As if to forecast that my April will be full, I started the month with a bang! I celebrated April Fool’s Day with my “fool” colleagues in SPA. We had our outing in Caliraya in Lumban, Laguna. The day was filled with fun activities ranging from physical to the not-so-physical ones. We played obstacle courses, agawan base and our newly-discovered game – Earth Ball Challenge! Actually, the mechanics of the Earth Ball Challenge was very easy. Its like playing volleyball with a gigantic ball!
Though exhausted after a whole day of physical activities, I really enjoyed it – in fact it was a momentous day for me. I bagged the Most Valuable Player Award! Imagine that?!? An oversized guy like me bagging an almost impossible award! Hahaha!!! The last time I remember I got a sporting award was during my Sophomore year in High School for winning the championship games in Patintero! Hahaha!!!
Our group headed to Tagaytay for lunch, but I asked the manager’s permission to leave earlier since I’ll be going somewhere else in the Philippines. I was trying to think my way through the bus station in Pagsanjan since I’m not really familiar with Lumban. Fortunately the people in the highway were kind enough to tell me the directions. I made it on time to our house and to the airport as well. I left Manila with an almost diminishing hope and a tired body. I headed my way to Iloilo.
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Remember my blog where I wrote that I really want to go my Father’s hometown? Yes, I made it… but this was not a vacation. This is for something else. I went to Iloilo to visit my Auntie. She’s the one who took care of me and my siblings when both our parents were still working. She basically became our mother and father rolled into one. She was now sick and almost dying. She uttered “Anak…” at the instance she saw me from her deathbed. I held back my tears. I don’t want to show it. I need to be strong… for her and for everyone around us – her siblings, her nephews & nieces and grandchildren.
I stayed there for three days. During that short period of time, I saw how she wailed due to discomfort she’s feeling. I cannot stand seeing her crying and almost seemed helpless. I never thought that she was once the strong woman who took us in her arms, bathed us when we were small, cooked our food and helped us in our homework whem Ma and Pa were not around. Now, she is very weak…fumbled… and weary.
At that moment, I said a silent prayer. That may God’s plan be done. That she may rest so all her hardships will be ended. I asked before that God give her more days to live. But at that moment… during her near-death experiences… I said to myself that it’s time to let go. It’s time for her to rest and be back to where we really belong – our FATHER.
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I came back to Manila on a Tuesday afternoon for my Wednesday flight to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. I never had the luxury to tell stories to my parents, since I needed to go to the office to finish my timesheet. I left our house at 10pm and arrived there at 11. I arrived back to our home at exactly 1am - ‘twas a very hectic day indeed!
Wednesday… I left Manila at around 2pm. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh at 4pm Manila time (3pm Ho Chi Minh City time). I was expecting a very ghastly airport but lo and behold, their immigration lines are better than what we have here! The immigration officers are in military uniforms and they seemed snob and straight like most men in military look.
Things I noticed in HCMC (short for Ho Chi Minh City) was that it was jampacked with motorcycles and it was very HOT! It was hotter there compared to Manila. Maybe its because they’re slightly closer to the equator. I can’t just imagine the temperature in Singapore and parts of Malaysia which are definitely a lot closer at the equator.
But in fairness to the city, it was cleaner as compared to Bangkok and has a lot of trees which makes the temperature a bit cooler. We had our training for 3 days so we only had the time to tour the city on a weekend. We went to the Sheraton where we saw the whole city lit at night. We then headed to the city center, where we got the chance to ogle at the Saigon Opera House, the plaza where Ho Chi Minh’s statue was located, the lavish and detaild HCMC City Hall, the Reunifaction Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office.
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Since we’ve extended our stay till Monday, we decided to take a side trip to Cambodia’s capital city – Phnom Penh.
We took a seven-hour bus drive to Phnom Penh. Roads in HCMC to Moc Bai Border was pretty good. From Moc Bai to the river in Cambodia (I don’t know what’s the name of that river was) was also fair. However, after the river, the road was a complete chaos! Our provincial roads are way better! And mind you, we need to cross the river through a ship since they don’t have a bridge!
We came to know a couple – Phon and Kim. They are now Canadians, but Phon was from Cambodia and Kim was from Vietnam. Aah… the language of love defies all barriers. Even people from different races and languages can be struck by Cupid’s mighty powers! I am glad we’ve known them since they’ve became our instant tour guide especially that we knew nothing in Phnom Penh. We don’t even had a map of the city, where most of the people don’t understand English!
