You probably already read Bob’s column that my kids and I went to the farm of my parents to visit my mom. She’s not in good health now. I don’t know if she will even be staying for that long. Anyway, it was the first time that my 2 kids visit there. I was interested to see the reaction of my 2 boys since they are not used to going places they are not familiar with. I asked them if they are up to it in going there without computers, PSP and cable TV. They said that they wanted to go and see what their big brother is doing out there. See our oldest son, Chris stayed in the farm for over a month. They missed him. JeanJean likes to go there because the farm was her home before. Anyway, off we went.
We rode the bus from Davao to GenSan. It’s a 4 hour ride. When we got to GenSan my 2 sisters met us at the mall there. We got some stuff that we need in the farm. We also bought some stuff to bring Chris and my mom. Before we left GenSan for the farm I called up my nephew to pick us up at the jeepney stop so that he can get all our luggage. To make it fun I told him to bring the Kariton (carriage pulled by a Carabao). When the boys saw the Kariton they really were amazed by it. They wanted to ride right away, but I told them just later since our luggage was inside the Kariton anyway. On the way to the farm instead of walking we rode a tricycle so that it would be faster and its getting hot too, its a little bit past in the middle of the day already by the time we get to the farm. I think in just like 2 minutes of riding the tricycle we passed by the side of the river, not too big of a river. The kids already wanted to dip in the water. I can already see some twinkle in their eyes. When we got to my sister’s house, about 10 minutes of sitting at the terrace the Kariton arrived with our stuff. Man, the kids were just so happy seeing our stuff taken out of the Kartion.
They want to go somewhere and ride right away. My nephew just told them that he has to bring the Carabao to take a bath in the water with mud to cool off. So they waited for a few minutes and off they went and ride the Kariton. They also went to a small river thats not that far away from my sister’s house. They really swam there and stayed for a long time.
While they were out, I saw my brother-in-law working in the copra. I went there to help a little bit. Gosh, I remember when I was a kid, me and my sister would arrange the copra inside a drying place. First, you arrange it nicely, then down at the bottom you light a fire slowly to dry the copra so that it would be easily taken out from the shell. With my dad before we have to arrange the copra thoroughly, nowadays they will just throw all the copra with shell inside and its not really dried properly. I guess my dad just wants it nicely done. It’s really something seeing some old neighbors working with the copra. Thats how they put food on the table by just working like getting the copra out from the shell and they get paid by the piece. It’s like 100 pesos to 1000 pieces.
I visited our old house. Its not that far from my sister’s house. I had lots of memories in that place while growing up. During the time when my dad was the Barangay Captain, just next to our house was a big place for a basketball court. That court will also turn sometimes into a volleyball court or disco area. Most of you know that in every fiesta the cockfighting is present. My dad, he is not a gambler but lots of the people in the Barangay would really want to have that. They even get the permit for it. During fiesta time I can really remember that my parents would butcher like 4 pigs. Most of the people from the further town of Patag some that lives there are the natives, the B’laan (tribal people) they will come to eat. Of course they are invited by my parents. Most of our tenants they will come to help prepare the food. At that time the fiesta will last like 3 days. So much activity for everyone. Hmmm, that made me think. Maybe on the next fiesta I will bring the kids there to see what fiesta really is. They’ve never been to one yet. At least some of my siblings still carry the tradition that my parents started, feeding lots of people. I’m sure the kids will have a blast. I know I will.
When time for us to head home I asked the kids if they would want to come back again? They all said yes and they told me that next time they want that they would stay for a few weeks and wanted to help working in the copra and the corn. I told them that next time too they will help take care of the pigs and goats. They are now counting the days for the next day that they are off from school. I enjoyed seeing them get excited just over simple things there in the farm.
I went also to my school during grade school. Its not as good as it used to be. Hopefully the government and the principal and the people in Patag will work together to make that school better.
Well, I hope you guys now have an idea of what place I grew up in.
Nothing fancy, it’s just simple life!
hello feyma
i find your trip home very interesting.its nice to see the children having fun without internet or video games . i have also been to a small village of malativus and actually i loved it there much better then the upbeat city.slower way of life with people in a native setting.i must say everyone there was so nice to me.i was with my landlord at his family farm and i guess everyone there thought i was a celeberty or something because everyone in the village came to see me.something im jot used to for sure but it was flattering.i really hope next you return home that you will bring bob along and shoot some video.i would enjoy that.
thanks feyma 😉
Hi Feyma. Simply nice…and very picturesque.
I'm pretty sure the children will remember the memory forever.
It's also a comforting reminder that it does not take much for a peaceful, no-worries lifestyle.
Most of the world has gotten itself to a big 'hurry'….and this rat race for what?
Excellent article indeed!
Hi Ron W – Actually, I did go! I just waited until the next day. I wrote an article about it last week, maybe you missed my column that day. I wasn't supposed to go, but I got lonely all by myself at the house, so I headed down there to see Feyma and the kids! And, guess what? I did shoot a bunch of video while I was down there. I expect that you'll see some video from the trip this coming week, probably on my Wednesday column (Philippine time).
Hi Feyma – a simple life can be more interesting sometimes then another lifestyle. 🙄 Excellent article. Rose, Mutti and I hope and pray that your mam will be fine… Take good care…
sounds like a great trip. thanks for sharing i like your web logs wish you did them more! I was wondering how much that bus ride cost?
sounds like u an the kids had a good time , some day my wife will show me her village where her tribe lives ,it is a 3 hour walk from the road in the mountains ..Phil R.
