Color Game

It has been my tradition to go to Calatagan, Batangas every summer. Being a Lola’s Boy, spending time with my Lola is truly pleasurable even at the expense of depriving myself of accessing the Web. Another reason for visiting Calatagan is to enjoy the feast of their patron saint. Lotsa food, isn’t it? LOL.

This year was quite a different one. On the night of the feast, my auntie, my cousin and I went to the town complex. As we marched towards the town proper, we saw a lot of stalls along the street, surrounding the church and the whole plaza. Colorful plastic items and battery-operated blinking stuff fascinate kids. Tons of bras and panties. LOL. Mothers and some little girls love “hoarding” utensils, while their emo-looking kiddos grouped themselves to search for accessories. For the teenage girls, it’s shopping time, as they squeezed themselves inside the “department store” to buy new clothing and footwear. I enjoyed watching how people move, not realizing that we’ve reached the town complex.

I remembered my chat with my little cousin before going to the town complex.

Little Cousin: Kuya, sama ka na sa’min.
Yom: (Reluctant to accompany them) Anong meron doon?
Little Cousin: (Batangueno accent) May mga palaruan doon sa perya ngayon. May rides din yata doon. Aba’y sumama ka na. *smiles*

True to his word, the town complex is indeed a big amusement center. It’s a playground, not only of kids who lined up to experience the rides, but of Bingo experts and Color Game fanatics.

And my seven-year-old cousin happens to be a Color Game fanatic. LOL.

Why Goodbye?

The now-disbanded boy band Blue, together with Elton John, stated in one of their songs that “sorry” seems to be the hardest word.

But “goodbye“, for me, is the hardest, the most painful and the saddest (also according to Celine Dion’s song) word compiled by the lexicographers.

I remember my childhood days. My mother’s mother, Lola Agot, lives in Batangas. My family and I visit her several times a year. If time and money permits Lola, she visits us in Manila instead. As the eldest (and the most handsome) grandson, I can say that my Lola and I have a very strong bond, maybe because of the fact that I was the only grandson for a couple of years. Being a certified Lola’s Boy, tears never fail to fill my eyes when parting. Eventually, saying goodbye to my Lola gains better acceptance of a life reality, though I still feel very sad most of the time.