If there’s one thing I can say about my childhood memories is that they were all filled with great effort to survive such constructive experiences. I can’t say that they were depressing, it was cheerless for a normal fun-seeking child but it had made me strong and smart. I had my own means of finding a way to do things that a normal kid would want, like watching TV programs that I want, taking summer courses of my interests, and spend time with friends. I remember to barter with my dad every time I wanted something. I can get piano and ballet lessons if I take up professional typing course on a summer at age 8. Wheow!!! And I have to prove to him I can really read the time before he buys me my first ever wrist watch! I grew up with a very rational and sensible father. I used to hate him for making me do things that he wants and I thought I didn’t want. Like he would always ask me to cook when I was still a kid, I was probably 10 years old. He doesn’t nicely, he speaks with authority and with so much stress that would make me feel that what he asked me to do is a mandatory. And it goes on and on and on….. And in every food that I cook comes with appreciation from those who got to taste it, guests, friends, etc. Until I’ve been so comfortable with it, even preparing for hundreds of my parents’ guests when they used to have frequent parties at home.
My love for food and culinary started from that experience. I have come to realize, my Dad has led me to discover my amazing talent in culinary. Thereafter, I loved trying different dishes from different restaurants… have a taste of their specialty and try to cook my own version of the dish.
Lucena City, Quezon Province
Just recently, I went home to our province and my Mom and Dad grabbed us for a dinner in Quezon’s famous Palaisdaan. There I remembered the grilled whole Tambakol fish skewed on a strong bamboo trunk. It was really tasty with a great smell of freshly smoked fish! I then hark back to where we buy that huge delicious grilled fish… DALAHICAN.
Myself with my friend Tinton
Not too late after lunch, I, with my childhood friend, Tinton, visited Dalahican. It’s a beach and port area of the province. Of course, it was more than 20 years ago when I last saw it, and so, I didn’t see the exact place where we buy that grilled fish.
Dalahican Port Area
A lot has changed. It used to be a rich dark sand at the end of the national road as you enter its barangay. Now, I can’t even recognize the place with its development.
Dalahican has an auspicious location in the southern part of Tayabas Bay southeast of Lucena City. The location of Dalahican is also advantageous for inter-island traffic to the neighbouring islands as Mindoro, Marinduque, and the Bondoc Peninsula. There is good road connection from Lucena City and other cities and towns in southern Luzon, as well as to Metro Manila.
Dalahican is close to the fishing grounds in Tayabas Bay and Sibuyan Sea. It is a suitable location for a fully developed fishing port as it is governed largely by its geographical and physical features… the wide land and the marketing possibilities. The construction of the fishing port in Dalahican contributes to the development of the fishing industry in the Philippines.
There is good reason to believe, therefore, that if a proper fish market is established in Dalahican, many of the fish traders would go there to buy their fish, as it is closer to many neighboring provinces such as Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite.
They have totally separated the fishing port area and the inter-island port for ferries going to the neighboring provinces. And I can imagine how it used to look like. The scene where there was always buzzing with activities, be it vendors, fish buyers, boat passengers, the boats and ships would always come with a bang! A diverse crowd in it and a mighty horn and different voices filling the air all at the same time.
It was sadness and excitement all the way. Sadness maybe because I never thought it would be developed the way it is now and not how I imagined before to be more like of a leisure beach resort area.
Nevertheless, excited because of a promising business-opportunity for the fishing-world people and for my hometown, too.
Even so, the beautiful sight of the sea is just the same. The rich view of the far-away trees, the soothing, peaceful and calming sound from the waves as it hit and bounce back from the big stones on the side of the sea wall…. I enjoyed the memories!
Around sunset, the best part of the visit, looking at the vast blue sky, the sinking sun, the lovely green views that perfectly coordinate with the deep blue sea with different ships and boats sailing….. time moved on…. Some silence took me back in time and flashbacks just flow so fact connecting just everything in my past, all the happiness, pain, goals, desires, wishes, worries….. name it!
Now, where do I find that grilled fish? (hehehehe… )
