Tuesday, December 30, 2003
A LAST-MINUTE YEAR-END GETAWAY
A Family Outing to Villa Escudero in San Pablo, Laguna
THIS was the first outing we've had as a family in a very, very long time. I think the last time was more than a year ago. Or if I'm not mistaken, this is probably the first family outing we've had since I started College.
My cousin on my dad's side, Kuya Santy, returned to the Philippines for vacation. He's together with his wife and daughter Chelsea Ann. It's Chelsea's first time here in the Philippines. My cousin and his wife Ate Rose are both registered nurses working in the United Kingdom.
Anyways, they planned a trip for Villa Escudero. This would be my 2nd time here. My first time was with Auntie Ising (Kuya Santy's mother) during the Summer Break before my 4th Year in High School. This was the first time for my parents and brother to visit this place.
We left before 7 o'clock in the morning. We didn't take our CR-V, which was disappointing because I didn't quite find the 15-seat passenger van (borrowed from our neighbor across the street) to be comfortable. You can't rest your head anywhere and you can't stretch your legs.
As much as I promised I'd be prepared for this trip, I wasn't! I wasn't wearing shorts for the "Picnic at the Falls". I didn't have sandals or slippers on, I had off-court Basketball shoes on. I also forgot to pack my radio and CD player and my case of CDs. In fact, I didn't pack anything other than my digital camera.
This was the first time I packed up light for a trip.
The trip to and from Villa Escudero was very dull. I mean, the van was just boring. It was uncomfortable. I didn't have good music to listen to until my dad saved the day by lending me his Sony FM/AM Radio Walkman (the mini version that easily slides into your pocket).
We arrived around 1030 hours and then I started to take pictures.
That's basically all I did there. All I did at Villa Escudero was take pictures, eat, drink lots of frosty iced tea, eat some more, and just hangout with family. Something I haven't done in a long time.
We got on-board the carabao cart and my mom was just amazed with the traditional Philippine folk songs they sang. It made my mom reminisce her days when she danced in pageants and in Filipinana costumes. She kept singing the songs they sang long after we got off the carabao cart.
I didn't go swimming. Again, I didn't have anything packed other than my digital camera. We hung out at the Coconut Pavillion (the largest pavillion also known as the performance or theater hall). It was quite breezy there. We couldn't have our lunch at the river-dam falls until 1 o'clock in the afternoon since we didn't have a reservation.
At around that time, we went downstairs and found ourselves a table. Then we helped ourselves to the buffet there. This photographer took our picture while we were at the buffet.
The food was alright. It was good, but I can still recall the tasty fried chicken and savoring home BBQ sticks from my classmate Jezire's birthday in San Pedro, Laguna the other week.
We had pictures and then at the waterfalls I took a picture of my feet in the water. The current was swift and strong so you had to be extra cautious. That feeling of the water current on your feet just felt relieving. Cancerians.
I took a picture of Kuya Santy and his family at the waterfalls. I was actually trying to get a close-up of Chelsea. She's a cute little girl visiting the Philippines for the first time in her life. Both her parents are Filipino nurses in England. Right now, when you talk to her it has to be in english (since she can't understand Tagalog) and it would be nice if you spoke your english with a British accent (the original english). Heheh.
This photographer came by at the falls and took a picture of us as a family there.
*break*
I've been neglecting my family. I admit that now. Christmas is time to be with family. We can cut out the friends because the rest of the year I AM ALWAYS with my friends. It's taken me a long time to accept that. My love of friends is okay, but too much of it made it poison myself into getting hurt.
My dad is home. And I should worry about spending time with him rather than insisting that I miss the dorms and La Salle-D so much. La Salle-D will be there the whole 2004, while my dad will be back on a ship in just a few more days.
*resume*
After eating and taking pictures, we relaxed again at the Coconut Pavillion. We ordered an additional meal there (Cheeseburger with Fries) and another frosty iced tea. We relaxed. I listened to the radio. The reception was poor. I got to hear "I Promise" by Stacie Orrico which cheered me up. If only I had a singing voice I'd sing... "[Girl].. I'll always be there for you... when you need someone..."
Sigh.
I also had time to reflect upon things. Basically the rest of the afternoon was just relaxing at Villa Escudero. We took more pictures while the others went swimming.
Before dusk we collected the good pictures that the photographers had of us. And we headed home.
On the way home, I was uncomfortable again. I was starving. There was this annoying traffic in some town in Batangas... then later on, we found out it's because of the stop light. A near one-hour was spent on just one damn stop light! Arrrg.
