Putong or Tubong-Only in Marinduque

There are several articles in the internet about Putong or Tubong. I found this article from the Philippine Inquirer last year. It was written by Gerald Gene R. Querubin dated 8/30/07.

There are some variations of the lyrics, and melodies from town to town. However, it is still a song and dance welcome ceremony to guests and visitors, wishing them good health, good luck and long life. This is one tradition indigenous to the island and add justification to the statement that Marinduquenos are the most hospital people in the Philippines if not in the whole world.

"People in the tiny, heart-shaped island of Marinduque welcome friends and visitors in a unique tradition befitting kings and queens in their own right.

Literally meaning coronation or to crown, the putong (also called tubong) is a song of thanksgiving and, at the same time, a wish and a prayer for a long, blessed life. It has remained one of the popular traditions in this deeply religious province.

The practice has been extended to visitors and guests as a gesture of hospitality. It is, in fact, a prayer for their success, health and prosperity, and has evolved into a song of love, respect, praise and thanksgiving.

“The putong reflects the life of the people, frequently the common Marinduqueños,” said Prof. Rex Asuncion, director for culture and arts of the Marinduque State College.

Folk Music

The putong can be classified as a folk music for it is an expression of folk concerns and often makes use of native folk poetry set to simple melodies, he said.

According to beliefs, the patron saint rejoices at this kind of celebrations and intercedes for the honoree in his wish for long life, happiness and safety from accidents and bad luck. The putong is likewise performed during birthdays and anniversaries, and even when someone passes the board examinations or wins in contests.

Marta Jardeleza, an 80-year-old “mamumutong” or performer from Mogpog town, said she learned the song from a friend when she was 15 years old. She had taught her children how to sing the putong.

Teresa Bunag, 79, said her aunt taught her the song.

In the six towns of the province, the performance is basically similar, except for the melodies and lyrics. All singers wear costumes—the women in kimona and saya, and the men in barong Tagalog—and bring baskets of fresh flowers, palm leaves, and assorted coins.

They dance and sway to the accompaniment of musical instruments, usually guitars and banjos.

The Performance

The ceremony starts with the “mamumutong” or the “manunubong,” who gather in front of the home of the host. The host may either be prepared for the event or taken by surprise.

As they enter the house, they explain their purpose and request for the host’s hospitality. “Narito po kami, Mahal na maybahay. Tinugtog na namin ang instrumentong taglay (We are here, dear host. We are already playing our instruments),” goes the song.

The first stage is known as the “pananayawan.” The verses are sung slowly until everybody is in the receiving room. At this juncture, the honoree is seated on a chair (supposedly the throne) at the center of the room or stage and flanked by two family members, each holding a lighted candle.

“Pag-akyat namin sa mahal mong baitang, may dalawang anghel ang aming nadatnan. Tig-isang kandila ang kanilang tangan, sa tamang umaakyat ay tinatanglaw (As we enter your home, there are two angels waiting for us. They have candles to guide us).”

The song’s tempo picks up and the celebration reaches its climax when the crown is placed on the honoree’s head.

“Nang kami ay dumating sa loob ng Herusalem, ang palma ay sa kamay, korona’y sa ulo. Kahimanawari’y magkapantay ito, sambahi’t igalang nitong buong mundo (When we arrived at Jerusalem, palms in our hands, crowns on heads. Hoping that the world will praise and respect them).”

Flowers and Coins

The honoree is showered with flowers and coins, symbolizing affection and wishes of good luck and prosperity. This is the cue for the host and other guests to throw candies, coins and paper bills to the honoree, as children and adults alike scamper for the bounty. Shouts and laughter fill the air.

It is said that the crown and the coins must be kept for good luck.

“Kahimaniwari’y habaan ng buhay, sa mahal na santong aming pinutungan. Kahimanawari’y siya ay ilagay, mahabang panahong walang karamdaman. Ipag viva natin tuloy ipagdiwang ang mahal na santong pinutungan (We are hoping that the saint that we crowned will have a long life. We are hoping that he would be free from any ailments. Let us celebrate for the saint that we crowned).”

