On October 7, 2015, before we went to
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City,
Philippines, we travelled from Baliuag, Bulacan, the rest of towns in
Bulacan thru North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Caloocan City, Quezon City,
Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Pasay City, and Parañaque City thru EDSA,
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and finally Airport Avenue.
We left earlier around 12:00pm from Baliuag, Bulacan because we know
that traffic is so terrible and heavy especially in Metro Manila Area.
There was a rain that why the traffic is more terrible and heavy.
The province of Bulacan is also crowded because there are many shopping
malls, establishments, and subdivisions. There are many companies and
industries as well that's why the province is also crowded. Although my
vacation is only 15 days, I enjoyed it with my relatives at my mother's
side. My aunts cooked our meals during our stay. I'm the one will go
back home in USA and my mom will go back home on October 21, 2015. She
will complete her 1 month vacation exactly unlike me, it's only 15 days.
We visited also our relatives and family friends in Caloocan
City. Caloocan City is also crowded when I visit it after 6 years. We
used to live there and spend my childhood days. The traffic along Samson
Road, Rizal Avenue, 10th Avenue, Monumento, and EDSA are terrible and
heavy.
At around 2:30pm, we proceed to NAIA in Parañaque City
thru EDSA. We passed Caloocan City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City,
Makati City, Pasay City, and then Parañaque City. From EDSA, we took
Tramo Boulevard, Domestic Avenue, and then Airport Avenue. We finally
arrived at the airport around 5:30pm. Not bad because the traffic along
EDSA is moderate.
This is my memorable visit in Philippines
although my vacation is only 15 days. I would like to give thanks to my
cousin, Rodelio Magtalas, who gave us a ride using her sister in law's
minivan. I hope that I can visit in Philippines again on November 2017. I
will attend our Silver Jubilarian later at MIT ChE Chm Alumni
Homecoming.
#Baliuag #Bulacan #Caloocan #NLEX #QuezonCity #Mandaluyong #Makati #Pasay #Parañaque #MNL #NAIA #Rizal
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 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
After we arrived at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (MNL) on September 23, 2015 at 4:00am, my
relatives like my aunts Leonila Magtalas and Estelita Zapanta and my
cousin Rodelio Magtalas gave us a tour ride after they picked up us from
the airport. Thanks God that our flight was good although there's a
rain with thunderstorms during our landing. The rain finally stopped
when we arrived at NAIA. Thanks God also that my luggage and my mom's
luggage are passed the X-ray inspection after we gave the Declaration
Form at the Immigration Department.
Well, from NAIA airport,
the traffic begins at Airport Avenue, Domestic Avenue, Tramo Avenue, and
then Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). After 6 years since my last
visit in 2009, the traffic conditions are worse than before and there
are more vehicles as well. While driving along EDSA, there are more
buildings, malls, and new establishments. There are many billboards
along EDSA also.
When we reached to Balintawak Cloverleaf, the
area is also congested in traffic especially along A. Bonifacio Avenue,
Quirino Hi-way, and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The NLEX is better
now than before because the highways are repaired and the systems of
paying at the toll gates are now different also. The traffic there is
lesser and faster.
When we exit at Santa Rita exit in
Guiguinto, Bulacan, the roads are now crowded with many vehicles like
jeepneys and trycycles. The province of Bulacan is now crowded also
because there are many factories, industries, subdivisions, and shopping
malls. It is also close to Manila.
Once we reached to
Baliuag, Bulacan, we went first to Baliuag Memorial Park to visit the
grave of my grandparents and my uncles at their mausoleum. My mother
didn't see the grave of her parents and her brothers for 12 years. The
memorial park is expensive and most of the graves there are came from
the rich and business families. We made a promise that we will improve
the mausoleum of my grandparents and my uncles later.
Our
hometown in Baliuag, Bulacan is also crowded. There are many
subdivisions as well as shopping malls like SM Baliuag. The traffic is
also congested especially during rush hours and raining. I almost got
lost there in finding my grandparents' residence because the
surrounding is now different than the last time that I visited in 2009.
They put blue gates at my grandparents' residence. The caimito trees
that we planted since 1975 are still there at the backyard.
After this, we sleep for few hours because we have jet lag. The time in
Philippines is 15 hours ahead from California. The weather here in
Philippines is warm right now like 95*F during daylight and 85*F during
nighttime. We experienced sweating all the time because it is humid.
#MNL #Parañaque #Rizal #EDSA #NLEX #Baliuag #Bulacan
