Jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail: El Canto del Viajero (Song of the Traveler)!

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

I am fascinated with songs carved in stones like famous singer/composer John Denver's Sanctuary in Aspen, Colorado (USA) where the lyrics of his hit songs are etched on huge granite boulders from the Rocky Mountains. I was thrilled to find a similar concept while doing the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail last March 6, 2012 with my brothers.  I must admit that I  didn't have the vaguest idea that our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal has written a poem titled El Canto Del Viajero (or Song of the Traveler) whose lyrics are etched on the ground  inside the Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte! 

El Canto Del Viajero or The Song of The Traveler (in English) and Awit ng Manlalakbay (in Tagalog) is the heart-warming poem written by Dr. Jose Rizal at the joyous thought of being able to travel again, after being in exile for four (4) years and thirteen (13) days in Dapitan! 

Deducing from Dr. Rizal's Diary of his stay in Dapitan and travel to Cuba, the original Spanish version of Awit ng Manlalakbay may have been written sometime between Dr. Rizal's receipt of the Gov. General Ramon Blanco's letter on 30 July 1896, and Dr. Rizal's actual departure from Dapitan at midnight the following day, 31 July 1896. The joyous news of being accepted as a physician in Cuba took almost seven months wait (from 18 December 1895)  so Dr. Rizal described it as having a "sweet - sour" effect:  It was like a desired dish which was offered after the dessert".

Feel the emotions, the deep sentiments of our national hero through the El Canto del Viajero's lyrics  captured in my photographs,its English version of "Song of the Traveler" as captions and the Tagalog version "Awit ng Manlalakbay" provided as well.

Like to a leaf that is fallen and withered, 
Tossed by the tempest from the pole unto pole; 
Thus roams without love, without country or soul. 
Roams without love, without country or soul.   


Kagaya ng dahong nalanta, nalagas,
Sinisiklut-siklot ng hanging marahas;
Abang manlalakbay ay wala nang liyag,
Layuin, kalulwa't bayang matatawag. 

Following anxiously treacherous fortune; 
Fortune which e’en as he grasps at it seeking, 
Vain though the hopes that his yearning is seeking 
Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas?   


Hinahabul-habol yaong kapalarang
Mailap at hindi masunggab-sunggaban;
Magandang pag-asa'y kung nanlalabo man,
Siya'y patuloy ring patungo kung saan! 

Ever impelled by the way the invisible power, 
Destined to roam from the East to the West; 
Oft he remembers the faces to loved ones. 
Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest.   


Sa udyok ng hindi nakikitang lakas,
Silanga't Kanlura'y kanyang nililipad,
Mga minamahal ay napapangarap,
Gayon din ang araw ng pamamanatag. 

Chance may assign him tomb on the desert, 
Grant him a final asylum of peace; 
Soon by the world and his country forgotten, 
God rest his soul when his wandering ceases!  


Sa pusod ng isang disyertong mapanglaw,
Siya'y maaaring doon na mamatay,
Limot ng daigdig at sariling bayan,
Kamtan nawa niya ang kapayapaan!  

Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied, 
Circling the globe like a sea-gull above; 
Little, ah, little they know what a void 
Saddens his soul by the absence of love.  


Dami ng sa kanya ay nangaiinggit,
Ibong naglalakaby sa buong daigdig,
Hindi nila tanto ang laki ng hapis
Na sa kanyang puso ay lumiligalig. 

Home may the pilgrim return in the future, 
Back to his loved ones his footsteps he bends; 
Naughts will he find out snow and the ruins? 
Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends.  


Kung sa mga tanging minahal sa buhay
Siya'y magbalik pa pagdating ng araw,
Makikita niya'y mga guho lamang
At puntod ng kanyang mga kaibigan. 

Pilgrim, before! Nor return more hereafter, 
Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth; 
Others may sing of their love while rejoicing, 
Thou once again must roam o’er the earth. 


Abang manlalakbay! Huwag nang magbalik,
Sa sariling baya'y wala kang katalik;
Bayaang ang puso ng iba'y umawit,
Lumaboy kang muli sa buong daigdig. 

Pilgrim, be gone! Nor return more hereafter, 
Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran; 
Pilgrim, before! And forget thine affliction, 
Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man. 

Abang manlalakbay! Bakit babalik pa?

Ang luhang inyukol sa iyo'y tuyo na;

Abang manlalakbay! Limutin ang dusa,

Sa hapis ng tao, mundo'y nagtatawa. 

As a traveler, which stanza you can "own" as yours or can relate the most? Please share in comments.

Satan's Tactics and Christ's Solution

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

Shadows of me and my friend/CS host Cath Iblan in London.
Check the next picture and you'll know why this is an illusion!

