How Bais got its name

Writer Josefa Baena Villanueva -Perez 1981

Photo by : Brian Villanueva

When the fertile flatlands and rich fishing grounds were reported to the Spanish colonizers after they arrived in the Philippines, an expedition headed by a Spanish engineer was sent to the area to get its name and pinpoint its exact location, as well as prepare a map of the island. They happened to enter the mouth of the river in the area and saw some people gathering the abundant freshwater eel locally called “bais” that were caught in their fish traps.

Upon seeing the fishermen, the Spaniard asked in his native tongue, “Como se llama este lugar?” (What is the name of this place?). Failing to understand the engineer of the course, and thinking that he was asking for the name of the fish caught, the fisherman answered curtly, “Bais”. The Spaniard, therefore, recorded the name “Bais” as the name of the place.

The legend of the City of Bais

The legend of the City of Bais   1980

Writer: Josefa Baena Villanueva –Perez 

Translated from Cebuano to English: 

Leonaga Tulabing Larena,RN,MPM 

Bais before was already the center of trade in the island of Negros Oriental. The Chinese were already coming here to trade their magnificent silk and porcelain with lumber for building houses and sugar coming from sugar cane plant ( Tubo).

The natives of Bais idolizes the spirit ( Anitos ) and God and Goddesses that lived in the forest. They make the forests a sacred place to pray. They sometimes do not during moonlight nights and they sing native songs in their language for their beloved Anitas due to their greediness and weaknesses. They denuded the forests, they cut down all trees and build their houses there and celebrated fiestas.The sacredness of the place was forgotten.

Bais City Sunset by : Photographer Kenzo G. Laxina

The Anitos got very angry and famine resulted, their harvests failed and the natives were hungry. Despite what happened the anitos stile pitied the native. They created rivers and seas were numerous fish appeared which the natives were gathering freshwater eel called “Bais” caught in the fish traps. The natives were given fish to eat by the anitos. 

Photograph ( 2014)

The end of a hot summer
When you fell off missing someone
I set down and take a breath
An uncomfortable feeling and looking at the horizon
I saw the vintage Aparador with full of good memories

I open it, i saw the family album
When I open it, I saw an old photograph
A flashback feeling  the horizon
A boy and the adult lady
Showing the everlasting love and care for each other arms
A memories lane appear in so many colors

Summer of the 1980s
The place is so white and pure
The local Cherry blossom was flowing all over the place
The love of a mother to her son

The joy of togetherness
A son  hold her so tight
The smell of her perfume content the place
No worrying of problems for the future
Just me and the world of happiness

I love you son
I love you Ma
You are my life
Celebrating the joy and sorrow in life
The clock stop and moment can speak a thousand words
They will tell you how the tragedy of family and love can be

Holding a piece of History
The memories will just
be part of the past
The future will be holding our desires
The love will be everlasting in our hearts
The relationship of a mother and son forever

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena  some of his works influenced by family ,relatives and friends. Some of his works including Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016, Katacgahan 2005 , The space between us 2018 , Love like Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael Mar 2018 and Pretty Girl  2018. He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .

The total Stranger

The stranger is now ready to  be  with a  fine lady,
Understands the dusty to act like as divine justice
Now ready to enter in a materialize society,
To a total stranger bringing happiness to my life

The freedom I lost to the man I love
My mind is mine
But my life be with him forever
To hunt is to be hunted
To live is to die
Our thoughts, love, belongs  are our own

People are all eager to associate with his great man,
The stranger  look back and recognize her
Yet he does not reveal his identity to anyone.

Instead of love and disappointment came
To fight  for love and adoration for the man I loved
To support all his endeavors and achievements
For I am the lost identity, soul, mind, and spirit

The man I love is gone too soon
Standing alone in front of your grave
He gives me laughter and Caderousse happiness
A total stranger will always be the love of my life

A 1982 Poem by Baisanon Poet Leonaga Hermoso.Tulabing Larena was a lover of World Literature and a member of Dumaguete Reading Club from 1971 to 1985. In the Summer of 1965 and 1966  she was sent to Manila thru a government scholarship to study Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo at the University of the Philippines Diliman.She was born in Bais City and grow up in Vallehermoso Negros Oriental ,Tanjay City and Daro Dumaguete City.

