05 March 2009

Aunt Julie and I woke up early so we can go to the cemetery and light a candle for daddy. Today was his 2nd year death anniversary, and as sad at it seemed like, it was just the two of us visiting today. I am sure daddy would understand. Anyway, we were surprised that dad has a neighbor now. Well, no very close neighbors yet because we own the lots directly next to him, but still surprising that dad's no longer the odd man out in the section of the cemetery.


After waiting for some time after saying our prayers, we left the cemetery and went to the Bacnotan Town Market. Thursdays are their market days, so my aunt didn't want to pass up the chance to get good finds today.

She decided to buy foods for lunch - we will be going to Aunt Lorie's place and have lunch there, so while Aunt Julie was roaming around to buy foods, I roamed around trying to get pictures. Still, I was fearing of taking pictures of people as I don't want to be questioned about invading their privacy. Anyway, I will be leaving for home tonight, so aside from the stocks for Aunt Julie, and the foods we will have for lunch, aunt also bought some food items I will be taking home.


Lunch was so great! They grilled bangus (milkfish) and pork, and they cooked dinakdakan and the vegetable dish I requested (banana heart with squash flowers). My cousin Weng was talking to me in Ilocano (the dialect in the region), hoping I could answer in Ilocano, too, but sadly, I still cannot speak the dialect fluently. In any way, we had a great lunch, and my cousin Weng had my respect big time after he told about quitting his high paying job because the company had an unfair treatment to the low ranking employees. I am not sure if he really had quit the job, but really, the way he spoke up and defended the subordinates - even willing to lose his job for the sake of other when he was earning quite a lot is something very commendable.

After lunch is always a nice time for some siesta, but it was so hot, we can't even catch a nap! My Aunt Lorie planted tobacco this planting season and they were harvesting the tobacco leaves and prepare it for selling. Obviously, I took some pictures and at first some of the people weren't up for it, but after Aunt Lorie told them that I took Mass Communications in college, and that I am a person who loves documenting a day through pictures and words, they all eased up and carried on with what they were doing. The image above was my Aunt Lorie, while he's skewering the tobacco leaves. Not a good shot, but I loved the motion into it.


Cousin Weng's daughter saw me taking pictures of different subjects while there, and she gave me these flower buds - a gift from her to me. She said I could take pictures of it if I want to, and of course, I wanted to! For someone who first received her flowers February of this year, receiving these had been sweet!

I took the 11PM bus trip home. It had been a very great trip, but I think there will be no out of town trips for the coming months, I really need to save up for a big trip in October.

*** Jenn ***