Sapin-sapin Ni LarGinn

Why do we let ourselves get worked up when we know it doesn’t amount to much of anything? We know we should be positive, we know we should calm ourselves down or just let go of the things we have in our minds. Heaven knows Facebook is full of these sayings and cliches! And yet we go round and round with that thing in our heads that gets us all worked up. I know I am talking about myself, and not about you and so I shouldn’t say we. It’s just a manner of speaking. Sorry about that. And yes, I am talking about myself.

Sometimes I wonder, do we really have free will? If I get all worked up about something, can I just will my mind to stop thinking about it and move to more “positive” thoughts at a snap of a finger? Can I just will my heart to go back to beating in its normal rhythm? Can I just tell my blood pressure to go down if it gets elevated due to being all worked up? Yes, but it takes time, most will say. If it takes time and I cannot just will it, then do I really have free will? Is the brain or intellect the place where free will takes place? If so, then why can’t I just will it just like that? If not, then is free will a reality or is it a farce?

Oh I should just look at the birds in the sky and see that they are happy without a care in the world. Right now I am looking at birds taking a bath at the overflow of our pool. I know they are happy. But alas, I am not a bird. Or I should just pet our dogs (we have six now) and see that they just live in the moment. And alas I am not a dog either. But what if watching the birds, hearing them chirp or petting each of our six dogs is not enough to calm me down? Does that mean that I have a weak personality? Does that mean that I am not using my free will wisely?

And I would hear my own mind saying I shouldn’t judge myself, I should be gentle on myself. Sometimes I think that’s a whole load of horse s*^t. Hehe. Sorry. Just saying.

I guess this is what it comes down to: sometimes, I can’t will myself to be positive and I can’t will myself to be happy and I can’t will myself to calm down. And I should just be with myself being that, being negative, being sad, being worked up. And it’s okay. And so what if I am that way every now and then? It’s not like I am going to die in an hour or two. Should we always change how we are if what we feel is something we label as “negative”? And those of us who are religiously and/or spiritually devout, is being “not well” a sign of lack of faith or belief in the God we have faith in? Perhaps the one we call God is with us in our negativity, in our sadness, in our getting all worked up. My favorite line in The Lord’s Prayer is “Hallowed be Thy Name”. I’ve decided I like the word “Hallowed” rather than “Holy”. I honestly don’t understand what Holy means. But “hallowed” that’s deep, man! It’s like that space that God makes in Him/Herself to accommodate more; a space within Him/Herself for me in my sadness, in my anything-ness. It doesn’t matter what but for me it is meaningful that God “Hallows” Him/Herself.

Going back to free will. Is there really such a thing? We are born with our parents, we are born in a certain time and place. Did we choose our parents? Did we choose to be born in this time and place? All these, though they are not our choosing, affects us. If I didn’t choose it, then who did? I like that line in the ABBA song “The Winner Takes It All”.

The gods may throw the dice
Their hearts as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear.

I am sorry to sound blasphemous. But these lines make me think. These lines strike me in an intensely profound way.

Yet in the end, all I say here are just musings. Don’t take me too seriously. I don’t! Here’s one thing I can do at will, I can smile, I can laugh. I don’t have to have a reason. I can do it just because.

No pictures this time. If a picture paints a thousand words then maybe a thousand words can paint a picture in you.

Thanks for reading through the end. Until next time.

P.S. You motivated me to write today. Thank you! You know who you are.

I was looking at one of our durian trees at the side of the house. It looked ….!

But before I continue with that trend of thought, let me back-track a little bit and just put this in context. When we bought this land to build our house on 7 years ago, there were already many fruit trees in this property. There were durian, mangosteen, coconut, rambutan, and langka all over the place. Since we were building, we knew that there would be a lot that had to be cut. It broke my heart to do this but what can I do?

