Of the five who received the invite, three passed. That left only Jale and myself, as usual, to make the trip.
La Castellana - While waiting for the tricycle to fill, we engaged our driver, Ali, in some small talk. He was an easy one. After hearing on the purpose of our visit, no sooner did he regale us with his own adventures at Kanlaon's summit when he was in high school. The highlight of his story was that he personally know the Esparagozas. That set my heart to rest especially that Lloyd is not part of our welcome party.
The short trip was uneventful except for one. When we were about to cross a metal bridge, the trike chains came off so we had to alight for a spell so Ali could put it back on.
Our destination was where the concrete road stopped. In front of the store waited our hostess who was hard to miss. She was the splitting image of Lloyd. I introduced myself and I think she was expecting somebody younger perhaps. She delegated us to Jessie to take us to their house as she still had to stay for their dance practice.
The walk to the house was a kind of a warm-up, with us not having any preparation at all for the climb. The dirt road is so dry, each step sends up dust in the air. It is flanked on both sides with month-old sugarcane which gave us a clear view of our goal. What a beautiful sight to behold.
Dinner was a bit late. We actually had it started after foraging their mini store of sardines and eggs. Jale and I ate first, then the kids and the parents ate last. When the table was cleared, the talking began over steaming mugs of coffee. It was surreal how they treated us like family who had gone overseas and just visiting for a spell.
The told us how their family witnessed the armed struggle in the 80's that claimed thousands of lives. Of the many government programs that the government implemented, they have benefited the most from the agrarian reform. It has dramatically changed their lives from being laborers to landowners which enabled them to send their children to school. They have seven (7): the eldest is a seaman, the second (Mac2) just took his criminology exam, the third (Ivan, a.k.a. Mane) works at Ayala as a welder who plans to teach in senior high in the future, the fourth (the only girl) works at Astoria in Boracay, Lloyd is the fifth, Jessis is sixth and [] is the youngest (the last two are 7 and 5-years old, respectively). Jale quizzed them about the tales of the maranhig and other mythical creatures, a topic which they took on in earnest.
I was a long night and the coffee's strength and my excitement for the next day kept me awake until it was already time to wake up.
***
La Carlota - It was already noon and my mind strayed to my unprepared climb pack. I already took out some shirts and shorts from my closet but I haven't decided yet which ones to bring. Before going home for the day, I stopped at the grocery for a liter of mineralized water and 3 packs of chocolate-coated peanuts and that was it.
Jale was already at the terminal when I arrived. We were an hour later than the time I set with Lloyd so I was a bit worried our hosts will not be able to meet us at our stop.
***
La Castellana - While waiting for the tricycle to fill, we engaged our driver, Ali, in some small talk. He was an easy one. After hearing on the purpose of our visit, no sooner did he regale us with his own adventures at Kanlaon's summit when he was in high school. The highlight of his story was that he personally know the Esparagozas. That set my heart to rest especially that Lloyd is not part of our welcome party.
The short trip was uneventful except for one. When we were about to cross a metal bridge, the trike chains came off so we had to alight for a spell so Ali could put it back on.
Our destination was where the concrete road stopped. In front of the store waited our hostess who was hard to miss. She was the splitting image of Lloyd. I introduced myself and I think she was expecting somebody younger perhaps. She delegated us to Jessie to take us to their house as she still had to stay for their dance practice.
The walk to the house was a kind of a warm-up, with us not having any preparation at all for the climb. The dirt road is so dry, each step sends up dust in the air. It is flanked on both sides with month-old sugarcane which gave us a clear view of our goal. What a beautiful sight to behold.
***
Atop a hill stood a hut, our home for the night. It was fenced off to keep the chicken in. Inside, the man of the house welcomed us with a pitcher of cold water. Phone signal was excellent, electricity was available, water flows freely off the black pipes and the fresh mountain air cleared my lungs. I haven't coughed since I got there.Dinner was a bit late. We actually had it started after foraging their mini store of sardines and eggs. Jale and I ate first, then the kids and the parents ate last. When the table was cleared, the talking began over steaming mugs of coffee. It was surreal how they treated us like family who had gone overseas and just visiting for a spell.
The told us how their family witnessed the armed struggle in the 80's that claimed thousands of lives. Of the many government programs that the government implemented, they have benefited the most from the agrarian reform. It has dramatically changed their lives from being laborers to landowners which enabled them to send their children to school. They have seven (7): the eldest is a seaman, the second (Mac2) just took his criminology exam, the third (Ivan, a.k.a. Mane) works at Ayala as a welder who plans to teach in senior high in the future, the fourth (the only girl) works at Astoria in Boracay, Lloyd is the fifth, Jessis is sixth and [] is the youngest (the last two are 7 and 5-years old, respectively). Jale quizzed them about the tales of the maranhig and other mythical creatures, a topic which they took on in earnest.
I was a long night and the coffee's strength and my excitement for the next day kept me awake until it was already time to wake up.
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