I'M KILLING MY OBSESSION WITH FRIENDS
Someone finally slapped me back to new senses
I was txting Lance and Tony. Tony, for the first time ever this vacation, sent a real reply or message to me. The only other time he txt'd me this break was during Christmas, but that message (greeting) could've been sent to dozens of his other friends.
He told me he returned from Bicol because the weather there was worsening. I had no idea he was there. I was happy he replied after how long, but at the same time I still felt that "masamang loob" because he replied just now. I didn't want a comfrontation, so I txt'd back a normal reply with the added line "Sorry po kung abala ako sa load mo."
That was the most discreet way I could put it. He didn't reply after that.
When we reached the South Luzon Expressway entrance from Calamba, and as the cars sped on the opposite side of the meridian, that's when I had a series of reflections. To each and every one of my friends (yes, friends is an overused word and I'm avoiding it now... but let this be the last time I'll mention it).
I was thinking about words I'd like to say to the people who I've spent good time with. It inspired me to include this in the AULD LANG SYNE 2003 post for Wednesday night.
Anyways, we finally got home and I went back to the computer and started working again (on images, etc.). I even got to watch an episode of Charmed that I haven't seen yet (Episode: Baby's First Demon).
That's when I decided to txt Tony about his trip to Bicol and I was hoping we can finally have some good dialogue between us. He replied about his family experiencing five different vehicular accidents. I asked him what happened and about provinces... at how he has one to go to... and I'm stuck in the same one for both sides of my family.
Then he replied about how I should be enjoying vacation wherever I'm at.
That's when it started.
I replied how I'm happy about my dad being here, but how I'm sad being away from my friends. (I know it's wrong of me to feel that way... just wait...)
I also added how those I want to get close with are now distancing themselves from me. That would be him, Lance, and Badge. Lance isn't distancing himself anymore though.
He replied in a ten-part message that just opened my eyes.
All I needed was someone else to say it to me, to txt it to me, that I am obsessed with having friends and that I need to work on that problem. Tony did just that in that ten-part message.
Ten part?! Nobela!
And I also let out all the feelings I had of friendship. I let it all out.
And somehow now, I'm trying to free myself from it.
I've just decided the theme of my resolution for 2004. INDEPENDENCE.
That involves a major change to one side of my personality. It's probably for the better.
A Family Outing to Villa Escudero in San Pablo, Laguna
THIS was the first outing we've had as a family in a very, very long time. I think the last time was more than a year ago. Or if I'm not mistaken, this is probably the first family outing we've had since I started College.
My cousin on my dad's side, Kuya Santy, returned to the Philippines for vacation. He's together with his wife and daughter Chelsea Ann. It's Chelsea's first time here in the Philippines. My cousin and his wife Ate Rose are both registered nurses working in the United Kingdom.
Anyways, they planned a trip for Villa Escudero. This would be my 2nd time here. My first time was with Auntie Ising (Kuya Santy's mother) during the Summer Break before my 4th Year in High School. This was the first time for my parents and brother to visit this place.
We left before 7 o'clock in the morning. We didn't take our CR-V, which was disappointing because I didn't quite find the 15-seat passenger van (borrowed from our neighbor across the street) to be comfortable. You can't rest your head anywhere and you can't stretch your legs.
As much as I promised I'd be prepared for this trip, I wasn't! I wasn't wearing shorts for the "Picnic at the Falls". I didn't have sandals or slippers on, I had off-court Basketball shoes on. I also forgot to pack my radio and CD player and my case of CDs. In fact, I didn't pack anything other than my digital camera.
This was the first time I packed up light for a trip.
The trip to and from Villa Escudero was very dull. I mean, the van was just boring. It was uncomfortable. I didn't have good music to listen to until my dad saved the day by lending me his Sony FM/AM Radio Walkman (the mini version that easily slides into your pocket).
We arrived around 1030 hours and then I started to take pictures.
That's basically all I did there. All I did at Villa Escudero was take pictures, eat, drink lots of frosty iced tea, eat some more, and just hangout with family. Something I haven't done in a long time.
We got on-board the carabao cart and my mom was just amazed with the traditional Philippine folk songs they sang. It made my mom reminisce her days when she danced in pageants and in Filipinana costumes. She kept singing the songs they sang long after we got off the carabao cart.
I didn't go swimming. Again, I didn't have anything packed other than my digital camera. We hung out at the Coconut Pavillion (the largest pavillion also known as the performance or theater hall). It was quite breezy there. We couldn't have our lunch at the river-dam falls until 1 o'clock in the afternoon since we didn't have a reservation.
