Welcome http://caramoanparish.multiply.com by Fr. Rico Angelo

It’s nice to hear from you Fr. Rico Angelo M. De La Torre

Your creation of web-log: Caramoan Parish, is a very wonderful gift for Caramoanons.

Caramoan, being geographically laid in remote countryside, is really in dire need of resourceful and creative individuals who could introduce pioneering efforts in the field of information technology, specially nowadays that communications’ trends and advancements had dramatically gone by leaps and bounds.

This could be part of history now, with you as the one unselfish individual who shares his valuable time and beautiful talent in institutionalizing the very first website at St. Michael, the Archangel Church, in our beloved hometown, Caramoan.

Our creator of Caramoanon Groups forum and KSean Website is Eng’r. Edgar Nunez. He earned that distinction and honor of being the first concerned Caramoanon to express his civic mindedness in laying out the connecting lines for Caramoanons around the globe and letting them to converge at those two web sites that are basically dedicated for Caramoanon concerns. Such web sites are probably the first and earliest for Caramoanons in general to have ever had.

I’m sure the Caramoanon groups at http://groups.msn.com/caramoan would be very glad to invite you to join the forum.

I have linked your http://caramoanparish.multiply.com to my http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com.

Yes, we have not yet met before, otherwise I should have noticed you. It looks like Caramoanon had just been blessed to have a cool, sporty and trendy priest in you. I guess a Yuppie meyn, break it down, yo!

Gantahan II - Getting to Know the Master Carpenter

Nagpahanap ako sa Caramoan nin antigong gantahan o litrohan man lamang, alagad sagkod ngunyan dai pang resulta an paghanap. Kadakol sana an estorya nin paturoro-turo kun saen o sa-irisay pa na kagharong an igwa pang saray kan sakuyang pighanap. Mas malibyano nanggad maghanap an ngimot kaysa bumungkaras para maghalungkat sa kalapatan asin maalpog na sulok-sulok, o kaya magtangad sa kun sain-sain na kabaan nakasang-at, an kaban na dayupot sa erok na kadikloman.

I requested from Caramoan to look for that antiquated Gantahan or even the Litrohan, but unfortunately, the search result has no clear indication yet. There were just a lot of stories elicited, pointing here and there, naming whom and who treasured those things I am looking for. Lip service becomes a convenient finder, instead of jumping at once to search every nook and cranny, brave the dust and cobwebs which were the usual longtime companion of such treasure chest.

Sabagay, sa gulping estorya naparahay man ta na-swertehan kong madangog an ngaran, an ngaran kan sarong “Panday”, an de-kalibreng karpintero na bantogan na iyong kag-panday kan mga gantahan, litro, medyahan, un-kuartohan, ultimo an karosan, na nagserbing reglamento nin komersyadong takadan sa banwa kan Caramoan.

At any rate, there was blessing in disguise with those lengthy accounts. I heard the name, the name of the master carpenter, who is said to be widely acknowledged as the one who crafted such boxes which became the measuring standard in Caramoan trade.

Sa mga masunod na aldaw, isusurat ko an ngaran asin recuerdo kan sarong abang tawong may abang legasya na nawalat na magayon paghorop-horopon kan katawhan sa satuyang banwaan.

In the following days, I shall write about the man and his humble legacy that would just leave a beautiful memory and indelible impression on the consciousness of every Caramoanon.

Sa paagi kan perpetual na librarya sa kalawakan, maw-ot kong umawon asin isaray an nagkapirang memorya manongod sa tawong ini na karapat-dapat man na maiukit sa gapo kan panahon an saiyang abang ngaran. Ini an saiyang magiging monumento na daing peligrong marumpag, orog na matagal, dai matutukal o mababaak, kumpara sa saiyang marmol na lapida na nawalat sa mapong-aw nyang lubungan, kun igwa man.

Through the perpetual library on the cyberspace, I wish to pay tribute and preserve our memory about this man whose humble name is worthy to be engraved on the stone tablet of time. Here, his' is a monument that is physically indestructible, much more durable, undetachable and unbreakable, unlike his tombstone laid upon his graveyard, if any.

