Lambanog
Lambanog is the Filipino term for wine that is locally produced from 100% natural sources. Such examples of natural sources of lambanog are sugar cane, coconut, rice, and “sasa”, a member of the family of palm similar to coconut tree but commonly grow in areas near rivers and swamps. This wine is very popular in the provinces of batangas, laguna, especially in quezon. Mostly people from those provinces have high tolerance to this kind of alcoholic beverages even women. That’s why when you talked about lambanog some will say;” taga quezon ka ba?” “Naku, nakakatakot uminom nyan sobrang tapang!”
In infanta quezon, I was first introduced to drink lambanog. I was 2nd year high school that time when I was told by my classmates to give it a try even for a shot or “tagay”. At first, the taste was not so good to me, parang ang tapang ng lasa. In manila I used to drink beers and some hard liquor when we have special occasions like New Year and Christmas but this lambanog was different. There’s something in this drink that you couldn’t resist once you’ve tried it. Hanggang sa di nagtagal unti unti ko nang nakasanayan ang pag-inom ng lambanog. Lambanog in infanta was made from “sasa” and it was one of the exported products in the province.
Drinking lambanog became my barkada’s means of bonding. Sa tuwing may okasyon sa barkada namin, di nawawala ang lambanog sa handaan o kahit simpleng sama sama lang. There were 10 events where my barkada usually gathered and drink lambanog:
1. Fiesta - Each of us in the barkada have own barangay residencies. Kapag may fiesta sa lugar ng isa sa amin, laging present ang bawat isa para dumalo at makifiesta. That’s why we called ourselves “the fiesta boys”. After eating we would start to drink.
2. Birthday – Every month in the calendar have specific date and schedule for celebration from January to December. Kaya di pwedeng di kami magiinom sa isang buwan hehehe.
3. after periodical exams – Usually after the pressures and headache for answering the test papers, we have to relax and unwind so we drink. Minsan pinagusapan pa yung mga sagot namin na humahantong sa isang magandang debate habang tumatagay ng lambanog.
4. Picnic – Whenever we wanted to gather especially weekends or vacation we go to the beach and from there many activities happened. Nandyan ang kumustahan because some us were from different section, biruan, tawanan, at syempre inuman ng lambanog.
5. Graduation (high school) – This was the very memorable experience that I have and for my friends also. Because this was the time we would separate from each other. Some would stay in infanta and some would go to manila to study in college. May halong lungkot at saya ang nararamdaman namin dahil magkakahiwalay na kami at makakakilala rin ng mga bagong kaibigan sa mga papasukan naming universities. Different emotions were expressed each other while drinking lambanog.
6. simpleng kita-kita- Kapag walang magawa nagtatawagan ang nagpupunta sa isang bahay ng kabarkada namin. From there, we talked of anything, watched movies on vcds, at syempre isang bote ng lambanog para mas masaya ang kwentuhan at samahan.
7. Christmas – In 4 years of stay in infanta we never missed to celebrate Christmas together with my barkada. Every 25th of December we went to each other’s house para magkita-kita at maki-pasko. There were times we have exchange gifts and of course bonding moments with lambanog on the side hehehe.
8. Wedding – Some of us have stepped to another chapter of life and that is to have a family. Magkikita-kita kami ulit para sa kasal ng kaibigan at pagkatapos ng kasalan, nandyan ang ilang bote ng lambanog sa lamesa para sa isang masayang tagayan at salu-salo.
9. Christening – After wedding, baptism of baby comes next. Present ulit ang barkada dahil mga ninong at ninang ang karamihan sa amin. Nandyan ang mga masasarap na handa pero di mawawala ang bote ng lambanog na galing pa sa infanta hehehe.
10. Despedida – Whenever one of us in the barkada would go abroad to work, we gathered and like we used to do, bonding moments. May mga magbibilin ng mga pasalubong at kung anu ano pa. And because there is no lambanog on abroad, susulitin ang paginom nito at ang samahan na pansamantalang maiiwan ay magsasaya ulit.
