June 30, 2008

I was inundated with SMS and email messages from the Philippines including one from South Africa courtesy of Dole greeting me a ‘HAPPY FATHER’S DAY’ a day after our reunion. My wife thought I was still out-of-sorts courtesy of the hospitality of Manong Bart and Chito’s families. As Vic said the beer and whisky flowed generously.

Manong Demi was a fellow guest so he didn’t do any cooking. Our hosts spared no expense nor effort to make the occasion memorable. It’s Crown lager Night and Chivas Regal. I had to explain to all who greeted me that Father’s Day here is in September.

I told my mates here about finally meeting my fellow tribesmen and could not have come any sooner. I am married to a non-Ilokano and I had to adjust to their cuisine and taste. It was not much of a problem in Manila because there were food shops to satisfy my cravings but not in Sydney.

It’s worse here since we are far from the Blacktown area where Filo (as the Aussie call us) stores and restaurants are. Also I have a mix of nationalities as friends who basically do not agree on what to eat. We always end up eating beef or lamb steaks as pork is not even an option for the Muslims. It’s worse now because I have a new friend who is a Nepalese Hindu and does not eat beef. And would you believe the Ukranians do not like seafoods??

I think I should just ditch them all and move in with our newly found kababayans.

I was really scared when Manong Bart welcomed us inside the house. I glanced left and right for any signs of Karaoke or Videoke. Seeing nothing, I completely relaxed as introductions were made to family members. Singing is among my many failures.

Stories were shared and some were a bit shocking. The Alvarez brothers (Efren and Ronnie) apparently died already. Manong Bart told us about the GOLDEN AGE of Magsingal when we had Electric Power and Water System in the town courtesy of a visionary mayor. The FACOMA was a very successful venture as evidenced by the projects it accomplished. In my growing-up years, the FACOMA complex was a ghost place - dilapidated buildings and grounds overgrown with weeds.

Our old time kababayans here are 4WD enthusiasts as well as hunters. I think Mang Chito has two land cruisers which he further modified to go off-road. It’s not your usual rough road but rather terrains where only kangaroos and goats dare to roam.

I was already very groggy by the time we said goodbye and my wife made the mistake of asking me to punch in the GPS coordinates going home. Apparently the options I have chosen made my dear wife take a very long route while I was in the seat dead to the world. My wife is very understanding though, happy for me to meet my townmates finally.