Panagbenga Festival Remembered (and Tito Tom’s Sumptous Paringao Treat, Too!)

I didn’t have much preparation actually when Panagbenga Festival 2006 was getting nearer. I have had lots of things to be done. My friend Denz Dayao advised us to make a bus ticket reservation ahead of time to avoid the rush. He proved himself right because when I purchased my ticket at Victory Liner in Cubao, my preferred travel time was already fully-booked. When I met Denz together with his lovely wife and two (or was it 3?)more pretty companions at the bus terminal on the day of our departure, we just couldn’t make it at the same bus. They had their seat reservation an hour ahead mine.

Good thing is, I had prior communication with Thomas Glenn (aka hermanotomas) whom I fondly called Tito Tom, an MIP friend based in La Union. We agreed to meet each other at the festival.

I arrived Baguio City in the morning of February 25, the highlight of Panagbenga. It was still very early in the morning. Denz and company waited for me at the bus terminal. It was just barely a short while chatting with them when I received a text message from Tito Tom’s wife Julia, informing me that they also had just arrived. It didn't take much effort for me and Denz to find them. Actually, it is just too easy to spot Tito Tom considering his physical profile – a towering, big guy with his signature El Mariachi hat. And besides, he was the only Kano around in that early morning.

It was actually my first time meeting Tito Tom and wife Julia personally. He’s really a big guy with a thundering voice. I was just amazed at how he speaks English so clearly. Having been working with a few Americans in some voluntary missions in the past, I should bet nobody could surpass Tito Tom in speaking a subtly clear yet American English accent. Tito Tom and wife greeted me and Denz so warmly amidst the cool morning breeze.

Denz simply couldn’t come with us because they had their own itinerary to follow. So, I left Denz and companion at the bus terminal and went out with Tito Tom and wife. We proceed to Burnham Park. It was still very early so we could roam around and take photos around the park. My camera then at that time was a Kodak Z700 and it is not bulky. It is an ultra-compact camera that only fit for me who is a novice in digital photography. Just a few months back, I had my Canon EOS 750QD, my 35mm film SLR, to retire after 17 years of service.

Tito Tom geared himself a Canon Powershot S2IS. Incidentally, that was also my fancied camera because of the SLR look-and-feel. But because it is still a fixed-lens camera, I settled down for Kodak Z700, an ultra-compact camera with a lower share in the market price. My Kodak uses two pieces of AA batteries while S2IS uses four.
Tito Tom and wife Julia at Burnham Park in Baguio City

From not too far away, we can see the ongoing preparation of the parade. It was just along Session Road alongside Burnham Park. Meanwhile, we tried to roam around the park to take pictures.

When the festival was about to start, we position ourselves to a place we could get a vantage point. Still, as mere travelphotography enthusiasts, we found ourselves no match compared to media photographers who brought with them booms and ladders. We still have to squeeze through a lot of ordinary spectators. Anyhow, Tito Tom enjoyed taking photos as much as I do. It was like a three hour non-stop taking of photos that I drained 16 pieces of my Ni-Mh AA batteries. Some of my festival photos can be found from this link: http://dodongflores.multiply.com/tag/panagbenga%20festival.

A few sidelights in the festival that I didn't miss are the staff or the event organizer, a beautiful spectator, and a beautiful wife being "bullied" by husband from behind. The husband asked his wife to come with him to the grandstand. Yet the wife insisted to be standing just beside the road where she can get a good view of the event. Apparently, the husband has no interest of watching the festival. All he wanted to do is to sit down at the grandstand. He is more concern of his own comfort than to give joy to his wife. These are the photos:
      
In that third photo, that's the beautiful wife and her annoying husband that I didn't include in the photo.

It was already lunch time and I'd used up all my batteries. Tito Tom lent me a few of his batteries so I could take more shots. But then, I was already dehydrating, and Tito Tom wanted to sip his favorite coffee at Starbucks. We decided to go to SM City Baguio. Baguio is a cold place but the sun shone very hot on that occassion. Tito Tom, his wife Julie, and me, took taxi going to SM Baguio.

Tito Tom wanted to cool himself down so we stayed in SM Baguio after lunch. In the afternoon, we proceed to the bus terminal going to Tito Tom's hometown, Bauang. Tito Tom was lending me more batteries. At that point I was thinking my Kodak is power hungry as compared to his Powershot. Anyhow, I was using my mobile phone camera and my Kodak alternatively to take photos along the way. Most of it are posted in this album: http://dodongflores.multiply.com/photos/album/26. These are some of the photos taken before our bus could leave the terminal:
   

Along Naguilian Road, the scenery was simply spectacular. Ate Julie told me about it ahead and in fact, told me to set on the left side of the bus so I could get a good vantage point. I never thought what was described to me as beautiful could really be that beautiful. Armed with my mobile phone camera and my Kodak Z700 with Tito Tom's batteries on it, I was snapping photos every now and then. More often than not, I was getting blurry photos. The bus we were riding on was a little bumpy. These are few of my takes:





More photos can be found from this album:
http://dodongflores.multiply.com/tag/naguilian%20road.

