In grade school I knew all the creepy stories from the old folks. I got to hear all about the aswang and other creepy entities in our localities. Those stories never failed to scare the crap out of me, and I still read up about them once in a while. I'd love to know more. Personally I never had an experience about it. But most of the people and elders from provinces that I met was telling me same stories about those creepy entities. Some are saying that aswang can be a shapeshifter from a human to cat, bird(TIKTIK), dog, snake etc. Some are saying they are just like us but they act differently they don't socialize so much and once they spotted a funeral, they don't blink their eyes, they just keep staring all day long untill they could sneak the dead body and suck their blood or steal their body organs. But here in Isabel the most feared is the hiloan because some of people reported being sick or dying because of the deadly poison bring by the hiloan. They are common during fiestas where some of the old folk bring alum (tawas tapol) to repel the ominous wind brought by the hiloan. The aswang and other creepy creatures are not really common to the young, they like to hear stories but less in believing due to our advance civilization.
Mythological Creatures we believe here in Isabel are the following:
Aswang is a ghoul or vampire that eats the dead, and has a peculiar liking for human liver. Aswangs may take the form of a human or an animal, such as a bat, a pig, or a black dog. They can change their forms at will or by the use of foul oils. They appear at night to prey on unwary travelers or sleeping people.
Diwata, also known as fairies or nymphs, are guardian spirits of nature that reside in large trees, such as acacia and balete. They bring blessings or curses upon those who do good or harm to the forests and mountains.
Engkanto (sometimes spelled Encanto) is an umbrella term for most supernatural beings. They are commonly referred to as fairies who reside primarily in the forests and the sea.
Duwende means dwarf. In the Philippines, duwendes can be found living in houses or in trees in rural areas. Their behavior depends on they way the homeowners treat them. In order to please the resident duwende, Filipinos leave food on the floor as an offering to them.
Kapre are tall and dark giants that are known to inhabit forests under old acacia or mango trees. They are known for smoking huge rolls of tobacco. Kapres usually make people lost with their mystical powers. According to superstition when a brief shower of rain falls while the sun is shining, a pair of Kapres are being wed.
Multo is a Tagalog word for ghost, comes from the Spanish word muerto, which means "dead". Superstitious Filipinos believe that the multo are spirits of their former kin who have come to visit them from the grave. It is also believed that when a person dies, they are fetched by the spirits of their former kin. The Tagalog word for being visited by a multo is 'minumulto'(being haunted), or 'dinadalaw' (being visited).
Hiloan is a person who poison someone that bring sickness or death.
February 21, 2010
Tuli in Isabel
Circumcision in Isabel
Pagtutuli
A few decades ago, genital incision of Isabelanon boys (pagtutuli) was purely a traditional custom. An amateur (manunuli) would perform it on local boys . In some areas, the boys sit astride a banana log into which a wooden plug has been inserted as an "anvil". The traditional rite is only superincision, a dorsal slit, removing no tissue (but with variations). In Isabel like the whole part of the Philippines, circumcision is only one of summer’s rituals of passage. It used to be that after young men had recovered from circumcision, their older male relatives would bring them to a brothel for their “binyag,” a second, more profane form of baptism, But not all have their “binyag”.
More recently pagtutuli is becoming medicalised (and commercialised).
Medicalising the custom, as elsewhere, also often involves increasing the damage to removal of the entire foreskin. The intermediate step of questioning the need for doing it at all has been strangely bypassed.
Routine circumcision anywhere is always of babies or pre-adolescent boys - the great majority of men who have experienced sex when they have a foreskin would never tolerate having it removed. In the Philippines, it has strong elements of a "rite of passage" to manhood, though once he has healed, very little about a boy's life actually changes. At present, peer-pressure, parental pressure, medical pressure and the stigma against being supót (intact) make childhood circumcision almost - but not quite - inevitable.
Why do Isabelanon prefer to be Circumcise:
"PISOT" shouted a newly circumcised young boy to one of his "uncut" peers, while wincing at the pain brought about by his newfound manhood. His "uncut" friend was now running off with tears streaming down his face.
This is a usual scenario come summer time when most young Isabelanon boys (I think all over whole Philippines) earn their "manhood" through routine circumcision. Those who are "cut" boast of their "manliness," while those who are yet to experience the "right of passage" are left embarrassed by their condition, anxious for their time to come.
