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A blessing in the province

Animals / by

For Filipino families who live out in the province, life is quite different than for those who live in the city, or even from those in small towns.  Out in the province, life is still very unchanged from back in the days of yesteryear.  As Feyma reported in her article yesterday, our niece, Sahara (her nickname is Rai Rai, that is what we call her) is a teacher in the far reaches of Sarangani Province.  I have not been out to the school where she teaches, but I would love to go out there and visit the students.  I am not really sure, but I think her students are young, elementary aged kids.  I don’t get to talk to Rai Rai much anymore, since she is assigned for her work in such a remote area.  There was a time, when Rai was in school that she and I would text each other, chat on Facebook and she would come and visit us in Davao on a fairly regular basis.  Rai would even come and spend her Christmas here with us.  Now, though, it is a rare day that I hear from Rai Rai, because there is not even cellular phone coverage anywhere near where she is living.

Say Cheese
Say Cheese

Yes, the life in the province is way different from living in Davao City!  And, deep in the Province where Rai Rai is teaching, it is even way different from living where she is from, in Barangay Patag, Sarangani Province.  That is near enough that in 30 minutes or an hour you can be in General Santos City where there are conveniences and life is much different.  For somebody in the deep reaches of the province, like where Rai is living, it takes many hours, much of it walking, to get to where the City is even accessible, or you can even get a ride on some type of vehicle.  It’s a different life.

What I really started out writing about with this article was about the Carabao.  Carabao is the local name of the Water Buffalo.  Actually, in Bisaya it is called “Kabaw”.  I really love the Carabao, it is a very majestic animal to me.  I just think they are cool.  If you are a family that lives out in the Province, having a carabao, or a few of them is a real blessing for the family.  A carabao can provide transportation, because you can ride them.  They can help provide food, because they are farm workers.  For farmers in the province, in most cases, they have no farming machinery, they have carabaos or other animals who can help accomplish the hard labor, things like plowing and such.

From what I have observed, the people living in the provinces treat their carabao really as part of the family.  They take really good care of the animals, basically in return for the work and help that the carabao provides for them.  What about hauling?  I have seen many carabao loaded down with many different things, carrying stuff from one place to another.  The Carabao is a real workhorse for the Filipino family.

Like Feyma said in yesterday’s article, when Rai Rai recently took some of her students with her to the city, they were in awe.  They had never seen or visited a city in their lives, so it was a real eye opener for them.  But, what about city kids?  I bet there are plenty of city kids these days who have never really been deep in the province either!  So many Filipino kids who can’t live without their cellphone (adults too), their other gadgets and such.  I wonder how they would feel if you took them in a helicopter far out in the province and dropped them off there to fend for themselves?  I bet many could not make it!

Anyway, I have a collection of pictures that I wanted to share with you guys today.  These pictures are from another niece of ours, Glenda.  Glenda used to live with us too, but she decided to go back to the Province, and also spends time in Kidapawan City, south of Davao.  Glenda’s nickname is Buday, but I have never called her that, I have always known her just as Glenda.  Anyway, a few years back, Glenda went home for a few days or a week or so, and our son, Chris went along with her and they stayed at the farm in Patag.  They have maybe around 4 or 5 carabao there for farm work, transportation and just generally part of the family like I said.  At the time they went there was even a baby carabao or two, which you can see in the pictures below.  I could really see from her talk that Glenda also loved the carabao that the family owned, and they took good care of their animals.  Here are some family carabao pictures which even show Glenda caring for and riding the carabao.  Some pictures of the carabao bathing in the river and such.  Have a look:

Life in the province, as I said, is sure a lot different than city life.  Traffic?  Oh, I guess if 2 or 3 neighbors all take their carabao down the trail at the same time. 😉  But, normal life would not even know or see traffic?  No air pollution.  Mostly, from what I see, when you get out in the province you see a lot of happy people.  They don’t long for the city life, they are happy with what they already have.

