My Mother...............the last days

My thoughts of yesterdays was abruptly stopped when I suddenly realized why I was in my hometown i.e. to see the last days of her on earth. She died several days ago, after visiting her a week earlier.

When I visited her a week before she died, she even threatened us who are away from her when she said: "When will you visit me, after I'm dead already"? Because of this, I immediately rushed home to pay her a visit. Upon arrival, I sensed the happiness generated by my visit. She even tried to sit down, when in fact she is already bedridden. I tried to hold her but was not able to give the warm hug an expectant mother wishes to received in such a situation.What is worst is that I was not able to spend a longer time at her bedside. I immediately decided to return to Leyte, reasoning that I have some important seminar to attend to.

A week later a call from the province confirmed my belief that my mother would not last long because she already refuses to eat solids. Because of the so many years of being bedridden, she believed she has suffered more than enough that the good Lord has forgiven already the sins she had committed, if ever. That's why I immediately asked some members of my own family who is willing and able to accompany me to the province of Camarines Norte to attend to the wake and funeral of my mother.   

We arrived tired but happy upon seeing the Roman Catholic Church where I spent most of my younger days. I remember the time when I learned to be an acolyte at the young age of 10 years. I am in the fourth grade at  the Vinzons Elementary School, Vinzons, Camarines Norte when I was enamored to serve God together with the young "sacristans" of the town.

I reminisce the time when I went up to the bell tower trying to turn the bells when needed, specially on feast days of famous saints and fiesta holidays. The bells are too big for me during those days, but I was able to turn it
and hear the beautiful music they are making. But now, I think I am even afraid to climb the stairs going to that tower, but mind you it is the most beautiful place to go to if you want to see the whole town at the highest and different vantage points.

Trip to Bicol............the land of

We left Albay province and its beautiful Mt. Mayon, promising to visit the active volcano more closely later when we return back. We reached Naga City about noon and partake our lunch in a local restaurant and taste the local food being offered. As a true blooded Bicolano, I decided to order some of the local foods that they can offer, starting with the "Bicol express" and others that seems so exotic to our taste buds.
An hour later, we are already on our way to Vinzons, Camarines Norte where my relatives are expecting us.

The province has an international seaport located at Barangay Osmeña, Jose Panganiban town servicing one of its major industries, Primo Oleochemicals Inc. The seaport is approximately five kilometers from the town proper and an hour ride to the capital town of Daet. The province also has 13 fishing ports in the coastal municipalities and one feeder airport in Bagasbas, Daet.

Vinzons, here I come....................

After almost 24 hours of traveling through dusty roads and several transfers of different modes of conveyance, we finally arrived to our final destination, of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, the birthplace of Wenceslao "Bintao" G. Vinzons,one of the heroes of World War II.

Vinzons is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2005 census, it has a population of 39,470 people in 7,407 households. The first recorded name of Vinzons was Tacboan and was later changed to Indan at which time the Mayor was Pedro Barbin. The town was renamed "Vinzons" in honor of Wenceslao Q. Vinzons, a former governor of the province. He was the youngest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935, and a guerilla leader martyred by the Japanese during World War II. The town was established in 1581 by the Franciscan Fathers without a patron saint and without a church. It was not until 1611 that the Church was built with Saint Peter as its Patron Saint. Vinzons is known for the religiosity of its inhabitants, contributing priests and nuns to the Catholic Church more than any other town in the province. Curiously, the town has always been known as the town of politicians, having had more provincial elective officials than in any other town in the province. There was a time, in fact, when all three candidates for governor hailed from Vinzons as when Dominador Asis, Fernando V. Pajarillo, and Wenceslao G. Vinzons, Jr. ran for governor in the elections of 1964. Before that, majority of the provincial governors came from Vinzons: Carlos Balce (1928-1931) Wenceslao Q. Vinzons (1937-1940), Carlos Ascutia (1944-1946), Regino Z. Guinto (1946-1947), Cayetano Vinzons (1958), Dominador Asis (1959-1963), Wenceslao G. Vinzons, Jr. (1964-1968), Fernando V. Pajarillo,(who died while in office). Education is likewise valued by the inhabitants in that every family would attempt to send their children to study in Manila despite the prohibitive costs of lodging and tuition. It is the only town where in a single year, four lawyers passed the Bar examinations in 1978: Oscar G. Raro, Fernando Saludes, Dominador Ferrer, Jr., and Joseph Balce. On the political side only one Mayor in this town has accomplished to finish the three (3) terms, making him the greatest and most beloved municipal mayor in this town, he is Buding Segundo. Buding Segundo is actually Jose Tacalan Segundo, is also the only Municipal Mayor in this town who is actually from a rural Barangay, which is Barangay Sabang. Another prominent mayor who served for two terms is Cesar Asis Cereno, who pushed for massive agricultural development in the countryside, particularly seaweeds production, which uplift the living conditions of constituents in most fishing villages and island barangays. The present mayor is Oliver Rodil Ferrer, who also hails from Barangay Sabang. Believing in the important role of the private sector in local governance and development planning and implementation, Mayor Ferrer created a People's Advisory Council, with members coming from the private sector, to help him push for service-driven projects that are people-centered.

