Jan 5 (Sunday)
Somewhere between sleep and consciousness, I became aware of the bustle of activity downstairs... in the dirty kitchen. The smell of brewed coffee and fried rice wafted through the window and assailed my scent buds and I knew it was time to get up.
Papa and I ate a bit of breakfast. We don't really eat early in the morning but we were guests and when in Rome... After breakfast, we took a walk and breathed in the same crisp freshness that greeted us yesterday. I was thinking, it would be nice to have a place like this... not for us, not yet at least... but for our parents, where they can rest in cool pleasant weather, lush greens, peace and quiet. Then I realized, these are the kind of dreams that make us have to live away... oh, well... Then we took some more pictures. At the back of Emy's house, they got all these plants in full bloom... papaya trees weighed down with fruits, pineapples, eggplants... and in the yard they got lots of orchids, clinging vines and an assortment of potted plants. It's a place bursting with life...
After the walk, I went back to the house and started packing our things. We were leaving after lunch. They prepared a really nice fish dish for lunch... pinaputok na... errr... fish (forgot what kind of fish it was... teehee). Then we were on our way home. We stopped by a Collette's outlet to buy local delicacies... buko pie, uraro biscuits, espasol, ubeng halaya. It was an uneventful, swift trip... everybody must have been asleep for the most part. First stop was at Janet's and then at my mom-in-law's. Then we headed for home.
I thought everybody was out when we got back to Antipolo. A while later though, I saw Bong with son Laurence trudging along and chatted with Papa. Later they were joined by Tatang. I went out and asked Laurence to call his mom. There we were... friendly neighbors, sitting on park benches put up on the curb, watching the sunset, bearing the chill, quietly talking, laughing, bickering... knowing in our hearts that we were saying, 'So long.'
There's a fruitcake for everybody
There's a fruitcake for everyone
There are B-sides to every story
If you decide to have some fun.
Take a bite
It's alright
There's some brandy and star margarine
To make it bright
Take a bite
It's alright
A little lovin' and some fruit to bake
Life is a piece of cake.
It's the season for being happy
But the reason is dead and gone
If the reason for being happy
Takes a backseat when the season's done.
Fruitcake, Eraserheads
Jan. 6 (Monday)
Today I have to pack. I was dreading this moment but it had to be done. Well, first thing though...
Darlene called this morning to say that they were coming over and would probably be spending the night. Before we left for Tagaytay, Ate and I agreed that Dennis would come himself to collect the car this afternoon. Well... that's us... can't let each other go too fast. That morning, I had to go to the city hall to take care of our real estate tax as deadline was March 31 and we wouldn't be here. Wretched Robinson's... they haven't been paying the property tax since 2001... so now we have to pay the whole amount ourselves since the land title has been transferred to our names... sly businessmen! After city hall, I went to the market to personally buy the pork that would make for a good sinigang, wanting to make up for the 'uninteresting' sinigang that Anna served them the last time.
At around 3pm, Tatang came to our house in his van... with him were his sister (the one I've come to call 'Auntie') and niece, Yeye. He brought with him the ginataang bilo-bilo he's been promising me and the palitaw that he promised Papa. We called Lolet and her family over and tables were set out yet again on the street. Does this ever happen anywhere else? An hour after, Ate and Dennis arrived to collect the car, surprised we had yet another feast going on. There were some beer and Fundador left over from my birthday. So when our afternoon repast was all finished, they brought out the glasses and started drinking, waiting for Bong to arrive and join them. Bong, Darlene and Lucas came around 6, and I was cooking sinigang by then. Ate went out from time to time to take gulps from Dennis' beer and in time was pretty much smashed herself.
We had to wait a while until the last drop of beer and liquor was consumed. Meantime, I tried to finish packing while we waited. We came in with 7 pieces of luggage... luckily we're leaving with just 2 luggages to be checked-in and 2 to be handcarried. While I was packing, Ate, Darlene and Lucas joined me in the room to chitchat. Lucas was all over the place... digging into the luggage, making nests out of clothes I've taken out of the closet, unfolded and refolded to be put back into the luggage. I wasn't getting anything done, so after a while, they had to leave the room. Then we had dinner. It was a full table again with Ate, Dennis, Bong, Darlene, Lucas, Papa, Elena, Anna and myself (Ting was on the graveyard shift. Elena said they met at Crossing and he told her... 'Bango nung niluluto nilang sinigang. Kaya lang baka wala na akong abutan'... poor guy). Everybody was happy this time, and everybody did cater to second helpings. Kuya Bong, bawi na ako ha.