Abangan. (Await.)

Thank You Father Chulie

Thank you for your prayer support and your encouragement.

It feels good to know that there are friends out there that you can count on in trying moments of our lives. Persons whom you can lean on standing by your side just to give you assurance that they are there for you.

For being so, I thank God for the gift of you. May the Lord continue to shower you and your loved ones his choicest and abundant blessings.

In Christ,

Fr. Jess "Chulie" Obias, MF

Dear Father Chulie:

When I wrote about the metaphors of life's journey which I dedicated to you, I myself, was actually surprised by the relative ease and spontaneous flow of thought that dawned on me at that time.

I started writing it right after having my supper, glued on profound meditation until the wee hours for two consecutive time. And I wondered for that extra stamina and adrenalin that claimed my supposedly spent body and weary mind after daytime stressful preoccupation.

What is my inspiration, motivation or encouragement which awaken that muse in my mind? I really do not know.

We are not actually akin to many things. We do not belong to same age group, neither a part of each other’s circle of friends, nor, sharing at least similar hobbies or interests. We have never talked but have just seen each other aimlessly and in very rare instances. The only connection I can think of - is that we both belong to our beloved hometown, Caramoan. But still I guess, that was not the propeller that moved me.

I just really don’t know yet. I just follow the rhythm of my heart. I just thought you deserve to be honored and thanked for having chosen the path of being of service to human spirituality. And I just thought of you how difficult to lead a life full of sacrifices as a Man of the Cloth. Then, here comes a prayerful man, asking for prayers. You have been generously praying for others, how could I, or we, to turn our backs to the man who have given his all and yet for now just asking a part?

It’s our turn to thank you.

http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com

Dedikasyon para kay Padre Chulie Obias

An saimong pangapodan, mag-alay nin pangadyi sa Banal na Espiritu, sa pag-arang nin pasabung sa isipan, na matangrawan nin liwanag an pangarap-karap na maging magkanigo asin madahom an kamugtakan sa dai pa siertong destinasyon.

( Your appeal for prayers to the Holy Spirit, imploring enlightened guidance, so that you may be led treading into betterment in the still unknown destination. )

Kun saro ako sa lalaoman na mangadyi, masanong sana ako sa saimong kamaw-otan, o kun nagpataw-pataw pa an boot nin alinlangan, hangad ko na lamang an saimong kaligtasan asin karahayan.

( If I will be tasked to pray, I'll go in chorus with the whims of your heart, or when stuck in a moment of indecision; then, I would just pray for your safety pass and wellness in everything. )

Ano daw iayon pa ining mga berso na alay ko saimo? Mga hinorop-horop nin pagtobod asin ladawan nin buhay-buhay; na gikan sa sakuyang alintataw asin sikdo nin kinurab-kutaban na irarom nin boot.

( What if I add these verses that I'm dedicating to you? My contemplative beliefs and picturesque of living; flowing out of my imagination and thoughts prompted by rhythmic beatings underneath . )


An Gamgam
( The Bird )
“ Namata ko an sarong gamgam, lupad sana nin lupad, dangan nawara sa panan-aw. Harayong lupalop, manlaen-laen na lupalop - saiyang inagihan, inabutan, hinalean; Sagkod sain asin noarin? Alagad an hustong kahapotan: ano an estado nin futuro na dai pa nin kasimbagan?

( I kept an eye on a bird, flying steadily, then lost in the horizon. In a far away land, over many foreign lands - that bird passes, arrived, departed; Up to where and when? But the real question is: the question of uncertainty. )

Alagad may anag-ag nin paglaom, sa pagsolnop kan aldaw, masaen pa man an gamgam,? kundi, humapon!.

(But there is flicker of hope, at sunset, where do birds go? but to perch on!)

