The recent release of Iron Man 3 made me go back to some things I did as a kid. During summer breaks, my siblings, my younger cousins and I were sent off to the house of our aunts for a few weeks. Every year we would review collections of comic books.
We had two aunts. One collected the American comic books sent by her husband for her four boys. They included DC, Marvel and comic adaptations of classic novels. We devoured them. Then there was the second aunt who collected Tagalog comics for her teenage girls. At her house, six youngsters (including I) each claimed a corner and spent an afternoon pouring through those stories and trying to piece together a novel given in several installments.
Sometimes, we would do things as a group. We would climb the fruit trees in our family's yard and collect the treasures high up in the branches for a sumptuous late afternoon snack or an early evening story telling session. We started our climb behind the guest house or behind the big house. Then we would use the roofs to move from one tree to another and stuff the fruits in our pockets or in our mouths if we dared.
It was in the morning that laziness got tested. We had a routine. We start the day by putting away our pillows and sleeping mats. Then we got a breakfast of hot chocolate and pan de sal. Then the work began.
After putting away the dishes, we had to clean up a section or portion of the house. Somebody wiped off the dust of the glass jalousies on the windows. Somebody dusted the furniture. Another would sweep the floor. Yet another would take care of the ornate frames and door decors and vases.
When the house was done, we turned our attention to the yard. Having lots of trees around,there would definitely be a lot of fallen leaves and over ripe fruits. We gathered them all up and made a pile. Then the bigger boys would scoop this up to be thrown to the refuse pit.
Then we had to look after the pigs. My aunt took care of a whole piggery with at least two bulls and lots of mommies and of course the growing piglets. We bathe them. We cleaned their cages. All the garbage went into the refuse pit again. that made for wonderful fertilizer eventually.
After all the hard work, it was time to rrelax. A river ran through the property. When we got rid of our tools, we would race to the river for a cool splash. We would stay there until we were called back to the house for lunch about two hours later.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
A Weekend Tour
I just got back from Batangas. What should have been a visit to a specific church turned out to be a pilgrimage tour.
The idea for the trip began last Saturday. I found myself at the LOJ Counseling Center with a couple of friends from the service. We were discussing what we could do during this long weekend when Violy remembered a church she was told to visit. She was not sure if the name was Casaysay or Casasay.
So we got on the net and did a little research. We found out the proper name was Our Lady of Caysasay which was located in Taal, Batangas. We then tried to locate a small and affordable hotel for an overnight trip. We found some old houses whose rooms were being rented out to visitors. We went through the reviews and decided that we will look them over when we got to Taal before making a decision.
Ok so the plan was made. We asked some other people to join us but for their own reasons, they could not make it. Only four of us were on; Brenda, Cathy, Violy and myself.
Yesterday, we attended the Feast Ortigas which also served as our meeting place. It turns out we could ride a bus to Lipa right in front of the Edsa Shrine. We left after having lunch and buying some provisions.
At the Tambo exit in Lipa, we boarded a jeep bound for Lemery which would pass by Taal. I thought it would be a quick hop but the fare price told me it was going to be a long trip. It was still sunny when we left Lipa but it was drizzling when we got to Taal.
Instead of dropping us off in the middle of town, the jeepney driver let us off on the corner of the road leading to the Caysasay church. We began to ask the locals where those rooming houses were located. It turned out we should have gotten off closer to town. They suggested we try a nearby resort. They said its name was Little Angel. We got a tryke to take us there.
(to be continued)
The idea for the trip began last Saturday. I found myself at the LOJ Counseling Center with a couple of friends from the service. We were discussing what we could do during this long weekend when Violy remembered a church she was told to visit. She was not sure if the name was Casaysay or Casasay.
So we got on the net and did a little research. We found out the proper name was Our Lady of Caysasay which was located in Taal, Batangas. We then tried to locate a small and affordable hotel for an overnight trip. We found some old houses whose rooms were being rented out to visitors. We went through the reviews and decided that we will look them over when we got to Taal before making a decision.
Ok so the plan was made. We asked some other people to join us but for their own reasons, they could not make it. Only four of us were on; Brenda, Cathy, Violy and myself.
Yesterday, we attended the Feast Ortigas which also served as our meeting place. It turns out we could ride a bus to Lipa right in front of the Edsa Shrine. We left after having lunch and buying some provisions.
At the Tambo exit in Lipa, we boarded a jeep bound for Lemery which would pass by Taal. I thought it would be a quick hop but the fare price told me it was going to be a long trip. It was still sunny when we left Lipa but it was drizzling when we got to Taal.
Instead of dropping us off in the middle of town, the jeepney driver let us off on the corner of the road leading to the Caysasay church. We began to ask the locals where those rooming houses were located. It turned out we should have gotten off closer to town. They suggested we try a nearby resort. They said its name was Little Angel. We got a tryke to take us there.
(to be continued)
The Effects of a Flu Virus
Classes suspended. Already? We haven't even started.
The story is that because some students are refusing to impose self-quarantine, the school authorities have decided to postpone the start of classes to protect the majority of the population.
In a way, that is an advantageous decision. It gives the faculty one more week to prepare course materials. We can plan our days just a little bit better.
Well, we do need to plan well. The announcement means four days less of lessons without any adjustment to the end of term. Guess we will have to cram a few lessons together. In my case, I have already decided to remove one of my planned activities.
Still, I think it was a good idea. I can understand why one of those students would insist on coming to school despite the threat of the disease but I also believe this will be for his own good.
Sometimes, we really have to look at the effect of our actions on the bigger group of people around us.
The story is that because some students are refusing to impose self-quarantine, the school authorities have decided to postpone the start of classes to protect the majority of the population.
In a way, that is an advantageous decision. It gives the faculty one more week to prepare course materials. We can plan our days just a little bit better.
Well, we do need to plan well. The announcement means four days less of lessons without any adjustment to the end of term. Guess we will have to cram a few lessons together. In my case, I have already decided to remove one of my planned activities.
Still, I think it was a good idea. I can understand why one of those students would insist on coming to school despite the threat of the disease but I also believe this will be for his own good.
Sometimes, we really have to look at the effect of our actions on the bigger group of people around us.
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