Mindanao Road Trip

These are snacks. It’s more fat in the Philippines!

When we asked for their wifi password, they admitted that it didn’t work, that only one computer actually got to use the internet connection and all their devices couldn’t. I suggested that maybe the password wasn’t what they thought it was and I offered to try to figure it out.

Now I had never installed a wifi router before so I had absolutely no idea how to go about doing that, but if there’s anything I’m good at, it’s Google. (Fun fact: once upon a time, my former colleagues’ nickname for me was Google because I’m good at searching for info in Google. It’s one of my hobbies, actually.) Not 10 minutes later, I had managed to reset their password (it really wasn’t what they thought it was) and everyone’s iphone’s and ipads could now have access to the internet. Yay me. 😛

We had a hearty dinner. While my mom had an animated discussion with her sibling, I did the same with mine. Later, Dad told me that Ate Minda had remarked how surprised she was that I was actually talkative. I’m pretty silent when I’m around new people, including relatives. My dad informed her that I did like to talk when I liked the topic. Haha.

I realized that that’s true. My mom talks to everyone, including complete strangers, and we always start joking to each other when we see her getting chummy with random people, telling each other, in a few minutes, she’ll find out that we are relatives (this actually happened before, see). Me, however, I am very talkative, but only when I am comfortable with the people I am with. I don’t talk to my seat mate in the office, for example, because we are not friends. And I never talk to strangers unless absolutely necessary.

It was raining, so we had a delightful sleep in a spare bedroom with bunk beds upstairs. I took one of the top bunks and assumed that my brother was going to take the other one. When my dad said he was, I remarked, “Are you sure you can handle climbing up there?” He was offended and replied, “Of course! I used to climb coconut trees. I was a farmer, you know!” Oops. I was just worried because he’s not exactly young anymore. But he did manage, so I was worried for no reason. Sorry Dad!

The next morning, we woke up early and had some breakfast before taking some photos. My aunt was so funny, she didn’t want to have her photo taken at first because she was afraid people would say, “Who’s that ugly woman with you?” Mom convinced her not to be ridiculous.

Then they drove us to back to Cagayan de Oro.

My brother then picked up the rental car we had found yesterday. He had decided that since Mom wanted to visit so many places, it would be easier to rent a car and drive than to keep on riding on buses. The car we found was a Vios that cost P2,500 per day. And off we went.

Road trip! Bro at the wheel, Dad riding shotgun

Lovely roadside sight

Valencia, Bukidnon

Our first stop was Valencia, where we met my cousin Kuya Jun and his family near a hospital. We ate lunch at a nearby carinderia. The last time I saw Kuya Jun was back in 2003 when I stopped over in Cagayan on the way to Zamboanga from Davao.

Maramag, Bukidnon

Our next stop was Maramag, where Mom met up with some of her cousins who lived in a compound full of relatives. They chatted in Aunt Erlinda’s place for a few hours before we had to say goodbye and head down the road again.

Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Mom met up with her friends for dinner. We tried to go into the mall but it was already closing at 7pm! I was in shock. Haha. So we went into a Chowking next door instead.

There was a funny moment when Mom didn’t recognize one of her friends because she had gotten so thin! I didn’t know that it was possible not to recognize someone you know very well, but then again they hadn’t seen each other for 20 years.

While they chattered on, my brother decided that we should go find a place to stay for the night. Naturally he had to tell me this decision right after I had made the decision to order a mini halo-halo even though it was raining and I was cold. So I had to rush eating my halo-halo and got brain freeze.

We drove around for a while and found an expensive hotel. We’re cheapskates so we left. Luckily I saw a sign pointing towards Villa Mercedes Inn, and we drove in there and there was one room left and it was only 800 pesos for one night, an extra 100 per extra bed. So cheap! And I loved that the rooms look like cottages. We happily reserved it then went back to get the ‘rents.

We had a nice, leisurely sleep. The room was small but decent, with aircon and its own bathroom with a shower that had hot water.

The next morning we had breakfast at my mom’s friend Auntie Elijah’s house. Red hotdogs!!! They don’t have those in Singapore. And pan de sal, the Filipino breakfast staple, a kind of bun. We also had sikwate (hot chocolate) with latik and mangoes, which my dad said was a typical Bisayan breakfast.

Cagayan de Oro (again)

We drove back to Cagayan. My brother returned the car. My mom and I then went with my cousin Ate Imee and my Auntie Tita (this is redundant, by the way. Tita also means “aunt” in Tagalog. But then again we’re Bisaya) to other relatives that I had never met before. (Dad and bro didn’t go because they had stuff to do.) We went to their house and I had fun talking to my cousin, who was actually getting married in Church in a week. She asked us to attend but we were headed home the next day and couldn’t. She also gave us some presents from US, where she is based. Mom and Ate Imee got watches while I got a wristlet bag, and we all got lotions and perfumes. She had a very nice house, by the way. I especially loved the chandelier.

We left and headed back to Ate Venus’s place with Ate Imee and Auntie Tita. While they chatted in the kitchen, I slipped upstairs for a nap.

We then met my cousin Kuya Boy and his family and my mom’s friend Auntie Sarah for dinner. We went to SM and Kuya Boy chose Bukidnon Roadhouse Cafe where they had this most amazing sizzling pochero and a few other dishes.

Roadhouse Cafe’s sizzling pochero, P595

Auntie Sarah then invited us to have dessert at their place. Auntie Sarah is not really my aunt, but I call her such because she is one of Mom’s best friends. Her sister Celia, who also came to dinner, is actually my godmother, so I call her Ninang Celia. First she bought some ice cream at SM, then we headed to her home where she proceeded to serve the ice cream and a lot of other food, like papayas fresh from their own backyard, and a bunch of other sweets.

So we didn’t get to do anything touristy at all, but it was fun to meet up with relatives and friends.

*Ate – Term of respect for older women
*Kuya – Term of respect for older men