More Blessings In The Philippines
I just returned again from what always feels like pure heaven each year. A trip to the Philippines. It gets better each time and once again I remain so very grateful and blessed by my love(Lorna) who introduced me to her country, now four years ago. We've been back each year ever since. Check the pictures and you'll see how blessed I feel. How can one not feel like you want to extend your vacations for several months with experiences like these. Everything from the bustling excitement of Manila to the glorious simple life in the province of Pangasinan. That's my favorite. Being in the province takes me back to my childhood summers on my grandparents farm. Back then, life was simple and under-appreciated by yours truly because I was so young but I can definitely now feel what my grandfather felt. He had his special love in my grandmother and on top of that, surrounded by the natural wonders of country life. However, in Pangasinan where we stay at most of the time, its like the best of both worlds. Picture Malibu, California mixed with small town country living circa 1970's east Texas... I love it.. Of course you have to also throw in the culture and beauty of the philippines and you have pure heaven...
On this trip, I developed more appreciation for Manila thanks to a good friend, Bong Cura who showed me around as many areas as we could squeeze in in one day. Mostly, I wanted to see and experience Quiapo and Chinatown. Bong took me deep in the heart of those areas. We set out early on a saturday morning and walked endlessly, enjoying great conversation, great scenery, an occasional delicious treat and all the smiles and warm, curious hellos along the way. This would turn out to be one of many highlights of the trip. We ended up walking for I believe, five or six hours. Incredible time, it was. Even the Dunkin Donuts near the Quiapo church was super delicious! One highlight that I haven't gotten over was this place in chinatown where we stopped to buy lumpia aka egg roll. The lady made it fresh right in front of us and this thing was the size of a large burrito. I can still remember the taste of it, especially the special sauce you pour over the top of it... wow! Also, besides visiting the incredible church there in Quiapo, we also visited the Mosque. Bong was very good with talking and communicating with anyone and everyone along the way so he managed to get us inside for a nice tour. We met several gentlemen there and one who had a very detailed history, whether true or false(I dont know) about his kinship to President Obama by way of Indonesia and Kenya. I guess a very very very distant cousin. Nevertheless, the man was very kind to show us around and give some historic background to the mosque and its relationship to the area of Quiapo and sharing the area with the large catholic community...
Love and I went to Palawan. We stayed at an island resort called Dos Palmas. It was beautiful though we frowned at the fact that there were no TV's in the rooms and the internet rarely worked. Still the place was nice and the water that surrounded it was gorgeous. On our last day there, we awoke to one of those moments you hear about in movies. The kind where they say the water and sky appear to look the same and you dont know where each one ends or begins..I enjoyed that moment spent with my love. It was sort of our official honeymoon moment and it was very special and beautiful despite not having the luxuries of life that we enjoy so much. Note to Dos Palmas Resort, you really should get TV's in the room! And they could also use a greater supply of foods to offer their guests...
We saw the underground river. Definitely worth the title of being one of the seven wonders of the world. It is an amazing site to see and experience. Afterwards, you're treated to some very delicious food and that was a big plus considering the disappointment with the Dos Palmas menu. I was glad to get back to Manila and eventually the province of Pangasinan. And just like last year, we were blessed to treat the local kids and families to some delicious spaghetti that love prepared along with the help of caretakers, Efren and Violi and our lovely niece, Mynar. We also had a generous donation of water and ice from the Calasiao Ice Plant. A good friend of love's owns the business and her contribution really helped alot. The kids enjoyed it and it was a very successful day...
One common theme in the Philippines whenever we go is food, food, food! I mean, everything from the usual Jollibee food to the street food, to the various discoveries in and around the areas we travel. I ate so much sisig on this trip and really enjoyed it. There was Tribu Grill in Pampanga, Victor's in Tarlac and Road Roaster's Grill in Dagupan City. All of these places made some incredible sisig, though I'd tip my hat to Tribu Grill for edging out the others in the flavor department. It was very good.. Then there was love buying a lot of furniture but as always, she has great taste and knows how to turn a not so good decor into a fabulous decor...
Anyway, there's too many stories to mention here or to remember but needless to say, its beyond more fun in the Philippines and every trip seems to surpass the last one. This one out did them all and I can't wait as usual to go back. The life and times we experience there puts things in perspective for me because whenever I come back to the states, I see a whole lot of energy and time put forth in the wrong direction by others. In the Philippines, I never wonder about anything.. I just enjoy, experience, appreciate and feel completely spoiled and blessed.... And speaking of blessing, I became a Godfather aka "Ninong." That's an honor I take very seriously and am very grateful for that privilege.. God Bless baby Dylan and also God bless all those happy kids we fed and enjoyed.. I believe it was around 130 or possibly a little bit more... Love fed a parrot in Palawan. Haha.. That was a treat too! *smile*
