#igacos

© Paolo Dala

Warmth And Light

The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there.

DMITRI ETHAN C. BELANDRES, PHARMA-1A PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

Hi there!  It was relaxing to be on a trip again.  It was kind of exhausting though especially a one-day trip, leaving early in the morning and getting home late at night.  Notwithstanding exhaustion, my love for travelling and car-riding was invaluable. 

My latest trip was in Samal Island, known now as IGACOS (Island Garden City of Samal), politically named by former President Fidel V. Ramos.  Samal is my Mom’s hometown.

Samal Island has plains and hills. There are even areas near the coast which are hilly which make the resorts even more attractive due to their overlooking views. 

It was last April 15, 2024, Monday, when we went to IGACOS.  It was Lola Corning’s birthday, my late maternal grandmother.  There were only Mom and I from Kidapawan to Davao City. 

We just fetched Tita Charing, Mom’s older sister, at Boulevard, Davao City.  So, from there, we drove to Samal Ferry Wharf at Sasa to get aboard the ferry boat for Samal.  The ferry-boat ride still amazed me despite having experienced it several times.  Anyway, upon our arrival in Samal, my two other Titas met us there, Tita Inday and Tita Belen with her husband Tito Jojo.  In this trip, we took the road leading to Barangay Limao where we passed the high-end resorts.  Honestly, that was the first time we passed that road and saw in passing the grand and expensive resorts with overlooking views, and, we realized it was the practical way from the ferry wharf to the memorial park where Lola Corning and Three of my Uncles were buried.

               The reason of that trip was actually to commemorate the passing of my Lola Corning and uncles.  At the cemetery, they offered prayers, lit candles and brought flowers.  From the cemetery, we went to a restaurant facing the City Hall where we had lunch and met some of my cousins.  After lunch, we left and went to Tita Inday’s house.  There, Mom and her sisters bonded for just about two hours, just talking and laughing about anything.  It was almost five in the afternoon when we left Samal.  Before leaving Davao City, we had dinner at Mang Inasal at Bajada, facing Villa Victoria Plaza, with Nicu, one of my sisters, who we contacted to have dinner with us.  After dinner, we dropped Nicu at her dormitory, then Tita Charing at Boulevard.  Mom and I made four stops along the way either because she had foot cramps or too sleepy to drive.  It was almost midnight when we reached home.  It was after all a happy and safe trip.