Napara an sakuyang kapung-awan kan mahiling an nagdangadang na nagkupa-kupang gamgam, nagreretiro, hanap an dating togdonan. Sa dating togdonan, pospos nin taraytay na nakadapo an mga tugang na gamgam – nagkatiripon sa senyal kan pag uklo kan aldaw sa solnopan.

( My melancholic mood vanished away, as soon as I caught sight of the fast approaching bird, on his return flight, going back to its rightful perching branch. Along that branch, those birds of the same feather, flocks together – reunited by the the symbol of the setting sun towards the west. )

An Pawikan
( The Sea Turtle )











“ Nasilag ko an buhay kan pawikan, an saradit na mga puro-pawikan, nagpa-erinotan sa paglabto pasabat sa lungso kan kadagatan. Sa kada gatos na nagpalawod, saro o duwa sana an salvador sa bautismo nin peligro sa primer año kan saindang sapalarang pagkabuhay na palibot nin manlaen-laen na predatorio.

( I reflected on the way of life of a sea turtle, those hatchling turtles, racing toward the beach, facing against the tide. For every hundredths of those who ventured for life, only one or two survived after a year, out of that perilous nature of their habitat, which are full of predators. )

An naturalesa kan pawikan, minauli sa baybayon na ginikanan sa laog nin magkanigong panahon.

(Sea turtles are perennial homing creatures. They go back in due time to the shore where they once belong.)

Sa kada ribo na luminayas na napadpad sa mas halawig pang lawod, saro o duwa sana an milagrosong nakakasampot asin nakakasusod makapuli sa parehong lugar na puntong kinamundagan saiya.

( For every thousandths of those hatchlings, only one or two, will survive into maturity, and successfully be able to claim back its birthplace.)

An pagbabalik, may magayon na darang bareta, an pagwaras nin ginatos na banhi para sa panibag-ong buhay. Matapos an pag-atang nin biyaya, nakagayak liwat sa saiyang pambihirang biyahe pabalik sa azul na kalawodan. Ngapit pa, sa kundisyon na dai narebusak an dating erok, minabuelta liwat an pawikan sa tiyempo nin kada ika 2 o tolong taon, tanganing palawigon an saindang kasugpon na henerasyon.

( There is happy news in this return journey, the sea turtle will lay hundreds of eggs to start a new life. After that act of life offering, it goes back to start anew, an amazing journey into the deep blue sea. Thereafter, when its former habitat remain unspoiled, it returns in 2 to 3 year cycle, perpetuating a new generation of their own. )


An Kasili
( An Eel )








“ Nangalas ako sa naturalesa kan kasili. An mga milyones na ogbon na may 2 pulgadas na sirilag na hitso nin naghirikol-hikol na kasili, saro sanang direksyon an puntirya. Guminikan sa maaskad na tubig sa dagat, nag-asba sa sulong, maski hababaw o basa sanang dalan aagihon, maabot sana an destinasyon na malabsay na tubig na irayahon.

( I am amazed by the natural instinct of the fish, eel. Those millions of progeny, squirming 2 inches glasseels, have only one direction to go. From its spawning ground of salty waters, they migrate consistently at all cost, into brackish, and further ending into body of fresh water upstream. )

Mina-irok nin huro-halawig na panahon, sa malibog, malipot-lipot asin madiklom na kamugtakan. Nakaulnok sa aldaw, minabûtwa kinabanggihan sa pagsibo nin makakakan. Hastang mahinog an reproduktibong edad, harani na an aldaw nin saiyang paglalayag, pabalik sa ginikanan na lugar na tubig na maaskad.

( Dwelling upon this body of water for a longer period of time, preferring murky, temperate and dark abode. Buried in daytime and feeding at night. Until reaching sexual maturity, it’s time to return to the ocean. )

An pagsangkay kan baha an hinahalat na tiyempo, an saiyang gagamiton na behikulo tanganing menos an peligro sa halawig na pagsoysoy sa anod kan salog na minasundo sa dagat.

(Awaiting the opportune time, when flood rose to convenient level, there goes the eel , embarking to travel at lesser risks by conveniently drifting into rushing waters - ending at the mouth of the sea.)

