A family weekend in Palawan

8AM of May 23. NAIA Centennial Terminal 2. PR 195. Me and my dad were on a mission to Puerto Princesa Palawan. It's going to be an important weekend for us. We went through the necessary precautions and check-in procedures at the airport and before noon, we already arrived in Palawan. It felt good to be back there. I always enjoyed going home because the place made me feel so relaxed, everything is accessible by tricycle, the beach is just nearby, people were nice, the city is clean. There is a feeling of security whenever I'm there, especially that H1N1 is already in the country, Palawan is an isolated island, away from the Metro and the crazy news buzz of the dreaded virus, the sex controversy, etc.

We arrived at the house at almost noon. There were peacocks who greeted us when we arrived. They were so noisy but I'm rather amused.





After keeping the bags in my room (that I shared with my sister), me and my sister went on a walk under the hot, hot sun towards our relatives' place. We found our grandfather. A few minutes later, we went home as Mom and Dad went out to go to the market for some mission. I was tasked to prepare lunch. There were carpenters around who were trying to reach the deadline to finish the front in time for tomorrow's event. After lunch, the feeling of being tired from the week that was loaded with work, meetings, early morning chores overwhelmed me. I went to the room to sleep. My sister joined me as well. I woke up around 4pm, still contemplating if I will go to the city proper for some groceries and other stuff that we needed at home. I heard people outside and when I peeked out, I saw the mission accomplished by the parents. They bought a dining set, in exchange to the long table that was temporarily made to serve as our dining table for some time. Yeah, they were really preparing their retirement. I can feel it. Inuunti unti lang nila.


Then Mom told me to gear up. We have to go to the market immediately before magsara ang mga hardware stores. Mom needs to change the paint nung dingding sa labas ng bahay, which is orange! Hala! Buti naman noh. Di pa tapos ang bahay kasi papatungan pa ng amacan (sp?) para magmukha syang bahay kubo pero sa totoo lang, made of concrete sya, hahaha. So we rushed. We got there in time then nagtuloy na rin to buy groceries and kasoy. We got home at almost 6pm na. I prepared dinner na. Tahimik ang buhay sa province and I love the peace and serenity. I really don't mind living here in the future. Bumisita ang auntie ko, konting chikahan bago sila umuwi. Dad and Mom went to paint the lower exterior of the house. Ginabi na rin sila. I've done all the chores inside the house then iniwan na namin sila ng sister ko. Natulog na kami. Tomorrow is a big day for us.

I woke up as early as 5am. Kausap ko pa si Katz sa Twitter, LOL. Naka-online ako sa phone. I saw Mau's post of Nick Carter sa NC Corner. Ang gwapo nya. **sigh** Tapos chikahan muna kami ni Katz. Nagising ako sa lamig at wala akong kumot. Ayoko namang hilain yung sa kapatid ko. Narinig kong gising na sina Mama at nagkukwentuhan sa kabilang kwarto. Ganun naman lagi sila. Laging nagkukwentuhan. When I heard that Papa went out of their room, kinakalampag ang mga kaldero at magluluto yata ng almusal, mind you - at 5am, I went out and went to their room. Tumabi ako ng higa sa mama ko tapos hinila ko kumot nya. Hahahaha. She asked kung bakit ako andun. Sabi ko, malamig. Tabi muna ako sa kanya. Pinakuha ako ng kumot dun sa lalagyan. May stock pala, hehehe. So I did then went back to the other room at natulog ulit. I woke up around 7am na sa ingay ng mga baklang pabo. The picture there is the view from our room. Nagtatakbuhan na sila. LOL. I called them mga 'baklang' pabo kasi pagdating ko the day before, they were so noisy and it sounded something like 'plungak' or 'plangak' in which in gay lingo meant 'tama', 'korek', 'tumpak'.. Basta. So i started calling them mga baklang pabo. Hahahaha. It was amusing to see them go around the place.


Tinatamad ako paggising so tinapay lang ang almusal ko. I started to clean up and waited for any errand na kailangang iutos ni Mama. It's gonna be a busy day. Sa hapon ang house blessing, dapithapon, 5pm. Sabi nila, it's the best time for the house blessing, to ward off the bad and lost spirits who would possibly lurk there. Dad went off to talk to the priest. Around 10am, dumating na ang mga caterer with their stuff. They began setting up the tables and chairs while we were busy waiting for the news about some of our relatives who were due to arrive before noon from Manila. As usual, delayed ang flight ng Cebu Pacific kaya I was also suggesting na huwag na rin nilang ituloy ang binabalak nilang island hopping sa Hunda Bay. Hindi enjoy kung kulang na sa oras. Masyadong tanghali na. While waiting, I also started taking photos. Walang magawa eh. I will introduce you to the family pet, who sometimes think she's a dog! Hahahaha.

This is Shasha. the goat. Mahilig syang magpa-pet sa ulo, hahahaha.

