we remember

Like the mother in the film Dekada 70, she must not had anticipated her blacking out. Her son just died.

But to make it different from the flick's script, this son died because he decided it was time to go. I don't know what happened, whether it was law school pressure or something else. Whatever it was, all it took was a single bullet.

I've never seen on live TV a famous and influential mother cry her heart out because her favorite son pulled the trigger.

The cameras kept rolling. She didn't mind. She was keeping close the picture of her dead son. And she blamed herself.

A senator of her stature, one of the most intelligent people in government, was now relegated to a helpless mother. No one could do anything. It was all up to God.

I was watching the year-ender news program. This is stale news, as a matter of fact. But I never caught the video when it was first shown on air.

The senator has always been my senator, regardless of what people think or say.

She's got balls, very candid but most of all knows when to shut up and simply turn to the books for the answer.

When I was younger, fighting for my own space in this world, there'd be times when I wondered whether my folks would cry if they learned I died.

I never had suicidal tendencies but I was pretty much a wall pounder then. I let out my anger on my bedroom wall.

...

It's so sad.

* * *

kids should know that...

Distinguishing between a suicidal attempt and a suicidal gesture may be difficult. Intent and motivation are not always fully discernible since so many people in a suicidal state are genuinely conflicted over whether they wish to end their lives. In the Western world, males die much more often than females by suicide, while females attempt suicide more often. Some medical professionals believe this is due to the fact that males are more likely to end their life through violent means (guns, knives, hanging, drowning, etc.), while women primarily overdose on medications or use other ineffective methods. Others ascribe the difference to inherent differences in male/female psychology, with men having more of an operational mindset and women being more aware of social nuance. (wikipedia)

tail of the swordsman

I don't know if I should laugh this one out. She called me Astroboy.

I've grown my hair long. She's aching to drag me to her salon for a haircut. But I like to grow my hair a bit long for a new look.

SHE: Fly away yung buhok mo sa nape.

It's not that I'm procrastinating. Just give me a few more days and then I'll see if it's a good idea.

She prefers to have it really really short because it's so neat-looking.

Astroboy?

Nah!

My name is Jack. Samurai Jack.

Astroboy, he's no match for my blade. And besides, he's got funny feet.

* * *

kids should know that...

Samurai Jack was an Emmy-award winning animated television series created by animator Genndy Tartakovsky that aired on August 10th, 2001 and ran for four seasons. Samurai Jack consistently shows an uncommon moral strength of character, always helping the poor and defenseless along the way, and sometimes even forgoing opportunities to defeat Aku to save or help just one person. His honor prevents him from leaving those who need him. Jack is willing to face incredible pain and turmoil to help those around him regardless of whether or not it matters in the greater context of time and space. (wikipedia)

kikay xmas

Let's go open my gifts for my special gurl.

But first, let me tell you that I gave her a pre-christmas present. We went to an alley behind the CEU Mendiola and I bought a toolbox-ful of basic dental instruments. This is her second kit, actually, but I want her to have a new set that she could bring. She leaves the old one in the dental clinic.

With this new kit, she can do spontaneous dental check ups.

We who are not dentists may not be able to relate to the joy she felt choosing every single instrument at the shop. When she was still in college, I'd accompany her to Quiapo so she could purchase supplies at New Citizen (Filipino dentists know this shop; it's like their National Bookstore).

Did she like the idea of having a second toolkit?

You bet, she did.

SHE: Masayang-masayang-masaya! It's nice to have your own tools.

So that was only the pre-christmas gift. Let's go to the real deal.

Last night, she opened her presents. I got her a lot of kikay stuff (and believe me, I had a hard time shopping for those. Gurly mags helped!). I heard her say, "I like! I like!" several times.

SHE: Best Christmas ever! I received kikay stuff from my baby. Best presents are the strawberry/walnut/cinnamon spicy fruit scrub; the cucumber/peppermint fresh scent foot lotion; 'n raspberry/cucumber foamin' facial gel.

I also wrapped five blouses aside from those she already mentioned.

But there's one final present from me that she hasn't opened yet. And she doesn't know that. The mystery will be unwrapped when we have our christmas dinner at her folks' place in Tagig.

She, meanwhile, gave me a sugarfree chocolate moist cake from Ponce's Pasteleria Espanola and a case of diet 7-up.

For someone with a wrecked pancreas, those gifts were absolutely great.

* * *

kids should know that...

