My Journey to Roi-Et

It was Friday morning after logging; the school van is rushing to Roi-Et province where the walking Buddha statue stands. The Name Roi Et translates to 101, which refers to the original 11 satellite cities around the main city as well as the 11 city gates. To express the importance of the city the number was exaggerated to 101.

What a lucky day to capture this longest standing Buddha statue in Thailand. Geographical area of this province is covered by plains about 130-160 meters above sea level, drained by the Chi River. In the north of the province are the hills of the Phu Phan mountain range, with the Yang River as the major river. The temple is home to Phra Buddha Rattana Mongkon Maha Munii, also known as Ong Phra Chao Yai or Phra Suung Yai, the tall standing Buddha. Believed to be the tallest, standing Buddha in the kingdom, Phra Buddha Rattana Mongkon Maha Munii stands 67.8 metres high, measured from the base to the top of the crown. The highly revered principle Buddha image stands in the ‘Offering Blessings’ (prang prataan porn). Several rooms located in the basement of the statue serve as a museum. Opening hours: 08.00 – 17.30 hrs.


Camping time – after visiting the Buddha statue, we drop to a small restaurant. One of the famous foods in Thailand is Somtam (papaya salad) that mostly serve and usual food to eat with my companions. A few hours we arrive to the teacher’s camp and chat with some Thai teachers in different provinces. I installed the tents that they give me as my shelter in the night. Chatting and eating is all about in that camp and of course drinking as I remember most Thai teacher’s really good of alcohol drinks. After dinner, I and my friend play cards for an hour. I’m not totally good as they are in playing cards so I bored of playing. Anyway, I feel like I’m bit sleepy, so I start to walk through my tent to sleep. The place is quiet and humid but even that I couldn’t sleep my mind still revolving. I go out my tent and take a look the surroundings, one notice me is the old dead tree that looks so weird to me. I go back and get my camera and take some pictures.

Christian Community - a Priest, a farmer (Northeast of Thailand)

Summer days ahead, more people are in vacation to release stress the from works or studies. I start prepare my things and start buying some souvenir to my relatives and friends. In this sunny season it is good to harvest the crops.

As I remember my journey to Loengnoktha (another district of Yasothon). Most of the villager are helping together to harvest their rice field. I took some pictures with them and they are smiling even the sun is so hot, which is quiet similar to my country when cutting the rice plant to get the grains out. But the rests are rarely different.

(1.) The farmer has their own farm.
(2.) All family members are helping together regardless of their works and profession.
(3.) Neighbors and friends helping each other with compensation amount of 200 baht a day.
(4.) the most I admired – Parish Priest is helping to harvest the rice and earned compensation too.

(The man wearing red scarf is a priest)

I never think that one of the harvesters is a priest of their village. The village is what they called as Ban Nongkhunnoi is where most of the villagers are Christian. The only village that I’ve seen that doesn’t have a Buddhist temple. Long time ago according to the old villager, that this village was converted into Christian (Roman Catholic) after the World War II. There was an epidemic on that time most villagers were sick and many people died. In some views that looks like they were abandoned. By the help of the French missionaries medicines and facilities, they were cured. So many villagers were converted and make their church at that village. Generation to generation they will pass it to families and friends that God exist.

School Campaign 2009

March 5, 2009. 8:00 o’clock in the morning, sitting down the bench waiting for some Thai teachers. I don’t have any idea about the activity as I was just informed the day later to come to school early of the said time. The school is already closed for this semester and will comeback to open on second week of May. This is not the first time for me to keep waiting for them, maybe I’m not yet lessoned or I’m too punctual for them. Some Filipinos are also not quiet concerned about the time, but I think Thais are more.

A flashback to my funny experienced for them is during our school trip to Chiangmai the second’s largest city in Thailand. Were the assemble time must be at 4a.m. at the campus, but nobody is there except me. I’m thinking maybe I’m late and they are gone. On the second thought maybe my wristwatch is too advanced for them. In short they arrived after an hour. lol look like I’m lost in the middle of the jungle.

Quarter to nine, we group into four. Me and a south African are in the same group with five Thais. That’s the only time that I understand that we’re going to someplace to campaign our school that we’re been working. Some teachers are in different places too. Our group target place is in Ban Kamek Elementary School with the student population of 134, from grade 1 to 6. A very fair number of students in the grade 6 class, 11 boys and 11 girls. About few minutes we arrive at the said school. The Principal was welcome us and had a few chats in his office.

I’m not interested with the discussion coz they speaking their own language, so I go outside with my two colleagues to look something unusual. This is what we saw.
Filtered water faucet from the plastic tank, where the water is come from the rain. One teacher told that they used to drink that water coz it safe as they filtered. Oh really? I’m so curious, I open the cover and gosh. Looks like many living organism inside, I saw some tiny black dots inside that tank. I turn around and look through the eye of the students and they look healthy. Alas… anyway some says there’s no such thing as clean as water.(lol) Because the water is used to clean so therefore water is clean. The one who said that is already dead.