Trip to Bicol...........the land of

Mayon Volcano
Mayon Volcano as viewed from Lingñon Hill in Daraga, Albay in December 2006
Elevation	2,463 m (8,081 ft)
Location	Albay, Philippines
Prominence	2,447 m (8,028 ft)
Coordinates	13°15′24″N 123°41′6″E / 13.25667°N 123.685°E / 13.25667; 123.685Coordinates: 13°15′24″N 123°41′6″E / 13.25667°N 123.685°E / 13.25667; 123.685
Type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	2006
Listing	Ultra

Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.

Renowned as the "Perfect Cone" because of its almost perfectly conical shape, Mayon is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City.

Mayon Volcano is the main landmark of Albay Province, Philippines. It is ten kilometres (6 mi) from the Gulf of Albay,^[1] in the municipalities of Legazpi City, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Tabaco City, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo (clockwise from Legazpi). It rises 2462 m (8,077 ft) above the gulf.^[2]

Mayon Volcano is the Philippines' most active volcano and is considered to be the world's most perfectly formed volcano^[1] for its symmetrical cone. It is a basaltic-andesitic volcano.^[2] The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. Its sides are layers of lava and other volcanic material.

Trip to Bicol............the land of

Sorsogon is the most southern province in mainland Luzon. The major attraction is the Bulusan Mountain Lake, perched in the crater of the still active (Mt. Bulusan) volcano. It lies at the heart of the National Park which covers a land area of 3,672 hectares.

While divers and nature lovers are being drawn to the small coastal town of Donsol in increasing numbers by the presence of massive whale sharks (butanding). Between January, but most prominently in March and April, these gentle denizens of the deep can be seen cruising around the waters where the Burias and Ticao Passage meet.

Other attractions are Bulus, Mapaso, Masacrot and San Benon Springs, Bato Limestone Cave and Tulong-Gapo Beach in Bacon town.An hour later, we passed by Legazpi City which can be seen at a vantage point while approaching the city.

The City of Legazpi (Bikol: Ciudad nin Legazpi; Filipino: Lungsod ng Legazpi) is a second class city and capital of the province of Albay, Philippines. With 179,481 inhabitants according to the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the Bicol Region in terms of population, though not in land area. It is also the regional center of the Bicol Region.

Located in the geographical center of the peninsula and between the two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate, Legazpi City is the southernmost terminus of the Philippine National Railways Main Line South, though it will be extended up to Matnog in Sorsogon. It also services sea-going vessels through its port.
The city is the ecclesiastical seat of the Diocese of Legazpi, and most of its inhabitants are Roman Catholics.

After disembarking at the Pilar port, we tried to look for transportation going to Sorsogon City, after which we'll try to find our way again to Legaspi City, the capital of Albay province. But along the way we stopped for our breakfast at a local carinderia.

Sorsogon City is a 3rd class city in Sorsogon, Philippines. The city is located at southernmost tip island of Luzon. This city formed by merging the Bacon and Sorsogon towns. Because of its position as a trans-shipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao, the city attracted a significant number of transient shoppers and tourist. The City is also nicknamed as "Gateway to Southern Philippines". Sorsogon City is one of the region’s leading cities in urbanization and also one of the most populous cities of the region as well.

One of the agricultural products produced in commercial quantity by the province is pili nut.
Although they are grown as ornamental trees in many areas of the Old World tropics of Malaysia and the Philippines, only the Philippines produces and processes pili nuts commercially. Production centers are located in the Bicol region, provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, and Camarines Sur, southern Tagalog, and eastern Visaya. There is no commercial planting of this crop, fruits are collected from natural stands in the mountains near these provinces. In 1977, the Philippines exported approximately 3.8 t of pili preparation to Guam and Australia.