Diaspora, Modern Abaknon Odyssey

Capul is a micro study of Philippine society. Locals are forced out of the island either to study or work in big cities or abroad due to limited resources in the island.

In the last 10 years, rapid technological breakthroughs like cable television and cellular phones invade the once bucolic island town and opened windows for the locals to see the world and offered a close peek at the different cultures and opportunities outside the island. School children are now learning computers in school, something that our generation only dreamed about. They are more updated about fashion and other trends which were deprived to my generation. Then, we only viewed the world through our outdated textbooks and taped television shows shown at the betamax houses.

Where Have All the People Gone?

In my small village in San Luis, some houses have been abandoned by whole families migrating to Manila to try their luck working as stevedores, household helps or professionals. In the houses where I once played as kid are fully grown ornamental plants with a trace of the garden hedges.

Fact to the mass migration is the population of Capul in the last 12 years which did not increase much based on the records of the National Census Board. Based on the 1995 Census, Capul has a total population of 9,964 as of September 1 of that year. On May 1, 2000, there are 10,619 Capulenos living in Capul and on August 1, 2007, there is total of 11,289 Capulenos. Based on the data, there is only a 12% difference between the years 1995 and 2007 or an increase of only 1,325 in the last 12 years.

I thought some people were just figments of my imagination when I saw them again; childhood acquaintances, relatives even, when I relocated to Manila almost five years ago.

The Abaknon Communities in Manila

You can find an Abaknon in almost every city and municipality in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna. Some of them have already settled with their families while others are renting a house temporarily. It is very seldom that you see an Abaknon living alone in one place. Usually, they have an Abaknon friend or relative nearby whom they see especially during weekend over a drink or two. Abaknons love to eat and drink and every celebration is incomplete without food and videoke. Music is in our blood and most of us sing well. That is not an exaggeration. Just go the next Abaknon party and you will find out that there are more talents here than anywhere else.