My first day of April this year is so wonderful. Earlier, in the daytime I had to cook up some lies to make a valid excuse for absence from work. Despite the excuses and lies, my day ended complete and content. I am not saying that it was a wonderful, complete and content because my lies pulled through but because my absence from work paid off more than money can pay. I will tell you why.
The last night of the previous month was totally draining. It was enervating both physically and psychologically. For several nights of March, the people from the appliance center where I had my ref on installment kept on pestering me even as late as 11 o’clock in the evening. And the last evening of March was doubly draining.
The month of March was, I think in vernacular a malas (nearest in English is jinx). I was not able to pay my apartment rent on time and meant that I have to pay extra hundreds of pesos for the penalty. Plus, the electric bill for our unit was a hit-all-high P 1800, P 900 of that was my share to pay. Atop them all, I had to hear the harsh and dagger words of insult coming form my landlady. Unfortunately such headache did not end there, as the twin problem of that rent issue came in the last night of the previous month when four people from that appliance center brought court papers to repossess the ref whether or not I will it. This was only a word of mouth though from our apartment Guard.
That rent issue made me decide to scout for another place to stay. Even if tired from the whole day work, I went to the other side of the city. The place is called Carmen. I scanned the place looking for the two words: For Rent. It was not an easy task as I needed to be on my foot. Although, part of it was exciting as I bumped into cute guys drinking beer and by standing at a corner store. I did not ask their names and numbers though. I was so tired to flirt.
Anyway, let us talk about the first evening of April. Yes, yesternight was truly fun and pleasing. I had dinner with my crushes. But along with them are their girlfriends. But it was okay. I had so much nice time listening to the stories of strength and life in general of Tita Linda, the mother of RJ. It was also refreshing to hear stories of plans and dreams and futures. The four of them (2 couples), fresh graduates and nursing board passers had shared to the group their future steps. It was a fair evening of talk and exchanging of thoughts about life, making money, possible obstacles, better destination, better job, dreams, and future in general. In my case, it was a silent moment of embracing of some facts in my life that cannot be changed, like, the fact that my crushes will never be mine. Also, it was a happy moment, letting go of the ill feelings and it was a more of a moment realizing that I can still be happy seeing my two handsome crushes happy with their girls.
Such evening was really fine as we ate authentic pinoy food such as tinolang isda, sinuglaw (combination of sinugba and kinilaw), calamares and sisig with egg. It was such a hearty meal. And I thought while chewing the rubber-like skin of the pork from the sinuglaw dish that this sort of food is rare for me. I do not cook this type of food. In my apartment, I fry almost all food I find in the fridge. And to be exact, it was a year and two months already that I have not eaten tinolang isda. That was perhaps the farewell dinner to pinoy foods as my fresh graduate nurses-friends may miss them for quite a while, I guess, should their work-abroad plans be realized, they will surely be missing the kinilaw and sisig. I am sure of that. More than the food, they will miss their friends, families, classmates, and me (laughing).
Listening to their stories was so inspiring. And there was from that instant this renewal of interest in life and the want to live. It seems like my problems suddenly became so light that I was able to toss it up into the air and then they disappeared like dusts. Then, I am so alive again, full of energy and ready to take on the challenge. That is to graduate and toil abroad and you know…
Yes, sad. But true, Filipinos like me do not see Philippines as a place of comfort. Happiness and comfort, to most of pinoys (I believe) are always not found in the Philippines. That’s why you see all the professionals leaving every minute.
Oh, did I tell you that I was able to settle my bills for my ref. That was one of the reasons why the evening was wonderful. And I was realizing, reflecting all of these while a lady was busy scrubbing off my sole’s dried calluses at ban sabai, later that evening.
By the way, their Foot Spa service is so affordable and the best so far in the whole of Cagayan de Oro. I am spahopper/spaholic by the way. ban sabai offers a complete package of foot pampering and dry massage for the head, back, upper and lower extremities. Nothing beats ban sabai’s foot spa.
I am bringing Tita Linda there soon as I secure an Elite Card from them. I love ban sabai! I thank them for completing my first evening of April. Long live ban sabai!