It was nearing midnight when Dennis and Ate left. I finished packing, set up the bed for Darlene, took a bath, went down to the living room where Papa was already in bed with Datu and tried to sleep. Only I couldn't. I got up and turned on the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree... and just stared at it. Datu joined me after a while, resting his nose on his paws, and resting his paws on my thigh. We stared at the lights together... until we fell asleep... Datu and I, right there on the couch.
Jan. 7 (Tuesday)
I must have transferred to the mattress beside Papa sometime during the night cause I woke up between him and Datu. It was around 5 in the morning... we had to leave at 8 to go to Diko's place where Mom would be waiting for us, wanting to come along to bring us to the airport. Before doing anything, I called up Daddy and said goodbye. He told me to take it easy and to take care of myself, asked me when we were coming back. Before hanging up, I told him 'I love you dad.'... a beat, and then he said, 'I love you too anak.'
I was ready by 7:30, gave our room one last look, partly to check for anything that I might have forgotten and partly to keep bits and pieces of it in memory. Coming down the stairs, I saw Elena (taking half-day that day off from work) and Ting (who just arrived from his shift), Anna and Datu. It was an effort not to hug Datu... like all the previous times we've come and gone, he'll be having a fit all day, refusing to eat and do anything but lie down, oblivious to anything. As they were hauling the luggages to the car, I went out to go to Lolet's place and say goodbye, Anna trailing behind. Across the street, Tatang saw me and came forth. I extended my hand to Tatang and thanked him for filling our vacation with a lot of laughter. For once, he didn't say anything... just smiled quietly... glumly. When the car came by and Papa stepped out to say his own goodbyes, Tatang checked himself quickly and said, 'Ser, pagbalik niyo wag na kayong magsasama ng iba ha.' And everybody laughed, easing out the moment. I didn't say much myself. I just hugged Lolet and Anna tightly, told them to take care, said goodbye to Bong and boarded the car.
We were at Diko's by 9am. All the kids have gone to school so there was just Diko and Melody to say goodbye to. Not long after, we were off again, to eat breakfast at Mr. Kebab... it had a much better name previously... Persia House... which lent it more authenticity and a touch of exotic flavor. Papa's been wanting to eat here since we arrived 3 weeks ago... where his favorites would be special cielo kebab and sizzling keema with eggplant. It took the longest time for us to be given our orders, which we finished eating in no time at all, and we were off again.
Somewhere during the trip to the airport, Lucas learned a trick all by himself. He would put out his full lips in a pout, pull down his cheeks and say 'Hoo hoo hoo Mommy'.. complete with a mock-cry. This entertained us for a long while... we would say, 'Iyak Lucas, iyak' and he would do it all over again... and again, no matter how many times we ask him to. When Lucas got sleepy, Darlene inched him between us a bit at a time so he won't wake up and pretty soon, the baby was lying across Darlene and me. I stroked his head for a while until I got sleepy myself. And then Darlene was nudging me awake... we were at the airport.
I hugged Lucas first, jerking him awake, poor kid. He woke in total confusion and I just kept peppering him with kisses. Then Darlene handed him to Bong, leaving herself free to hug me, which we did... tight and teary. And then there was Mommy... saying to me over and over again to take care and to eat properly. I hugged her for the longest time, not wanting to let go. I kept looking back while I was pulling my luggage towards the entrance, waving goodbye. I couldn't see them through the tint of their car window, but of course they were there, looking at me. And then they were gone and the airport attendant was asking to see our passports and air tickets. Our vacation was over...
At the check-in counter, a lucky turn of events ensured us a very comfortable trip. We wanted window seats, but there wasn't any available anymore. The lady in the counter did a little checking and when she got back to us, she has upgraded us to business class... thanks to Kris flyer. This is the first time I was flying business class and what a lot of difference it was from economy. The seats were bigger and a lot more comfortable and now there were some legroom to speak of. The food though was not much different from what we had at economy but I've never had problems with airline food anyway... Singair's quite good. I watched 'Sweet Home Alabama', a Melanie Carmichael starrer, for most of the flight, managing to finish the movie before dozing off. When I woke up, it was nearing touchdown... so I put up my window and looked out, wishing... I'd have my very own 'Groundhog Day' and the clock would turn back... 3 weeks to the day.
Over there, just beneath the moon
There's a man with a burden to keep
Now sleep will fall, washout, rags and
paperbags, homes and lives passing by
Who will see the beauty in your life,
and who will be there to hear you when you call.
Who will see the madness in your life,and who
will be there to catch you if you fall.
Dreams run wild, as lovers find their way
through the night. not a care in the world.