The putong ends with everybody shouting “Mabuhay!” and partaking of food, drinks and stories in a “salo-salo.”
This short video is for your enjoyment. Long Live, Good Health and May God be You, Always!
This a about one minute video of another Putong ceremony in Bario Bangbang in Gasan. Note that the six towns of Marinduque have different lyrics and melody for their Putong ceremony, but still has the same theme, that is welcome, good health and may God bless you in this occasion. It could be your birthday, wedding anniversary or just your first time to visit Marinduque
I hope that the next generations of Filipinos and/or Filipino-Americans will continue this tradition because it is an important part of our Marinduque cultural heritage.
Personal Note: Macrine and I were the organizers of the Christmas Carolers and Mamumutong ( participants of the Putong) Group of the Marinduque Association of the Capital Area(MACA) from 1995 to 2001.
We used the lyrics and melody commonly known in the town of Boac-capital of Marinduque.

A Christmas Story-The Ugly Americans

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? Tomorrow is Halloween, but the nights are getting colder here in Fair Oaks. The trees on my yard are starting to turn dark yellow, orange, red and gold and have started dropping on my swimming pool. With Fall season in full swing, I can not help myself thinking about Christmas. I can not think of any article in the past that I have written, that is more appropriate than this article I wrote for our employees newspaper at Stauffer Chemicals, Richmond, California in 1983. I titled it : A Gift from the Ugly Americans-A true story. Here's the full article as published in the Stauffer News, Christmas Edition, Vol.14, 1983, page 11.

December, 1959. It was my first year as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Chicago. As a foreign student from the Philippines, away from home, wife and family, I was lonely, homesick and almost ready to quit school. However, my burning ambition to get a Ph.D. in Chemistry and not to be labeled a quitter, forced me hang on for a whole year.

All my co-graduate student assistants realized how much I missed my newly wedded wife, and they had been inviting me to their homes on weekend and holidays. I wrote to my wife almost every week, but how I wished I could afford to talk to her via overseas call, even just for 10 minutes. But my stipend as a graduate assistant of $190 a month was barely enough to pay for my room and board and an overseas call was beyond my means.

Realizing my need, ten of my classmates arranged to pay for a call as a surprise Christmas gift to me. They organized a potluck party in one of the assistant's apartments and called the Philippine operator ahead to arrange for an open line to my wife. In the middle of the party, I was told I had a telephone call. What a big surprise to hear my wife's voice after one year of separation. I was dumbfounded.

I stuttered like a three year old kid as tears streamed down my face-tears of happiness and appreciation of what the group had done- the best Christmas present I have ever received. I will never forget that act of kindness and thoughtfulness from people I once called the "Ugly Americans". With that surprise gift, my preconceived ideas that most Americans were clones of Lederer and Burdick's characters went down the drain. Gone were my impressions that Americans were imperialists or colonial pigs, selfish and heartless people.

Today, we have lived in this country for 24 years, and pledged citizenship in 1970. From the beginning of our time here, we have made it a family tradition to invite foreign students into our home every Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This is our way of saying "thank you", to the ten "Beautiful Americans" who gave $2.00 each to pay for the telephone call so that a poor and homesick student could enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

Note: William Roberts, Manager Employee Communications of Stauffer wrote me a personal note as follows:

Dr. Katague: Your story has been chosen to be published in the 1983 issue of the Stauffer News. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that you will received shortly in the mail a $75 U.S. Savings Bond to thank you for sharing your memories with us.

Amana, an Eco-Friendly Project in Cawit, Boac

Recently, Yong Nieva, Macrine's first cousin inform us of the latest development on an eco-friendly weekend retreat or sanctuary just for his family and friends. He called it Amana, Nature Reserve. The reason why I am posting this, because I believe this is the first of its kind project in the whole province of Marinduque.

Yong writes, " My dream for Amana is not about the unusual. It is simply going back to the basic-the natural. Eco-tourism is now the trend and I hope it will not be just a fad but a lifestyle".

"I have planted hundred of white bougainvillas shrubs and mahogany trees along the side grade of a small hill that overlooks the river. I have the Yoga Hut, which is open sided which is perfect not only for meditation and yoga exercises, but also for taking naps and siestas, or just simply reading a book. Around you, aside from the view of the river down below, are the tall trunks of coconut trees that change color as the day progresses. The best times are the early break of dawn-watching the fading shadows of trees against the rising morning sun, or during sunset-with the purple and orange clouds above the setting sun. Its paradise!!

All day, you can walk around the landscape gardens. You will hear the cacophony of birds' sounds that is rarely heard anymore. Instantly you get transported to a different land. It could be Bali or at some nice compound in Africa. I just sometime shut my eyes to just literally "inhale" the bird songs. The only interruptions I get from this nirvana are the shuffling feet of the grounds keeper on the gravel paths along the ancient trees".

