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Alistung Maki-Bareta, Maki-Morey, Makipag-goron!

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June 24, 2009: Today we dedicate this page as tribute to Andres Torre Salamera of Casiguran Aurora.

Sa ngalan po ng aming pamilya, ng aming ina, ng aking mga kapatid, ng mga natirang kapatid ng aking yumaong ama, at ng lahat ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay, Ako po ay nagpapasalamat! Sa mga kamag-anak at kaangkan, kaibigan at kababayan, Sa mga nakiramay at ngayo'y naghahatid sa aking ama, Salamat po sa inyong mga dasal, pag-abuloy, pagtulong at pag-alalay, Salamat po! Akin po muling hinihiling ang inyong patuloy na pagdarasal. Ang akin pong ama ay lubos na nagmahal, Siya po ay halimbawa ng marubdob na paggawa at kasipagan bilang magsasaka at sa pagtitiyaga ayon sa kanyang paulit-ulit na habilin: “Walang Pilat ang Pagod.” At kanya pong naitaguyod kami na kanyang pamilya hanggan sa kanyang mga apo. Nawa ay mapanatili namin ang kanyang halimbawa. Bilang mahusay na magsasaka ay naway hindi lamang sa kanyang kabukiran manatili ang kanyang punla, manapat sa ating mga puso din nawa magbunga at magpatuloy mamunga at mag-ani na makabayani at mapayapang pagkatao ang kanyang buhay at halimbawa. Tatay maraming salamat po! Sa kapatiran ng “Seventh Day Adventists” na piniling aniban ng aking ama sa huling panahon ng kanyang pang-unawa at paninindigan na aming iginagalang, Maraming salamat po! Muli po, sa lahat, maraming salamat!

Aknowledgement Speech: Nemie Salamera-Morfe

Sorry to hear of Tio Andres passing........wish that we can all be there in moments like this......But in behalf of Kambal's Clan, we would like to extend our condolences to your family......Guess his time on earth is done and he is now on his next journey....where there is no suffering...only peace....I know that he gave it all to his family and had left you all a lot of good memories and legacies to last you a lifetime.....For us that are left behind, let's continue to live good and be the leaders of our next generation.......continue the legacy left to us by our grandparents and parents as well.......Take care and may God give you all peace and strength to carry on. Love. Tita Flor

From Salamera - Morfe Family

The Mission of Casiguran

We heard that some officials in Casiguran are doubting the fact that it's Casiguran's 400th founding. What could be the motive or benefit that can be derived from making Casiguran younger? "Matanda na tum bayan tam ay..." the saying goes.

The following excerpts established our founding history. Aurora.ph wrote:

In 1609 another Franciscan priest Father Blas Palomino penetrated the rugged scrubland with six other priests and managed to reduce the wild vegetation into three rancherias or settlements thereafter founding three towns namely Baler, Casiguran, and Palanan. Father Blas Palomino was martyred in Macassar (present-day Borneo) on 30 August 1622 while doing evangelization work. It must be noted that although the founding of these three towns was attributed to Father Palomino and his group, native settlements already existed and occupied by a varied group, which included the Dumagat, Aeta, Ilongot, and Tagal. Considering that the words Baler, Casiguran, and Palanan do not have any equivalents in Spanish nor do they appear to have Spanish origins, it can be deduced that these were the original names of the places and that they originated from the natives of the area. [tungkab]

Also from Aurora.ph:

in 1856, during the term of Governor General Manuel Crespo y Cebrian, it became a separate district, with the town of Baler as capital, including the towns of San Jose de Casecnan, San Miguel de Dipaculao, and Casiguran. [tungkab]

Even before 400 years ago;

The province formerly known as Tayabas, was explored by the Spaniards in 1571 and 1572 when Juan de Salcedo visited and explored upon the order of the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. They passed through the central portion of Tayabas in his march across Laguna Province to Paracale. The following years, Salcedo led his famous expeditions around the northern coast of Luzon. He visited the “CONTRACOSTA” towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta. [tungkab]