A predominantly Catholic country, circumcision in the Philippines has long become an obligation and a tradition. Following Christian doctrine, Filipinos believe that circumcision is a symbol of the covenant between man and God. Nobody dared question the practice.
The Tomato metaphors:
There is a folk belief that the circumcised male should “protect” his wares from the female gaze, lest this swell and redden like tomatoes. That belief could well be used to explain that manhood is a matter of learning to be responsible, and of respecting women. Another belief here in Isabel about tomato metaphors is not to step on chicken droppings or else it swell like tomatoes. Tomato metaphors aside, I’ve found in the Philippines that it’s especially useful to remind young men to see, in every woman, their own mother or sister,That kind of thinking may yet be a more effective preventive action against HIV/AIDS and STDs and preventing young parents than circumcision.
Pagtutuli
A few decades ago, genital incision of Isabelanon boys (pagtutuli) was purely a traditional custom. An amateur (manunuli) would perform it on local boys . In some areas, the boys sit astride a banana log into which a wooden plug has been inserted as an "anvil". The traditional rite is only superincision, a dorsal slit, removing no tissue (but with variations). In Isabel like the whole part of the Philippines, circumcision is only one of summer’s rituals of passage. It used to be that after young men had recovered from circumcision, their older male relatives would bring them to a brothel for their “binyag,” a second, more profane form of baptism, But not all have their “binyag”.
More recently pagtutuli is becoming medicalised (and commercialised).
Medicalising the custom, as elsewhere, also often involves increasing the damage to removal of the entire foreskin. The intermediate step of questioning the need for doing it at all has been strangely bypassed.
Routine circumcision anywhere is always of babies or pre-adolescent boys - the great majority of men who have experienced sex when they have a foreskin would never tolerate having it removed. In the Philippines, it has strong elements of a "rite of passage" to manhood, though once he has healed, very little about a boy's life actually changes. At present, peer-pressure, parental pressure, medical pressure and the stigma against being supót (intact) make childhood circumcision almost - but not quite - inevitable.
Why do Isabelanon prefer to be Circumcise:
"PISOT" shouted a newly circumcised young boy to one of his "uncut" peers, while wincing at the pain brought about by his newfound manhood. His "uncut" friend was now running off with tears streaming down his face.
This is a usual scenario come summer time when most young Isabelanon boys (I think all over whole Philippines) earn their "manhood" through routine circumcision. Those who are "cut" boast of their "manliness," while those who are yet to experience the "right of passage" are left embarrassed by their condition, anxious for their time to come.
A predominantly Catholic country, circumcision in the Philippines has long become an obligation and a tradition. Following Christian doctrine, Filipinos believe that circumcision is a symbol of the covenant between man and God. Nobody dared question the practice.
The Tomato metaphors:
There is a folk belief that the circumcised male should “protect” his wares from the female gaze, lest this swell and redden like tomatoes. That belief could well be used to explain that manhood is a matter of learning to be responsible, and of respecting women. Another belief here in Isabel about tomato metaphors is not to step on chicken droppings or else it swell like tomatoes. Tomato metaphors aside, I’ve found in the Philippines that it’s especially useful to remind young men to see, in every woman, their own mother or sister,That kind of thinking may yet be a more effective preventive action against HIV/AIDS and STDs and preventing young parents than circumcision.
Fishing
Fishing
Overview:
Fishing is the activity of catching fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
The term fishing may be applied to catching other aquatic animals such as shellfish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. The term is not normally applied to catching aquatic mammals, such as whales, where the term whaling is more appropriate, or to farmed fish.
According to statistics, the total number of fishermen and fish farmers is estimated to be 38 million. Fisheries and aquaculture provide direct and indirect employment to over 500 million people. In 2005, the worldwide per capita consumption of fish captured from wild fisheries was 14.4 kilograms, with an additional 7.4 kilograms harvested from fish farms.
Some Isabelanons use the traditional low-tech method in fishing like hand gathering, spearfishing, netting, angling and trapping.
History:
History of fishing in Isabel is commonly for food and to earn a little amount of money, coz at that time the Matlang Bay and Dupong Bay are full of fish due to low population and no factories the illegal fishing at that time is not yet known. I remember those days, at my young age I see some fishermen bring some food to be spread in the sea so that the sea anito would bring good luck. In catching squid some use human feces to let the squid gather, because cynide and dynamite fishing was introduce in Isabel maybe during the 80’s.
