Calaba is the western boundary of Bangued as Casamata is its eastern boundary. These are the two areas where we went for recreation.
At Casamata we picnicked and exercised our legs, while in Calaba we did our swimming before the pool was built in Casamata.
On weekends the Valera clan, consisting of Mg. Conchang, Mg. Cinching, Mg. Torudod, Mg. Salome, Pitang, Teling, Roding, Mg. Paevy, and Elix, all headed for Calaba to swim during summer vacation.
There we washed the car of Mg. Conchang and frolicked in the water. It was here where I learned how to swim, with the help of a lady who later on became a nun. She was a tomboy and was least expected to become a nun. She is Manang Marina.
We usually brought some food which we ate after swimming.
It was in this place where a brother of Fina drowned.
This river bank was the source of stones which were used to pave the streets of Bangued.
There were no trees around and so we usually went there in the afternoon when the tall mountains west of the river shaded the hot sun.
Before going back home, we used to pick up stones for scrubbing our skin when we took a bath. The stones were called ISIZO.
I was told that in a museum in Chicago a stone was labeled ILOCANO SOAP.
The last time I went to Calaba was when I saw bamboo rafts flowing down the river and I recalled how as a child I used to ride a bamboo raft to Vigan with Mother.
[…] Bangued Memories – Calaba River Bank […]