Why this photo-op of women - this photo taken over half a century ago and has appeared as the profile picture of ASCCA (Asi Studies Center for Culture & the Arts) in its Facebook page?

Special memories of who they are and the heavy load they carried on their shoulders in the 50's, keep coming back in my moments – when I wake up and sign on to my Mac. The pic is my screen saver!

They were members of the "Hermanas de Maria" (Sisters of Mary) – Banton church's elder group that kept Faith their daily bread.  They prayed the novena and rosary from old pages of discarded notebooks; they attended the Latin mass; took care of their families while their husbands tilled the fields – their men who bartered the copra and banana with neighboring islands and learned "the language of the purling waves" in their doon-doons, ramyogs, batils and lansons.

Here in this photo-ed the agony and dejection after typhoons Jean and Wanda were glum reminders – written on their faces. They took despair with the patience of Job while their sons and daughters were somewhere – studying or laboring in some corners of the archipelago.

They wove the abaca and buri – when the hum of the ubiquitous habyon/teral was music to the ears; when palm, stone, and grass gave meaning to what is life in that island of hope. They gave thanks in their pangupongg rituals; respected the tribal virtues of sanrokan, pahilas, patikyar, ragipon, ad infinitum -  gems of yore which defined their character and their visions of tomorrow.

They succeeded. Their surnames carry with it indelible footprints: Fabon, Fabic, Festin, Fetalvero, Fabella, Veza, Saluba, Musico, Fetizanan, Ferranco, Facultila, Fadrilan, Faigao, and others whose surnames I can't remember.

They, who we remember with awe and respect: Nanay Ines, Nanay Memeng, Nanay Orang, Nanang Balbi, Nanang Rosing, Manang Feling, Nanang Ponying, Nanay Milay, Nanang Emyang, and more if you can help us identify some of them.

Their "apo sa tuhor(s)" now carry Fukumoto, Hicks, Taylor, and many others scattered all over the world!

These holidays, my screen saver tells me how these women got into the Christmas spirit during the wee hours until the eve. Their caroling started after midnight when the "Hijas de Maria" school kids and other groups were done.

A centavo offering was a luxury. Over their flickering "lampara" (kerosene filled glass jar)  in a 5-10 minute feminine bravura they sang the "Daigon."

"O tagbayay nak dungganon,
Kung sarang kami pasaka-on
Kung indi kami pasak-on
Reli yang kami sa silong."

And the ballad of the birth of the Child in Asi, rang loud and clear as they groped their way into the doorsteps of the Faithful – long ago.

Ish fabicon
12.10-09