Mercado: Aring Sinukwan

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

TWO tourist destinations are now in the active list of foreign and domestic visitors.

The major one is the Palawan Underground River recently declared as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

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The second one is Nanay Baby’s Nabuclod (Floridablanca) project that features a cable ride atop the western mountain ranges.

If pretty Fritzie and Hot Momma (Monz) can ride the zip line like stunt artists in a Flying Trapeze show, I am sure local and foreign tourists can enjoy the thrill of the sports, secured with the thought of their safety and enjoyment.

Governor Pineda’s highland project is a major wonder in local tourism. Another one is the Candaba bird sanctuary of Mayor Jerry Pelayo. The Kuya welcomes all species of migratory birds in his area of responsibility, except for one transient mallard coming from the Bondoc aviary in Macabebe town.

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Mythical heroes will be featured in postage stamps to be minted soon, it was learned from the Philippine Postal Corp.

Twelve “heroes” are in the list, to include Maria Makiling, Bernardo Carpio, and Amihan. Apu Namalyari is excluded from the mythical icons.

I hope my cabalen board member Trina Dizon (3rd Dist.) will sponsor a Resolution asking the Postal authorities to include our own Aring Sinukwan in the proposed stamps.

For their guidance and edification, the board members can summon Fr. Resty Lumanlan through a subpoena duces tecum ad testificandum. The SVP priest is a long time advocate and proponent in celebrating Sinukwan myth at Robinson’s Mall. He can educate our legislators about the local hero and his relevance to Kapampangan culture.

Fr. Resty may be asked to submit a story profile and a conceptual image or likeness of the mythical hero from Mt. Arayat if he has any. Otherwise he may start looking for male models from which to draw a visual concept.

My first choice as Sinukwan model is none other than the former Arayat mayor Benny Espino. Benny has a typical look of an ancient tribal chieftain. Brown of complexion, sturdily built and animated by warrior features, he can be an ideal model, as Fernando Poe, Sr. was in being the prototype of the UP Oblation.

My second choice is Sen. Lito Lapid who was chosen some years back as doppelganger of Lapu-lapu, a national hero. But Lito is quite theatrically handsome to profile Sinukwan’s rugged looks due to his mountain diet of wild life. Make it Benny, former and future Arayat mayor.

Maria Makiling is said to be a beautiful mountain fairy – described as breathtakingly seductive and forever young. She is believed to be the white lady roaming Mount Makiling and surrounding areas. This Maria M. is known to socialize with NPA rebels and protect them, too, as she did the late Ka Roger Rosal et al.

Bernardo Carpio was said to be the Philippine titan, stronger than the biblical Samson. He could move a mountain from its place and transfer it far from the reach of other gods and local politicians.

Amihan is a mythical bird like Ibong Adarna. It is said it saved the first human couple – Malakas and Maganda – from being encased in a bamboo plant. Our Filipino Malakas and Maganda were saved from the EDSA mob and flown to Hawaii where Malakas died.

Contrapuntally, my colleague the 70-year old bachelor and suspect celibate, Mang Rizal, will be happy if a genuine and mythical persona -- the patroness of lonely bachelors -- will be included in the Philippine list of male and female deities.

She is called Mariang Palad. Even names are more fun (and meaningful) in the Philippines!