All Saints' Place

After much anticipation, my trip to Sto. Tomas, Batangas has finally pushed through. Basically, I was invited to come over for the whole weekend but I was only able to go there this morning. This is another first for me, I guess. First time to visit my relatives alone. I was supposed to tag along my two other cousins here in Dasma but I couldn’t reach them last night. The instructions for the trip given by Yani were pretty straightforward so I didn’t have any difficulties reaching their place.

Tropical Hut. The hut now has amenities found in most hotels. Yey!

Before I get to arrive at their location called San Pablo Nayon, I passed through consecutive places named after ordained Catholic “saints” – San Agustin, San Mateo, and Sto. Tomas proper. A lot of people were in the street when I arrived. I was scared and embarrassed. Hmm… the tradition of welcoming visitors warmly. Their place is so WOW. Not their house, but the hut/farm/poultry area some meters away from it is a haven of fresh air with matching the Makiling overview. Roosters were all over the place because my uncle takes on the cockpit once in a while.

Makiling teaser. The poultry collection with Mt. Makiling covered atop with clouds.

Before I knew it, I was actually speaking in a natural Batangueño accent. Yup, I was replacing “ba” with “ga” and their intonations were just contagious. It was quite funny because I was getting it all mixed up with the Ilocano expressions I’ve picked up at CML. To note that I’ve only been in Batangas for about seven hours. We then went to the cemetery then played tong-its for almost two hours. I didn’t join but I was spying on their cards. There’s this guy named Kenneth who passed by. They were all saying that he’s in that show called Starstruck. Yeah, like I care at all.

Thicker than water. My cousin Yani with our nephew Andrei. "Bibo" kids, past and present.

The cemetery did not look like a place of solemn remembrance of the dead, though. The place was all crowded and it’s as if the families were having their mini reunions and picnics right above the graveyard. People were gambling, gossipping, buying, selling, eating, and some were even partying in the corner.

Inside looking out. Suddenly, I am yearning to put up a house with windows having a wooden stick stand.

When I was asking for permission to go home, my uncle told me:

"Ba’t hindi ka na lang dito magpalipas ng gabi at bukas na lamang umalis?"

Suddenly I had this strange feeling that I’ve heard it a lot of times before. I just can’t remember where.