Alliterating in Albay

From the Albayano Art Awards to alimentary aspirations, or from blades and bonsai to Bacaycay beach bum, why, even constipation in Cagsawa. Toss in Masaraga and Malinao as sister mountains of Mayon.

The words divine roll mellifluously on the tongue honed in pili & pinangat paradise, as would be manifested during our attendance at Daragang Magayon, make that the 2014 Festival.

Marne’s moment. Marne’s the man! Make that Marne L. Kilates, who’s been on such a divine roll himself that after being hailed as Poet of the Year by Philippines Graphic magazine and having his latest poetry collection Pictures & Poems & Other Re(Visions) win the National Book Award last year, his latest distinction is as a recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Albayano Awards.

This transpired last Thursday night on the floor (often used as a basketball court) of the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City, where Governor Joey Salceda and guest of honor Senator TG Guingona formalized the recognition. 

As Gov. Salceda articulated in his brief speech, “An awards ceremony to honor Outstanding Albayanos will make these icons feel that their works are valued by government. It will show approval and gratitude for their outstanding job, and it makes aspiring artists, tourism and cultural practitioners aware that good work will be rewarded… Recognition motivates others to strive for excellence.” 

Honored were Ricardo Dy, Aguinaldo Cariño Sr. and Maria “Nini” Ong-Ravanilla for Tourism, Ramona Ines Rañeses-Bustamante for Culture, Felipe Noe Napa Jr. for Decorative Arts, Antonio Arispe for Broadcast Arts, Ramil Chavenia and Inocencio Bermundo for Music, and Marne L. Kilates and Merlinda C. Bobis for Literature.

A pity that our Australia-based friend Merlinda couldn’t make it to the ceremony, where her mother had to proxy for her, and who affirmed that her daughter the internationally acclaimed poet, novelist and dancer was still occupied with teaching at the University of Wollongong.

Special awards were also given to other Albayanos for recent achievements: Cadet First Class Jheorge Llona for graduating as valedictorian of the 2014 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class Siklab, Cadet Glenn Santelices for graduating as valedictorian of the 2014 Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class Mandilaab, Cadet Jayson Rey Florin for graduating as one of the top ten cadets of the same PNPA class, Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti for winning as Binibining Pilipinas International 2014, and Yvethe Marie Santiago for winning as Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2014.

Many other statuesque beauties in gowns or mini-skirt ternos filled up at least two tables beside ours that was marked for media. And we learned that Albay actually has a beauty pageant academy that trains scores of these svelte lasses for national and hopefully international, even supranational, competition.

It seems that a total program for development and promotion of the province’s attributes has long been in place under the governor, who has also gained acknowledgment for his multi-pronged environmental advocacy.

 Our media group from Manila had been invited by Albay Poet Laureate and consulant for cultural affairs Abdon “Jun” Balde — in behalf of the Governor — to cover the Outstanding Albayano Awards as a highlight of the 2014 Daragang Magayon Festival overseen by Sangguniang Panlalawigan board member Hon. Glenda Ong-Bongao, who also serves as Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

And we were only too happy to oblige, as both Jun Balde and Marne Kilates are not only premier poet-writers, but as well our long-time colleagues around the movable feasting table. Make that tables — of sundry spirits.

As a result, hectic as the visit was, we enjoyed and were overjoyed at every minute — inclusive of the road tours where this or that pastel-painted building was pointed out to us as a Climate Change or a Disaster Preparedness program venue, or this or that restaurant as a special one for the Bicolano dishes we had looked forward to.

Such as Dad’s Pinangat in Camalig, perennial first-placer for the much-vaunted dish, with “Dad” himself demo-ing the preparation — layering three large gabi leaves on his palm, ladling upon their center the mixed filler of fleshy daing na bangkulis (of the tulingan family), scooping up specially flavored kakang-gata or coconut first-press, folding the leaves into a square and tying it all up with gabi midrib strips, to await the gentle boil in a cauldron of coco second-press. Arrayed beside him on the prep table were the leaves and cut-up daing as well as ginger, onions, garlic, tomatoes and chillies.

We had an excellent lunch at Ysabelle’s and terrific dinner at Layag (binacol and different sisig, among succulent others), with a pizza nightcap at Sea Dog by the breezy boulevard. Then had another outstanding lunch catered by Layag (tostadong gata with ubod and shrimps) when we were driven up on our second day to the Mayon Resthouse for the spectacular views of the very green countryside and the distant gulf of blue — then too for cheap buys of Bicol blades and blossoming bonsai from sidewalk vendors on park’s edge.

From mountain to sea, wisdom to freedom as it were, with a couple of hours allotted to Bacaycay Beach of the black sand and invigorating surf. Then back to the city in time to catch the Pantomina sa Kalye, a courtly dance competition among barangays.

On both days we were lucky to see Mayon Volcano shorn of clouds, looming always as a magical presence when she bared herself, the way Daragang Magayon does as a statue in Barangay Buang before the climb up the perfect cone (oh, but for a well-placed sash).

 Then there were the charming Gigantes or Giants, crafted with papier maché and assorted media — of scores of mythological creatures that included the pink god

Gurgurang, the senior deity much like Zeus but nicer, bereft of mischief, another that was a local version of Neptune, and the elongated, multi-horned red serpent Ibingan. 

These Gigantes were born of the research of the poet laureate Jun Balde, and they are as colorful as the bogeyman imagination of the fiery Bicolano. Or as oragon.

This year the parade of giants had one popular figure missing: that of Tambaloslos, the creature that was so randy a rapist that he was punished by Gurgurang, who gave him a permanent erection that could not find an appropriate haven. To make Tambaloslos practically immobile, he was also given humongous testicles that scraped the ground, and weighed him down, of course.

In last year’s parade, the craftsmen outdid themselves by managing to have the giant member spew out liquid, so this was too much already for the Church. Thus, despite his popularity with the CP-cam-wielding crowd, Tambaloslos has been literally grounded. That is, struck out of this year’s parade, where he could not reign or rain.   

Ah, Albay! The ribald is rung in as bold tale, for whom the bell tolls we can always point a finger at one another. We saw, too, and experienced ancestral houses, in Camalig and Tabaco. But our space this week is like that for which Tambaloslos cannot have occupation privilege. So we’ll reserve those stories, as well as those of the rocks amid the Cagsawa ruins, for another bellwether day, for leading any flock astray.