THE COCONUT TREES OF TALOCTOC

Photo by: Maiylah of Maiylah's Snippets

One of the most peculiar things about the barrio of Taloctoc that had remained in my memory after all these years - were the coconut trees that dotted the backyards of every nipa hut in that small village.

One can see a few avocado or santol trees but -always- there would always be a coconut tree in each backyard.

The children were used to scaling the tree like it was just a guava tree.

We had even "Coconut Climbing" as one of the games played during fiestas and celebrations.

Coconut oil is also found in every home. It is a part of the "First Aid Kit" of every household. It is made used of as a balm for burns, stomachaches, headaches, arthritis, muscle aches and so many more medicinal purposes.

It is with coconut oil that medicinal herbs were soaked and preserved and were eventually used by native healers.

It also adds delicious flavor to food like in vegetable dishes. Native cakes or sweets were mixed with coconut oil to enhance their flavor. The clear tasty, liquid that comes from fresh coconuts are excellent beverages.

What's definitely amazing is that every inch of this tree proved to be extremely useful for the villagers.

The bark had been used to built "bridges" (yes coconut bridges-they're sturdy-mind you!)

The leaves when fresh, could be turned into household decors and when they had dried, could be made into stick brooms.

The outer part of the fruit are trimmed into husks.

The inner hard part of the husks are polished and made used of as bowls. (You should see one of them -unbreakable bowls -very durable whether with hot or cold dishes..and water tasted different when using one of these containers.)

Well, for the roots - (no they're not useless!), they are planted again for propagation.

Indeed, whenever I see a coconut tree . I remember Taloctoc - my small paradise!


ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER:



Maiylah has her own wonderful blog entitled : " MAIYLAH'S SNIPPETS.

She is a good writer and photographer rolled into one.

She takes her own photos for her blog and has a beautiful collection of them.

Visit her blog and immerse yourself in her brand of vivid photography and good posts.

Read The Adventures of the Kalinga Man...(Fiction)

CHAPTER 1- UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

The mournful chant reverberated through the small four walls of the hut…” Aieeeee”.
Guinnaban - 9 at that time - was cowering in the eerie shadows. He was staring at the wrinkled woman wailing for the gaunt, pale corpse laid on the long table. The head of the corpse was at a grotesque angle, nearly severed totally from his body.

“ Uma nangwa kansika anna?”” ( Who have done this to you?) the woman wailed even louder.

“Aiieeeeee”….. everyone joined in and the hut became a cacophony of mournful cries.

The barrio captain motioned to the elders for a conference and they filed outside, their faces grim and murderous. When they were outside, a heated and frenzied debate took place.

Finally the barrio captain raised his arm and said, “ Intakkon no, umma uwayon yo, ittod tako kanida de kingwada.”( Then what are we waiting for? Let’s avenge his death.)

And so a full blown “tribal war” had began.

READ MORE OF THIS...

CHAPTER 2 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW)

As soon as they arrived in Lubuagan, Guinnaban was baptized to Christianity by Fr. Belucci and named Benedict, after St. Benedict. To Guinnaban, the name symbolizes hope and courage - and he liked the sound of it!

The abrupt change of environment though had made him and his family uncomfortable. There were sad moments that they thought of going back to the simple life in the barrio as it was difficult to adjust to the ways of the progressively booming town. The good priest however, insisted that they stay on as he knew Benny had the intellect to pursue a much needed education.

The following school year, Fr. Belucci enrolled him at the Parish secondary school.
On the very first day, Benny was already taunted by his classmates. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Benedict” he would reply.

“Benedict? that's a fancy name, huh? Far from your ugly, Kalinga name.” then the group roared with laughter.

READ MORE OF THIS...

CHAPTER 3 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

“ Mr. Benedict Lomiwan is hereby voted as president of the class,” the instructor announced.

It was barely his third week in the University, but everyone in class already knew him. It would be impossible not to! He always got the highest scores in their quizzes - even in algebra - which everyone considered “very difficult”.




It was in Algebra and English that he excelled - a deadly combination. Some students were good in Algebra but not in English, and vice versa. Only Benny, did good in both and that made him an “Outstanding” student. He knew that by being in the Dean’s List of scholars, he would do justice to the sacrifices of his parents and Fr. Belucci. He had enrolled in A.B Political Science as he had plans of becoming a lawyer someday. College exposed him to the various cultural minorities in the country and people were less discriminating because of ethnic origin.

READ MORE OF THIS...

CHAPTER 4 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

" I call this meeting to order", there was a hush inside the stuffy room, and everyone fell silent.

" The authorities have already threatened imprisonment should we refuse to give in to their demands." the presider was a stern, swarthy man in his early forties.
We have enlisted the support of our University students to create public awareness of what the government is trying to do." he motioned to Benny.

" Our plan is to campaign among our peers in the University to support our cause. Progress should be permitted but not at the expense of our families and homes. The Dam will be obliterating parts of Tindayan and Sakyan and the entire municipality of Mangala , Liba and Taloctoc... " as Benny was saying these, there was a lump forming in his throat.

" Apparently, we don't get the benefits of this enormous project," a female voice continued. " We need to join forces, forget about our thirst for vengeance and make a concerted effort to fight for what we hold dear - our ancestral homes."

READ MORE OF THIS...

CHAPTER 5 - UMMA AYAM SINSANA (WHERE ARE YOU NOW?)

The zephyr breeze caressed her upturned face and diffused into the thin moisture of sweat that seeped through her skin.. She gasped, seemingly in need of air. Her eyes were closed, like a maiden in repose. She had delicate, gossamer wings on - flimsy, undulating appendages - that were gently flying her higher and higher up the clouds. She moaned and her thighs quivered as each exquisite rivulet of sensation coursed through her body.
Photo by: Theogo
Benny, kissed her mount of Hedon once more as another moan of pleasure escaped from her .
The building desire that Benny felt had reached its crescendo. It was more than he could bear now. His mouth on hers, he gently lowered himself into Julia. When skin touched skin - two became one - and their bodies were lost in the miasma of pleasure and ecstasy.

READ MORE OF THIS...

A HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU!

THIS BLOG HAS WON THE 1ST RUNNER UP IN THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED "OKAY KA, PINOY KA" ON BROOD ONLINE CONTEST FOR FILIPINO BLOGS.
TO ALL THOSE WHO VOTED FOR MY BLOG .
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ACCORDING TO BROOD ONLINE, AND I QUOTE:

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UNQUOTE.
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