Under the Japanese regime, the people lived with extreme austerity and deprivation. Basic commodities were in grave shortage or altogether unavailable so that substitution and improvisation were resorted to. In lieu of the staple rice, people had to feed on root crops, including wild yams (e.g. namu , gamat). They had to make their own salt by boiling sea water. For sugar, they used mahamis locally made from sugarcane juice. Kerosene disappeared in the market. Instead of gas tinterohan, they lit the night using ti-om (clam shell) lamp fueled by oil extracted from coconut. Soap was home-made, again from coconut extracts and lye. Soon, they had to wear scratchy sinamay cloth dyed with locally sourced substances (e.g. achuete for reddish hue, dullaw for yellow). In the countryside, since matches were prohibitively expensive, they maintained a himullang-dan, a log that was eternally burning on one end which had to be tended 24-7.
Category: Opinion
Weekly Reflections
When the writer’s wife entered the room, she found he husband looking sad lost in his thoughts. From behind his back she read what was written on the paper. She left the room silently and came back with another paper and placed it on side of her husband’s writing.
Binarangabanga na an balyena?
Segun sa sarong pilyong chismoso, marinas man daa cotana an ginibo ni Boboy, tanganing magin duwa an gobernador. Dati na daang duwa an congressman, kaya lalong maasenso an Islang Maogma ta duwa na an gobernador, he! he! he!
The governor’s feisty new lawyer
The woman lawyer, according to people close to the governor, is a frequent visitor to the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan offices and courts where the bulk of her cases have been filed.
The Tiger’s chances in the Year of the Metal Rat
In one among probably hundreds of predictions for 2020, the Tiger’s aggressive approach sometimes works in his favor, but only under certain circumstances and will not necessarily ensure a rewarding outcome.
Mall occupants now exempt from locational clearance
We don’t know if the 11 municipal governments in Catanduanes received the ARTA circular in time. It is highly likely that the towns have yet to get a copy since the document is usually sent through the mail.
If implemented here, the ARTA’s move would be welcome news to stall owners and occupants of the two malls in Virac. Now, for establishments inside central business districts, the CLUP would have to be checked if it has designated a CBD in the town.
Better options for travelers in the next three years
Last week, officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a memorandum of agreement titled “Institutionalized Leveraging of Infrastructure Program for Airport Development (iLiPAD) which aims to synchronize efforts to boost airport and route development programs.
Libreng habhab sa New Year’s Call
qui Tang Tacio Iguang reclamo si ex-future congressman Horacio Villarete kan Panganiban. Segun sa saiya, nagaba an sarong parte ning bag-ong haman na river control project kan DPWH duman sa…
The Writing of History:
World War II in Catanduanes (First of Four Parts)
In an earlier article (October 23, 2019 issue), I argued that the victorious resistance by the Catandunganons against the Japanese, the only shooting war they fought in their history, proved crucial in the push for consolidation to independent province-hood. This present article is first part of a series of four essays that will present and discuss my digging into the details of the Japanese occupation of the island and the subsequent struggle against it by the Catandunganons.
Silang Mga Ninja Cops?
Ano ngayon ang tawag sa Ninja cops? Simple, sila ang mga pulis na gumagawa ng mga pagmimilagro habang sila ay tumutupad sa kanilang tungkulin. Ano ang tungkulin nila sa ating mamamayan? To serve and protect!