Remembering Mamang - 100th Bday

Easter week reminded me of Mamang's birthday.  Everyday, I keep thinking of Mamang. The violet coverings of the church's icons during the Lenten season, reminded me of Mamang.  Mamang has been on my mind all through the Easter holidays.

Today, the blustering cold accompanied by abundant flurries, marks the 100th birthday of Mamang.  I went to church, then proceeded to the cemetery to say a prayer for Mamang.  The sun was trying to peek from the darkening clouds.  I diligently cleaned up the plot where my Mamang and Tatay are buried.  Cleaning the leftover mud from the winter season, I jokingly said:  Ni, ag-is-snow met iti nag-pigsa tatta birthday mo, Mamang!!!  I managed to clean up a bit, removing the winter wreath that was in place since the beginning of November. I cut the grass around the marker stone, washed and sprayed it with Armour All for the shine.  I rinsed the vase from the winter grime, and put the flower offerings for Mamang's birthday.

The flowers stood upright and swayed with the winds, joining me in wishing Mamang:

 A  HAPPY  100th  BIRTHDAY !!!

Mamang's 99th Birthday

HAPPY   99th   BIRTHDAY  Mamang

Younger Sister Talin's Bday Wishes for Mamang

Rudy LambinoApr 2, 2012 11:32 AM

Now, I'm all choked up. I really miss you. I love you Mamang!

Happy Birthday Grand Lola Mamang

Vincent Myles Lambino (7 months Old)

Mamang - RIP March 24, 2012

Mamang passed on this morning 

She didn't make it to her 99th birthday



Francisca Tagudar Lambino

   Rest in Peace

Sister Talin's Letter

Talyn's letter to Fran

A few days ago, I was cleaning up my mail file and found this letter.  Dated July 23, 2010, the contents are still as good as if it was written yesterday.  Auntie Talin is the youngest sibling of Mamang and exactly 10 years younger.  This year, 2012, as Mamang turns 99 years old on April 2nd, Sister Talyn will turn 89 years in November, 2012.

Time Flies

Mamang has been under the weather of late and my blog postings are becoming rare.  Exactly a month from now, Mamang will turn 99Years Old. What an amazing feat for her. She struggles to keep alive.  She's sick but forces herself to eat. She smiles most times especially if the great grands are hovering around her.  JV (Jaric Van), now 3 years old always at her side. He takes her hand and guides her to her place in the sofa.  Primes her cushion for her, quickly rans for her green blanket and drapes it around her.  JV fixes the blanket to cover Mamang's leg and feet.  He inquires "Is that OK, Lola?".  She smiles !!!


Getting bamboo blanket ready for a day @ Canada Wonderland in July, 2011

TOTEM - Cirque du Soleil

Jiro was as lucky as the 1000 lightnings in the sky during a thunderstorm last night.  A special treat to TOTEM - a Cirque du Soleil production, was in place. The Master of Ceremonies performed special tricks in front of Jiro.  Thanks to mom and dad who were equally excited to be there early !!!


Guess who was early @ the show???



Ruth & Jiro before the rain came rushing



2nd Day Canada Wonderland

Water Park @ Canada Wonderland on August 20th was a rain out.

 However, no rain checks for them, as they splashed thru the waters in the rain.



JV loves being in the water.
 He normally uses the pail in the bathroom for his pool !!

 

Jiro has grown leaner in the last 2 summers in Canada



Storm is brewing

With the recent earthquake in the East Coast yesterday, storm is fast approaching our way today.  A lucky Jiro is being treated out tonight by his parents Yvan and Ruth to go and see TOTEM, a Cirque du Soleil production.

Moi, has volunteered to sit for two babies.  A 98 year old Mamang & a two year old JV (Jaric Van).  While anyone thinks it is easy enough, try this scenario, where both had gotten hungry at the same time and on cue, @ 6:00pm sharp !!!  I had to rush and prepare/cut the teenie bits of meat and rice plus peel and seed the grapes.  First, I prepared diced melon for JV, but as soon as he saw the grapes, he scooted over to Mamang's side of the table and picked one up into his mouth.  I seem to suspect him thinking "ano kayo, ini-isahan ninyo ako.. mas masarap yung grapes ahhh".  ha ha ha.   With a lot of cajoling and promises of the "last" bite, JV and Mamang finished their supper.

Leading them both to the living room, I instructed JV to "watch" Lola.  With great assurance that both will be OK, I returned to the kitchen to clear up the dishes.  I can hear Mamang trying to comfort the little one by her "pek-pek kel tanu dumak kel" patting at JV's kamote and ham (references of endearment to legs and bum).

All of a sudden "SILENCE" 



Guess what?.... JV slept on his "watch"  !!!

Mamang gets startled !!!

 

from her reverie !!



