Ato ini…si Mon-Mon, Cited for surigaoislands.com.

Our very own John Mark “Mon-Mon/Monyx” Libarnes recently received recognition from the Rotary Club of Metro Surigao for his work on www.surigaoislands.com.

The award is long due. Marajaw gajud karajaw. We, Mon-Mon’s friends practically saw when and how he started with the unofficial, laternative website nan Surigao del Norte – “voluntary, unsolicited”, laong pa…something na waya kaw pahimoa, waya sugo-a…waya ra lamang, nagbo-ot-bo-ot an bata.

Aesthetics, purpose, content and all…but more importantly, surigaoislands.com serves as the meeting point nan mga Surigaonon worldwide. Siguro, good for us kay may ato man dinhi sa yahoo/groups, and we have http://www.mainit.org/. pero an mga taga Basilisa, Loreto, Dapa, Alegria, Taganaan, mga taga-siyudad nagkatagbo sa surigaoislands. The guestbook of the website is overwhelming with “musta” “hain na?” “ini ako…”, auntie, uncle, mana, mano…and the Surigaonon entreps took their chances posting buy&sells, ads, services, romances – well, it sure forged businesses or otherwise.

And there are several side-stories to this: on occasions Mon-mon would receive calls from foreigners inquiring bookings, rentals etc…How’r exotic island girls? Once, Sex Bomb dancers inquired on scuba diving facilities. Huh, the Mon-Mon, probably getting ready for his night bath never realized that he is one virtual marketing man of global standards.

Nobody saw it coming, not Mon-Mon when the eyes are tired after seeing to it that his babe site be fed with his ‘visions.’ Hangtod na last year napansin ra gajud nan Governor an efforts. We know that another friend – Bum Bum de la Costa – not but once elbowed the Gov about his little ‘discovery’: this beautiful website and praising the Gov for such – (who me?, the Gov could have quipped…yeah, praise, yeah it sure is nice!) Of course, t’was a wry and subtle ‘papansin’ and the Gov then busy with his drug campaign was not keen. I’m sure the Gov was not after a suspected ‘high’ man when he called for Mon-Mon to report to his office. Sure how, when Mon-Mon would text-brag us that he is diningwith the Gov…and dancing with the Gov’s wife…hehehe…

These and all while Mon-Mon is sporting a goatee but runneth almost bare after surviving fires in Cebu – where he is based. The last fire, his PC sustained minor melting-burns and his fist tight with his digicam…charger-less. I remember, this writer beamed the news and some US MdOers responded by parceling size XXX imported clothes. Mon-Mon was rather thankful (sa good deeds!). The smokes have since died down…yet another ‘flame’ is igniting and slowly burning…

Aglow! Now the award…and more citations in this regard are sure coming the man’s way. For us, here in MdO, the profundity is in knowing na Mainitnon…might as well, “kita”, an no-reach out. The Lake to the Philippine Deep. For ‘reaching out’ is all there is to it, really. For Mon-Mon to know his Y’s and gajuds, marajaws, badja-badja is more than enough and he went exploring the Surigao islands…in his trusty PC, only, and of course. And maybe, it helped that the late Mama Pipay is from Numancia. True-blooded waya-waya gajud an gipusi.

We were very appreciative of all his works pero the vain in us would sometimes feel sorry coz we’re wary of the fact na he is not getting any returns…jaoy ngani times na bagan sugoon na si Mon-Mon nan mga visitors nan website, or if there is lack, bagan basolon pa…when,Mon-Mon can anytime abandon their displeasures and find a more lucrative venue for his great talent and skill. (The man is a freelancer by the way, so, good friends would refer to him projects that semi-sustained his ‘mission’)

And as the sowing-reaping testimony would have it, this is harvest time! Mon-Mon’s MdO logo design manifested…the green, now gold. Then again, Mon-Mon is never stopping; bugsay-bugsay, the man is ever reaching out…Payting!

Cheers to you Mon! Cheers to us MdO!Pidjanga an kinaon ni Mon-Mon.

Ato ini…

by Bong Garrido on September 6, 2005