Bro. Ryan Mejillano's Visit to the Arganiosa Family in Bulacan, Part 5 Enjoying The Sierra Madre

Bro. Ryan Mejillano pointing at Sierra Madre mountain ranges dividing Bulacan from Quezon province. Our place is gifted with many hills for that reason it is called San Jose del Monte and Bro. Ryan and I were on top of one its hills while on our way to Manila. When he saw the vast panorama of the place he requested the driver to stop to have a better look at the greet hills, the subdivisions along its sides and the far away Sierra Madre that was looming large before our eyes.

When Bro. Ryan toured me around Davao he proudly presented to me the majestic Mt. Apo. It was huge and high, very green and majestic in appearance like a giant lording it over the entire Davao panorama. In contrast, Mt. Mayon in the Bicol Region is a noble lady. She is tall and slender but modest and pure. And just like any lady, except the Blessed Virgin Mary, she is also terrible in anger.

This is not Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic scene. It was me. He,he,he... Since we were on top of a hill the wind was blowing quite strong there and being in mid December the breeze was quite cold. I raised my hands to savor the carressing touch of the Christmas air.

Bulacan is geneally plain areas, however, we are fortunate to have lived in her portion covered with hills and valleys with its creeks and canals and over looking mountains. Instead of having one single large mountain like Mt. Apo of Davao, Mt. Mayon of Albay, Mt. Makiling of Laguna, Mt. Bulusan of Sorsogon and Mt. Arayat of Pampanga, our place is blessed with long range of Mountain that is connected to the Southern part of Luzon, until the regions of the Cordilleras in theNorth.

These mountain ranges are called Siera Madre. It is a long lines of mountains interconnected with each other. They are beautifully shining in blue from afar. It was on these mountains that we were gathering fruits and firewoods when we were young and we also used to visit its caves that now are unfortunately gone due to cement mining. It is a pity since some of those caves where frequently being used before for movie shootings which we were also watching before. Now, we are only remembering those beauty and wonders that are forever gone. The Sierra Madre is still beautiful and elegant but gone were the real greatness that we used to enjoy. We can only relive it in our memory. That is the reason why the immortal lines of Coritha's song has deeper meaning for us: "Sa piling mo O Sierra Madre, kandungan mo'y laging hinahanap." I like that Song entitled "Sierra Madre" although I dislike the last part of the lyrics. It appears that the singer is coming home as a failure, having lost all hope. O no, our experience is so contrary. For those who are interested on that song. Here is the Lyrics: SIERRA MADRE

by Coritha

Nakatanggap ako ng sulat mula sa amin

Nakalarawan doon ang maraming kong alaala

At bigla akong lumuha dahil ako’y sabik na

Sa lalawigan kong minumutya

Naghihintay pa rin ang irog ko doon sa amin

Mga magulang nama’y nag-aalala sa akin

O, masilayan ko man lamang bundok, parang at batis

Gumagaan ang hirap ko at pasakit

CHORUS

Awitin ko, awitin ko’y makauwi na

Sa duyan ng aking kamusmusan

Sa piling mo, o, Sierra Madre

Kandungan mo’y laging hinahanap

AD LIB

Ano kaya ang gagawin ko ngayong wala nang

Natitirang pag-asa sa aking mga pangarap

Kaya’t kung mayro’n mang nakikinig sa aking damdamin

Ay dalhin mo na ang awit ko sa amin

[Repeat CHORUS]

Kandungan mo’y laging hinahanap [2x]