Taguig was one of the earliest known territories to have been Christianized when the Spaniards succeeded in subjugating mainland Luzon through the Legazpi expedition in 1571. Taguig was accessible via the Pasig River, which was connected to two large bodies of water, the Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay. The population then was estimated to be 800 tributes. The town produced more than enough rice for their consumption but had less sugar cane to mill. The men lived through fishing while women wove cotton cloth and "sawali" from bamboo strips. (wikipedia)

rooster goes to church

I've been attending the misa de gallo with my special gurl at the PCJ in BF. We hear the 9 PM mass.

We have a favorite area, or pew if it's still unoccupied when we arrive. The leftmost aisle, near the side entrance is a strategic location when joining the mad race of churchgoers who brought their cars. The street infront of the church is a one-way street so there's a huge traffic every time the mass has ended. Others choose to park their cars along Aguirre so they won't have to drive along the one-way street.

But I like parking near the church so I just see to it that we sit near the side entrance, close to the parking lot, and we'll trot our way out to make sure that we're at the head of the pack.

While we waited for the mass to begin last night, my special gurl overheard kids who were noisily walking from the back of the church towards our area. They were looking for a vacant pew.

Pews can accomodate five. We were the only two on our pew so she was apprehensive the noisy kids might sit beside us.

SHE: (Whispers) Ayoko ng may katabing bata.

ME: Even me?

SHE: Isip bata ka naman eh.

She became more apprehensive when the voices got closer. But the kids passed our pew and found their own space way up in front. She was relieved.

ME: (Chuckles) God heard you. Buti na lang.

SHE: O nga.

ME: God has a sense of humor, scaring you like that.

SHE: I know. We met.

ME: (Pauses) Y--you met God?

SHE: No. I met YOU.

Cranky.

* * *

kids should know that...

It is told that the "Rooster's Mass" owes its name in the idea that a rooster would have been among the first to witness the birth of Jesus, and thus be the one to announce it. One of the customs related to the Philippine Misa de Gallo is the selling of traditional Philippine food, such as puto bumbong (a purple colored rice pastry, seasoned with grated coconut and brown sugar), tsokolate (a hot cocoa drink), bibingka (cakes cooked on top and under), and salabat, or ginger tea, which are sold by vendors outside the churches to the faithful. (wikipedia)

let us entertain

My male cousin is known in showbusiness, so much so that if I finally drop my name in this blog, you'll know who he is. Or who my uncle is (his father) because both are in the same biz.

But, thank God, there is another family member, altho she is known for the same talent, she isn't in showbiz. But she is equally famous but to an exclusive circle known as the Madz (UP Madrigal Singers). She is so good in her craft that she became Imelda Marcos' favorite opera singer.

She's my Tita Bess who's been based in the US for a long time now.

She came home recently to join her Madz family last Sunday at the Philam auditorium. Many of the clan were there to give her family support.

The blue computer print out that served as the concert's program described Tita Bess, to wit:

Bess was a member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers from 1969-1974. She studied voice under Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion and the late Aurelio Stanislao. She has played the lead role in Madame Butterfly in 1973 at CCP, Marsinah (Kismet) in 1973 and the lead role in the 1989 staging of Walang Sugat zarzuela in Guam. Presently, she is studying voice with Cynthia Munzer, mezzo-soprano who had many roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera including one with L. Pavarroti and currently Professor at University of Southern California's F.L. Thornton School of Music.

She sang O Mio Babbino Caro (from Gianni Schicci), Mi Chiamano Mimi (from La Boheme), Un Bel Di Vedremo (from Madame Butterfly) and Mutya ng Pasig.

* * *

kids should know that...

The Philippine Madrigal Singers was organized as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers in 1963 by Prof. Andrea Veneracion, proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1999. The group is composed of students, faculty and alumni from the different colleges of the University of the Philippines. The group performs a variety of styles and forms but specializes in the madrigal, a polyphonic and challenging musical style popular during the Renaissance where singers and guests would gather around the table during a banquet to sight-sing and make music together. This served as the inspiration for their unique style of singing - singing seated in a semi-circle without a conductor. (wikipedia)

gym rat

I've been spending two to three and a half hours in the gym, five to six days a week, lifting weights and doing cardio exercises.

There are two gyms I go to: one is located in Banawe, QC and the other is along Aguirre inside BF Pque, which is closer to my residence. Of course I have a trainer in each gym. There's Hazel in Banawe and Jayson in BF.