To sum it up, Lambanog became the significant figure in my barkada up to now. Kahit din na ako nakakainom, I know that it will always be a part to each of us in our barkada….
In infanta quezon, I was first introduced to drink lambanog. I was 2nd year high school that time when I was told by my classmates to give it a try even for a shot or “tagay”. At first, the taste was not so good to me, parang ang tapang ng lasa. In manila I used to drink beers and some hard liquor when we have special occasions like New Year and Christmas but this lambanog was different. There’s something in this drink that you couldn’t resist once you’ve tried it. Hanggang sa di nagtagal unti unti ko nang nakasanayan ang pag-inom ng lambanog. Lambanog in infanta was made from “sasa” and it was one of the exported products in the province.
Drinking lambanog became my barkada’s means of bonding. Sa tuwing may okasyon sa barkada namin, di nawawala ang lambanog sa handaan o kahit simpleng sama sama lang. There were 10 events where my barkada usually gathered and drink lambanog:
1. Fiesta - Each of us in the barkada have own barangay residencies. Kapag may fiesta sa lugar ng isa sa amin, laging present ang bawat isa para dumalo at makifiesta. That’s why we called ourselves “the fiesta boys”. After eating we would start to drink.
2. Birthday – Every month in the calendar have specific date and schedule for celebration from January to December. Kaya di pwedeng di kami magiinom sa isang buwan hehehe.
3. after periodical exams – Usually after the pressures and headache for answering the test papers, we have to relax and unwind so we drink. Minsan pinagusapan pa yung mga sagot namin na humahantong sa isang magandang debate habang tumatagay ng lambanog.
4. Picnic – Whenever we wanted to gather especially weekends or vacation we go to the beach and from there many activities happened. Nandyan ang kumustahan because some us were from different section, biruan, tawanan, at syempre inuman ng lambanog.
5. Graduation (high school) – This was the very memorable experience that I have and for my friends also. Because this was the time we would separate from each other. Some would stay in infanta and some would go to manila to study in college. May halong lungkot at saya ang nararamdaman namin dahil magkakahiwalay na kami at makakakilala rin ng mga bagong kaibigan sa mga papasukan naming universities. Different emotions were expressed each other while drinking lambanog.
6. simpleng kita-kita- Kapag walang magawa nagtatawagan ang nagpupunta sa isang bahay ng kabarkada namin. From there, we talked of anything, watched movies on vcds, at syempre isang bote ng lambanog para mas masaya ang kwentuhan at samahan.
7. Christmas – In 4 years of stay in infanta we never missed to celebrate Christmas together with my barkada. Every 25th of December we went to each other’s house para magkita-kita at maki-pasko. There were times we have exchange gifts and of course bonding moments with lambanog on the side hehehe.
8. Wedding – Some of us have stepped to another chapter of life and that is to have a family. Magkikita-kita kami ulit para sa kasal ng kaibigan at pagkatapos ng kasalan, nandyan ang ilang bote ng lambanog sa lamesa para sa isang masayang tagayan at salu-salo.
9. Christening – After wedding, baptism of baby comes next. Present ulit ang barkada dahil mga ninong at ninang ang karamihan sa amin. Nandyan ang mga masasarap na handa pero di mawawala ang bote ng lambanog na galing pa sa infanta hehehe.
10. Despedida – Whenever one of us in the barkada would go abroad to work, we gathered and like we used to do, bonding moments. May mga magbibilin ng mga pasalubong at kung anu ano pa. And because there is no lambanog on abroad, susulitin ang paginom nito at ang samahan na pansamantalang maiiwan ay magsasaya ulit.
To sum it up, Lambanog became the significant figure in my barkada up to now. Kahit din na ako nakakainom, I know that it will always be a part to each of us in our barkada….
Comments
nakakamiss ang lambanog sa Infanta haneh? salamat nga para sa blog mo, pandagdag impormasyon sa thesis namin.. ano baga ang pangalan mo po para mailagay man laang sa references.. haha..
bukod pa sa lambanog, nakakatuwa sa mga infantahin ay yung malambing na ponto nila. :)