It’s been a hectic three weeks. My schedule will remain this fast-paced for the next one month. I will be traveling in a month’s time and I want to accomplish as much as I can in the next 30 days or so. My body condition determines my pace. It was hot last Monday. I had a bad case of migraine so yesterday, my activity was limited. I only got to have an early dinner meeting with RP Manhit. It helped that we live within 2 kilometers radius from each other so we picked a restaurant that’s convenient to both of us.
I get so tired having a luncheon meeting then another dinner meeting on the same day. I have to go home in between, lay my head for an hour to rest. I find it hard to go straight from a stressful lunch to another stressful dinner.
Of course the traffic conditions determine how far I could go. I cannot schedule multiple errands or meetings in a day. I could only do one in the morning and one in the afternoon. When it’s out of town like going to Angono, Binangonan or Tagaytay, then it takes a day.
You would think that roads are open on weekends. Not in Rizal. Jeepneys, tricycles, funeral processions, people promenading in the streets, residents going to Puregold and talipapa clog the road, not to mention unfinished road works. In America, the workers clean and clear the road before they leave in the afternoon. They don’t leave the trucks and heavy equipment behind. On weekends, the road under repair is clean and devoid of any obstruction. The contractors make sure they create the least disturbance and inconvenience to motorists.
We endured about 45 minutes of suffocating traffic somewhere in Darangan because the highway is under repair. I felt so relieved when we reached the clearing.
Last Sunday, I brought the narrower Ford Everest. It is easier to squeeze through the narrow streets, in between tricycles and jeepneys.
People here are not in a hurry when crossing the street. They expect that vehicles should not be in a hurry too.
My driver hasn’t been to this town. My aide had been to the cockpit but long time ago when he was in the army. They went there on a “mission”. Ano kaya yun? Shoot to kill the roosters?
We drove by the lake so I could point to them where to buy fresh tilapia and bangus.
When I saw the lake, the blue horizon, it kind of relieved me of the stress of driving thru traffic to reach my hometown. I suddenly forgot my irritation of sitting in the traffic.
It just felt good to be here.
This reminds me, a relative of mine messaged me on Facebook a few days ago. He is requesting me to send clothes to my mom’s distant relatives living in the islands. Of course I would. I am aware that my mom has relatives in Bumbong, Kasile, Bangad. When my mom was still living in Binangonan, they came every Christmas and town fiesta. My parents always had ready money and food for them. Isang barangay sila. It was my Kuya Ben who was more familiar with them because he visited the islands frequently. He was trying to reclaim my mom’s rightful inheritance, hectares of land covering a good portion of a mountain. He described it as having a sweeping view of the lake and Metro Manila. He encountered many setbacks. And my father was not interested to sue my mom’s relatives. He discouraged her to impose her ownership of the land. Hayaan na lang daw.
I haven’t been to any of Talim Island’s barrios. Maybe I had, when I was little. But I have no memories of how the place looks like. My papa had boats and I tagged along a few times. Maybe I’ve been to one or two islands with him.
After Ondoy, I sent relief goods thru the munisipyo, not directly.
This weekend I am going to set up two or three balikbayan boxes. I will fill them up with clothes (old and new that haven’t been worn, maliit na sa bewang). Mabuti nga para lumuwag ang cabinets ko. We give away regularly that’s why those that we have left are generally new.