Feyma
enjoyed the description of your trip, times change and you have noted some of the changes here, i get the impression you had a very happy childhood
you mention yr Dad was a Barangay Captain and i think this is something i would like to hear more about, the problems he was faced with, the powers he had and if they are still the same today
i think the philippines has a good basic structure of law enforcement and pastoral care but apart from the theory i don't really know about the role of the Barangay leader….not trying to interfere here but i would be really interested, hope others would too
all the very best to you, Bob and the kids
Hi Ron W – Oh yeah, Bob went there with John. Wow they look like the celebrity too. People there are just not used to foreigner visiting. They are shock because I didn't tell anyone that Bob is coming to visit.
I can see that Bob likes it there.
Hi Dr. Sponk Long – The kids really had a blast. They can't wait for the next visit.
It's really worry free there. Just peaceful. Thanks for your nice comments as always!
Hi Hon – It was really nice seeing you there in my hometown. Only thing is your treated good than me. 😆 … You are treated like a celebrity. 😉
I'm happy that finally you made it there. I know its been your desire to go there for a long time already. Thanks Hon!
Hi Klaus Doring – Honestly I tried my best now to see my mom as much as I can. Not sure how long shes with us though.
Hi to Rose and Mutti from us! Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Ben Ream – Thank you so much for your comment. I am glad you like our site. I will try to write more.
The bus ride cost 230pesos per person.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Phil R – I'm pretty sure you will enjoy going there. Your an instant celebrity. Good luck to you.
Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Rick B – I think I had a good childhood. Just relax and simple.
I would say that during the time when my dad served as the Barangay Captain I would say it is better than now. The town was more organized in everything, from school, farmer, the youth. I felt the town at that time its cleaner than now.
You gave me something to write about. I will ask more from my siblings and the people that really know my dad when he was a Barangay Captain. I was a youngster at that time. Time flies so quickly. That must have been over 30 years ago.
Thank you for your comment. Hi to Ann from us.
Hi Feyma,Interesting trip,it brought back some memories for me also.I was brought up on a small farm also,albeit in the UK.We used to grow corn,milk cows,keep some sheep and chickens.It was an adventure playground for me,and still is for kids as you mentioned.Life just seemed so peaceful and simple then.Despite the hard work involved we were always happy.Regards Chas.
There is really no place like home, Mare. Glad you made it back again. Next time, bring me and Orman with you, ok?
Ayo-ayo! 😆
Hi Bariles – You are right there's no place like home.
Sure I will bring you guys there one day. Hope to see you guys when I visit GenSan next time.
Take care Kumpare. Hi to Orman from me.
Hi CHAS – I think its really is a good start for a kid to be in the farm. You tend to have the responsibility at the early age. Growing up I had 1 horse, a goat and a pig to take care of. It was fun.
I'm glad my column brings back the youngster in you. 😉 😆
Hi Feyma,
Are you sure we were not neighbors? No, you’re much younger than me. When you get a chance, read “My World of Iday” short stories on my site and you know what I meant. These are wonderful memories indeed. 😀
I had to take care of the fighting roosters – a few of them, Madre Mia! Never did care to ride a carabao but the horse was okay until I fell into the oling pit while backriding with my dad and sister. 😆
Excellent!
Hi MarcelinaWW – When you mentioned falling in the oling pit… I wonder if it is like the oling pit at Feyma's farm? It's about a 6 foot deep round hole in the ground. Be sure to watch my column tomorrow, I have a video tomorrow which shows that oling pit.
I’m almost sure it’s the same kind of oling pit, Bob. I am looking forward to see the video – it's been a long time since I had seen one.
Feyma, I send you and your mom healing thoughts and prayers. I meant to say this on my previous post. I was so thrilled reading your article I totally spaced out.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
What a great article. Your description of where you grew up was so vivid, it was like I could picture it all in my head. I grew up on a very small farm in Canada, and I miss those times when life was so much simpler.
Judging from the photos I've seen of you and Bob and your children, you have a wonderful family, and that's great because family is so important. I'll pray for your mother's good health.
God bless
Hi MarcelinaWW – I'm glad you enjoyed my column. I hope it brings back good memories for you. Have you experience making charcoal before? It's a hard work. I remember when I was a kid helping my cousin. It was fun even though its kind of messy.
Thank you for the healing prayers for my mom. I appreciate very much.
You take care!
Hi Trevor D – I'm glad you enjoyed my article. It was fun also bringing back your childhood memories. I know life in the farm those days are simple no worries.
Thank you for the compliment of my family. You are right our family is the most important thing in the world. Thank you also for the prayer for my mom. I really appreciate very much.
Thank you for dropping by! Take care and God bless!
Thnaks for sharing this, Feyma. I wish more Filipina wives would talk more about their childhood. It helps us "ailiens" get a better picture of our new world. My wife was, at one time, writing quite a bit on her own blog (www.mitams.com) but she hasn't had alot of interest lately … perhaps I can get her inspired more. I know some folks, of nay nationality/background are hesitent to write because they feel "Oh people don't want to know about those old, unimportant things", but to me, and I think many others, the little things are fascinating … they are, after all, what leads to the "big things" in life.
hi feyma,
i wished you had taken pictures of your kid in the farm. i would have loved to have seen those. that's one thing that my girl here doesn't have. i'm jealous.
Hi Dave Starr -Thank you for reading. Mita should write some of her childhood experiences. I know lots of people especially Pinays can relate to it. And some readers might end up one of her classmates, schoolmates or people that knows her too. I know I would be interested to read.
Hi to Mita and you guys take care. I hope you stay safe on the typhoon there.
Take care Dave!
Hi Jan – I took some pictures and my niece had the camera while I was writing my column. Don't worry I will post it in the photo gallery. Just watch out for that.
Thank you so much for dropping by! Take care!