FOLLOWING Christmas Eve spent with my cousin Calope Charina, we drove to Balilihan on Christmas Day. Charina spends Christmas Day with the folks and I joined her. I haven’t seen Nong Pepe and Nang Salud Torregosa for some time. I also lingered in their house (as I often do when I visit) and chatted about all and sundry.
Dec. 27was another fun experience. It was Nong Pepe’s 85th Birthday! My, my, what a long life! God has truly blessed Nong Pepe with career including politics, health, and progeny! Ate Fe, Aging, Charles, Chandro, and other Calopes were there including Nang Lourdes and Nito Racho.
Dec. 28th was dedicated to the Alay-Ano (Lungay Clan Reunion) where I got to reunite with Lungay cousins I haven’t seen in ages! It felt so good to reconnect with one’s roots. It is refreshing. Although the turnout wasn’t so big, but it was grand enough for me. It made up for the years I was absent.
Dec. 29th was the birthday of my first cousin Irene Sheila Lungay Espinosa, daughter of Uncle Fidelito “Boy” and Ate Nyng Lungay, and naturally, more food, haha! Christmas in the province is really fantastic! – all the Kakanin are available from morning to evening! They are endless!
By afternoon, I had to drive to the city for my radio guesting in “Kwentas Klaras” early the following day at Radio Station DYTR with hosts Ted Ayeng and Pedy Bolanio. It was a good interview. The topic was power supply. It was close to my heart having served the power industry for twenty years. I had to study since I have been away from Bohol for some time. However, I knew for a fact, that Bohol always suffers from debilitating blackouts each time something happens in Leyte since the bulk of the power supply in Bohol is carried through the Leyte-Bohol power route. So there.
Bohol, when will you ever wake up! Build your own power plant and become self-reliant and operate independently whenever something happens in Leyte.
Let’s rewind a bit. On the way to the city, I took the Manga-Taloto coastal road while listening to nostalgic music of the sixties courtesy of an FM radio station – literally a drive through memory lane – so I could drop by my parents’ graves at the memorial park. It was a leisurely drive. I loved it!
At the park, I chanced upon the Saleses! What a small world! Ate Esmer Sales, Uncle Sam Sales, and Uncle Cesar Sales. It was only a “hi and bye” meeting since they were about to leave following a burial service.
December 30th afternoon, I was back in Balilihan for New Year 2020. I also prepared something for my niece Keziah Andrea Lungay’s 18th Birthday dinner set on Jan. 2nd. It is a simple birthday celebration but I would like to give it a certain touch.
Then on New Year’s Eve, I crafted something for my firstborn Hezekiah Kit who was born on New Year’s Day in 1994. Here, let me share what I wrote for my son:
“It always happens every New Year. Some chuckle at the thought; others simply smile; but many couldn’t help but ask: “You really gave birth on New Year’s Day?”; “Were there patients in the hospital then?”; Was it not lonely there?”; and so on.
I guess it’s some kinda odd – in a nice way, to be pushing your baby out on New Year’s Day. But he’s not only a baby – he’s my firstborn. And often, in the Sales family, our firstborns are males. Yup, that’s right! We give birth to male babies for our first kids. It must be the genes.
Moving forward, 25 years later, the first firstborn turns another year on New Year’s Day 2020! What did I say! It always happens every New Year!
So, Happy 26th Birthday to my firstborn Hezekiah Kit – who wished that he had sharpened his brains with Papa; surprised that I got married at 25 when at the same age, it was farthest from his mind – good for him, laughs!; desires to learn, learn, and learn some more; blessed to be in the big league; and just favoured by God – and this I can attest as a Mum.
Conquer the horizon! Enjoy the big league! Let God lead the way!”
Finally, on Jan. 1st, I paid a visit on my cousin Tito Calope and wife Letlet to deliver the coffee table book that Angeline ordered in 2018. Thank God it found its way to the Calope household. Thanks guys for the fun chat. Great New Year Day!
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FOR NEW YEAR 2020
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – Isaiah 41:10
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
