Malaybalay is one place close to my heart because I was born in this city, then a municipality of Bukidnon that just gained its status as a province of Mindanao. This was where my mother who was one of the Maria Orosa girls of the Bureau of Plant Industry met my father who was district engineer stationed in Malaybalay. They settled here after they were married and a year later I was born. This is why I chose to write about Malaybalay...sans pictures of my short visit in the mid 1990's.
Today, Malaybalay is the capital city of Bukidnon and is beneficiary to the construction of a monastery of Benedictine monks on San Jose Hill, the Monastery of Transfiguration, that has attracted local tourists. This was designed by the National Artist for architecture, Leandro Locsin, the chapel in a pyramid shaped structure. The monks did landscaping themselves as observance of the motto of their order - ora et labora - thus, at daybreak, after vespers and mass, the monks and novices would be working, in the fields planting several crops, noteworthy of which is coffee. It goes by the brand Monks Blend Premium Coffee, now available in most supermarkets in Manila. I remember when I first bought this coffee, it was in brown paper bag and placed in a plastic bag for protection against spillage. Dom Martin was selling this to people he knew in Manila...it has since adopted a more modern look, packaged in a foil lined bag with its brand printed on it.
Construction was still ongoing then, we had to stay in unfinished dormitory rooms and the bathrooms were in another building across from where we slept. We were awaken every morning at 4 with ringing of the bells and monks singing vespers. I would go back to sleep even before the vespers were over and woke up only in time to have breakfast at the refectory of the monks. The monastery now that it is completed has a guest house and a museum to house the collection of vestments of Dom Martin featured in a book on vestments, "Worship and Weave". This book won the National Book Award in the art category in 2001.
I was happy to set foot in Malaybalay...and have to thank Cecile Manikan who took me with her in one of Ballet Philippines outreach programs. This was the first time I came to the place where I was born since we left the place right after the war. It still had the laid back facet of most cities in the South...but is lush and green everywhere we looked, prominent in its landscape is Mount Kitanglad. Visible are hills as we drove around the city and I know that Can-ayan is one of them. For this was where we escaped when the Japanese attacked Malaybalay...while watching the rain one day, I said "there is water in the mountains"...my mother related this to me.
On our free day, we were taken to a reforestration project where tree planting was segregated by variety - an area planted with pine trees, another with mahogany, among others. This was under the supervision of the European donor whose grant made this possible. Fr. Columbano (I'm not sure of the spelling) upon learning I was born in Malaybalay acted as our tour guide whenever he was free. He took us into a "forest"...we had to walk on a narrow dirt road leading to a bamboo walkway over a precipice and a river below. I was ready to give-up because of my fear of heights but they were all very patient with me. Then we trekked by the side of a hill or is it mountain and finally we saw what we came for...awesome waterfall! If I am not mistaken, it is the Malingon Falls. We stayed for a while to enjoy the scenery but didn't go further. We had to do the trek back to show our presence to the dance class conducted by Paul Morales. After all that was the reason we were here. We passed Rizal Park where the Kaamulan Festival is held every year about mid-February to March 10 with exhibits and folk dancing by hill tribes, namely: Bukidnons; Tigwahonon; Umayamnon; Talaandig; Matigsalugs; Hagaonon; and, Manobo. It is a very colorful event with each tribe in their best attire and showcasing their talents and workmanship. I would love to see this ethnic festival...maybe next year.
Fr. Columbano introduced me to one of the parishioners whose family knew my father...and to the PAL representative in Malaybalay who when he saw my ticket asked if I was related to Pete Afable. He even pointed to the location of our house. It was dark and raining so I didn't quite see
how the house looked...except for the flicker of lights inside. I told my dad about them when I got back...he had this smile on his face like he remembers those days. I can't remember if he made a comment. This left a void in my heart, not being able to see where I learned to walk and talk...not to have at least looked for some people my parents knew; not knowing then that it mattered.
I'd like to do a trip to Malaybalay again...I have to look over my baby book to know who were their friends. I know that my godparents have all returned to Manila and are no longer living...just like my parents.
Trail to the Top
View of Madlum River from the Top and the West is Mt. Arayat (background of the other photo).
