•
60 things people
should know about Grenie Aumentado
•
Finally, Ernesita
“Nene” Digal is new Sevilla mayor
Wake-uppers:
Scene: Blind hymnist and lyricist Onecimo “Onie” Oclarit needs our help. Onie, who suffers from chronic
kidney ailment, has to undergo dialysis. “Gamay nalang nahibilin
sa akong kinabuhi, nagsuway ako sa paghangyo kaninyo og diyutay nga hinabang,”
he said in a video posted on Facebook. To help Onie, contact his daughter Alma
at 09354989726. He has given much to the Church and to
the beautiful musical culture of our province. Onie
composed the songs Carlos P. Garcia: Bantugang Bol-anon and
Balik sa Bohol (popularized by Loboc singers at the floating
restaurants). His composition "Señor San Jose"
is sung anywhere in the world where there are Visayan devotees of Saint Joseph.
Scene:
The successful book launching of Nestor Maniebo Pestelos’ Old Warrior and Other Poems last Wednesday, May 14 at the BQ
Atrium. Thanks
to Sir Marianito Luspo (who emceed the event) for the invitation to the special
and meaningful book launching. It was special because the book charts the life
and experiences of Mr. Pestelos, and meaningful because the net
proceeds of the book will be donated to the Bohol Quake Assistance Fund Drive of
Bohol Local Development Foundation, Inc and partner agencies to help provide
shelter and livelihood assistance to the victims of the killer quake. Visit
www.nestorpestelos.blogspot.com or www.bldf.blogspot.com.
***
Comelec sits new mayor in Sevilla town
After
one year of waiting, former Sevilla Mayor Ernesita “Nene” Digal was finally
proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Manila as the new mayor
last Wednesday, May 14.
 |
|
Mayor
Ernesita Digal took her oath as the new mayor of Sevilla before Judge Sisinio
Virtudazo with witnesses Marie Karen Digal-Asoy, Doxson Asoy and Atty.Theodoro
Lagang. Photo By: Leo Udtohan
|
After
Digal’s proclamation, she went home and took her oath before Judge Sisinio
Virtudazo on the same day. The oath-taking was witnessed by former SK
leaders-couple Marie Karen Digal-Asoy and Doxson Asoy and lawyer Theodoro
Lagang.
“I thank
the Lord! Nagpasalamat ko sa Ginoo nga minggawas ang resulta sa kaso nga sayo,”
said Mayor Digal. “Ug akong panawagan sa katawhan sa Sevilla nga magmalinawun, makighiusa
ug matinabangay para sa kaayuhan ug kauswagan sa mahal nga lungsod sa Sevilla.”
VRS
sought Mayor Juliet Dano for comments but it was Sevilla municipal
administrator Pat Dano who answered on her behalf.
He
said Mayor Dano has not
yet receive a copy of the proclamation. He also added, “As of now, business as
usual walay interruption.”
***
Sixty
years ago, The Bohol Chronicle was
born. This newspaper fought for freedom of the press.
The
Bohol Chronicle’s anniversary (the 16th on Friday, May 16) coincides with the
birthday of Peregrina “Grenie” Aumentado (her 73rd) who should be,
according to Fatima Mapesos, addressed as “Maam Grenie”, described as “the best
first lady of Bohol.”
What many
people perhaps didn’t know is that her husband the late Rep. Erico Aumentado
(who’s celebrating his 74th birthday today, May 18) was a columnist
of this paper.
In
keeping with The Bohol Chronicle’s
60th year, VRS asked Jiselle Rae “Jamie” Aumentado Villamor to do a
list of the 60 things about her Lola
Grenie.
1.
She is our model of simplicity. Simple, in the very strict sense of the word
and in all angles. She likes less complicated things.
2.
She is comfortable in her own skin, in her own beauty and what she got as a
person. To me, it is a mark of a truly beautiful person, inside and out.
3.
She smiles at simple things in life. A simple greeting. A simple gathering. A
simple present. Give her that and she finds joy in it.
4.
She is feisty. She knows how to get her ideas across.
5.
She never let anything hold her down.
6.
She is independent.
7.
She finds ways on her own to get out of a difficult situation.
8.
She turns difficult and hard situation into fun and amusing experience.
9.
She thinks ahead of the situation. She anticipates and readies herself with
anything that might happen.
10.
She is one tough lady to hold her own in certain situations.
11.
She lets go of the bad days and move forward to better ones.
12.
She does what needs to be done “period.”
13.
She is fearless with anything, except with God.
14.
She was always there behind Lolo
Rico’s 45 years of public service- supporting, inspiring and helping out the
best way she could.
