"Pantalan"

"Pantalan"

Shining like the light from the sun, Rizal, a surpassing hometown of mine had never failed to give me a vision of how living is just as good as eating ice cream.  All its noise and color are like notes that must be in my staff. Residing in the waters of Laguna de Bay, fishing is part of its people’s way of living. This body of water is a soldier to the ­province. Beside the bay are some mini ports – a piece of land extending from Rizal. They are like little helping hands that connect the bay and the people. It’s like powerpuff girls for me – everything is sugar, spice and everything nice! 

One port is at Luklukan Street. By the way, we call it pantalan. Among the ports, this one is my sanctuary. Many changes had already happened here. The not so long, car wide, rocky rough path is now smoothly flat. The ones been a pool for refreshment is now a solid ground for play caused by global warming. Either way, it’s still nice. The tide never brings me down, neither high nor low. The breeze by day greets me warmly. The breeze at night calms me. Everything would be great by just sitting at a concrete. Through the end, you’ll have a view of the world.

Every morning the warmth of the lucid sun touches my skin, enough for it to be tan. The water lilies are like un-winged fairies that lay gracefully at the top of the water, giving it a design. By jumping off the concrete, excitement starts. Its walls are giant barriers six feet high. At the bottom, Lilliputians rock the world. There are the basketball players, the gossipers sitting at a dark rock about 20 meters far, the Chinese-garterers, the Pamela one-ers and the backtayb-ers. At night, the white round plate really gives the best luminosity. The smell of evening induces peace. The silence is as loud as listening to Paramore. Day and night pantalan is living.

Mixed people are in my port – normal villagers, fishermen, gun shooters and the king, Kuya Manong Fishball. He’s bald, tan, a bit thin and around 5’8” in height. By the beginning of the night you’ll see him at the middle end of the pantalan with his buddy, the kariton fishball. I’m like in heaven, eating the luscious kikiam and feel my every bite of the mouth-watering fishball. Combo up with some cold sweet iskrambol with tangy milk taste and local cocoa madness that melts in your mouth – really make you gulp with gusto. It is street food yet it is gourmet.

Pantalan is a puzzle piece of Rizal. It’s so strong that even Alzheimer’s can’t obscure it from my memory.

Remember, everything would be great by just sitting at a concrete. Through the end, you’ll have a view of the world.

-Cha :)