Papa's dogs: Scotty and Blacky

Scotty and Blacky

Scotty and Blacky are probably two of the nicest dogs you’ll ever see. The two dogs are our resident ‘guard dogs’ in a modest ‘farm’ in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija where my parents now spend most of their time.

Scotty and Blacky are very much part of the family. Their master is my dad. Scotty is massive next to Blacky, probably because Scotty is part Labrador and part Retriever. Blacky on the other hand, is half Labrador and half Pinoy dog (read: askal).

Old and young

Blacky is now 6 years old, pretty old for a dog, while Scotty is a springy 9 month old puppy. At first, Blacky wasn’t too thrilled to find a dark brown dog being introduced in the farm. Blacky even tried-and succeeded—in physically imposing his natural instinct to let the other dog know that Blacky is the alpha male in the farm.

After a few weeks however, and with Scotty’s willingness to ‘bow’ to Blacky, the two dogs now happily share the guarding chores in the farm, although the two dogs rarely do ‘guarding’ because of their friendly disposition.

However, the sheer size of Scotty, and the respectable growl of Blacky seem to serve the purpose of intimidating neighbors and strangers passing by the gate of the farm.

Leader of the pack

My dad would often go out on walks every morning, and on his side are two loyal, albeit hyper-active dogs. Dad would often lead his ‘pack’ outside the farm and into a dirt road. The road is unpaved and is surrounded by rice fields and a small river.

My dad and his ‘pack’ would often go out on walks very early while the morning dew still glisten from the rays of a rising sun.

Before breakfast, the pack would be back in the farm.

The farm in Sta. Rosa

Our modest 600-square-meter farm is in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, a good 2 hours and 30 minutes away from Manila. This is where we go on vacation especially during summer and whenever we need a temporary respite from work.

During the start of the summer, the branches of the mango trees will be heavy with fruits although it will take a few more weeks before we can enjoy the sweet fruits. The guava trees will be full of guava fruits, and the macopa will be decorated with small, pink and dark red fruits. These are just a few of the fruit trees at the farm.

Scotty and Blacky, as well as chickens and ducks, would often rest under the shade of these fruits trees.

My parents and I would often sit on a long wooden stool under one of the mango trees and enjoy a cup of hot coffee while letting time pass by slowly.

Perhaps the humble farm serves the same purpose for me. Whenever I need to take a short rest from work and avoid the stress of living in a fast-paced city, the farm will always be there.

Surfing in San Juan, La Union

It may not be as high-profile as Siargao, but San Juan in Urbiztondo, La Union is steadily becoming a surfer's paradise.

The rates are pretty reasonable and the surfing instructors are very friendly. The waves are about 4- to 5-foot high and the swells are relatively mild.

Funny though is that I was not even able to surf the San Juan surf.

It was a family trip, and the very first time that I'll be introducing my then 14-year-old son to surfing. The plan was for me to encourage him to try something new, beyond video games and basketball.

I was beside him while the surfing instructor gave him the basics. And yes, being a doting dad, I was pretty nervous. Can he handle the waves? Can he stay upright and not crash? Will he enjoy the experience?

After a few minutes, my son was ready to go. I saw excitement in the eyes of my boy as he started making his way to beach, with the surfing instructor tagging along. His deceptively reed-thin frame look even more frail as he wore the rash guard, a kind of surfer's garment meant to protect his torso from the surfboard.

I always knew my son was athletic, despite his seemingly frail frame. But seeing him go and ride the wave--at his very first try--made his dad proud.

The hour whizzed by and before I knew it, the surfing was over. But for my son, it was just the beginning.

Tranquility at Tanawan in Sta. Rosa

About thirty minutes away from the town proper of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija is Tanawan, a favorite destination of locals and visitors.

"Tanawan" may mean "viewing area" and the place is rightfully named because it offers visitors a panoramic view of the rolling hills and carpets of green surroundings. it also gives you a unique view of some parts of Cabanatuan City.

Before reaching Tanawan, you will pass through the main entrance of the nearby Fort Magsaysay military camp, itself a worthy destination especially if you are riding a bike or jogging.

Tanawan is also part of Palayan City, which is the capital of Nueva Ecija.

Getting to Tanawan is an adventure in itself. There are no public transports and most locals go there on a motorbike and in groups. The long, winding, and hilly roads give visitors a glimpse of the life of people living in the many communities that you will pass by before reaching Tanawan.

The roads are paved and relatively new. Passing through, one can see numerous orchards, green rice fields, massive trees with equally massive canopies, farms, and quaint houses. You will also pass by a military reserve, which can give you a feeling of security, considering that Tanawan is still fairly remote.

A short, steep zigzag road (about 2 kilometers long) will finally take you up to Tanawan.

Reaching Tanawan, there are a few carinderias that can offer anything from food to beer. For a modest rent, you can use the nipa huts scattered around in which to enjoy your cold drinks or your food.

Once you're settled in the nipa hut, you can enjoy the view and the cool breeze. From afar, the horizon looks untouched, dotted only by a few small houses. Tanawan is mostly tranquil and the silence is often disturbed only by the occasional motorbike revving up to a hilly climb up the road.

Here's a quick guide to get to Tanawan:

1.) From Sta. Rosa town proper, simply follow the Sta. Rosa-Fort Magsaysay Road.

2.) From Maharlika Highway, turn left (if you're coming from the north) or turn right if you are coming from Manila or Bulacan.

3.) Coming from the neighboring town of Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija simply go straight ahead after passing by the Sta. Rosa Bridge and Sta. Rosa public market.