At around that time, we went downstairs and found ourselves a table. Then we helped ourselves to the buffet there. This photographer took our picture while we were at the buffet.
The food was alright. It was good, but I can still recall the tasty fried chicken and savoring home BBQ sticks from my classmate Jezire's birthday in San Pedro, Laguna the other week.
We had pictures and then at the waterfalls I took a picture of my feet in the water. The current was swift and strong so you had to be extra cautious. That feeling of the water current on your feet just felt relieving. Cancerians.
I took a picture of Kuya Santy and his family at the waterfalls. I was actually trying to get a close-up of Chelsea. She's a cute little girl visiting the Philippines for the first time in her life. Both her parents are Filipino nurses in England. Right now, when you talk to her it has to be in english (since she can't understand Tagalog) and it would be nice if you spoke your english with a British accent (the original english). Heheh.
This photographer came by at the falls and took a picture of us as a family there.
*break*
I've been neglecting my family. I admit that now. Christmas is time to be with family. We can cut out the friends because the rest of the year I AM ALWAYS with my friends. It's taken me a long time to accept that. My love of friends is okay, but too much of it made it poison myself into getting hurt.
My dad is home. And I should worry about spending time with him rather than insisting that I miss the dorms and La Salle-D so much. La Salle-D will be there the whole 2004, while my dad will be back on a ship in just a few more days.
*resume*
After eating and taking pictures, we relaxed again at the Coconut Pavillion. We ordered an additional meal there (Cheeseburger with Fries) and another frosty iced tea. We relaxed. I listened to the radio. The reception was poor. I got to hear "I Promise" by Stacie Orrico which cheered me up. If only I had a singing voice I'd sing... "[Girl].. I'll always be there for you... when you need someone..."
Sigh.
I also had time to reflect upon things. Basically the rest of the afternoon was just relaxing at Villa Escudero. We took more pictures while the others went swimming.
Before dusk we collected the good pictures that the photographers had of us. And we headed home.
On the way home, I was uncomfortable again. I was starving. There was this annoying traffic in some town in Batangas... then later on, we found out it's because of the stop light. A near one-hour was spent on just one damn stop light! Arrrg.
I'M KILLING MY OBSESSION WITH FRIENDS
Someone finally slapped me back to new senses
I was txting Lance and Tony. Tony, for the first time ever this vacation, sent a real reply or message to me. The only other time he txt'd me this break was during Christmas, but that message (greeting) could've been sent to dozens of his other friends.
He told me he returned from Bicol because the weather there was worsening. I had no idea he was there. I was happy he replied after how long, but at the same time I still felt that "masamang loob" because he replied just now. I didn't want a comfrontation, so I txt'd back a normal reply with the added line "Sorry po kung abala ako sa load mo."
That was the most discreet way I could put it. He didn't reply after that.
When we reached the South Luzon Expressway entrance from Calamba, and as the cars sped on the opposite side of the meridian, that's when I had a series of reflections. To each and every one of my friends (yes, friends is an overused word and I'm avoiding it now... but let this be the last time I'll mention it).
I was thinking about words I'd like to say to the people who I've spent good time with. It inspired me to include this in the AULD LANG SYNE 2003 post for Wednesday night.
Anyways, we finally got home and I went back to the computer and started working again (on images, etc.). I even got to watch an episode of Charmed that I haven't seen yet (Episode: Baby's First Demon).
That's when I decided to txt Tony about his trip to Bicol and I was hoping we can finally have some good dialogue between us. He replied about his family experiencing five different vehicular accidents. I asked him what happened and about provinces... at how he has one to go to... and I'm stuck in the same one for both sides of my family.
Then he replied about how I should be enjoying vacation wherever I'm at.
That's when it started.
I replied how I'm happy about my dad being here, but how I'm sad being away from my friends. (I know it's wrong of me to feel that way... just wait...)
I also added how those I want to get close with are now distancing themselves from me. That would be him, Lance, and Badge. Lance isn't distancing himself anymore though.
He replied in a ten-part message that just opened my eyes.
All I needed was someone else to say it to me, to txt it to me, that I am obsessed with having friends and that I need to work on that problem. Tony did just that in that ten-part message.
Ten part?! Nobela!
And I also let out all the feelings I had of friendship. I let it all out.
And somehow now, I'm trying to free myself from it.
I've just decided the theme of my resolution for 2004. INDEPENDENCE.
That involves a major change to one side of my personality. It's probably for the better.
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