Noche De Ronda, humba, bibingka y torta

Today is the fiesta celebration of my hometown, Ronda and our beloved mayor Terence Nariano V Yap Blanco is hosting the congressman, Peter John Durano Calderon, and the governor, Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia, whose roots are from the next town, Dumanjug. We also expect Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica and the other mayors of the DRAMMBAG or Dumanjug, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian Alegria and Ginatilan. The mayors of the seventh district are one and united.

Ronda is famous for its very tasty and world class "humba', bibingka and torta." And, of course, the baby boomers like me would be drinking vodka and singing the Spanish song "Noche De Ronda.” Noche de Ronda, Que triste pasas, Que triste Cruzas Por Mi Balcón. Night of Guard you pass by so sad, you cross so sad by my balcony. Noche de Ronda, Como me hieres, Como lastimas Mi Corazon. How does it hurt me, how does it hurt my heart. Luna que se quiebra, Sobre las tinieblas, De Me Soledad, A donde Vas. Moon that cracks. In the darkness of my loneliness, Where are you going,Tell me if tonight you will be on guard, How did she go away, With whom is she?

Well, Noche De Ronda is quite a sad song, perhaps not attuned to the merriment during the fiesta. But Rondahanons are joyful people, lovers of wine, foods, dances and songs. Our town is getting famous for its humba and Rondahanons from all over the world are coming home today to pay homage to our patroness and to partake of our very tasty foods. We have special bibingka and a very delicious torta that could give nearby Argao a run for its original torta. Ronda's torta has a certain rare twist of taste that leaves a nice impression on the mouth. The Rondahanon OFWs are coming home from the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

My brothers are coming home from Alaska and Seattle and our relatives from California and Las Vegas, Nevada. as well. There are folks from New York and New Jersey, and also from Florida and Texas. Ronda is the home of many doctors, nurses and medical technologists and other healthcare providers who now work in many countries in Europe, Asia and the USA and Canada. There are also many seamen both officers and ratings, from ship captain, chief engineers to able seamen and chief cooks. Many of them are coming home and should be enjoying the occasion by this time.

The town fiesta is always a time to renew old ties, visit relatives and friends and of course, visit the tombs of our dearly beloved and longingly remembered parents, grandparents and other close relatives and friends, First and foremost is to hear mass in our Lady of Sorrows Parish and pay our respect to the parish priest Reverend Father Amador Bacutot. Our mayor and our parish priest are one and united in leading this year's fiesta celebration. happy Fiesta to all Rondahanons.