Tito Tom and wife Julie gave me a de luxe accommodation when we arrived in their humble abode. It was actually at Tito Tom's daughter Kristina's room where I was accommodated. The whole family prepared very delicious foods for dinner. Prior to that, I was able to take my last glimpse of the sunset (taken via mobile phone) at Tito Tom's backyard before the day ended. What I'm referring to as Tito Tom's backyard is the China Sea because the house they occupied is situated just alongside the beach. It was like being privileged to own a vast of ocean. But this realization was even overwhelmed when I discovered how wonderful Tito Tom's family - Ilocano family, that is. Tito Tom was even generous enough to share with me his music collection. At that time, I didn't bring with me my removable hard drive so I only said thanks in return to his offer. I promised myself the next time I come, I would surely copy most of his music collection. We have almost the same taste of music though we were born several decades apart. Tito Tom is amusingly clever in perception and expression. We talked a lot until it was getting late and Tito Tom was reminded that he needs to have sufficient rest. He's a very interesting person to talk to. When I finally get to sleep, I felt like it is as if I won one of the most interesting friend you would ever had.

The following morning, I was awaken by a grandiose breakfast being served at Tito Tom's bamboo hut which is just situated overlooking the beach. It was just a plain lazy Sunday morning with absolutely nothing to hurry about. We just sat by the kubo and talked. At first, we agreed to enjoy the onshore breeze using the Hermanotomas boat. Later we decided to just take a stroll just along the beach in Paringao. No regret, we enjoyed much the experience just along the shore - probably more enjoyable as compared to just revving up the Hermanotomas boat. Along the way, I discovered much of Tito Tom aside from being enthusiastic in photography. He always have a deep concern towards other people. It is very evident when I observed he would painstakingly pick it up every broken glass in the shore in a way so nobody could get hurt. He would bring those broken pieces of glass all the way to his house just to make sure the high waves won't take it back to the shore. I can see his concern over others has just paid off. He's a friend around the neighborhood. I can see all the people in the neighborhood look up to Tito Tom as a superstar. Or maybe it is just me in an overstatement.

Let's see what we got along the Paringao shoreline:

The seawall, a vendor, handsome kids, an innocent and cute looking girl, and a beauty. These are just a few of the attractions one can decide Bauang is a real place to be revisited. A few photos from this link, http://dodongflores.multiply.com/tag/paringao should confirm a pure and simple living in that very accommodating small fishing village in Paringao. The day roll so slowly but I never get bored staying and talking with Tito Tom. After our strolling in the morning, we went back to the kubo and sat down and talked. Ate Julie would join with us every now and then. Lunch and snacks had passed yet Tito Tom and I were glued inside the kubo just talking about anything until it was getting late. When the right time came, Tito Tom presented to me another surprise, a vista that looks like a painting in a virtual wall straight from his kubo - The Paringao Sunset!
  

In the night time, I was scheduled for my return back to Manila. Tito Tom and wife asked me if I can stay for a few more hours. I was determined for a night trip because I didn't want to get a spanking from my boss the following day. My original plan is just to wait for a Manila-bound bus along the highway but it was changed. Tito Tom and the whole family decided to send me to the bus terminal in San Fernando. That was their idea so I surely wouldn't miss the bus and could take a proper seat. From Paringao, we took a jeepney going to San Fernando. It was already very dark when we reached the place, and it was full of surprises, really. The whole family brought me to the municipal plaza where an ongoing exhibit of different products from different municipalities in La Union is being held. We stayed there for quite a time and I enjoyed looking at the lights. The lights remembered me of Christmas. I also enjoyed taking photos of giant ube and squash. Giant eggplant, exotic basi wine containers, etc. Tito Tom enjoyed the basi wine free taste. After that, we went to Tito Tom's favorite restaurant in San Fernando where an exorbitant dinner was being served. While news of an ongoing coup d'etat in Manila can be heard over the radio, I was there inside an exquisite cuisine, eating delicious food. By the way, the photo above was a photo of Tito Tom I snapped using my mobile phone camera while we were waiting for our order.

Finally, the fairy tale adventure has to end and time to face back again the realistic life in Manila. After we finished the dinner, the whole family wanted to send me to the bus terminal. By that time, I insisted to go to the bus terminal all by myself so they won't be bothered so much of getting another jeepney ride going back to Bauang. It was already very very late. We hailed two tricycle, one to send Tito Tom and family to the jeepney terminal, and one for me to the bus terminal. I said thanks to the whole family though I know words are not enough to return the kindness they had shown to me. We bid goodbye to each other and parted ways right there in front of Tito Tom's favorite restaurant.

While playing with my thoughts onboard the bus going back to Manila, I was sure I can never forget the festivity I witnessed in Baguio, the magical sceneries along Naguilian Road, the affluence of Paringao, Tito Tom's wonderful family, and Tito Tom himself whom I consider literally and figuratively a great man.

Presently, I realized it's a crime in a lifetime if I can't testify those precious experiences into writing, this is why I'm writing this now.