Lanterns Galore

The Talakag Municipal Hall is currently showcasing Lanterns made from local native materials. What a refreshing change!

Made from Corn Husks.
Made from Rice Husks.
Made from Banana Leaves.
Made from Corn Cobs 1.
Made from Corn Cobs 2.

Made from Ipil-ipil Pods.

To those of you who can't make it to Talakag this Christmas, hope you'll enjoy the display here. Merry Christmas Talakag!

Christmas Spirit in Talakag

The Christmas lights are now on display at the Plaza and the Municipal Hall in Talakag every night. Very soon all the trees around the Plaza will be decorated and lit as each Barangay and some Business Establishments join the Annual Christmas Tree Decoration Contest. It’s nice to see so many people going out and strolling around the Plaza in the evenings and meeting up with friends amidst the bright and colourful display. A far cry from the old Talakag since it wasn't until the early 1970s that the town started to have electricity.

If you are thinking about visiting or coming home to Talakag, plan to be here around the 22nd of December when the Municipal Carol Singing and Lantern Contests will be held. However, I have yet to get confirmation whether there will be similar contests at Barangay level.

May 2010 Election: List of Candidates for the Municipality of Talakag

Today, I visited the COMELEC Office of Talakag to obtain the names of candidates seeking election come May 2010:

Lakas-Kampi-CMD
Macapayag, Nestor - Mayor
Sulatan, Renato - Vice Mayor
Gayonan, Susan - SB
Pacuno, Abdon - SB
Lladas, Raul - SB
Sansanan, Rosenio - SB
Samontao, Morillo - SB
Seno, Wilfredo - SB
Factura, Vergito - SB
Monje, Angelo - SB

Nacionalista
Noble, Amado Sr - Vice Mayor
Noble, Amado Jr - SB
Haguingan, Fidel - SB
Janao, Pedro Jr - SB
Ciervo, Daniel Fabian - SB
Borreta, Eugenio - SB
Ngaso, Felizardo - SB
Sabang, Yolanda - SB
Mapano, Rey - SB

Liberal
Santiago, Timoteo - SB
Bigcas, Alberto - SB
Madrigal, Lito - SB

Independent
Romulo, Rodrigo - Mayor
Tinoy, Rodney - Mayor
Lanado, Emeterio Jr - SB
Taqueban, Carlos - SB
Gozo,Eleazar - SB
Tianzon, Romeo - SB
Mapano, Freniel - SB
Palangga, Thomas - SB

For a list of candidates for various Bukidnon provincial seats, please go to Bukidnon Online.

A Tribal Hall in Talakag

We were on our way to Bethany when we passed a group of people gathered and dressed in their colourful traditional Bukidnon attire. We were curious so we stopped and asked if we could take some pictures.

Datu Linggian Modesto B. Pocol, Jr. (who happened to be an old schoolmate) kindly explained what was going on. It turned out that there was a Tribal Wedding going on. We were excited as this was real and not a performance put on for visitors. The rituals, the music and the dances were indeed mesmerizing.

The venue was the Tribal Hall and as you can see it is still under construction. The land it sits on was kindly loaned by the Nobles (a very well-known family in Talakag); however, they need help to complete the construction of the Hall itself. Any donations, financial or in kind (nails, paint, cement, hollow blocks, etc), would be gratefully received.

Datu Linggian and two other Senior Tribal Elders explained why this Tribal Hall means so much to them. It would help preserve their culture and provide a common meeting place where they can learn skills; run basic education classes; and learn to integrate into society which would greatly contribute to the peacekeeping process that is so vital to an area besot with conflict. Likewise, visitors or anyone who is interested can also drop by the Tribal Hall anytime and learn more about the Tribes in Talakag.

Firepower in Talakag: Pacquiao vs. Cotto

The people of Talakag may not have been able to travel to Las Vegas, USA to watch the Pacquiao vs. Cotto boxing match but, thanks to Jess Paras, the general public were able to witness today via satellite how Pacman stopped Cotto at 55 seconds of the 12th round right here in Talakag.

Jess Paras is running for Congressman for our District in Bukidnon in the 2010 elections. What a way to launch his candidacy to a wider audience by sponsoring this show here in Talakag and I must admit that the gesture was impressive. A smart promotional strategy for Jess indeed and his contenders better think fast of something smarter to beat this one.

Kevin Bacungan Manansala

The banner says it all. Well done Kevin and best wishes for the future.

“Kalag-kalag” in Talakag

Just been to the cemetery to celebrate “kalag-kalag” (All Souls Day) and remember the lives of our beloved relatives and friends who have passed on. Saturday has been spent clearing around the graves and painting the tombs. Yesterday and today we went back to light candles, offer flowers and prayers.

When I left Talakag to go abroad, my father was still alive and even before that we always went to celebrate “kalag-kalag” in Cagayan de Oro where most of our relatives who have passed on were buried. So this is really my first “kalag-kalag” in Talakag.

