From Tayabas, Quezon to Liliw, Laguna

A week after the interment of my brother Bong, we were invited to visit our relatives in Lucena. Instead of proceeding directly to my aunt's house, we were brought to Graceland Estates and Country Club in Tayabas, Quezon.

Dinner at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Lucban, Quezon consisted of various dishes of tilapia (ginataan, inihaw, sinunok, etc.) and many others. Burrp!

The next day, we devoured another unique dish, inihaw na tulingan. The fish (weighing more than 1 kg) is held tightly between two bamboo sticks. Yummy!

On our way to Liliw, Laguna we dropped by the town proper of Lucban and had a taste of pancit habhab at Buddy's. It was loaded with slices of lechong kawali which made it so meaty and tasty. We did not eat it the habhab way though.

Finally, it was a shopping spree for footwear at Liliw, Laguna. It was difficult to decide which ones to buy because there were so many styles to choose from at cheaper prices.

Calapan City

At last, I was able to visit the city hall of Calapan. The "White House" stands in the midst of ricefields, far from the crowded streets of the city. The next stop was the newest subdivision in the city. From the clubhouse, you can have a panoramic view of the bay of Calapan and the famous landmarks of the city. Finally, the short tour of the city ended with our brief stop at the athletic field of the Jose J. Leido Jr. National Memorial High School (formerly Oriental Mindoro High School, my alma mater). The oval was teeming with various delegations who were then practicing for the forthcoming MIMAROPA Athletic Meet. Wow, I was back after 30 years!

Tamaraw Falls

After more than 20 years, it felt good to revisit the famous Tamaraw Falls. It was not actually our destination. We went to secure the death certificate of my brother from the municipal hall of Puerto Galera. The falls, named after the buffalo species that can only be found on the island of Mindoro and is one of the endangered species in the country, can be found along the highway between San Teodoro and Puerto Galera. The area where the main falls of the 423-foot natural wonder cascade and the swimming area downstream have been improved for the recreational activities of the public. It may not be as awesome as the more famous falls in the country or elsewhere but it is a unique natural beauty.

Goodbye, Bong

Bong, my youngest brother, had his first and last heart attack last Thursday, February 3. He was 33 years old. Many were saying that he was too young to die. But life is indeed short. Only God knows when it is time for us to leave our temporary assignment here on earth. 

I learned that Bong's heart problem started from rheumatic heart fever due to frequent tonsilitis episodes when he was young. When he was a teenager there was a time when he was very sick that he could not get up. It was late in the 90s or early 2000 when a cardiologist from the Philippine Heart Center revealed that he needed to undergo a heart operation to replace his mitral valve. In 2008, the director of PHC said that Bong's heart enlarged significantly based on his last 2d echocardiogram and recommended the replacement of his two valves. We did not have the money needed for the major operation. Bong's application for a US visa to seek medical treatment in New York was denied twice. In short, the much-needed operation did not push through. Bong died in the company of friends and fellow servants. As a barangay councilor, he was attending a seminar on barangay governance in White Beach, Puerto Galera. He was listening to the lecture during the second day morning session when he uttered his last words, "Naliliyo ako." (I feel dizzy). His close friend and co-councilor tried to revive him on their way to the hospital but he was declared dead on arrival. 

Bong was well-loved by his many friends. I was deeply touched when I read the messages posted on his Facebook wall the night when he passed away. Because of his heart problem, he did not finish a college degree and he was not gainfully employed. He was a tambay in our barangay and he had the luxury of time for friendship. Bong was prepared for his death. He was not certain when his time would be up but he knew that it would be soon. He enjoyed his last moments. He kept saying for every happening that it might be his last. Farewell, Bong. Rest in peace with the Lord.

Trying Very Hard

I am determined to hone my elementary piano skills. That's what I get from acquiring a pre-owned Japan-made piano which was made possible by GSIS. You might be wondering what GSIS had to do with it. Well, I bought it from the money I got when my policy matured. Now you got it. 

To start with, I gathered all my old compilations of piano music sheets. They have been unused and collecting dust for quite a while since our small electronic keyboard began malfunctioning. I bought the keyboard almost 15 years ago in my desire to improve my skills and for my children to be interested in playing the piano. To some extent, it served the purpose until it became defective. Now it serves as a "patungan" for Amyel's stuff. Recently, I've been collecting new pieces. It's what I look for everytime I go to the bookstores. This week I've started to surf the Net for free downloads. I'm so glad I came across PianistAko which is a blog about Original Pilipino Music (OPM). And do you know what's exciting? It offers free downloading of Ms. Heide Abot's piano music sheets. You can also avail of free piano lessons and video tutorials. Great, isn't it? After I stopped my piano lessons in the third grade, I discovered the use of piano chords. Hmm, it's easier doing chords with my left hand and following notes with my right hand. It has been my technique since then which makes it hard now for me to read and play with my left. At my age I wonder if it's too late for me to learn to play the piano the classic way. My interest and strong determination remain even though my aging fingers sometimes fail me.