Bacolod: Sweeter the 2nd Time Around

Since I came back to Cebu, I make it a point to meet up with three of my high school classmates over lunch.  Sometimes it is an occasion to welcome a visiting classmate from abroad. Sometimes it  is to celebrate a milestone. But most of the time, it’s a time to just let our hair down and be silly happy to be in each other’s company.

In one of those lunches, one of us suggested going away for a short trip.  We set the following criteria for that perfect all-girl outing:

·         Accessible: not too far that it would entail getting a visa, or entail a long travel time

·         Affordable: reasonably priced plane fare, hotel, and meals

·         Appealing: food and shopping trip worthy

·         Awe- Inspiring Attractions—a bonus

Why,Oh Why?

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19

At almost the same time of the early evening—just when the last streaks of daylight finally gives way to the evening , I light the “katol” and set it under the table in the open terrace. 

The Evidence is Clear

Finally. I got it done.

I am referring to getting my mother’s household companions to take their health more seriously.

You see, they are in their late 40s and with hefty physique to match.   If they were to take care of my very physically active mother, I had to make certain my mother’s companions stayed healthy and kept up with her. But more than that, they need to do it for their very young children.

Initially, using a digital blood pressure monitor, I took their BP readings.  As expected, their BPs were on the high side.

It's In The Blood

“Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: "Love. They must do it for love." Farmers farm for the love of farming.” 
― Wendell Berry

My maternal grandparents were farmers. They knew everything about the earth and very little of the world.   ( click Family Beginnings)

Slipping Through My Fingers

“Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning 

Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile 

I watch her go with a surge of that well known sadness 

And I have to sit down for a while 

The feeling that I'm losing her forever 

And without really entering her world 

I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter 

That funny little girl” ABBA

“Mommy, hold my hand”, my daughter softly called out to me as we quickly walked to the airport cashier to pay her travel tax.  

Bliss

Last week, I was very privileged to witness what heaven might feel like-- twice! Two celebrations of love— one happening a day after the other.

The Return

My sister, G, and her husband were ecstatic. 

Their “hijo unico”, P,  was on a one-month long vacation from his US base job.  And they made sure to pull out all the stops to guarantee the best ever one month visit for P.

Travels to the provinces were their favorite form of bonding as a family.  And travel they did.  It was like old times:  my brother-in-law’s keen interest on 4-wheel driving, my nephew’s love for photography and my sister’s adventurous spirit made for the perfect vacation and bonding experience. 

Naturally, Cebu made it in their bucket list.  My nephew had to check out the whale sharks of Oslob (a first for him), had to get his fill on steamed fried rice (his all-time Cebu craving), and  had to give my mother a tight hug (or else!). 

Part 2: A July Marian Pilgrimage

“Do we still have time?”, my Tita J asked.

“Yes, Tita.”  I answered. “We still have two hours. The mass does not start until 6PM and we are close by.”

“Then let’s proceed to Q Park.” Tita J requested.

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?