(Part II)
THE CHRISTMAS trip began with a comfortable and relaxing car ride from General Santos City to Davao airport for my flight to Bohol via Panglao Airport (Panglao is a municipality in Bohol; it’s not the capital of Bohol – Tagbilaran City is; Tagbilaran is a City; not a municipality; and Panglao is an island-municipality adjacent to Dauis, Bohol). So there.
I lingered at Davao Airport waiting for my flight while chatting with former power industry colleague Emz “Inday” dela Cerna via Messenger. Oh the wonder of internet! We covered a good number of years. Like seven years, to be precise.
Moving forward, the airplane was small and I bumped my head slightly as I stood when the plane landed while the lady at my back, bumped her head hard as she stood up. Bad. You arrive but with a lump, haha!
Anyways, I was fetched at the airport by Grace; they own a car rental business. I informed some friends including Jonas Inting and Isabelo Uy that I have arrived and asked if I should I kiss the ground? Jonas jokingly replied: “Dapat inig naa naka sa tarmac, mo-kiss ka sa ground hehe. Welcome to Bojol!” Don’t ask me but he really spelled “Bojol” like that. I wondered if it was a term of endearment for our birth province. You know how very proud we Boholanos are of our heritage. I didn’t kiss the ground though, haha! But I savoured the crisp air (I arrived at past six in the evening) and the hugeness of the airport.
That evening after I have settled, I proceeded to my favourite restaurant and ate, guess what! camote and latik. I was full after a plateful of camote.
The following day begun the accomplishment of my checklist. I met with high school friends Ma. Theresa Cabido and Juanita Lubiano for the much-deserved mini-reunion. Theresa a.k.a. Maritess lives outside of Bohol as I do, so we had to plan the get-together in advance. Maritess and I met earlier in a dainty coffee shop while waiting for Juanette. As the sun was setting, we proceeded to the memorial park to visit my parents, which is actually the first reason for my homecoming. Come to think of it, I should make it a tradition!
We had long conversations, peppered with hollers, then serious life stuff, and everything under the sun, including politics. Ah, politics! It always gets through a conversation.
We proceeded to a hotel restaurant where the Christmas decors were such a delight that we couldn’t help but take photos, imposing on the hotel staff who indulged their clients anyway. Feels like high school once again.
By 9 p.m., we agreed to part ways because I still have to drive to Balilihan to be with my mum’s sister, Ate Sally Lungay. However, the exhaustion had already set in and I said, I won’t drive anymore! Voila, Juanette had an excellent idea! She said, “We will drive you to Balilihan!” She arranged for the hubby to drive my rented car while she drove to Balilihan with Maritess on the front seat who slept on the drive, haha! What a trip!
In Balilihan, I had a long chat with Ate Sally before retiring at dawn. By late morning, I visited the family of Uncle Boy Lungay, mum’s younger brother in the next house, and had a long chat with my cousin Irene Sheila.
By late afternoon, the bug hit me so I drove to Tagbilaran City to visit the memorial park once again. But it was getting dark and it was raining so I dropped by my elementary classmate’s house instead – which I often do and they no longer wonder – and stayed there for a couple of hours. Thank you very much Flora Zamora and Socrates Israel for always catering to my whimsical arrival, no matter what time of day since 2012. I really appreciate it. You are my connection to my young life in Taloto.
I got tired to drive back to Balilihan for Christmas Eve and on a serendipitous moment, asked my Calope cousin, Charina Torregosa Asunto to spend the night with her. The perks of traveling solo, huh!
And so another checklist was fulfilled. Charina’s home is as beautiful as the photos I saw. Wooden sliding doors dotted with cut-glass which bring me back to my childhood days, wooden staircase – I have a fetish for it, high ceiling, elegant bar counter, piano corner, grandfather clock. It’s modern, cozy, and yet with a rustic touch. I simply love it!
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FOR NEW YEAR 2020
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. – Joshua 1:9 King James Version
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
