On October 5, 2015, we had a farewell
or despedida party at my cousin's house in Quezon City, Philippines.
This is also a family reunion for Balajadia family at my grandfather's
side. I asked my cousin Ester Garcia to contact all our relatives to have a mini-reunion at her house and beauty salon along Cordillera Street in Quezon City, Philippines starting at 7:00pm.
Me and my mother went to my cousin's salon around 5:00pm. We know that
the traffic is so terrible and heavy especially if there's a rain and
also during rush hour. We bought ube cake at Merced Bakeshop along EDSA
near to Quezon Avenue before we went to my cousin's salon.
While waiting for our other relatives, me and my mother had hair and
facial treatments with the assistance of Malou and Susan. My cousin's
salon is already in the business in 1970s at the present location. My
cousin is also a friend of Mr. Ricky Reyes, a well-known hair stylist in
Philippines.
My cousin bought softdrinks, pancit Malabon,
lumpiang prito, and puto (stramed rice cake). We brought biko (sweet
rice cake) also. Her family like her children and grandchildren are also
present in the family gathering.
Unfortunately, many of our
relatives were not able to make in our family gathering because of many
reasons. Some of them are already tired from work, stranded in heavy
rains and traffic, and so on.
Our relatives like my cousins Daniel Balajadia Dalacat, Estrella Garcia Carpio, and Erlinda Garcia Fernandez as well as my aunt Beatriz Balajadia Garcia were able to attend in our family gathering.
We had fun and socialized to each other while eating and waiting for
our other relatives to come if they can. Since we set our family
gathering on weekday which is October 5, 2015 (Monday), then many of our
relatives were not able to make in our family gathering. I know that
most of the people are busy and tired from work on weekdays. Because of
my cousin, Ester Garcia was not available last weekend and her schedule
is already fully booked, then we decided to move on October 5, 2015 so
that she can attend in our family gathering.
Well, my vacation
in Philippines is only 15 days and I have hectic schedules. 15 days is
too short for me because of heavy traffic especially in Manila.
Unfortunately, I didn't meet my other cousins because of my hectic
schedules and short vacation. Anyway, because of the social media like
Facebook, then we can still communicate and chat each other.
I hope that I will meet my other cousins and relatives later probably in 2017.
#Balajadia #QuezonCity #Rizal
On October 1, 2015, we went to
Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan, Philippines to visit my aunt, Dolores "Nene"
Balajadia Villaluz and her family there. We went there at night because
we came from Holy Cross Memorial Park and we visited our relatives in
Caloocan City. It was raining and we got stuck in traffic that's why we
went there at night.
Because of my hectic schedule, I decided
to proceed my visit to my aunt even at night. I want to see my aunt
there while she's still alive. My two uncles, my aunt, and even my
father are already passed away. I have four aunts left, my father's
remaining siblings. Two of my aunts are residing in Pacifica,
California, USA.
Tiya Nene and her family are long time
resident of Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan. They are big family because her
children have grandchildren. Tiya Nene and her husband, Tito Mario have
great grandchildren. Almost all of them are residing in a same house or
residence. They still have sari-sari store at their house until now.
That's their source of income until now. They are selling foods,
household items, cigarettes, soft drinks and so on. Many of their
children as well as their grandchildren are finished in their college
and have stable job.
Tiya Nene is weak already because she
can't walk very well and she needs an assistant especially for using
restroom and bathroom. Sometimes Tiya Nene is forgetful especially at
her age according to my cousins and their children. Thanks God that Tito
Mario is still in good condition and currently manages their sari-sari
store.
While traveling to Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan along M. H.
Del Pilar Street, we noticed that the Arkong Bato or stone arch is
changed already. The old Arkong Bato is damaged by a huge and big truck.
The Arkong Bato is repaired but they changed the structure slightly.
They removed the printed boundary names which are Bulacan and Rizal
because Valenzuela and Malabon are already independent cities and part
of National Capital Region.
Arkong Bato was built in 1910
during American Period. It was an official boundary of the provinces of
Bulacan and Rizal. Valenzuela was part of Bulacan and Malabon was part
of Rizal. M. H. Del Pilar Street was an official road going to Bulacan
before McArthur Hi-Way and even North Luzon Expressway.
Arkong
Bato is so memorable to me because it reminds my childhood days. We used
to passed Arkong Bato every time we're visiting my relatives especially
during the fiesta of Panghulo, Obando, Bulacan every last Sunday of
May. The residence of Tiya Nene and her family is located along F.
Navarette Street which is second road from Arkong Bato. F. Navarette
Street has a man statue still at the center. If you proceed to F.
