Diglat: "The Bangar Tree and the Dryad"

"The Bangar Tree and the Dryad"

"Why are you sad, Bangar Tree?" Asked, the Diwata. The tree replied, "I am sad because nobody likes me. The birds seem to avoid me because of my odor. Many people want to cut me down because I either stink or stand in their way. I am not beautiful like you!" 

The diwata said, "but you are beautiful! Your fruits are treasured as food and dye for hand woven products. Your skin is made into pretty baskets, your trunk as interior of houses and your shade as children's playground. You are the oldest tree in Pangasinan or possibly in the Philippines. They even named a town in La Union after you."

The tree then unabashedly spread it's branches, grew its leaves, blossomed its flowers and didn't mind how it smelled because she is beautiful, loved and real.

*diglat- a Pangasinan word for fiction

Diglat: "The Boy Who Cried Ey!"

"The Boy Who Cried Ey!" 

The boy asked the blind old man, "Do you know where we are?" The blind old man replied, "We are in Princess Urduja's castle in the Kingdom of Caboloan." The boy then said in disbelief, "But you are blind! And what you are saying is just a myth! We are just in a S-shaped building near the seashore!" The blind old man said, "One does not need to see. When you hear the anlong and kansyon, there will always be a silver fish known as Betel, a princess named Urduja and a magical place called Pangasinan!"

*diglat- a Pangasinan word for fiction

Diglat: "Breakwater"

"Breakwater"

The girl asked the boy, "Can we withstand the waves of life when we grow up?" 

The boy staring at the violent waves answered, "Maybe. Maybe not. But hold my hand tightly, I will be your breakwater against any storm surge..."

*diglat- a Pangasinan word for fiction

Stories from the Street: Tondaligan

If you are from Pangasinan, I'm sure you've been to Tondaligan at least once in your life. In one of your visits to the park or the videoke sheds along the shores of Bonuan Blue Beach, you probably bought mangoes or boiled peanuts from an old woman with a faint smile and mellow voice. It could be out of compassion or maybe you just couldn't resist how the green mango made your mouth water.

Her name is Nana Violy (Violeta Landingin Cornel). According to her, she's been a vendor in Tondaligan for more than 40 years. Long enough to send her children and grandchildren to school. Long enough to remember that Tondaligan has changed name numerous times before. It has been named National Children's Park, Ferdinand Marcos Park, Tondaligan Park, and Bonuan Blue Beach People's Park. We shared the same sentiment that the names Tondaligan Park (to describe the park) and Tondaligan Beach (to describe the beach) are misnomers. Tondaligan Park is redundant as tondaligan in Pangasinan means a place to rest or a place of recreation - meaning, a park. And to describe or name the beach as Tondaligan Beach is absurd as literally it would mean a park beach. History is clear that the beach’s name is Bonuan Blue Beach. But somehow the names Tondaligan Park and Tondaligan Beach stuck the way most of us Pangasinenses have accepted Panggalatok (which I vehemently detest) as the same as Pangasinan.

I observed that her basket of goods was still full even if it’s already late in the afternoon. She lamented that sales have waned through the years and the Tondaligan she knew has changed. She didn’t ask me to buy her stuff. With enthusiasm she smiled and said: “Tomorrow’s another day, sales will be better!” Before parting, I asked her if I could take a picture of her to which she reluctantly agreed. She said a lot of photographers have taken a snapshot of her with the promise of her picture reaching overseas and different magazines. All she wanted is that they give her a copy of her picture when they see her again but years have passed and none have returned. I said, I will not only show her photo to many people but share her story as well. She smiled profusely and said goodbye.