen, he decided to enter the next day, a Sunday --in the local cockfighting arena his "bisaya nga sulog" or his native rooster. As expected, Bulsahan, a "kuritoy" meaning small and stupid in appearance was the underdog, or rather the “undercock”. Miraculously, however, Tio Meding’s purely native fighting cock won handily against it's impressive opponent. Few days later, the unusual growth disappeared, only to be visible again the next full moon. The pattern then became regular, that Tio Meding and friends thereon eagerly participated in every local cockfighting derbies on Sundays during full moon.

Cockfighting aficionados in Iloilo City of the yesteryears, can attest to the fact that "Bulsahan" was always the star of the show in the cockpit arena during it's "sultada" or bout; and sometimes with standing ovation. This is due to the fact, that even though betting odds were mostly “doblado” or double the bet against this native rooster, Bulsahan managed to win “twelve-in-a-row” by killing it’s opponents to the thundering applause of the cockpit crowd. And to think that all of its slain victims were imported and expensive fighting cocks of famous breeders in the City and Province of Iloilo.

However, on its 13th bout in a New Year’s local Cockfight Derby against an entry from Dumangas, Iloilo, "Bulsahan" was mercilessly slain by it's opponent in only 6 minutes. The many avid fans created by this extraordinary native fighting cock and those inclined to bet on the “biya” or the underdogs opss! I mean again the undercocks, were all saddened by the tragic loss of “Bulsahan” the famed Ilonggo wonder Rooster. Toktoroook !!!

Remembering Bongkoy!

Remembering Bongkoy!

(By: DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - January 2, 2019)

“Today the 2nd day of January 2019, is the 70th birthday of my "twice-over" first cousin named Arturo Divinagracia Araneta, Jr. The family fondly called him "Bambino", and we used to tease him since our childhood days with his bansag or tease name "Bongkoy". On his 65th natal day anniversary in January 2, 2014, his cremated earthly remains was interred into his final resting place in our modest family memorial lot at the Molo Catholic cemetery in the City of Iloilo, Philippines.” dinggol.d~~~

(Photo at left: shows his eldest daughter Paopao holding her fathers sacred urn.)

Here's the obituary I posted after he passed away on May 8, 2010 almost nine years ago:

FAREWELL BAMBINO!

With deep sorrow we announce the sudden demise last week of Arturo Divinagracia Araneta, Jr. in Sta. Ana, CA., a victim of fatal heart attack in his early 60's while doing some paper works in his office.

Bambino was an active leader during his University of the Philippines (UP) student years as a member of the Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK) who joined the "First Quarter Storm" in the early 1970's against the oppressive regime. "Tura" to his friends and "Bambino" or Bino to his family and close relations, he was born with the proverbial "silver spoon in his mouth". His father from Molo -Arturo Locsin Araneta was a sugar planter who had an "Hacienda" in Bago City in Negros Occidental while his mother was the former Consuelo Parcon Divinagracia, a Pharmacist of Dumangas and Pototan ancestry who owned a Botica in Iloilo City.

When martial law was declared; many people cowered in fear and mostly shouted "Alleluia", while others sang to the tune of "Que sera, sera!". But Bambino, in his early 20’s together with his two Assumption-Iloilo Convent breed younger sisters, left the comfort of their luxurious home at Villa Lizares in Tabuc Suba, Jaro in Iloilo City, then armed themselves and went to the hills to fight the repressive dictatorship. He was later captured after an intense gun battle in the hinterlands of southern Luzon and was incarcerated for several years in the stockade for political prisoners in Manila, Cebu and in Iloilo City. After his release when martial law was over, and democracy was restored, he worked diligently as a traveling Salesman in Luzon for a Multi-National Company.

Later, he married the former Soling Esteva of Molo, Iloilo City (middle in photo); raised three (3) children at Makati City in MetroManila (who are all now career professionals) and then he later moved to California, USA --but while awaiting his family to follow him, he met his untimely last and final destiny.

We admire his sacrifices and devotion to his family. And more importantly; his idealism and firm conviction, the fearless determination to fight for what he believed is right and the courage to be willing to lay down his own life for freedom, fair justice and to serve the people.

Yes! Bambino, we are proud of you and your legacy shall never be forgotten. Farewell and rest in peace !!! ...your Manong dinggol~~~

Photo of our last personal meeting in Maryland, USA with my sister Lina, wife Lilia and grandsons Adrian and Andrew.