Out Where A Country Begins

I remember when I was growing up in my home province, Quezon, I used to read a column in one of the Sunday magazines entitled, "Out Where A Country Begins." I recall I feasted on it with its detailed account of what went on in towns and villages as observed by the columnist. I do not now recall the name of the columnist, but I recall my fascination with his account. I have lived most of my days in rural areas, and I must say, the columnist was seeing things I was only faintly aware of because probably I was so used to the sight and smell and sounds of the local scene that I just ignored them.

These thoughts came to mind last night as I watched a not-too-ordinary activity here in our barangay in Bohol. Multi-awarded musical director, Gardy Labad, who has chosen to settle in a nearby village which is home to his mother and clan in Baclayon, Bohol, came here to do auditions for his Teatro Bol-anon.

He has formed what he calls cultural collectives in Maribojoc and Anda and he is willing to do it in his hometown, too, upon invitation from my family and a neighbor, Dr. Pomie Buot. I saw one presentation of the group in Maribojoc and was amazed at how Gardy transformed ordinary folks, the "istambays" among them, into a 22-member cast of a play based on the town's famous landmark, Punta Cruz.

To date, this theater group has done a total of 30 presentations, including one in Manila. Now it is in Dumaguete City in response to another invitation. I can just imagine the boost to the self-esteem of the young people in the cast. Without this engagement with the cultural collective, they would just be idling away precious time in drinking sprees and other vices too tempting to resist if the day's priorities are vague.

Only 5 came to the audition last night, two sisters, two brothers and one relative of the two sisters with ages ranging from 21 to 10. Each one showed their talents in singing, dancing and acting based on instructions from Gardy. The veteran musical director that he is, Gardy gave pointers to each one of them. Samples: do not imitate other singers, just be yourself; open your mouth wider when you sing, etc. The participants obliged and showed Gardy had mined truly some gems of talent from each one of them.

A crowd of 7 women came, some are relatives of these would-be actors and actresses, and they were all witnesses to the start of a new phenomenon in their village. They said they would invite other young people to join the next audition. Meanwhile, Gardy assigned the five participants to gather stories about fisherfolks since Laya is a fishing village. He says all the would-be actors and actresses will participate in the writing of a play based on the actual life in the village.

The session lasted from 9 to 11 pm. I went to bed convinced this is truly where a country should begin, in villages such as this which is not only in dire need of basic services, but of a boost to their spirit in knowing there is in their midst artistic gems to be mined. ###

The Journey I Have Been (8)

20 Apr 2009. A full month after I arrived here in the Phils. from Kuala Lumpur. I look back, and I feel still uneasy about it all. But I have to accept the fact that my assignment has ended and now I have no choice but to move on.

It has taken me quite a while to get the courage to write down my thoughts as part of a cleansing process. During the past month, I distracted myself going to remote villages and renewing ties with project partners. It was also a blessing that there was the Holy Week. As part of centuries-old tradition, our family joined hundred others to visit at least 7 churches during Maundy
Thursday. Before this, there were church masses or services to attend. In-between these activities, I had time to reflect and put myself a little more at ease with how things were turning out which were not according to plan.

Some time during the period I had also to organize get-togethers for friends and colleagues to celebrate my birthday. I had to put up a happy front to hide the turmoil within me: what do I do at 67 when you are too old to be part of a strategic staff development plan? Or so I thought as I talked as though I was the happiest guy during the occasion. I had to fight self-pity and all that stuff, but this was all in the discipline. I tip my hat to this inner self which absorbs all the excuses and self-deceptions I fabricate to make the business of living a little more bearable.

I have recovered from this temporary setback. Now I am determined to try my hand in something innovative and new. I have decided that I will raise pigs the organic way for the remainder of my days on the planet. It will be a good idea for a book, this epic journey from being a development worker to an organic swine farmer.

This morning, I met with our three workers on the place we are developing here in Bohol and they were not surprised at all to listen to me expound on the merits of going into organic pig raising. We viewed a video together given by a recent guest, a colleague and friend, Raul Salceda. I have invited the brother-in-law of a friend to spend the first week of May with us to give us pointers on how to raise pigs the organic way.

Unless something turns up that will be more exciting than this prospect, I will embark on this journey soon. But I have to keep on reading more on the subject and listening to other people who have tried their hand in this business for quite some time.

For all we know, this can be a more effective way to save the planet and reduce poverty than all those fancy things I have done during the past 32 years of development work.

Let's see - and wish me luck!