And over there, oh the twinkling of the lights
harbour lights. say goodnight one more time
Beauty and Madness, Fra Lippo Lippi
Somewhere between sleep and consciousness, I became aware of the bustle of activity downstairs... in the dirty kitchen. The smell of brewed coffee and fried rice wafted through the window and assailed my scent buds and I knew it was time to get up.
Papa and I ate a bit of breakfast. We don't really eat early in the morning but we were guests and when in Rome... After breakfast, we took a walk and breathed in the same crisp freshness that greeted us yesterday. I was thinking, it would be nice to have a place like this... not for us, not yet at least... but for our parents, where they can rest in cool pleasant weather, lush greens, peace and quiet. Then I realized, these are the kind of dreams that make us have to live away... oh, well... Then we took some more pictures. At the back of Emy's house, they got all these plants in full bloom... papaya trees weighed down with fruits, pineapples, eggplants... and in the yard they got lots of orchids, clinging vines and an assortment of potted plants. It's a place bursting with life...
After the walk, I went back to the house and started packing our things. We were leaving after lunch. They prepared a really nice fish dish for lunch... pinaputok na... errr... fish (forgot what kind of fish it was... teehee). Then we were on our way home. We stopped by a Collette's outlet to buy local delicacies... buko pie, uraro biscuits, espasol, ubeng halaya. It was an uneventful, swift trip... everybody must have been asleep for the most part. First stop was at Janet's and then at my mom-in-law's. Then we headed for home.
I thought everybody was out when we got back to Antipolo. A while later though, I saw Bong with son Laurence trudging along and chatted with Papa. Later they were joined by Tatang. I went out and asked Laurence to call his mom. There we were... friendly neighbors, sitting on park benches put up on the curb, watching the sunset, bearing the chill, quietly talking, laughing, bickering... knowing in our hearts that we were saying, 'So long.'
There's a fruitcake for everybody
There's a fruitcake for everyone
There are B-sides to every story
If you decide to have some fun.
Take a bite
It's alright
There's some brandy and star margarine
To make it bright
Take a bite
It's alright
A little lovin' and some fruit to bake
Life is a piece of cake.
It's the season for being happy
But the reason is dead and gone
If the reason for being happy
Takes a backseat when the season's done.
Fruitcake, Eraserheads
Jan. 6 (Monday)
Today I have to pack. I was dreading this moment but it had to be done. Well, first thing though...
Darlene called this morning to say that they were coming over and would probably be spending the night. Before we left for Tagaytay, Ate and I agreed that Dennis would come himself to collect the car this afternoon. Well... that's us... can't let each other go too fast. That morning, I had to go to the city hall to take care of our real estate tax as deadline was March 31 and we wouldn't be here. Wretched Robinson's... they haven't been paying the property tax since 2001... so now we have to pay the whole amount ourselves since the land title has been transferred to our names... sly businessmen! After city hall, I went to the market to personally buy the pork that would make for a good sinigang, wanting to make up for the 'uninteresting' sinigang that Anna served them the last time.
At around 3pm, Tatang came to our house in his van... with him were his sister (the one I've come to call 'Auntie') and niece, Yeye. He brought with him the ginataang bilo-bilo he's been promising me and the palitaw that he promised Papa. We called Lolet and her family over and tables were set out yet again on the street. Does this ever happen anywhere else? An hour after, Ate and Dennis arrived to collect the car, surprised we had yet another feast going on. There were some beer and Fundador left over from my birthday. So when our afternoon repast was all finished, they brought out the glasses and started drinking, waiting for Bong to arrive and join them. Bong, Darlene and Lucas came around 6, and I was cooking sinigang by then. Ate went out from time to time to take gulps from Dennis' beer and in time was pretty much smashed herself.
We had to wait a while until the last drop of beer and liquor was consumed. Meantime, I tried to finish packing while we waited. We came in with 7 pieces of luggage... luckily we're leaving with just 2 luggages to be checked-in and 2 to be handcarried. While I was packing, Ate, Darlene and Lucas joined me in the room to chitchat. Lucas was all over the place... digging into the luggage, making nests out of clothes I've taken out of the closet, unfolded and refolded to be put back into the luggage. I wasn't getting anything done, so after a while, they had to leave the room. Then we had dinner. It was a full table again with Ate, Dennis, Bong, Darlene, Lucas, Papa, Elena, Anna and myself (Ting was on the graveyard shift. Elena said they met at Crossing and he told her... 'Bango nung niluluto nilang sinigang. Kaya lang baka wala na akong abutan'... poor guy). Everybody was happy this time, and everybody did cater to second helpings. Kuya Bong, bawi na ako ha.
