"A trip to the past"

Hulyo 28, 2011, kinabukasan nakatakda ang aming paglalakbay-aral.
Hindi ako nakatulog dahil sa excitement first time ko kasing makakapaglakbay sa lugar na iyon, ofcourse except sa Luneta Park. Meron kaming tatlong destinasyon : una sa Ayala Museum, sumunod sa National Museum at ang panghuli sa Luneta Park. Ipinagdasal ko pa nun na sana wag umulan, para masuot ko ang shades ko, at nagtagumpay ako, nasuot ko nga sya dahil umaraw ng panahong iyon, haha.

Unang Destinasyon :

Ang ganda sa loob ng museum, sayang nga lang hindi pwedeng kumuha ng litrato, kasi bawal haha, kaya ayun sa labas lahat ang mga shots namin. Nasiyahan ako sa mga nakita ko, yung mga ginto nang mga ninuno natin, nung una nga nagduda pa ko kung mga ginto talaga yung mga nakalagay dun, sobrang nipis kasi e, parang yung nila2gay na ngayon sa pagkain, pero infairness ang galing ng mga ninuno natin sa paggawa ng mga disenyo sa ginto, kahanga-hanga.

Hindi lng puro ginto ang nakita ko dun, nakakita din ako nga mga jars na ginagamit ng ating mga ninuno upang paglibingan ng kanilang mga yumaong mahal sa buhay, naroon din ang mga kasuotang sinuot ng unang tao. Nakita ko rin dun ang mga lumang litrato ng pamilya aquino. Sa aking paglalakad nakita ko sa daan ang replika ng galleon, pati ang mga diorama kung saan nagsimula ang lahat. ^_^ Nakita ko rin dun ang actual size ng mga kilalang personalidad, imagine ka-height ko lang pala si rizal. :) Nakakaaliw din palang tumingin ng mga paintings ang gagaling nilang magpinta sana lang meron din akong ganung talento, sayang lang kulang yung oras para maikot ang buong museum.

Ikalawang Destinasyon:

Pagpasok palang kita na agad ang Spolarium, ang laki kasi nun e, pero maganda ang painting na un ang tagal ko din syang tinitigan. Buti nalang sa museum na iyon, hindi na masyadong mahigpit, nakapag take na kami ng mga pictures sa loob, daming paintings ng ibat'ibang mga artist. Nakakita ako ng mga kakaibang istura ng mga sculpture na hindi ko mawari lung ano sila, ito ang isang example :

hindi ko maintindihan kung ano sya, ang gara ng itsura, 3 ang kamay at apat ang paa, hindi ko pa maintindhan kung bakit may mga butiki ng nakapabilog sakanya (butiki nga ba yun? :D). Ang gara din nung mga ibang sketch hindi maintndihan kung ano, ang tawag dun abstract.:) naka2pagod ding ikutin ang unang building nayon, pero masaya naman.

Sa pangalawang building naman, ang dami din pwedeng makita, ang dami dung mga artifacts, lalo naman ung mga burial jars, grabe meron dung isang kwarto na puno ng iba't-ibang banga nakakatakot, napakatahimik kasi, ttsaka parang any moment may lalabas na halimaw galing sa banga, siguro kaya nag karuon ng movie na halimaw sa banga, kasi dun sa banga mismo naglilibing ang mga tao, kaya pumasada lang kami sa kwarto na yon, di na namin masyadong inusisa ang mga banga.

Waaahhh, ang laki kung buhay to sigurado kinain na ko nito at kung buhay nga talaga to, mas sigurado ako na wala to dito ngayon malamang nasa dagat sya, haha. Dami pa kong nakitang mga buto ng iba't-ibang hayop sa kwarto na to, nakakaaliw silang tignan. ^_^ Meron din dung kwarto na may lamang iba't-ibang preserved bodies ng mga hayop, sayang nga lang walang preserved na katawan ng tao, wee parang ayaw kong makakita nun, nakakatakot baka mamaya maging zombie yun kainin pa ako.

Ang huling Destinasyon :