Phon and Kim were kind enough to help us find a boarding room to stay and show us some of the city’s treasured possessions – the King’s Palace and the promenade beside the Mekong River. We also had the chance to visit some of the temples there. Architecture in the country was the same with Thailand. No wonder… Kampuchea (now Cambodia) was once a mighty Kingdom covering almost all of the countries in Indochina (including Thailand, Vietnam and Laos)! It was only a turn of history that separated the kingdom to different countries as we see them in our current world maps.
We headed back to HCMC. It was another seven-hour bus ride. Awaiting in HCMC is our PAL flight back to Manila. I’m coming home… finally!
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I arrived in our home with no one to tell my quests. My family already went to Iloilo to celebrate Holy Week there and of course visit my Aunt. I will be going on a later date since I’ve decided to still report for office
My flight back to Iloilo was scheduled Wednesday, 5pm. It was on the eve of my flight that I heard the news – my Aunt already let go. She died in the presence of my family. No matter how I prepared myself for the news, I was still taken aback. There was some sort of regret that I was not there when she said goodbye. But there was also relief and joy since she’s in peace… with HIM.
I headed to my Lola’s house where my family stayed. I let them tell me what happened to my Aunt. Then they told me that her remains will not be ready till Monday next week. I was shocked! I never thought that it will take that long to take care of the remains of my Aunt. But we can never do anything… but wait.
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While waiting for her remains, my cousins (from my Father’s side) were able to spend some time and bond. We already knew some of them since they’ve studied high school and partly college here in San Pedro. I think one of the factors that bonded us was Music. They play guitars while we sing songs for them. It was our way to lull time away in a very idyllic place.
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Being in Cabatuan for several days made me realize how much I’m missing with my life. Life in the province was so simple. It seemed that they don’t have any cares as much as people in the big city have. They are happy and satisfied with what they have. It’s not that they are stagnant – but it’s more of appreciating the things they own and have. I decided that if ever I’ll have the enough funding, I’ll probably start my business there. Besides, I don’t want to be an employee forever!
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It was Tuesday when my Aunt’s remains were finally handed to us. At least we had a day para maglamay, since our flight will be Wednesday in time for my sister’s Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Friday respectively.
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My sister graduated from college on 21st of April. At last! We will be three working for the family – Ma, me and Hazel. Chito will be graduating in 2008, but that’s a short two years from now and our college graduation pictures will all be complete. I’m sure our parents will be proud since they were able to send us all to college. They’ve always reminded us that it’s only through education that we can get real treasures.
I hope my sister finds a job soon. So its time for me to retire… hehehe… joke only. But if she wants to take it seriously, then it will be fine for me. =)
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To cap off the month, I did something wild… something challenging and physically-requiring activity – mountain climbing! At first, I thought my cousins (from my mother side) would take it as a joke. But as the 29th is fast approaching, I already felt that “Hey! They’re damn serious!”
So there we go! Dawn was still breaking when we left our homes with big bags and lots of water to go to our ultimate destination – the top of Mount Maculot and the Rockies! The mountain is situated in Cuenca, Batangas – a three-hour bus ride from Alabang.
We started our trek at around 9am. We were almost at the top when we saw a landslide. We were never informed by the baranggay officials where we registered that we should have taken the other, as others say, harder route. We tried our butts up the landslide, but the soil was too loose and rocks were falling down on us. We were stuck in that area for almost an hour until we finally decided to start and take the other way up. Well, it’s the only choice left of us. After eating our lunch, we trekked our way down the mountain to try the other route.
The other route was more challenging since you need to climb using roots of trees to support you and your bare hands. I never heard my heart pounded like that ever… not until I hiked this mountain! After almost nine hours of walking, climbing and collecting bruises, we reached the campsite! It was a joyous event! All body aches and bruises were all worth it because of the magnificent view of the Taal Lake and the adjacent towns of Lipa, Lemery and of course Cuenca.
The next day was “Rockies Day”!!! There were only six of us – Ates Beth and Leni, Grace, Eric, Chito and me who dared to climb the rockies. The view was awesome! I was standing before the greatest creation of God – Mother Nature. I felt closer to Him – even if my toes were shaking due to the nerve-wracking climb I just did. I told my cousins that never in my whole life have I thought that I’ll be climbing mountains and crossing land bridges measuring only to a yard! But all hardships were worth it. It was one helluva experience!
We then descended the mountain and ended our day at St. Peter’s Church to attend the mass. But for me it was like thanking Him that my April has been full of emotions, adventures and experiences I never imagined would happen to me.
April Fool? Nah… My April was Full!