There were a few that were not cut down that we thought will survive. But alas after months of construction, a number of them withered away and died. Construction stress, I guess. The durian is called The King Of Fruits probably because it needed to be protected in order for it to thrive.

I remember this particular tree. It was fruiting as construction was winding down 5 years ago. A good friend who is not a local and therefore at that time was not yet a convert to the pleasures of the palate that durian offers, tried the fruit from this tree. OMG, hands down this was the most luscious fruit she had ever tasted! And so she became a full-blooded Durian convert! When construction was done, this particular tree got beat up. Sometime there would be fruit but they were rotten or they just wouldn’t go into maturity. Its leaves were so sparse there were times we were not sure if it was dead or alive. Through the next few years that we had lived here, Larry continuously fed it with his various home-grown organic fertilizers. Slowly more leaves started to grow and we knew it would survive.

Today I was staring at the fruits of this tree. But aside from the healthy looking fruits that sprouted from this traumatized tree, there are a boat-load of air plants thriving on it’s branches! There are native orchids, small stag horns and just leaves sprouting out from its branches that are not Durian leaves. They are all just living off the tree! It became an eco-system by itself! A Durian tree as an eco-system…what a concept!

I am just always amazed how LIFE just wants to thrive. There are no cry-babies in nature! Like this durian tree, it wants to live, it wants to bear fruit, it wants to be . . . well a durian tree, right? And a durian tree it is, not just standing on its own and bearing fruit but being a setting for other plants to grow, being the “house” where other air plants can flourish. Life begets life. That’s what it’s all about.

Tis the Season of Giving.

One of my favorite poets, Khalil Gibran’s explores the concept of giving in his poem ON GIVING found in the book, THE PROPHET. Each time I read it, I can’t help but be introspective. How do I give? What does it mean to me? I observe others and there’s so much to see.

Gibran’s take is not one thing but a multi-faceted notion on what GIVING is all about. Let me borrow a few quotes that strike me the most in the poem. ( " " from poem. Outside quotations are mine.)

"There are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward."

In the video I have attached here, you will find Tonyo. He is one of our staff. He doesn’t make a lot of money. He has limited education and yet here he is finding a way to give to someone who has hardly anything. Tatay Jaime is not Tonyo’s relative. He is just some random elderly man who lives in the neighborhood of Tonyo’s in-laws. Can you sense the joy in Tonyo as he gives his presents to Tatay Jaime? Truly, the joy of giving is Tonyo’s reward.

"And there are those who give . . . as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes. He smiles upon the earth."

To give because it is who you are, because it is who I am. This makes me think of the Pinoy’s tradition of giving pasalubong. We go on a trip, and when we return we bring back stuff that we give to whoever. I remember when I lived in the US. After a trip from the Pinas, I would have pasalubong for my American friends. They are usually surprised and would say, 'You didn’t have to.' That is true! I didn’t have to bring them anything. And yet for me, as it is for most Pinoys, to give pasalubong is who we are. It’s almost like I cannot NOT do it. It is part of who we are, it is in our DNA, it is who I am. Could it be that in a giving hand, God smiles upon the earth?

"You often say, “I would give, but only to the deserving.”
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving."

And at the end of the day this is the challenge for me. My hope for myself is that there will be a time when I give without needing to be told 'thank you', that I give without thinking of myself that I am doing a good deed. I pray that the day will come when I give because it is my truth, because “to withhold is to perish.” I am so far from this but I dare say this is my dream.

"For in truth it is life that gives unto life—while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers—and you are all receivers—assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the freehearted earth for mother, and God for father."

So should I say then that Tis the season of bearing witness. Are we not mere witnesses to the generosity where all that is given emanates from? Oh yes, through giving and receiving, God speaks. Through these, I am not the giver nor the receiver but a mere witness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO9z39LE_HI&t=199s

Part 4 Saya ni Tatay Jaime Sa bagung gamit nya.... Salamat Po manga ka Ton's sa Walang Sawang Panonood Support po ingat po tayung lahat God bless us all 🙏🙏 don't Forget...