My weight loss training has been very effective. The trainers have been very active supervising my work out. Roughly on my fourth month, Jayson one time offered to switch my program to body building which I turned down. I told him though that I'd think about it once I've become satisfied with my weight. He's encouraging me to try out boxing for stamina. I told him I might not be cut out for that exercise. He disagrees.

Hoot was a Clark-Hatch (Dusit branch) member before he left for the US. He continues to work out in WI.

My sis-in-law, Jasmine, also works out and so does my special gurl.

I realized one thing. Like getting tatts, working out can be addictive. And this is talking way after you're done with the muscle pains.

Now when I look at myself in the mirror, I can't help flexing in front of it. My special gurl chooses to ignore me whenever I admire the body changes, no matter how small they are as of the moment. But it's so corny doing it alone so sometimes a lot of times I ask her to check me out while I flex.

"Wow!" she'll say everytime.

Pleaser?

It works, anyway. That's all the support this gym rat needs - a single wow from her.

despedida con max

Last night was a complete family dinner affair at Max's in Remedios. We were complete - folks, children with loved ones and the third generation kids - because Hoot's going to fly back to WI.

We could have gone for expensive fine dining but that would be unfair to the kids who would prefer to get their hands on good tasty fried chicken.

When we entered the resto, the place was packed. The waiters had to set the tables for us out in their veranda fronting Roxas Boulevard. All eyes were on us when we walked in. I wasn't sure why. I guessed it was because we were plenty. But my special gurl had her own explanation. She thought it's simply because my family looks conyotic. Now I don't know where she got this idea. We're simple, dressed in casual and not even noisy. But when you get stares that make you want to walk cocky (personally it felt like some great gun-slinger of the west entered the saloon), you couldn't really help walk on the imaginary red carpet those strangers laid out for you.

I guess what made us more interesting is that the waiters had to quickly, as in parang natataranta, arrange our own place in the resto. We were set on the veranda, which, later that night, proved to be the best seat in the house. Little did we know that there was something going on at the Roxas Boulevard. There was a parade of people dressed up in costumes doing their own versions of the Ati-atihan. It was called the Aliwan Festival.

So there we were at the veranda on a long table, a large Pinoy bourgeoisie family gobbling fried chicken, kare-kare, sinigang na hipon, boneless bangus and lechon kawali. There were a variety of drinks served: lemon iced tea, light beer, sugarfree soda and mineral water. Conversations over dinner differed from one end to the other all at the same time. I had a prob catching up with the exchanges.

For my desert, I got plenty of hugs from my niece, Kate, for no reason.

Later that night, the skies were illuminated by a five-minute fireworks display. It was amazing! Like what I said, we had the best seat in the whole metropolis.

When we stood up to leave, the stares were still there. And then it just hit me.

It must be the first time these patrons have seen a family with most members working out in a gym.

It was the biceps after biceps after biceps.

And I thought it's because they saw us like adonises and venuses. Oh well.

for the feet

I'm not a shoe/slipper person. It goes without saying that I don't have a lot of footwear simply because I'd rather walk without any. Socks will do. Inside the house I'm almost always wearing nothing on my feet, much to the chagrin of my special gurl who'd soon notice that the soles of my feet are like the peasant's already because I'd been walking around barefooted again.

Hooowever, if we're talking of rubber shoes, then that's the only exemption. I have a closet touchy-feely romance with a new pair of rubber shoes that really look good on my feet.

I grew up with Reebok, Adidas, K-Swiss, Nike, LA Spirit, Grosby, Vans, Tretorn, Sketchers and Hi-Tec.

Last week I retired my Reebok. So I headed over to the Sports Central to browse over stocks.

I'm not totally brand conscious and may go for anything. The thing is that it only takes one single look at a pair to know that, "You're the one for me!"

My special gurl once said, "You just look around, browse, scan the display, and ayun na! You know it when you see it. If there's nothing of interest, you move on to the next store. You're decisive and don't like to window shop. Mabilis ka pumili."

There has to be love-at-first sight. I don't need a second look at all. There has to be an initial impact that makes your heartbeat go fast.

Right.

Anyway, I bought my first Umbro. It has a streak of hot red wrapped around each shoe. It weighs light, perfect for legging the inclined treadmill. Umbro is a known sponsor of the Manchester soccer sport.

My Reebok pair did a good job. Now let's see how athletic Umbro is.

* * *

kids should know that...

