PH Trip, Part 2!

After a few days in Manila, we headed down to Bicol to see my side of the family and John’s dad. It had been a year and a half since I last saw my mom, and though her hair has more grays now, she’s still the same—quick to laugh, warm as ever.

The first meal back was exactly what I needed: lumpia and ensaladang ampalaya, the kind of dishes that remind me I’m home. Later that day, my sister and her husband arrived. She’s eight months pregnant, and it was my first time seeing her with a baby bump. We handed over a suitcase of pasalubong stuffed with chocolates, peanut butter, cookies, and honey from New Zealand.

Birthday at Home

The next day was my birthday! Mom cooked her version of sweet spaghetti with hotdogs for breakfast, which always feels like a birthday tradition in our family. I then accompanied her to the bank to finally open a new account she’d been putting off. Lunch was at Biggs, though I noticed the servings had definitely shrunk since the last time I was home.

John and I also tried to shop for a car seat as a gift for my sister, but nothing quite fit the bill. We ended up buying her a breast pump instead. In the afternoon, I got a mani-pedi and foot spa, while John nervously braved his first ever foot spa (ticklish feet plus strangers = risky business).

We rounded off the day cooking crabs and fish sent over by my father-in-law. Dinner was a casual gathering with my siblings, capped off with me blowing out my cake while they sang Happy Birthday. I couldn’t wish for anything more.

Time with My Nephew

On the 11th, I spent the day with my nephew, my brother’s eldest son. We took him to the mall for a haircut, had lunch at Graceland, ordered pansit and stocked up on treats like brownies and biscocho—snacks I hadn’t had in years. As a guilty aunt, who has not been there for my nephew's life, it's my time to splurge him while I'm in the Philippines so I bought him new clothes and toys. The highlight for him (and John) was a trip to World of Fun, where they played arcade games while I watched from the sidelines.

Family Outing

Saturday was another celebration. I booked a private villa so the extended family could get together. About 18 of us came, and the spread was impressive: pancit, palabok, chop suey, garlic butter chicken, sisig, lumpia, crabs, rice, sandwiches, and another birthday cake! We had the whole place to ourselves! From morning until late afternoon, we hung out, ate, swam, ate some more, and swam some more.

It felt good to have everyone in one place, even if only for a day. Moments like these remind me why trips home matter. I got to spend time with the people I grew up with, and that no matter how far I go, there’s always a place—and people—to come home to..

Stay tuned for Part 3—the final stretch of our Bicol trip. ♡