PASIMULA

There are many things that originated from Morong. Some were borrowed and adapted by people of Morong and through the years became Morong orig. The spoken language is Tagalog yet it has evolved through major changes that remained forever part of everyday Morong dialect. More Morong words and phrases are in the Morong Diksyunaryo that is linked to many Morong websites, most notably radyosanguilmo.com.

Some Moronguenos of my generation said that the “purungtong” and “sandals” are of Morong origin. The “purungtong” was and still is Morong magsasaka’s work pants. The influx of Moronguenos to America, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area, brought changes to the sartorial tastes of our farmers who are now wearing Levi’s and signature long sleeved shirt. Ando sapatero made “palagatos,” as well as “chukkas” many years ago. Look around now and you will see the rebirth of Morong’s “purungtongs” and “palagatos”.

This section of the Likas-Morong website is an attempt to bring out the undocumented things that came from or were made in Morong. The postings here will be culled from a book project that has been years in the making. The stories revolving around things-Morong were told by many people of my generation, and will be kept and displayed at the TCMC/Morong Museum for posterity. As we grow older we forget the fact that, “syanga pala ito ay gawang Morong ah,” or “aba, sa atin iyan nagmula!”

How do we start this section (from the book)  without being repetitious of the information written in many articles, in the book – Morong 400? Those were the days that are now priceless. Our generation could make the events alive by putting them in story format. No one could beat the Kwentong Tulay, straight from the horse’s mouth, wika nga. Maski na Taglish ay puntong Morong. Just imagine nakaupo tayo sa tulay or Lingling’s papag.

These events/memories are facts, we do not have to authenticate the events and information because we did those things, and we lived through those years. Our experiences were etched in the years 1950 – 1960. Another kababayan wrote about life in Morong in dekada 1970 – 1980. Thank you Mr. Erich Tunque, San Guillermo, Morong, Rizal. Janet Gonzaga whose family is linked to the Gonzaga sa Tupas Street also sent her reflections and those of her friends from San Guillemo.

After the 60s, nagkawala na ang mga Kanto Boys and some cream of the crop of Morong. They joined the US Navy & Coast Guard, worked in the Middle East, or Southeast Asia (Laos especially) went abroad to the US to further their profession, na-green card ng mga parents at kapater na matanra iyong iba, and others got married to Morong-American citizens.  Some moved out of Morong, nagging Linguhan lamang ang uwi. If they are lucky they might be able to renew the kwentuhang tulay with balikbayan friends at ERA. Thanks for the memories. Salamat sa inyong input mga ka-tulay.

By Patch Aquino

I remember a time when you did not worry about locking your house door and when you could leave the bintana open all night.

I remember a time when children ran hurriedly home (nagkakang papater) upon hearing the alve from the la torre.

I remember a time when at night regardless of who you meet on the street as long as they are older or taller, nagmamano po tayo.

I remember the old plaza on weekends full of kids playing around the glorieta and the older ones playing basketball… on a dirt court! Ahhh, the plaza, the center of activities of our town. Remember the Kumidya? My uncle played the prince bedecked in multi-colored satin pair of pants and naka bulgang long sleeve shirt, with a kapa, and a crown. In addition, who will not forget the Pusung – Karabana, and the man inside the kubol at the front stage coaching and dictating lines to the actors so loud the people around him could hear it?

I remember when a particular old man passed our street and the dogs went crazy tahuling after the man. “Kow iyon ay mangkukuba!”

I remember a time when we went to “war” using slingshots against the kids sa kabilang ibayo. Kutakot na kalampagan sa bubong.

I remember when the mangingisda from Ibaba used a car battery, two bamboo poles, and a bangka to koryente the fish from our ilog.

I remember when people in Uugong used chemicals to poison fish to make it easier for them to catch. The problem was the chemicals went down stream all the way to Wawa. In addition, the maglalaba along the riverbank had their laundry done and “fish-to-go.” Talking about the maglalaba…

I remember a time when the binatas porma at ligaw to the maglalaba either at the paraan or balsa. Later they were tukso “hoy mga manga-ngastor” – named after the mang-i-igib Kastor who started the kastorization. Oh, btw some paraans are gone. When you balikbayan walk around the town and you will be surprise to see what is now in the paraans.

I remember a time when Lingling (Kape) reserved a papag sa Parlor for the Kanto Boys to hang out and sisti people passing by. Later Datdat told everyone the reason. Seems like the KBs are monopolizing the bangko inside the kapihan and customers had no place to sit. RIP Lingling!

I remember the tulay on Sunday afternoons full of KBs in their freshly ironed trubenized or Hawaiian Togs (from Escolta), spit-shined Walkover shoes, rolled up pants to show the argyle socks. And I remember Asiong Pukaskas with his rolled-up t-shirt sleeve revealing Lucky Strike in it.

I remember when it was fun to walk to school, to church, or palengke. The tricycle we knew was the bisiklita for young children.

I remember a time when a singkong ukoy as big as platito was sawsaw in a sawsawan with indescribable color due to numbers of hands dipped into it previously. It was not yucky! Something from someone’s fingernails (maybe the mekaniko) made the sawsawan so good. “May humihigop pa nga ng suka eh.”

I remember a time when a piece of tira-tira or panutsa and a plate of bahaw na kanin fed our contentment.

I remember the days when politicians supplied us with basketballs – the kind that turned oblong after one game. I remember last election they gave complete sets of uniforms!

I remember the days when neither movies nor music had parental ratings. And saw movie alaverde na late at night. I still remember the pasini nina Ador Cruz (match company), and late Baryon Francisco (Dept of Agri) sa plaza. I cannot forget also the side pasini sa site where fighting fish was featured film.

I remember a time when paying cash or bariya was okay and “platinum” and “gold” were precious metals. Or mas lalong okay – “Sabi po ni Inang ay iragrag raw itong balawbalaw sa kanyang listahan.”

I remember the look and feel of our first Levi’s…. by 15^th Avenue! Geese, I still remember the story behind the court hearing of Tio Impyong and the real 5^th Avenue tailor shop. Even with the court order, TImp still used the itikita and hid “1” by sewing over it! Sikat!

I remember the night of the parade miting de abansi at the plaza with family-oriented palabas, free merienda and refreshing water from the puso. Last year I still remember the miting di abansi complete with double Xs scantily clad dancing kuwans, a free piece of tastee with eggo, and bottled water.

I remember the time when men gathered at the tulay during baha or lipos and gathered (lassoed) drifting woods…. even animals!

I remember the time when mothers dressed birthday celebrants in white pagsisimba, and higute at tastee, sarsaparilla or royal tru-orange - sandwich party. No Jollybee!

What more can we say about Uugong falls? It fell already due to pollution and neglect. I remember the time when the water was blue-green, refreshing, and cool. We even lowered SanMig beer to the deepest side by the hanging rock to cool it. I will treasure the recipe of sinig-ang na sardinas ala Uugong-style.

I will always remember the New Years Eve Benedicts’ dance at the plaza with live orchestra and the boogie-woogie. We helped decorate the plaza and went as far as Balante and Bahay Kuwago to get kamuning. I remember last 2007 Kordero when old Morong folks told us that kamuning is gone! Pati raw hinlalaga! Sumingit naman si Mr. Stitboy Ding DC – “Pati tiga Balante wala na rin at pulos istranghiro na nakatira raon.”

The past has paved the way for progress, but my heart finds solace in the memories of the simple pleasure of days gone by in Morong.