Today the livelihood of our fishermen was undermined by low production, stagnating at approximately 1 million tons per year. A number of factors contributed to the low production: encroachment of commercial fishermen into shallow waters, destruction of the marine environment, over-fishing, and an increasing number of fish ponds. A large proportion of the mangrove forests was cleared to construct fishponds, seriously damaging the coastal ecological system. Coral reefs sustained serious damage from illegal fishing with dynamite and cyanide.
Fish farms:
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. It involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures in a fish pen, usually for food. Here in Isabel our most common fish farms are tilapia and milkfish (bangus). Our best supplier of bangus in fish farms is the Philippine Phosphate (Philphos). There we can bought fresh bangus and boneless bangus. The use the cage system of raising the bangus in the sea.
Overview:
Fishing is the activity of catching fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
The term fishing may be applied to catching other aquatic animals such as shellfish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. The term is not normally applied to catching aquatic mammals, such as whales, where the term whaling is more appropriate, or to farmed fish.
According to statistics, the total number of fishermen and fish farmers is estimated to be 38 million. Fisheries and aquaculture provide direct and indirect employment to over 500 million people. In 2005, the worldwide per capita consumption of fish captured from wild fisheries was 14.4 kilograms, with an additional 7.4 kilograms harvested from fish farms.
Some Isabelanons use the traditional low-tech method in fishing like hand gathering, spearfishing, netting, angling and trapping.
History:
History of fishing in Isabel is commonly for food and to earn a little amount of money, coz at that time the Matlang Bay and Dupong Bay are full of fish due to low population and no factories the illegal fishing at that time is not yet known. I remember those days, at my young age I see some fishermen bring some food to be spread in the sea so that the sea anito would bring good luck. In catching squid some use human feces to let the squid gather, because cynide and dynamite fishing was introduce in Isabel maybe during the 80’s.
Today the livelihood of our fishermen was undermined by low production, stagnating at approximately 1 million tons per year. A number of factors contributed to the low production: encroachment of commercial fishermen into shallow waters, destruction of the marine environment, over-fishing, and an increasing number of fish ponds. A large proportion of the mangrove forests was cleared to construct fishponds, seriously damaging the coastal ecological system. Coral reefs sustained serious damage from illegal fishing with dynamite and cyanide.
Fish farms:
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. It involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures in a fish pen, usually for food. Here in Isabel our most common fish farms are tilapia and milkfish (bangus). Our best supplier of bangus in fish farms is the Philippine Phosphate (Philphos). There we can bought fresh bangus and boneless bangus. The use the cage system of raising the bangus in the sea.
July 17, 2009
Our Home
Watch the fields at harvest time,
feel the joy our labors bring--
Out at sea the fishers sing--
Our Filipino Home.
Paradise of love and friends,
Home of sunshine and of grains--
Land of gold and fertile plains--
Our Home
In the city, on the farm
The statue of labor stands--
Home of the strong untiring hands--
Our home.
Patience is the toilers' rule
Industry at every door--
Land of progress evermore--
Our Filipino Home
feel the joy our labors bring--
Out at sea the fishers sing--
Our Filipino Home.
Paradise of love and friends,
Home of sunshine and of grains--
Land of gold and fertile plains--
Our Home
In the city, on the farm
The statue of labor stands--
Home of the strong untiring hands--
Our home.
Patience is the toilers' rule
Industry at every door--
Land of progress evermore--
Our Filipino Home
Sonnet to my Daughter
To wander by in paradise
With someone mostly in disguise
It's not that bad, it may be right
But nothing worth than worst it might.
When not in time, it is not yet
And it may just put you underneath.
On what you aim or plan ahead
or totally ruin then block your lead
Be wise enough and find the way.
To cut and break that pipe away
Let it spill upon his knees
For him to feel the dark abyss.
Be calm as you turn your head upward
And see what God has for your reward.
With someone mostly in disguise
It's not that bad, it may be right
But nothing worth than worst it might.
When not in time, it is not yet
And it may just put you underneath.
On what you aim or plan ahead
or totally ruin then block your lead
Be wise enough and find the way.
To cut and break that pipe away
Let it spill upon his knees
For him to feel the dark abyss.
Be calm as you turn your head upward
And see what God has for your reward.
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