We were cruising along the Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay National Highway when I spotted this dilapidated wooden kariton. The seller told me it’s been parked there on the side of the road for about 5 years. He claimed he had received offers to buy it but he didn’t want to let it go. He would, at a price he can’t refuse. It attracted customers to his shop according to him. He agreed to sell it to me at half the amount he was offered by a foreigner. To bola-bola me, he said sa akin lang daw nya ibebenta kasi magaan ang pakiramdam nya.
I gave a P5,000 deposit two months ago and I requested him to fix it a little bit without altering its overall look. The wood is yakal and it came from Ilocos and was used by the farmers in the 1910- 1930s to haul sacks of rice, produce, etc. pulled by either a carabao or a cow.
They delivered it using an elf truck. Six men as thin as weed but with 8 packs helped me move it beside the mango tree.
It’s beaten and had seen better days. The parts are either broken or missing. I will probably spruce it up a little bit to make it more handsome.
If I told you how much I paid for it, you would definitely say I am crazy. So please don’t ask. Yes I am indeed crazy. It’s not cheap at all but I love it. It has so much character. I could imagine it served many farmers (who must be dead by now) transport their produce. I just like it a lot. It has history. It helped poor people. It served mankind. And now it’s retired, here in my mini farm to be and I would make it as comfortable as possible. I want it to enjoy his 100 more years here. I hope a strong typhoon doesn’t blow it apart.
I am going to give it a name, from this day forward, my kariton would be known as ISIDORE in honor of Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, laborers, peasants.
Saint Isidore was born in year 1070 in Madrid Spain to poor parents yet very devoted Catholics.
Isidore married Maria Torribia (also known as Maria de la Cabeza). She was also very religious and just like Isidore she too became a saint. They believed that the sudden death of their only child was a sign from God. They lived a life of continence or abstinence mainly from sexual intercourse.
St. Isidore went to Mass every morning before plowing the field. He loved the poor and shared his food with beggars. He also loved the animals.
He died at the age of 60 and his feast is celebrated by the Catholic Church every May 15.
I am also in love with your Isidore, Ms. Annie. No matter how much you paid for it, what’s important is that it gives you happiness.
Good morning po! We call Isidore as “karison” in Ilocos. When I was small, a lot of Isidore’s siblings would troop to my lola’s house after the harvest to deliver the sacks of irik (rice grains with husks=unmilled) and other agri produce like camotig (camote) and mani.
Parang me kulang po sa unahan ni Isidore. Yong extension that attaches Isidore to his carabao or cow. The wooden extension is tied to the animal’s body to fasten Isidore and his load.
AND the big wheels, when I was small, were usually nasa gitna of each side, hindi sa likod. I remember kasi takot na takot akong bumaba pag sumasabay kami sa katiwala na magdala ng mga ani or mga pinutol na kahoy sa bukid papunta sa sasakyan ng lolo ko. Pag nauna po kasi na bumaba yong nag-drive ng kariton/kalabaw inaalis nila yong kariton sa kalabaw at ibinababa nila yong unahan (extension?) sa lupa. Syempre po nakakalula na pag ganung inaalis na yong kariton. Feeling ko ata non mahuhulog ako kaya natatakot akong bumaba pag ganun na. Oy naalala ko pa yon! 😉
kariton is better than lambo and pinoy is better than others
Love the story Annie
Thanks Alice.
Nice piece
Thanks Angel.