Edmund was born in Antique, studied in Iloilo till high school. We met in college at the University of Santo Tomas.
His mind was preconditioned to the fact that right after graduation from Sta. Maria Catholic School (Ateneo de Iloilo), he would move to Manila for his college degree. A few days after graduation, he left for Manila leaving his close friends behind.
In hundreds of our conversations we always talked about this little boy’s simple life in Antique with his maternal grandfather, his growing up years in Iloilo city, his first taste of popsicle, his introduction to the game of basketball, etc. but he never made a real effort to bring us there.
I first visited Iloilo City when his brother Edward got married, which was in 1982. We weren’t married yet. Their whole clan went and I remembered staying only for a night and we cramped into two rooms- one for the girls, one for the boys.
My next visit was during the Dinagyang Festival in 1987 or 1988 with Edmund, Aileen and my baby Julienne.
Edmund went back 15 years ago for the funeral of her maternal aunt, Auntie Manang. Then after that, everything that followed were just stories of memories of his childhood and empty promises to bring us to Iloilo for a visit.
Last week, when Pnoy announced the four-day holiday, Julienne and I deliberated on where to go. Since I would be in Taipei from August 16 to 18, our family trip could only be from the 19th to August 21. Where to?
We at first thought of Thunderbird in Poro Point, “hello? sorry fully booked”
We called Edmund to get his opinion—-
Tart where do you want to go? Korea?
Edmund—— Not Korea, we had too many trips already, local….
Me———- How about Iloilo? Cebu?
Edmund——- Pwede rin. Iloilo, Cebu or Davao.
Iloilo it is.
I went to Philippine Airlines’ office hoping to get 4 round trip business class tickets from my frequent flyer miles but there were no more available seats na daw. So I dropped the plan.
The following night, I suddenly remembered that we have to arrange for something so I asked Julienne to check the PAL website. We booked four tickets online and Julienne booked two rooms at the Smallville Hotel.
My inlaws regularly visit Antique and Iloilo City. They usually attend the annual town fiesta but never invited us to join them. It came as a surprise that we are, out of the blues, going.
Edmund’s elder brother Edward is still based in Iloilo City although his wife and two sons are now in Canada.
They still have their Cakestop bakeshop chain in Iloilo which is now managed by his second son Owie who’s a graduate of Marketing Management from De La Salle University.
We could not contain our excitement most especially my daughter. Although my schedule was really tight, Edmund’s homecoming has long been overdue and I am so glad that we are finally going this time.
Our flight was at 12:20 pm, we left at 10:30 which was already borderline late. Ang kulit pa ni Twinkle, he got out of the fence and got on the car. Tapos ipinasok ni Edmund sa gate, lumusot uli at humahabol sa amin. This took away another 5 minutes.
Heavy traffic in EDSA on a Sunday, and a holiday at that. Why? because the buses are engaged in scrimmage trying to outdo each other.
If this were an international flight, naiwan na kami ng plane dahil sa kunsumisyong traffic na yan.
We never expected that the airport would be empty today. Di ba holiday? We thought thousands would troop to the provinces.
We borrowed my son’s locker padlock. Edmund’s so brusko, nasira nya yung lock. Ang lakas kasi ng pihit nya.
Where’s everybody?
“miss, meron kayo’ng macaroons?”
Wala, sa Goldilocks yun.
My 3 companions brought yellow gears, shorts, t-shirts and cap, kasi daw Ninoy Aquino day.
I’m still tired from my Taipei trip but my excitement in finally bringing my children to Iloilo is enough to give me physical strength.
There were a lot of smoke or vapor ba? coming out of the aircon vents.
ILOILO, HERE WE COME
