The author and Balik Danao Queen Evelyn Todd from Temecula, CA with the Karansa Dancers

          At 3 o’clock in the morning, I was wide-awake, so I stepped out onto the balcony, sat down, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The air was hot and humid.

          I just arrived the day before in El Salvador Resort in Sabang, my temporary home for 2 weeks to celebrate the feast of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva also known as the Danao Fiesta and to volunteer in the DAUSA medical mission.

         I still had my eyes closed when I heard a familiar sound “toku! toku! toku!”.   I smiled and savored the moment. I haven’t heard that sound in a very long time.  I continued to sit and enjoy the quiet moment … then I heard a cockcrow, “cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do”!

        Moments later another one chimed in, then another, before long there was a chorus, welcoming the day. I had a lump in my throat; tears streamed down my face, I mumbled, “I’m home”! Strange thing to say considering I’ve lived in the US longer than I’ve lived in Danao. I never expected I’d feel that way.

        The next few days were a whirlwind of activities. I began to appreciate what DAUSA has done over the years, from scholarships to the medical mission. I have always been loosely connected to DAUSA based in LA (Southern California) while I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area (Northern California), Hawaii and Colorado.

        I know deep down I wanted to be more involved, “someday” I used to tell myself.    That someday came, so here I am in Danao after 43 years of being away, and looking forward to helping out in any way I can.

        I don’t have any medical training and I know nothing about pharmaceuticals, so I did as I was told and enjoyed every minute of it. I must say, I really enjoyed interacting with the locals and speaking Bisaya again was a lot of fun.

        Having been talked into becoming a candidate for the Balik Danao Queen, I became a willing participant when I was told that it is for a good cause and the money will go to a special project.

       I enjoyed it all, even the part when the Balik Danao Queen and I missed out on the parade because we arrived late. Well, we didn’t miss it completely, we were able to get on the float in front of City Hall and rode it for one block, to the delight of my cousins and Tia Lagring that came all the way from Cebu City just to see me.

        They were on my cousin’s balcony waving, yelling and screaming. They made it all worthwhile.   The queen and I had front row seats on stage to watch the Karansa competition. It was my first and I loved the pageantry, beautiful, colorful costumes and the performances were awesome.

        The only drawback…Wa gyud ko makapamista! I have to publicly apologize to all my cousins for not making it to their homes as promised. I missed out on all that food.

        Fortunately for me, I had enjoyed the ultimate luncheon that was so generously provided by Sani and Tita Barriga Tomayao in their farm in Guinacot for the Medical Mission volunteers. I tried all the dishes and they were all scrumptious, some dishes I have completely forgotten about because you can only get them in Danao.

        With a newly found freedom, one day I ventured out on my own, taking a pedicab from Sabang to Danao, 3km away.   Danao is no longer the quiet little town I grew up in. Now, it boasts several bakeries (there used to be only 3), cyber cafes (there was none), beach resorts (there was only Sands) and an Eco Adventure Park in the mountain of Danasan where you can ride a zip line, go caving, watch a waterfall and go horseback riding.

       I didn’t recognize the streets, the houses or any of the people. It is now very crowded, people and vehicles everywhere. Crossing the street is very challenging because there is no such thing as pedestrians’ right of way.

       My cousin Catherine and I were reminiscing about how we used to play “tubig-tubig” in the middle of Pio del Pilar St.  Those days are gone forever.

       I attended mass and lingered to enjoy the church and noticed the electric fans, nice!   We won’t be needing the “pay-pay” as much. The altar is grand, beautiful and much brighter than I remembered. At the end of the mass the Philippine National Anthem was sang, hmmmm very interesting!

        I crossed the street to Sto.Tomas School where I attended high school 44 years prior. The old convent where we held classes is still there and the grotto of the Virgin Mary where we used to pose for pictures has been moved a few feet away.

       I continued on to Rizal Plaza where we trapped humungous frogs to dissect in our Science experiment in Sto. Tomas School.  I caught a glimpse of two girls in school uniforms, looks like one is going through the hair of the girl in front of her.  OMG! Nanghinguto!!!  I had mixed feelings, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be grossed out.

        I was very disappointed to see Sands Resort shuttered and in disrepair, such a waste of a beautiful area. I hope to see it back to its former grandeur soon.

        In the 60s, it was the best Danao was to offer with it’s bowling alley, snack bar, beauty salon in the back where we used to have our hair done when there was a special event in school.  I remembered the cottages… there were stories that it was the favorite place for lovers/sweethearts to rendezvous.

         My cousin Grace and her husband Arturo treated me to lunch at the new Macapagal-Durano Fish Port. Now that’s progress, downstairs is where the fresh catch is dropped off and upstairs is the restaurant. I had kinilaw…yummy! I have to go back there and try the other dishes.

