Noemi Marquez
Noemi Marquez, the 3rd place winner of the Photo Essay Contest organized by ASCCA-Romblon, shared beautiful snapshots of her hometown that show the fishermen who work hard for their families and the natural resources like coconut trees that they have been blessed with. But most of all, she highlighted in her essay the people who are the most important treasures of their island. Read her entry written in her mother tongue and translated into the English language.
Romblon’s True Treasures
Romblon is known not only for having nice places and tourist spots but also because of Romblomanons for being simple, loving, industrious, and innovative people. It’s also known for its traditions and old ways of working.
Romblon’s amazing seas are incomplete without fishermen who work hard for their families. The sea is one of our resources where we get our living, the food we eat and sell, including the fishes that our fishermen catch every day.
Romblomanons are not only good fishermen, but they are also good in copra making, which are exported to different places in the Philippines. The coconut trees that our ancestors planted are very useful from its body which are used in making houses, leaves for roofs, walls, and brooms. Romblomanons show that every one of us has a definite role in a community for the success of the province and because the island is rich with natural resources like seas and mountains.
To top it off, Romblomanons are very efficient in thinking of ways on how to provide a living for their families, and we are showing that in a little way—by making contributions to the community and by not forgetting where we started and the things that still allow us to live even without technology. Romlomanons show that they really are the true treasures of Romblon.
Ang Matuod na Manggad ng Romblon
Kilaya ang Romblon bukon lang sa mga kainayo na lugar kag pamasyaran kundi dahil sa mga Romblomanon, sa pagiging simple mapalanggaon, mahugod kag mapamaraan nga mga tawo, kag lalo na gid sa pagiging madinumdumon naton sa aton ginhalinan, kag sa kung ano ang aton kinamulatan na trabaho na kung sa diin didto mas nakikilaya ang Romblon.
Aber mauno kaayo ang aton isla kag mga kadagatan bukon ini kumpleto kung waya mga minugbunit nga nagakayod para sa inda pamilya. Ang dagat hay isa sa ginabuy-an pangabuhi naton na kung sa diin nakakabuoy kita aton makakaon kag pangbaligya, isa diri ang isda na dawi ng aton mga minugbunit. Bukon lang sa dagat mayad ang mga Romblomanon, mayad man sinda maglugit na kung sa diin hay ginabaligya kag ginadaya pa sa iba pa na lugar diri sa Pilipinas.
Ang tanom na niyog ng aton mga maguyang hay madamo na puyos, ang bunga na ginalugit naton, ang lawas na ginahuman naton na dingding sa aton mga bayay, kag ang pakyang ng niyog na nabubuy-an naton bubong kag silhig. Ginapakita lang ng taga Romblon na bawat isa na Romblomanon hay may ginahuman sa panimayay, dugang pa na kamayad kita mag human ideya kung paano naton mabubuhi ang pamilya ta, kag mapakita ta na igwa kita naiambag sa kumonidad aber sa maisot na bagay, kag waya naton nakakalimutan kung sa diin kita naghalin, kung ano na bagay ang nakabuhi sa aton pwera ang teknolohiya. Ginapakita lang na ang Romblomanon ang matuod na manggad ng Romblon.
About Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts (ASCCA) – Romblon
ASCCA – Romblon is a chapter of Romblon Discussion List – Cultural, Livelihood, and Educational Assistance for Romblon (RDL-CLEAR), which was established in 1998. This non-profit organization aims to restore and promote the culture and heritage of the Bantoanon community. ASCCA has already hosted many workshops, conferences, cultural activities, and competitions to preserve Romblon’s nature, local languages, culture, and heritage and to empower its community to pass their values to the next generation.
Press Contacts ASCCA – Romblon
Email: [email protected]gmail.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/asilanguagewarriors/
Ismael Fabicon
Email: [email protected]msn.com
The Photo Essay Contest was organized by the social media arm of ASCCA-Romblon. It started to hold monthly online contests last February 2021 on its official Facebook page for the Romblon community. Each contest aims to inspire fellow kasimanwas to showcase their talents and promote their own language, culture, and heritage at the same time. Follow our FB page at https://www.facebook.com/asilanguagewarriors/ for future contests and updates.
Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.
Also read:
