I’ve been scriptwriting from HARANA, the brainchild of Dr. Ben, to Basketball competitions, Alumni Homecomings, Coronation nights and other fiesta events of our beloved San Esteban, the town of the beautiful, the resilient and enduring brown Filipinos many of whom were among the first to set foot in the United States of America, the “land of the free”.

     Susan (“Zan”), my good friend, Webmaster and Chairperson, kept on suggesting that I start a scope that could enliven the site and invite more visitors and members alike to be regulars to it. I toyed with the idea and zeroed in on AFTERTHOUGHT as my contribution to our web. Perhaps, I thought, variety could bring more excitement! Talking about people you know, people and events that have been taking place in your hometown, why, these are all topics AFTERTHOUGHT believes are closest to every San Estebanian’s heart. I’ll give it to you, sweet or sour, no spice added. This time, we’ll do less with steaks and salads. Instead, I intend to give you more Pinakbet and Kilabban or even Kilawen in your favourite pinggan. Everything will come out to you as I saw them and as I perceived of them and as an objective and real as I can. I will need your comments, your opinions and suggestions, so I can have focus, so I can have inspiration. For life is truly beautiful, but life is also short. So let’s live and enjoy it, and let’s re-connect thru AFTERTHOUGHT.

     For a start, AFTERTHOUGHT comes out with the following:

1. To usher in the year 2006, NIÑO – NIÑO, a yearly tradition practiced by the Catholic Church and the Philippine Independent Church occupied the first week of the New Year. The image of SANTO NIÑO DE BELEN was brought by a handful of our pious San Estebanians to houses all over town. It is believed that these houses visited by Santo Niño de Belen will be blessed. In return, the families will share their blessing with the Church. This tradition is exemplary and strengthens the faith of the people in Jesus, the Son of God.

2. Municipal employees like their counterparts all over the country, went to work on January 2, a Monday. The calendared mass for municipal employees scheduled every first Monday of the month had to be postponed a week later to give way to NIÑO- NIÑO.

3. On January 10, Mayor Armando V. Abad and Fr. Leo Inofinada echoed the call fro moral recovery and ascendancy to all San Estebanians. He also reflected on a line of the San Esteban Hymn, “PERLAS TI AGSAPA” and gently challenged every San Estebanian to be like a pearl PURE and STRONG.

4. Father LEO observed his 72nd BIRTHDAY on January 18 with a concelebrated mass cupped by an early dinner with his relatives and parishioners.

5. Dr. Athena Barcelona – Guzman, retired U.S. Psychiatrist from East Moline, Illinois and husband, Teodoro Guzman (popularly known by the name Charito), is thinking of adding one more scholar to their privately funded scholarship program (BARGUZ) for members of the San Esteban Methodist Church. To – date, BARGUZ is sponsoring 9 scholars in elementary and high school levels.

6. I have this funny story to share with you. My aunt, SBM Florence V. Ramirez, a medical practitioner was operated on at Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Manila of TAHBSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Bilater Salphingo Ooperectomy), a complete removal of reproductive system. She was accompanied by my niece, Estela, as her immediate nursing aide. One morning, few days after a successful operation, I sent a text message to check if my Auntie’s digestive system was already normally functioning. “Ania ti kinnan ni auntie? Naka SOFT diet kadin?” My niece replied, “CHICKEN NOODLE SOFT, Uncle”. Now, my niece is working in Lebanon. I hope and pray for her SAFETY and not SOFTY! Hello, Estela!

     This is all for now. Watch out for the next issue of AFTERTHOUGHT. Let our Battle cry be I’M PROUD TO BE A SAN ESTEBANIAN! EBAN NAK! EBAN TAYO! AGBIAG!

     AFTERTHOUGHT at arthzbarrey06@yahoo.com for suggestions and comments.