Igwa nin mga suanoy na tawong nakaheling sa eksodos kan dakulang kasili sa panahon nin pagsangkay kan baha sa salog o danao. Nangalas sinda sa sobrang pakadakula kan naheling na kasili. Ini an pig-apod ninda na:

“ tuminandayag na kasili.”

(There are few ancient people who really witnessed this kind of exodus of a great eel; along the bank of a river or lake, at a time water rises at excess level. They called the gigantic eel to have been transformed into monstrous proportion )

An tandayagan pasiring na sa ultimong destinasyon, sa lugar na hararomon asin gatos na milya pa an rayo, An hinalean, babalikan; kun saen nagpoon, duman tataposon. An momento nin supremong pag-alay nin buhay nasa kaganapan na. Matapos mahiris an 15 milyones na ga-dagom na sibol na naghirikol-hikol, iyo an naging mitsa kan pagkautas kan saiyang buhay na may dakilang kadahilanan.

(That gigantic one is well on its way to final destination, into the ocean that is still miles away. A place departed, there to return; from where started, there to end. The moment of supreme sacrifice is at hand now. After spawning not less than 15 millions of squirming organisms, follows the end of life of the greater one - who had just served its noble purpose.)

An gamgam, an pawikan, an kasili: anas mga marhay na simbolo nin paglayas asin pag-abot sa lamenting destinasyon.

( The bird, the sea turtle, the eel: are fitting symbols of departures and arrivals into their rightful destination. )


http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com

Prayers and Support for Sis Becky (Jing) Bien Saret

To KSeans, Caramoanons and Friends:

We are almost silent, perhaps due to denial state of feeling, and the fact that it is hardest to accept, how this tragic accident happen to a person, who is well loved, a beautiful woman-inside and out, kindhearted, good-natured; surrounded by a peace loving family circle.

Rebecca Bien Saret, Sis Jing, as we fondly call her, met a serious accident together with her husband, Milan, a few days ago on the street of Magarao. She is in coma, and had undergone at least two major operations at Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City. I may not be accurate with the details and it's too painful to further enumerate. What is certain, is that she and her family, is in dire need of our full support- be it moral, spiritual and financial.

Only God can make life-saving Miracle, that is why we have to implore Him with our prayers. But man can also make one, but only small miracles. If we can pool our resources together, then, we can at least sustain the financial requirements in maintaining the operation of life supporting machines attached to her and continue the supply of medicines that feed her.

Giving moral support in this lowest moment in the lives of her family is most appropriate.

Let us give our share, in return that we do not want this unfortunate event happen to us.

Let us make our yahoo groups put to work. Let us campaign here for prayers, moral and financial support.

Use this venue to gather the necessary informations, contact numbers and account numbers where we could forward our love offerings.

Wake up, actually, am rushing this letter, tomorrow may be too late.

Very truly yours,

Tony Co, Nanyi Fernandez, & Tanny Valencia.
October 12, 2007
http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com

At CLSU Collegian: Marianito Bitara, Prolific Writer of His Time

There was a small building at the back of CLSU Post Office, its plain facade faces the old registrar's office, and on its backside, is a Ladies' Dormitory. That small building, housed the Office of the CLSU Collegian Editorial Board.

As far as I can remember, the helm of CLSU Editorial Board was being held by top caliber
student journalists, namely, Gil Valenzuela, Nenita Garcia, and Nicanor Soliman, in their order of
succession, in a span of more or less 5 years, the length of my
stay in CLSU as student.

There was a humble guy who served as staff writer under those three great Editors-in-Chief. In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, I would like to do the honor of presenting him, with my arms both wide-open and on bended knees, to call on MARIANITO BITARA, as the most prolific writer of his time at CLSU.

