A book on Infanta

By Rudy A. Arizala

I. Introduction

One could live in any country but he could never renounce the memory (nostalgia) of his native town &endash; the place of his birth and where he grew up; where he would like or dream of returning some day and rediscover that between reality and nostalgia is the soul of one´s existence..

This book published by the Bank of the Philippine Islands with the cooperation of ICDAI (Infanta Integrated Community Development Assistance, Inc.) is not just a compilation of pictures and descriptions of scenic spots of Infanta, Quezon; its people, homes, and environment. It is a story of a people; its culture, history, myths and traditions. It shows how the mythical town of Infanta at the foothills of the towering and long range Sierra Madre mountains and at the coast of the shimmering blue waters of the Pacific Ocean managed to survive the vicissitudes of life, time; foreign cultures, natural calamities, wars and revolutions; and how it is confronting the onslaught of modernism brought about by globalization.

The town was originally known as "Binangonan del Ampon" because of its mythical origin. It was said that during the pre-Spanish period, a Malayan chieftain named "Nunong Karugtong" and his men arrived at the place after crossing on foot the Sierra Madre mountains. Nunong Karugtong was so tired that he fell asleep under a big tree while his men were looking for something to eat. They found a giant yam (Ube) and woke up Nunong Karugtong to let him know what they found. They also reported to him that they discovered nearby a spring and river where they could get fresh water. Nunong Karugtong upon seeing the giant yam concluded that the soil in the area was fertile and because of the presence of fresh water decided to establish a settlement right on the spot where he fell asleep. The settlement was called "Binagonan del Ampon" because Nunong Karugtong had to be helped in getting up from his sleep. Since then, the place has been known as "Binangonan" until 1835, when the Spanish authorities named it "Infanta" in honor of infant Margarita, the eldest daughter of King Philip II of Spain.

II. Recapturing the Past

While it is true that a picture records faithfully the shape and color of the object or scenery and as the saying goes: "A picture speaks a thousand words," it could neither record nor recreate the peculiar scent and sound of the past for posterity. Only nostalgia could record and recreate that peculiar scent and familiar sound of one´s habitat.

Thus, this book, this work of art records, captures and even triggers nostalgia to native inhabitants or to those who made Infanta their adopted home, thereby depicting to them not only the picture but also the scent and sound of Infanta, its past, present and future.

Infanta is alive, vibrant, growing and continue to undergo process of metamorphosis or evolution but without burying its past to oblivion. For as what a noted Spanish writer philosopher George Santayana wrote: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

How could one recapture the past, the alluring scent of ripening golden grains of palay in Infanta´s ricefiields beckoning to be harvested? The lonely sighs of a tall slender bamboo tree by the stream; the scent of Ilang-Ilang flowers in the forest; the merry concerts of crickets and the glowing golden light of fireflies at dusk on a lone "Kamachile" tree? The salty air of the sea breeze as one goes to the shore at dawn to meet the incoming fishing boats laden with the bounty of the sea? How could one recapture the scent of newly-harvested corn or that of the freshly-cut grass after the rain? Nostalgia triggers or awakens memories.

Speaking of scent and sound, it reminds me of what an American Indian leader, Chief Seattle, wrote the Big White Chief at the White House in Washington, D.C. when the U.S. Government offered a huge sum of money in exchange for a vast track of Indian lands. Chief Seattle wrote:

"How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land". . .This shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. . .that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water´s murmur is the voice of my father´s father. . .And what is there in life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night?"

III. Infanta is Alive

But Infanta could not live in the past and remain stagnant, moored and immobile at a particular place. It must grow and move forward to progress with the march of time.

Like a stream, it should continue to flow, meander its way through the rocks, hills, valleys and plains until it reaches the vast blue ocean, its destination. It could not flow back upstream to its source, the spring. Yet, sometimes, somehow, like the ebb and flow of tide, it has to flow back, recall its past, its source. For there is a saying in Tagalog or Pilipino: "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, ay di makasasapit sa paruruonan." (Those who do not know how to look back to the past, could not reach their destination.")

There are still three important main structures or pillars of Infanta despite its "modernization" and occurrence of natural calamities &endash; the church; the townhall; and the elementary school building. Three pillars which made Infanta what it is today and which will influence the direction and development of the town physically and spiritually.

What is important is the book does not speak only of things past or dead history; but of people alive and vibrant. Of people which have dreams and aspirations aside from memories of the past. It speaks of families, from all levels of society. This is not ordinary "Coffee Table Book" found and which adorned the living room or study room of the affluent. But it is a book about ordinary people, alive and of those long departed or gone to some foreign lands. In other words, it is a book depicting the birth, life and future of a town, a small ordinary community in the Philippines but with a difference. The people are alive, active and the center-piece of community life.

Its people are kind, warm, hospitable, and friendly to the extent of being mistaken for being docile. But do not mistkae it for being submissive. For if you abuse their friendship, hospitality and trust, and if you disgrace or dishonor them, then like a violent hurricane they could be arose to act accordingly to defend their honor, rights, homes and families.

No wonder, Infanta has been home not only to its native sons and daughters but also to strangers or people not from the town of Infanta. So we have people from other provinces or regions such as Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and even from the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao. Infanta accepts and welcomes them as among its native inhabitants. But if they abuse the kindness, hospitality and friendship of the people, its environment and natural resources, they are capable of expelling such undesirable elements by quiet, lawful and peaceful means.

For the people of Infanta are patient and do not want trouble but desire peace. During World War II, Infanta was the home of resistance movements or guerrilla organizations which fought against imperialism. Many of its sons and daughters became soldiers and fought in defense of their native land. But like Cincinatus of Rome, the warrior who fought the many battles in defense of his souverign, when the war ended, they discarded their soldier´s uniform, hung up their swords and went back to the farm.

IV. Conclusion

Many of Infanta´s sons and daughters have gone abroad to seek greener pastures. Yet, they left behind in Infanta a part of their soul or memory. And this book is part of that memory not only of those who left to seek fortunes and live elsewhere but also of those who stayed behind..

Incidentally, I think it is relevant to state here that this book was made possible through the generosity of a Spanish lady, Doña Isabel Garcia y Fernandez. who made Infanta her home for many years before she returned to her country &endash; Spain. She loved so much Infanta and its people that before her death, she reportedly made a Last Will and Testament bestowing that a portion of her estate shall go toward the improvemenmt projects of the town of Infanta.

It could be said that Doña Isabel Garcia y Fernandez was a foreign lady who made Infanta her home for many years and who did not forget to look back upon her return to Spain and as a gesture of her love and benevolence, made Infanta one of the beneficiaries of her estate.

This book should be humbly dedicated to the loving memory of Doña Isabel Garcia y Fernandez and to many others unknown who lived in Infanta, loved the town and its people, although they settled somewhere else in the later part of their life. It should also be a tribute to all natives of Infanta wherever they may be and to the victims of the recent floods in the area as well as survivors who are now woking hard to rebuild their hometown materially and spiritually.

It is a book which every Filipino homes, especially those from Infanta should be proud to own or possess. For it is not only a book of their history but their life and future as well.