For two days, Talakag cemetery was full, glowing and lively. You bump into so many people you haven’t seen for a long time. There’s a party atmosphere with people singing, playing, eating and drinking. Across the cemetery and under the shade of the rubber trees, vendors set up selling flowers, candles and refreshments. Barriers were set up at both ends of the cemetery to provide pedestrian only areas while the PNP were around to keep the peace and order. I must confess it’s no different from celebrating in Cagayan de Oro, except that I think Talakag is a lot cooler, less crowded and more organised.

Obituary - Danilo Flores Santiago

My brother, Danilo Flores Santiago, died 23rd July 2009 at the age of 44 while in Maria Reyna Hospital, Cagayan de Oro City, after a short illness. We held his funeral service today 1st August 2009 in Talakag Baptist Church followed by internment at the Santiago Memorial Garden.

Danny was born on 6th August 1964 in Cagayan de Oro City to Gloria and Ferminito Santiago, and brother to Tess, Lulu, Carlos, Junior, Leo and Julie. He was married to Rosalyn Imperio and they raised 2 sons, Winston and Robinson.

“Danny was one of the kindest people you could ever meet and he will be sorely missed.”

RIP: Mr Alfredo Tampo

Mr Alfredo Tampo died suddenly last Sunday after suffering a heart attack in the Plaza, Talakag, Bukidnon. After an overnight wake in Barangay 1 Hall, his body was transferred to Malaybalay City where the funeral was held today. He will be sorely missed by his Talakag friends, work colleagues and students.

Acrobatic Show in Talakag

Thousands came to watch the “New Millennium Acrobatic Show” in the Gym, Talakag Public Plaza during the Valentine’s Weekend. The group is normally based in Baguio City but is currently on tour around the country. Mr Randil F. Villajuan, the instructor/manager, promised to put on the “best show for the family” for only 20 pesos per person. True to his word, the performers delivered and featured different acrobatic formations. Clowns with their usual tricks entertained the crowd during intervals.

I thought that the balancing acts were very good. What made them more thrilling was the absence of safety nets. They were so daring that some people were willing the acrobats not to fall; while others were shouting for more stunts. A child behind me was praying loudly “Oh God! Please keep them safe” and another woman said that she could feel her toes curling under her chair hoping that such act would help the acrobats concentrate and cling on the tight rope. The danger factor certainly kept the crowd’s attention.

By 11:00 pm the show was over and everyone left (on foot, on bicyles or aboard trisikads, motorelas, trucks, vans, jeepneys, etc) with their own stories to tell. When in Talakag, you can’t help but go along to public entertainment (such as this) as part of your social engagements, otherwise you would miss out on what everyone is talking about. Of course, I was there! It was full house. My advice for the future events like this is get there early and bring your own chair. Also position yourself well away from the entrance as late comers tend to push themselves in and can block your view.

Seno and Baiting Wedding

Sherwin Seno (son of Mr. Wilfredo D. Seno and Mrs. Susan D. Seno) married Cynthia Mae Baiting (daughter of the late P/Supt. Amilhamja M. Baiting and Mrs. Nemesia B. Baiting) last month in San Antonio de Padua Parish Church, Nazareth Cagayan de Oro City. The wedding reception was held in Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City.

Congratulations to the newly weds and best wishes for your future together.

It is worth noting that Cynthia Mae’s older sister, Amiliza, has traveled all the way from Abu Dhabi to be her Maid of Honor.

We were pleased to have been invited to the wedding of Sherwin and Cynthia Mae, children of very close friends. This occasion also enabled me to be reunited with other long lost friends that I haven’t seen for ages. Don’t you just love weddings?

Christmas and New Year in Talakag

First of all I would like to apologise to everyone, who have been following Talbuks Cafe, for failing to update this Blog regularly as promised. For the last three months I have been busy organising our relocation back to Talakag. Finally we have arrived (yeheyyyy!) and starting to settle into rural living.

Yes I know! - Christmas and New Year celebrations are well over - but I couldn’t get back into blogging again without sharing my observations of Christmas and New Year in Talakag as a returning resident. Better late than never - so please bear with me.

The Catholic church bells ringing early in the morning for the nine days of “misa de gallo” have now been replaced by very loud music (I think it’s by Jose Marie Chan but I’m not sure). As I live quite close to the plaza, this is something that I will have to get used to.

Nowadays the Christmas Basketball League is played in the newly built covered Gym in the Plaza - so the games can go on rain or shine! The players seem to be taller than I can remember. What are they feeding these youngsters nowadays? I believe the winning team was Miarayon.

The Christmas Carol Singing Contest is getting really serious - with professional trainers hired for music and choreography, even the judging criteria has become tougher than ever. The winners were from Barangay 2, who also won it last year. As for the Christmas Lantern Contest, the entries are getting more creative and the designs becoming bolder.

One thing new to me this time is the Christmas Tree Decoration Contest. The trees around the Plaza were decorated with various lights, lanterns and other trimmings of different colours and sizes. What a sight!

New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Plaza started with a Dance Contest, followed by a Fancy Dress Contest and then by midnight - a loud and colourful Fireworks Display (courtesy of the Mayor and LGU) was witnessed by a cheering crowd. Nowadays, the sounds of firecrackers seem normal. These were forbidden in the celebrations that we have awhile back in the 80’s - one could end up in prison if caught in the act. How times have changed!

Best Wishes for 2009!