Start date: Jan 17-19
Traveling companions: Fatima Cruz
Goal of trip: to celebrate Sinulog
Day 1-Jan. 17, 2008
“REUNION WITH MY SISTER”
“FATHY’S REUNION WITH PACIFIC INN HOTEL”
The whole wait is over! Finally we will be in Cebu hours from now. Actually I had packed my luggage a day before 16...knowing that it will be a tiring day for us since we came from an am duty. On the other hand, fathy did it at around 9pm till 11pm that gave us barely an hour to take a sleep or should I say a nap.
We were fetch by Steve(fathy’s boyfriend) at around 1:30 am. The weather didn’t help a lot theses days. It’s been a cold days since December…I remember we were shivering while taking a bath. Fathy’s mood change knowing that the water supply n our abode has been shut down (due to leakage)…left us with a scanty, cold water supply. Gosh! I’m wondering would my horoscope cast a negative vibe as of now? Hahaha
Waiting in departure area seems forever. Hahaha…Indeed we were early birds in the airport. Even though we were sleepy we dwell on posing ourselves on camera, we observed people and even was amazed with the Koreans in flocks or in herds….hahaha…they are in a group, more or less twenties in number. Fathy even commented,“Ow they got same face!” which I replied with a laugh. I thought my joke on my horoscope would definitely be a joke…hahaha but it seems it would turn out to be right! Suddenly it was announced that our flight would be delayed. Oh my goodness! We would leave Manila at about 6:30am…from the original time of 4:30am. But to our relief we board the plane by 5:30am. Not bad!
At last we arrived in Cebu! On our way to the arrival area we saw this banner by island souvenir with a tagline…“Welcome to Cebu!” We can’t help ourselves but modeled with the banner to have a good picture.
We were given a lift by Tito Yoyong, a friend of Fathy’s father to the hotel. On the way we were engrossed by the scene on the river…“parada kasi ng Sto. Nino…Ang Ganda!” Even my vision is not that 20/20...but still it was an amazing view! People were in the bridge…and below was the “parada“. Ows…it hits me! Suddenly I remember my grandmother who told me stories about their life in Cebu. Yeah! I am a Cebuana! Definitely! But the funny thing is…it was my second time here. The first time was when I spend an overnight with my sister studying in UP…its my father’s expense back then, I can’t blame him-my father was so nervous when he learned that my sister got her ist boyfriend…hahaha…that is why I had my ist step in Cebu.
My lingering thoughts was cut when we arrived at the hotel. It was located at the middle of the market…in the colon. It wasn’t bad at all…it suits our budget! It was definitely cheaper than I imagined. We chewed our breakfast or brunch in the hotel restaurant…the food approved my “bisaya” tongue and even saves a lot of peso bill in our wallet. The room itself was quite good. It will certainly gave you a relaxing sleep. It may not be a princess chamber. Who cares! I still adore it!
We spend an hour fixing our things while waiting for my sister to arrive. She will be our tour guide. Fathy shared her past Sinulog adventure days with her mommy and late daddy. I pity her! She just missed her daddy. Well it was the major reason why we were here in Cebu. She claimed that they were a constant Sinulog goers till the time her daddy died. It was a long story actually. I know I had no right to spell the story itself.
My reunion with my sister was a good treatment to the condition I was diagnosed for a year now…homesickness. It was great that even a simple hug and kiss serve as my medication to cure the said condition.
We tour the city to buy “pasalubong” for our colleagues back in Manila. We had our lunch in ayala mall where my sister introduced to us “hukad restaurant“. The food was great…cheaper kasi rice all you can.
We had our finest time searching for the twilight saga books in the fully booked…the said books were already sold out and the supplies were being hoard by the employees of bookstores there in Manila. I can’t blame them…it was indeed a extremely beautiful novel. I was unfortunate not to purchase midnight sun…I was really hoping to have a copy on it. Fathy on the other hand got lucky enough to have newmoon, she will give it to the youngest sister of her boyfriend though it was a bit expensive because it is a hardbound book.
We took the taxi back to the hotel…but we were dropped in the street far enough to take a walkathon back. Huhuhu…it was a long walk! With heavy cargos of pasalubong in our hands. The good thing is.. “lahat ng tao nglalakad“.
Our ist day high in Cebu…was definitely an energy exhausting activity. We got time to visit the church…Sto. Nino Basilica…but we did not enter the church. We planned to do it on the next day. We then headed to Metro Gaisano…we strolled, ate and laughed. Definitely it was a tiring day…well got to log out for a while…
Day 2
A DAY WITH STO. NINO
Guess what? We woke up late! Hahaha…we had planned to see the parada yet we failed. Around 11am we headed to a restaurant fathy and her family used to dine before. It was a long search that my tummy complained already. The lunch pays a delicious meal to both of us. It was a relieved! I forgot the name of the restaurant but what caught my attention were the display of antics.
