A Historic Duhat Tree

ALCALA, PANGASINAN – An ancient but still robust duhat (java plum) tree played a stellar role in the development of a little-known but peaceful barangay as this town’s “sports center” in the 1950s.

Aware of its importance, residents, particularly the elderly, now want the government to preserve the historic tree at the sprawling Juan E. Mabalot (JEM) compound in Pindangan East here.

They want to make the younger people of the barangay and nearby villages to be aware of the historical role played by the almost 200-year-old tree believed planted by the mother of Mabalot.

Mabalot’s mother, Isidora Epistola, died of breast cancer in the late 1950s at the age of 115. Descendants of “Apong Juan,” including his great, great grandchildren, said the historic tree served as one of the two posts where an improvised net, which was made of “silag” leaves, was nailed.

In those days, the local players used heavy and hard balls. Unlike today, the balls then were made of “kawayan” (bamboo), which was abundant in the Barangay of Pindangan East until a few years ago.

Every Sunday, from 8 a.m to 3 p.m., players from neighboring villages, like San Antonio in the town of Sto. Tomas, wowed the local crowd with their powerful spikes and excellent receptions.

Later, the volleyball court was transferred to the adjacent lot owned by the family of the late Tour of Luzon lead announcer Earl D. Sapelino, eldest son of couple Ceferino Sapelino and Mercedes Dingle.

With the transfer of the court, Sapelino’s father, a sportsman, used the area to train local boxers. Pindangan East also produced the town’s only professional cyclists, notably Tour of Luzon veteran Jesus D. Alvaro and PICCA tour sensation Melchor Mabalot Idos and Teofilo Ramay.

Three sons of the barangay – the late Barangay Captain Roberto P. Gabriel, Conrado M. Lopez and Gaspar Espiritu – also represented Alcala High School (now Cipriano P. Primicias National High School) in many national track and field competitions.

Every year, despite its age, the ancient duhat tree still bears big, shiny and juicy fruits, which are harvested in mid-April. Without doubt, the century-old tree is a pride not only of Pindangan East but also of the whole town of Alcala, birthplace of the late Senate Majority Floor Leader Cipriano P. Primicias.

ALFREDO L. MABALOT

 

Amianan Balita Ngayon