Remembering a very special person today that most of you know. Here's the poem I wrote for him which I read during the his wake.

Isang munting tula handog ko upang maipabatid
Ang aking pagmamahal sa yo, VJ, aking kapatid
Sana'y katuwaan mo naman ang pagsikap kong bigkasin
Ang sarili kong ala-ala at mga damdamin.

Sa aming pitong magkakapatid
Si Venjo ay ukiterong talagang walang patid
Maraming iyak at sumbong sa aming magulang ang pinaabot ko
Dahil sa kanyang pangungutyang walang makasugpo.

Siya'y laking lolo't lola at dalawang sobrang bait na tita
Si Lolo Andro na sinusuklay pa ang buhok niya,
Lola Lelang, Tita Geling at Ester, lahat ito'y kinatutuwaan siya
Eh di ano pa, prinsepe de gales ang bansag sa kanya.

Wag sana ninyong isiping panay ngiti at tuwa ang kanyang pinagdaanan
Akam ko, VJ, na ang hinagpis sa buhay mo ay sadyang makatotohanan
Nang isa-isang mga mahal mo ay yumao,
Isang napakalalim na lumbay ang nadama mong totoong-totoo.

Marami ka ring taon na ginugol, hindi ito magpagkakaila
Sa kung anu-anong mga luho at walang saysay na pagpapasasa
Hay, naku VJ, kung iisipin ang pinagdaanan mo
Ito'y isang buhay na puno ng pagsusumamo.

Sa mga huling taon ng buhay mo ay iyong hinarap
Ang marupok mong kalusugan na puno ng hirap.
Kaya’t paalam VJ, nauunawaan kong ika’y pagod na
Alam ko na panahon na ng iyong pagpapahinga.

Kaya’t narito kaming lahat na nagpapaalam sa iyo
Kahit di pa matanggap ng isip ko na ikaw nga'y yumao.
Pagmamahal at paghanga para sa iyo ang nasa puso ko
Kasama ng pasasalamat na ikaw ay kapatid ko.

Nais kong sabihin sa iyo, VJ, na kahit wala ka na sa aming piling
Alam naming lahat na ang iyong pagmamahal ay mananatiling buhay sa puso namin.

***************************************************

And here's a video I created on his birthday a few months after he passed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ifkqS5kck

Brother, Brother: VJ 4-5-08 VJ Valencia Memorial DC 4-5-08

It’s been a while. But here I am. Got distracted. Life goes on. Time moves on whether I am focused or distracted. When I am distracted, I get obsessed with the minutiae. And I can’t get over it. Sometimes I just let it be and in time I get over it. Sometimes I have to just get a hold of myself and tell myself to snap out of it. There is no hard and fast rule. It’s just different every time.

“Try to stay positive, focus on the positive!” is the dialogue in my head. But then again there’s the reality of the negative. Do I just ignore it? Can I just will my whole being to not look at something that is there, that is bothering me? Again, there is no formula to hang my hat on. Again, it’s just different every time.

Sometimes I look up. The sky and the clouds are never the same. When swimming, my favorite thing is back float. I see the sky and just stare at it. What is in it? It’s nothing and everything. It’s infinity, isn’t it? The blue sky goes on and on. I am staring into infinity. Minutiae vs. Infinity. Nothing could be more opposites.

And what about the night sky? When the moon is dark and the sky is clear, I look to the northwest, away from the city lights: there I see more stars. Again, infinity. The flickering light of the stars are from the past, light years from the past. Infinity in time. I then remember decades ago when I would go to this remote place that has no electricity, way out in the boonies. The barrio is called Camachile. On nights when the moon is dark and sky has no clouds, the sky is so FULL of stars! It’s like white powder was poured on a black bed sheet. It feels so close I can reach out and touch it. Can I touch infinity? Or maybe I share in the infiniteness of infinity.

