Summer turned out to be a busy break for me. A trip to New Jersey to meet with former classmates, then after a couple of weeks to L.A./Burbank, then to Manila, two weeks later, to Toronto. These are all brief visits spread through out the merry summer.

Seeing high school classmates for the first time after so many years was quite exciting. Questions like – “Natatandaan mo ba ako?,” “Sino ka?,” “Teka, nakalimutan ko na yata ang name mo,” “Hindi ka masayadong nagbago,” “Of course, magkasama tayong nagperform sa program,” were repeatedly heard. A classmate who became an oncologist hosted the reunion. High school pranks and crushes were confessed.

In Burbank, it was a family gathering, followed by another high school reunion with some classmates who were in the west coast.

Manila, Manila
I did not feel much of the summer heat which I was dreading to encounter. It was not too bad probably because I stayed indoor still trying to adjust my sleeping hours. My husband, Pat, and I were lucky to be offered by our niece, Mary Ann Pagsibigan-Pimenta, to stay at her Twin Towers condo at Ayala Avenue in Makati. It has a wide panoramic view on the 25th floor definitely better than a hotel accommodation. I admired the Philippine made pieces of furniture arranged by Fanny Serrano, a well-known beauty guru in Manila and owner of beauty salons and couture shops, who is a business partner of Mary Ann. Looking at the wide glass windows, the glimmering night lights of Makati was admired with some tall building obscuring some spots – the Dusit Hotel, Shangrila Makati Hotel, the Ascot, Intecontinental and Peninsula. The Glorietta and Landmark Shopping Malls were visible, also Rustan and SM.

We were able to move round, thanks to Rodney, the driver assigned to us at our own disposal. He was marvelous at singitan and unahan while driving. Nasanay na ako with his Manila style of driving. He took us to the reataurants of our choice, to the shopping malls where I wanted to go, the homes of our friends and relatives we wanted to visit. I craved for fruits like mangoes, lanzones, atis, chico, pineapples – they were all available. Ripe mangoes were da best, different from the ones in the U.S. The sweetness was so intoxicating. I savored Siopao at Mami sa Mamon Luk while Pat craved for Max Chicken. I used to like it very much, but surprisingly, I now found the chicken too greasy.

More Food, Food
Magnolia Ice Cream, Kesong Puti, Chicharon with laman, Bibingka, Tamales and Halo-Halo. Believe me, the best halo-halo I’ve ever tasted was at an inexpensive place at the lowest level of Landmark Shopping Mall in Makati. The eatery was called “:Sandozenang Halo” which at first I did not recognize the meaning as “One dozen Halo.” Some more inviting foods- Pritong Hito, Pancit Malabon, Laing, Ginisang Puso ng Saging, etc ... One evening, we just ate Hotdog from 7 Eleven for dinner. Enough for the moment, but after a couple of meals, we have planned to dine at “Dampa” in Paranaque. We’ve been there before and it was a crazy Filipino food place. They had everything you can possibly crave for – all the seafood inihaw you can think of at iba pa ......... from lechon to sugpo at alimango.

Time to Reconnect
I visited Pete and Boots Anson-Roa and family, very close friends from way back at Washington D.C. It was a mixed emotional reunion – happy and sad. Happy because Robbie Puno, husband of Chiqui, daughter of Pete and Boots, won the congressional seat in Antipolo. He is now Honorable Congressman Robbie Puno. They have three children, Randy, Nikko and the latest addition, Sabrina, the princess in the family. We were sad because of the deteriorating medical condition of Pete whom we visited in the ICU at the Community Medical Center in Quezon City. I really admired the family especially Boots for being so strong and contained in spite of Pete’s medical condition. Boots, son, Joey, Chiqui and Robbie and Pete’s sisters and brother were all at the hospital when Pat and I visited. (On Aug. 9, Pete passed away.)

For now, all we can do is to pray for Pete’s comfort and inner strength for Boots and their children, both in Manila and in Virginia, Leah and Ben.

I am writing from Manila. I’ll recount more bits and pieces when I return back in a few days. See you all. Email: pagsibiganr@aol.com