Kagsing nin Kabataang Pandananon

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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.


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Pasko sa Pandan '09: The Gift-Giving



Isa ito sa mga activities na namiss ko. (I was not able to spend my Christmas in Pandan last year.) Bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Pasko sa Pandan taon-taon ang pagbibigay at pagbabahagi ng konting biyaya sa mga kapus-palad nating kababayan. Kaya naman isang malaking bahagi ng pondo para sa pagdiriwang ng Christmas Cheers sa Pandan ay inilalaan sa gift-giving.

Sa mga nakaraang taon, ang pagbibigay ng regalo sa mga indigent families sa Pandan ay ginagawa sa plasa bilang bahagi ng programa. Ngunit napagkasunduan ng executive committee ng Pasko sa Pandan '09 na gawin itong espesyal. Ang mga members mismo ng Execom ang personal na mag-aabot ng mga pamasko na mula sa mga mababait at mapagbigay na Pandananon sa ating mga kababayan.

Nacurious ako. Kaya nang umuwi ako sa Pandan, I asked one of the members of the Execom how was the gift-giving done since karamihan sa mga bibigyan ay nakatira sa mga malalayong baryo ng Pandan. May mga araw raw na nagbibigay sila ng regalo tuwing gabi. Hinaharana muna nila ang maybahay. Ngunit sa halip na humingi ng pamasko ay sila pala ang mag-aabot ng regalo. There was even a funny story about this. Hindi raw lumalabas ang tao sa bahay at ang sabi ay, "Patawad! Mii pa ninto." But they answered, "Buko po. Kami po yu ikan ning dara para sainyo."

I was touched when I saw the pictures. Kahit umuulan ay tuloy pa rin ang mga staff sa pamimigay ng mga regalo sa mga barangay. But I was more touched when I saw the pictures of our kababayan's who deeply appreciated the simple gifts that was given to them. Sa totoo lang, marami talagang pamilya sa Pandan ang naghihirap. Many do not experience eating meals three times a day. Kaya naman ang mga simpleng handog na ito ay isang bagay na hindi nalilimutan. We are lucky enough not to experience what they do. So it's really nice and just to share some of our blessings to those less fortunate people in our communities.

And for this job well done, I just want to congratulate everyone behind the 2009 Pasko sa Pandan celebration, especially to the Executive Chairman, Rev. Fr. Stephen Polo. Keep up the good work and may the good Lord bless us always. Layag Pandan!
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