And Casiguran was part of the early ecclesiastical division;

Nueva Cáceres, or Camarines, is one of the three of the present ecclesiastical divisions of the island of Luzon. It includes all the eastern part of that island, and the adjacent islands, as we shall presently see. It extends from the sea on the west, at the mouth of the strait of Mindoro, where it is bounded by the archbishopric of Manila—as likewise in the interior, where pass its northern limits, the only boundaries that it has within the land—to the eastern sea in the extreme southeast of the province of Caraga, also the boundaries of the archbishopric. However, it has jurisdiction in the village of Baler and in that of Casiguran, in the province of Nueva Ecija; and those of Polillo and Binangoñan de Lampon, in Laguna. [tungkab]

However, reading the history authored by Ed Angara, it failed to mention Casiguran, contrary to the above references, to be as old as the capital town of Baler;

The entire coastal region of Aurora was linked ecclesiastically to the southern town of Infanta in the early years of the Spanish period. Infanta would become the biggest municipality in the main district of what was then called Kalilaya, later to become the province of Quezon. As early as 1591, the Spanish authorities had organized Kalilaya district to include large parts of what now make up the provinces of Laguna and Nueva Ecija. In 1701, Nueva Ecija was separated from Kalilaya Province and given its own local government. Around 1749, the provincial capital was in turn transferred from Kalilaya to the southern town of Tayabas. The whole province then took on the name of Tayabas as well.

Ecclesiastically, the region was turned over to the Augustinians and Recollects in 1658, when the vanguard Friars Minor began to lack missionaries to serve the growing population. But the Franciscans regained the territory in 1703, setting up missions in Dipaculao in 1719 and in Casiguran in 1753. [tungkab]

In this post, we mentioned that Aurora is not Tagalog, where Casiguran has a dialect of its own that makes it distinct and most probably as old as any tribe that has its own language like the Ilocanos, bicolanos, Bisaya, etc. Definitely, a tribe, a minority group that developed its own dialect, Kasiguranin, could not have been established only in 1753. If there was already this town Casiguran before the Spaniards came, then it follows that the first missions that would be established, which is the basis of a town's anniversary, is the Mission of Casiguran. To forget this commemoration will be unfair to the martyrs that introduced us Christianity.

The Recollect fathers Fray Benito de San José, Fray Francisco de San José, and Fray Clemente de San Nicolás having been assigned, with three other companions, to the village of Binangonan, established the first house and church, with the title of San Guillermo; and two religious remained there. Afterward they went to the village of Baler and established a convent, under the patronage of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The third was the village of Casiguran, with the advocacy of our father St. Augustine. The fourth was established in Palanan, with the title of Santa María Magdalena. The discalced Augustinians resided for forty years in those convents founded on the coasts of the Pacific, exclusively consecrated to the service of God, and the sanctification of their neighbors, and they attained both objects with great spiritual advantages.

We had religious there of pure virtue, who were imitating the virtues of the dwellers in the desert. From those missions went forth our father Fray Bartolomé de la Santísima Trinidad, son of the convent of Madrid. He lived much retired from intercourse with men; and when he was elected provincial, in the year one thousand seven hundred and one—at which time all said that he was a person unknown in Manila—Archbishop Camacho uttered these words: “The election of the discalced Augustinians has been and is, properly, an election by God and by the Holy Spirit.” While so great advance did the missionaries on the opposite coast make in their own sanctification, not less was the gain in the vineyard entrusted to their care. They made many Aetas and heathen children of the Catholic church, and directed those souls along the paths of eternal life. They had the special glory of numbering, among those whom they directed, some privileged women endowed with the gifts of heaven, and raised by the spirit of God to a height of Christian perfection which confounds our lukewarmness in His service. One of these was Sister Juana de Jesus, a native of the village of Binangonan de Lampon, an oblate nun of our order, who elevated herself with the steps of a giant, even to the greatest and most complete purification of her spirit, by her abstraction from worldly affairs, by her heroic practice of all the virtues, by her fervent daily communion, and by the most lofty contemplation and the most clear vision that God vouchsafed her of the mysteries of our holy religion. [tungkab]

Morey 2009 Update

Morey 2009

Onse ng Abril 2009

Sa mga katagibung Casiguranin:

Karon sumebraw sa Motyong Beach ngay-ung Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. Kanya Kanyang Baon. Libre ang Diget!

