Revisit: The Long and Winding Road

Three years ago, I wrote an essay about the experiences we've had while doing a study we made for our subject Descriptive Linguistics. So now that I have my own blog, I want to post it here so I could read it (and share it) again and again and travel that long and winding road back to the past.

October 7, 2008 was our last meeting in the Descriptive Linguistics. Our professor, Ma’am Jumalon gave as a fieldwork on the different languages or dialects here in Mindanao. We have to compare one language to another by computing its lexicostatistical percentage. 


Our group (Aibie Bola, Rodney Felarca, and Hazel Daze Flores) had merged with the other group (Richielyn delos Santos, Marissa Sarol and Daisy Capito) and with the addition of Michele Rioja. We planned to go to Pangyan, Glan to interview a B’laan chieftain there. Unfortunately, some of us can’t go because of financial problems. Saturday, October 11, we (Hazel, Michele and Aibie) and a “visitor” rendezvous at KCC Mall of Gensan to buy some groceries (Foods, drinks, toiletries, and mineral water) in preparation for our trip. We were shock when our groceries were punched in by the cashier and in the monitor displayed the price we had to pay and its 400 something pesos! We chipped in a hundred pesos each to cover the 400+ groceries. 


We bought a burger that served as our lunch since it was lunch time and we had a limited budget. We immediately went to the terminal of Margus, Glan situated in front of Lagao Public Market. We were again shocked to find out the jeep we have to ride.

It was huge and looked like a mini bus and it had three “front seats”. We seated in the third “front seat” with eggs in our back.  

We had to travel for almost 3 hours to Pangyan. On our trip, we never slept as the views were nice and breath-taking. The rice fields, the mountains, the white sand beaches, the beach that looks like a lake because of its calmness, and the countless coconut trees that we have seen

The road to Pangyan is literally a long and winding one. Not to mention the dusts of the yet cemented roads. Fortunately, it didn’t rain that time. If so, that would be a “nightmare” for us.

We were continuously eating our food not minding if we still have foods on our back to Gensan. One grocery back has been emptied by our continuous eating. We eat and eat and eat.

It was also the first time we had seen a mountainous range at the left side and a white sand beach at the right side. On our previous trips, we don’t usually see a mountain range with beach at the other side.

We arrived at Pangyan at 3 P.M and we had the idea of texting Rich, who is our group mate and the SK Chairman of Pangyan. But the residents answered in chorus that there’s no signal of any cell phone network there. Nonetheless, we still have to conduct our interview. After a quick snack, we rode a habal-habal and went to Brgy. Caspot where the B’laan chieftain resides. After a courteous greeting, we immediately interviewed them. The two of them were both serious and attentive to our questions. They were exchanging inquiries with each other on different words that we asked.

The interview run smoothly and we thank the interviewee for their cooperation and willingness to be interviewed.

A Beach at Pangyan

After the interview, we went to Rich’s house to prepare for our food and we stayed for a night in the beach. But before we finally reach the beach, some of us were chased by dogs (Me, Rich and Rachel arrived first and fortunately, those four-legged mammals didn't run after us, weeehhh)...you can imagine how fast their motorcycle was. =) 

Upon arriving at the beach, we raced to the shore for that elusive signal so we can send a message to our family back at Gensan. You will see how difficult it was to find a signal. 

Grrrr!! Where's the signal?!

We had a sumptuous dinner (Lapu-Lapu Escabeche, yummy..Mango Float, etc) We slept in the sand while a bonfire was made to keep us warm.  It was a feeling of serene lying at the sand and watching the moon shine brightly as we try to forget everything, the term papers, portfolio, novel, etc.. 

The warm comfort

We also saw many fireflies that flew in the nearby coconut tree. It was also funny that Aibie thought she saw a St. Elmo’s ball that she and Michele run faster towards the hut. It was just a passing boy who’s searching for something. Haha! 


The next morning, we woke up early and swam at the beach. 

After it, we waited for almost 20 minutes, if I could remember, for a habal-habal. We went to Rich’s house to prepare for our trip back home. 


Unfortunately, it rained and we concluded that the road will be muddy and slippery. But nothing can hinder our need to be back to Gensan even if it’s raining because we had a lot of work load to be done. However, before we left Rich’s house, the rain stopped and we said our gratitude to her family for accommodating us. 


We rode on and endure the long, winding road that almost drained all our energy. Upon arrival at Poblacion Glan, we board on a van for Gensan. After almost an hour, we arrived at Gensan and went directly at home where we found ourselves dead tired and slept immediately.

Monday, October 13, we summed up all our data and transcribe the words that we have to transcribe. We also discuss the contents of our fieldwork and arrange everything. This fieldwork is worth the effort. We had experienced a lot of first times and we hope we can go back their and most importantly, we can conduct another fieldwork some other time.

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Here are the photos I retrieved from my Friendster Account.
Hope you enjoy it!! =)