Huling destinasyon na, pagod na ang mga paa ko. Pumasok kami sa japanese garden, sayang ang lugar, hindi nila napangalagaan pinabayaan nalng nila na marumi, walang magandang tanawing makikita, paglabaas namin sa garden nakatingiti samin ang tagabany\tay, siguro ay natuwa sya dihil mayroong mga estudyanteng nagsayang ng limang piso para makita ang ganung karuming hardin, kung napangalagaan lng siguro yung mabuti ay maganda rin iyon. Papunta na sana kami sa Kanlungan ng Sining ngunit walang niisa sa amin ang nakakaalam kung saan iyon naroroon, naglakad kami ng hindi alam kung saan ang patutunguhan ng may naglakas loob na nagtanong. pag dating namin sa aming pupuntahan sarado ito, nakaramdam ako ng panghihinayang dahil hindi ko nasilayan kung anong meron sa lugar na iyon, pero masaya narin ako dahil makakaupo na kami at makapagpapahinga. Hindi pa man din kami nagiinit sa pagkakaupo ay nagbadya na ang malakas na buhos ng ulan, unti - unti na itong pumapatak sa aming katawan, dali dali kaming nagayos at naglakad patungo sa aming pinanggalingan hindi pa man din kami nakakalayo ay bumuhos na ang malakas na ulan, wala pa naman kaming bitbit na payong buti nalang at hawak namin ang sapin na aming binili upang upuan, ipinandong namin ito sa aming ulo, subalit di pa rin sapat, hindi nagpatalo ang ulan , bumuhos pa ito ng mas malakas , Basang basa na kami at giniginaw, nang malapit na kami sa aming sasakyan ay bigla namang hina ng ulan. Naglakbay na kaming muli pauwi. Hindi ako nakatulog sa byahe dahil aliw akong tignan ang mga ilaw sa kalye na aming dinararaanan.

Napakasaya ng ganuong karanasan, sana ay maulit muli. At sana ay makita rin ng iba ang aming mga nasilayan upang pahalagahan at pangalaan din nila ang ating kultura na sya makakapag makapagpapakilala sa atin sa bilang isang pilipino.

People and Culture

More than half of the people of Masbate speak Masbateño a language that is closely related to Hiligaynon and Capiznon. However, in various municipalities of the island, various other languages are spoken. In the vicinity of the towns of Cataingan, Palanas, and Dimasalang, most residents speak Waray or Sinamarleyte. In Pio Corpuz the people speak Cebuano while in Placer and in the west coast along coast of Mandaon Hiligaynon is spoken. On Ticao and Burias, Bicol is spoken by the residents.

The province of Masbate is known as cattle country. The cattle breed found on the island was taken from herds in India that have flourished in the benign climate of the island. The province is the second largest supplier of cattle that is brought to Manila for slaughter. This industry has inspired the establishment of a 'Rodeo Filipino' on the third week of June. This festival features a week-long tournament of bull riding, cattle wrestling, lassoing, calf casting, post driving, carabao racing and a host of other ‘rodeo’ games. This unique observance is also accompanied by cattle raising contests, a trade fair and parades, much like the rodeos in the American West.

Pre-Spanish Period

There were Masbateno with culture and a triving economy based on agriculture and fishing. They were already trading with mercantile from neighboring Islands as indicated by antique earthenwares and Jewelries found in Ticao Island. This debunks the idea that the Philippines was discovered by the European.

One artifact found was an agricultural tool more than 1000 years old.

Indigenous Masbatanos still practice thanking elements of nature e.g. water, wind, land, river, etc. before and after harvest. They call this as Pa-ulaw or Pasasalamat literally thanksgiving. Thanking elements in nature througy Pa-ulaw is not a Western Philosophy as introduced by Christian Philosophy. Related to Pa-ulaw is the Pa-tamoy or nagpapaalam literally asking permission. This means also asking a bountyful harvest or water. In the Pa-tamoy indigenous people as permission from un-seen elements in nature for them to use the land, if they are doing agricultural activities.

Pa-ulaw and Pa-tamoy have a big possibility that these were handed down by their ancestors centuries before the the Europeans colonized the Bicol region. This practices are now part of Filipino and Bicolano fold religiosity that is still observed today.

Festivals in Masbate

There are a lot of fun times to see in Masbate, and if you are trying to find the best time to travel, you may want to travel during one of the Masbate festivals. The festivals offer a great way to learn more about the area and provide ways to join in on the fun celebrations held in the city.

Rodeo Masbateno

The Rodeo Masbateno festival is in the month of April. The event has 10 competitions for cowboys, and you can enjoy some of the exciting events. There is also calf wrestling. This is one of the Masbate festivals which many people from Asia and all over the world attend.

Pagdayao Festival

The Pagdayao Festival is held in June. The residents come to celebrate Saint Anthony of Padua, and many other cities also come to be part of the culture and fun. You can see some of the traditional celebrations that are enjoyed by people all over and in the city of Masbate and how the culture celebrates its holidays with activities and fun that anyone can enjoy.

Lapay Bantigue Dance Festival

The Lapay Bantigue dance festival is a great way to see all of the seagulls and beautiful colors. You can see the local dance that has been part of the area for many years. The folk dance brings people from all over to watch the performers and to see everyone dancing the folk dance that has graceful movements and is sure to entertain everyone. It is held in September.

Gugurang

Gugurang is the chief god of the Bicolanos and the keeper of a sacred fire at Mt. Mayon.

