jeunesse’s Stuff!

After a approximately 8 days in Iloilo, I was ready to head on the big city.  The city of Manila it is.  Along with  my "balikbayan cousins" husband and nephew, we packed ur big luggages, suitcases, boxes and others and headed straight to the airport on a wee morning hour. It was sad leaving, nevertheless we were filled with sheer excitement to hit the big city, or return to the US for one of my cousins and his son.

Tackling the small airport in Iloilo, approximately the size of my living room was such a daunting task.  The room was filled with tired and exhausted passengers and some pissed off ones, trying to rummage through the line, behind the unsystematic ruling of the airline staff.  We were faced with conflicts and challenges, to one of which was from this girl who cuts in infront of our line, (after being there for 30 mins).  I am so astonished to her reaction, after being confronted as to why she would have the nerve to do that.  She boastfully said "I am previledged, –May gold card ako!" my cousin exlaimed "I don’t care, the principle is you have to line up!" Unfortunately, despite of such confrontation, this girl played it naively and could’nt care less to be bothered–needless to say, she chickened out after she heard us utter a few words. 

Nevertheless,  5 of us, plus 1 kid hit Manila by storm! went straight to Dencio’s and ultimately had a feast!!! it was too damn good to resist.  To diet or not to diet, that is my ultimate question…

Going to Manila, gives me a sense of anticipation, the place I so missed, established my roots, found my friends, expanded my wings and indeed became a part of what I am today..to everyone, I’m home away from home.

My three week stay in the Philippines is finally over.  I started out venturing my roots in the Visayan Island where my mother is from, went straight to Iloilo after a long and tedious flight from Vancouver, Hongkong, and Manila.  We were welcomed with gracious faces of family members, some of which to my dismay I don’t remember and oddly just gave them a hug.  This is what I get after leaving Philippines for 12+ years.  Despite of which, I was welcomed with statements such as "wow, daw si mommy mo gid ikaw" (with my illonggo accent).  On my whole stay there, people kept calling me my mom’s name, Im not too sure if this is a part of a renewed culture or people just chose to compliment me with calling me as such.  After all, it should’nt be an embarrassment on my part as my mom was indeed a pretty lass growing up,  garnering various beauty contest awards during their college years.  To my mom’s enjoyment, she was pleased with such comment, and I for the meantime, hid behind the limelight.  Our first night was celebrated with the company of long lost cousins, don-san miguel and the popular red horse!

And indeed, these Illongos can drink!!! poor unfortunate livers, of Cisco and Jeff, it took them daysss to recuperate from drinking 12 "Red Horse"

Spending a few days in Iloilo, made me realize the lifestyle I missed, I was spoiled to the assistance of numerous helpers, (the cooks, yaya mil, manong boy the driver and the lady that empties my laundry basket daily) I am always welcomed with an account of 5+ dishes for breakfast and my daily request of fresh mangoes on the table which I so missed. 

Getting to Boracay after a few days in Iloilo was long and enduring, we stopped by Tapaz, Capiz (my uncle’s mayoral town) and surpassed the rocky roads and the preconceived notion of ghost beliefs and popular stories.  Our over night stay was filled of trepedation and fear resulting from the recent ambush of his vice-mayor on top of recent ghost sightings that was believed to show up in my grandmother’s ancestral home.  During our stay, we also heard our heavy doors swing and open in the middle of the night..could it be one of the armoured body guards checking up on us, or one of the you know what???!

The very next day we headed to Boracay with our "beachy spirit"

we conquered the overpopulated roads filled with heavy trucks, vendors, animals–goat, pigs, dogs, cat, ducks and sadly crossed over one–(My heart goes to it, I won’t mention which one of these?) We ventured out the scenic scapes of rice fields, the coconut plantation and etc. We travelled by land, and water.  Stopped by popular places and treated ourselves to filipino all time faves, and the "sugba and inasal" which made the Visayan island popular for.

After all these hardship, we finally hit our destination, Boracay rocks! The commercial flair and natural ambience of Boracay, made it a place to remember. I was easily indulged with the breath taking sunset, great food, wonderful people, hospitable service, great massages, beautiful white sand and clear water..needless to say I was spoiled.  My stay in Boracay was short and sweet, somewhat "bitin" perfect enough to make me crave for more.  Next stop..social life in manila and the tagalog region of Philippines!