Imee Roselene Redillas

Beautiful Spot

     
  Every places in our country has its own product and beautiful spots that can be proud of and this simply shows and describes how rich and beautiful this country.

Last January 6-12, 2013, we travelled along the beautiful island of Barangay Calaya, Nueva Valencia,

Guimaras and we’re so amazed of its beauty. Their rural life was so amazing and the people gave us their warm welcome. Our community immersion brought us there; helped us to adapt the livelihood and ways of living in Calaya where almost all of the people are engaged in farming and bag weaving. But the most attractive place was the “Bato”. The Bato is very huge and tall and when we went up, we saw almost all of Guimaras and all of us were shocked in that place because we didn’t expect that it’s so grandeur and we conclude that Philippines is one of the country that have lots of beautiful sceneries that our political sectors didn’t prioritize that thing and we should be proud and thankful to Almighty God for all the beautiful places that he gave to us. All we need to do is to develop and protect our beautiful country.

School Activities

It was our fourth day at Calaya and we are tasked to make bulletin boards and paint signage, and others just to help and support the school and to make it more beautiful and we are all willing to help so that they are remarkable things we lift to them.

We are very thankful because even though we are strangers in that area, the students and the teachers treated us like we came from that place. They treat us very nice and we are very happy because through those little help and effort, there were things changed.

I hope that all the memories that we cherish together with the people in the community will not lost and will remain in their heart.

Wilanne G. Mirar

  A new Family

          January 6, 2013 was the most anticipated day to us, BSEd 3-D, because it was the day we went to our Community Immersion. In our way to Barangay Calaya we saw a lot of beautiful views. In our one week stay in Barangay Calaya, we stayed in Tita Cap’s house with our adopted Frank C. Bebit. In there, I found a new family in the person of team mates, the team MIGHTYAK. Although we do have different personalities, we feel comfortable with each other’s company. Because of this Community Immersion, I was given opportunity to know my team mates and their good and bad sides.

Strange Boulders

            Calaya is blessed with wondering and amazing views of environment. One of these is a secret site with strange boulders which can be found anywhere. No one knows where these boulders came from. Others said these were used as sites where guerrillas of long ago hid. Others said it was the home of “enkantos and fairies”. That’s why every person who wants to witness that site should make a ritual before entering the place. the ritual is every person should tie a certain leaf of coconut tree at the entrance of the place. people of Calaya considered it as a site where people want to be alone and want to find and feel peace and serenity.

Zeny Rey Depita

“My Light”

  They said you will realize your worth as an individual if you are left in an island with nothing. Community immersion proves and feed my worth. Leaving alone with nothing but friends. I thought everything was just for fun. Purely fun. Fun in a sense that we will leave our parents. We will leave our zone for protection. A zone where everything is corrected, criticized and being protected.

I thought it will be easy for us, but as we go along after staying one week in Brgy. Calaya I realize that living without them is like walking in the stormy sea without any light. Nothing to run to especially when we are in pain and problematic.Suddenly here comes my friends, friends which I can rely on, cry on as long as I want, smile and laugh along. Friends that serves as my guardian angel and parents that provides me light and unending advices which help me to be a better ZENY!:)I thank them for worth living experience.  I ZENY REY DEPITA SAW MY LIGHT.It was that day when I first stood in front of a high school class, it was in the time of our community immersion that I had that experience which had shaped me to be a better me and as a better teacher someday.  It was terrifying at first but with the help and cooperation of the students I thought, it had been a wonderful and fruitful experience for me and also for the students.

Marvin Llamas

Calaya Composo

Calaya is a great place with very accommodating people. Calaya is also surrounded by various Floras and Faunas and filled with the untouched beauty of nature that will surely captivate your heart. Calaya is also known for their bag weaving industry that is a sure hit to all the consumers. But there’s one thing that others don’t know about Calaya.

   Calaya citizens, especially the older ones possess a talent that is very rare and unique that will surely catch your attention. “Composo” as they call it, it is the art of singing your hidden emotions and feelings. As we conducted our interview, we gathered various Copmposos that would tickle your hearts with its lovely lyrics.

PANGUMA

-Uldarica Galvez

Sang mil nueve sientos ochentay nueve

Province of Guimaras duog calamity

Mga pananum tanum wala guid mapusli

Nagsunggod ang ulan, init nagrebelde.

Mga mangunguma nagsugod panghayhay

Wala sing pagkaon nalaya ang humay

Ano nalang ini masyado kabudlay

Indi kaeskwela si toto, si inday.

Gani mga nene, nonoy, toto, inday

Inyo siguruhon ang bulsa ni tatay

Kon kamo ang magtuon, inyo kaayuhon

Kay handa si tatay magbayad sang tuition.

O, mga senyores nga nagtililipon

Kun ako ang may sayop, inyo pasensyahon

Kay wala na ako sarang igasugpon.

Farming

-Uldarica Galvez

In the year 1989

Province of Guimaras was hit by calamity

Various kinds of crops cannot be harvested

There is no rain, the sun was extremely hot.

Farmers lost their hopes

Shortage of food, the crops already died

What shall we do, life is very hard

For toto and inday cannot go to school

That’s why nene, nonoy, toto, inday

You should secure your tatay’s salary

You should study hard and take it seriously

‘Cause tatay is ready to pay your tuition fees

To all who gathered here

And listened to my song

If something is lacking, oh! Forgive me please

‘Cause I don’t have any left to sing.