The first time I met him was on the early part of the first semester of my freshman year, 1980. He stays at a Dorm that I forgot the number now. But it is somewhat an elite dorm, because it does not belong to the majority of men's dormitory rows. It housed mostly Vet-Med students. His dorm is located adjacent to the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA), on the other side of the road, is the Faculty Canteen and the Bachelor's Pad. It is also a strong stone throw to hit the old market and just a mild stone throw to disturb a mass being celebrated by Father Glansbeck at the University Chapel.

Mar for short, showed me volumes of thick compilation of his published articles chronologically arranged and clipped in folders. No floppy diskette or CD yet by that time. He is not only good at writing, but also has an eye for photography, both literally and figuratively. You could usually spot him with a camera wrapped around his neck and always walks in a hurry.

He confided to me that whenever he writes a story line involving a male character, he usually gives him a name of Jessie for English and assigns Jesus for Tagalog medium. He is actually expressing a subtle exaltation of his religious belief.

He has a lot of articles published even on newspapers and magazines of nationwide and commercial circulation. No other student writer who made that concerted effort of exporting his works outside the campus and earning honorarium along the way.

I do remember one of his photo depicting a house moved the bayanihan way, but not on men's shoulder, rather, with the aid of modern mechanical advantage, on wheels, thus, the title: Bayanihan on Wheels, gracing Panorama Magazine.

Shortly after that brief encounter, I took the CLSU Collegian qualifying exam. Later, we found ourselves in the same editorial board. That was the start of my career as a trying hard staff writer.

Believe me, I only have one article contributed to the CLSU Collegian in my entire stint as a trying hard writer. Remember the title of my article? ... "Kasi'y Cdt. Private lang tayo" , and I received an honorarium of less than a hundred peso for that. I'm sure it's less than a hundred peso because I was counting coins when I received that money. And I guess, there is no hundred peso monetary bill yet at that time. What I can recall are those widely circulating big 1 peso coins and two peso paper bills.

But Marianito Bitara gets paid for his numerous article contributions per issue of the CLSU Collegian, in the amount that could more than matched his Cocofed stipend of P400.00. He usually tops in payroll over other equally prolific writers, like Tony Barroga-Literary Editor and Armando Lajom-Pilipino Editor.

Unfortunately, Me and Mar is not that close. In fact, I quarrelled him one time when he wrote something on my friend over petty misunderstanding with a dorm mate at ladies dorm 5. I ran like a knight in shining armor, so to speak, in defense of my dear friend. I detest the blind item he wrote putting my beloved in bad light. I contend that such story of personal conflict has no place on a school newspaper like ours, and that the subjects are not showbiz materials.

Well, that was 27 years ago, and I could just sheepishly smile from cheek to cheek at times I pondered about it. Hi Mar!, peacetime already!!! Gimme Five!!!

Mar is in Texas, USA now, and to my surprise, I saw him on You Tube holding a placard that proclaims: “Equal Custody for Good Dads”. It turned out that he is staging a lone rally for a cause about Equal Parenting Rights when he caught the attention of KBTX News, a television Network based in Texas. The sight of him in that bold and courageous instance prompted me to salute him left and right altogether. He is more than a prolific writer this time. He is a Great Dad too.

Mar in America, is now sporting a new packaging. Call him Mark with a “K”.

You can get in touch with him at mtbitara@equal-custody.org or watch him at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVuaA4L1KQ8

http://caramoan.blogspot.com

Ika-2 Yugto: DR.JOSE L. TABAGO, MAKA-KALIKASAN

Ang subject code: Ag En 8 na may deskriptong Soil & Water Conservation Engineeering, ginugugulan ng panahon ng lektura sa silid aralan at praktikal na ensayo sa labas ng paaralan.

Mapalad ang aming klase sa pagkakatalaga sa amin ng isang Dr. Jose L. Tabago na may tumpak na kasanayan sa nabanggit na araling larangan. Siya ay may masteral na antas sa Environmental Engineering mula sa Asian Institute of Technology ng Bangkok, Thailand, taong 1973. Pinag-igting pa ito ng katatamong Doctoral na pagkadalubhasa sa programang Water Resources Management sa lupain ng mga kowboy, Oklahoma State University, 1983.