Educational Background

Vallehermoso Central School,Foundation University, Southwestern University ,Arellano University  

Love like Spanish bread from Jose Rafael

Feeling good after eating  Spanish Bread,
It is like being in love with Jose Rafael 
A simple comfort food used to compare,
The man must think it’s unfair.

Alone it feels lonely and sapless,
But with a pair it becomes different.
Combining with any good intent,
It becomes the best kind of commitment.

You may believe you are paired like many,
But to the one and only man you are the best.
He’ll always choose you,
Even if both of your lives are rightful,
For together,
Perfection you turn into.

Simple and boring as the first  time,
Hidden within are the secrets of a queen,
Together a Spanish bread becomes the perfect snack.
Two become one,

Now be amazed at what you have became.
Doubt then shrouds your mind,
Because love’s not so kind,
Fearing to be denied,
You stop without having tried,
Now you can wait and let the feeling subside.

Endless like Spanish Bread,
Never gave up our great man.
For he made you realize,
That giving up is the greatest downfall.
For what was only a fantasy,
Has now become a flavourful inspiration. 



Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena  some of his works influenced by family ,relatives and friends. Some of his works including Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016, Katacgahan 2005 , The space between us 2018 , Love like Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael Mar 2018 and Pretty Girl  2018. He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .

The Lights by Penn Larena

When I enter the Room with a heavy heart
I saw the middle lights
Passing by a good brother jamming in a passionate music
The western music culture heard my good soul

Setting in the side
Hearing the sound of a memory lane
Youthful mind appreciated the classic sound
The lights turn Disco

Two young girls and chubby mestizo speaking
Talking about young Love
The lights in a bright 8os feelings
Spice and adventure of life
The light became red and fragile

Pretty morena girl studies line to line
Observing the surroundings
Listening to the classic sound
Sudden entering of a short guy turn handsome, speaking
of renewing a happy friendship
Short guy a look-alike of Patrick de la Rosa appear fresh, sparkling eyes and telling a sad and good stories

Like a vineyard  grow to give a green light to the world
A  candle is always our guiding light
The light of a spotlight  a sunbeam  to sunrise

 

The lights in Nov. 2018

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena  some of his works influenced by family ,relatives and friends. Some of his works including Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016, Katacgahan 2005 , The space between us 2018 ,Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael  2018 and Pretty Girl  2018. He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .

The Open Sea

The waves whispering calling me to the shores
The water touches my feet where I stand
The eyes wandering to the deep blue ocean
My heart missing and calling out to you
Memories of you keep on coming back
Like waves on the shore crashing and crashing

When I met a stranger under the dark hall
I told my self this is the person I going to love
Were probably not each other first love
But we had our moment walking under the Acacia trees
Going to church together and praise God
Think of us as starting from now onwards

Since compared to the number of days when we didn’t know each other
You are my everything   to Love and cherish
Forever I hope well be like this
If you’re willing to make this promise with me
I love you, No words can describe it

We both made a vision of our tomorrow, but why did you have to leave me far away
You promise that every sunrise and sunset on the beach you will be on my side
You took the wind right out of my skin and you turned out to be just a fairy tale

As I envision you like the sea, Tears fell from my eyes to my lips kissing the sand
I craved love so deep from you to the sea
I want to give you everything, let make a promise to walk till the next life
Love first and loving someone should not be passionate

The Open Sea 2007

Baisanon Poet Penn Tulabing Larena  some of his works influenced by family ,relatives and friends. Some of his works including Hacienda in 2013, Hometown 2015,Rizal 2016, Katacgahan 2005 , The space between us 2018 ,Spanish Bread of Jose Rafael  2018 and Pretty Girl  2018. He is a nephew of  Literary icons in the Philippines like Fr. Rudy Villanueva aka in literature Renato Madrid, Dr. Elsa Martinez – Coscolluela,Atty .David C. Martinez, Lilius Pinili,Dr. Tichie Saycon E. Baena ,Atty Arturo Valencia Umbac,  Simon Anton Niño Diego Galera Baena and his mother Leonaga Tulabing Larena .