Long time ago when the world was still young the good and evil gods were not yet enemies as they are now. They're friends, each living separately in a mountain (Bolod, Bicol). Report said Gugurand and Asuang that they were brothers. Gugurang, the good god, was living inside Mount Mayon, and Asuang, the evil one, inside Mount Malinao. As gods they had control of the welfare of the people. But Gugurang was more powerful than Asuang who was merely a subordinate; the former was the chief deity (cagurangnan) of the Bicols.

Now Gugurang was given full control over the people, who learned to look up to him for protection. Whenever the people disobeyed his orders or wishes, he would cause the pit of the Mayon Volcano to rumble terribly. The people in that time took this as a sign of warning, and accordingly, mended their foul ways because of their sins were beyond forgiveness Gugurang would make the volcano erupt to wipe out the sinners.

Gugurang is the symbol of the good (an mga marhay) ready to punish the bad (an mga maraot). When the people saw fire (calayo) flowing out of the crater of Mayon, they would grow afraid. They would then offer a sacrifice (atang) to him to appease his wrath. The Baliana, priestess, officiated in the ceremony. Always when they committed wrong, there would be loud moaning of the earth followed by an eruption of fire and lava.

The Boat Rituals


The rituals where the boats figured are most instructive in revealing the beliefs that lay beneath the surface. One such religious procedure was called the kibang. In Tagalog, this term meant the rocking motion of a boat on the waves. As a ceremony however, kibang was the old tradition of asking the anito (the spirit of the departed) what luck would befall the riders before sailing or docking, and the movement was attributed as the spirit’s response. Visayans also had this ritual, similarly called guibang. It was usually done before a raiding or a fishing expedition, intoning before the small baloto, “Guibang, guibang cun magtoto cami” (Sway, sway, if we should proceed).” If the baloto did sway, it meant good fortune; the greater the rocking movement, the better one’s fortune. As the baloto swayed, they would ask who was causing the boat to sway, a deity or an ancestor’s spirit. Where the boat swayed at the mention of the name, deity or spirit, there was their answer. This ritual is practiced until the present time. Likewise, when the children or relatives of a person who had drowned got sick they would be placed in a boat called barangay together with a baylan (a female diviner) and at the place she indicated, they would throw down a wooden chest full of clothes and other belongings of the dead person. Simultaneously, they would ask their ancestors to help and heal the sick relatives.

The bacalag was an important Visayan boat launching ritual recorded in the 17th century. When a mangaiao (raiding boat) was to be launched, it would be rolled over several pieces of logs and at the end of these was an enslaved captive. This was reportedly done so that through the blood of the human sacrifice, the boat would be feared by their enemies and would succeed in obtaining numerous captives. During the ritual, the appeal was uttered, “Daoharlucsin iginbabacalagna,” a request that people would fear the boat in the same manner that the sacrificed captive did. In Calagan (Caraga), the bacalag ritual was performed for the healing a of datu (chief) who was seriously ill.

Calag in Bicol and Visayan means “soul,” the root word in both bacalag and Calagan. We can conclude that Fr. Combes was referring to the bacalag ritual as a “revolting” ancient tradition in Caraga when he said, “for the boats to obtain good fortune, they promise it at the first instance a name, usually that of one of their slaves” . It would have been the name of the sacrificed slave, which made it so repulsive to the Jesuit observer. Remnants of this ritual remain although in less severe form. In Masbate island, the prow of a boat to be launched is brushed with chicken blood, while prayers are intoned. This is usually performed by an elderly person. A boatbuilder in Cavite also reported doing this practice on the boat of a businessman from Iloilo City, who had requested the ritual. In the movie “Muro-Ami” which was set in Bohol island and records its fishing practices, the captain’s father brushed chicken blood on the prow of the boat that would be used for fishing. The practice has even been transmitted to a modern form of transport: the wheels of a new car are also brushed with chicken blood. The sacrifice is believed to bring the boat good fortune. Fishermen in the northernmost Philippine island of Batanes offer up a pig to transfer to the animal whatever ill fortune may befall them or their boats. When they do not find any catch, they perform the cleansing ritual not only on themselves but also on their boat, as they believe envy or witchcraft has made them dirty, along with the boats and the port. 
In addition, early farmers in Masbate made beautiful stuffs out of shells. They also buried their dead in burial jars and caves. The Kalanay Cave in Arroy and Bat-ongan Cave in Mandaon, the two huge and famous caves in Masbate, are known as burial caves all over the world.




Resources 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masbate%C3%B1o_people
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Masbate
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Gugurang
http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/1999/cid/5/research/the_soul_boat_and_the_boat-soul__an_inquiry_into_the_indigenous____soul___.html
http://jefafernandez.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-place.html

People and Culture

The people of Masbate were formerly called "Visaya" but when the province was transferred to Bicol region during the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, they were called "Bicolanos" or "Masbatenos". Many of its people are immigrants from several provinces such as Romblon and Panay Island provinces.