Santa Fe

The barrio where Mother grew up is about six hours ride from the poblacion of San Marcelino. The only transportation then was the carabao-drawn cart. To go to town, two rivers have to be crossed-Carayan Dak-kel (Big River) now known as Santo Tomas River, and Carayan Bas-sit(Small River) nearer the barrio.

Santa Fe was a rich agricultural community on a high narrow-plain along the mountain side. To reach the community, the carabao has to pull the cart up a 45% incline to the top of the ridge with an elevation of about 20 meters. Drivers almost crouch on the carabao’s back, his left hand controlling the reins lead rope while his right hand holds the carabao’s tail. To lighten the load, some passengers or riders alight and walk up the inclined road. The exit ride down was very thrilling with the driver hardly in control of the carabao’s speed.

The Small River was the life of the barrio. Along its banks were shallow wells about two feet deep which provided drinking water - clear, fresh water from an ever flowing spring. Everyday the men-folk would fetch water from these springs in big earthen jars on a sled. On early mornings women and children go down for the daily bath and laundry. The river also provide fish, shrimps, shells (birabid, leddeg, bisocol). For groceries and other needs, inhabitants go to town on market days- Wednesdays and Saturdays.

This was Mother’s early environment which we children got to see on fiestas. We especially enjoyed the cart rides, the carts of town people racing on the way, riding in the cart with the water wetting our skirts as we crossed the deeper Carayan. At dusk, we were greeted by the tweetering of flocks of birds on the coconut tree tops.

The community progressed, roads were made, and cars could travel the distance in about 30 minutes. Deep wells and pump wells were built. Young people went out for education and livelihood and the barrio expanded and progressed. There was a move to have it classified into a town before the World War broke out in 1914.

(Tragedy put a stop to the development of the community. Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, floods from the mountains and lahar buried the barrio making it on the level of the buried rivers. Residents who survived and remained have built home higher up the mountain side and are trying to regain the peaceful, comfortable life they once had.)