Reebok was founded in 1895, in Bolton, Lancashire, by Joseph William Foster under a company called J.W. Foster and Sons Limited. The family-owned business proudly made the running shoes worn in the 1924 Summer Olympics by the athletes Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell celebrated in the film Chariots of Fire. In 1958, two of the founder's grandsons Jeffrey and Joseph left the family business and started a rival company that came to be known as Reebok. The name is the Afrikaans/Dutch spelling of the word rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle. The company, founded in 1895, was originally called Mercury Sports, but was renamed as Reebok in 1960. (wikipedia)

y as a vowel

Gift wrapping is an art I don't have. So I let my special gurl do it. I'm the tape cutter and I sign the cards.

ME: This is for?
SHE: Glenda.
ME: Glynda. (Starts to write on the card) G-L-Y ... Y, right?
SHE: E. Glenda.
ME: Nope. It's Y. Glynda.
SHE: Glenda.
ME: G-L-Y-N...
SHE: (Irked) Ano ka ba? Glenda nga eh.
ME: No.
SHE: Ay, ang kulit! Yun nga ang nakalagay sa hospital records nya.
ME: Eh mali yun.
SHE: Eh ba't ba binabago mo?!
ME: Because it's spelt wrong. G-L-Y-...
SHE: Argh! Stubborn asshole!

Gl-y-nda is the nanny of Buddy's kids. And we have a present for her.

Maybe I should've simply drawn her face on the card instead of writing it. That would've solved the prob.

* * *

kids should know that...

When unwrapping a gift, Japanese people may carefully remove the paper and the seals and keep the paper as a compliment to the hosts. The presentation of the gift is an important part of the exercise; gifts are carefully wrapped. Gifts are not opened immediately. Traditionally, it was polite to take the gift home as is and send a thank you note later. Today, many people will ask a guest to open a gift, but if they do not, the Japanese will resist the urge to ask if they can open the gift. Since the act of accepting a gift can create a sense of unfulfilled obligation on the part of the receiver, gifts are sometimes refused, depending on the situation. (wikipedia)

a bee in flight

ME: Your birthday is close. Aren't you excited?

SHE: No.

ME: Well, I am. Why aren't you?

SHE: I'll be twenty-nine. Tanda ko na.

ME: You should do what I did. I stopped growing at twenty-five. So now, I'm only four. (Smiles) Do you know that men and women are most likely to hunt for sex partners when they reach the age of twenty? It's hormonal.

SHE: Sobra ka naman.

ME: It's true. The standard will be based on good sex instead of looks.

SHE: I don't know. Eh bakit ako?

ME: O, di ba totoo?

SHE: (Ponders, smiles) O nga.

ME: You hit the jackpot with me, though. You got both. (Waits for her to agree)

SHE: (Smiles) Oo naman. (Pauses) So pano yung wala pang twenty?

ME: They're looking for a slambook material relationship. They're eyeing for the ideal ones. First love is innocent. The person's usually attracted to the other person's charm. What's important is the sense of humor, intellect capacity. That's why when you meet your first love again years after, you tend to ask yourself, "Is this the person I fell in love with?" The concept is tainted. It's like you can no longer imagine yourself with that person in the present day. Your standards changed.

SHE: (Nods) Pwede.

ME: But I...I'll never grow old. (Pauses) Don't you think so?

SHE: (Nods) Aha. And I like you that way. Pero dapat ako naman minsan ang baby.

ME: But you are! (Smiles) It's just that I'm younger.

* * *

kids should know that...

Your first love (usually your high school sweetheart), this is the love where you realize that love does exist and during the chaotic time of teenage adolescence find out for yourself what love is.

The second love, shared with a person with similar interests in love and in life, usually the person with whom you raise a family and settle into middle age.

The third and final great love of your life is the person you choose to grow old with, someone to share the memories of life and the mysteries of death. (wikipedia)

the seat's taken

We were at Shopwise Festival Mall when a lil brat in one of those kiddie car carts started harassing her way into the cashier line. She was actually getting on the nerves of her nanny, including my special gurl.

SHE: Naku! Ayoko ng ganyang anak.

She could've just let it go.

We paid our stuff and decided to stop for a quick KFC lunch.

While enjoing Meal No. 2, she asked if I was ever in a group date.

ME: Hmm... is that the kind of date you agree to swap partners?

SHE: (Taken aback) Ha? Were you ever...?

ME: No! No! Foursome. That's going out with another couple. (Pauses) Yea. Lots of times before. You?

SHE: Hmm... once.

She said she wasn't comfy going out on a foursome date because the tendency is that two people were bound not to enjoy it anyway.

