Part 1: A July Marian Pilgrimage

Ever since I organized an outing to Busay for my mother and her sisters (The Road to Happiness), they now eagerly anticipate the next adventure. 

Knowing how much happiness the simple trip brought to  my senior travel group, I committed to come up with at least one activity a month for them.

After our excursions in May to the gardens of Busay along the transcentral highway of Cebu, I arranged an afternoon of ballroom dancing for June. I contacted my mom’s elderly DI (dance instructor) who we have known for the last 30 years or so.  Although 60 years of age, the DI managed to out-dance us all.  My mother, her sisters and the house staff twirled their cares away in the tiny living room of my mom’s house.  Of course, making it doubly fun was the merienda spread of native delicacies: bico, bibingka, bud-bud with mangoes and tsokolate, and empanada.

SYT: Save Your Teeth

I am scared of many things-- real and imagined. And visiting the dentist is in my top ten list of scary stuff.  But like death and taxes, visits are inevitable since losing a tooth is definitely more scarier.

When I finally got the nerve, I made a dental appointment for last Wednesday morning.  I was overdue for my annual dental appointment and the knowledge made me edgy.  Will the dentist find a cavity or two? Will I undergo a terribly painful procedure?

Can You Still Hear the Birds?

Every so often, I would find myself standing on the balcony of my mother’s hilltop home.  Sometimes I would gaze out into the distant mountains or check out a bird perched on a branch with my binoculars.  I am so fortunate that there are a variety of birds in the area. Why, just recently I spotted a Kokok (Philippine Coucal) moving from one branch to another of a pinetree outside my bedroom window. 

The Road to Happiness

The candles of my cousin’s birthday cake had been lit. After the birthday song was sang, the celebrant blew out the candles.  Good wishes were expressed and slices of cake passed around the table.

At the main table sat my mother, her two sisters, her cousins and a couple of nieces—me included. Over cups of coffee, the past was revisited. Of people long gone, of places close to the heart and road trips experienced.