Navarette Street straight, it's already a part of Obando, Bulacan. Tiya
Nene's residence is near to Valenzuela and Obando boundary. Panghulo is a
big barangay that is divided into two areas. The first area is part of
Malabon and the other area is part of Obando.
#Balajadia #ArkongBato #Panghulo #Obando #Valenzuela #Bulacan #Malabon #Rizal
On October 1, 2015, we went to Holy
Cross Memorial Park in Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines with my
mother and my cousins to visit the grave of my grandparents, uncles,
aunt, and our other relatives.
Holy Cross Memorial Park is a
well known private cemetery in Philippines. There are many changes in
the memorial park within six years. Before at my grandparents' grave,
the vacant lot was so wide at the side. We used to build our tent during
All Saints Day every year at the vacant lot. Right now, there are many
new graves besides my grandparents' grave. Because of this, it is
impossible for us to build the tent during All Saints Day. It is
impossible for us also to stay for the whole day during All Saints Day
because sometimes there's a heavy rain and the worst is traffic. It is
very hard for everyone to visit in cemetery during All Saints Day on
November 1. The whole cemetery is so crowded on November 1. Some people
are preferred to visit the grave of their loved ones on October 31 or
November 2.
We visited the grave of my grandparents, two
uncles, and aunt. They are the parents and siblings of my father. My
aunt's grave is located neat to restroom and sidewalk while my
grandparents and two uncles are located in one grave besides the road.
Their grave is also near to restroom.
Few steps away to the
left from the restroom, we visited the grave of our other relatives.
They are the cousin, uncle, aunt, and grandaunt of my grandmother at my
father's side also. They were close to our family because my grandmother
was living at her aunt during her younger days. Her uncle and aunt
adopted her until she got married to my grandfather.
Thanks God
that we had a chance to visit my grandparents, uncles, and aunt as well
as our other relatives in spite of my hectic schedule in Philippines. I
would like to give thanks to my cousin because he gave us a ride going
to the cemetery.
#HolyCrossMemorialPark #Novaliches #QuezonCity #Rizal
On September 26, 2015, I went to
Caloocan City to have a tour there and to visit my relatives (Balajadia
Family). We have a long time family friend there, Corazon Gallardo Uy,
my mother's best friend since my childhood days. We visited her first at
their residence at P. Zamora Street near to 10th Avenue.
I
did my tour in Caloocan City by myself by walking along P. Zamora
Street, 10th Avenue, A. Mabini Street, A. Bato Street, General San
Miguel Street, Samson Road, and Rizal Avenue.
First, I went to
City Hall along A. Mabini Street. The City Hall is now different and
there are many stores and restaurants at it's surrounding. The area is
now crowded unlike before when I visited last time in 2009.
I
went to San Roque Parish Church which is the main church in Caloocan
City. The church is almost the same as well as its altar. We used to go
to that church when we were in Philippines. My late father was used to
be a mass leader and active member of Friends of San Roque.
I
went to La Consolacion College which is located besides the church. Me
and my brothers finished elementary there. The school is managed by a
group of nuns which is Organization of Saint Augustine. That school is
still memorable to me.
I went to Rafael's Restaurant which is
located besides the school. Most of the employees, students, parents,
and teachers are eating there. That restaurant is also memorable to me.
I went to Sangandaan and there are many new stores and establishments.
The market there is already demolished and the building of SM Center
will build there. Also, Sangandaan is now crowded unlike before.
I went to our former residence at 116 General San Miguel Street. The
gate is still there painted with green color but the owner is now
different and not the Nuqui Family anymore. The four units are now
beautiful and well maintained.
I continue to walk along Samson
Road. The University of the East is now beautiful and well painted. The
surrounding is also crowded that's why the traffic there is also
congested and heavy.
The former PNR Hospital is now STI College
which is a tall blue and white building. It is also located along
Samson Road corner Caimito Road.
The former Shell Gas Station is now Phoenix Gas. Samson Road is always congested especially during rush hours.
I went to my relatives to visit my aunts, Beatriz Garcia and Leticia
Balajadia, my cousins, nieces, and nephews. We had our lunch at Tita
Betty's house together with Tita Letty. They cooked Sinigang na Hipon,
Pinakbet, and Adobong Baboy.
After our lunch, I went to
Bonifacio Monumento and the area is also crowded and congested in
traffic. The Ever Gotesco Malls are now gone and they are SM Supermarket
and SM Hypermall.
The Ever Gotesco Grand Central which is
located along Rizal Avenue is also gone and it is now a vacant lot. Some
people said that SM Mall will build there.
Finally, I went to
Light Railway Transit (LRT) to take a train to visit in Manila, Mapua
Institute of Technology, and The Bayleaf Hotel.
#Balajadia #Caloocan #Rizal