There are two cottages, designed to be eco-friendly, boarded up only by floor-to-ceiling shutters on all three sides. "Rustic-Chic" is the inspiration inside these huts. My wife Ivy is currently doing the interiors. It will be our welcome surprise to our invited guests.

Ivy also designed the two Portals that look majestic majestic on each side of the future site of the OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM, which is an elevated platform that overlooks the whole place. From here, guests go down to dine and lounge around in the AFRESCO DINING PLACE under the canopy of the ancient Ilang-Ilang and Santol trees. This is my Carmel or Napa-inspired outdoor cafe, where we dine with candlelights.

Soon, you will be invited to "camp out" in this weekend sanctuary. Camp out is the word I want to use because in Amana we encourage outdoor living. You only go back to the guest cottage to sleep. Everywhere are lounge chairs, bamboo daybeds and park benches underneath nooks and shades."

Lastly, we will honor it if you wish to keep to yourself alone and just like what I do, just "inhale the ambiance".

Yong and Ivy, Congratulations on your eco-friendly project. Marinduque will be proud of this project and your commitment to improve our environment.

If you have additional questions or comments on this project, let me know and I will relay it to Yong.

Senior Jokes to Relieve Stress from Dow's Woes

Last Monday the Dow was down about 500 points. It went up 200 points Tuesday and today it went down another 450 points. With my retirement savings losing about 7% in the last three days, I feel so depressed , so to cheer myself, I decided to look at some of the senior jokes that I received recently. The following four jokes are my favorites.

1. Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench and just bullshitting to pass the time. One turn to the other and says " John, I am 83 years old and I am just full of aches and pains. I know you are about my age. How do you feel?.
John answers, I feel like a new born baby.
Really! ? Like a new born baby?
Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.

2. The boss walked into the office one morning not knowing his zipper was down and his fly wide open. His secretary walked up to him and said, This morning when you left your house, did you close your garage door? The boss said yes but was puzzled by the question. Later on, he noticed his fly was open and zipped it up and understood his secretary's question
Later, he headed out for coffee and paused by his secretary desk and ask, When my garage door was open did you see my Hummer parked in there?
She smiled and said No, I did not. All I saw was an old minivan with two flat tires.

3. Three old guys were walking.
First one says, Windy, isn't It?
Second one says, No, its Thursday!
Third one says, So am I, Let go get some beer.
(I am really thirsty).

4. A little old man shuffled into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully up into a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, " Crushed nuts?
No, he replied, " Arthritis ".

I hope the above jokes made you laugh a little, in spite of the current economic disaster in Wall Street.

Doing Business in the Philippines

The Makati Skyline, Philippines

I just finished reading a short article that it is not easy to do business in the Philippines. According to the article based on the World Bank survey, Singapore took the top spot in the rankings in the ease of doing business. New Zealand was 2nd and US was 3rd. Hong Kong was 4th, Japan 12th, and China 83rd. Could you guess PI ranking? A pathetic 140th!!

This is not news to me. Grease money runs the country. Unnecessary paper work slows down the growth of small business. For example just getting a permit takes a lot of paper work and grease money. Even in the business of tourism ( which should be encourage by the government), the presence of "grease takers" really frustrates me. There are other specific examples, that I will not mention for fear that it will have a detrimental effect in my small business in the Philippines. To survive, I follow the principle, "If in Rome do what the Romans are doing". Sad but that is the reality of life.

The article concluded that we should not be discourage from doing business in the Philippines. It says there are some rotten eggs in the basket, but the good ones outnumber the bad ones. It also advise us to know the proper way of doing things and stick to it and most of all ditch those greasers. What do you think? Is this a reasonable advice?

Call Center in the Philippines

Recently, I had an occasion to use the help center in the Philippines. I was surprise of how helpful and knowledgeable the employees are. At first, I was not sure if my responder was a filipina, since she did not have a trace of accent. However, after 5 minutes of teaching me how to change my password to log in to my new bank account here in California, I realized I am talking to somebody in the Philippines. I was pretty sure she knows I am filipino, because I still have a slight accent even after living here in the States for more than 40 years. Sometimes, I still can not pronounce the difference of my "P" and my "F". Back to the subject, of help center, I have heard that it is one of the most glamorous jobs every college graduate is seeking, if they have no chance to go abroad. Is this true?

Incidentally, I have also experience getting help from call center in India. I guess both India and the Philippines are competing for out sourcing jobs from the US.

After helping me, I did do a little social talk and she confirms she is from the Philippines and she even gave me her name. Hurrah for the call centers in the Philippines!