Mango Float and Pasta

All Saint and Soul’s day is a celebration for the cemetery keepers and candle makers. Hehehe But for me, it was some kinda short reunion with relatives and friends, elementary and highschool batchmates, friends, foes and of course a feast of biko and puto.

Yesterday, Yotchie was so early in the morning that we shared breakfast together. The other day, he planned to eat Mango Float (Yotchie's eternal favorite) and suggested that we make spagz as well. With the budget already forecasted, i agreed with him.

(October 31) I went out of the office very late that's why I wasn't able to buy the ingredients. But i was soo late , 9pm already, because my boss had his super emergency meeting that he himself did not plan with the Econogas pipz. Laugh! With so many papers that needs to be checked and appoved, i can't escape in the office.

(November 1) As what I've mentioned, Yotchie was so early. Around 10am, we went to Super Metor with Jash and Jenel to buy the dress for the twin' s baptism ( our neighbor's babies). After buying the identical dresses and shoes, we tortured Jash in fitting shoes and sandals. He really has this big feet (which is very unlikely of his age). Finally, we managed to find a black & yellow striped shoes, a yellow strappy sandals and brown leathery slip-on sandal, all for Jash.

(Still November 1) Around noon, we finally passed through the long line of Halloween Shoppers. Jenel texted me that they were stranded earlier while on thier way home because of the rain. But when we went out the store, it was raging heat that welcomed us. Waahh! I'm tired getting hammering all the details basta naabot mi sa balay, nagLunch (of course) and then we laid all the ingredients and pans. Rolling!

(More of November 1) Earlier that mowrning, Te Eve called up that they would be coming so I told her that they could come in the afternoon so that we could all go together to the cemetery. It was such a nice oppurtunity for us to be together again noting that my mother's side has this troubled family ties. Yotchie and I were discussing on who would take the responsibility i the kitchen but as always it was Mama who did the kitchen work. He played with Jash while I assist Mama in the chores. Jash's laughter has been the most beautiful sound we ever heard in the house and everything would really be different if he's not around. Past lunch, the Minglanilla Delegates arrived. My little-old cousins whom Jenel and I fondly called "The Draculitos" had already grown Draculas. (LOL) RG no longer has the cuteness I found when he was a less than a year old. He already looks like an old child (even if he's still 4 years old). Swear... this isn't pag-tamay but as he grew old, he resembles his grandfather (her ma's father). Sorry! Ahehehehehe Nobody's reading this so I am confident that this comment would not reach them.

(Talk about Pasta and Mango Float) Yes! Luto na! But we can't parade it coz it might not reach the fridge. Learning from the past, my Pa's relatives were Rats (hahahaha - this is Mama's terms). As in, kaImagine ka na hasta ang halad ni Te Cisa kay ilang gikaon! I'm a bit selfish man sad with them coz ma had always told us that when we were still very young ,they did not treat us as such. They favored our older cousin ( whom today is no better than them). Waah! this is supposed to be a happy post... ok... no bitter words after this, promise!

The Danao delegates arrived around 4:30 pm ( long wait, huh!) We informed Nanay around 1pm that they would be coming so she took a bath earlier ( FYI, my Nanay would finish taking a bath for an hour and another hour dressing up). Nanay looked very happy that she could finally vsit lolo's tomb after two years because of her displaced joint in the knee. Even limping, she tried her best to walk down the hilly paths.

Ma's relatives were already there, since Pa's father is laid with Ma's relatives, it was a rare reuinion of my parents different side. Ma is at odds with her paternal side but then she was there mingling with them as well as Auntie Eve.

This years commemoration has been very different compared with the past years. I am more vigilant, more observant, talked less andd just cherished that event. The holiday has taught me a lot. I reflected on things. More than just pasta nad mango float, family and friends no matter how difficult relationships could be would always converge whenever there is death...