Undas

First destination was the Yee’s at Heritage Memorial Park.

Councilor Edward Yee, Edgar Yee and husband number one and only

I brought flowers to Don Jaime Sumulong’s Mausoleum

Traditional Chinese offerings for the dead

We saw where former FVR trusted cabinet member Rizalino Navarro was laid to rest.

Next destination would be Binangonan, to light candles and bring flowers to Kuya Ben.
We reached what’s known as Floodway at 3:30 pm

According to Mayor Mon Ilagan of Cainta, 40% of its population is illegal settlers.

Many squatters along the floodway have put-up concrete structures. Thousands of shanties now occupy what’s intended to prevent the surroundidng towns from flooding. There’s no more floodway. The banks are all shanties and solid structures.

We arrived in Binangonan at 4:15 pm.

Tapat bahay, house of Roger Cerda

Bahay ni, naku nalimutan ko. She lived and died in New York?

Nasirang Ka Ilustre’s house

Before proceeding to the cemetery, we ate delicious sopas muna at Ate Elsie’s.

I finished two bowls of super sarap steaming hot chicken sopas

I didn’t get to taste this special bibingka because I was already full from the sopas.

We went to the cemetery a little bit earlier than usual while the sun was still up. In the past, we would arrive at almost 7 pm ang dilim-dilim, it would take us 20-30 minutes to find Kuya Ben’s grave because of the tents that obscured our sense of direction and covered the landmarks. Hundreds of tricycles were also allowed to park right there on the sidewalks which aggravated the situation.

My kids are so nice, they don’t mind accompanying me to Binangonan, every year and every time. And twice I was out of the country, the two of them came here  on my behalf. They don’t mind the crowd, naka upo lang sa isang tabi. And I don’t even obligate them, they wholeheartedly volunteer. Thank you anak x 2.

I feel bad for those whose relatives don’t show up. That’s why I could never forget when I went to Kuya Ben’s grave on his very first November 1. While all his neighbors had lighted candles and flowers, yung puntod nya ang dilim-dilim, kahit isang kandila wala. I arrived at past 7 pm. Kung hindi ako dumating, para siyang inabandona.

My children like inihaw na pusit and barbeque pero hindi na yata uso. My niece Ching-ching found a barbeque vendor outside the Sto. Rosario Memorial Park. One tiny stick for P5.

We didn’t find one single vendor selling inihaw na pusit. Practically all the vendors sold scrap parts of chicken and the now infamous kwek-kwek.

I am proud of this vendor,  meron siyang business permit.

Chicken feet is a popular dimsum fare. My son and husband like it and I remember my Kuya Romy like it too. But personally, I feel offended when it’s served in front of me. Iba ang feeling ko, kasi paa ito, ikinakahig sa lupa.
When I was in college, my father had a poultry farm in Wawa, Binangonan, Rizal. Aside from supplying live chickens to market vendors, he also sold frozen dressed chickens. I remember the chicken feet were thrown away. I don’t have a recollection of my mom cooking and serving them to us.  Iyan ang natanim sa isipan ko. Kaya parang feeling ko, para akong kawawa na iyung itinatapon ng Papa ko, ngayon kakainin ko. (No offensement to those who love steamed chicken feet with tausi.

Chicharon balat ng kalabaw. I was appalled when the tindera told me this is carabao’s skin. Carabaos are endangered species. You don’t raise them by the thousands like pigs. Pwede ba baboy na lang ang ichi-charon natin?