Then we had this long walk to the church. There was so many people in the streets that we banged our bodies with them. It was exhausting yet when I saw the faces of the people smiling, it was like an ibuprofen that relieved us from body pains. At last we were inside the basilica. I can’t help myself but admired the people in their discipline act. In a way that you will not be afraid of stampede because everybody followed and make one line. We followed the lead. We paused for a while to say our intentions to Him. I took pictures on the magnificent display of architecture of the church. At first, I wondered because I did not saw the priest at that time he gave his homily. My quizzical face was answered by fathy saying that the mass was held outside the basilica and people inside the main church listen and watch the coverage in plasma televisions. The reason is that the main church couldn’t accommodate all the people. This is my first time here, but I think I fall in love with the beauty and holiness of the basilica. It was so antic and elegant but can still caught admirations from the modern minds of people.
The lead then turn to our final destination…to Sto. Nino. Well, from afar I saw the people making an effort of wiping the saint with towels and giving Sto. Nino presents. They patiently suited themselves in this long line. We just contended ourselves on taking pictures of Sto. Nino. I even enjoyed the song of the patrons to Sto. Nino. The next thing was we were seen in the basilica’s store to buy religious items. Next we then followed the lead till we reached the exit. There I saw many women who knew the tradition named “padasal”. It was drizzling then but Fathy went outside to look for that particular woman who was the “suki” of her daddy. I patiently waited near the door of the basilica when suddenly a woman came in my side, smiled at me and said, “ Murag mukosog naman ang ulan oi, wala pa dyod ko payong.” I return a smile to her but before I could start a conversation, Fathy suddenly came into the scene and asked her about the prize of the candle. She even asked the woman if she remembered her. I then realized that the woman was their “suki“. The woman replied that she didn’t recognize Fathy. Then fathy gave her name which took the woman by surprise and even asked where is her daddy. Tears rolled into fathy’s eyes when she replied that her daddy was dead already. The dialogue brought memories back to fathy and I was in her side when it happened. I knew it was so hard for her. I was mute for a moment but can’t help myself but admired fathy’s love to her father. I took their pictures after the padasal was made.
We then went outside to light the candles and say our prayers. I was amazed when I learned that the candles being sold were recycled. We will burn the candles in big cans(taro) in which the remnants will be recycled back to be sold. The rain keeps on pouring that we decided to let it passed and we enjoyed taking a snack in nearby “carenderia“. After, we continued our pace till we reached the Magellan’s Cross. But before that we bought a balloon and attached our wishes with it and let it flew in the sky. It was a funny feeling! I picture myself wth San chai and Dao Ming Se in Meteor Garden. Hahaha…
As we encountered the Magellan’s Cross, Fathy shared to me that the Cross keeps on growing that is why they keep on having renovations. Then, I shouted “Sana tumangkad din ako!” hahaha… To our dismay, the chamber was locked, but it doesn’t stop us to take pictures on it.
Our meeting with Sto. Nino was over! We enjoyed it a lot. Today I learned so many things, the love of a daughter to her father, the love of the people to Sto. Nino that even famous celebrity could not contest it and of course trivia of this historical and religious place. Back home in Davao, we do celebrate Sinulog…but witnessing this in Cebu was different. I smiled when I remembered my lola’s stories about Cebu. I am happy since I was able to experience the folktale I used to hear before.
At dinner, we had so much fun on the food cooked by my sister (pritong danggit at pusit and puso that fathy used to call hanging rice with manngang hilaw at bagoong). It was so delicious that even we wanted to eat more but our stomach can’t accommodate it anymore. Indeed, it was a long tiring but fruitful day for us. Time to shut down my system to gain energy for another day. Thanks God!
Day 3
GOING HOME!
BYE LANIE FOR NOW…
BYE2 CEBU! TILL WE MEET AGAIN!!!
My farewell moment with my sister was done last night. It was a tight hug and a loving kiss on the cheeks. I knew it will be a long days of being apart again but the best thing of reuniting was simply the ample moments of having each other again. She can’t be with me today because she had her work in the call center.
It was past 8am when I woke up. I saw fathy on my side with her sleepyhead. I rolled myself over and gathered my things for a bath. After the daily routine, we had our breakfast in the hotel restaurant wherein I ate beef tapa and fathy ordered continental breakfast, her mother used to order before. At last we were ready for the airport then we rode on a cab. On the way, fathy texted tito yoyong and thanking him for the free hotel accommodation. On the other hand Tito Yoyong regretted of not giving as a lift to the airport. I send my SMS to my sister also to let her know that we are heading back to Manila.
At the airport, I can’t imagine myself that I will meet again one of my batch mates in college. Nelai was with her boyfriend celebrating Sinulog together and they were going back to Davao. We chatted for a while and bid our goodbyes with a picture. We then settled ourselves on the waiting area. After a while, it was announced that we need to board the plane. This day comes with big surprises: goodbyes and meeting friends was part of it. Time to say goodbye to our 3 days off because by tomorrow will wear our white uniform again. As of the moment, I will enjoy my flight back home.
Thanks for riding with my flow of thoughts…regarding our holy days in Cebu. Hopefully my next destination will be in Canada and I m one of the nurses working there.
This has been Ruby…logging off….
