Year 1985 we go back
to my mothers hometown, there I spend my grown-up.STA.MAGDALENA on my first impression as a little girl is a strange dull and boring
place.I thought we will not be able to adjust with the place and the people. The early weeks been very hard for us(kids) to befriend with
others since we speak a different dialect
and some kids bully us around.But in the end, ST. Mary Magdalene completely adopted me.
Sta. Magdalena is a
very small town.Like most of the far-flung worlds of men, this place is almost
entirely self-contained economic unit, which to say that its plains, river,and sea provide sufficient nutriment support a
healthy human population of about 14,623 persons recorded in the year 2000.Sta.Magdalena through hindsights eyes I
can thus dryly state that I grew
up on a world ordenaire, not unlike hundreds of such worlds warmed by G- type suns.But my girlhood perception of my heimats
centrality to the larger scheme of things was quite a grander matter, for I was born as a child of Manila, considered by all to be the jewel of the country.
Sta.Magdalena by standard
of human genetic parameters , is a somewhat cool world,capped by mountains. Most of the villagers live in a traditional wood
houses , Today some people developed their homes since typhoons often reached
the area and cause severe land and property damaged and sometimes loss of life. Somehow some aging houses built during 18
centuries still stands the test of time. Whenever Im home I would walk by feet exploring the town narrow streets with trar
side walks and shaded trees, that get soft on hot days,(although most of the road now are paved), visiting old classmates
and friends, I often realize Sta.Magdalena is a place havent change at all,aside
from cemented roads, launching of cables tv, having only one telephone stand as way of communication from outside world.(Nowadays
cell phones became known to some villagers and some those who could avail buy a set in order to communicate to relatives outside
town).You can see same tired storefronts around, same old market, same old folks, watching people and tricycles go by(to give
them something to do)
For the first eighteen
years of my life in this palce,I spent many late afternoons and early evenings on the seawalls, watching the sunset , Sometimes
wander at the seashore to feel the bracing salt air and brilliant sunshine on sparkling water and watch the sails off shore
.From the seawalls you can see the nearby province (SAMAR) which is very visible
from western horizon, and the little island standing sentinel at a viewpoint(
Tikling Island).Id never been into this island, I missed many opportunities of exploring the sight, It can only be traveled
by boat and I never have the courage to ride one. I regret often ,when a close
friend offer theyre sailboats for free. Whenever I want to have a birds eye view
of the sea I visit an old schoolmate and travel for about 10 miles from town proper. Her house stands nearby a sea cliff wheres
the ocean view is overlooking. There I am content watching the island from far away. Sta. Magdalena also have magnificent
beaches, Olango Beach is the best one. Some other beaches offers smooth sand where you can laze and rent cottages or to enjoy
boat sailing offshore, These are just some of the simple attractive sights that makes the local ,visitor and those who migrated
off town comes back.
Theres so
much to tell but it just make me wanting to go back home . Ill be going home this all saints day and I hope to take some pictures
of places at Sta. Magdalena.I just hope I wont forget to bring a camera