For instance, if I asked a friend who I haven't met in a long time to go out with us, that friend and I would more likely be catching up with each other leaving out our partners in the dark. They'd probably be lurking, listening to us, bored even.

Soon enough, she pointed two couples sitting at the back. She observed that one girl was having more fun talking to the dude across her. The dude obviously wasn't her partner. Meanwhile,the other two people on that table shifted their heads between them as if they were matching a tennis match.

I think that's pretty insensitive.

I hope I haven't done something like that to my special gurl yet.

* * *

kids should know that...

In some societies, the parents or community propose potential partners, and then allow limited dating to determine whether the parties are suited. During the Middle Ages in Europe, it was traditional for royal families to receive a ship from a princess' fiance upon her betrothal. The ship would be displayed in the courtyard for one month prior to the marriage ceremony, and it is from these courtships that we derive the word courtship. (wikipedia)

family

Shopping for christmas presents when the special gurl is around makes it difficult to buy gifts that render a surprise. I have to resort to anything creative to make sure she doesn't have a clue as to what she'll be getting from me.

Yea, there ought to be time without her, which she thinks is fine. It's just me. I worry how she'll get home and I don't exactly trust cabs.

Five. That's how many she gets from me every christmas. All wrapped by Pauline.

Hours ago we had our kris kingle. Tonight is family night. I've got my maternal relatives here at home.

As I'm blogging, my neice Trish is knocking herself out with the videoke. Again. She's got a good voice. Yea, it runs in the family.

If the family reunion isn't held here at home, then the folks at Ayala-Albang host it. This event is also a quasi-despedida party for Hoot who'll be flying back to the US next week. That's why christmas party is early.

Speaking of get-together, a few of my UP Manila "family" met yesterday at EDSA Shang for a mini-get-together. I wasinvited but everything's short notice.

Che smsd and sent the invites. She's based in Subic now and when she's in Manila, there's a lil get-together of sorts.

Those who attended were Eileen, Susan, Bien and Lzl. I don't know who else arrived.

These are the people who I grew up with, survived crossroads, questioned authority.

I can actually be naked with these people and, yes, I'd trust my life to.

Solid.

* * *

kids should know that...

The Christkind is a sprite-like child, usually depicted with blond hair and angelic wings. Martin Luther intended it to be a reference to the incarnation of Jesus as an infant. It is presumed by some to be so, but seems to be rooted in the Alsatian-born myth of a child bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Children never see the Christkind, as parents will always tell them that the Christkind just disappeared before they came. (wikipedia)

road trip: head north (2)

It was a long drive.

Our buttoms were squashed much longer than expected. To wile the time away, I traded Battle-of-the-Brainless questions with my special gurl. (You might've heard one of these jokes if you watch the Laban o Bawi game.)

Host: This happens to you when you look at Medusa. It starts with the letter S.

Contestant A: Satanismo!

Host: Mali.

Contestant B: Snakes!

Right. (Answer: Stoned.)

Host: Ano ang pambansang isda natin...

Contestant A: Bangus!

Host: Di pa tapos ang question. Mali. Ito ay merong letter I.

Contestant B: I-fish!

Right. (Answer: Milk Fish.)

Host: Ito ang pinakamabilis na sasakyan. May 8 letters ito at dalawang letter O.

Contestant A: Eroplano!

Host: Hmm... ayaw ng judges. Sayang. Mali.

Contestant B: Aircraft!

Right. (Answer: Concorde.)

At this point, my mom butts in.

MOM: Asan na ba tayo? Teka. Alam ko 'to eh.

ME: Capas?

MOM: Hinde. It starts with A.

ME: Apas?

SPECIAL GURL: Haha! Letter A nga eh!

MOM: Alam ko na! Bamban!

It can be infectious, you know. That, or my mom forgot to take her vitamins.

* * *

kids should know that...

The height of the game show era began in the early 1970s, thanks in part to the success of popular game shows like The Price Is Right, Match Game, The Joker's Wild and The $10,000 Pyramid. Many of these game shows provided amazing game show sets filled with flashing chase lights and sometimes flashing neon lights. During this golden era, most hosts' wardrobes were supplied by Botany 500. This era of game shows officially ended in the late 1990s, leaving The Price Is Right as the only daytime network game show remaining on U.S. television. In syndication, however, a handful of game shows continue to be popular, including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, and to a lesser extent, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Family Feud. (wikipedia)

road trip: head north

The trip to Bugallon, Pangasinan began at 6 AM that Saturday.