As I write this, all telecommunications are down in Davao. Maybe it’s the whole of Mindanao because of typhoon Odette. I don’t know yet because we’re not connected. I have become so dependent on wifi and phone connections. It makes me wonder about how our ancestors lived eons ago when the night sky was dark when the sun goes down. Surely, they watched the stars all the time. For them, each star is unique. They know when this speck moved this way or that. They know that time is moving because of how the stars change their position, their behavior, their flicker. And during the day, they observed the clouds and the sun. They probably would look at the clouds and know more than just the weather. They surely wove endless stories for the children to listen to. Day and night, they look and stare at infinity.

What does my distraction with the minutiae of life matter? Are not my concerns merely a speck in all these? I look at the sky during the day, during the night and infinity is there. Every once in a while, I am reminded of it when I look up. Our ancestors looked up every day and every night for hours on end. Maybe I should look up more often, just like our ancestors did. Maybe through looking up, I can get over myself and honor infinity.

They got engaged in the most unusual circumstances. There was the pandemic. Suffice to say that this alone brought forth many challenges in planning any type of face-to-face events, let alone a wedding. But add to that, her father got sick really bad, and everybody knew he was on his deathbed. He had made known his wish that she gets engaged before he goes. She was the bunso. We all know that the bunso holds a special place in the eyes of the parents.

Her house was practically a hospital since her father was sick. On her 30th birthday, her boyfriend became her fiancé! Through the magic of the internet, most of their friends and other special people in their lives were virtually present as he laid out the whole production of his proposal. She thought they were all just greeting her for her birthday. The proposal video was shown, and when it was done, he knelt before her in front of all the virtual guests and popped the question. It was definitely a magical moment. Off they went to see her father and pay their respects to her parents as a newly-engaged couple.

He passed on the next day. It was as if he willed to live just to see her get engaged.

The wedding date was 10 months after they got engaged. They thought it should be enough time for the pandemic restrictions to ease up. But just as they were in the peak of planning, there was a surge which brought about more restrictions in movements and gatherings. There was so much uncertainty as to what they can do, how much a venue can hold, how many people can be personally there during their wedding. And yet against all odds, they stuck to their date. Beyond her dreams for a dollhouse wedding and the Pinoy tradition of having everyone they know present at the wedding, they both decided that they will stick with their plan. They knew in their hearts that the essential thing is to get married and be together even if only the 2 of them will be present at church.

And so with no change to their date, they made it happen. It was a most lovely celebration! Larry and I were present online, as many others were. She was stunningly elegant and he was dashing and getting a bit teary-eyed!

Whatever the challenge, whatever the difficulty, LOVE WINS.

P.S. I won’t post pictures here. Let’s listen to this song instead. It embodies the determination of this couple.

Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Lyric Video) The Official Lyric Video for “Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

I once watched a video entitled, “Why is there so much beauty in the world?” These days, perhaps most of us hear the opposite. Why is there so much negativity, sadness or hate in the world? But maybe we just need to turn our heads the other way we will find that INDEED there is so much beauty in the world.

Let’s look at flowers and plants that abound in our surroundings. There is so much color, so many shapes and sizes, unbelievable symmetry. As most of us live in the Philippines, we are very fortunate to live in a tropical environment. These environs are where plants, trees, flowers thrive all year long and where we have abundant diversity. Beauty is what makes us smile, brings joy to our hearts and happiness to our lives. Let us take time to focus on a plant here, a flower there. Let us take time to take a deep breath, sit ourselves in the midst of these beautiful surroundings and just chill.

And then there is beauty in arts, in music, in crafts. Many of us have a hobby of creating things. Maybe it’s cooking food that gives nourishment to oneself and others. As much as they give us nourishment, there is the deliciousness of food that is nourishment for our souls. Maybe it’s creating things for the house, sewing, crocheting, painting or drawing. Making these crafts add zest to our lives. Gazing at artwork, watching someone dance, or listening to music clears out the cobwebs in our minds.

