How to dry your Rice

It is this time of the year that people here dry their rice because it’s past the harvest season. They dry their rice for several reasons, foremost of which is to lengthen its shelf life to last until the next harvest season if it is for personal consumption. If they sell it, no buyer may take the risk of buying undried rice because it may easily rot.

Producing rice is a long and hard process and drying it is the second to the last step before we can cook and finally serve it in the table. The last process would be taking out the rice from its husk which is done by milling or for some, manually (Yes! There are still some who do it and we call it “bayo”.) Drying rice is not an even an easy step. Farmers have to spread the rice in the heat of the sun the whole day, not only once but several times (I used to do it as a child; my (late)father taught me so). They have to dry the rice as early as when they feel the heat of the sun and they have to spread it in a place where it’s dry; solution – the road (for some, even on highways); it is the best option! This is a familiar sight here and it has become a practice. For some, it may be a nuisance especially to drivers but I have come to understand that for lack of better option, they have to do this and I respect that. While there is a regulation on the prohibition of drying rice on the highways, just exercise a little patience when you see one as a sign of respect to what have become a part of their customs. The next time you eat rice, you know how it was dried.

One-stop-laundry shop

People here want their clothes “river-washed and river-dried.” By simply smelling, they can identify if it is not. They say, if it is river-washed and dried, it has a distinct smell, it is as if it’s cleaner, fresher and more “sanitized!” Washing clothes in the river is fun.

They go in the morning (with some members of the family or neighbors), wash the clothes, spread them to dry in the riverbank, take their lunch while waiting for the clothes to dry, swim and bathe (after a tiring laundry session), take the clothes, then they go home. It’s convenient for them to do this because rivers are accessible here. This is a showcase of hard work and fun at the same time! I hope they use environment-friendly detergents, soap and shampoo so as not to hurt other creatures of the waters.

Side by side

If you’re going to Ilocos by land, you may notice some public cemeteries along the highway. Having traveled many times from and to the province, they have become a familiar sight to me. One place caught my attention lately and I have published a picture hereto. In the picture is a “hotel” but a closer look below it reveals a grave – it’s not one, but there are a lot, in fact it’s a public cemetery. It could have been better if the location is in a populated area, but it is not. If you are a first time traveler in the place, you may have second thoughts of spending a night here; or you may not check-in at all because it’s always “fully booked!” – I understand that! From outside, the hotel looks neat, I just don’t know what goes on inside (after midnight ). If you have stayed in the hotel, let me know of your experience. If you’re still planning to stay, you’re welcome and good luck!(I’m now blogging from Manila but I will be publishing pictures I have taken in Ilocos during the Holy Week)

The big small salt refinery!

 

My concept of a “refinery” totally changed when I saw this, in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. I stopped along the national highway where there are stalls selling salt (iodized), (sugar cane) vinegar and (fresh) fish. I bought vinegar and salt for home on this store (and so I thought it was), until I realized that it was a “refinery” I was buying from. My concept of a refinery being a huge factory with massive machineries discharging smoke where people cannot almost hear each other because of the sound of the machines, totally crushed when I went inside this salt “refinery”.

It consist of two big basins containing salt water (and other ingredients for iodized salt) heated by charcoal, stirred manually by two people (one per basin) until they produce the salt. It’s so hot inside that I have to go out after a couple of minutes. Outside, I saw on the other side of the road, another salt “refinery” with the same name. I told myself, “Manong” (older man) Arnulfo is probably the “salt magnate” of this town! By the way, I came to know that the place produces only “iodized salt” per provincial regulation.

Power Nap – Laoag

 

Even machines have to rest too, right? I took this picture in one of the corner streets in front of Marcos Stadium in Laoag City, at about 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. It is around this time that people here take their afternoon nap. That does not surprise me, having to wake up (very)early and attend to their daily chores, they have to rest half through the day. What amazes me is how the “manang” (older lady) made up her bed! If you can’t call that raw talent, I don’t know what is. To add, it appears that she does not even want to leave her merchandise and intends to sell even when sleeping! Is she able to sell or she’s missing all the customers? Kidding aside, this is the way of life of many, not only here but elsewhere. Lucky are you who have more in life – spare some to me!