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Comments

  1. I’ll be living in the province
    Not so remote as folks mentioned here , there is some cellular reception even wifi , but I’m sure it will be slow , I really don’t like cities , will half to see how I adjust once I make the move

  2. Enjoyable read…april 2015 I went from Claveria (Cagayan Valley coastal city- Far North Luzon) for three hours by motorcycle into mountains in Apayao, a tiny village called Eva (Calanasan, mostly Isnag in the village, some Ilokano). No electricity, some running water- had one week there with an Ilokano-Isnag family, loved it!! will never forget it, never.

    Because of investments/taking care of banking, I could not stay in the province or a place like that continually, BUT I would be happy to develop contact to the point of warranting regular visits 🙂

    First I have to find a way to get to PH often, my 11 year old daughter is not wanting to leave Europe…..hoping she will visit PH with me one day and fall in love with the place so I can take the time to decide on a region to settle into!!!

    Be well!

    • That does sound wonderful, Ron. I am a creature of comfort, though, and addicted to too many modern “needs”, I doubt that I could do it. Perhaps on a visit for a day or two. 😉

      • Haha !! yea not an easy place to be all the time….cant imagine the rainy season up there !! they sleep on a flat piece of plywood, amazingly I slept pretty good but had to change positions often 🙂

  3. Although not as quite as remote as you describe Bob, we also live in the province. I would not trade it for “city” life any day of the year.
    We have farmers that still have the carabao to bring the rice out of the fields and also perform other work duties. It is amazing to watch them work.
    With “new” methods of farming slowly creeping in, I am not sure how long the carabaos will be in use here. Each year I have been here I have seen the evolution of farming methods adapt to the changing times. Reapers are now being used for the harvest and planters are being introduced to take care of the planting. Using these methods decrease the work load, but it is almost sad to watch as people and carabao lose their jobs.

    • Yes, Steve, I can understand that it would be difficult to see the number of jobs decrease as the modern methods take over and increase productivity. The equipment is expensive as well, which must be a hardship on many.

  4. I have been out to Tandag in Surigao as well Bob, life is like that in a lot of the remote villages around there . It was fascinating to see, and I suppose the locals were just as fascinated to see this foreigner there as well!

  5. One thing that I have noticed is that when they are working the carabao it seemed to me that they always have the lead rope on the animal’s left side. Is there a significance or was it only a coincidence that I noticed the ones that had it that way?

    I teased the nephews about training for NASCAR. They didn’t understand until I showed them some YouTube videos.

    • Hi LeRoy – I am not sure if there is significance or if it is coincident… not being a farmer at all, I know nothing about that! Maybe somebody who does know will give an answer, I hope!

  6. Having grown up in really rural up-state NY on the end of a dirt road (which either washed out frequently or was snow bound) I think if I were 35 years younger that is where I would be. It seems each and every river or stream I see here is grey with pollution and garbage. Unless I go up into the mountains where the air is fresh and the water is clear.

  7. Hi Bob, I like to go the province for a few days or a week going to the Bicol region
    Soon to see my wife’s brother family, we always take them different stuff we no longer
    Use clothes, medicines, etc we buy them a big bag of rice and take them out to different
    Restaurants they don’t have much money which is pretty typical in the province,
    Could I live in the province no way I like to be in the city I think I would be life would be
    Boring living that way ,but each to their own it’s Manila for me despite the traffic ?
    Derek in pasig.

    • Hi Derek – You guys in Manila think that “the province” is anywhere outside the Metro area! 🙂 ha ha… just teasing you.

      But seriously, if you go deep in the province there are no restaurants and that kind of thing. I am talking places where you have to walk 3 to 5 hours because there are not even any roads! 🙂 It is a whole different life, for sure.

      • Hi Bob, you’re right having to walk that far just to go to school and In all weathers
        I couldn’t imagine it, and in a area where there are no roads just shows how lucky
        We were back home, and yes people in Manila think the rest of the Philippines is the
        Province lol, have a good day Bob another great post, Derek in pasig.

        • You are right, Derek – we are lucky to have the lives where we can choose where we want to live, the lifestyle we will leave, etc. Too bad that overall, only a relatively few people are able to live the lifestyle that is available to us!