Year 2011

 

Canada Wonderland Adventure




1st Day @ Canada Wonderland

Hope to experience all the rides today

Another day next week is set for the Water rides !!!



Mamang - New York APOs

Victoria & Rhovia (Seated)

Rhodora & Vincent (Standing)

Canada Day Adventures

Double Click (2X) on Pictures to Enlarge

In addition to the Carandang's planned City Tour with a Splash, was an afternoon adventure of The Ontario Place.  The Ontario Place did not happen as they can not get on the King street car which would take them to their destination...." too many people" they say.  They opted out with a few hours of strolling along the Harbour Front.  JV tells me, he saw ducks, boats, birds.  He says one word sentences and motions to riding a "bus" "train" and "bus". He must have slept on the subway train coming home and on to the Birchmount bus.  He was cranky and sleepy when they got home.  Jiro was all excited telling me about the places they went to and the restaurant they ate in . JV has been pounding his fists on him again and kicking him on the sheens... ahahayyyy...

but he poses very well for pictures

Mamang's July 1, 2011

The younger brood scheduled themselves a tour of the city with a splash.  They decided to take on the Toronto Hippo Tours, the hippest way to see Toronto.  It is a continous journey on both land and water to experience the thrill of the "splash" into Lake Ontario.

Mamang and I have designated ourselves to stay put at home and enjoy the coolness of the air condition.  As soon as the younger set were out of the house, Mamang decides to narrate her stories of old.  She was talking about her buying "in-kiwar" in the corner store and was looking for a black rice in-kiwar called binalayagan.  I think this term means "not pounded to the purest pulp".  [[ I need to verify this terminology from my Ilocano resources, as I am not quite sure]].

After an hour of story telling, she starts conversing in simple but gramatically correct English.  When she does this, I worry and worry myself that her brain must be really working hard and reverting back to the language part of her brain.  Mamang is tired and she goes to bed, still talking in English.  I asked her why she is speaking to me in English, when I am a full blooded Ilocano. She can not be bothered and quips..."so, you can understand what I am saying to you".  Ay, motherrrr !!!! I exclaimed.

9 Celebrations for Jiro's Bday

Jiro has been celebrating his 9th birthday since the beginning of June. Every week-end, starting Friday nights, his dad fires up the BBQ grill. Saturday nights and/or Sunday nights, we have another backyard party. I can still remember the "liempo" being marinated, sometimes just a few hours and it is good to go.

JV exclaims..WOW !!!! (everytime)....... Na-imas latta !!! 

We found giant squid at the nearby T & T grocery.  We stuffed it with onions/tomatoes and grilled it... ay, sarap !!!  Most times, we have accompaniments of grilled eggplants, sweet pepper, zucchini... and we even tested grilled Romaine lettuce leaves. We just seem to have a lot of grilling ideas from steak to fish ( we had turbo, red snapper, grouper).  Yvan seems to struggle with the fish, but seems to perfect the liempo. Sanan tu aramiden didiay "pulpog" nga kuna da!

No problem with left overs.  For grilled eggplant, we have eggplant "torta" for breakfast.  The sweet peppers/zuccini, we add mushrooms to make "gulo-gulo" omelet for the following day's meal. Nag-kirmet kami ania? It just takes a few imaginative brains to come up with left over specials.  Awan iti masayang.. na-imas latta met iti ka-ka-anan mi !!!

June 21, the first day of summer was Jiro's 9th birthday... He must have received 9 presents including the blue car, a present from his school, which was earnestly acquired by the younger celebrant JV (lol !!)

The culmination of the  9th Birthday celebration happened at the Skyland de Shanghai on June 25th with Uncle Buzz's (Lightyear of Toy Story series) timely arrival in town.

Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur

This is being posted as a reference to an earlier blog posting regarding the Sto Domingo barangays

[This information was sent to me via email from my brother Rudy October 22, 2009]
Some piece of conversation with Mamang.  Those highlighted - she might be familiar with.

Santo Domingo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 25,888 people in 4,871 households.

Barangays

Santo Domingo is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.

Binalayangan Binongan Borobor Cabaritan Cabigbigaan Calautit Calay-ab Camestizoan Casili Flora Lagatit Laoingen

Lussoc Nalasin Nagbettedan Naglaoa-an Nambaran Nanerman Napo Padu Chico Padu Grande Paguraper Panay Pangpangdan

Parada Paras Poblacion Puerta Real Pussuac Quimmarayan San Pablo Santa Cruz Santo Tomas Sived Vacunero (Poblacion) Suksukit

Origin of the Municipality's Name

The name of the municipality came from its old moniker, "Paggappuan ti Santol ti Domingo," an Ilocano term meaning "The source of the Santol sold every Sunday." "Santol," Sandoricum koetjape, is the name of the tree bearing round, yellowish fruits growing in abundance in the municipality, notably in Barangay Pussuac.

