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 September 27, 2015, we went to
Caloocan City Public Cemetery along A. Mabini Steet in Sangandaan,
Caloocan City, Philippines with my mother, Rosario Magtalas Balajadia,
and her long time best friends Corazon Gallardo Uy and Baby Enriquez
Garces to visit the grave of their long time best friend Felicidad
Gorospe So.
Felicidad Gorospe So or Aling Fely in short was
our long time family friend since my childhood days in 1976. Aling
Fely's daughter, Jonna was my classmate in kindergarten. Aling Fely and
my mother were talking and chatting each other often outside of the
school while waiting for us to finish our classes. From then, my mother
and Aling Fely became friends.
Aling Fely was a vendor for a
long time already in Sangandaan, Caloocan City. Her store was located
along General San Miguel Steet near to A. Mabini Street and Sangandaan
Public Market. On that time, she was selling newspapers, magazines,
fruits, cigarettes, softdrinks, candies, and so on. From being a vendor,
she finished her kids in their studies.
My mother's others
friends Corazon Gallardo Uy and Baby Enriquez Garces become friends in
1979. Their kids and my brothers became classmates in elementary. They
met each other often at the school.
Later, all our family
friends become friends to each other when they become godparents of my
brothers in their baptism. From then, they become friends until we
migrated to USA in 1992.
Although we are living in USA since
1992, we still communicate with them by mail, telephone, and right now
by text messages, and social media like Facebook.
Unfortunately, our family friend, Aling Fely died in 2012 from colon
cancer. We're so sad for the loss of our family friend. Aling Fely is
also considered almost my aunt because she's a close friend of my mother
since my childhood days.
Aling Fely's children and
grandchildren are recently our friends in Facebook and we are still keep
in touch with each other although she's passed away already.
#Cemetery #Caloocan #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