Then there’s the beauty in our friendships, in our family relations, in the people we love. When we think of the people close to us, are we not energized? Does it not make us feel that life is worth living? When we get to talk to them, when we hang out with them, it makes our hearts flutter with gladness. There is beauty in helping a friend feel better, even talking to a stranger, or laughing at someone’s joke. It is there every day, every minute of our lives. Let us acknowledge it.

So possibly it is not the question, “Why is there so much beauty in the world?” that we should ask. Perhaps we shouldn’t even ask a question. But rather there is a challenge, a simple call for us to turn our heads and open our eyes to the beauty that is right here, right now!

It was the perfect plan, or so we thought.

The plan was we would move from the US to Pinas in 2016, straight to Davao. We were doing payments on a condo that would be ready by October 2016. But we had to jump start our move two years early. In 2014 we moved to Eastwood, Quezon City (QC). It made sense to do the move at that time. We’ve reached a dead-end in the US. It was not a big change of plans, just happen to do it earlier. My Eastwood condo did not have a tenant at that time. We arrived July 1 and moved in to a fully-furnished, fully-stocked condo unit. It was a no-brainer! Plan # 1 of moving straight to Davao in 2016 was ditched.

So we were thinking that living in a condo in QC would be like getting into the groove of living in Pinas, getting into the groove of condo living. We were feeling our way through this lifestyle. This should be great! Everything we need is in the area. There’s shopping, supermarkets, fast food and restaurant dining, cinemas, entertainment, banking, gyms, salons all available within walking distance. What’s not to love about that! Condo living also meant security, convenience, and less maintenance. It all made sense. Yet somehow, it felt like it was bland. It was like we were eating nutritious food which had very little flavor. Walang nilamnam. Would I like to be eating food without linamnam all my life?

A few months later we went to visit Davao. We were excited to spend a few days in what will be our new hometown! We met up with friends we haven’t seen in previous visits. One of them is a girlfriend who migrated her whole family to Davao, husband and 2 sons. They lived in the outskirts of the city where the “feel” is still provincial. She said one of the reasons she likes Davao is because it had the right mix of urban and provincial life. This struck a chord in me. Long story short, we looked at a piece of raw land in her neighborhood. We talked to the owner of the land. The price and terms were very affordable. This gave me butterflies in my belly. Larry loved the idea of living in that area which has very few houses and lots of trees and open spaces. Buying raw land meant we can build the house to suit our needs and the lifestyle we really wanted. If we decide to buy the property, my friend offered to take care of everything that needed to be done in Davao. And what about building the house? There was this other friend we met with. He just happens to be a general contractor, a civil engineer! Are the stars aligning? He said YES he can build our house. Was I dreaming? What is happening here? What about the condo we were making payments on? And who will design our house? We went back to QC with a lot of thinking to do and a major decision to make.

I talked to friends and family about this opportunity. Some were encouraging, most were not. It was not easy for me to rely on my own gut-feeling. I heard many well-intentioned opinions, all swirling around in my head. And there was my husband. For him it was a no-brainer. For him, the opportunity was there. If we can afford it, we should grab it. PERIOD! It’s that simple. What matters is what we want, not what friends and family think. After all, this is our life together. So before the end of 2014, we made a deposit to buy 2,000 square meters of land in Mintal, Davao City. And the condo we were making payments on? We’re going to sell it. Plan # 2 of living in a condo in Davao gets ditched, too!

Since our friend who was a general contractor is a civil engineer and not an architect, he suggested that I have the house designed by an architect, and he can build it for us. Or he can find us an architect in Davao who can design the house for us. But shouldn’t the architect have some kind of relationship and good rapport with Larry and me? This was not a renovation or an addition to an existing house. It will be built from scratch. It could not be just anyone. She/he needs to be able to enter our brains and with a lot of creativity and imagination to come up with a design that marries our needs and ideas with the land that we purchased. Will I ever find such a person? Maybe it’s too much to ask. Having lived in America for almost 20 years, I just couldn’t think of anyone.

