December 9
How nice it is to do nothing, then rest afterwards," the Spaniards would say......which is exactly what Evelyn and I did later today. I was up at 2:30 AM and not having internet connection I assemble my beads on the table and started stringing pearls instead. I had bought a collection of pearls of varying colors and interesting shapes in Quiapo and I thought this would make nice Christmas presents for my sisters. I finished three necklaces and was pleased with my work. No sooner had I gone back to bed to try to resume my sleep when the Muslim call to prayer blared from a speaker from across the valley at 5:00 AM. I was starting to get irritated that my peace was being disturbed. I soon realized however that it would be better to pray with them. Besides, I dozed off in the sofa last night and had missed to say my litany of prayers. Shortly, and at peace with the Muslims I resumed my sleep and happily congratulated myself for learning how to roll with the punches. I must really be getting old.
In the afternoon, as I lounged on
the sofa again, Inday, my massage lady came earlier than the 7:00
PM appointment I thought I requested. Is my memory failing me again? I
had to ask her to return on Sunday. I had rested enough today when I remembered
to take the deck lamp to town for repair. .I needed the extra deck
lighting to discourage the bat from roosting under the deck roof. And
yes, Evelyn goes to Saturday evening mass and I should take her to the
cathedral.
December 10, Sunday
Sunday Mass and a Bit of History We
missed the evening mass at the cathedral last night. The congregation was
already on its way out when we arrived. I wish I hadn’t socialized at the
handicrafts store where I took the lamp for repair.
Leah, the owner’s wife had
delivered in July and now Erica is a cute 4 month old. She obliged
us with a nice smile as if to acknowledge the gift bag I handed her with
a “ ”teddy pig" (it looked cuter than the usual teddies I thought,
besides the fact that we don’t have bears here anyway) as she clung
to the handles of the bag with her primitive grasp.
And so, this Sunday, we start early to go
to morning mass. It had started to rain heavily and again we miss the
only mass in the local parish. We are now getting periodic updates by
text messages from my other sister in Calapan on the new storm that
is passing east of the the long island. It will pass thru Coron,
one of Palawan’s northernmost islands on its way to southern Mindoro.
I might mention that Coron is significant in Palawan’s history. The
Palawan present day elites, mostly mestizos all come from Coron
where the detractors of the government were banished , the Elba of its
day in Spanish colonial history. The eighty some year old self appointed
curator of the Palawan State University is originally from Coron
and can lay claim to having been
descended from a Spanish duke exiled there.
We made it to the cathedral just at the
reading of the gospel. A profusion of flowers decorated the Gothic
church’s altar. The sung mass was beautiful and not having attended mass
in a long time, it was soothing just to listen to the choir. This church
that sits at the edge of a park on the other end of the main avenue
played an important part in the city’s history during the Japanese
occupation. It was used as a garrison and here the Japanese massacred
American soldiers. A few survived escaping thru the church
tunnel and safely making it out to sea to the other side of the
cove.
After church and on the way home,
we stopped by for the morning paper to get the storm tracking report. We pass
by a rotisserie. The aroma of the coal roasted chicken was irresistible.
We opted to take one home instead of having lunch at Baker’s Hill
near the house. I am liking life’s spontaneity here."
(To be continued)
To read the Palawan Diary Part I, please click here
Palawan Diary Part 3.
