After Nine Years

Elated and blessed financially hours before my trip, I hurriedly boarded a taxi to fetch my ticket. Yotchie had already brought the ticket for me coz I knew for sure that I could not be able to leave the office before 7pm. Although Lyng assured me that tickets will be released at 7pm and that there would still be available tickets even if I arrive at the terminal an hour before departure, I still wanted to make sure that I got the ticket exactly at 7pm (just a habit of mine).

Was so touched that Yotchie made effort to be there earliest even it wasn’t due for releasing. So I was thinking that he deserves a reward, a dozen of choco butternut is perfect.

After cutting through the red tapes, I finally got hold of the “Promo Slip”, which entitles me to a dozen donuts paid via salary deduction (SD).

By this time, my boss has not yet arrived and I can’t leave the office without getting all the papers cleared and signed. There were checks to be signed and papers to be approved so I really need to wait for him. It was already 5:30pm, the accounting pips already deserted their work station (as always – they are referred to us The 5:01’s”).

The waiting was rewarded with a P500 bill and two sets of D10 & M20 (this refers to donuts and munchkins and the number represents the quantity of pieces placed inside the box).

Before going to the pier, I had a quick dinner with Yotchie and then we went to the pier. As an occasional traveler, a pier and its standard procedures is totally alien to me. If I had a mirror right that very moment, I’d surely look like a stranx ded-worried passenger not knowing what to do. I did not know that we really have to board that bus so that we could board the ship. Eckoy and Janjan shared the same worries.

I was texting Yotchie every minute telling him my worries. I would really want him to come with me but I guess that he has work to do…

Txt mssg from Yotchie:

Im on my way home.. d ku ka 2o mularga ka kw ra usa.. mingaw ku nmu.. -10/28/06 9:34 pm

Bai? Naguol ku 4 u.. ingun pa lagi ayaw nlang daun.. -10/28/06 9:48pm


Finally, minutes before departure, saw the two of them and transferred nearer to their deck. I could not soundly sleep aboard boats (no matter how big it might be). Kept on checking the digital numbers on my cellphone and its signal, checked if I could still see some lights in the island and then glance on the other passengers. I was bringing an unbinded copy of Angels & Demons (printed by Yotchie), so at least my thought was occupied with something else instead of thinking tragic water-accident-stories.

A & D is the second Dan Brown novel I’ve read after Da Vinci Code. I would really have wanted to read it a year ago but did not find the luxury to do so. There were few copies back then circulated around classmates and the reservation is too long. Buying a copy was not my option either, so, I waited this far and get the time to read on a very inappropriate place.

Conscious of the black water just a few feet away from where I enclosed my security, I managed to take short naps and then woke up every time we hit a big wave.

Docking calculated on time, I prepared my things but Lyng txted Eckoy that we will leave at 3:30am earlier that day, find a tricycle and head for the terminal to look for a V-Hire bound for Garcia-Hernandez. After waking up two of my companions whom I just met that night and the other one I met just once, we briskly made our way out of the pier.

After nine years, I’m finally back in Bohol. Oh! In case nobody knows, Bohol has been a very significant and memorable place on why I was convinced that I should pursue a journalistic related career in college. Nine years ago, I won in the new writing category (Filipino) in the Regional Schools Press Conference. I was on cloud nine by that time. With happiness as short as mine, it was also an opportunity for me to meet new people and to believe that I could also make myself proud through simple paragraphs.

Snapping back, we were approached by this twenty-something driver and told us that the fare is P150 only but for us he’ll just ask for P100. I giggly reacted. Oh! Ok! We told him thanks but we are waiting for someone or something… to make the story short, a kind driver drove us for P20/head to the terminal but we did not really arrived in there for a bus headed to Jagna passed by and so we boarded on it.

Although we passed through Lyng’s place, Eckoy and Janjan only reacted when we were already in the church. Yeah! Anyways, we arrived, had a quick breakfast, took a bath and changed clothes (of course) then waited for 10:00 am for the Ninong and Ninang’s seminar.

Zoelle’s baptism…

Fifteen minutes before time, we were informed that we need to wear skirts! I was not bringing one and so please refer to the photos.

I was still sleepy when I stepped inside their church. Its structure is mainly made out of lumber and wood, it was just painted to conceal the pillars and make you think that it was made out of cement. The structure is already dilapidated; its doors were already old and needs reconstruction. Lyng paid P200 upon listing our names There were only two babies scheduled for baptism that time, the other one was two years old. I thought that we’d be attending a mass then baptism would follow. Then I understand that there were only few babies unlike here in the city, and there was no scheduled mass at that time.

I slept for most of the time while the old lady conducted the seminar. Her voice is so inaudible and even if she wanted to make her discussion humorous, I could not ride on it. For sure, she could visibly see me sleeping but at least I did not snore. (smile)

Around 11am I guess, we were ushered to come forward in the altar, Zoelle was on her best cutie dress (Lyng informed me that it was the same dress she wore when she was baptized). I expected that the priest would look older, but he was younger than I expected. Perhaps, he looks like he just sworn in the vow of chastity a few weeks ago. Hehehehe

Woow!

I'd be updating this post with photos of Zoelle’s baptism as soon as I get a copy from Lyng. So just keep on coming back.

(to be continued)