Kenneth Lim

“A VIEW FROM THE TOP”

In a barangay called Calaya in Nueva Guimaras we had our Community Immersion on the dates of January 6-12 in the 2013. We had spent a week there and during our stay we had heard about a place which the locals call “BATO” which was described as a huge rock formation by the locals.

            We had set out to go there after hearing those stories from the locals. As we have reached the place, we were amazed by its colossal size. Due to curiosity, we had decided to climb it to its top. Waiting for us up there was a wonderful sight of the majority of the barangay and a part of its coastal areas. The view was just breathtaking and great. It was one of the best experiences we had in that place. Truly “BATO” is a good example of natures beauty and marvel.

“CULTURE IN WORDS”

            In a place called Brgy. Calaya, we had met a veteran man who is enriched by time. He had much to offer to us, one is his knowledge in binalaybay and composo which were traditional forms of literature. These literatures were handed down from one generation to the other. This composos and binalaybay contain the lives, livelihood, love and advices of the elders.

            The structure or composition of each verse is well thought and cleverly done which bring the mentioned ideas. But this literature is only through words and not written which became the reason why this kind of literature is slowly vanishing. We had documented this composos and binalaybays for the future generation and for others to know this kind of literary works.

Coleen Batiao

This photo was taken during the school project making activity. Through the effort and cooperation of two groups this project was made possible. Bulletin boards were made as well as information corners. As we make this project of ours we really enjoyed it  we even forgot to eat our lunch just to finish this one. Teachers as well as students are very much thankful.

This picture shows one way on how the people of Calaya, Nueve Valencia, Guimaras earn money or in come. Manang is a bibingka vendor she sells her product for only 10 pesos per pack which is consict of 5 bibingka’s. She is a native of brgy. Calaya. This photo was taken during their market day which is being held every Thursday. 

Dolly Kristel Rae P. Chaves

 Pandan Products

These bags are made from pandan and pinya leaves which grow abundantly in Brgy. Calaya. The products made from pandan have become the primary source of income. Calaya's residents express their creativity through colorful hand bags, coin purses, wallets, and other fanciful items.

            In making the pandan products, the people collect the pandan leaves from plants. Only the young leaves are cut so the plant will naturally renew. The young leaves are sliced in fine strips and sorted for further processing. Workers produce various pandan products of different sizes and designs. This is followed by a coloring process, in which pandan products are painted with water-based colors. Then, the colored products are dried.  A shiny liquid is applied to assure a product of high quality.

AN UNFORGETTABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

            On January 6, 2013, I eagerly woke up to see the early morning sun, and felt the rush of excitement as I started the day ahead. I arrived at the Ortiz port at exactly 8:30 AM to meet my groupmates. After the 15 minutes ride in a pumpboat to Guimaras, we finally reached the stones of the beautiful island. I wanted it to be an unforgettable experience because it is my first time to be in the island of Guimaras.

            For our preparations, we were informed to bring all the necessary materials such as clothes, teaching materials, kitchen utensils, and food. The day before the community immersion, our group went to the supermarket to buy the things that we will be using for activities in the next day. 

I perceived the island of Guimaras as a very peaceful place to live in. I saw the welcoming faces of the elders as well as the heart-warming smiles of the children that first greeted us. The people in Calaya were approachable and hospitable to all of us, they treated and accommodated us like tourists but more likely as a part of their own family. At first, we were shy but eventually we got well along with them. Even if we did not have a foster family like the rest of the other groups have, we were happy to be taken care of by nanay Linda, the caretaker of the house we stayed in. We felt the love and kindness that nanay Linda showed to all of us. She was so generous, she even allowed us to use her cooking utensils.

Not all the residents in Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras came from well-off families, poverty is another face in their community. Most of the people’s source of livelihood is through making native bags. The raw materials for these colourful and beautiful bags are pandan and pinya leaves. The people’s lifestyle was just simple, for them to eat at least three times a day was just enough. I have realized how lucky I am to belong to a middle-class family and to be provided with all the things that I needed. I have also realized that I should be thankful and more contented for what I have, even for the little things. I am lucky that my parents have sent me to the best school in order to develop myself. Aside from that, I have also understood that there are chances and opportunities that I should never take for granted. I have come to think that I should strive more and work harder so that the efforts of those I loved would not be wasted at all.

In my experience, I believe that the community immersion is the best way for us to know ourselves more as well as to knit stronger ties with each other. Even though it was just a short period of time, we discovered more of our own strength and weaknesses. I learned how important it is to communicate with the rest of my group members. It is also an effective way for us to learn on how to suit ourselves and our different personalities with the people in the community. We tried our best to cooperate and build friendly relations not only to the people but also to the teachers and committee members. Furthermore, the community immersion was a tool for us to develop and practice acceptance, patience, understanding, thoughtfulness, and thriftiness; it really helped me to balance my time in doing my school works and doing my household chores. However, there are times that we have a misunderstanding among our group members but we learned how to fix them. I believe that no one is perfect that is why we need to accept the faults of others.

Living under the same roof and being together with all of my groupmates is very fun. I am surely going to miss them and the moments that we have shared together. We have created a strong bond that cannot be replaced. As a group, we often talked about the things that we should accomplish within a week, and most of our group members shared their own opinions and suggestions. The people in Calaya were also very supportive in our day-to-day activities, especially the principal, and the barangay officials.