In April 2015, there was a get-together of high school friends that I was not able to attend. I found out that an old bff I haven’t seen or talked to in ages, was there and someone gave me her cellphone number. It was time to contact her. We had a lot of catching up to do. She didn’t know I was married, she didn’t know I moved back in the Philippines. Blah blah blah blah blah. I knew that she was an architect but nothing more. She said she only does projects she likes now, and that the last house she designed and built was her own. She is a great cook and loves to entertain! So she invited Larry and me to her house. The moment I saw and toured her house, I knew she was the architect who can make our dream house happen! We talk about our needs for the house, the lifestyle we wanted, the area of our lot. She picked and picked our brain. And then she drew our house plans in one swoop! She shows us the drawings. After a few tweaks here and there, it was final! Another magic woman!

A month before moving to Davao, I was at a party. I was talking to a person close to me who is a bit older and owned a few residential properties she’s renting out. She commented to me that she could not believe I would be bold enough to build my own house! She said that all the properties she owns she bought already built. She never had to deal with building a house because it is such a big headache! She was afraid I would regret this. That was September 8, 2015.

Arriving in Davao late October 2015 after an epic road trip, our contractor mobilized and started the project in November. Step by step, stone by stone, cement bag by cement bag, tile by tile, it was happening! A year later to the date of someone telling me I will regret building my own house, on the 8th of September 2016, Larry and I moved into our dream-home. It was an auspicious day for me since it was the 120th birthday of my maternal grandmother. It was 6 days after the new moon. Moving houses during the moon’s waxing phase is a Pinoy tradition that I wanted to honor. We moved before sunrise to greet the day in our new home. With a bag of rice and salt in tow and a whole piggy bank of coins, we tossed these coins as we entered our main door. There were still workers doing final touches. They excitedly picked-up as many coins as they could.

Did we have headaches? Absolutely! After all, it was big project. Did we have regrets? Not one. Was the house everything we wanted it to be? It was way beyond what we thought and imagined it could be. And did you notice there were angels again just like in my previous post? The stars aligned, the angels showed up. Larry and I listened. Life is not just good, LIFE is awesome! LIFE is wonderful!

The Road to Davao are Filled with Angels

I was recently talking to a good friend I haven’t talk to in years perhaps decades! She lives in the west coast of America and she asked about my move here to Davao in 2015. I couldn’t tell her the whole story as we didn’t have enough time. But one of the things I mentioned to her was that when we moved to Davao, we took a road trip instead of flying. She was totally shocked, or maybe surprised is a better word. She had to ask the question again to make sure I heard her right. It turns out she did not know that you can drive from the Luzon all the way to Mindanao. This brought back memories for me of our drive down here in October 2015.

The Chariot

The first thing I have to say is how there were so many people who made this land voyage, this move happen for Larry and I. We didn’t have a car in Manila and we needed to buy one for our move. There were people who were like angels. Angel number 1 is the son of one of my bffs. He found a very good deal on a very nice second-hand and reasonably price car for us purchase. He also helped us navigate the paperwork this purchase entails. Coming from the US, we have no idea where to start with such a purchase! The seller also understood our situation of moving the car to Davao. There was additional paperwork and bureaucratic processes that needed to be done. This the seller did all that needed to be done. And we didn’t even know this dude! He was angel number 2.

Condo Unit SOLD!

Also, we needed to sell our Eastwood condo before moving. And boy did we find a very nice, easy-to-talk-to woman who bought our condo. When she first saw our unit, she had tagged along her Tita who was living in Eastwood. Just as they were leaving and I brought them to the elevator, her Tita turned to me and said, “My niece does not dilly-dally. She will call you right away if she likes your place. If she doesn’t, you will not hear from her again.” The next day, she called me back and I said to myself, “Bingo! This is it!” The sale was unbelievably seamless! Even the day we vacated our unit, she didn’t even show up to get the condo keys. I just left it with the front desk! She is angel number 3.