         I never made it to the market, so I have to add that to my list of things to do next time . I missed out on the procession too, that will be on the top of my list.   I’ll spend a night or two in Danasan Eco Adventure Park, and then there are the churches that my cousins promised they’d take me to see.

       Since I came back, I miss the camaraderie, the food and the funny stories and jokes especially the ones Celia Barriga was telling me. They sure brought back a lot of wonderful and weird memories.

 God willing, I will be back.

    DAUSA is fortunate to enlist the support of a versatile singer/actress and radio/TV personality, AMAPOLA, in introducing to young Fil-Am Danawanons classic Cebuano love songs through www.dausa.org in line with DAUSA’s mission to instill in the minds and hearts of our new generation an appreciation of our rich Cebuano heritage. 

      Amapola is the daughter of the late great Cebuano musician, Mahnee Cabase, an icon in Cebu radio for over two decades, best known for his harana. She graciously volunteered to share with Cebuanos through the DAUSA Website her father’s huge collection of Cebuano composition.    

    Younger Cebuanos vaguely heard of this very popular Cebuano celebrity who sometime in the 70s quietly slipped out of the country at the time her popularity was rising to superstardom to find her niche in the U.S.  So, I am posting Amapola’s brief bio penned by an adoring fan, Marie F. Hernandez.

 ooooooo

Ezra Sabayton Medalle

From thousands of miles away, Sophie Olaguir was shocked to see her two friends on the list of names of those missing after the Christchurch earthquake, Ezra Sabayton Medalle and Jessie Redoble, both 25, were Filipino nurses whose first day of English class in the CTV building was the day of the earthquake,

The pair were from Danao City in Cebu, where Miss Olaguir’s sister had been classmates with Ms Medalle since kindergarten through to university.’ The pair had met at college and been together for more than five years. Ms Medalle had tried to apply to become a nurse in Canada, where her mother lived with her Canadian husband, while Mr Redoble had tried for America, where his father lives.

However, New Zealand would take them both.They had left on February 19, after a leaving party on February 15.

“The last time I saw them they were like the happiest couple on earth because finally they could go to New Zealand.”

The trip had been costly, at more than $15,000 each, but they were looking forward to getting qualified and earning money, Miss Olaguir said.

Ms Medalle was her mother’s only child and they had not seen each other in years, she said. She had gone to Canada to make money for her daughter’s education.

“[Ezra is] very sweet, she’s very softly-spoken, she’s a very smart girl.”She and Mr Redoble were “inseparable”, and Mr Redoble was very protective.

“He hugs her and kisses her  every single minute of the day. They were very sweet to each other, they were really in love.”
.Both Ms Medalle and Mr Redoble had a high level of English already and were just completing the King’s Education course to get certification, she said.- Stuff

The Danao Association USA (DAUSA) medical-surgical-dental-scholarship mission has become not only a yearly commitment of the association since 1998 but also one of the highlights of the fiesta celebration of Danao City, Cebu every September, in honor of St. Thomas de Villanueva, the patron saint who was known for his generosity in giving alms to the poorest of the poor.  

The sources of medications, medical supplies & monetary assistance for the DAUSA medical mission include charitable donors like the AmeriCares, Medical Assistance Program International (MAP), Inter-church Medical Assistance (IMA), Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), individual sponsors & pharmaceuticals.

Every September since 1998 is a much awaited month for the DAUSA members because it’s the time to “Balik-Danao” or return-to-hometown Danao City. They are named the “Balikbayans”. 

 They don’t only visit & enjoy the fiesta-celebration, but also extend blessings to deserving underprivileged fellow-Danawanons through the medical-dental-surgical mission & scholarship program.

The nostalgic ‘Balikbayans’ or those who return-to-hometown, & the DAUSA  medical mission team  experienced once again the warm hospitality, entertainment, & enjoyable participation in the  traditional welcome luncheon at the residence of Mayor Boy & Tita Durano, lunch with the scholars, the Balik-Danao Night, the mission-break lunch in the farm of Sany & Tita Barriga Tomayao, the Fiesta Parade & Culmination Night.

 The Balikbayans were also invited to other special events like Search of the ‘Matron of Danao’, Karanza competition & search for ‘Karanza Queen’, Photo Contest, individual Barangay celebration & procession & of course sumptuous luncheons & dinners.  

Before the medical mission, a meeting of representatives of the mission volunteers, local & from abroad was called. Danao City Councilor Dr. Cynthia Duterte, previous Chief of Danao General Hospital presided the pre-mission meeting, attended by the DAUSA Medical Mission Team & the chairpersons of the different committees that the Danao City Government organized for the mission.

