Gubatnon ConnectionConceive. Believe. Achieve.

This You Tube version of the “Lupang Hinirang” national anthem of the Philippines touched my heart. Once in a while, we need to learn how our country evolved from one generation to another. Even short movie clips like this is enough to open our minds and hearts, how heroes of past and present cost their lives to build a nation named Philippines.

Gubat is a small town. Everyone knows each other. They may have different last names. But if you study each last name’s genealogy or family root, you’ll find that they’re from one family. They are related by blood.

I was born in Bulan, with my father from Bulan and my mother from Tacloban, Leyte. But I’ve long claimed that I’m Gubatnon since our family moved to this town, when I was 6 years old. I started my schooling at the age of 6, when I was enrolled in a Kindergarten School at Gubat Central School. Believe it or not, I have classmates from Kindergarten who had been my consistent classmates until we graduated at Gubat High School. Then, we went to same university in college, and meet again in the northeast, USA when we both work abroad.

From the video clip below, you’ll see me with classmates and friends from Gubat, breaking the universal belief that the earth is big. To us, friends and classmates, the earth is too small, for even if we work from different parts of the world we always see each other. This time, one from Hong Kong, two from California, two from New York, and one from New Jersey met at Etta Escoto de Guzman’s house in New Jersey.

You’ll enjoy more of my works at my “blog farm,” links of which are listed below:

1. Around New York City 2. Blackberry Phones & More 3. Success Secrets for Filipinos 4. Filmmaking Hobby With Flip Video 5. What’s on Your Mind? 6. The Geek Senior Next Door 7. The City Never Sleeps 8. Gubatnon Connection 9. Do You Need My Help? 10. Just Call Me, Ian Ryne 11. Experts Write About 12. Mark’s Nokia Blog

I’ve never thought I could find a Gabi (Gaway) plant at Times Square, here in New York City. Of all the places, it was planted at the center island of the most popular square in the world – with 45 million visiting tourists from around the world every year. I found this plant while I was video recording the Times Square, which is a a favorite place for me. Here, you could be alone, but you’ll never feel alone with thousands of people enjoying the place. Everytime I come to this place, I always ask myself why thousands of people come to this place everyday. The answer, ‘though, need not come from other people, but from my own thoughts: Times Square is the symbol of the “American Dream” every person from other places have always dreamt about. The glittering neon lights, the giant digital billboards, the tall skyscrapers, the Broadway shows, the beeping and honking cars, and the sea of humanity at this small triangle, called “Times Square” is like a world in itself. Only that sadness and negative elements are hidden, tried to be forgotten for a moment. Only fun, happiness, and memories are enjoyed in this place.

You’ll enjoy more of my works at my “blog farm,” links of which are listed below:

1. Around New York City 2. Blackberry Phones & More 3. Success Secrets for Filipinos 4. Filmmaking Hobby With Flip Video 5. What’s on Your Mind? 6. The Geek Senior Next Door 7. The City Never Sleeps 8. Gubatnon Connection 9. Do You Need My Help? 10. Just Call Me, Ian Ryne 11. Experts Write About 12. Mark’s Nokia Blog

Tired of the election fever? Tired of listening to black propagandas stoned by each warring parties? Now, let me change that worries, by sharing you a screamy story which I also shared in other Yahoo groups in the Internet.

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When I was a teenager at my hometown, I still believed on those aswangs, ghosts, and kapres, specially when I’m out on the road. Everything changed after my long years of stay here in New York City.

One night, I went home from the capital town of Sorsogon to my hometown at Gubat – driving my motorcycle. It was moonless night, and the wind was cold – sign of forthcoming rain on early morning. On that 20-kilometer driving from Sorsogon to Gubat, I was really scared to the bones, specially that I was the only one driving in a dark highway that’s cold and creepy.

When I passed, the barrio of Payawin, almost reaching the barrio of Carriedo, a very, very cold wind hit my body. Then, from the distant I saw silhoutte of giants waving their hands on me. I thought, they were the “Kapre’s” everyone was talking about. My hairs started to rise from my skin. My perspirations were as cold as melting ice on my face and on my back.

