Kagsing nin Kabataang Pandananon

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Sa muli, MABALOS po sa inyong pagtangkilik.

Pandan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 19,005 people in 3,181 households.
HISTORY

Formerly the town site was located some two kilometers away south of the present site. Then the people were disturbed by constant depredation of bandits coming from other places.

The present site has been chosen because it was near the sea and the fishermen found it very convenient for their trade, however, being near the sea, it was vulnerable to Moros who always come to get their belongings or even capture some people.

As a defense against such moro raids, the people planted pandan shrubs close to each other to form a formidable defense against invaders. When the Spaniards came they found the plants around the poblacion in great abundance. When asked what the name of the shrubs was, the people told them that they were pandan shrubs. Thus, the Spaniards called the place Pandan.

The municipality lies on the northern tip of the province, 96 kilometers from the capital town of Virac. Bounded on the south by the municipality of Caramoran, on the west by the Maqueda Channel, on the east by the municipality of Bagamanoc and on the north by the Pacific Ocean. It has a total land area of 11,990 hectares. This is a town of 17,096 friendly and hospitable people, to which 99% are Roman Catholic.

Of the 26 barangays that comprise the municipality, four of which actually form the town proper, which are Libod, the biggest barangay in terms of population, Napo, Pandan del Sur and Pandan del Norte. The rest are found usually near the seashore. The rest being an inland barangays.

The municipality does not only boast of the natural beauties, it has which are the Parway, Mangbang, Parola beaches, the Hinik-Hinik falls (Hinik-hinik is a local term for rain shower) and Minaipit falls, but especially of its being a hometown of Senators, Congressman, Governor, Cardinal and Ambassador.

The people of Pandan are generally peace loving, God fearing and are happy people. Everyone in the community is a brother, a sister and a friend where the products of which could be shared even food itself without thought of having it repaid or reciprocated. Visitors are offered the comforts that the family could afford even it means that the owner should lay on the floor just to make the visitor eased at home by using the “papag”. And that is not enough, before going home; products of their yard would be wrapped for you to bring in your family plus a bunch of cockling chickens.

During celebrations, immediate neighbors are invited bringing among the whole members of the family and this seemed to be incomplete without tuba drinking and little dancing. Pantomina is a long cherished dance that never changes with time despite of the current dance and music. Pandananons has a series of collected pantomina songs which are now famous composed locally, of course it is not only the above songs, Pandananons used to compose, for evidence of which that gained popularity was a song composed by the late Mr. Alfredo dela Rosa, former Municipal Secretary of the Sangguniang Bayan of Pandan, entitled “Islang Catandungan”. This song won first place in the regional contest in Sorsogon sometime on the late 60’s.


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Kneel Before Me


This is supposed to be the Palm Sunday post so I'm sorry for posting it late. This is an article by Bro. Clifford T. Sorita in his column "Our Best Kept Secret" in People's Journal Tonight April 5, 2009 issue. I find this article very timely, truthful, and inspiring. I hope you enjoy reading this. Here goes the article:


When I saw on television the story of a Duty Free employee kneeling in front of an overly conceited customer who was flaunting left and right his social status as a highly influential fashion designer, all I felt was helpless dismay towards this man who could do such a horrible thing to a fellow human being. True enough, when you want to know the character of a person, give him or her power and his or real self will unfold before you.


Today is Palm Sunday, and in parallel reflection thereof we see a stark contrast between the image of seeing Jesus as he enters into Jerusalem and this "fashion designer" upon his arrival into the country. All the Hossanas, the waving of palms and the welcoming crowd were never used by Jesus to fuel vanity nor to drumbeat his Kingliness. On the other hand, we shockingly see the image of an insecure fashion designer who demands that people acknowledge his power and authority by "kneeling before him". In fact, these juxtaposed realities portray a startling contradiction to the Kingliness of Jesus our Lord... a fitting start to our commemoration of Semana Santa.


Above Jesus' head on the cross was the inscription, "This is the King of Jews." Jesus was indeed a king, but not the way they imagined. The prominence of Christianity is not in saving oneself but in saving others. The Kingliness of Christ means the readiness to save and serve others, not our self. And by remembering the "passion and death" of Jesus, we are reminded of the immense responsibility of the power a true leader has to bear in the context of his or her position.


Jesus was a selfless saviour who was ready to face all possible discomforts just for the sake of others, even if it was not politically or socially expedient. He is like a mother who is ready to give birth even while knowing the uneasiness of delivering a child. He is like a traffic enforcer who wouls spend countless hours in a dusty street just to maintain the orderliness and safety of our roads. He is like a police or a fire fighter who risks his life for the safety of the community. He is like a government employee, who, despite his current financial burdens, still manages to veer away from the temptations of graft and corruption. For like Jesus, any power they have is used for the welfare of others.


It pains us to see the prevalence of some government officials amassing so much hidden wealth at the expense of the people they were tasked to serve. It is even saddening to see that some businesses and industries are not even willing to bear the burden of some discomfort in their corporate lifestyle just to ease the pain and suffering of their country men in the plight of these financially troublesome times. We have gone so accustomed to power that sometimes we have lost trackof its tru essence and meaning. The measure of genuine power is what one does with the power he holds.


Reaching out to someone in service also has its own rewards because sometimes we end up helping ourselves or someone we love. Francis Kong in his book "Life's Work" shares: A soldier who was finally coming home after having fought long and hard in Vietnam called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I have a favor to ask. I'd like to bring home a friend with me." "Sure," they replied. "We'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know," the son countinued. "He was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a landmine and lost an arm and leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come and live with us."


"I am sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help find him a place to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden to us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."


The son hung up the phone, and the parents heard nothing from him. A few days later, however, they receive a call from the San Francisco police. Their son died after falling from a building. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror, they also discovered something they did not know... their son had one only one arm and leg.


Jesus' kingdom is not built on worldly power but on the spirit of service. Any authority or power we have is to give life. It is an opportunity given to us by God to channel his loving care for the people entrusted to us. It is an occasion for us to work for a better world, a more harmonious community, or a happier family. In using our power as true SERVANT KINGS, we become a blessing for others, and so prepare the coming of God's kingdom.
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