A NEW book written by a Filipino American has just been released and is now available online.
“The Road to Cabalitian,” penned by Rodolfo I. Necesito of Stockton, California, is a nostalgic memoir that captures the events that framed the life of a young boy growing up in a bucolic village in post-World War II Philippines. Cabalitian is one of the 15 barangays or barrios, of Asingan, Pangasinan.
Part biographical and part historical, the 178-page book describes how life was under the 3-year oppressive rule of the Japanese occupiers from 1942-1945, and how the barrio folks contrived a way to evade the Kempetai soldiers who did not hesitate to intimidate, harass, and torture civilians under slim pretexts.
The author also details efforts by his parents to meet the challenges they faced as they were confronted with a growing family, as well as describe how it was to live in a rural setting like Cabalitian. Fascinating and interesting stories about the family and its interactions with their neighbors were included in this compendium of events that highlighted the author’s early life.
The author also focuses on the various activities of the simple folks of Cabalitian amid their challenges to improve their lives. He highlighted the raft of customs, traditions, and superstitious beliefs the locals observed during such holidays as Christmas and New Year’s Day. The residents of Cabalitians who are mostly Ilocanos trace their origin to their forebears coming from the Ilocos Region in northern Luzon.
Necesito immigrated to the United States in 1976 with his wife Estrella, following a 10-year stint as director of public relations and publications of the Philippine National Red Cross in Manila. In the United States, he worked for the City Attorney’s Office in the City and County of San Francisco for almost 30 years before retiring in 2006. He is enjoying his retirement in Stockton, California.
“The Road to Cabalitian” is available in both Kindle and paperback editions on amazon.com.