Scripture Block: 2 Nephi 26-30
Ward: Deparo, Novaliches Philippines Stake

Today's lesson in Sunday School contains some of Satan's illusions (something that deceives or misleads) intended to "detour, dilute, and divert" Latter - Day Saints' attention from the pure truth of God.  We can avoid being deceived by Satan's falsehoods, and remaining faithful to the truth. 

Cath is 5'9, I'm 4'10. Can't Be Same Height As in the Shadows.

My OWN list of Satan's tactics (2 Nephi 26-28)


1. he uses flaxen cord (i.e. cord made of thin, light strands).


2. through priestcraft


3. spread false, vain and foolish doctrines


4. false teaching to justify sin


5. not to worry about "committing little sin"


6. stir many to anger


7. causing people to Pride


8. pacify people and "lull" into carnal security (i.e. find security in following the appetites of the flesh or trusting in worldly objects or ideas)


9. lead people carefully


10. flattereth away


11. being at ease in zion

Solution: 2 Nephi 29-30

Studying the Book of Mormon will help us be alert and avoid becoming "at ease in Zion". President Ezra Taft Benson said: "The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (2 Nep. 3:12). It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false eductaional, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time". 

St. Patrick's Day: Leprechauns, Green Milk and Being Lucky in Sagada!

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

Today is St. Patrick's Day which is being celebrated around the globe (with few exceptions like the Philippines)  in honor of Saint Patrick. the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick is a Roman priest who was in Ireland for thirty years as a Christian missionary and was credited for converting nobles to Christianity, establishing hundreds of monasteries and churches and for promoting the study of legal text and the Bible.It is believe that St. Patrick died in the 5th century on March 17, which is the day St. Patrick's Day is commemorated each year. Leprechaun and Green are popularly associated with this global yet Irish- celebration! 

Leprechaun is an Irish fairy who looks like a small, old man about 2 feet tall. From the old Irish word "luchorpan" which means "little body", a leprechaun is often portrayed as  dressed like a shoemaker, with a crooked hat and a leather apron. Last Christmas, my prince gave me Mr. Finnegan, King of the Leprechaun stuffed toy  from Ireland.

Mr. Finnegan has a gift tag that says "Leprechauns are mischievous little creatures and bury their crocks of gold in secret places around Ireland. Legend says if you were to capture a leprechaun and ask him the whereabouts of his treasure...he would have to tell you!  

While Green is Ireland's national color. It was probably inspired by the "Emerald Isle" landscape  which is actually green all year round with Ireland's plentiful rain and mist. Wearing the color green is said to bring good luck, especially when worn on St. Patrick's Day. So today, I wore a touch of green at my friend Fiscal Jon and Bernz Roque's double celebration - his birthday and their wedding anniversary. The Roque's couple (middle) and classmate Mayor Tony Carolino of Sta.Maria were wearing yellow. But Judge and Nilo were in green so I told them that's today's lucky color!

So aside from wearing green, did we try catching the leprechauns earlier? Yea, somehow. But not with a leprechaun trap. We have our own "bait" to catch the tricky leprechaun! We made him a cool green milk  we call Sago't Gulaman Paddy Drink! (err you haven't heard it? i just created the term lol)! Well this cool milk drink is easy! All you need are green ready-to-eat sago (pearls) and gulaman (jelly),  milk, sugar and ice cold water! But since we didn't have enough green sago and gulaman,  we added some more colors (and avoided the green food coloring) so our Sago't Gulaman Paddy Drink is not very paddyish eh. But anyway, whether we could get the tricky Mr. Finnegan through this cool drink or not, one thing is sure - the kiddos and me were trapped with this drink! I really love it so I asked for a second helping.  

Now talking about being lucky in green and catching leprechaun reminds me how nice it would be like to visit Ireland on March 17 and celebrate St. Patrick's Day like an Irish do. Not sure when that will happen though. In the meantime, I will celebrate it with my nieces and nephews over a cool Sago't Gulaman Paddy Drink and telling them about finding a P100 -peso bill soaked in water, unblemished and un-defaced while wearing green in Sagada, Philippines! Maybe that's the closest memory I have of catching a leprechaun and showing me his pot of gold! Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Jose Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail: Rizal Farm in Katipunan and Crisostomo Eguia, Sr.

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

Our  Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 heritage trail brought us to Katipunan in Zamboanga Del Norte last March 5, 2012. It was our second stop after arriving in Dipolog City that day, and getting our first stamp for the Dipolog Cathedral. Our goal is to get the stamp for the No. 27 site featured in Rizal @ 150 Pasaporte - the Rizal Farm.

