Fiesta memories of my hometown

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I LOVE fiestas and today happens to be the feast day of my hometown, Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. In my childhood and even now the word fiesta always brings a smile to my face and my thoughts. 

I assume all other Filipinos or those who are Filipino at heart share my thoughts on this. The best dishes, particularly the best torta (short cake) and salad in my childhood were served during fiestas. 

Filipinos love fiestas. After all, a fiesta is a special time to bond with friends, a time for fellowship, activities and special food of course. The origin of the Philippine fiestas are rooted back to before the Spanish conquistadores.

But since there are other readers of Straight from the Carolinas who are unfamiliar with the fiesta, allow me to share with you some background or insights, specifically the Tagoloan town fiesta.

Fiestas in the Philippines are held to celebrate a patron saint. The patron saint is believed to be the guardian of the people who believe in its protection. 
Every 2nd of February in my town we celebrate the fiesta of our patroness the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.

Coveted tasks
You see the fiesta has a more religious undertone because of the culture we received from the Spaniards but through the years the fiesta became a blend of the religious and secular or civic. 

Devotees attending church in Tagoloan town.

As is the case of every fiesta, it is marked with a nine-day novena Mass which in the case of Tagoloan townn started last week and ends on Feb. 2, the feast day itself. 

The fiesta also marks that time of the year aside from Christmas when devotees are in church attending the novena Mass. The sacristans are left behind to clean and beautify the altar and the church surroundings. 

The responsibilities among church workers like decorating and liturgy are assigned by the parish priest and the most coveted are the cleaning and dressing of the lady icon.

According to my good friend Consuelo Sabio-Caballero, the patroness's dress is sewn in Manila by the sister of Mrs. Nice Yap. From Sueing (Consuelo) the process of changing the clothes of the Virgin Mary is a delicate process that starts with a prayer. 

Beauty
Bobby Lee and other choir members do the same. I guess I have to write separately about this topic. Even if you are unfamiliar with the process or Catholicism itself, you would marvel at the beauty of the patroness of Tagoloan. 

It is said that everyone wants to be part of this religious process. I am reminded of one person who had been dressing the patroness for years, Nang Gaga Celestina Razalo-Casino, who returned to her Creator weeks ago. 

Nang Gaga would love doing this and surely she would be missed this year. The others are kept busy practicing the dances and the songs.  Most government employees, officials and students join barangay officials in the parade.

The Senora Candelaria icon of Tagoloan town

In those days the parade would start from Tagoloan Central School and then steers to the right of the street heading to the house of Glen Gamber, Vicente Lao, Lola Eging Casino and then my family home. 

The parade would then proceed towards the houses of Yo David and Tiay Puring Nabong- Pacheco in the left and then the home of Tioy Memen Dagus at the right.

Pageant
It was a long parade and those tired of walking would search for the nearest tree shade to rest. In my youth, I would join the parade to escape housework and to see which house had the most visitors on the eve of the fiesta. 

Every night for the whole fiesta week there would be different activities at the plaza. In the old days there would be dancing until the wee hours of the morning and the Miss Tagoloan pageant.

I can still recall some winning Miss Tagoloan candidates like Manang Erlinda Nabong, Ganging Nabong, Vilma Nabong, Rosalinda and Vicky. They are all sisters and the daughters of Iyo Lino Nabong. 

I couldn't remember now if the youngest daughter Jerelyn, who also happened to be my classmate was also Miss Tagoloan. 

Of course there was also a Miss Dulce Sabejon, the daughters of the late Iya 
Marina of Baluarte, Madoline “Gangga Pacheco”, my neighbor and the younger ones, Urcel Casino who by the way is now in New York, his late sister Zelda and so many others.    

The blessing of the candles and the yearly procession of the patroness, the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria and the sumptuous food, I guess I have to continue with it next Saturday. But one thing I am sure about, I love fiestas. Happy Fiesta Tagoloan town.

(This article also appeared in the Feb. 1 online and printed edition of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. You can also see my other articles in this web page. The vintage photos were taken from the Facebook page Karaang Tagoloan while the photos inside the church were taken by my daughter.)

My godson and memories of godmotherhood

My husband Ronnie and I pose with Grant

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

LET me introduce to you my first godson in the US, seven-year-old Grant Armstrong.

