A Short Side Trip to Home

However short, time spent at home and with loved ones will always be cherished.

I grab every opportunity to go home to Iloilo --- that's a given. When I had a client assignment in Victorias City, Negros last June, I took advantage of the proximity and the weekend break to have a short sidetrip and spend some time with Mama and the dogs!

I left Victorias at 6:00 am Saturday and boarded a bus for a one-hour trip to Bacolod City. Then, I took a cab to reach the port where the ferries going to Iloilo are. I didn't make it in time for the 7:30 schedule so I made use of the downtime to buy some pasalubong (Merci tarts and napoleones, Bongbong piaya, and two coconut shells of kalamay- hati). I also had a relaxed breakfast of sandwich and soda (my soda intake has increased during this recent client assignment, in my effort to gain weight).

I arrived in Iloilo via the new Lapuz port at around 10:30 am, and reached home before lunch. My doggies were ecstatic over my arrival, fighting for my attention even as they were still wet from their bath. Obviously, I was wet as a fish after the whole crazy group hug, smelling good of dog shampoo.

Hope, one of my doggies, relaxed and contented on his favorite spot, right after his bath and grooming

Please click 'Read more' for the rest of my home-sweet-home post.

I had my favorite feast of Mama's adobo (a.k.a. the Philippine's national dish) and laswa (Visayan version of vegetable soup, usually consisting of okra, squash and leafy greens like malunggay, alugbate or saluyot). Tito Costan was very happy with the kalamay-hati that he consumed his own half in no time. Kalamay-hati is a dessert/delicacy most associated with Negros, the sugar capital of the Philippines. It's made of half part sugar (raw, brown or muscovado) and half part 'pilit' or sticky rice (i.e., 50:50), with added coconut milk for more stickiness. Hence, the name 'kalamay' for sugar and 'hati' for half. This is usually sold in halved coconut shells although there are other containers nowadays. I later bought kalamay-hati in a plastic container at the Bacolod-Silay Airport. However, the one at the port fared higher in my scorecard.

Half and half: This looks similar to the ones I got at the port. Delish!
Photo credits: makeeatsimple.com

The morning after: Hello again Alta Tierra!

Mama never tire of constantly improving our humble abode, especially with Tito Costan, her youngest brother around (There are only three of them alive from originally 13 siblings. I'm grateful Tito Costan decided to stay with us). The front 'yard' with Mama's mini-garden is now roofed. Yay! I can hang out there forever, sheltered from the elements of rain and sun. The height of the ceiling also helped make the small space look larger. Just recently, she told me that she is building a 'tree-house'. I honestly have no idea what this will be, hahaha.

This shot frames my favorite adage: Life is short. Spend it with people who matter.

All roads lead to Home:
The broken-tiles pathway is also Mama's idea

Nothing compares with the sleep I have when I'm at home...without a care in the world, the stress of work miles away, and just being right beside Mama.

Our humble mustard yellow door

All good things must come to an end. I left Iloilo on Sunday afternoon and returned to Victorias City before 8:00 pm.

I was home for a little over a day. It was short and sweet like any cliché. But just like a favorite song that you set on 'repeat', I'll do it all over again in a heart beat.