Ang istilo ng pagtuturo ni DJLT ay hindi yung ang estudyante ang maghahanap ng kasagutan. Sadyang itinuturo nya ito. Kaya nga naturingan ang guro na mag turo. Hindi tulad nung iba diyan, self-service ang ginagawa samin. Tatambakan ka ng sangkatutak na assignments, hanggang kaunti na lang ang panahong natitira para sa kanyang pagtuturo.

Mabait si DJLT, madalas gumamit ng kuwento sa pagtuturo na umaaliw at nagpapatindi sa hangarin ng mag-aaral na matuto. Hindi ko pa ni minsan narinig na magtaas siya ng boses sa klase, maliban kung siya ay may sinisigawan.

Masipag si DJLT dahil hindi siya pumapalya o nahuhuli sa pagpasok sa aming klase, maliban na lang kung natrapik sa loob ng CLSU.

Higit na masaya ang aming naging pagsasama dahil sa ibinigay niya sa aming karanasan na madungisan ang aming mga kamay sa pagtatanim ng mga "century plants o centurium" nga ba yun?. Nagaganap ang ganitong maaksyong gawain sa isang bulubunduking lugar na dinarayo namin tuwing araw ng Sabado, Digdig Ranch, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

Ipinaliwanag sa amin ni DJLT na ang centurium ay mabisang-madaliang pananggalang sa naligalig na lupaing dumadausdos (soil disturbance or erosion). Ito ay sa kadahilanang mabilis tumubo at dumami ang nasabing halaman. Kumakapit agad ito sa lupa na siyang agarang lunas sa lumalalang pagka-agnas ng lupa na maaaring kahantungan nito kung pababayaang panot ang bahaging tuktok ng bundok.

Mabilis ding mag-isip ng solusyon o pamamaraan si DJLT. Minsan, kinapos ang aming punlang centurium. Maulan-ulan ang araw na yon. Bumaling ng tingin si DJLT sa kabilang pisngi ng bundok at napangiti sa kanyang nakita, mga damong ligaw, cogon grass!

Agad niyang pinulong ang kalalakihan at itinuro ang Cogon na siyang magiging kahalili na pupuno sa espasyong kailangang taniman. Agad naming inatake ng sabunot na umaatikabo ang mga cogon at inilipat sa kabilang bahagi ng bundok. Ibayong pagmamadali ang aming ginawa dahil malapit ng kumagat ang dilim at madulas ang daan.

Lumipas ang ilang linggo, pinagtuunan naman namin ang pag-aaral ng mga teorya na ginaganap sa loob ng silid aralan.

At sumapit ang takdang araw ng aming pagbabalik sa nakawilihan ng bulubunduking kapaligiran, masarap na simoy ng hangin at sari-saring paswit na tunog ng huni ng mga ibon. Nakapamewang si DJLT, gumagala-gala ang paningin. Nasisiyahan sa tanawin na malalago at ganap nang luntian ang mga pananim ng mga bata. Ang centurium at ang ibang bahagi ng cogon na nakalatag. Napawi na ang panganib na gumuho at mag-unahan gumulong pababa ang mga lupa.

Napalingon ako sa kabilang pisngi ng bundok, nakita ko ang bakas ng pinagkuhaan namin ng cogon. Buhaghag ang lupa. Ito naman ang nagsisimulang maagnas.... aaaaahhhh.

http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com

Isang pagpupugay kay DR. JOSE L. TABAGO, PhD Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1983

Nais kong isalaysay ang ilang natatanging kabanata, bilang mag-aaral ng CLSU, tumutukoy sa panahon at asignatura na BS Agricultural Engineering - Batch 1985.

Sa aming ika-lima at huling baitang sa kolehiyo, araling taon 1984-85, unang pagkakataon naming nakilala si Dr. Jose L. Tabago, na noon ay sariwang-sariwa pa galing sa katatapos na pagpapakadalubhasa sa Oklahoma State University.