I thought, what if I reach the place where they’re standing, they’ll get into the asphalted road where I’m running and block my way? As they waved their hands from a distant, I knew, they’d be much bigger when I’m near them!

Being alone in a dark, and cold highway all I could do was pray the “Our Father,” and the “Hail Mary.” I can’t close my eyes, or else, I’ll get into an accident. After several repititions of the two prayers, as I moved forward to the waving giants, I finally reached the point where they were standing and waving hands at me. Then, as my motorcycle’s headlight hits these standing, and waving giants, I finally saw them in close-up range. As my motorcycle gets closer to them, I finally saw tall banana plants with their leaves waving on the air.

I didn’t know, if it was because of the powers of my prayers that the giants turned into tall banana plants. But after my long stay here in New York City, I certainly believe that those giants waving hands on me were products of my own imaginations.

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Fellow Gubatnon:

This blog’s subscribers had increased a lot since I redesigned this “Gubatnon Connection.” So, from here, I would like to thank you personally for your trust on my writing capabilities. Gubatnon Connection, as you may know, is different from other Gubatnon web sites or Gubatnon social networking in the Internet now. It’s been my objective when I created this blog, that you’ll come here not only for fun but mostly to learn something about doing business in the Internet, secrets of success by the rich and famous, and any postive ideas that could change our lives as Gubatnon.

Writing for blog is a hard work, specially that I have other blog sites to maintain. Aside from “Gubatnon Connection,” I’m managing also a blog site for digital photography in New York City, a web site for overseas Filipino workers, and a new blog about writers. Sometimes, I would even contemplate of closing this blog in favor of my other blog sites with larger subscribers like the bigapplecity.com blog and the overseasfilipinos.com blog with thousands of viewers every month. But I’m a Gubatnon, and I love Gubat. I feel different when I write something for this site. I feel I’m connected to my Kababayans even if I’m here in New York City – the reason why I finally changed it’s head title from “Gubatnon Blogger” to “Gubatnon Connection.”

Fellow, Gubatnon, I urge you to invite other Kababayans to come, subscribe to this blog, and participate in discussions by leaving comments on the posts and pages. Thank you very much.

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Jess Guim

Mga ka-Tribu:

This is just a short announcement to inform you that “Gubatnon Tambayan” is back.  The problem was fixed by PowWeb technical support. As I’ve previously noted, the “Tambayan” section accepts contributions from fellow Gubatnons who wanted to share news, jokes, kumustahan, ezine articles, or anything about Gubat. Simply look for the “Register” link under the section META at the right column.  (Not the one at right column, but the one at “Tambayan.” Click here to go to the “Tambayan” page.) Once your authentication is confirmed, you could login now which will bring you to a window of your own profile.  You need to change your password that’s easy for you to remember.

Let’s make this section a place for fun and camaraderie for our readers and visitors.

By the way, you’ll probably ask what are it’s differences with the main blog “Gubatnon Connection” (previously “Gubatnon Blogger”)? I’ll place it back to more serious topics about jobs, business, personal improvement, and about Gubat’s history, culture and government.  As you will see now, it’s mixed-up with some funny and entertaining blogs, when the “Gubatnon Tambayan” became inaccessible.

If you have articles about the history of Gubat, statistics of Gubat, or anything that are of serious attention about Gubat, please send it here. We will be posting it in this main site, “Gubatnon Connection.” At this point, I would like to clarify, that you also need to register separately to contribute at this “Gubatnon Connection.” That’s because “Gubatnon Tambayan (Gubatnon Worldwide Center)” and “Gubatnon Connection” are two separate blogs.  They have separate folders, records, and database. You could see it from their different graphical interfaces, or themes.

Starting from this blog now and my future blogs here in “Gubatnon Connection,” I’ll be writing straight English  to make the content of this site understandable by other viewers from around the world.  This is specially important, when someone from other part of the world is looking for statistics of Gubat, history of Gubat, or the politics and government of Gubat.  Meanwhile, we could use the Gubatnon dialect, Tagalog, Taglish, or straight English in “Gubatnon Worldwide Center.”

