Note: I wrote this article over a year go, right after my grandmother died, when I was feeling low.
I made my first solo trip for no apparent reason last Saturday. I went to Kalibo to surprise an old family friend. I ended up getting surprised at the many good things that life has to offer. The unexpected death of my grandmother ushered in a surge of emotions that left me feeling numbed, weak, and unsure with what’s in stored for me. For so many years, I have lived on my day to day routine: waking up, checking on my grandparents, going to working, sending them to the doctor for checkup, buying their medicines, etc. etc. With my grandmother’s passing, I did not know how to start again. That is why I decided to need to be alone. I need to be alone to think, piece myself together and find meaning for an existence that no longer subsist. After my long morning walk, I decided to hit the road. I went to Kalibo, my grandfather’s hometown, where a street has been named from an ancestor. I arrived there in the afternoon already and it took me a while to locate the place where our old family friend, Manang Cheng, has been living. Luckily, some nice folks helped me find her apartment. She was quite surprised to see me. She was not expecting for my arrival since I did not send her any advance notes of my coming. Anyway, I was there and pleasantries were exchanged and I got that warm welcome. Indeed, when you open your doors to strangers, you never know what’s going to happen. But I made a realization then. That, perhaps, I’d make it a habit of always hitting the road and exploring places I’ve never been to.
I made my morning walk to the famous Bakhawan Eco-Park at SitioBaybay in Old Buswang. I have been to this place in 2006 and I was delighted to have come back here. It’s a good two kilometer walk from the entrance to the end of the trail that leads to the beach. I arrived before 8 am and it was still closed. However, the entrance personnel has been most kind to let me in. I was the only visitor there, although there were already carpenters and utility personnel cleaning the area. Someone told me Japanese guests were coming, so they have to clean the area. It was soothing to be walking along tall mangroves and hearing nothing but only silence. The occasional chirping of birds were already a nuisance, although I delight listening to their hum. I didn’t notice time pass by and I realize it was passed 9 when I reach the end of the trail. The narrow winding wooden pathways finally reach the expansive sea. It was exhilarating to have witnessed such a beautiful scenery. The sea was calm and you could witness how the sky kissed the girth of the ocean. I felt better then.
My next destination was Sampaguita Garden in New Washington,
Aklan. The town lies next to Kalibo and it was a 15-minute jeepney ride. We
passed along the Kalibo Airport. I noticed a lot of abandoned resorts along the
way. Manang Cheng explained that New Washington used to be a popular stop over for
tourists, from Kalibo Airport heading to Caticlan. But when the Caticlan
Airport opened, the traffic of visitors coming here slowed down until these
businesses started closing.
I noticed that
the place had been weathered down and it was no match to its glory days. It was
once a jolly spot with many visitors roaming, from the Christmas Cottagheto Mr.
Butcher’s Mansion. Today, it was nothing but a poor remnant of its splendid
yore. The grounds are poorly manicured, some of the buildings are nearly
dilapidated. I noticed that the Christmas Cottage is no longer
maintained properly. There used to be a lot of staff in the area but I believe
their number is now down to skeletal forces. What came into my mind when I
entered Sampaguita was the merry and Christmas-sySampaguita 5-6 years ago.
Christmas songs were played everywhere, turning a sad soul into a jovial
spirit. Now, I only hear silence of dampened spirit. I remember there were
numerous exhibit rooms around, showcasing the many works of art of the owner, Mr.
Sam Butcher, but most of them were closed now. Even the displays at the
Christmas Cottage were also dusty and weathered.
