NEW YEARS IN THE PHILIPPINES

When I was young, a year seemed to take an eternity to complete. It was just like my first library card. It expired in four years, but to me at that youthful age, it felt like a lifetime. Still, here it is 2012, just a few hours before the beginning of a New Year, sitting in my sweat dampened t-shirt within this tropical sauna to jot a few lines about New Year in the Philippines.

Preparation for New Years in the Philippines is a bit different from New Years among the corn stubble of Northwest Iowa. A week ago, Diana started buying fruit. She began by bringing home apples, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Firework stands appeared overnight alongside the plaza selling an assortment of fuse ignited and gun powder laden pyrotechnics. As the annual day neared, the sound of fireworks filled the air while hoards of people came in from the mountain to buy the necessities to bring them good fortune during the witching hour. Yesterday, Diana brought from the market oranges and grapes to round out our collection of good luck along with other food fixin’s.

This morning, Diana (with the help of her children) has been cooking in preparation for the big feast. In the Philippines, there are several Filipino traditions which occur at midnight. One is the setting off of fireworks to scare away any and all evil spirits. Another is that one should carry coins in their pocket as a way to ensure prosperity for the next year. The table should be adorned with twelve fruits also as a sign of prosperity for the next twelve months. The family has a Thanksgiving Feast at midnight so that they will have plentiful food for the coming year. There are other traditions which are observed, determined by the part of the Philippines in which you reside.

In regard to my family; we had been cleaning inside and outside the house as well as around the yard all day. The throw rug was hung over the fence and beaten to within an inch of its fabric. The floor was thoroughly swept as the shoes and sandals were lined up in neat rows beneath the wooden bench. Dusting was done in each room….it is amazing the amount of dust that quickly (as well as silently) accumulates on any exposed surfaces. The laundry was washed as the many dishes were prepared on the stove or kitchen table. My task required a wire be hung over the south window and new curtain placed there. The important part of this celebration was the purchase of six – one liter bottles of Pepsi. Many will drink alcoholic beverages during this festive time while others will consume copious amounts of native coffee. In this house it is Pepsi and nothing else. For the most part, in the states, soda pop is made with corn sweeteners whereas in the Philippines, Pepsi is made with real sugar cane. There are no corn sweeteners used here, AND then they are only sold in glass bottles. The taste is truly satisfying and somewhat addictive. I had given up soda/pop in the states because the plastic or can varieties took something out of the flavor and taste. Fortunately, I rediscovered the long forgotten caffeine kick it provided and have never regretted it.

As to our midnight feast this year, we will be dining on Spaghetti, Chicken Curry, Fruit Salad and, of course, rice along with the “round fruit” which will be the centerpiece of our nocturnal meal. We will position ourselves on chairs just outside the compound gate a little after eleven p.m. and watch the beginning of the fireworks. Then after the barrage dies down sometime after midnight, the dishes will be set out and the eating will begin. I am not accustom to such a late hour, but remember as a child in Iowa when we would stay up on those frigid nights, eat pizza, watch movies, and then peak our heads out the back door to hear the many church bells tolling to bring in the New Year. It was a custom that I carried from my childhood through my children’s childhoods and now on to the Philippines where you do not have the worry of freezing to death as you watch the firework displays upon a star filled backdrop.

From my house, on the edge of the Sulu Sea, to your homes wherever that might be; may your New Year be filled with continued health, wealth, and God’s blessings. 

Daryl Cleveland
12-31-2012

SHARING GOOD FORTUNE WITH THOSE LESS FORTUNATE 2012

It has been several months since I have written anything meaningful.  Perhaps it is my lethargy at being in such a beautiful land with a group of fine children.  Maybe it is living in a two bedroom, four room house and am unable to collect my thoughts due to overactive young ones  (and their friends) skittering about.  In any event, I have written short segments for insertion into my blog, but for one reason or another, I have never completed the stories begun.  That is the problem with living where I do.  The lifestyle and culture becomes addictive.   In essence, I have become addicted to the Phillipine way of life.  Have I gone native….no, but have I adopted some of their habits, oh yes!  