If you need help, please email me at jessie(.)guim(@)gmail(.)com or jessguim(@)yahoo(.)com. Please remove the parenthesis. It’s my way of protecting my email address from being captured by email extractors in web pages, which will then be used to send me “spams” of email marketing promotions.

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Courtesy: blog.onlinemoviesunlimited.com

INVICTUS (‘Di Pasupil)
ni William Ernest Henley

(Isinalin sa Tagalog ni Jess Guim)

Mula sa gabing bumabalot sa akin,
Sa singdilim na hukay at buong lalim,
Ako’y nagpasalamat sa Diyos natin,
Sa espiritu ko’ng ‘di kayang supilin.

Sa pagkalugmok na walang makapitan,
Hindi umigtad o dili kaya’y sumigaw.
Minsa’y binubugbog o ginagarote man,
Ulo kong duguan ay walang yuyukuan.

Sa kabila ng mga pagpipighati at galit,
Bumabadha’ng mga pangamba’t lagim,
Mga panahong nagbabalang-panganib,
Anumang takot sa’kin walang masilip.

Walang silbi makipot na bilangguan,
Maging lahat na naitalang kaparusahan,
Ako ang panginoon ng aking tadhana:
Ako ang kapitan ng aking kaluluwa.

INVICTUS (unconquered)
By William Ernest Henley

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

This was the poem that inspired Nelson Mandela, while he was in prison.
Please copy and pass this to your Pinoy friends, if you can. Thank you.

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Chibilicious - Really Delicious!

Mga ka-tribung Gubatnon:

I would like to announce the birth of a new mini-eatery in the heart of Naga City, which is owned by one of our Gubatnons living now in Naga City. Si Lorna Hidea-Amilano an tagsadiri sini. Kun diri pa niyo kilala ini, an kamanghod ini san sayo nato na magayon na majorettes sa GHS san dekada 70 – si Myrna Hidea. Naka-estar sira sa harap san Facoma compound, na naging Annunciation compound sa Dangkalan.

Yaa tabi an short description ni Lorna san kaniya karihan:

“Karehan lang ini, diri restaurant. Sa Ojeda IV street ini, san likod san Fiesta Hotel. Lumaon na ini na balay na may pintura. Pero, part lang sini an occupied ko. May pintura na green, may mga bala na dingding an atubangan. Pangaran niya CHIBI-LICIOUS.
Diri talaga ako nagpapainum, kaonan lang ini.”

Chibilicious: REALLY DELICIOUS!

Dagdag pa ni Lorna:

“An mga luto dini: relyenong kasag, adobong tahong, soli na gaway, soli na langka na may bangot na kasag o kinis,mga isda, linumpan na native na manok, steamed na isda (kun pa order). Saday-saday man hamok ini na karehan an pangaran niya after sa adopted ko na bata (CHIBILICIOUS). Kun mauruli kamo nan pauli kamo sa Gubat, puwede man kamo maghapit dini. An contact no. ko 09228846952 (sun), 09209063843 (smart), 054-811-5981 (digitel).”

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Mga ka-Tribu:

An maiimod niyo na retrato (parody) padara ni Nestor Castillo, dating taga-Quezon Street, na yuon na niyan nagta-trabaho bilang Nurse sa California.  Mga popular ini na lalaki sa Gubat.  Tama lang na maka-hawig nira an mga importanting lalaki sa ato world history.

Only in Class 74

Nestor Castillo, as Dr. Rizal

Benito Estipona, as McArthur

Junie Estevez, as Elvis

Enon Fresnoza, as Hitler

Jerry Datur, as Lapu-Lapu

Sards Detera, as Lincoln

Jess Guim, as Marcos

Ini na sayo na pandok, diri ko madumduman.  Pero, class 74 man kuno ini.  Segun sa text dini sa art’s ni Nestor.

PANAWAGAN:
Mga ka-tribu, we need real record or database of who’s who in Gubat. Could you please share your list to jessie.guim@gmail.com? I’ll consolidated this list, and post it here later.  Thanks

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