 The DAUSA team was represented by Cecilia Barriga Ford, incumbent DAUSA president, Crosine Roble, head of the dental mission, Nanay Marrieta Palos, preceding DAUSA president, Noemi Laurente Sigrist from Switzerland & outgoing Balik-Danao queen, & Dr. Anita Cal Jackson, Chief of Medical Mission.

There was a good interaction between the “Balikbayan” team & the hosting Danao City government representatives. The family members of Noemi Sigrist & Ricky Mata helped in sorting & labeling the medications, & grouped them according to their indications. Afterwards, the organized boxes of medications were kept in a locked room.

Early Wednesday morning on the first day of the medical mission, the boxes were transported to the civic center.  After the first day of the mission, the boxes of remaining meds were transported safely to the house of Genis Cabahug, brother of past DAUSA president Gemma Montegrande. 

Genis’ wife Zorina Cabahug served as the licensed Chief Pharmacist of the mission. There was more than sufficient supply of medications for the 2^nd day of the medical mission. The free consultation & dispensing of prescriptions at the pharmacy went smoothly at the air-conditioned civic center. 

 The physicians from the Danao City Health Center & Dental office offered their free services in consultation & prescription, & tooth-extraction. Knowledgeable registered nurses were assigned in the pharmacy. 

Since the operating room of the hospital was temporarily closed due to its renovation & expansion to become the Provincial Hospital of Cebu, only minor surgeries could be performed in the emergency room. Surgeons from Cebu City & their resident physicians offered free surgical services.

Since there were extra medications, an impromptu medical mission was extended to a barrio of Danao, Santa Rosa.  It was a noble idea of the DAUSA president Cecilia Ford. It was managed by three people, Cecilia & her sister & Dr. Jackson. The barrio Capitan sent a messenger house-to-house.

Patients of different ages, newborn, children, teenagers, adults & seniors came with various problems. Registration & traffic were well-controlled; & consultation, examination, prescription & instruction were accomplished for every patient, one at a time, & in one setting.

The rest of the medications were donated & delivered to a pharmacy for identified indigent residents of the capital of a neighboring island, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, known as ‘Botika sa Katawhan’ established by a previous Chairman of the Tagbilaran Association of California (TAC), of which Dr. Jackson is the incumbent Chairperson.  (See, more photos as: http://picasaweb.google.com/DAUSAInc/2010DAUSAMedicalMission#)

On September 11, 2010, Saturday starting at 03:00 p.m., members of the Danao Association, U.S.A. (DAUSA), their friends and relatives will observe and celebrate the feast of their hometown patron saint, the venerable Santo Tomas de Villanueva, Veteran’s Park Social Hall, 101 E. 28th Street, Long Beach, CA.

  We invite you to join us in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist jointly officiated by Rev. F. Ben Ilano and Fr. Johnny Planea.  We want you to join us partake in a hearty lunch and share a good clean fun with Danawanons of Southern California.

Being at this traditional yearly DAUSA event, we expect you to experience, like most of us, a gratifying feeling of self-fulfillment for doing a good deed, making a difference in the lives of some less fortunate brothers and sisters back home.

The $10.00 donation that DAUSA is requesting from our guests is enough to cover the cost of surgical supplies for one minor surgical procedure.  The DAUSA Medical Mission volunteers do, on average, about 200 minor surgeries, such as abscess or cyst removal, etc. (This year’s medical mission will be at the Danao City Civic Center and not at the Danao General Hospital (which is under renovation)

DAUSA has been doing this, year after year, since 1998. It had assisted 3 children come to Los Angeles; two underwent extremely delicate life saving procedures.

Please, come, join us, spend an evening with super friendly Danawanons honoring their patron saint and do your share in saving a life.

Thank you and God bless.  VIVA SANTO TOMAS!

Sincerely,

Cecilia Barriga-Ford

DAUSA President

Having been born during the Marian Congress held in Cebu in 1954,  her parents Amparo (of Asturias) and Teofilo Famor (Argao), named their youngest daughter ‘Mariam’.  She had her elementary education at Cebu City Central School, high school at Cebu City Colleges (now University of Cebu).  She graduated Bachelor in Commerce major in Management from Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos.  At CSJ-R she was very active in the Dramatics Guild, performing in variety shows.

She met her husband, Monching when she applied for a job at the Commission on Population in 1977.  Monching interviewed her for the position  of outreach worker to educate mothers on family planning.  Although sexual harassment complaint was still unheard of in government offices in those days, yet Monching decided to quit his job as supervisor as soon as they went dating.  She herself quit the family planning job a year after; got married in 1978, started her own family with Monching, having Mariel and Monette born in Cebu. She put a dress shop at their house in Cebu City while taking care of her two young daughters.

Darling came to the U.S. in 1987 accompanying  her sister Helen’s two minor children, Troy and Hyacinth who waited nearly 5 years in Cebu before finally getting their immigrant visa and got reunited with the parents.