In the car with me were my special gurl and my parents who occupied the backseat of the MB. I took the wheel until we stopped for brunch at Vilmar Restaurant in Tarlac City.

Vilmar is found several meters after Hacienda Luisita. It is my dad's ultimate fave stopover. I really haven't figured out why. The place is clean but the food can be expensive.

I surrendered the car keys to dad after brunch. It was his turn to drive. I slept all the way to Pangasinan and woke up to find out that we were nearing the cathedral in Lingayen. Now, Lingayen detours only meant that my folks were going to buy good stuff at the public market.

"A lot of people here have kidney problems," I blurted with a groggy voice.

"Ha! Bakit?" my folks chorused.

"The food is so salty. Laging may bagoong," I stated.

Don't believe me, alright. No one has really made a study on this one.

My dad parked at the Cathedral and we crossed the street towards the market. There was a dirty white streamer that said, Welcome to FPJ Country.

I shuddered.

At the market, dad spoke the dialect so fluently. So, although it was evident that he was a balikbayan, we were given local market prices. We bought kilos of both fresh and dried bangus/milkfish, galunggong (my fave), shrimp ("swahe") and pakbet veggies.

Mom bonded a lil with three old beautiful women selling "pinka" or "espada" fish. She was so amused that these particular vendors laughed at her jokes.

The 3 women are obviously sisters. They exhibited similar facial mestiza features. But they were morena, at the same time. And, even though these ladies needed dentures, they were really beautiful, like descendants of Princess Urduja.

The reason for this road trip wasn't just to buy Pangasinan products like Calasiao puto, kuchinta, patis and bagoong.

Bugallon is my dad's birthplace. It is also the burial place of his folks, Lolo Celing and Lola Lydia.

When you shake our family tree, relatives from the Lorenzana, Manzano and Luna clan will fall from the branches of my Lolo; meanwhile, there are the Valenzuela and the Guiang on my Lola's side. There is one main artery here that I didn't mention because it will only expose my surname (and I do have a very familiar showbizzie last name) that I'd rather not blog.

Lolo is still lovingly called Dad even long after his demise. On his epitaph are these words:

Marcelino...

Teacher, writer, man of the soil,

loving family man & servant of God.

Looking around the cemetery, my special gurl noticed that the locals lived long relative to those living in the big city.

Maybe there's something about their bagoong. It is a good preservative?

Right.

Late lunch was held at the ancestral house located in frontof the municipal office. Food was prepared by my male cousin who is a very good cook.

There was a wide variety of viand served but I chose to eat sinigang na kitang cooked with celery. Yummy!

Meanwhile, my special gurl enjoyed the chicken afritada cooked with pineapple.

At around 3:30 PM we headed back to Manila. I drove again, stopping twice at Hacienda Luisita and at Petron Bocaue.

This trip was my special gurl's second time. The first time she went there was to attend the burial of Lola Lydia. That was also the first time when she met a lot of my relatives, especially those who are now based in the US.

My father has a large family. His folks procreated a dozen but 2 died at a very young age. Now of the 10 children who survived and are now grown up, some with kids and grand kids of their own, only four opted not to migrate.

My special gurl doesn't really like traveling to Pangasinan because of the heat. Central Luzon and the areas close to the China Sea going north are considered as the longest plateau - relatively flat open country. So even the wind that blows could be unpleasantly warm. However, during the ride home, she confided that she had fun because she finally had quality time with me.

I'm now looking forward to a trip down south. I need to go fishing very soon. There are only two places I'd love to fish, Puerto Azul and Caylabne. Yes, there are still fishes there to catch in the pier of the resorts.

One big lesson learnt from this trip: the North Expressway rabidly steals 2 to 3 hours of your usual travel time because of the road expansions.

* * *

kids should know that...

The municipality of Bugallon was formerly called "Salasa" which means a part of a wooden house where the floor is attached to. In the Spanish colonial era, the Spanish authorities established the town center in Poblacion (now Barangay Salasa). Because of flooding and erosion, the town center was later transferred to Barrio Anagao (became Barangay Poblacion) but the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, one of the oldest churches in the country, could not be transferred (every time someone attempts, he dies). A new Catholic church was created in the Poblacion, the Saint Andrew Catholic Church. This is the reason why Bugallon has two Catholic Churches. The town was named after the town's hero General Jose Torres Bugallon who fought together with general Antonio Luna during the 1896 revolution. (wikipedia)