The son of Yulie Leong-on Amara of Iloilo City and Ric Armstrong of Charlotte, North Carolina, Grant was born on April 27, 2006. He studies at Tuckaseegee Elementary School and is passionate about drawing and painting. 

His portrait painting was chosen by his art teacher to represent the school in art competitions. Grant's works were displayed at the Freedom Park in Charlote during the recent Fall Festival.

Grant with his parents Yulie and Ric Armstrong. 

Yulie told me that Grant was a sweet baby and he still is today. Grant is the baby of the family; he adores his older sister Gracie and older brother. He was three years old when his family visited the Philippines.

As a toddler, Grant loved to watch Caillou, Elmo and Thomas. When he got older, his interests expanded to include dancing and he's not afraid to tumble around which worried his mother slightly.

“He is a happy, kind, and loving boy,” Yulie described her son. The mother is also happy that despite Grant been born here in the US,  he loves to eat” bulad” or dried fish and rice.

As the youngest child, Grant competes with his older siblings so the mother has no problem when it comes to socialization. “He can get along so easily with other kids,” Yulie said.

I have a lot of “binata (adolescent)” godchildren in the Philippines (hahahahha) some of whom I couldn't remember anymore though I do remember their parents. 

Grant with his award-winning paintings

It is just like me, I couldn't remember anymore the name of my”maninay (godmother).” What I can remember is that she worked before with Philippine Packing Corp., now Del Monte Philippines. 

Her house in Baluarte, Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental is closed already. Her hair is always tied in a bun; I wish my mother is still here on earth to tell me her name.

I remember that every Christmas day as I grew up that I would walk from Tagoloan town proper (our house at the back of the Church) passing through the Church, plaza and municipal hall in going to Baluarte. 

There was no pedicab or motorized ride at that time. On reaching my “maninay's” home, I remember seeing the grounds are clean and adorned with flowers. I have the impression it was always taken cared of. 

Then I would take her hand and she would “bless” me. She would then offer me snacks and give me my gifts. If she gave me food as a gift, it would be eaten up as I reached home. 

Well, I am now a grown-up “maninay, I think that Grant would be a  good“godfather” when he grows up. Not everyone is given that chance anyway, that's my thinking.

To all my binata in the Philippines, the time will come when I visit you all. Until that time comes, I would always keep you in my prayers. 

The Armstrong family listens to a priest's homily.

Developing my clothes sense

The winter coat that looked like a bathrobe

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I'M no fashionista or sophisticate when it comes to clothing. I use clothes that are available for me. I have no preference at all.

Any clothes that I am comfortable wearing especially jeans and shirts makes my life easy because it's most convenient for the kind of work that I did most of my adult life. 

My work entails reporting on fires, accidents, court rulings and anything seconds or minutes after it happened. As such I spend my time mostly in the streets and it would be inappropriate or inconvenient for me to wear skirts and blouses if you know what I mean. 

There was a slight change actually when I faced the TV cameras. But still my wardrobe was practically the same. I just wore a blazer or long sleeved polo and there were no shots of me below the legs.

So this is my story; in the Philippines, sizes come in small, medium, large, extra-large or by their initials S, M, L and XL. When I came to the US, I wasn't sure anymore as the sizes of the clothes changed or the size standards that I was used to back home.

I bought this upper blouse sized ¾ that I liked because it is flappy. The cloth was soft and it was on sale (never mind the name of the store, that's another story).  I've been using it for a long time, even in my paralegal class. 

It was only lately when I did the laundry that I discovered that the “upper” is a sleepwear. Que barbaridad; I still found  it funny. Lately, I developed this habit to read the labels of clothes before I threw them to the machine. 

Until now I still can't get over my shock at being told what my blouse was. And I couldn't believe that I have been using this when I go out, shameless me. Now I know why some people I talk to have this questioning look in their eyes.

Or was I just dreaming when I saw those impressions?  I also have another long-sleeved blouse whose color I liked and the material was 100 percent cotton or so its label said. 

A neighbor told me “Oh I like your blouse.” And then I also discovered at the same time that the blouse is also a sleepwear.

Last week there was a grand sale on Target and everyone would be tempted really because sales in the US are quite good. I bought a good jacket at 50 percent off because of the cold weather. 

