CONFESSIONS OF A FARM BOY

ROCKS

2008-08-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

My rock collection. For years I have been keeping it a secret.

RESSURECTION

2008-08-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

I'm back....

WATERFALLS

2007-11-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

And now, all in my own country,

I stood on the firm land!

The Hermit stepped forth from the boat,

And scarcely he could stand.

O shrieve me, shrieve me, holy man!

The Hermit crossed his brow.

`Say quick,' quoth he `I bid thee say -

What manner of man art thou?'

Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched

With a woeful agony,

Which forced me to begin my tale;

And then it left me free.

Since then, at an uncertain hour,

That agony returns;

And till my ghastly tale is told,

This heart within me burns.

I pass, like night, from land to land;

I have strange power of speech;

That moment that his face I see,

I know the man that must hear me:

To him my tale I teach.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I dedicate this poem, to all the unknown followers of Confessions of a Farm Boy who have silently been following this blog and appreciating the beauty of Negros Island. Thank you.

HILLS

2007-11-21T17:47:00.001-08:00

Legends say that once upon a time, giants ruled the Kingdom of Negros.

After a fierce battle, the giants led by Ikugan were banished to this realm by the volcano god, Laon.

All that remains of these once powerful giants are haycock hills spread across the fertile land.

No, this is not Bohol. These are the Hinakpan Hills of Barangay Hinakpan, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Keeping a watchful eye from a distance, Kanlaon Volcano guards what remains of these once-mighty rulers...

No two hills are alike.

Each different from the other.

A land full of promise and discovery. This is what Negros is all about.

WATERSHED

2007-11-18T02:53:00.000-08:00

Flying high above the southern mountain range of Negros, you will come upon two adjacent bodies of water.

Surrounded by lush forests and dense vegetation, these watersheds are home to many endemic species of plant and animal life in the region.

Every shade of green can be seen mirroring the remnants of an old volcanic crater.

And giant ferns bring back the days of an untouched Eden.

Welcome to the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park.

Located in the town of Sibulan adjacent to Dumaguete City, the Twin Lakes never fail to cast a spell on visitors with its serene surroundings and cool climate.

Follow the trail that goes around the twin lakes,

Explore nature's gifts on boat,

or simply listen to the divine music of birds' love songs.

The rustic ambiance of the placid lakes will surely enchant you.

SANDBAR

2007-11-16T19:41:00.001-08:00

Secrets abound in the island of Negros. Some of them are better kept as secrets, but others must be revealed to the world.

Manjuyod town in Negros Oriental is home to one joyful secret : a sandbar, in the middle of the sea, stretching as far as your eyes can see.

Low tide unveils the sugary white sandbar to the delight of sun worshippers... those who do not seek the protection of shade or shadow.

High tide magically transforms the place into one huge, crystal-clear swimming pool, stretching seven kilometers long.

Ahh, to frolic on the beach with friends...

Perfect for enjoying the view...

for running free, or chasing each other on the sand.

Quit wondering why, in its August 2007 issue, the widely circulated ISLANDS Magazine, a U.S. publication, has chosen Negros Oriental as one of the top 20 best places to live in the world.

BOULEVARD

2007-11-15T03:54:00.001-08:00

Named after the national hero, the Rizal Boulevard of Dumaguete City is known for its beautiful promenade and dramatic views.

At night, the City converges at the baywalk, lured by the bright lights, the pulsating dance clubs, bars and specialty restaurants.

The baywalk's beautiful reflection illuminates the bay, a contrast to its backdrop, the serene silhouette of the Cuernos de Negros (Horns of Negros) mountains.

Artemis' moon has always kept a watchful eye on this place,

...where old Spanish houses and century-old acacia trees line its breakwaters,

...and where the Americans set up their first educational institution in Asia, the Silliman University.

Not to be outdone, the pioneering French Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres soon followed to shepherd the Catholic faithful.

Oh, yes, the fiesta beckons each year.

A time for the gentle and genteel families of Dumaguete together with their guests, to gather for the traditional feast of thanksgiving for the past year's blessings..

and the Haris to unite again.

To share memories and to paint the town red once more.

TRANQUILITY

2007-11-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Renewal of spirit is essential,

especially in places found in dreams,

to once again fulfill the sacred rites,

of being one with the element,

in order to reawaken a tired life force once again.

