San Vicente Ilocos Sur Series
Four generations - my dad's and mine,
that of my children, and grandchildren;
big trees to mark the passage of time,
sentries they stand, each one a friend.
Dr Abe V Rotor
. Mackie and Laurence under a talisay (Terminalia catapa)
A kapre lives atop the talisay,
also known as umbrella tree;
scary to grownups and kids,
though ugly, he's friendly .
A kapre lives atop the talisay,
also known as umbrella tree;
scary to grownups and kids,
though ugly, he's friendly .
Markus, Laurence and Mackie beside a caimito tree (Chrysophylum cainito)
Caimito or star apple - greenish to purple,
shiny when ripe, soft to the touch;
milky with latex like glue to the palette,
when in season, don't ask how much.
Caimito or star apple - greenish to purple,
shiny when ripe, soft to the touch;
milky with latex like glue to the palette,
when in season, don't ask how much.
Playing in a Mango grove.
My dad planted these trees too close each other;
I asked, Why?
"You will know as they grow old", he answered.
Years and years went by,
Typhoons came, the trees stood like living wall,
sparing our house and all.
My dad planted these trees too close each other;
I asked, Why?
"You will know as they grow old", he answered.
Years and years went by,
Typhoons came, the trees stood like living wall,
sparing our house and all.
Markus beside a typhoon-felled mango tree
Prostrate on the ground yet still alive,
children ride on it like a horse,
tumble to the ground and climb again,
such is the mystery of life force.
Prostrate on the ground yet still alive,
children ride on it like a horse,
tumble to the ground and climb again,
such is the mystery of life force.
Mackie props a leaning mango tree (Mangifera indica)
Imagination is stronger than this leaning tree,
a child propping it from falling down,
test of make-believe strength and determination,
wonder if ever grownups were once one.
Three kids by a century-old wishing well and macopa tree (Eugenia jambalana)
"Three coins in a fountain" is a song;
but these kids have another version;
around an old wishing well at home,
wishing the good of all.
Towering Gmelina, mahogany, santol
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Cherry, caimito, bitaog (palomaria). Below: macopa (Eugenia jambalana)
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Cherry, caimito, bitaog (palomaria). Below: macopa (Eugenia jambalana)
How tall can trees get?
Do they reach the sky and touch the clouds?
Yes, they do, I answered?
and my grandchildren looked up high,
and asked, WHY?