It was one of the jackets I was eyeing before and I knew the original price tag on it.  When I was already in church, it just dawned on me; “Oh God this might be a bath robe” because of the kind of tie at the back which is similar to my old bath robe. I nearly panicked--the third time around would be too much for me.

After church I took the jacket off inside the car even if it was bitter cold and read the label. I heaved a sigh of relief when it says it was a winter jacket.    

Also before, I usually get a small size or a size 12 because I know my size; but the sister-in-law of hubby Ronnie, Doris Dennis and cousin Pam Dennis told me that usually small women should get a size 12 P.P, with P standing for Petite. 

Now I know. There are some reasons why I get myself into these predicaments. I can't read that well (blame it on age) especially if the print is so small. 

You cannot read the fine print if it is made from China (which isn't really made by China anyway) El Salvador, Vietnam, Indonesia or Bangladesh and sometimes if I am lucky, made from the Philippines.

I'm not ashamed to share this story with you. On the contrary, I think it would help so you won't have to suffer the same fate I had with clothing.

Eating healthy in 2014

Collared greens to start the day.

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

THE first party I attended in 2014 signaled good vibes for my New Year’s resolution to eat a lot of vegetables in succeeding days. I have to correct my eating habits for health reasons. 

The party hosted by Chris and Jean Helms at Mr. Pleasant over Highway 49 was a success since I didn't expect to be served Filipino dishes with plenty of vegetables.

Chris and Jean Helms is a perfect husband-and-wife cooking team. I came to know that they serve lunch every New Year. 

A prayer before the New Year lunch

The party schedule was also perfect since I had the time to attend the New Year’s Mass at St. Mark Huntersville before proceeding to Mt. Pleasant. The New Year lunch was served at 1 p.m.

Consider the food served to us guests; monggos with alugbati (mung beans with veggies) and saluyot with slices of meat, okra, pinakbet and of course the American mixed greens or collards and turnip greens.

What was good was that the meat was cut thinly, not the usual big slices which are the usual thing here in the US. It was the monggo that I loved and couldn't stop eating; to me it was a complete meal.

I longed for monggo, I ate it frequently when I was a child. My father is a farmer who planted monggo. I remembered helping to harvest the mung beans and “copis” or the Philippine equivalent of the pinto beans in North Carolina.

Mung beans known in Filipino as munggo is a good source of carbohydrates

Back then we cook monggo with saluyot and coconut milk. We also make ice candy with monggo.It has many uses actually; the best monggo can be hoarded.

There is no question about the health benefits of vegetables including monggo. “I knew that for a fact,” according to Lily of “Peter Rabbit.”  It cleanses, detoxifies and fuels our body. 

I tell you every Filipino worth his salt would really miss kind of food. Jean Helms is from Iloilo city and she said all the vegetables she cooks are organic since it was grown from her garden.

In fact I saw “tanglad” or lemon grass in one of the pots outside her house. But back to the party. Not only was the food great, the atmosphere was intimate because the guests like me were friends of the host. 

Pinakbet (lower right) and ampalaya or bitter melon (upper left)

I was the only Bisdak (Bisayang dagko or Visayan born) since Beth Kremer and Jesett Kelly grew up as  Ilonggo neighbors. 

Among those who attended were Rona Gwinner, Yulie Armstrong, Faith Minase Springborg, Jesett Kelly, Dorena Reynolds and her mom. Beth Kremer came with husband Brent and sons Jaden and Sean. Of course I met new Filipinos.

Childhood friends and the parents of Chris Helms came. For the Americans the barbecue and the greens with mashed potatoes were the favorites. I also saw them eating okra and pinakbet which I find good since eating healthy food is a problem in the US now.

In fact First Lady Michelle Obama made it a priority in her husband's administration for schools to serve healthy food since March 2010. 

The anti-obesity program dubbed as the “Let’s Move” campaign is the Obama administration’s seeks to reverse childhood obesity by 2030. 

There's much debate about it but I think the solution shouldn't have to be legislated. But enough of US social political issues, I'm eating with friends and it happened to be healthy. 

Eating healthy is my New Year's resolution and this means eating the right kind of food to sustain me throughout the day. Healthy living means healthy eating choices. What a good way to start with the year.

Baked fish to complement the lineup of vegetable dishes

(This article also appeared in Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro's website on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014)