Gathering plants in Binalbagen

Monday, January 18th

Got up early this morning for another good breakfast of mango crepes. We cleaned up and prepared for our small journey down island to visit Riza’s father. He has plants for the garden at Calibago. Leroy has hired Boy and his jitney to make the trip with a load in both directions. On the way down, we are sending wood from trees felled here to Reza’s cousin Dorothy. On the way back the jitney will be loaded with plants. We will meet Boy in Binalbagen tomorrow so we can make the journey in a more leisurely fashion today.

Our first stop is Murcia to buy plywood and rice that will be delivered to Caesar at Calibago by jitney. While Leroy and Riza were making their purchases, Dan and I were watching a truck unloading nipa fronds for roofing for the hardware store. We saw the nipa growing along river banks as we traveled later in the day. It grows as tall, straight, single fronds perfect for trimming into lengths suitable for layering on a roof.

Have I mentioned that Leroy has learned to drive in the Filipino manner? Weaving in and out, passing as many as he can at the highest possible speed. What would terrify me in Vancouver seems normal here and there is only the occasional gasp at how close it comes. Adding to the traffic congestion are people, dogs and livestock crossing or even living in the road. Whole lanes are closed off while a local farmer dries rice or coffee on the pavement.

We had planned a nice lunch at the Sol resort. Riza had heard that they have a good restaurant. We found the right area and turned toward the beach on secondary roads following the resort signs to the sea. The neighbourhood seemed very clean and prosperous. The resort itself was beautifully kept and clean but there was no one there. The resort was empty, the beach was empty and the restaurant was not in business. What a waste of so much creative effort.

We carried on our journey, back to the highway and on to La Carlota where we had a very nice lunch at a restaurant Leroy and Reza knew from previous visits. It is owned by a young East Indian man married to a Filipino lady. It was clean, well kept and the food was very good. Their home was next door and the garden was beautiful with a wonderful show of Vanda orchids in the center.

We wound our way back through huge Mango groves and stopped at a farming cooperative for Durian ice cream. No luck! They were all out of ice cream but we did find some Pele nuts, some Mango pure for making drinks and I bought a jar of Mango jam.

Before long we reached Binalbagen and drove up to Riza’s front gate. We were greeted by her father, his housekeeper and her two boys. We had a nice visit then toured the garden with Riza and her father discussing what could go and where it should grow once it reached Calibago. It seemed so many plants were leaving, he would have to start his garden all over again!

We left Binalbagen mid afternoon and went on to our hotel in Kabankalan. The Zycoland hotel and resort is very modern and well kept. The Doctor’s Hospital is right next door and the local Hospitality college is holding classes in the hotel temporarily so it has a regular clientele. The infinity pool was very inviting but unfortunately we left our bathing suits locked in the car while everyone had their siesta and there never seemed to be time for a dip after that. Next time!!!

We had a late dinner alone in the restaurant but breakfast was a busier affair. One table had doctors in their hospital scrubs. Apparently a visiting specialist was here to repair any children with cleft palate. Some young ladies in school uniform were having a lesson on napkin folding. Dan and Leroy were testing their skills - could thy make a bird, a flower? They could!

We heard from Caesar that Boy had left Calibago with the load of wood so we got ready and found our way back to Binalbagen to meet him. We sent him on to Dorothy’s with the wood while we did some banking. That is a different experience. We were greeted deferentially at the door by guard toting an automatic weapon. We walked past everyone queuing for service, past another guard and into the manager’s office. Not a closed office but a raised dais looking over the bank. Leroy and Reza introduced us and we visited pleasantly while our business was being done. Leroy and Reza got hugs and greetings from other employees as we left. It certainly was a different way of doing business but this is the town where Riza was born and raised. Many of the people we meet are related and we feel very welcome.

By the time we leave the bank, Boy has returned with the jitney and he follows us to Riza’s home. Riza’s father has gathered all the plants to be loaded and everyone pitches in getting them into the jitney. Will they all fit? They are literally going in the windows and going in the doors! It did not take long before Boy was ready for his journey back to Calibago. The garden did look much emptier but Riza’s father had already begun replacing the missing plants with others he found.

We went to Dorothy’s for a short visit. Dorothy is Riza’s cousin and helping hand. You may remember her as our driver in Cebu. She is a chemist by profession and she has begun her own business making “peso peso” drinks for school children. Small drink packages they can buy for one peso. It began as a small local concern but is now shipping to a good part of Negros Occidental and provides work for a number of young women.

It is time to head for home. We have some gardening to do!

Note:

Danielle tells me I am not properly introducing my characters!

Calibago: The name of Leroy and Riza’s home outside Murcia in Negros Occidental.

Caesar: He is the major domo of the estate. He is the keeper of the keys, the gardener, grounds keeper, security guard and general “go to” person. He is a family man in the village by the gates and active in his church. He speaks good English and has a great sense of humour.

Anna: She is the housekeeper responsible for the cleanliness of the home and it’s people. She cleans all of the premises daily. She has a rotation of laundry - washing, rinsing, hanging it to dry and then ironing each piece. She also has a family in the village by the gates. Her husband works in the city and comes home as time permits.