Hindi ako maaring magkamali sa ngalan ng bansang pinanggalingan nya, dahil iyon ay tunog kowboy, na agad kong inihambing sa impluensiya ng kanyang pananamit at tindig, na siyang tumambad na kawangis niya nung unang araw ng oryentasyon sa klase, kung saan siya ang aming magiging guro sa Soil and Water Conservaton Engineering. Matipuno at tuwid ang kanyang tindig, naka-pailalim ang pang-itaas na damit, nakasinturon na may malaking bakal, lumalagatak ang takong ng sapatos na katad na parang bota. Minsan nagsusuot din ng sombrero tulad nung sa mamang nakasakay sa kabayo habang humihitit ng sigarilyong Marlboro. Hindi ba’t ganyan ang dating ng magiting na kowboy?

At saka noon, pag napupunta ako ng Maynila, nadadaanan ko sa Taft Avenue ang mga sikat na lugar na kumukuti-kutitap sa gabi, may malalaking pangalan na Oklahoma, Arizona at Dakota. Ewan ko ba, basta nun ipakilala nya ang kanyang sarili at pinanggalingan na Oklahoma, biglang lumipad isip ko sa isa pang Oklahoma na nasa Taft nga.

Pero hayaan muna natin ang usaping kowboy na yan at di naman talaga yan ang pakay ng aking salaysay. Nais ko lang bigyan daan ang aking sariling opinyon, na sabihin ang mga bagay na nasilip ko ng mga panahong yun na may kaugnayan sa: kabutihan, kagalingan, kasipagan, at kadakilaan ni Dr. Jose L. Tabago.

Si Dr. Jose L. Tabago ang nagdala ng kauna-unahang kompyuter sa College of Engineering.

Si Dr. Jose L. Tabago ang nagmulat sa Batch namin ng tuwirang pagkilos para sa pangangalaga ng kalikasan.

Ngayun, i-isa-isahin ko na kung bakit at papano nangyari:

Sa panahong 1984, wala pa masyado sa kamalayan ng mga mag-aaral ng CLSU ang tungkol sa personal computer. Si Dr. J.L. Tabago, bitbit ang dating gamit na kompyuter sa OSU, o sige, Oklahoma State University na nga. Buong giting na ipinagmamalaki niya sa harap ng buong klase ang kagilagilalas na kapangyariyan ng kanyang komputer sa bilis mag proseso ng mga letra at numero. Isinalarawan ni Doc na sa pamamagitan ng diskit ng komputer, maitatago mo dun ang maraming aralin na kung susulatin ay katumbas ng isang baol na papel na kaybigat bit-bitin. Nagbabala pa siya na ingatan ang diskit dahil puedeng nakawin ang mga datus sa loob nito sa pamamagitan ng pagsipi sa isa pang diskit sa ilang pindutan lang.

Napapanganga kami lahat. Ang hawak lang naming kompyuter ng panahong iyon ay casio calculator. Feeling nga namin mas hi-tech na panahon namin kumpara sa mga alumni na naging mga instructor na rin namin. Sila yun mga nagsipaggamit pa ng sliding rule, at itago na lang natin sila sa mga pangalang, Dr. Ireneo at Melissa Agulto, JV dela Cruz, Romeo Gavino, Nestor Candelaria, Arman Espino, Tito Aguinaldo, Ed Cayabyab, Francis Cuaresma, Benjie Gargabite, Emmanuel Sicat, James Mata, at Theody Sayco.

Isang hapon, tumatagaktak ng alinsangan sa tindi ng init ng araw, napatapat ako sa engineering faculty room, natanaw mula sa kinatatayuan ko, isang sulok sa gawi pa roon, may isang munting silid, aba!, naka air-conditioned na pala ito, nasa gitna ng ibabaw ng lamesa nakaupo ang kamangha-manghang CPU na may sukat, humigit kumulang, sa taas na 5, lapad 15, haba 17 na pulgadas, kung saan, nakapatong din ang Monitor na nakasindi, at tila nagliliyab ang mga letrang kulay luntian sa background na itim. Naisip ko, talagang napakaselan ng kalagayan ng kompyuter na ito na nagmula pa sa OSU. Kailangan pala ang malamig na kapaligiran habang gumagana ito.