Yearning for purpose and seeking out fate

in a world full of oppression, hate, injustice and greed.

And forever in pursuit of true friendship and unequivocal love.

God, what I would give for that.

DENIZENS

2007-11-09T02:54:00.000-08:00

Off the coast of Bais City in Negros Oriental lies the playground of hundreds of dolphins who call these waters home. They are the denizens of the deep, frolicking near humans, sometimes doing a show worthy of ovation.

Some say dolphins are one of the smartest animals on the planet. Communication through language is inherent to them. For me, watching them in their natural habitat can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

While taking pictures, I noticed one dolphin breaking away from his pod and started to swim parallel to the boat, gliding gracefully through the waters as if part of it. "Come quick everyone, there is a dolphin underneath the boat."

This was not an unusual scene. Dolphins tend to swim near the boat and leave as abruptly as they enter. But this one seemed different. This dolphin was staying longer, quietly looking at all of us underneath Apollo's blazing sun.

"Why have you been following us for quite some time now?"

" Who is it you are seeking?"

"Is it I? What do you want?"

"Gaze upon me so that I may see into your spirit."

"Yes, I understand now..."

"Go forth! Oh, most gentle of creatures! Tell the Nereids I shall obey."

SPEED

2007-11-08T07:05:00.001-08:00

I learned to drive a motorbike when I was 12. Ever since then it was pure exhilaration. To have total control and freedom. The wind blowing on your face, your hand clutching for speed.

I always felt that a motorcycle was an extension of your limbs. Somehow it was part of your body and overall total personality. You are what you drive (even though I could not afford anything more than an XRM.) Soon, I will be in top form again. To be able to race among the best.

And to forget memories.

Of times of pure recklessness.

And freak accidents.

When fate and kismet combine.

To weave the cycle of destiny.

Intercepted by the caring hearts of strangers.

And the compassion for sport and competition.

Thank you to everyone who supported me through this.

ETERNITY

2007-11-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

There are a few things alive in this world that can survive more than a thousand years.

One of them is a balete tree found in Barangay Lumapao in Canlaon City.

Botanists from Silliman University estimated the tree to be over 1,300 years old.

Thanks to local superstition and folklore this tree is a living testimony to the area's natural history.

This tree was alive when the forests of Negros was still untouched.

At the same time, when the tree first started to take root, the final prophet of Islam, Mohammad walked the earth.

Constantinople was the world's largest and wealthiest city and the Chinese had just invented gun powder.

But for sure, within this tree lies the spirits that protect my kingdom. The secrets of how to stop the evils unleashed by Pandora, and a safe haven for all Haris to come.

UNDERWORLD

2007-11-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of being Hari ng Negros is that you receive invitations from all corners of Negros Island to judge any kind of event imaginable. Recently, I received an invitation from the Municipality of Mabinay in Negros Oriental to be a judge in their annual Bikini Fashion Show (another term for Bikini Open).

Mabinay is located right smack in the center of Negros. It is considered a "cave town" because of all the caves they have. As of the latest count, the tourism office of Mabinay has chronicled more than 200 caves within their municipality.

I accepted the invitation as this would be an opportune time to finally flirt with the underworld.

I decided to arrive hours before the event so to check out some of the caves in the area. We were booked at the Tirambulo Highland Resort in Barangay Paniabonan which is very close to the event venue. The resort has 5 man-made lakes surrounded by lush vegetation and greenery.

As if luck was not on our side, some of the models of the bikini fashion show were also at the same resort.

The Municipality granted my request for a cave tour before the show. Left to Right (Beam, spelunking specialist, Menchie, tourism officer of Mabinay, Mayor Piktoy Baldoza, Jeffrey Dasian, caving expert, Rowena Merto, fellow judge and tourism officer of Dumaguete, Dodong and mayor's son (forgot name)

The first cave we went to explore is the Baliw Cave. Baliw in the dialect means crazy. Before entering the caves, the tourism office of Mabinay makes sure you have all the proper equipments and they also read to you the Do's and Don'ts of caving.

Most of the caves in Mabinay are untouched yet. There are no lights, railings or walkways. Precaution has to be used always when going around.

Still inside Baliw cave, Beam shows us this interesting formation. It looks like ice.

