Farewell Dear Papa Tantong
It was a beautiful Friday, that May 15! As a celebration of the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of all farmers, the sky cooperated giving us clear, even of white clouds, blue horizon. Papa Tantong was so ecstatic that day when I got home. He even tricked me. He allowed me. based on his text message, to walk my way home from the drop off point in the highway through the dirt road, only to find out that the car is waiting for me in the corner. He doesn't want us, me and my sister, En, to walk to and from the house via the dirt road, even when it's sunny and in broad daylight. I arrived so early than normal. That was 5 o'clock in the afternoon versus 8 or 9 every evening. Papa happily relayed his calls from my brothers in Middle East and my sister-in-law in Surigao. He said he's happy to know that Ate Mely blew a birthday party to his youngest sister, our Auntie Isidra. As it was early yet, we all sat outside the house but within the gates whi...