It was nearing midnight when Dennis and Ate left. I finished packing, set up the bed for Darlene, took a bath, went down to the living room where Papa was already in bed with Datu and tried to sleep. Only I couldn't. I got up and turned on the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree... and just stared at it. Datu joined me after a while, resting his nose on his paws, and resting his paws on my thigh. We stared at the lights together... until we fell asleep... Datu and I, right there on the couch.
Jan. 7 (Tuesday)
I must have transferred to the mattress beside Papa sometime during the night cause I woke up between him and Datu. It was around 5 in the morning... we had to leave at 8 to go to Diko's place where Mom would be waiting for us, wanting to come along to bring us to the airport. Before doing anything, I called up Daddy and said goodbye. He told me to take it easy and to take care of myself, asked me when we were coming back. Before hanging up, I told him 'I love you dad.'... a beat, and then he said, 'I love you too anak.'
I was ready by 7:30, gave our room one last look, partly to check for anything that I might have forgotten and partly to keep bits and pieces of it in memory. Coming down the stairs, I saw Elena (taking half-day that day off from work) and Ting (who just arrived from his shift), Anna and Datu. It was an effort not to hug Datu... like all the previous times we've come and gone, he'll be having a fit all day, refusing to eat and do anything but lie down, oblivious to anything. As they were hauling the luggages to the car, I went out to go to Lolet's place and say goodbye, Anna trailing behind. Across the street, Tatang saw me and came forth. I extended my hand to Tatang and thanked him for filling our vacation with a lot of laughter. For once, he didn't say anything... just smiled quietly... glumly. When the car came by and Papa stepped out to say his own goodbyes, Tatang checked himself quickly and said, 'Ser, pagbalik niyo wag na kayong magsasama ng iba ha.' And everybody laughed, easing out the moment. I didn't say much myself. I just hugged Lolet and Anna tightly, told them to take care, said goodbye to Bong and boarded the car.
We were at Diko's by 9am. All the kids have gone to school so there was just Diko and Melody to say goodbye to. Not long after, we were off again, to eat breakfast at Mr. Kebab... it had a much better name previously... Persia House... which lent it more authenticity and a touch of exotic flavor. Papa's been wanting to eat here since we arrived 3 weeks ago... where his favorites would be special cielo kebab and sizzling keema with eggplant. It took the longest time for us to be given our orders, which we finished eating in no time at all, and we were off again.
Somewhere during the trip to the airport, Lucas learned a trick all by himself. He would put out his full lips in a pout, pull down his cheeks and say 'Hoo hoo hoo Mommy'.. complete with a mock-cry. This entertained us for a long while... we would say, 'Iyak Lucas, iyak' and he would do it all over again... and again, no matter how many times we ask him to. When Lucas got sleepy, Darlene inched him between us a bit at a time so he won't wake up and pretty soon, the baby was lying across Darlene and me. I stroked his head for a while until I got sleepy myself. And then Darlene was nudging me awake... we were at the airport.
I hugged Lucas first, jerking him awake, poor kid. He woke in total confusion and I just kept peppering him with kisses. Then Darlene handed him to Bong, leaving herself free to hug me, which we did... tight and teary. And then there was Mommy... saying to me over and over again to take care and to eat properly. I hugged her for the longest time, not wanting to let go. I kept looking back while I was pulling my luggage towards the entrance, waving goodbye. I couldn't see them through the tint of their car window, but of course they were there, looking at me. And then they were gone and the airport attendant was asking to see our passports and air tickets. Our vacation was over...
At the check-in counter, a lucky turn of events ensured us a very comfortable trip. We wanted window seats, but there wasn't any available anymore. The lady in the counter did a little checking and when she got back to us, she has upgraded us to business class... thanks to Kris flyer. This is the first time I was flying business class and what a lot of difference it was from economy. The seats were bigger and a lot more comfortable and now there were some legroom to speak of. The food though was not much different from what we had at economy but I've never had problems with airline food anyway... Singair's quite good. I watched 'Sweet Home Alabama', a Melanie Carmichael starrer, for most of the flight, managing to finish the movie before dozing off. When I woke up, it was nearing touchdown... so I put up my window and looked out, wishing... I'd have my very own 'Groundhog Day' and the clock would turn back... 3 weeks to the day.
Over there, just beneath the moon
There's a man with a burden to keep
Now sleep will fall, washout, rags and
paperbags, homes and lives passing by
Who will see the beauty in your life,
and who will be there to hear you when you call.
Who will see the madness in your life,and who
will be there to catch you if you fall.
Dreams run wild, as lovers find their way
through the night. not a care in the world.
And over there, oh the twinkling of the lights
harbour lights. say goodnight one more time
Beauty and Madness, Fra Lippo Lippi
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