KINABUKASAN
SOCIETY
Towards Unity and Service
IN
SEARCH OF CARAMOANON IDENTITY
by: KSEAN Antonio H. Co
Caramoan is noted to be
a community of hospitable people, but this attribute is not our
monopoly as other regions are also claiming to be, in fact, this
is a globally acknowledged endearing Filipino trait in general.
We also have so many distinguishing characteristics that are
really akin to our ancestral cultures of which we were all taught
during our academic years, so we chose to lay them down to rest
in the mean time.
In this case, what we
are trying to review is our typically and unmistakably Caramoanon
habit of thought, feelings, preferences, behavior and other
idiosyncrasies that are too familiar in our midst. Therefore,
this is a cordial invitation to all fun loving Caramoanons to
indulge in this lighthearted romp while tripping down the memory
lane.
You
are truly a Caramoanon if your all-time favorite dish is "gulay
na langka na may bangot na inasal na malasugi".
Your
Caramoanon identity maybe questioned if you asked "taano
man boy?" instead of "hadaw
man 'noy?".
It
is only in Caramoan where you can hear this reaction: "orateee!!!..",
here's a sample dialogue in
jest..."Padi, nabaritaan mo?,
gadan na palan si Tang Inno!"
(reaction)...Orateee....!!!...
You
are a genuine Caramoanon if you inherited the peculiar
trademark of your clan the moment you are born- "mga
taga pagmana kan pamosong bansag!."
If
you belong to the generations of circa 70's and below,
then you can easily recall riding the bus en route to
Guijalo via "Evageline transport bus, with Tang Salo
(the late Gonzalo Fernandez) on the wheels. Then be ready
for the ordeal of sea voyage via M/V Salvador or M/V
Ben-hur when you are bound to the city, which is 4 to 5
hours of grueling negotiation on the high seas crossing
to Sabang port.
You
have a habit of ending your conversational statements by
accentuating and punctuating with a short expression of "ah
aaah!" or "uh
uuuhh!"(ta iyo daw! ah aahh!/ ta mala baga, uh
uuuh!".
Do
not be surprised with Caramoanon who are fond of using
vulgar words as term of endearment : "Aw!
an demontres na ineho, so makuapo ka palan kan hamalan na
si Apu mong Tulindoy na Haluga!".
In
College, your professor and classmates are impressed with
your proficiency in grammar by illustrating and proving
your mettle through diagramming work on the blackboard.
This is the pride and hallmark of graduates of the
United(Standard) High School under the tutelage of any of
the following revered educators of all time: Eusebio
"eboy" Balcueva, Sr., the foremost grammarian;
the great and most dreaded Mrs. Servanda
"banding" S. Teoxon; Don "papay - the
disciplinarian" Patrocinio; Mr Egmidio
"cookies" Brutas and the late Mr. Crescencio A.
Nuņez, the ever religious man.
Your
idea of picnic is going to Gota
Beach, then followed by rinsing at Bulang-bugang spring
lagoon.
Remember
our childhood days when we are chorusing to tune of "Perdon
o Dios Mio, Dios Mio perdon..." then for
the finale "Adios Reyna del
Cielo...Adios, adios...adiooosss...!" and
while the hymn is fading away, it prompted us to fall in
line excitedly at the prospect of receiving "galleta
& tango" as "tandan"
after a long processional walk in
an "Aurora" which is
an equivalent of Santacruzan.
These are just the
starting list of some of the glimpse of us. The quest for more
amusing and trivial peculiarities of our place and people is now
declared open. Who knows, we might have inspired some of our town
folks and they will start sharing in their common and cherished
identities. By then, we can compile them in a book form and refer
to it as an anthology truly our very own.
Do you have any
Caramoanon identity to add, pls. CLICK HERE
About the Author:
Ksean Antonio H. Co was a
COCOFED Scholar. He graduated B.S. in Agricultural Engineering
from Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He
was the Area Sales Manager of TRAMAT Mercantile, Inc. and is now
managing his own business, KANVAR ENTERPRISES. He can be
contacted at Tel. No. 0063-2-832-1236.
Other
Caramoanon Identities:
You
say "Ay abooooohhh…or
ay Inayyy.." when you are surprised
or "ay Atiiiiih" when you
deny. contributed by: Edgar F. Nuņez
You
say "Ay inda daw.or ay
inda..." if you are not sure. contributed by:
Edgar F. Nuņez
"Ay
Lintian"....if
agitated or "Ay
ano kana man na tawo ka" or "Abuabo ka naman".... if challenged. contributed by:
Manny Cordial, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
