Sixty minutes before takeoff

This Sunday evening, National Geographic is doing a special feature on cars. The TV overhead is not too appealing for this traveler bound for home. The young man in black on my right side is busy playing with his PSP, its setting at maximum volume contributing to the ambient noise in this airport waiting room.

I am on my way back to Manila after a four-day stay in Cebu. During this trip, no specific itinerary was laid out for me, no work-related tasks needed to be accomplished. I’m on a break—from everything familiar in Manila. For four days, I breathed in Cebu—its laidback lifestyle, extremely friendly people, and the sights and sounds of the charming island.

Colon street

How could I leave Cebu without setting foot on the oldest street in the Philippines? Imagine Avenida with people speaking Cebuano instead of Tagalog and that is Colon street for you. My friend Terry and I met in one of the Jollibee outlets there—at 830 am—and walked the short stretch of the historical road, otherwise known as the street that time forgot.

 

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

This majestic, imposing structure caught my eye when we passed by it on our way to ride a multi-cab going to Lapu-Lapu city. Built it 1836, it reminded me of my alma mater in España. It’s a shame that our country neglects to preserve and promote some of our historical landmarks. For instance, I wouldn’t have discovered this church had we not walked across its perimeter while we were on our way somewhere else.

Abesaria

As early as my first day in the city, my friend was already egging me to visit Abesaria with her. Tucked in the heart of the city, it was an old house converted into a quaint restaurant reminiscent of Café by the Ruins in Baguio city. It displayed exotic food products, including a bottle of civet alamid coffee, at 800 apiece! I bought a package of garlic flakes to sprinkle on food instead.

 

 

 

Terry and Lynnie
For a minute, I wished my name was Bengie (beng-ngi) instead, just to rhyme with my two friends’ names. They played hosts to me during my Cebu stay. With Terry, my longtime friend from college, I checked out the Cebu White Sands and ate grilled squid by the poolside of Regency hotel (for only 100 pesos!Well, actually I got it for free because she treated me for lunch). She also introduced me to one of the best chewy chocolate chip cookies I have tasted. With Lynnie, my officemate working in our Cebu branch, I spooned Tom Yam at Krua Thai and watched DVDs of No Reservations and two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy (Her family was a delight to be with, especially her two nieces Nadine and Patricia who wowed me with their dancing skills. I stayed overnight in Lynnie’s home). Without these two ladies’ hospitality and graciousness, I might have spent my four days cocooned in my hotel room reading books, watching TV and fiddling with my laptop instead (and gaining ten pounds nibbling on all the mango chips I bought from Shamrock. Thankfully, I gained only two! Haha.)

 

The airplane is taxiing on the runway now. In eight minutes, we, last flight passengers, will be boarding. National Geographic is doing another feature, this time on missiles. The young man with the PSP switched his gadget to silent mode. And I will soon be turning off this laptop.

 

Rest: God Himself rested after six days of work. And I have Him to thank for giving me a chance to take a break too. For those starting to feel the effects of stress, of whatever origin, I highly recommend this: Take a few steps back and get away from it all, at least for a couple of days. If your situation doesn’t permit it, at least, “Have a Kitkat.” Basta, have a break.

 

 

Signing off now.