Up North to Peace and Happiness

9:23 PM

I promised to blog about my escapades in Ilocos and it took a longer time for me to formulate this post due to preparations and more surprises brought about of my memorable experience as a participant of Victory Weekend (FREEDOM!!!!), which I will discuss on the next post. But yes, let me make up to you by creating this post just as I've promised. And with that, I bring you, The Ilocos Escapades (Just because it took me five years or more to go back home to where my mom grew up!).

March 20 (that's a Wednesday), even though I am feeling hesitant, I packed my things and got some things ready for the trip to Candon, Ilocos Sur. My mother's attending her High School Reunion (Hoorah, Saint Joseph Institute Batch '78!) and she's tagging me along because I've been wishing out loud to her if I could earn a trip to the province (much for a Lolo's girl, a farm girl, and an adventurous one!). And later on, utilized as the Batch Photographer.

Chance passengers as they call us, since most of the seats are already booked, I prayed hard that we'll be able to avail two seats so my mom could join their batch's gimmicks. At almost ten in the evening, my dad hailed us with the conductor assuring two seats, kissed us, and wished us a happy trip. And so it has started. I woke up at 4:45am, seeing that we're near our destination. Nothing beats a good breakfast in one of my favorite place. My mom's place in Candon, Ilocos Sur with freshly-baked pandesal, surrounded by your relatives. Life is made sweeter by God.

I rested on the first day, almost waited the entire time for my next generation cousins and nephews and nieces to crash the house but found them scattered in different places so I spent the day sleeping. I still can't believe that I can hardly feel the generation of cousins I'm in. Most of them moved to Isabela and some of them are, either married, working, or in college. I miss spending days with them. To the beach in the morning, town by lunch, and someone else's house by the afternoon until what time. You miss climbing trees with them, eating the fruits you harvested with them, eating meals with them, turning the entire compound upside down with them, sleep-overs with them, (admit it) everything with them! I wish we could have that time to be together once again, hoping our schedules match. It's just different dealing with the younger ones.

So, I tagged along the next days. Went on a parade, mass led by their batch mate, meals with them, and intro 101 with different people including their sons and daughters who tagged along with them, too. I spent most of the time listening and observing them. Seeing their smiles, the sound of their laughter, their tight hugs and fist-bumps, I kept on thanking God for granting me the opportunity to witness this reunion. Seeing them turning from the golden aged ones to their high school self, you can almost guess who belonged to a particular circle of friends (the rich kids, brainy ones, jokers, mischief seekers, middle dwellers, and the silent). It was one of a kind, touching, seeing them reunite and remember the good old days. And yes, I also laughed with them with their jokes and reminiscing mischiefs done years ago. The perks of learning the dialect (Ilocano)! Thank you, dear parents!

What I remember the most is our trip further North. It's like a grown up field trip/tour. Though we get to stay to the destinations in a span of five to fifteen minutes, I enjoyed it a lot since we're able to visit a lot of places (with the perks of visiting old churches and seeing the inside structure, which is my exactly my thing! Yey! The awesome perks!).

We passed by: (The Church List!)

St. John de Sahagun Church of Candon
Apo Caridad (Bantay, Ilocos Sur)
Sinait Church
Church of Paoay
Cathedral of Vigan

Then:

We had breakfast in Laoag
Walked to see the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
Got blown away with the Windmills of Bangui
Had lunch at the shores of Pagudpud
Got amazed with the Winding Patapat Bridge (it connects Pagudpud to Cagayan. You can almost see Batanes here!)
Enjoyed the cold, refreshing water of the Kalbario Patapat National Park's spring

I guess, I was able to enumerate almost all of the places we've been. Also, hello Marsha's for the yummy bibingkas, Mcdonald's Candom for breakfast after spending the morning with the younger cousins at the beach.

All in all, I enjoyed the vacation (which lasted for eight days). I had a wonderful time with my mom's batch, my relatives, and with my mom. But above all, what I enjoyed the most is my time with God. It's a great preparation for me since I'll be undergoing Victory Weekend that time. I enjoyed the peace, the assurance of God's love and promises, the wonders of the works of his hands, and the moments I felt him right there, sticking with me in every situation. He's there wherever I am, whatever I do, protecting me and letting me see the things he still has for me. And I can't thank him enough for everything. It's one of the best gifts I had from him and from my mom so far. The things you enjoy getting detached from the busy, polluted world for days!