Ano : Morey, Bonoy, Samleya sa ika-400 ng Casiguran
Saan : Motyong Aplaya, Casiguran Aurora
Pano : Kanya-Kanyang Baon
Kailan : April 11 ng Gibi: "Uronang Bayan"
April 12 ng Umaga: "Sebraw sa Diget",
Pasabawan sa Damakan

Reunion at Piknik ng Bayan, magketaketa ang magkamag-anak, magkabatch, magkapitbahay, magkaibigan, magkababayan para ipagdiwang ang ika-400 ng Casiguran sa Pasko ng Pagkabuhay at sulegen ang sakripisyo ng mga Franciscanong nagpatinggi ng Kristyanismo sa mga katutubung Casiguranin.

Bakit Kanya-kanyang Baon o KKB? Monda walang magalep, walang masanikeng umangay makipayes, sapagkat te betbet sa piknik ng pamilya, magka-batch, magka-barangay na eesang tribung Casiguranin. Walang eng-grandeng handa ta walang inagedan ng kepey, walang tambiyolo, walang bisitang pandangal, basta tayo-tayo magketa-keta angay umetol magdigus sa diget ng bayang inenakan. Ito ay ketaketa ng magkababayan na magkasundung ipagdiwang ang ika-400 taon ng bayan. Ikeryaw ang diwa ng pagka-agta, ang pag-angay ay pag-agum sa tribu at diwang makabayan. Hindi para makipayes kundi angay magpasabawan atanan sa eesang damakan. Walang masanike ta wala ritung dikel o bedit na tolay. Ikuyog ang mga bakes ati lakay bilang pagsaludo at pasalamat. Hindi kailangang te magandang badu, kayamanan o kareta. Atanan pantay-pantay. Karon na angay maglakad pa Motyong, atanan makaguman. “Esang Bayan, Esang Tribu, Esang Angayan”.

Bakit mag-Morey? Magkeketa ang mga Casiguranin pagdemet sa Maynila, bakit hindi tayong mga naburay dito sa Casiguran? Esang pused gebwat - kamuding, kakulet, kabagang, kadigi, kawangki, karupa, katagibu, katribu, kamorey! Esang Angayan. Gusto tam mapag-ade-adene ang mga Casiguranin maski san nepadewat, lalo na tayong dito magpagiyan bago pa tulos na maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan. Makipagturungkuan, sulegen ang pinaggebwatan, makibareta, makisamleya sa magdamagang bonoy. Karon na kumuyog sa April 11-12 Morey sa Motyong, magbetbet ng baon, umetol magdigus sa diget, mag-usek, magpadisaladan ng kagi, makiturungku, bawal magtagalog, walang di makatinggi, walang gasti, walang magpataga, walang masanike, walang matageg, atanan magkatinggian. Ipagmalaki ang pagka-agta! Magkalanget ipagdiwang ang ika-400 taon ng bayan! Maglepenak, mangated, daradara kuman ng kanya-kanyang balon sa salu-salung damakan. Magsida ng buru't kinodkod na nyog, puso ng biget, nilentob na talong, nituno, toyo't mantika, ginimer na kamatis, pinegretan, magroprop ng sabaw ng burokos at tumagay ng "casiguran". Magtawed ng lumang letratu at me-agum sa Internet photo album ng kasaysayan. "Makibareta, Makipaggoron, Makimorey".

