Friday, May 16, 2008
BALONG WITH THE BRONZE CHILDREN
Over a cup of coffee one afternoon, I asked my kumpadre why he gets along so well with his grandson considering that his relationship with his son is nothing short of turbulent.
His face revealed a silly grin as he said, "Simple lang pare. At the end of the day, I get to return the child back to his parents."
Today is the Fertility Dance Festival at Obando, Bulacan. I should talk my kumpadre into taking the day off from work so we could check out this fiesta and take some pictures.
By the way, remember this?
Santa Clarang pinong-pino / Ako po ay bigyan mo / Ng asawang labintatlo / Sa gastos ay walang reklamo!
And I thought the prayer and dance was for a child.
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Labels: Local culture
posted by Señor Enrique at 6:38 AM
26 Comments:
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said... I can't wait to have my own grand kids. But then again... I also wish - not yet. Ay, ano ba yan. :)
Cute photo! If I'm not mistaken, "Balong" is an Ilocano term of endearment for a young boy.-
ScroochChronicles said... My dad once said, "I love you, anak. Pero mas mahal ko si Gaby!" My Mom naman said, "Taob kayo (her kids) sa mga anak nyo!"
And, they had visions of taking our kids away from us every chance they could :D-
Photo Cache said...
My mom is different, she says nothing beats her own kids, despite all the love she has for her grandkids.
I might have missed that lines of the song, 13 husbands----paging Texas polygamy police ;)-
FilMasons NSW said...
I remember the Obando song and am looking forward to your post re the fiesta at Obando.
Talking from experience, nothing beats the joys of grand parenting.
It is sort of your second chance to be a parent. You do enjoy it more since there is less pressure at work or in building your family.
Nice photo.
Mario
http://www.ondaway2honey.blogspot.com/-
escape said...
nice shot as it has always been. looks very real because the boy seems to really feel like they're his brothers and sisters.
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said...
ayos ah... kasundo ang apo kesa anak, hehehe...
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said...
perhaps it is because the grandchildren help bring back the grandparents' memories of their children when they were young.
not all grandparents are doting though...-
Lola said...
Oy, ang cute naman. Where is this located at? It looks like the Baywalk area. I was home in 2006 and I don't remember seeing this.
Yes, grandchildren are precious. When they become rambunctious, you tell the parents to take them home. But I've noticed they mind more when the parents are not around.
By the way Eric, my 14 year old grandaughter is going with us when we go back next year, thanks to your blog. Masyadong nagagandahan sa mga pictures at istorya mo.-
mgaputonimimi said...
ang cute ng pagka capture! parang kapatid nya yung tatakbo sa kanya... ang galing!
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Peregrino said...
Actually, I am touched by the Photo.
It reminds me of something missing in my life growing up in the Philippines.
Paolo-
Señor Enrique said...
Your kids are too young to get married and start a family of their own, Rhoda ... hehehe. But I can imagine how much you miss having little tots in the house :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Ah, that's sweet, Cookie :)
Yup, I know of many folks who love the company of their grandchildren at all times.-
Señor Enrique said...
Lol ... that's right, Photo Cache! It also made me ask myself if Santa Clara was actually of Muslim faith instead. Can you imagine condoning 13 husbands? Hehehe.
I've a hunch your mom said that so as you all wouldn't be jealous of her affection for the grandchildren :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Unfortunately, Mario, my kumpadre is too conscientious to just take off from work for no serious reason ... hehehe. He's from the old school when it comes to work ethics, or I should say ... a certified workaholic.
You're right about a second chance to being a parent. In my kumpadre's case, I think it was because he was always at work; trying to provide a secure life for his family. But in the interim, he missed his son's growing up years.
Bumabawi siya sa pagtingin at pagmamahal sa apo, eka nga.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, donG!
Yes, this kid seems so natural with the camera, and appears to interact so naturally with the statues as if they were real.-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Lino!
Yes ... a common scenario, di ba? Pag mapagalitan mo anak mo, takbo agad sila sa lola o lolo ... hehehe.-
Señor Enrique said...
That's true, Bing. I was one who never experienced the attention of doting grandparents. I guess, it was because -- considering the many cousins -- there were much too many grandchildren born ahead of me. So the grandparents had enough by the time I came into this world ... hehehe.
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Señor Enrique said...
Yes, Baywalk it is, Pat. I love this group of statues. They invite interaction with the public; not just to be looked at.
Wow! Is this your granddaughter's first visit to the Philippines? If you have time, take her along to one of the guided tours of intramuros and Chinatown with Carlos Celdran or Ivan Mandy.
Many thanks, Pat!-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Mimi!
I, too, loved Balong's enthusiasm and smile as he posed for this picture. He make those inanimate statues look so real.
Oh, by the way ... Rhoda is right, Balong is a term of endearment for a boy much like Nonoy is in Bicol and Dodong in the Visayas.-
Señor Enrique said...
Know what, Paolo? I found myself staring at this photo for a while as I was preparing to upload it. I then realized that being the youngest, this phot reminded me of the many times as a child when I wished I had a younger sibling.
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nutart said...
funny photo! I love also interacting with statues for the sake of hamming it up for the camera :-). I made of series of these statue-interactions when I was with my mom in Paris...and she enjoyed taking the pictures herself!
I once commented to my father how we had to be their "guinea pigs" in child-rearing kaya now they know how it is to deal with their apos---walang pamalo! aaay! unfair! :-) My youngest sister and husband stays with them temporarily and when their precocious 8 year old daughter wails because mommy disciplines her, my father(!) actually goes to the girl and consoles her! Something, we had not recalled him doing to us...hmm. My father is actually very loving baka repressed lang nuon.-
Señor Enrique said...
My father, Bernadette, when had enough of my older brother's bickering or rebellious attitudes would only ask for his belt or "plumero" to be brought to him. And his asking for such menacing weapons of discipline was enough to make them all behave. Never had I seen him hit anyone, though.
I, on the other hand, being the youngest, was very fortunate that my father must've been ready to be a father, so to speak, when I was born.
Those must have been some cool photographs, Bernadette. And in Paris, too. How very fortunate of you!-
Unknown said...
nice photo, eric. i should take my nephews to pose with these statues the next time they're in town. they fun (and i had a great time shooting) hamming it up with the carabaos in greenbelt.:D
have a great weekend!-
Señor Enrique said...
They also have carabaos in Luneta, Luneta -- at both sides leading to the field in front of Quirino Grandstand. But they're placed too high for folks to interact with while being photographed.
Thanks, Luna ... you, too!-
reyd said...
nice photo!... like most kids, the lolos and lolas are the spoilers on their lives. :lol:
Wala akong magawa when my daughter was still a kid. My parents and my in-laws would utter the same words "Sus!, pabayaan mo na, bata pa naman siya".
Minsan naman ako ang pagsasabihan nila as in "Ayyy salamat na lang at hindi nagmana ang anak mo sa iyo!". ....boinks!
Oh, well, I might be the same as them when I become a LOLO... LOL!-
Señor Enrique said...
You are gonna be one loving and doting, lolo, Reyd ... hehehe :)
I enjoy seeing lolas or lolos with their grandkids around Quiapo. And know what? The kids always seem so well behaved with them. It may be because they have something they want the lola or lolo to buy for them :)