15.
“She loves to be held and kissed every time I go out from the house”, according
to Lolo Rico.
16.
She is smart and wise.
17.
She gives the most practical advice on marriage and how to deal with your
husband. Yes, I am still single but I am lucky enough to have heard and
listened to my Lola’s advice on men.
18.
She lives not to impress but to be her own.
19.
She prefers not to live in someone’s expectation.
20.
She does not expect everyone to understand her journey because she knows we
have not been exactly where she is going.
21.
She is a very down to earth woman.
22.
She never demands.
23.
She settles on what is available, and she does not want to cause people hard
time only for her convenience. What is convenient for all is convenient for
her.
24.
She is bold and original.
25.
She always refuses to be in the limelight.
26.
She prefers lightness and elegance than lavish and glamor.
27.
She stood for the family and is still standing for her children, grandchildren
and great grandchildren.
28.
She always reminds us to live within our means.
29.
She always reminds us that power and material things are temporary in this
world.
 |
| Jiselle Rae with her Lola Grenie |
30.
I don’t ever remember her baking cookies or cooking a dish- she is not that
kind of grandmother- but I do remember her making her own version of hot pot
dish ‘shabu-shabu’ and she proudly,
exclusively and specially served it to only one person, Lolo Rico who delightfully and ‘carefully’ chose his words to
describe the dish Lola Grenie made only for him.
31.
She has a green thumb, a real farm and garden lady. She likes to stay and work
in her garden or farm for hours and not go anywhere. It is either of
vegetables, fruits or flowers. I could not think of any person I know who has
excellent gardening skills than her.
32.
She has the skill to take what is available and turn it into something very
useful and special. She’d turn an empty tea jar to a nice pen holder, a used
and torn sarong to beautiful
handkerchiefs. Nothing goes to waste.
33.
She does not spend money unless
necessary.
34.
When she does spend money, she sees to it that she spends for the most
reasonable price.
35.
She likes to write and post it on walls. I am not talking about FB or Twitter
kind of posts, but literally, she writes on a paper with a marker and posts it
on everywhere she thinks visible- kitchen walls so the girls get reminded of
her instructions, on the bathroom wall so she and Lolo Rico would be reminded of important dates and tasks.
36.
She also writes her sentiments and post to a strategic place where the person
the message is intended for can read.
37.
She is a very generous woman. Often times, one would not leave her house empty
handed because she gives even the little things she can offer.
38.
She thinks of the welfare of everyone first before her own. She’d rather give
out the money intended for her own to people who need it more than her. For
her, nothing is too insignificant when it comes to lending a hand to someone
else.
39.
She never runs out of stories to tell. One of the best things about her. We
could talk for hours and we always love that.
40.
She is naturally funny and cool. Yes, that’s because we can talk about anything
to her and laugh about it.
41.
She is adorable in so many ways like the way she talks, her facial expressions
and gestures. Get close to her once and you will know what I mean.
42.
She still plays around with her great grandchildren.
43.
She does not overthink. She worries less and she thinks for better solution.
44.
She pays close attention to the people whom her loved ones find so important in
their lives.
45.
She believes that in order to serve your purpose in this world, you have to
remove toxic people in your lives.
46.
She is a very strong willed woman.
47.
She takes responsibility of her actions.
48.
She gives credit and gratitude to the one who deserves it.
49.
She speaks in truth even when her voice shakes or even when you don’t like what
you hear.
50.
She tells you what she wants and really means it.
51.
She always reminds us the power of prayer and how God is faithful to His
promises to us. I remember one time, I was sick and became anxious over
something. Lola Grenie said “Pray and
call upon Jesus. He helps and will never leave you.” In situations like that, I
always hear my Lola’s voice reminding me to pray and it comforts me every time.
52.
She teaches us the value of loyalty and that none of us are perfect, but we all
have the ability to be loyal to those we love, such as family and true friends.
53.
She may at times forget your name but she doesn’t forget how you were to her. I
personally had this experience with Lola when she couldn’t remember the name of
the person we met at a grocery store but she did tell me how that person in a
way touched her life.
54.
She is not afraid to step outside of the box and out from her comfort zone.
55.
She loves and she fights, depending on what is needed.
56.
She is one of the few people I think of when I am caught in doubting situations
and I ask myself what she could have done if she were on my shoes.
57.
She has always been the rock, a stronghold in the family.
58.
She is one woman who constantly showed me to never compromise myself, to trust my instincts, and to
stand for my convictions.
59.
She is someone I could not thank enough for what I have become now.
60.
She is the definition of love, beauty and simplicity.
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at
leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
