IT HAS BEEN a long time since I attended a town fiesta in my home province of Bohol. Yes, I know, fiestas form part of the culture and tradition of this handsome island province and I am privileged to have grown in it.
Thus, on Sept. 7, 2022, I made sure to attend two fiesta celebrations in Loon, Bohol: one in the beautiful residence of Marina “Neneng” Leones and Jeroncio G. Baratas in Biasong, Loon; and the second, in the residence of the late Sinforiano Luzon Caresosa in Basac, Loon where all the Palma and Villalongja families congregated. In Neneng’s house, we were also hosted by her sister-in-law Isabel Baratas Virador.
I first met Neneng in General Santos City in the early nineties together with her hubby and her then young kids Annaliza and Macmac. Eventually the family returned and settled in Bohol. In House Baratas, many individuals from General Santos and Tagum were present. Joy Canlas and Fabio Fudalan with son Prince were there, together with Uncle Frank and son Bryan Villalongja. You could say, Mindanao folks made their presence felt.
On the way to Biasong – with its concreted but narrow road, a huge improvement from the dirt road way back in 2009 when I last visited the area – we passed by the newly-reconstructed Loon Church. The structure is genuinely an amazement considering that the original building totally collapsed following the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that mercilessly shook Bohol on Oct. 15, 2013. Talk about wonder, huh!
The church finally opened to the public one year ago – Sept. 7, 2021, eight years after the powerful earthquake shattered several churches, destroyed bridges, whacked houses, and damaged other structures in Bohol.
I visited the church to see for myself its grandeur and mystique after its restoration and boy, it does not disappoint! The work is a masterpiece, brilliant, very impressive. And since the last time I stepped on it was still in 2012, I have forgotten how huge it is inside! It is mammoth and based on the article written by Leo Udtohan, the church “straddling the villages of Moto Sur and Moto Norte is considered the largest in Bohol, with its floor area spanning 2,245.28 square meters.” Wow! It’s truly huge. I took photos of the interior and was just awed by its magnificence.
I must say that the church’s reconstruction and restoration tried to assimilate the aura of an aged church but since it’s practically a new building, one can’t miss the freshness of the structure. I love the feel of the old perfectly blending with the new to create a novel era. It’s old and yet it’s new! It’s an equilibrium!
Back to the fiesta spirit, like any festivity, you see people of all ages, hear them talk about all and sundry, and just enjoy each other’s company. It’s fun to be caught in their midst especially that several of them came from places like Cebu, Metro Manila, and Mindanao. That’s the stamp of Boholanos: They visit home during fiestas! While this tradition was interrupted by the two-year pandemic, it’s now back in full swing and observed with gusto! I look forward to more of these commemorations and reconnect with friends and family I haven’t seen in many years.
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On Woman Talk with Belinda Sales tomorrow, Saturday, my guest is May V. Blanco, Director for Program Implementation, Rare-Philippines, serving areas in Luzon and Mindanao.
We will tackle the implementation of a global sustainable fisheries program called Fish Forever in twenty-seven sites in Bicol and MIMAROPA in Luzon, and Siargao and Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao, and more importantly, empowering women and other marginalized groups in coastal communities towards Fish Forever’s goals of healthier habitats, sustainable seafood supply, enhanced livelihoods, and resilient communities.
According to May, Rare’s work is premised on behavior change of communities to manage, conserve, and protect their natural resources for ‘people and nature to thrive’.
It will be an exciting conversation with this passionate advocate. Tune in tomorrow, 4:00-5:00 P.M. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City.
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Random Thoughts
While writing this article, I’m seated on my writer’s nook in this beautiful two-story house somewhere in the heart of Bohol. I am facing an open sliding door looking out the garden with its lush vegetation. It’s true: There is always balance: the worst and the best, and then equilibrium.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
