Childhood Memories on the Island
by: Chona S. Martin
November 21, 2005
Maripipi always has a special place in my heart. Though I only lived there for five years it was the most important years of my life growing up and giving me beautiful memories of childhood.
I was born in Maripipi Leyte but I did not seen it until I was eleven years old. I grew up in Tacloban City and attended four years of elementary there. Then we moved to Maripipi Leyte where I attended fifth and sixth grade. Then I went to Manila for my first year of high school and finally went back to Maripipi to finish the remaining 3 years.
I am very grateful for the 3 years I spent in Maripipi which gave me a very special memory of my childhood. In those years I remember that my favorite time was during a full moon. When the street is enjoyed by many people, young and old. I always looked forward to it, counting the days on the calendar, marking the new moon to the full moon. It was so fantastic I realized, to have that feeling of freedom to walk and stroll around with boom box playing music on the radio so loudly, that it made people hanging out at the plaza dance. It was a time when we could play with "get in", piko, satu, or just even to just gather around on the ground and talk about scary stories of Maripipi. It was so beautiful that these experiences never happened again in my life away from the island. Even without the moon, I still found it fantastic watching the fireflies dance around the tree in front of our house. The quieteness of the place so peaceful that the only worries I had when I walked in the dark was my innocently believing for "dire sugad sa aton."
I also remember how I enjoyed a lot of swimming in the ocean with friends every weekend, bringing all sorts of food like nilagang saging, camote, pritong isda or even just ginamos and nilagang saging are a feast already. I remember how brave I was to jump to the ocean from the top of the sea wall in Bolod when it was high tide and my friends would push me when I was chicken. I didn't realize how clean and beautiful our ocean was until I left the island and have lived in different places.
I also remember the times when I complained to my parents how tired I was walking back and forth to MNVS. There were no transportation available for the public that everybody had to walk from barrios to MNVS. I didn't realize how important those sacrifices later to appreciate life and the beauty of it until I left. It wasn't all bad actually, most of the time I enjoyed going home from school with friends, giggling and made fun of each other on the road, sharing jokes and laughing out loud. You would hope that you wouldn't reach home and you can just keep walking so you won't miss the jokes or stories of friends. It was fun!
I thought all those years I lived in Maripipi was just sadness and sacrifices, but I didn't know it was a safe haven until I left. Those were the years that helped me to become a good person, growing up innocently and freely, away from the bad influences of media and politicians. I left in 1988 after I graduated from high school and went back after ten years later for a fifteen day vacation. The island has changed I murmured to myself. But my memories are here to keep.
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- Comments -
Hi Chona,
You made me missed home...truly, our island has a lot of stories to tell. I can
symphatize with you. The island has changed and people, too but the great
memories will linger on.
Jerry
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I was also born in Maripipi Leyte and my relatives are Gavilo Family from Binalayan
and Constancia Bacolod Duarte from Bongto and Canduhao. I miss the island, and I used
to go for vacation almost every five years. Now I migrated to Canada and work in Saudi Arabia.
My email address egavilo@riy.btc.com.sa
8-7-07
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Maripipi is a Paradise for me!
Jo Christopher M. Resquites
9-24-07
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Hi Chona,
Indeed Maripipi Island is a paradise waiting to be discovered...How i wish that Maripipians will really promote the island. I am from Maripipi too I graduated from MNVS batch 79. -
Minerva "bing" Borromeo Salas
(Resident Manager Luxury Suite Hotel Tacloban, City)
4-27-08