Seeing the sad state of the Philippines shortly after the EDSA revolution and the fall of Marcos, Darling saw a great opportunity for herself and her family’s brighter future in California.  She then convinced her reluctant husband, Monching, to quit his job (an appointed city councilman in Danao City and running a non-profit foundation providing assistance to small farmers in the Province of Cebu.)  He eventually followed Darling in Los Angeles 4 months later; got a work permit enabling him to work with a law office specializing immigration law.

Mariam also got a job as a biller for First Choice Nursing Services, whose Cebuana owner, Leah Rama, R.N., hired her on their first meeting.  After a 3-year stint with First Choice Darling also learned the ins and outs of the business.  When recession hit the U.S. in early 90’s  First Choice closed all their 15 branches all over U.S. and moved to New York to open another nursing registry.  Being a loyal and efficient biller, Ms. Leah Rama invited Darling to join her in New York, but Darling kindly refused to go.  She just had a baby boy, Matthew.  She was a full time Mom for nearly 5 years when Matthew was about 2 years old, and when Mariel and Monette started school upon their arrival in the U.S. in 1993.  She started working from, recruiting nurses and as an insurance agent.

With her experience as a biller, she had no problem getting a job despite the massive layoffs in many companies.  She soon got a collection job in a Hollywood company supplying lights and special effects to movie production companies in Los Angeles, then later with Catalina Yacht, handling its collection and customer service.

She then went back to the nursing registry business, helped establish then managed the Medical Support Services, which in short time became a very profitable enterprise.  Later, May Mallari, her close friend and former co-worker at First Choice asked Darling to also help her establish Master Staffing Inc, and she did.  Two years later MSI was a major player among professional nursing service providers  in the Los Angeles area, run by 3 best friends, May, Darling and Gloria Madrona.

When Monching initiated the DAUSA Medical Mission and the Adopt-a-Student Project along with U.S. resident friends from his hometown, Darling actively did her share in making the Danao Association USA (DAUSA) projects an institution in Danao City, Philippines, helping the city’s poorest of the poor through the yearly medical mission and scholarship program. She often went with the volunteers that go to Danao City every September to conduct the mission and meet the scholars.  So far over 50 of the DAUSA scholars have graduated college and now gainfully employed.  Darling herself helped one orphan go to college and became a nurse and now, a pharmaceutical distributor in Cebu.

She enjoyed travel and had so much fun going on weekend Mexican cruises with family and close friends from Danao.  She traveled to Europe two times, and also realized her dream trips: to Switizerland, Rome, the Shrine in Lourdes and the Holy Land.  Darling and Monching even had their 30^th Wedding renewal at the Ecce Homo Basilica within Old Jerusalem, less than a year after a major surgery.

Darling felt so blessed and could not ask for more from God with her two daughters, Mariel and Monette, having finished college, good jobs, married in the Catholic Church; seeing and enjoying two grandchildren, Haley, daughter of Mariel and Brian Noyes, and Nathan, son of Monette and Hywel Paragas.  She had no doubt that her son Matthew, would also turn out to be fine gentleman and become successful in his chosen career, presently a 3^rd year college at CSUN where his sisters also graduated.

Darling quit her job after CT Scans found cancer had spread in her body late 2009.  She showed strength and great courage to defeat cancer, but God’s will be done.  (See, Memorial Service & Internment Photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/monching/sets/72157624606793921/detail/

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:40:00 06/30/2010

Rene, the youngest among the children of the late "Sir Pinong & Ma'am Rosing" Almendras

The new faces in Aquino’s Cabinet are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Br. Armin Luistro (education), Proceso Alcala (agriculture), Enrique Ona (health), Alberto Lim (tourism), Mario Montejo (science and technology), Jose Rene Almendras (energy), and Virgilio delos Reyes (agrarian reform).

Also new are Julia Andrea Abad, Presidential Management Staff chief; Edwin Lacierda and Eduardo de Mesa, Aquino’s spokesperson and chief legal counsel, respectively; and Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education chair.

The others who have served in previous administrations are Secretaries Alberto Romulo (foreign affairs), Cesar Purisima (finance), Leila de Lima (justice), Florencio “Butch” Abad (budget), Cayetano Paderanga (socioeconomic planning), Jose de Jesus (transportation and communication), Gregorio Domingo (trade and industry), Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (social welfare), and Rogelio Singson (public works), and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles.

Aquino also chose two career officers to head their departments—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Aquino also announced that Maj. Gen. Ricardo David would succeed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit, and that Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Versoza would stay on until his retirement in December.

He was adamant about not appointing any of his relatives to posts in his administration, although he has a father-and-daughter team—the Abads—in his Cabinet.