Journey to Bicol
MANILA, Philippines - I met Congresswoman Leni Robredo last month at a People Asia event. I was struck by her demeanor. She was beautifully simple, humble, soft spoken yet confident. I was drawn to her. She has gone through so much pain with the sudden death of her husband. I admire how she is overcoming this most difficult trial and appears so peaceful. It made me think, before a baby is born, labor pains rack a mother’s body, pain is necessary for the birth of a baby. Or before the clarity of a decision, we go through many moments of doubt and confusion, painful times as well. It would seem Leni has come out stronger from her suffering.
Curiously, I was soon after invited to go to Bicol, the province Leni is from. Together with friends— Gina Lopez, Suky Lammoglia, Raqui Garcia and Otta Montinola — we walked around Lake Bulusan in Sorsogon. The lake was different from other lakes because it was untouched, eerily peaceful. In fact, quite mysteriously calm.
The myth behind Lake Bulusan is a love triangle between Bulusan and Casiguran over Bulusan’s wife, Agingay. Casinguran falls for Bulusan’s wife, Agingay, and plots to kill Bulusan when his own father, the village chieftain, dies suddenly. Bulusan is falsely blamed and fed to the mambak bird. Soon Agingay kills herself out of grief. Casiguran’s treachery is discovered. The villagers walk down the volcano carrying the body of Agingay and the blood of Bulusan, which form the two lakes upon the slope of the volcano. The two lakes are now — Lake Bulusan and Lake Agingay and the volcano is also called Mt. Bulusan. Even in myth, tragedy brings beauty.
We stayed at the Saima Hotel, a refreshing place to relax especially after the walk around Lake Bulusan and the hike around its forests. The Filipino touch made me feel so at home. The Bicolano food was so delicious —pinangat, bicol express, fresh crabs and lobsters, pili nuts, rambutan jam, lansones. Milo and Kat Naval did an excellent job in creating this high-quality place in Sorsogon.
The Kasanggayahan festival later that afternoon was spectacular. Kasanggayahan means a life of prosperity. The festival focused on Sorsogon as the birthplace of Christian civilization in Southern Bicol. The highlight of the presentation was the reenactment of the first Mass in Luzon through a street dance. The higantes props represented Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi together with missionary Father Jimenez . The Mass was particularly special because it is a celebration of the resurrection. Jesus’ suffering and death brought about our freedom from sin and death. Now we are restored beautiful creatures that have a promise of eternity.
My trip to Bicol has given me a glimpse of who we are as a people. We are simple and loving yet strong under extreme trial. My Bicol experience, the beauty and warmth and kindness of its people, the natural, majestic beauty of its lakes, mountains, forests, its down to earth religiosity, has given me renewed hope in who we are.