The next cave we went inside is called the Crystal Cave. This one has a lot of interesting stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Still inside the Crystal Cave.

Mambajo Cave was next. This cave has two entrance, one through the sunroof (Rappelling is the only way though this entrance)

Or through the underground river that flows inside the cave. Notice the children swimming in the underground river.

A very easy cave to explore is the Panligawan Cave....

...and the Pandalihan Cave. Overall the caving experience was fulfilling and tiring at the same time. I almost lost all my energy to be a judge that night.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN!

The candidates first come out with their jeans. This is actually the "teaser" segment.

Then they get wet from this shower coming out of the stamen of a flower. This portion is called "Wet and Wild". Organizers were very creative as usual.

Individual wet and wild showdowns.

This candidate attacked all the male judges before rushing back to the stage. I call this Revenge of the "puppies".

Now the group showdown enfolds.

Which candidate has the x-factor to "Give it all you got!"

Even though I was far from the volcano crater, things started to heat up Mabinay that night.

My chosen three became victorious as the champions. I went back to the resort very tired and the same time mesmerized by the great time I had exploring the underworld.

PINTAFLORES

2007-10-31T15:14:00.001-07:00

Negros Island is filled with beautiful festivals. One of them is the colorful Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City (adjacent to my hometown of Canlaon City). This year's Pintaflores will take place on Monday, November 5, 2007.

“The Tale of Nabingkalan and her Dances of Flowers”

In the coastline of Negros Island, facing the island of Cebu, a lush and green valley is left uninhabited and untouched by human civilization until such time that a princess named Nabingka from a flourishing tribe somewhere in the neighboring island was destined to reach the plains as she fled away from the warring tribes of her place.

Aboard in a balsa (bamboo raft) with her warriors Princess Nabingka sailed across the deep trench of Tañon Strait and reached the plains now called San Carlos City. In her favor, the first inhabitants named the place Nabingkalan (coined from Nabingka, the name of the princess and lan, a suffix of Visayan origin which means “in honor”).

It was believed that after the princess landed her new abode, Nabingkalan, she was melancholic and afflicted with an incurable disease perhaps caused by her remorse due to loneliness being away from her family. Princess Nabingka, became weak and the tribesmen with their families wept for almost a year until such time that a babaylan implored the nature spirits and predicated that the Princess was saddened due to the absence of flowers in the place.

The babaylan then ordered that all tribesmen should plant flowering shrubs, vines and trees. But the humid weather of the plains, the flowers didn’t bloom and the babaylan this time summoned all tribesmen including women to have their bodies tattooed with flowers. In magnanimity all tribe members tattooed their bodies with flowers endemic to her hinterland to remind the Princess of her bountiful and glorious days with her family.

The news about the plight of the princess reached her family’s tribe and the chieftain who is his father decided to follow the journey of her daughter. The chieftain accompanied by a priest sailed to Nabingkalan bringing the image of San Carlos de Borromeo as a traditional Christian gesture of spirituality on journeys. As he reached the place of the princess he couldn’t believe what he saw as the princess was alive and now back in her vigorous health.

Due to the glee on what he saw, the chieftain then threw a bangaw (food party) to signify his happiness. He ordered a hudyaka-pahalipay (merrymaking – thanksgiving) in honor of San Carlos de Borromeo, the patron saint of his journey. The journey that led him to the discovery that indeed her beloved daughter has now a place and a people of her own.

Vamos San Carlos! Viva Pintaflores!

DESTRUCTION

2007-10-30T15:16:00.001-07:00

Not everything is "swell" in paradise. Every rose has its thorn. And ours is the rampant destruction of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.

Illegal logging has been thriving despite constant warnings from the local government of Canlaon City and NGOs. Why? Because it is a profitable business and Philippine mahogany commands a good price in the black market. Also wood is needed for shelter for the highland farmers who cannot afford to buy gemelina or cocolumber to make their house.

I have done my best to be an advocate for the environment but it usually falls on deaf ears. Survival, whether it be legal or illegal has always been the main reason why people do this. And command votes during election has always interpreted the outcome.

I did not want to blog about this because it is a sensitive issue and also it will not give a good image to my hometown. This year a forest ranger was killed for reasons unknown. I have talked to officials of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park and sad to say they do not have enough personnel to man every square meter of the 24,588 hectare park.

