When we fly, we usually book months before.
But this time was different.
The last time I was in Cebu was last year.
We didn't stayed long though, just an overnight stay as we crossed from Puerto Prinsesa to Boracay.
A week ago, Papa's cousin messaged us that our grandma was admitted at a certain hospital in Cebu.
The moment I read the message, I planned to fly to Cebu to visit her around the last week of March.
She lives alone in an apartment Cebu. Just like me here in Davao.
I talked to my parents about my intentions and my mom agreed almost at once. My dad had his inhibitions, but gave in in the end. And so we booked flights.
Day 1:
✿ arrived safely at Mactan Airport
✿ achi Candoy lost her luggage
they asked assistance from AirPhil Express,
found the bag an hour later.
it was left in Davao and
will be send directly to her home address
via a third-party courrier.
✿ dinner at AA's
I had the best baked scallops and
Monique loved their pork belly.
✿ dessert at La Marea
they ordered brownie in a cup for Monique and I.
it was gooey and not over-ly sweet.
the fusion of warm brownie and
chilled ice cream on the mouth
was exhilarating.
Day 2:
✿ woke up at 9am, prepared and went to the hospital to visit our grandmother
✿ stayed at the hospital the whole day
✿ achi Tin picked us up and went home to their apartment, had dinner and ate durian
Day 3:
✿ went to the bank with achi Tin
✿ dropped by at the hospital to visit Ama (that's what we call her) for a while and gave her some of the durian that we brought from Davao
✿ lunch at Cafe Laguna, SM
we ordered chicharong bulaklak, sinigang,
crispy kangkong and sizzling squid
food was okay, typical filipino restaurant
loved their crispy kangkong, reminded me of Nanay Bebeng's
✿ forever 21, SM
✿ robinson's galleria
this is where the main office of Cebu Pacific is located.
my parent's and sibling's flight to Cebu was rescheduled
to the same day (mar.10) at a later time,
the problem was that they had a connecting flight
to Singapore and with the new schedule, they won't be able to
catch their next flight.
the person in charge said that there is no available seats on the earlier flight
and so our only choice was the flight of the day before.
I accepted the offer and asked for a free hotel stay
for it is not our fault as to why we will have this additional expense.
as soon as I dropped the "free hotel stay" phrase,
the in-charge person panicked and called
their superiors and was able to miraculously get available seats
on the earlier flight which they have already declared as fully booked.
this got me confused and discouraged with the airline.
✿ purrfect treats, mambaling
we dropped by achi Tin's pet shop,
the PURRFECT TREATS.
it wasn't a huge shop but it was damn full of products
imaginable for anyone's beloved pets,
they had toys, garments, cage, food and so much more.
I was impressed.
I wish I can put up a business
as successful as that, someday.
as successful as that, someday.
✿ waka matsu
a buffet japanese restaurant
we ordered a lot. as in, A LOT!
2 rounds of californian maki (12 pcs/serving), 2 rounds of beef angus,
2 rounds of pork belly, 2 rounds of liver,
yaki soba, mixed sushi,
3 rounds scallops, 3 rounds shrimp ebi,
and others I can't even remember.
food was simply seasoned, very palatable
and truly satisfying.
✿ moon cafe, i.t. park
meet-up with high school friends,
some drinks and a lot of talking.
feeling nostalgic and blissful
to be with old friends,