My Saudi sojourn (Part 3)

They say the last few months will be the hardest, when you’re about to end your stay in a foreign land and go back home. Overall, my stay in Saudi Arabia was uneventful. Sure, I’ve been to a number of interesting places, met a few interesting people, gained some friends, and immersed in a foreign culture.

I really felt I belonged to this close circle of friends I learned to trust. In return, I have been a loyal and helping friend to them. In the grand scheme of things, it is my hope that I will remembered as a good friend to those I’ll be leaving behind.

A few weeks before I decided to approach the office manager to give my resignation letter, I harbored mixed feelings. I am happy to be just a few weeks away from going back home to family and friends. At the same time, I felt a bit nostalgic knowing that many Filipinos in Saudi Arabia do not have the luxury of making decisions or choices given me. Many Filipinos do not have the luxury of choosing jobs, and many still are literally stuck in a foreign country to toil until better days come for them. And many of these Filipinos are my friends.

The economics are really simple. A Filipino worker is better off working in a foreign land where there are many job choices, if one is not too picky. And this does not apply only to Filipinos with menial jobs. Professionals in Saudi Arabia will have a difficult time leaving their jobs, knowing fully-well that high-paying jobs are too few in their homeland.

Some even had to bring their families to Saudi Arabia, resigned to the fact that they will be staying there for a really long time. As for me, I guess I am fortunate to have friends and colleagues who are eager to work with me again. I do not call it luck, but rather choice. I chose to work back in my home country knowing that I will be leaving behind a lucrative job.

The night I was about to leave, I bid a happy, but sad, goodbye to my friends. It will be an image that I will remember for the rest of my life. There they were, waving, some shaking my hand, some heckling, some laughing, as I boarded the company car to take me to the airport.

After a few more hours of anxiety, I boarded the plane to take me back to Manila. Unlike the first time, the hours whizzed past and before I know it, the plane was touching down. I was back in the Philippines, back home, at last.

The Dupinga River

Dupinga River is located in Gabaldon, one of the more remote towns in the vast province of Nueva Ecija.

According to accounts, the river was merely a source of water from the scattered communities around Gabaldon. Traditionally, locals, most often penitents during Holy Week troop to the river after traversing the numerous churches and chapels along the way.

But the river, with its clear and clean water, begun attracting a slew of visitors.
Soon after, locals eventually erected a few nipa huts and started renting them out to visitors. A sari-sari store followed, a
nd more nipa huts eventually mushroomed around the edges of the river.
Today, Dupinga River is a favored location of picnic goers, mostly out-of-town visitors.

For a modest fee, one can rent a hut near the edge of the river and take a dip in the cold water.

The river is still one of the best kept secrets of Gabaldon town. Seeing its rugged beauty, one can’t help but wish that it remains a secret.

My Saudi Arabia sojourn (Part II)

It was the onset of the summer season of 2009 when I got to Saudi Arabia to work for a year. I immediately felt the suffocating heat whenever I went outdoors.

Thankfully, I did most of my work from my computer in a moderately large office cubicle I share with a few other Filipinos. The first few weeks allowed me to adjust to the working conditions and office culture.

The company employs many Filipinos, as well as Saudi Arabs, Palestines, a Venezuelan, a Nigerian, and quite a number of Indians, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani, among others.
To my relief, the company is a bit lax when it comes to office formalities. There is no bundy clock, but office workers do follow a more or less 7am to 5pm schedule. Employees, especially when not busy on a project, are free to mill around.

I soon found out that the “work cycle” involves a lot of free time, but when work does come in, everyone would be busy. It is also good to note that the company is output oriented.

I am not good at ranting about work, but I found it fascinating how some office employees, particularly those in the lower rung, tend to emphasize their perceived importance in the company, which I think is only natural.

The weekend starts on a Wednesday, when work is only half-day, until Thursday and Friday where there is no work at all. Interestingly, the work week starts on a Saturday.

Most foreign workers have to make this adjustment because as a Muslim country, Saudi Arabia observes Thursday and Friday as its rest days.

My work week was mostly uneventful, and for a good half of 2009, my routine is mostly ordinary and regular.

Travelling to a second home in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija

About five years ago, we left our hometown in San Miguel, Tarlac City, to live in Sta. Rosa in Nueva Ecija.

My fondest memories of childhood will always be in San Miguel in that small compound where I grew up with my uncles and aunts, and cousins.

But I slowly learned to love Sta. Rosa with its wide rice fields, open roads, and rural beauty. I consider myself lucky because the modest lot my parents were able to buy is literally standing in the middle of rice paddies with a backdrop of mountains and hills.

The house my parents now live in is still a work in progress, but visiting Sta. Rosa will always be like getting a breath of fresh air for someone like me who works in Manila.

In my parents’ small lawn are a few mango trees, some guava trees, and a rather colorful fruiting macopa tree, among others. My mother has a small area for her gumamela, euphorbia, and orchids, all flowering at the same time. My parents also have a few chickens and ducks, all with chicks and ducklings.

A small pond with tilapia and the uninvited mudfish and catfish welcomes the few neighbors that often come to chat. My mother would often invite them for breakfast or coffee as the early morning sun begins to shine.

My father loves to trim the grass along the small lawn so that his grandkids can run around and play, while Blacky, our dog, ever loyal to his masters, stands guard.

The rice fields are a sight to behold, at least for me. I often stay under the shade of a mango tree, stretched upon a hammock just enjoying the calm, soothing breeze, as I watch the chickens and ducks run around searching for food.

In the afternoon, nothing beats having coffee and some light snacks with my old folks as the sun begins to set.

It said that happiness and contentment are always subjective. I could not agree more.