Prelude to Bangkaw sa Mindanao

Upsilonians are  well-knit fraternity brods, you enjoy seeing them having what seems to be high points in their lives, at reunions and birthday bashes, and just having fun and games. Being allied romantically with an Upsilonian, Class ’55, I am privy to exchanges of messages circulated by Internet among them.  One such missive I was given to read is that of Gari Tiongco, who described, on Oct. 1, at 4:49 a.m., a festive reunion held in Davao City. The Davao Langkaw, a tournament of true-blue Upsilonians, is a prelude to the Bangkaw sa Mindanao, which will consist of golf tournaments in Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, a brief stopover in Gingoog City, Butuan City, and winding up in City. Davao

I share portions of Gary’s message because of its literary rendition of a reunion held in Duterte’s city.

“ When I figured out that everybody including those from out of Davao were invited, I knew that the party will be like no other. I committed to attend and immediately re-arranged my regularly scheduled bi-weekly visit to Davao... 

“I haven’t been to brod Robert Aranton’s ‘81 house so I had a bit of difficulty locating it, owing to a confusing diagram I got, until a store keeper told us: Sir this way. “Kanang balay na nag asu asu.” 

“Indeed, as we turned around, we saw the house billowing thick smoke from the roasting and barbecuing. 

“Only in Davao can you find these dishes as part of the party menu:

“One whole tuna about 20 kilos, ocean fresh, sashimi grade and clinically sliced before your eyes. There is a whale of a difference between the sashimi served in restaurants, in taste, in texture and in presentation. Even without tasting the fish, the whole scenario was a delectable beauty to behold, a virtual feast to the eyes !!! Predictably, an irresistible temptation engulfed my system to gorge on the raw tuna as my blood pressure rose to fever pitch. Waiting for my turn to be served though very briefly, seemed like eternity. As I actually tasted the tuna, I was transported to Cloud Nine just like having a passionate but tender kiss with a pretty woman. I lustily craved for more and more.

“The host, we fondly called Tong-arts and his charming wife Che served the choice cuts of the roasted sheep (carnero); cut right at the roasting pit. The meat was hot but welcoming, tender but gamey, deceptively plain but surprisingly succulent. Carnero somehow creates a gentle turbulence in your system enough to spark a pleasant tingling sensation. Wagyu pales in comparison as it sorely lacks the stimulant. The combination of the best part of the carnero roasted to perfection and the finest tuna, belongs to the region of romance and poetry. I was mystically enthralled in this rare visual and culinary adventure. Indubitably, this raises the standard of what any foodie tripper can ever aspire for.

“There were multiple other dishes offered like a bacchanalian feast of the old Roman Empire. 

‘’ Other than these gastronomical delights, we feasted our souls as well. The old guards of Davao Upsilon whom I rarely see nowadays were in attendance. The young looking Joe Confessor ‘55, the most senior among us all, still looks very dapper. Ading Macatangay ‘61, whom I have not seen in ages, is still unstoppable with his humor. The rarely seen Boy Quitain ‘63 was present, still low key in spite of his high government position. Prudy Afalla ‘63 is as pleasant as ever with his ready smile. Gladys, a Sigma Deltan, accompanied me to the party as she too wanted to reconnect with the brods. She always feels at home with the brods. 

“Various selected wines were, as they say overflowing. If you are a whisky drinker, you have a choice of single malt whisky or the specially blended ones. I thought the coffee served was from the fabled Starbucks. No, it came from a brand new coffee machine. As if all these were not enough, a torch singer was hired to entertain the uninitiated. Tong- arts left no stone unturned to make the party like a page of a fairy tale book.

“As I predicted it was a night like no other, a time you would want to relive and pleasantly remember, much like a familiar refrain from an old song of yesteryears.”

You can imagine Gari waxing romantic and gastronomic after the Bangkaw sa Mindanao first week of November.

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FROM ANOTHER STAND. The good news is that  senators and congressmen comprising Congress’ bicameral conference committee approved the Expanded Maternity Leave bill by adding five more days to the proposed 100-day leave.

“This is a very positive start of our #PinkOctober campaign that seeks to highlight women’s health,” said Rep. Emmi de Jesus of the women’s party-list group Gabriela. 

“This is proof of women’s resounding call for lawmakers to increase the current 60-day maternity leave period for normal delivery, which is way below the international minimum standard of 98 days,” she added.

According to  my good friend Sheila Crisostomo who covers the health beat for The STAR, the approved bicameral version provides for 105 days paid maternity leave for public and private sector workers, with an option to extend for an additional 30 unpaid days; additional 15 maternity leave days for solo parents and covers every instance of pregnancy.

“At a time when women workers are increasingly crushed by the pressure of making ends meet amid rising prices, a longer paid maternity period is one of the few positive things that the government can enact,” De Jesus said.

Such approval, according to her, is testament to government’s recognition of every woman’s productive contribution to the economy and to the country as a whole.

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, one of the co-authors of House Bill 4113, commended his colleagues, along with Senators Nancy Binay and Risa Hontiveros, for reconciling and harmonizing the bill.

“Records show that around 11 Filipino mothers die every day or an estimated 4,500 every year due to severe hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, sepsis and problems related to obstructed labor and abortion,” Vargas pointed out.

At the same time, Gabriela lauded the improved provision in the bicameral version on penalties of at least P20,000 for the non-conferment of the expanded maternity leave to employees, from the original minimum penalty of P5,000 in the Senate version.

Gabriela and the Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan, among others, distributed pink roses early morning yesterday to members of the bicameral conference committee to signify the push for #PinkOctober and the expanded maternity leave.

Labor coalition Nagkaisa yesterday lauded the approval of the 105-day expanded maternity leave for female workers in government and the private sector by the bicameral conference panel.

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