Friday, May 2, 2008

THE CHICO RIVER

The Chico river holds many unforgettable memories for me - some good, some bad.

The very fist time I went home from the city when I was 5 yrs old, the river appeared to me as both dangerous and exciting. This is because, my father carried me across the river, atop his shoulders. I enjoyed the "ride" but at the same time fearful that I would topple any moment and be swept with the raging currents swirling around me. The river looked enormous to me then, because all I have seen in the city was a small pond found at the backyard.

When I started primary school, the river served as a vast picnic ground for me and my classmates. During recess and school breaks, we would rush to the river with our pans and pots; wash them, take a swim, go fishing, pick guavas and blackberries and then sometimes cook and stay all day long, just basking in the stillness and beauty of the place. The water was clear, clean and refreshing and the riverbank was of fine gray sand with shiny boulders in between. It was paradise to me.

When I went to the nearby town for my secondary education, the river nearly claimed my life twice. The first time was when we went home amidst a storm and the raging current almost swept me downstream. Thanks to a brave peer, who had been alert enough to rescue me. The second time was when we were diving and my head was struck by a jutting rock that had left me unconscious. Again, friends came to my rescue.

It has been years since I have seen the river. What does it look like now? Someday, I will visit the place and see for myself.

19 comments:

tashabud said...

May I please come, too, huh, pretty please?

Jena Isle said...

He he he, yes, yes..you can come. I will inform you in advance...

tashabud said...

Hey Jena,
My 3rd installment for my novel is posted. Happy reading.

Jena Isle said...

Wow, that is great Tasha...I'm coming for the visit.

ABM1357 said...

How Many Places Have You Been to?? I want to go to Hawaii The bahamas and St thomas

-AMB1357
AMb1357.blogspot.com

Jena Isle said...

AMB1357 , I have never gone abroad in reality, but through the books that I have read, it is like I have been to numerous places. Happy blogging.

ღ Ms. Joy mH ღ said...

just faved and subscrubed you!!!!hope you do the same thanks!

Pinaymama-PEXLINKS

Jena Isle said...

I already did that..faved you in Technorati and added your URL to my interesting sites and subscribed too. Thanks.

faeryrowan said...

I miss rivers and just about anything natural about the province. I grew up in the city but I would look forward to going home to Bohol to climb the mountains and swim in rivers. =)

I've subscribed to your feeds and faved you at technorati. I'm adding your site to my blog roll. Do drop by my site when you can. See you around!

Jena Isle said...

Okay, thanks. Pinay Mommy Online is giving out 50 EC credits too, but you have first to write about the project in your blog. Visit her site. Thanks for joining and commenting.

JesieBlogJourney said...

Jena,
We had some similar experience. I was nearly drowned as a teenager because of undercurrent but was rescued about 100 yards or so from a whirlpool. It's so scary and has given me a phobia which I am now living with.

Wendy Lopez-Redaon said...

hello there =)

gave you triple love today with pexlinks! see you around =)

wendy

Anonymous said...

hi jena have a post about the great ama macliing dualg and ama daniel ngayaan. theyre the greatest kalinga heroes ive ever known. if its not for them, chico river could have turned to a big destructive dam today.

Jena Isle said...

Yes, Rara. I will research and post on that topic. Thanks for the good suggestion and for dropping by.

Jena Isle said...

Joy , fae and from the eyes,I won't be joining this blog with the Pexlinks. It has some problems with the technorati account. It is only the Random Thoughts that I will be linking to pexlinks, thanks.

Anonymous said...

hello jena...you don't have to back-out. this is your link on how to fave your account here:

http://technorati.com/faves?add=http://theclamorofkalinga.blogspot.com

i have faved you successfully. sayang naman.

Jena Isle said...

Okay, Ruby, I will try to list it back tomorrow.Thanks.

Jez said...

been to kalinga last summer of 2006 and visited chico river too... i heard its the end of rafting...

Jena Isle said...

Yes, Jez , because rainy season is rearing its head again. Good to know you've been there. Visit the sleeping beauty next year. Thanks for the visit.

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