AFter two long decades of anticipation, Edmund finally brought us to his home province of Antique on August 20, 2012. Thanks to the double holiday declared by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino we were forced to look for a place to spend the long weekend. Yehey, we’re here, Antique di’re. Ginahigugma ka namun Antique!
Edmund inspecting the lot behind their house where he used to climb the trees. There were children and a dilapidated bahay kubo and I am not sure who stays there.
It was exactly as what I have pictured it based on Edmund’s stories. It’s either he described them in detail or I had a good imagination. It’s both, plus it helped that I also grew up in the province that’s why I had a good grasp of how life is in the province.
Street where Edmund lived for the first 7 years of his life.
Their house was originally two floors but sometime ago his mother had it repaired and demolished the second floor.
(A neighbor found out that Edmund is here so he came to say hi).
Sofas made of bamboo
He remembered they had two small rice mills and a bodega where the palays were kept. He also remembered that his mom had a mobile sugar mill that was brought to the sugar plantation.
This house is kept locked by my mother – in -law. She doesn’t leave the key to the caretaker. I was told that when Edmund told her that we are coming here, she sent some money and the key to Roda, the house caretaker.
The money was to prepare us good food. Roda bought food from the town of San Jose, about 30 minutes jeepney ride away. My mother in law knows I like talangka.
This is actually my favorite Ilonggo dish, I don’t know how it’s called but it has young langka, either pork chicken or beef, tapos nilaga. Ewan if it has coconut milk. I will ask my mother-in-law’s maid how to cook this.
I only got to know this kind of fish called Espada in Tagalog when I was already married to Edmund kasi wala nito sa Rizal.
We had crab last night at Breakthrough Seafood Restaurant in Arevalo, Iloilo.
Fresh young coconut from the tree in their backyard
There’s a TFT calendar hanging at the back of the door. All of us receive a few pieces of this every Christmas season.
TFT Express Printing was founded by Edmund’s father. It’s now managed and majority owned by his eldest brother Edgar.
We enjoyed our lunch, although we were still a bit full from the buffet breakfast and from the lanzones.
