At Home with our folks

Dear V,

Maximizing the long weekend, we took a four-hour drive to visit your grandparents in their homes.

First stop was at Lolo Nick’s and Lola Day’s. Coincidentally, Tita Karen and Tito Dodo put together a party for the nephews/nieces (your cousins Kuya Clyde, Ate Pepet, Kuya Macmac and Kuya In-in) who graduated from different levels. Perfect timing since mama and papa were really craving for lechon. Haha

We are specially proud of Kuya Macmac who graduated valedictorian from elementary and is a recipient of many awards for the different national math contests he joined. Sadly though, he was absent during the celebration because he was in manila competing in yet another contest.

Most of our relatives were present. ‘Lam mo naman, everybody is just looking for an excuse to get together…You played with your cousins nonstop till 12mn. And the folks had a grand time when you volunteered to entertain them by dancing to “LOW”. Aba, aba! San ka nga ba nagmana? *wink*

Papa and I joined the aunts and uncles having a lively discussion. My belly ached with the endless exchange of funny anecdotes. We had a good laugh as Tito Em ribbed Lolo Sar that we will visit his farm again so that we can grill some of the native chickens he’s growing. Tito Em insisted that it was payback time because when the uncles were younger, they’d also make lambing to Lolo Platon (your great grandpa) for chickens.

Next stop was at Lolo Zosing’s and Lola Cande’s fish pond. I specially loved this trip because we got to do some of the things papa grew up with. The 3 of us rode the bamboo raft from one end of the pond to the other. Papa expertly maneuvered the raft with a bamboo pole while you sat still and clung to the bamboos for dear life. Hehe But you were beaming, enjoying every single minute of it. Mama was the official photographer trying to get some nice shots while struggling so hard not to fall off from the other end of the raft. When we got to the other side of the pond, Lolo Zosing had already asked someone to pick buko from the planted coconuts. Yum! Yum!

Later in the afternoon, papa showed us how as a teenager, he’d spend his summers in the pond, weaving nipa roof for extra income. Monday was Tita An’s birthday so Lola Cande prepared food for lunch. You and Papa then rolled out the nets to catch crabs and luckily, you got 3 large ones and some shrimps. Papa and I feasted on the sinfully-delicious, cholesterol-laden alegue (crab fat) but you refused to join us. Hmn…you don’t know what you’re missing. After lunch, you rested on the hammock Tito Vios put up under the tree while Mama and Papa lounged on the hut’s veranda enjoying the cool breeze.

It was a happy and memorable visit despite some problems that a few members of the clan are facing. But we do have a tough family. In God’s time, we will all get through our trials.

Let us be thankful for the gift of each other and our ready sense of humor because despite the odds, we are still one happy bunch.