The Piece de Resistance

We may be experienced drivers since we’ve been driving all of our adult lives but admittedly, Larry and I were daunted with this 1,600 km (1,000 miles) drive to Davao by ourselves. The driving and road conditions and directions in the Philippines were just not something we were used to navigating. And we need to know more about the ferries! What’s their schedule, how much do they cost, how long do they take? Well, we said to ourselves, let’s just wing it! We’ll live! At that time, I recalled that I was recently in touch with the former driver of my Mom. He lives in Tabaco City, Albay, Bicol and used to be a driver of Philtranco Bus Company. His route was Manila to Davao! Yup! I was thinking I would ask him for some information and tips for this road trip. So we were talking on the phone and before I know it, he offered to drive us the whole way! Yup Manila to Davao was no sweat for him! He was angel number 4. After we sealed our deal, I talked to his wife, asking if she can find a kasambahay for us for Davao. And she said, “why not me? I can be your kasambahay.” My jaw dropped! Is this for real? She was angel number 5. Our driver arrived in Manila a few days before our scheduled departure. He happened to be in-between jobs so he was free to do this. I couldn’t believe our luck!

The Road Trip

Day 1, 2 and 3: QC to Tabaco City, Albay took us 10 hours. Our driver and his wife graciously accommodated us in their home for two nights. We also went around this beautiful part of our country where the most symmetrically perfect volcano in the world dominates the scenery, Mount Mayon. On day 3, we drove a few hours to a seaside resort in Matnog, Sorsogon. We stayed here for the night. We wanted to take RORO as early as we can the next day. And may I add from QC to Tabaco City to Matnog, our driver knew these roads like the back of his hand! Amazing!

Day 4: From Matnog, Sorsogon the RORO took us to Allen, Northern Samar. The vehicles in the RORO were parked like tetris tiles going for the win! It was a piece of cake for your driver to squeeze in our car at its designated spot! Getting off at Allen, Samar, the drive from north to south of this third largest island in our archipelagic country was for our driver, like peanuts! It was definitely his thing! Larry and I were so thankful all the way through! Even with the GPS on our phones, we probably would be nervous-wrecks if we were driving ourselves. Several hours later, we crossed San Juanico Bridge from Samar Island to the island of Leyte. Tacloban City was not too far away! We arrived when there was still daylight! We easily found a decent hotel right next a mall.

Day 5: Tacloban City to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte took us the whole morning to drive through. The scenery was mountainous and remote, especially in the last hour or so before San Ricardo. It was quite spectacular! San Ricardo was in the very southern tip of the island of Leyte. The RORO Ferry used to be in Liloan, Leyte, which was not as far south as San Ricardo. Liloan ferry crossing was closed at that time. We arrived at San Ricardo Ferry station about 11:45. There was a ferry leaving at 12 noon. We could have taken it but there was no space in the RORO to fit our car. Shucks! The next schedule was 4 pm. We arrive at Lipata Point, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte when it was just getting dark. Lipata point is at the northeastern-most tip of the main island of Mindanao. Wow! We’re in Mindanao! Unbelievable! We stayed in a small hotel in Surigao City. I found it on the internet and called them the day before. It was just a 15 minute drive from Lipata Point.

Day 6: Davao City, here we come! We started our drive at 8 a.m. A friend in Davao who is from Tacloban told me that it would take about 8-9 hours to Davao City, including p*e stops and what have you. We filled in our gas tank in Surigao City. I wanted to do this leg without stopping, and we did! Seven hours later at 3 p.m., we were driving into the parking lot of our hotel in Davao.

Six days, five nights, 1,600 km later, we have arrived!! We are home in our new hometown, Davao City!