I am re-blogging this post to honor the man who helped make our days of youth so memorable in our hometown of Tuguegarao. Students from Cagayan Teachers College, Cagayan High School, St Paul and St Louis remember beloved Manong Berong so well. His happy go lucky nature and ability to speak English are long lasting impressions shared by many. Last year, Ading Bong searched for him and thankfully, located Manong Berong. They had such a wonderful visit punctuated with so much laughter. Manong Berong remembered so many of his pasaheros, it was mind bloggling. Just recently, dear friends Manang Eileen, Manang Nene and Ading Bong saw Manong Berong at his home. They reminisced details of conversations that Manong Berong was made privy to because of hours upon hours of joy riding! The photos we saw, spoke of great laughter and then tears. Manong Berong is now a carpenter as he had to sell his horse and kalesa years ago. The trade has not been kind to our kutseros with the streets now filled with tricycles. Life has not been easy. He was so touched that many of his pasaheros remember him fondly. I will be seeing Manong Berong when I visit Tuguegarao in the very near future.
GOD BLESS ANG KUTSERO NG BAYAN.
Scorching Tuguegarao is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains , the Cordilleras and the Caraballo Mountains. It grew on the banks of the Cagayan River and the Pinacanauan River, near the southern border of the province of Cagayan…I lived in this once quiet town where I have great memories of the kalesa being the primary means of transportation. Idyllic times, eating adobong mani(local peanuts cooked with lots of garlic), the most sour native green mangoes and joy rides for P1.00 for an hour. Manong Berong put up with 8 girls giggling for a whole hour as we blissfully tested the poor horse’s stamina. That was 38 years ago. Where did time go? I am struck at how it truly has flown by. Tonight, we celebrated my Papa’s 80th bday. Tonight, I laughed and cried…and managed to eat morsels. I know I owe this food blog some photos. So soon after…
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Thanks for sharing the Sinanta recipe . I am so happy to hear about Manong Berong . I wish I can come home and thank him personally for being so kind and generous with his time cruising with his kalesa.
Hello Edna,
I will be going to our Tugue in the coming months and I shall see him. Will share your comments. I bet he remembers you as he remembers so many of his parokyanos….thanks for your comment and for stopping by. Blessings!!!!