When Shasha saw me coming, she ran towards me. cool.

Sister ko ang nagpangalan sa kanya so to my friend who shares the same name, wala akong kasalanan dito, sis! LoL! Sorry. Hehehe.


Ang tagal ng mga pinsan at mga auntie kong dumating. Delayed pa rin ulit ang flight ng Cebu Pacific. Sa labas na ako naghihintay kasi I'm excited to see them again. Sa bahay sila tutuloy. They arrived in time for lunch then afterwards, niyaya ko silang magpunta sa kabilang bahay para magmano kina lolo. Tinahak namin yung daan kung saan may nasalubong kaming cobra last November 2008 (see my post here) . Hindi na gaanong matataas ang cogon grass at as of this day, natabas na nga daw ng uncle ko. Ang init. Malayo pa ang tatawirin namin kasi nasa kabilang side ng property sina lolo. Pinagpayong ko ang mga pinsan ko while I donned the cowboy hat. Yihaaaa!

Ok ba? LOL!!!!

Si Se�orita Mitch, the purple princess, hahaha

Tumatalon na kami kasi wala na ang 'blue' cobra! haha

Gusto ko pa sanang matulog pagbalik ng bahay pero we have to clean up again. When my cousins went back, niyaya ko ang isa kong pinsan to go to Baker's Hill to buy hopia and some baked products. Nag-scooter lang kami, hehe. Kasama namin si auntie Ehd and yung husband ng pinsan ko. Then dumiretso na kami sa palengke to buy kasoy. Pagbalik namin sa bahay, malapit nang magfive PM. May mga dumating nang bisita pero wala pa ang pari. Mga ilang kamag-anak at mga kaibigan. Nakakatuwang makita ulit silang lahat, pati yung mga kinakapatid ko na andun. 3 ang buntis! hahaha. A few minutes past 5 dumating si Father and he started the house blessing. Afterwards, simpleng salo-salo.




Sarah is in Palawan until now, so I invited her to come over. She's my childhood friend. We both grew up in Cavite, ang nakakaalam ng karamihan sa mga hang-ups ko sa buhay, hahahahaha. One month na sya sa Palawan dahil photographer sya sa isang international project. There are 30 foreign students who were building the Pacific Rim Friendship Park some minutes away from our place, in Sta. Lucia near Iwahig. Sinundo namin sya ni Auntie Ehd sa Balay Inato. Madilim na when we get there. Nag-dinner kami saglit tapos pinakilala ko sya sa lolo ko at ilang mga pinsan.


Hinintay naming matapos si Auntie Ehd sa pagvi-videoke kasi balak naming maglakwatsa sa bayan pero nawili si Auntie sa pagkanta. Hahaha. Iyon pala, panay ang pila ng songs sa videoke, walang kumakanta kaya sya na lang ang kumakanta. Mga luko-luko. LOL! So I decided na kami na lang ni Sarah ang magpunta sa bayan on our own. My uncle offered to drop us sa kanto. Malayo at madilim kasi ang daan. Then nagsimula na ang pamamasyal namin ni Sarah. We went to Baywalk, in which as usual is still disappointing. Konti lang ang ilaw.. Walang masyadong happenings. Maaappreciate ko siguro kung sa umaga kami nagpunta. Unlike in Manila Bay, walang mabahong amoy ang dagat. Malinis. Walang basura sa Baywalk. Nung wala na kaming magawa dun, naglakad kami ni Sarah papuntang simbahan. Sarado na pala ang simbahan. 9pm na ng gabi. We saw this bright lights in a nearby park pero nung wala ring makita dun, we decided to walk down Rizal Avenue. Umabot kami malapit sa Mendoza Park (after the ancestors of the actor Matt Mendoza, also hailed from Palawan). Nag-kape kami sa Mr. Donut, para matanggal na rin ang umay from the dinner we've had. Nagkwentuhan na rin habang busy sa pag log-in sa Twitter, hehehe. Sensha, adik eh!

Around past 10pm, niyaya ko nang umuwi si Sarah. We're both going to have a brand new week of work so I want her to rest na rin. Ako, magliligpit pa kasi I have a flight back to Manila. Diretso pa sa office.

I got home na konti na lang ang mga tao. Tumulong na din ako sa pagliligpit sa loob ng bahay. Yung iba kong pinsan, dahil pagod, naglatag na sa sala. hahaha. Humakot na nga din ng kutson sa kabilang bahay. After magligpit ng konti, pinag-initan ko yung chocolate cake na regalo ng caterer. Naiinggit ang mga pinsan at nakikain. So kainan at kwentuhan galore kami. Pati biko, binirahan nila. It's been a great day. Sayang at wala ako bukas. Hindi ako makakasama sa kanila sa pagpunta sa Underground River. Masaya sana kasi ang dami namin. Pero may tawag ng tungkulin eh, hehehe.