During the Spanish era, an enlisted man of the Spanish Civil Guard looked for the source of the santol being sold in the markets of Villa Fernandina (now Vigan) on Sundays during the months of June to August. To do so, he asked for a leave of absence from his platoon leader to trace the source of the fruits. With his Ilocano guide, he searched the lands north of Villa Fernandina. He found nothing in the neighboring towns of Bantay, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, and Bantaoay (now San Ildefonso). He finally found lots of santol-bearing trees in a place north of Bantaoay now called Barangay Pus-uac. He has found the "Paggappuan ti Santol ti Domingo." The town was named Santo Domingo on account of this feat.

Don Pablo Arguero was claimed to be the founder of the municipality on May 12, 1742, with Father Tomas Millan as the first parish priest. Father Millan laid the foundation of the belfry, where the great Filipino hero Diego Silang once worked as a boy.

Maria Agbisit - A Centenarian Friend

Lelang Mayang - 100th Birthday Celebration
September, 2010

Lelang Mayang (as she is fondly called) enjoys having a party even as a young maiden.  She is the Social Directress of their time.  Often, she invites Mamang, her siblings and friends from Cabaritan (an adjoining barangay) to join in at their "Socials" in Flora (another barangay). Lola Maria also arranges for their transportation going and returning from these parties.  She doubles up as a chaperone to assure the respective parents of the young ladies' safety.   @ 100 years of age a "big" party is befitting this grand lady.  HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY Lelang Mayang !!!

Funny Little Kid

I was cooking early mid morning to beat the clock for the ever so high electric tiered billing we have here in Toronto. I checked on mother and JV as they were silently seated on the sofa by the patio door. JV seems to be teary eyed and I asked what is wrong? He says in his one word sentence "Cry" demonstrating with his pointing finger the tears that are now flowing freely from his eyes and then points to grand "LOLA"

I think JV sympathizes with Mamang. Mamang due to her age has a teary left eye and it flows. JV sits beside LOLA and holds her hand and with sadness in his face also is teary eyed... OH, what a funny lovable kid he is...

Pictures above were taken November, 2010: JV @ 1 year 10 months, LOLA @ 97 Years but the scenario is still the same. This 2.5 year old kid watching over GrandLOLA @ 98 years old !!!

New Addition to Family Tree

Francisca/Ananias Lambino Branch of the Family Tree

Jaric Van was born to Yvan and Ruth Carandang on January 7, 2009

Mamang with JV, 2nd birthday celebration, 2011 



 Pointing Fingers !!!



Arsenio & Petronila Tagudar Family

ARSENIO/PETRONILA TAGUDAR Family Tree
To enlarge picture, please click 2X

I remember my brother Rudy sending me this file while I was in California in January with the purpose of sending it on to one of our Tagudar cousins.

The compilation of these data was done by Auntie Talin over the years. During our visit to the Philippines (Mamang and I) in 2004-2005, I had asked Yvan Lambino Carandang to present the data in a more visual manner, thus the creation of this tree.

Belated Happy Mother's Day !!!

Recently, my Auntie Talin has been actively participating in her FaceBook interchange. She also sent Mamang a handwritten letter which she scanned using her newly acquired computer. "What??!!" one might say... however, it is a pleasure for me, my family, cousins and relatives to know she uses a computer at a young age of 87. Why do I know her age???? My mother who turned 98 early last month, is 10 years older than my Auntie Talin, who will turn 88 this November coming.

Belated Happy Mother's Day !!! Catalina and Francisca

Auntie Talin writes regularly on special occasions... She sent Mamang her birthday wishes "For my sister, The best in the world" [[with apologies to post the picture card @ a later time]]. Mamang marvels at this extra special greetings from her youngest sister. They both outlived their five other siblings and so they become best friends. They worry about each other very often. The younger sibling cries a lot, while the older sister tries to soothe her and cries as well. Both cry about anything and everything, whether it is good news or bad news. More "manggit" between the two, is the younger one. I guess, she has more tears to shed, while Mamang's eyes are a little drier.... then they, LOL !!!

Mother Celebrates 98 Years

Today we celebrate Mamang's 98th birthday. She has been sleeping it off during the last 2 days and has awakened with renewed energy to celebrate her grand day. Family/friends have been calling her to wish her a great day. This morning, Linda woke her up to wish her a Happy Birthday, Mother knew exactly how old she is. **Amazing !!! **As the day progressed, she begins to get younger by the hour. Tonight, the family celebrates with Greek Umpah... she now claims she is only 92!!! Ha ha, she laughs out loud. Her audience re-thinks, does she have a short memory or is she laughing at us for repeatedly asking how old she is. She smiles!!!