The Flair & Fury of Mayon Volcano

by Neria Soliman
(Dedicated to my kabanwang Bicol)

A clamoured petition to have Mayon Volcano included among the WONDERS of the world is currently taking place. What an honour to the Bicolanos indeed!

Mt. Mayon is a woman. She is hot, beautiful, fickle and throws furious tantrums. Every eruption is accompanied by thunder and lightning.

In 2005 while l was president of PCC NSW Inc, the peak umbrella organization of Filipino associations, l felt perplexed every time l get invited to regional inductions but not from the Bicol region where l come from. Seemingly and obviously, there was no active Bicol organization in NSW. What a shame, l would tell myself.

Silently, l got to my feet and called up the Palenzuelas who organized the 1ST Bicol group called the Bicolanos and Friends. That was in the early ‘80s, and the organisation was an affiliate member of PCC NSW Inc. I was told that president Atty. Peping Palenzuela has gone home to Guinobatan to retire. But later during the year, his daughter Joanne Mark, took over and the group was revived. She called for a meeting which l attended as PCC President. David Isaac was then the Vice President.

I aired the sentiments of an informal but active Bicol group to some people. One was Vicky Isaac who regularly hosted mini-reunions of Bicolanos from the Camarines region. She usually invited guests to have dinner during New Year’s Eve. I got to be invited every now and then since 1988. The other person was Josie Musa who was with me in the PCC Board and who acted as my co-organizer in the Sarong Banggui Social Night some years back. The latter took the challenge and initiated the Grand Bicol Reunion at Nurragingy Park. I gave her names of Bicolanos to contact from my private directory.

Presto! An active Bicolano association was coming into fruition, so l thought. With Josie at the helm were Bicolnon Luz Van Opstal of the consular office, fellow journalist/writer Aida Morden and Bobby Lastica. There was brainstorming in the soon-to-be conceived Constitution and By Laws. During the picnic attended overwhelmingly by all Bicolanos that we could think of, I was happy to invite another kabanwa Mr. Arnul Pan of PAL who then donated the $40.00 registration fee to PCC NSW. I introduced Atty. Peping Palenzuela who was in town and old friend Boy Posada to Arnul during this festive Bicol celebration that consisted of the usual Bicol fair of hot dishes. The Sario family showcased their family specialties. The array of food consisted of Fish Picadillo, Bicol Express, Pinangat (Laing), Dinuguan Bicol, Tinutungan Gata sa Manok, Hot Kandinggang Bicol, Lechon donated by Luz Van Opstal and the Arroz Bicolandia, a recipe lifted from my book, The Bicol Recipes published in 1976.

Unexpectedly, the group decided to form another organization and BICOL INC. was born. I could hear rumblings of Mt. Mayon from the distance. Today the rumblings stopped only to erupt in fury.

In my observation from day one, the association carried the policy that when you have a big family and influential friends, you get to be elected. I have always believed that election should be carried out through merits. Seemingly those who worked hard in the formation of this organization were nowhere in sight during the latest induction ceremony. I was hoping to see Bobby Lastica as the inducted Chairperson. Bobby gave mammoth input to the organization, l was told by some observers. At least l was happy to see the name of Ross Iglesia as Public Relations Officer. Ross has the potential to carry the torch and the challenging role to unite the Bicolnons.

Thank heavens, there is a peaceful spiritual Bicol group lurking in the humble Penrith area called the ADOLP, acronym for Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia headed by Jose Relunia Jr. This group is under the guidance of Msgr. Vergara of Naga and the Filipino Chaplain, Fr. Raning Creta. With the intercession of INA, the Blessed Virgin Mary, this group is blessed and continues to pray for solidarity. It has a strong and solid ground whose objective is to propagate the image of our Lady of Penafrancia, the patroness of the Bicol region.

My husband Tito Soliman has long been wanting to organize the ALBAY CLIQUE, the group equivalent to the Kahirup in the Visayas. The ALBAY Clique originated from Tito’s forebears, whose grandfather from his mother side, the late Jose Arboleda married to Snr. Poping Imperial was the 1st mayor of Legaspi City. Their eldest daughter, Cresina conceived this prestigious group of Bicolanas in beaded gowns and Bicolanos in Tux coming out in the society page in the 1940’s. I reckon this purely once-a- year social get-together is not passé and something to think about.

All Bicolanos have in their veins the flair and beauty of Mt Mayon but oblivious of her signals when provoked i.e., the rumblings and tantrums which clearly says – Give merit to deserving people and let humility reign!

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