Faith when in bad fate

At 5 in the morning, we left our place for outing. It was a “seems to be fine day” for all of us until we got a flat tire while running at NLEX, almost 7 a.m. I was the first one to notice the strange sound and felt that our vehicle was already tilting to its right. It was just ok at first since we were able to brought a spare tire with us. Of course, we need to have another spare just in case of emergency, reason why we’re delayed for another hour looking for vulcanizing shop. Unfortunately, we had to buy a new tire at Dau exit. I was already feeling upset when we were still in Pampanga at 7 o’clock; supposed to be in Tarlac already by that time. We had our breakfast and moved on again until we reach Pangasinan at past 11 already. I texted my mother informing that I visited again her hometown, and I felt happy to be there again. Although we arrived late at Santa Catalina retreat house, I was happy to reach Baguio safely and we were welcomed by the nuns, we had our late lunch with my favorite dish: gulay (contrary to Ate Sash‘s, hehehe). ganun pa man, medyo sumakit pa rin ang ulo ko, stressed and tired. First place we visited: SM mall, and the first place I visited in the mall: internet cafe! I missed my new baby after half day of being out from our house. Ligalig talaga ang drayber namin since we were lost for how many times sa city proper pa lang. Panira ng araw, kumbaga, besides, may mga backseat drivers pa kaming kasama. We were all first timer visitors sa place. The place was really nice; malamig and mahangin, I was chilling and feeling nasa ibang lugar talaga, kaya super tulog ang ginawa ko.Supper time: had gulay again: talbos ng sayote, looked like dahon ng ampalaya to me, the favorite of my lola, I didn’t like it at first pero masarap pala; bihira lang daw yata nito sa Mindanao, sabi ng cook, but di naman true talaga. Another great thing, I got a new friend, Allen, a 6 years old boy, cool kid who thinks mature (ganyan na bata ang gusto kong anak ) kaya I gave him a vocation brochure, recruiting him to be “one of us” Pero papayagan kaya sya ng lolo at tatay nya? I don’t know! I invited him to join with us during our happy hour which was started with thanksgiving prayers for the safe trip and for the poeple sa place na yun. We sung songs, chitchat and exchanged conversations, drinking and eating chips.

The next day was started with morning Eucharist and meal. Then, lumabas na kami and the first place we visited ay ang Mines view park. Nakabili ako doon ng mga abubot at simpling bag for my daily academic life daw. We also visited the Mansion, Botanical Graden and Camp John Hay. Di nga pala ako talaga nakapasok sa The Mansion, off limit daw, or maybe because my mga kasama akong gorilya? hahaha! We took a lot of pictures for souvenirs, baka yun ang una at huli kong pagpunta ng Baguio. But whats in mind? I would like to spend my 40 days retreat sa Baguio when time comes for me to perpetually profess my vows. During our last night, I was able to give a vocation talk with the youth from Pasig who stayed with us. It was good to know na mga anak pala sila ng mga lay ministers and pastors ng different simbahan sa Pasig.

“In between moments…. then during the third and fourth day…KAMALASAN…”

Despite na binagyo ang outing namin, we were able to transcend our motivation to be there; not only to have an outing but to have a recollection, kaya we stayed inside the retreat house noong kasagsagan ng bagyong si Paeng. Sino ba ang tinakot ni Paeng, I told ate Sash tibay talaga. We left Baguio coming back to Manila at around half past nine already, medyo maganda na ang panahon. Ang di maganda? we reached Urdaneta City and being trapped in the traffic na super sa magkahaba-haba. For 1 hour, were able to scape the 5-kilometer long que of diffrent sizes of vehicles. The heavy traffic was caused by a road construction that also caused road flood. I was starting to feel upset and was fidgeting already. I was more annoyed when I learned that we were heading anew way back to Manila, and will not be passing by NLEX anymore. The driver and the backseat drivers planned it all. Nadagdagan ang inis ko when we had our late lunch sa boundary na ng Tarlac and Pangasinan. After few hours, were still travelling in a provincial road unknown to me. Half past five, I was terrified with the near death accident siguro na nga yun, sa baliwag na yun. A Victory Liner bus was running too fast in the highway when the side mirror of our vehicle was hit! I was in that very side of the vehicle and if the driver was not alert o brake, Im dead, or all of us. Ok, it was our fault, aaminin ko sa pulis kung sakali man. Medyo tanga kasi ang unggoy na kasama ko, may dalawa pang back seat driver na daldal ng daldal at kung saan ang tinuturong daan. By the way, it was our first time to pass by that way, too. Another funny yet irritating na nangyari? Lumabas ba kami ng Baliwag to take NLEX, and after running for more or less 6 kilometers in a speed of 70 kph, napansin namin na we were heading to Pampanga, anak talaga ng pating, oo! Nasigawan ko tuloy ang mga nasa frontseat in tagalog, “angtatanga n’yo!” Lumabas ang aking pagka-istupido at pagka-ipokrito. After passing by few toll gates, nakita na rin namin ang daan. Naiihi na talaga ako that time. Luckily, I had my mineral water with me, itinapon ko ang laman and presto! Doon na ako dyuminggel…. success! 10 hours kami sa kalsada, byahe yun sa pag-uwi. Dumaan kami ng Cubao at kumain sa Dampa, sa Gateway. Di na ako umimik sa inis at pagod while our superior (driver
) was really trying to lift my spirit up! Beskwet talaga ang nangyari sa araw ng pag-uwi namin. At ang isang tange pa na bursar, bumili ng pagkarami-raming seafood! hayun at kinulang ang budget, tapal vulcaseal ginawa nya para makauwi na kami, sinamahan pa kasi ng isang barrel ng beer, ala-lasenggero ang labas nila, di naman ako uminom, bumawi na ang ako ng dalawang large size cup of tea, hehehe, Di ho ako nagpahuli. At last and in short, nakauwi kami, and was able to be in my bed at around 1o p.m…..anghaba ng araw…pagod and had a headache caused by different experiences I had…