Municipal Tourism Office, LGU Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte

The stamp site for the Rizal Farm is at the Katipunan Municipal Tourism Office which is about 20 minutes away from Dipolog City. Aboard a jeepney that cost us Php 18 each, we arrived there at around 4:30pm. We were not hopeful we could get the stamp since it was late basing it on standard office hours in Manila (and thought we would have to come back the next day). But surprised, surprised, the Tourism Office is open (although no one was inside haha). There was a phone number on the glass wall that instruct visitors to call if we are doing the Jose Rizal pilgrimage!

Getting the Stamp From Ms. Ade Egia, Tourism Officer  

After a few minutes, ma'm Ade Eguia arrived and happily ushered us in. While briefing us on the site, she was stamping on our respective Rizal Passports! Yehey! We learned that ma'am Ade is the wife of the incumbent Mayor of Katipunan Crisostomo Eguia, Jr. (the name sake of the current owner of the Rizal Farm - Crisostomo Eguia Sr.)!

Our Rizal Farm Best Tour Guide -Ma'am Inday

We were accompanied to Rizal Farm by Ma'am Inday, a social worker who helps Ma'am Ade when there are Rizal pilgrims wanting to see the farm.Aboard the private jeepney-truck owned and driven by sir Nonoy (Ma'am Inday's hubby!), we trailed our way to Rizal Farm located in Barangay Dr. Jose Rizal, Katipunan, Zamboanga Del Norte. 

Me with my two brothers Mike and Joel at Rizal Farm

The farm was acquired by Rizal from Calixto Carreon, a blind patient who offered it for free out of gratitude for his successful treatment. Rizal refused and paid him Php 200 for the land. He cultivated it every weekend with his pupils". A historical marker in Tagalog, Sakahan ni Rizal and Rizal Monument can be seen inside. 

Behind us is the mango tree planted by Jose Rizal on the farm

Our adventures inside the Rizal Farm was very exciting and educational with the helpful insights from Ma'am Inday and the information I found at an old historical marker behind Rizal monument in the farm. "With the help of his twelve disciples (pupils), the farm was cultivated during Saturdays and Sundays. The group traveled by banca  to the site formerly called Daanglungsod, Katipunan. The farm was planted with corn, rice, abaca and coconut trees".  There are also fruit bearing trees such as the mango tree behind us on the above picture.

Picture of Fernando Eguia in Rizal's house in Dapitan City

"Before his execution, Dr. Jose Rizal designated his sister Trinidad, as the administrator of this farm who in turn designated Fernando Eguia, one of his disciples (pupils), as caretaker of the same".

With Lolo Crisostomo, 96 years old and Lola Equia, 90 years old

"In 1949, Dona Tiining offered to sell the farm to Crisostomo Eguia, Sr., a son of Fernando Eguia.  The sale was finalized in Manila in the presence of all the living sisters of Dr. Jose Rizal who acted as witnesses. The condition of the sale was to preserve the name of Dr. Jose Rizal in the farm". And Yes! You are right! We have the rare opportunity to actually meet Crisostomo Eguia, Sr., the current owner of  Rizal Farm!

 Lolo Crisostomo is now 96 years old but still very active, while his wife lola Inocencia Taclap Eguia, is still beautiful at 90!  They are awesome folks in the real sense of the word! They made us feel really welcome! And, the experience allowed us to get to know our national hero as a farmer and actually taste the young coconut (or buko in Tagalog or botong in Visayan) that Dr. Jose Rizal planted on the farm!


Quoted text source: Rizal @ 150 Pasaporte and old Historical Marker at the Rizal Farm

Tent Living: Baby Atliah Jacinth Fernandez Riguerra!

by: Mhe-anne L. Ojeda

SUMMER is IN and so is CAMPING Lifestyle! With LOTS of people (almost everyone) wanting to escape the summer heat, hearing people living in tents is no longer news, right? Nah! if you are talking about a three-week old baby living in tent! And that's what exactly Atliah Jacinth Fernandez Riguerra loves doing.

Atliah Jacinth is the first baby of my friend couple Alexis Aubrey Fernandez (probably why Atliah) and Joselito Riguerra (reason for the second name Jacinth spelled with a J) when she adopted the "earliest living lifestyle of mankind" - living in a tent outdoor in lieu of indoor living.

Falling asleep on tent set up just outside the door of their house seems so much easier for Atliah Jacinth. I guess she can't handle the heat and the not-so - fresh air coming from electric fans inside the house, and prefers the natural fresh air outside. Her mom AA usually nurse her to sleep while in tent! She just looks adorable and a cute baby camper!