I went back inside the room and they started the student are too much quiet even they are ask they don’t like to talked back. All grade six pupils receive the pamphlet and books as one of the strategy of my co-teacher to convince them to study in our school Saimonwittyaa. Each of us introduced to the pupils and said about the good things that they will get if they study in our school. 50% are raising their hand when they asked which is a good numbers for this campaigned. But the final decision is in their parents if where will be. There are five high schools in the Education area 2 and saimoonwittaya is on the top of popularity so they are quiet confident of it.

Rock the House - Kratos Band

(Photograph by Julius)

Kratos Band The phenomenon--- The most requested song in Hot FM station of Ormoc City. The first “Bisrock” band of Ormoc has ever floated to the air of popularity. The “UNEXPECTED” album, that rock the house of thousands Ormocanons and its neighboring towns.

Kratos background:
The group called Kratos was emerge last 1994, with the two original members namely: Mario Troyo, (Vocals and Composer) and Alvin Claros (Lead Guitar and Arranger). In 1996, Kratos joined the band show called “Ground Underground” of the DYRT FM station, Hosted by KA PEDRO, with the four (4) entry songs. 1. Kuya-ig, 2. Bato 3. Imperno 4. Pagbabalik ng bampira. The band was admired by some Cebuano’s, but due to some circumstances Kratos band faded in the air. In 2007, the two original members of Kratos made a comeback with intensity. The Kratos Band members, Mario Truyo –Vocal, Alvin Claros, Noriss Dinoy – Drummer, RJ Bacani – Rhythm, Manuel Concon Cuna – Bass. They rock the city with their first hits single “Kuya-ig” was recorded last September 15, 2007. The following hits was “Asaka” and “Miawop Nga Gugma”, recorded last December 27, 2007, with the help of their sponsors (Innah Lorreane Costa and Diosdado Cabulong AKA Bhoycabs). Bhoycabs was giving his moral support to the band and devoted his time and attention. He decided to manage “Kratos” for all his will. Another hit was “Boak Na Panumpa“, “Ligoy” was recorded last March 5, 2008, sponsored by Engr. Danilo Monte, Jr. Most of the members of the band and the manager are the residence of Sitio Katambisan, Brgy. San Isidro, Ormoc City.

Concerts:
First concert of KRATOS BAND with launching the first single hits song (Kuya-ig) at Ormoc City stage plaza last October 2007, during the HOT FM anniversary. 2nd was in Brgy. Alegria dated April 26, 2008, with the release of the album “UNXPECTED”. 3rd Concert tour: Brgy Can-Adieng. 4th, Brgy. Gacat, Babay City, dated last May 22, 2008. 5th the Point Mall, Tacloban City, dated last June 27, 2008. 6th Live in concert in Ormoc, as celebrating the Ormoc City fiesta, dated last June 29, 2008.

Kratos Band Albums
1st Album: UNEXPECTED
1.Kuyaig
2.Asana-Asaka
3..Miawopnga Gugma
4.Ligoy
5.Boak na Panumpa

2nd Album: AGUY
1. Aguy
2. Tambalan
3. Babae Makalilibog
4. Batang Kalye
5. Hotbisrock
6. Karpentero
7. Babaye walay Batasan
8. Super Indianera
9. Pangandoy
10. Bato Imperno – Tagalog version
11. Pagbabalik Nang Vampera –Tagalog version
12. Broked Hearted – English version

Awards and Upcoming Actities:
• HOT FM ORMOC - SEPT 20,2007
• POWER FM ORMOC - SEP 20, 2007
• DYLS.M.O.R-ABS-CBN CEBU -MARCH 29, 2008
• HOT FM CEBU - JULY 20, 2008
• SMASH FM CEBU - JULY 25, 2008
• DYRT GMA -CEBU - JULY 25,2008
• ENERGY FM CEBU - JULY 25,2008
• ABS-CBN CEBU
• (M.O.R 97.1) Lupig Sila , Tengog Bisaya---2nd Season Bisrock Award 2008
• Fund raising of BJMP Jail at Brgy. Alta Vista, Ormoc City,
• Fund raising for out of school youth and indigent, street children last August 2008

Plug:
VOTE KRATOS BAND ORMOC TALENT
Vote now by Texting the following Category
• MOR Cebu Kratos Best Bisrock Band Of The Year
• MOR Cebu Kratos Best Bisrock Artist Of The Year
• MOR Cebu Kratos Best Bisrock Alternative
• MOR Cebu kratos Kuyaig Best Bisrock Novelty Song
• MOR Cebu kratos Noriss Dinoy Best Bisrock Drummer
• MOR Cebu Asana-Asaka Most Bisrock Requested Song
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