Another option for me is to talk to the Hari ng Negros organization in their next general meeting and to convince them to make this their battlecry - to save Mt. Kanlaon and paradise.

This tree is ready to fall.

Residue.

More residue.

Illegal loggers sensed we were approaching and took cover.

This tree has been earmarked for destruction.

More residue.

Newly cut.

The dissection starts.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

MASSKARA

2007-10-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia:

The Masskara Festival is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third week of October.

The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agriculture crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low. It was also a time of tragedy; in April of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City, sank. There was a great loss of life.

In the midst of these tragic events, the city's artists, local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles.

They reasoned that a festival was also a good opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere. The initial festival was therefore, a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the times were, Bacolod City is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph.

Today, Masskara is no doubt the largest festival on Negros Island. It's also a great time for us "Haris" to get together once more and paint the town red (minus Reiven and Mark Xander).

Me, Paulo Mirasol (Hari ng Negros 2007) , Masskara dancer and
Paul Brett Orozco (Hari ng Negros 2005)

I know, I don't need a mask anymore because my face will suffice.

Paulo being his usual clown self.

Wish you were here...

Partying at Sueño Bar with our buddy Bob Porter (Hari ng Negros 2006 finalist)

and what we have been all waiting for

THE MASSKARA BIKINI FASHION SHOW

Guess who won? The winner is one of the above.

PARADISE

2007-10-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

To understand me is to understand the place where I come from. Pictures are said to be worth a thousand words. Don't want to say much about my home, you be the judge.

Home sweet home

Road to our farm

Margaha valley (view from Makawiwili Ridge)

A walk on the clouds

Rice terraces near our house

We have no water parks, just our natural slides

taking a peak at some of our waterfalls

a place to get away from it all

choose your own private hideout

or be bewildered by our natural wonders

yes, Canlaon City will welcome you with a smile.

METAMORPHOSIS

2007-10-13T03:18:00.000-07:00

Soon after the pageant I went into deep contemplation and did some soul-searching. Intrigues started to spruce up regarding my victory because I was from Canlaon City and it was a hometown decision (even though none of the judges were from Canlaon). This only added to my insecurities.

I admit I do not have an Adonis body nor was I great on the catwalk like the other guys I competed with. Canlaon City at this time had no body-building gyms so I had to improvise. Having no barbels around was no excuse. I would secretly frequent places (junk shops, construction sites, river beds) where I could get a grasp of things and lift objects that would start building definition to my muscles. After a while I started noticing a difference.

My body started to get toned which helped me gain some self-esteem. Nevertheless, I felt the title needed a purpose.

Being the first winner, I had to work hard to set the standard for all future Haris to come. I did not want this event to be used as a venue for male exploitation, but rather an avenue for excellence and unity among Negrenses.

You see, Negros Island is divided. You have the Occidental side which speak Hiligaynon and the Oriental side which speak Cebuano. I guess I was lucky coming from Canlaon because I could speak both dialects. Canlaon City sits on the crossroads of the two very distinct cultures.

Realistically, I cannot solve society's problems like drug addiction, truancy, poverty, hunger etc. Which Negros has more than its fair share of.

The greatest power I have is to help influence my generation into reaching out for the greater good.

For this, Negros needed a King, and I for one will give her one.

HARI

2007-10-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

MEMORIES OF HARI NG NEGROS (PART II)

One thing I noticed with the Hari ng Negros - Ginoong Canlaon pageant is that there always has to be a major production number or two and a "more than the usual" set design. During my year, the organizers decided to depict Canlaon City with a nature background complete with waterfalls and exotic plants.

Mr. Garry Bascones became the first Director of the pageant. Every year the organizers change directors. It is to give opportunity to talents from all over Negros. It is also to keep the pageant from being too monotonous. According to the organizers, "to breath in new life into the production every year." So expect to see a different style if you decide to watch.

Here is Garry Bascones (in red) during our technical rehearsals.

Practicing for the streetwear portion.

After the rehearsals I was really scared. Reality started to sink in. I couldn't believe in my wildest nightmares that I would be part of a male pageant. The worst part is that I had to walk in a bikini fronting my family, friends, classmates, neighbors and thousands of total strangers. I not only had butterflies in my stomach, but also bumblebees, dragonflies and killer wasps.

