TRIBUTE

Fernando Aquino Buyser

(1879 – 1946)

Fernando Aquino Buyser was born in Kalunangan, Merida, Leyte last May 30, 1939 to Don Gregorio Virgeneza Buyser and Doña Eugenia Aquino.  Husband to Doña Bruna Aranas also a poet.

He was the youngest of 10 siblings namely: Pedro Aquino Buyser, Toribio Aquino Buyser, Vicente Aquino Buyser, Marta Buyser Ojil, Victor Aquino Buyser, Sergia Buyser Calumpag, Felicidad Buyser Guzman, Maria Buyser Oliverio, Esperanza Buyser Adlao, and Fernando Aquino Buyser being the youngest.

He was an elementary school teacher, an inter-island ship officer, and an Aglipayan priest.  He was also secretary of patriotic leaders in both the Revolution against Spain and the Filipino-American War. He was known as a poet, fictionist and a playwright.

He authored more than 20 books and booklets in different genres.  He published many poems, plays, folklores, novelettes and other writings like Balangaw (Rainbow), 1941, Kasakit Ug Kalipay (Woes and Bliss), 1940, Kasingkasing Sa Magbabalak (Heart of a Poet), 1938, Barasahon Sa Mga Balak ( Readings of Poems), 1936, Dungog Ug Kamatayon (Honor and Death), 1926, Ang Panimalos Sa Usa Ka Aswang (Exploits of a Vampire), 1923, Bayli Oficial (Official Dance), 1913, Mga Damgo Sa Usa Ka Pari (Dreams of a Priest), 1913, Lucia, 1912, Si Kristo Gikawat (Christ Has Been Stolen), 1912, Mga Sugilanong Karaan (Old Stories), 1913, Mga Awit Sa Kabukiran (Songs of the Fields), 1912, Ang Bulawan Ug Ang Brillante, Ang Gugma Ug Kalooy, Ang Kahayag, Anhelika, Matahum Handumanan Sa Kandihay, Haring Gangis Ug Haring Leon, Ritual Sa Simbahang Pilipinhon, Ang Kalasag, Ang Kalipay, Gumarang Aglipayano, Unsa Bay Infierno?, Ang Banwag, Usa Ka Gabiing Pilipinhon, Mga Sugilanong Pilipinhon, Ang Laa Sa Bugay, Ang Sinakit Sa Awto, and many more.  

He also translated the Himno Nacional De Filipinas and Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios into Cebuano to make it available to Visayans

He used pen names in his writings like Alibangbang (Butterfly), Paring Bayot (Gay Priest) and Floripinas as the most well-known which means Flower of the Philippines.  He created the sonanoy (sonnet) in his Cebuano poems. 

Fernando Buyser officiated the marriage of Gregorio Aglipay Cruz y Labayan and Pilar Jamias. 

He died on November 16, 1946 at the age of 68 in Mainit, Surigao del Norte and his remains was buried in Timamana, Tubod,  Surigao del Norte.


His works was exhibited in “Visayan Verve: A Tribute to Bisaya Artists” and “Mga Bayani Sa Sugbo” in Cebu.

TRAVEL

Cosmic Journey in Baguio


We travelled Baguio with my family and friends, firstly for the strategic planning of my wife’s team and next to join the Panagbenga Festival. 


Our itinerary includes many side trips.  We experienced the Cosmic Journey, we tasted fresh strawberries at the Strawberry Farm, we experienced Buddhism at the Bell Church and we also went to the Mines View Park to witness the view.


I frequented Baguio a lot, but my Cosmic Journey experience at the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary was like a soul searching experience for me.  With that experience, I can say that I found my soul and the essence of being human.
The Cosmic Journey starts with an orientation by the guide, and then we started the journey from the birth of the universe, then the birth of the earth, then the blooming of flowers, then the birth of the primates, then the first human beings, then the different religious traditions, and so on.  There were 14 stations in the whole journey.  The culmination of our journey was the painting of pots.  We painted our life experiences to each of our pots and then we presented it to the group about the meaning of what we have painted on that pot.


We also experience the bonfire which was one of the first traditions of early humans.  We sang songs, drank wine and enjoyed the crispness of the night.



The whole journey was an eye-opener of the cosmic realities and I realized that humans are just a speck of dust of the universe.  We are just nothing if we don’t give meaning to our lives.

TRAVEL

Surviving Caramoan


I’ve been there in Caramoan and it was a very much fun-filled experience together with my family and friends. 


Caramoan has been the site frequented by the reality television show Survivor. 

The Survivor rented Caramoan for 25 years, starting from the year 2008 up to 2033.  Starting from that year up to the present, there were already two seasons of US version; two seasons for Serbian version; three seasons of Israeli version; one season of Bulgarian version and one season of Swedish version that were filmed all in Caramoan.  And the list is getting longer.


The Caramoan Peninsula is one of the best places here in the Philippines for beach hopping, snorkeling, camping, trekking and everything that you can think of the outdoors.


In going to Caramoan, we went there in a night travel via bus from Cubao to SM Naga.  From SM Naga, we rode a van going to the port of Sabang.  Then we rode a motorized boat going to the port of Caramoan Guijalo.  From there, we were fetched by the jeepney coming from the rented house owned by a relative of a friend. 


We rented our house for 3,400 per head per day and it was already all in—the meals, the beach hopping and the boats for beach hopping were already included.  Of course, transportation cost was not included.  Air conditioned rooms with free wifi and I remember every meal was like a feast starting from breakfast up to dinner with snacks in between.  It’s like our rent was returned to us by the good food plus the enjoyment and beauty of the peninsula.  Kudos to the house owners!



In going back to Manila, we traveled back the same route.  Borrowing the famous quote of General Douglas MacArthur, all I can say is “I shall return”.

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Wherever you go, go with your heart"

Joram J. Jarabe
January 30, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"The dusk II"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 26, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"The dusk I"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 26, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"The cross of belief"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 23, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Sending to school"

Joram J. Jarabe
March 12, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Morning light and green"

Joram J. Jarabe
June 20, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Peeping Moon"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 12, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Minutes before night"

Joram J. Jarabe
May 20, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Fun farm"

Joram J. Jarabe
January 30, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Enter if you dare"

Joram J. Jarabe
May 17, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Ember sky"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 25, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Destruction of a mountain"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 27, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Age of Consumerism"

Joram J. Jarabe
January 28, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

"Clear anticipation"

Joram J. Jarabe
February 12, 2014
Huawei Ascend Y100