Needle in a Haystack

 

“Finding a needle in a haystack” – this is what comes to my mind whenever I see a haystack. Ilocanos pile hay (not to put a needle and ask somebody to find it!) but it has something to do with their way of living especially to farmers. Hay are abundant after the harvest season which is about the middle of the year and towards the end. I thought it was useless after separating the grains of rice from it but I was wrong. I found out that farmers do haystack for several reasons: (1) to feed their animals like horses, cows and carabaos, during the dry season; (2) to serve as sow bed for garlics and unions (to prevent moisture from evaporating, the region being dry); and (3) to serve as material for roof of cottages. So, the next time you see haystack, it’s not where the needle is, but it’s where the farmer’s life depends.

How to Enjoy the Beach Without Spending Much

 

This is a familiar sight in the coastal towns south of Laoag like Paoay, Currimao and Badoc, as well as further north like Pasuquin, Burgos and Pagudpud. Ilocanos want to enjoy without spending so much especially in the beach – they love the sea!. Some of the things I’ve learned: (1) rent a “jeep” and bring as many to contribute to the transportation fee (unless you own the “jeep”); (2) bring your own food (buying cooked food may be expensive); (3)don’t go to a beach with expensive entrace fee, instead look for a place anywhere in the coastline that has minimal fee or no fee at all (afterall, it’s a public domain and safe); (4) bring water and drinks but more of the “hard” ones (it makes you more talkative even if in fact you are not by nature); and (5) if possible, bring or rent a karaoke machine, Ilocanos love to sing!

Simple Joy

 

This picture was taken on Black Saturday on my way to see the “Wind Farm” in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. On the way, you see people spending good time along the shoreline of the South China Sea. The locals swimming and tourists taking pictures. In one of my several stops, my attention was caught by a boy and a girl seated one after the other facing the sea. I asked myself, should they be in their swimwear? Before I can ask another question, I stopped. I remember myself when I was a child – I enjoyed the beach the way that my subjects here do. If this is what they are comfortable with, then so be it, I rest my case. It may have something to do with Ilocanos being generally “conservative.” The next time you see people swimming in the beach or somewhere else in Ilocos with their clothes on, just respect that, that’s how some of them do it.

“Yes Tito, in three days!” – Laoag

One of my regular visits to Ilocos is this time of the year. Not only because it is the Holy Week but also to spend time with my family. I arrived yesterday morning by bus and I was surprised to know that the fare for super deluxe bus (of Maria De Leon Trans) is now Php 850.00. The last time I paid, about two years ago, it was only at Php 500.00 or so. On second thought, this is better than taking the plane (it is more expensive!) or using the car especially when you’re alone (it is deadly boring!). Its Good Friday yesterday and this was the time when Jesus Christ died on the cross. I have witnessed the procession of the Roman Catholic Church of Laoag City and as in any other procession around the country; it chronicles the death of Jesus Christ. I was with my nephew, 6-year old Jordan.More than looking at the statues of saints and the body of Jesus Christ dead, I wanted him to know why we Filipinos remember Holy Week and how and why Jesus died. He was aware of what was going on and when I asked him if Jesus will live again, he said, “Yes, Tito, after three days!” I asked him how did he know and he said his Lola Salin (my mom) told him so. From that moment, I told myself that even if I did not get the picture I wanted, my day ended well because Jordan knew something about our Jesus Christ. That was enough for me on Good Friday.

Dep’t. of Tourism promotes “Cape Bojeador Lighthouse” and “Wind Farm” in its first travel video ad for 2006

The DOT in cooperation with SMART Communications promotes, among others, the lighthouse of Burgos (Ilocos Norte), otherwise known as “cape bojeador” and the “Wind Farm” of Bangui (Ilocos Norte) which is the latest tourist destination in the North.

To add, the first image is the famous Callao Caves in Cagayan Valley.