Paglampas ko sa Faculty room, napatapat naman ako sa Drawing Room kung saan mas malamang na makita mo si Prof. Avelino Reyes. Sa gitna ng kanyang klase, nagtama ang sulok ng mga mata namin ng roomate kong ilocano, tumatagaktak sa pawis, sumenyas pa sakin ang nguso, “napudot!“.

Kinaumagahan, muling nasulyapan ko ang mahiwagang kompyuter. Nakapatay ang aircon, nakapatay din ang kompyuter. Pero, nakatalukbong ang kompyuter. Parang nanibugho ang pakiramdam ko. Naalala ko tuloy ang nakaraang gabi, kung saan napuyat ako ng husto, di makatulog dahil sa pesteng lamok. Ala kasi akong talokbong, este, kulambo.

Ibinida pa ni Dr. J.L. Tabago, gusto daw i-trade-in nung kumpare nya yung stainless jeep nito, kapalit ng kompyuter nya. No deal! Hindi man lang sya natinag o nasilaw sa stainless Jeep na sikat na sikat noon. Parang kulang nalang magpalatak si Doc ng salitang: “ano ko bale?“ , pero wala yan sa lengguahe o karakter ni Doc. Isa siyang kapitag-pitagang personalidad.

Nung panahong iyon ay wala pang computer subject, subalit, si Dr. J. L. Tabago ay nagpasimuno sa pagmumulat sa mag-aaral ng usaping kompyuter. Makalipas ang ilang buwan, dumating ang maraming kompyuter sa CLSU para gamitin ng Cashier’s Office. Naalala kong dinala niya kami doon sa gusaling administrasyon at pina-pindot ng tigkakapiranggot.

Mataas ang moral namin sa bagong karanasan, kung kaya’t nagtatag agad kami ng samahan ng mga mag-aaral na nais mabansagang makabago at makakompyuter ang adhikain. Tinawag namin ang samahan na “Bits & Bytes Club“. Ang unang pangulo namin ay si Noel Bigyan at ako yata yung pangalawang pangulo. Siyempre pa, si Dr. J. L. Tabago ang kauna-unahang Taga-Payo. Kagulat-gulat ang dami ng aplikante noon. Sa isang iglap, talo pa namin sa dami ng miyembro ang ibang samahang Frat na halos kalahating dekada nang nananatili sa loob ng CLSU. Ang pagkaka-alam ko, buhay pa ang Bits & Bytes Club sa CLSU. Ang hindi nila alam, buhay pa rin kami na nagsipagtatag nun.

Ngayun ko napagmuni-muni, ang laki na ng agwat ng uri ng kompyuter noon at ngayun.

Palagay ko nga, baka ang ninunong kompyuter na yun, di pa makapagpatakbo ng maayos sa spreadsheet program na supercalc or multiplan. Ha ha ha ha ha! Nagagamit lang yata yun sa Wordstar. Ha ha ha ha ha! Ang motherboard nun nasa kilobyte pa lang ang memory. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Ang mga halakhak na yan ay hindi isang panunuya, bagkos ay diwang aliw na aliw sa abang simulain ng kompyuter sa CLSU. Hindi man lang nabawasan ang pagkilala ko sa dakilang simulain na sinindihan ni Dr. Jose L. Tabago. Sa ganang akin, hindi mahalaga kung sino ang naka-imbento ng mag-wheels. Higit na may pabuya ang nakatuklas ng paggamit ng gulong. Ngayon, ang kamalayan ng mga taga CLSU sa kompyuter ay higit nang naglalagablab.

Susunod… ang pagiging makakalikasan ni Dr. J. L. Tabago. Abangan.

http://caramoan-kanvar.blogspot.com