Still, I know this is that time of the year to relate the good fortune we have all received and in the Philippines it always seems to be few and far between.   In my view, good fortune is not in necessarily in receiving, but I equate it to helping to relieve others the burden of surviving in a very inhumane environment.  It is to that end that I was blessed with the abilities to help a smattering of the millions struggling to feed their families.  

All year I had received clothing, shoes, dolls, and toys from my wife, Donarae, along with friends, Melanie Berte-Hickey, and Lorene Glant.  I had stored all the items in a box and as Christmas approached this month, like Old Santa with his bag, I transferred goods from the box to plastic bags and  (with the kids and their mother in tow) was on my way.  

In the Philippines it isn’t hard to find those families experiencing rough times.  People will venture in from the mountains with their primitive musical instruments to sing Christmas Carols and supplement their already meager income.  One day, a woman (with babe in arms) along with her two young siblings came to my house and started to sing.  We invited the young family inside, provided her and the children with a festive meal, gave them clothing and candy….along with a few pesos.  She offered to do the dishes, but we told her it wasn’t necessary.  She and the siblings were so thin, it would have been criminal to deny them some relief from their unending plight.  

On December 13, Charissa Mae’s Kindergarten Class had a Christmas Party.   Presents were collected to give to needy families within Himamaylan City.  For that event, I had collected cans of sardines, packages of pancit (spicy form of dried noodles), ten kilos of rice and then brought along shoes, dolls, clothing, and lots of tootsie rolls.  I will be the first to admit that others provided rice and wrapped packages, but it seemed we had the clothing, doll, and footwear department plus a monopoly on tootsie rolls. 

Many of the children were brought to the function by their mothers or grandmothers and were dressed as nicely as they could be for the function, but you could still see that their diet was inadequate and for many of the younger children, they did not have a real clue as to what was transpiring.  Although the girls were shy when receiving their dolls, they held onto them all the same.  The unfortunate aspect of the doll giving was the number of mothers/grandmothers who asked if we had any more to hand out, but had to confess we brought all we had…which seemed to never be enough.  The shoes were greatly prized by the parents of those young children and if the shoes given didn’t fit, akin to a Cinderella Fantasy, they were passed around until the right feet were found.   It filled my heart with joy and a lump seemingly swelled within my throat as the youngsters stood upon the stage with their presents.  Gifts that they (as well as most Filipino children) would not have gotten otherwise.  

In much of the modern World, we take the holidays (as well as birthdays) for granted.   We all expect our presents with those celebrations, but in the Philippines (as with much of the third World countries), most children have no idea as to what a birthday or Christmas present is.  Abject poverty clearly defines ones reality.  And, it is even harder to pull one’s self out of that continuing cycle.     

The past couple of days we walked the roads past the squatter huts and passed out candy and clothes.  For the most part, the children were hesitant at taking the tootsie rolls, but others huddled around the candy givers like piranha devouring a fresh carcass.  We had mostly adult clothing this trip and were easily able to find worthy recipients of my benefactors good will.  The highlight of the day was when we supplied candy and clothing to three generations of laborers in a sugar cane field.  It truly saddened my heart at watching young children doing hard labor alongside their mother and grandmother.  Yet, at the same time, it was filled with joy as Santiago passed out the candy first and then the clothing to those surprised, yet grateful, recipients.  

As we finished our rectangular path back home, I almost felt like a Santa as the candy sacks had run dry and clothing been exhausted.  I truly wish that I could do that every day somewhere in my area, but I just don’t have the resources and material to accomplish that task.  However, I do know that my family was able to help so many others enjoy the season a little more through the generosity of those in the states who made this all possible. 

As Christmas Day approaches, take some time to think of all the good things you experienced or accomplished this past year.  For many of us, it is so easy to get bogged down by dwelling on the misfortunes we experienced.  Still, try to take some time to ponder, to savor, and fill your heart with warmth of the good events of this past year.  No matter what some may think, we all have good moments….even if they are fleeting or illusive at times.  

For me, it is just the knowledge that I have a great family on both sides of this living globe and the many friends who take the time to read my blogs and communicate with me.  

MERRY  CHRISTMAS  FROM  THE  TROPICS  OF THE  PHILIPPINES  TO  MY FRIENDS,  RELATIVES,  AND  FAMILY  AROUND  THE  WORLD

Daryl Cleveland

12/25/2012