  8. Bob,

    I volunteered you, when I posted on Feyma’s teacher’s post, to be Santa Claus in the remote mountain village. Truth is the kids would never forget you. They’d wait for your yearly return. Wide eyed and with wonderment.

    One day is enough for me to stay in a remote village/island. The no running water gets to me. Just think of how many times one uses water during the day.

    Even though we live in the provinces it doesn’t compare to life where your niece teaches. Or the remote island where my wife was born.

    Rusty

    • hi Rusty – Thanks for volunteering me for that. I am just not sure I could take the time, hour of walking carrying all of my Santa gear and such… it would be a major commitment.

  9. Bob,

    Your right the mountain/remote island people would hate living in the city. My wife’s father has always lived on the remote island and never wants to live near a city.

    Why not live near some conveniences? Too many cars. Too many people especially at the malls. Not as much fresh air. It is just different.

    Life for him is so much nicer on that island. No cars, not a lot of noise, and his friends are there.

    Rusty

  10. Traveling the Philippines and seeing the cultures is a fascinating and mind-expanding part of being there. I was able to Live in the mountains with the Bilaan tribe for a week, travel to cities and areas such as Pagadian, Marawi, and Cotabato. I helped with the children of Bantay Bata and Field of Dreams.
    I carry memories now that I treasure. Staying in the city all the time for me would have been no adventure at all.
    Thanks for another great article Bob.

  11. I can shed a little light on Leroy’s question about working with animals from the left side.

    For modern applications, it is mostly tradition. But the practical reason is from most people being right handed. The rope and the animal are on the drovers right side. If any corrections or adjustments need to be made to the animal, harness, traces, or vehicle, the person can use the right hand and remain facing the animal. The lead rope through the nose is the old Spanish style of working draft cattle called (in English) a jerk line. (Northern Europeans tend to use voice commands.).

    There were other historic reasons, mostly to do with mounting horses with a sword hanging from your left hip. Mounting or working from the left of the animal helps prevent one from becoming entangled with your own sword, bolo, or large knife.

    Hope that helps some.

    Take care,
    Pete

  12. Hi Bob,

    As you said earlier the word “Province” means different things to different people in different context. I also know a lady from Manila here that divides the Philippines into two areas: Manila and the Provinces. She feels Manila is safe and everywhere else is dangerous. I think legally speaking no matter where you are in the Philippines you are in a Province. I mean to say that Manila itself is divided into Provinces, but I get what your talking about.

    I have always thought when visiting Mama’s House in LaPaz, Bohol that I was in the Province just not a remote one like you were talking about. I personally do not mind stuff like Filipino CR’s, but I think if I were way out in the boondocks I would not like the difficulty in getting to other places like visiting mall, supermarket, etc. I am infering from what you have written these areas do not have jeepneys.

    Anyway, I enjoyed your article! The part about people being happy is really a state of mind. I know a lady who happens to be Filipina from Bohol who married a US Naval officer and has lived in many different parts of the world. From what she says she has not been happy anywhere. She moved back home to Bohol and guess what she was not happy there either. She will be moving back to Raleigh in a few months. Where my guess is she will not be happy.

    • Hi Jay – You are close to being correct about the Provinces, but not 100%. It is kind of tricky.

      A “Province” is like a “State” in the USA. So, it would seem that no matter where you are in the Philippines, you are in a province. Like in the USA, let’s say you were in Salem, Oregon… Salem is the capital city of the State of Oregon. So, you are in Salem, and you are also in Oregon at the same time.

      It is not the same in the Philippines, though. The majority of cities are the same – part of the province. However, there are 38 cities in the Philippines which are considered “Independent Cities”. For example, Davao City where I live is an Independent City. It is not part of the Province. It is independent of the province. So, while Davao City is surrounded by actually 3 different provinces (Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental), it is not a part of any of the three.

      So in most cases what you are saying is spot on… except when it comes to Independent Cities. 🙂