Argao, Cebu
There is a fishing village in Argao in southern part of Poblacion. They call it Lawis.
Been here for so many times during my childhood. Everytime I come back, I feel a punch in my chest...nostalgia they call it. There is also that realization that the Earth is the same, it is I who ages and passes. The terrain looks the same since thirty years ago and counting. It always tugs at my heart and sleeve when I stand up and go. I look back and wonder if ever I can come again.

With Embee busy, I can read and read. Sometimes, the camera makes a pause to reading.
Mactan Island

Karaoke near pier. Argao, Cebu.

My aunt was anxious how to entertain us so we sneaked out when she rested. I wanted to show Embee the place where I spent my childhood summers. Later, we went to this karaoke and sang. Good we were the only guests. In the picture though the one singing was the one who served us food (and microphone later).










You can see in the last picture the sea. I remember our grandfather, he was chief of police of the town. He always invited us to swim here (though I never learned how to). He invited us early morning and after some 5 minutes of swim, he wanted to go home because he had to work.

It was also near this place that I saw one patient that was imprinted in my mind. She was my first encounter with breast cancer. I don't know if it had something to do with my future training in radiation oncology, which after a while I froze, but probably...just probably. I can still remember the face and the tumor of the patient. She was a sister of my mother's friend. Their house was just behind this now karaoke place. There was no karaoke before. People waited for the weekend dance at the plaza.

Argao, Cebu




Spent many summers here, some 3 decades ago. Time flies. Time is diamond.

ARGAO, CEBU
TOWN HALL AND JUSTICE HALL



Balay lungsod (town hall). My grandfather used to work here. My cousins, my sisters and I used to play in the spacious hall way inside the first floor or run up and down a big wooden stairway to the second floor. Behind this building was a tennis court which doubled for a dancing floor during the weekends.

On the first floor was the post office where I mailed my letters to my parents and pen pals. I had some pen pals when I was young and summer was good time to write to them.




Below is a beautiful structure (Hall of Justice)but this was once a "ruins". Years ago, there was a day care center and playground behind it. I was enrolled for some months there when I was small. I remember we had ballet. Even when we were older, we used to go there during summer for the see-saw and the swing. I wanted to show them to my husband but the school and playground are now gone. It does not feel good to not see the old markers of the town, and of my childhood.

TWO FACES OF MACTAN.

When the barrier between two poles is porous to a person, he has mixed emotions when confronted by either. Having walked in the mountains of Bukidnon during medical clerkship, worked as a rural physician before residency training, walked the urban poor neighborhood and walked a few times in places like the one on the right, I feel mellowed and friable.

It helps one's sanity to be grateful of the porosity one is given, never avoiding either poles.
To enjoy but remember the other side when in one pole, and not despise those who are caged in either...
an angle I would like to maintain.

HAYAHAY!

Hayahay means relaxed, undisturbed, "no effort"
Mactan Island

NO SEAT AVAILABLE? Traffic jam? No problem. He can text.
(Cebu City, road to south)




Yes, Philippines is text and traffic-congested. (It is good text "trails" are invisible.)
Notice from the background, Philippines is also "waste from other countries"-congested (direct importer eh, ok?).

Title: Oh, why should they sail during low tide and torture us?!!!

Mactan Island. Men push boat to deeper area during low tide.

Shanties below and between bridges. Mactan-Cebu City interphase.

Mactan Island "trisikad pila"

Mactan Island sidewalk wall seen from jeepney.

Mactan Island

With what is happening(some pictures dont open, they have become white squares and rectangles between opened pictures), Im considering uploading just one or a few pictures per post. Yes, I shall be postinglikeaturtle.

Pundaquit: Structures and corners:












Embee had to go to Olongapo. We decided, together with Mama and kuya Roger, to be a day earlier there for a sidetrip to Pundaquit. We were not disappointed.

Pundaquit III: Some trust in God, some in luck.

Pundaquit II: The people.

Adults









Just a text before he sails:






Children and teengers:
I wonder what he was thinking:


With less toys, they talk more and play:











Hard working teenagers: