"There's no place like home."
I had mixed feelings while waiting for the date of my flight to the Philippines. Sixteen years have passed since I last visited my home. I was excited but also worried, since I was traveling alone. I even heard the news about the scam in the airport at NAIA, which deepened my worries. Also, it was snowing on the day of my departure, and it was my birthday, too. But overall, everything went over okay, and I arrived in Manila safely. Luckily, Benny, one of my friends, was in the same flight with me. He helped me with my luggage and guided me to the airport.
The first week in the Philippines was hectic and busy. I stayed in Manila for two days to visit my brothers, and then I rode the bus going to Bicol. It was a beautiful day there and I enjoyed the long trip. I stayed in my sister Imy's townhouse for few days, then went to Nabua, which was where most of my husband's relatives live. During the weekend I finally arrived in Tapayas and met with my siblings and relatives after so many years. There were a lot of changes; people that I didn't recognize anymore, and relatives that had passed away. This thought made me sad, since I never got the chance to see them before they passed on. In addition to visiting my family and friends, I also attended a mass in the newly constructed church. However, it still needed a lot of funds for the completion of the construction. In the church, I watched the Dotoc at night. Dotoc is a religious festivity prior to the fiesta.
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| Tapayas Church |
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| Miss Kalikasan 2016 |
The second week was the fiesta. I was excited because I haven't experienced the celebration in so long. It was also a reunion for a lot of my cousins, friends in high school, college peers, and other loved ones. In this celebration, we watched the following events: The Search for Miss Teen 2016, Bisperas and the Segunda Dia. It was a four-day festivity.
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| Fiesta |
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| Dotoc |
After the fiesta I started preparing for my trip back to the U.S. My mom was coming with me as well. Before the departure date, I went shopping and bought stuff for pasalubongs, or food and souvenirs. A lot of my friends and cousins gave me souvenirs, candies, and delicacies that I didn't have enough space in my suitcase. I also spent most of my time in Naga City and my sister's house to take care of some business. I liked the location of the subdivision; it's quiet and clean. We even went sightseeing and explored the city. It was way different now, since it had more buildings and shopping malls. We didn't get a chance to go the beach or resorts due to time constraints.
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| Camella Home Subdivision |
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| A cathedral in Naga |
Two days before our flight we went to Manila and we stayed at Seda Hotel (Bonifacio Global City). It wasn't constructed yet sixteen years ago. This city was perfect for shopping, eating out, nightlife, or just hanging out. Everything was within walking distance from the hotel. They have all of the branded stores that you could find. We went to SM Aura, Serendra, Market Market, and tried some of the restaurants there. On our last night, my sister-in-law treated us to the Dampa restaurant alongside Roxas Boulevard, which served fresh seafood. It was a delicious feast, although the place was packed, and a lot foreigners were there, too. Metro Manila was more crowded and congested. I wondered how the people there could tolerate that kind of traffic condition.
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| Bonifacio Global City |
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| Seda Hotel |
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| Restaurant |
After my vacation I came to realize that I should make it a priority to visit more often and spend more time with my love ones. I should cherish every moment and every person in my life, because I will never know when it will be the last time to see someone. Taking a lot of pictures is important, too, because it captures moments that are gone forever and impossible to reproduce. That thought is true; I regret that I didn't have a complete family portrait with my loved ones when I was younger. It was hard to make everybody present in the family gathering, and it should be done before a family member passes away.
Overall, I'm glad that I arrived home safely. I also hope that I can go to the Philippines again in two years, along with my whole family.
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| Family Pictures |