PAGEANT NIGHT

The Canlaon City Sports and Cultural Center was filled to the rim. I remember backstage praying for a miracle. Also this time, Mt. Kanlaon was very active and restless. Days before pageant night, the volcano alert level has gone up. You can see steam and smoke rising out of the its crater. "Please have a major eruption, so it will be an act of nature that will cancel the show, please, please please!!" I kept praying to no avail.

Well, here goes...

The first portion of the show was the Tribal wear where we introduced what place we were representing.

Coming out from backstage in our tribal wear.

After the tribal introductions came the streetwear and what you have probably been waiting for - the swimwear.

Brian Montecarlo enticing the judges. Notice the full packed audience.

Ruel Peralta striking a pose.

Armil Ganza showing off his winning form.

Steve Serad

Don Austria

and me trying to escape from this nightmare.

First group showdown.

Here is me (far left) asking myself, "What the hell am I doing here?"

Now come the formal wear competition. This is actually my favorite portion (no major steps or exposure) While modeling our barongs (Philppine men's formal attire), we were serenaded by Ms. Grace Mahinay (who happened to marry my elder brother a couple of years later). She sang a medley of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) from Regine Velasquez to Sharon Cuneta.

Gai Ono looking sharp.

Jeffson Villanueva

Bernard Baguios

And me still as shy as ever.

Here's Ate Grace taking a bow for the audience. She was stunning and amazing. Then came a surpise number by Mystica.

After Mystica brought the house done. The Top 5 finalists were announced. From left to right Grizaldy Gamboa of Bacolod City, Don Austria of Victorias City, yours truly of Canlaon City, Steve Serad of San Carlos City and Joeden Espinosa of La Carlota City.

The final question that was asked to all 5 finalists was. "What makes you cry?" Most of the guys answered when they see a family member get hurt. When it came for me to answer, I played with the audience a little (knowing there were lots of teeny bopper girls rooting for me) and answered, "When I miss someone so much, knowing I wouldn't find her no matter how hard I look (thunderous screams from girls), but seriously crying does not make me less of a man, it just shows that I am in touch with my emotions, thank you."

The 4th Runner up is La Carlota City, the 3rd Runner up is Victorias City, the 2nd Runner-up is San Carlos City, the 1st Runner-up is Bacolod City and yours truly became the 1st Hari ng Negros - Ginoong Canlaon.

This is only the beginning.

PRINCE

2007-10-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

MEMORIES OF HARI NG NEGROS (PART I)

It was back in the summer of 2003 when I was approached to screen for a new male pageant and represent the City of Canlaon. Back then the world was young and I was a naive 17 year old. I of course said my regrets to the talent scout but later on (because of consistent nagging from friends) I finally agreed. This is my pictorial review.

The morning of the screening I was scared. I did not know what to expect. I honestly thought I would be the joke of my friends and the town. I still remember looking out of the morning sun and contemplating how to get out of the situation. Should I tell the organizers that I'm sick? Should I just disappear into the forest? But something inside me told me to fight my fears and face my destiny.

During the screening we were asked questions from a panel consisting of the Who's Who in Negros society. Believe me, it was the most frightening situation. After the screening 14 out of 50 applicants passed and we became the first batch of Hari ng Negros - Ginoong Canlaon.

The week after screening the 14 of us traveled around the city and some even trekked the volcano for the promotional pics of the pageant. This is skinny me posing inside a balete tree. Yes, I said inside. I will talk more about this tree in another story. Here are some pics I was able to recover from the Hari ng Negros organization of my batchmates:

Jeffson Villanueva

Don Austria

Bernard Baguios

Franton Mendoza

Steve Serad

Ruel Peralta

Brian Montecarlo

As you can see the competition was tough. A lot of these guys were pageant veterans. I was actually the youngest in the batch. We started bonding after the pictorials. It was during this time that I realized even though some of us came from different backgrounds with shady pasts and indecent upbringings, none of that matter, we were just a bunch of young, crazy guys who just wanted to have fun!

VIRGIN

2007-10-09T00:10:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I was influenced by a fellow King to start blogging - no other than the Vegan Prince Mark Xander Fabillar. He being a fellow Hari ng Negros (King of Negros). Blogging can open up a whole new world. I'm not a writer nor a computer expert but here it goes. Welcome world to Confessions of a Farm Boy.