Imagine this…kamayan sa old high school campus, bon fire with live band, cruise sa Sarangani Bay and fishtahan sa Isla Parilla. On the screen of my computer, they were nothing but catchy phrases from Bro. Willy’s letter posted on our website guest book. Yet, the rest of the week those phrases stayed with me and I imagined some more.
Kamayan to me meant rice wrapped in banana leaves and a basketful of red, luscious rambutan. Fishtahan and cruise suggested inihaw na tulay, paksiw na bariles, and a nice day at the beach. Bon fire with live band brought back those carefree 60’s at Notre Dame of Dadiangas College singing Beatles songs with my friends as they played their guitars. Catchy phrases that evoke warm memories of youth and a promise of new adventures. I could not resist. “Uwi na Damean” (Come Home Damean) read Bro. Willy’s invitation so I did.
I must admit I was full of apprehensions. Everyday of the two months prior to my trip bad news was all I heard. ABC tv station’s Peter Jennings himself mentioned the bombings in Gen. Santos City, the Internet was filled with news about the earthquake, skirmishes in Basilan and Jolo, and kababayans bombarded me with emails from all over the world about the burning of Kimball Plaza and KCC Shopping Center. Their common and constant refrains were “Are you still planning to go home?” or “Is it prudent to hold the 2003 ND General Santos Alumni USA reunion in the Philippines?”
I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was concerned. On June 30, 2002, I arrived in General Santos City. I stood on the deck of the Super Ferry along with some familiar faces with familiar names and watched the blue welcoming waters of Sarangani Bay, the white puffy clouds that veiled Mt. Matutum and the busy Makar wharf teeming with people going about the business of daily living. Haven’t these people watched the bombing images on CNN? Aren’t they worried? As my feet touched land, my own apprehensions melted. I realized what this place meant to all these people and to me. It is home after all. Life goes on as it had, must and will.
A whirlwind of activities followed. Meetings with various committees involved in the planning of the Uwi Na Damean Reunion 2003 starting with the Manila Chapter, Davao representatives and General Santos group.
Ocular visits of venues like Isla Parilla in Alabel, hotels all over Dadiangas and Davao (for possible side tour), beaches in Calumpang, Tambler, Tinoto. Attended family parties and organized last-minute mini reunions with classmates and barkadas in Dadiangas and Lagao, day and night. Yes there’s nightlife in GenSan too.
Made trips to Manang Deling’s Boutique to shop for dresses, took time for a manicure and pedicure, went to palengke for groceries, attended mass at the Novitiate, and visited the farms in Silway 7 and Conel. Everyday things that everyday people do.
Shook hands with schoolmates running for government office one week before the local elections and “suffered through” their marathon campaign swings. During the day their pick-up trucks loaded with barking campaign managers cruised the neighborhood. They parked their pick-up trucks at every street corner and loudspeakers blared music, campaign slogans and speeches all through the night. “Happy Days was there again!” like of old.
The neighborhood children don’t play pico, atom nor bakyaan anymore but they still go to school in their uniforms, ride their bikes, glued at their Play Stations and went about their business of growing up. Just like we all did in Gen. Santos decades ago.
The balut seller peddled midnight snack. And the pan de sal vendor, he still came to wake up the neighborhood at four in the morning. So did the barking dogs, the crowing roosters and the broom-broom of tricycles. Before the day was over, it was never too late to go to the beach to watch the sunset. So am I going home again in 2003? Am I not scared, worried and concerned? Of course I am. But life goes on in General Santos City too as it does everywhere. Just as there are risks in the heart of New York City so they’re in General Santos City too. It is a matter of being willing to take that risk here or there, everywhere.
As long as there are kababayans residing in the U.S. like Art Henares, Ding Mateo, Angel Boloico and Rayland Rogan who would go back to Gen Santos City and take their spouse and children along, yes I will go home. As long as there are people like Josie Ferrariz Tizon, Bing Ferrariz, Ma’am Remedios Ferrariz, Anafe Dinopol, Nena Guipo Adonay, Helen Villanueva Santos, Richard and Ligaya Ramirez Huffman, Ray and Hearty Powell, Fred and Marie Gray and his sister, who would visit our hometown, came back to report the good time they have had, I will go home.
As long as there’s little five-year-old Nikki Parica Esma Dinal who according to her mother Lizette, traversed the Malungon mountains from Gen. Santos to Davao City three times, I will go home.
And, as long as starfish swim about in Sarangani Bay and the calachuchi flowers bloom and as sure as Mt. Matutum stands, I am going home “Uwi na Damean”, Bro. Willy’s invitation read. Won’t you join me in June 2003?