Mag-TXT sa: Globe: 2371003453088; Smart: 2009003453088


Magketa-keta po tayo,
Morey 2009 Organizers
Motyong, Casiguran, Aurora

Tribute

"Agta Ako" resumes blog today. It's been a year since this blog's flag was on half-staff as tribute to the man that inspired the idealism written here in the last eight years and its continuance, whether in action or writing, shall serve as tribute to his memory. A family friend wrote:

Over the years you mentioned about the qualities..., the honesty and integrity of his person, the same leadership and advocacy he fearlessly practised became your way of life also today. Actually it's not how good his qualities were but what matters most is how good he made use of them in the betterment of his life and others which I am very sure he did.

Yahoogroup Announcement

Announcement from Casiguranin Yahoogroups.
click here.

Casiguran Photos

Here are Flickr search result of Casiguran:
Jom
sickxela
so far, three have uploaded casiguran-tagged photos.


Photo taken from Jom2008

Provincial Meet

This is the four consecutive of Maria Aurora being the over all champion and i think eighteen non-consecutive since the provincial meet was started. It only proves that Maria Aurora is always the best when it came to sports competition. [read more]

Aurora Governor Interview

Typhoon Path

News references on Casiguran on Typhoon Mina from Nov 24-26, 2007.

2 storms squeeze Luzon
STORMS LANDO, MINA AND NONOY: 3 TYPHOONS SET TO LASH ON RP
Klase sa lahat ng antas sinuspinde sa 10 lalawigan – deped, NDCC
Lando avoids Cebu on reentry, sighted near Puerto Princesa
PAGASA: Mina weakens into tropical storm
(Update) 'Mina' already claimed 6 lives' - DOH
Ilocos raises alert for typhoon
Typhoon Mina builds up speed
Typhoon Mitag Maintains Strength, Progresses Toward Philippines
Stormy weather in 12 provinces -- Pag-asa
Pagasa: 'Mina' will first hit Isabela on Monday
Panic buying reported in Isabela
Albay refugees head home as Mina veers away from Bicol
Mina changes direction, veers toward Aurora
DSWD to send relief goods to Aurora
Typhoon Mitag changes course and moves toward NE Philippines

"Congressman"

Thanks Jaws for sharing this story.
Pati Kapitolyo?

Speak Casiguranin Dialect

Casiguranin Talking Dictionary Project. Here is a sample of Casiguranin Dialect pronunciation shared to Casiguranins via podcast. More than 200 words have been recorded already. We'd like to thank Mrs. Corpuz of Barangay Lual for her support and for sharing us her voice talent in recording our dialect voice vocabulary.

Casiguran Podcast

Listen to Senan Guerrero Angara's speech at CDC-ME's first induction.

Basta Te Logging, Laging Te Baha!

From GMANews.TV [click this link]
Kinagi na ngani ritu [click this link]
Batangbaler observes, the legal loggers are safe!

CAMMRA 2002 Videos

Casiguran Economic Zone

It's good news to hear that Aurora has become an economic zone, and that we will have our airport ready by 2010. A congratulations is in order for those who made it into law, as if an enabling law is the only main prerequisite towards augmenting this poorest province' economy. The law will indeed create jobs - a sure benefit the constituents will get as token. It is a good law that every Agta should welcome, appreciate and celebrate.

The economic zone will cover Barangays Esteves, Divet and Dibacong in this costal town from the original proposed location in Baler.>

Had we have the power, money and foresight, it would have been best to land bank early on. In 10 years, Casiguran will be Aurora's capital.

Casiguran Association - USA Morey

Imbitado atanan ng Agagta umangay sa Dinner-Dance Event ng CAUSA sa SMR Dance Center 10591 Mill Avenue, Montclair, California 91763, July 28, 5PM.

Casiguran Barangay Health Workers

Casiguran Barangay Health Workers are the true modern day heroes. There is a project to help them fulfill their service and mission to Casiguranins. To help, email casiguran-owner[at]yahoogroups.com

Kurep

Indeed, the local government is a microcosm of the same corrupt establishment. [read more]