And now to my Valentine’s Day story 
I’d like to tell you that in my whole life, this was the first time that I’ve bought a purely red blouse, and to wear this on a Valentine’s Day. And my partner, E, his first time also to have a red shirt, a recent Christmas gift of the Opon bunch - that’s what we call the family of our eldest who resides in Opon (Mactan) or Lapu-lapu City in Cebu.
February 14 was the General Alumni Homecoming of the institution where my hubby graduated in high school. He has always been participative in the activities of his class batch, and I oblige myself to be with him in these affairs, to the point that I have become part of his classmates’ group – a 10 to 15 (or to 20+) diehards. Most of their get-togethers aside from the homecoming, could be a birthday celebration, party given by any balikbayan classmate, wedding of a classmate’s son or daughter, or even a wake/burial of any one of their batchmates who has gone ahead.
For the day’s assembly, the motif was Hawaiian, so E bought a Hawaiian polo shirt for the occasion. I decided not to go with the crowd but to emphasize its being Valentine’s Day by wearing red, as I reasoned out, anyway I’m not an alumna of their school (I was not alone for this, many alumni/alumnae even did go for the color of the day!). The school affair began with the Eucharistic Celebration at 8:00am, followed by the parade/motorcade (some were on foot, some on wheels) and the program. At lunch time, the group then headed to the Sunburst Seaside Resort owned by one of the classmates, where we had our fill. The cottage we got had a room with two beds – ahhh one should be for me, perfect for my after-lunch one-hour sleep! While I went to dreamland (did I really, with all the noise, nay shouts, outside?), they were playing games, to which I joined when I got up. We had fun with bingo to while away the time up to past 4:00pm, when the group broke up.
In the evening, the family (with our guests, my brother-in-law’s family of three and a niece) took over, and that’s when the daddy wore his Valentine attire (he could not be outdone, hey?). Inside, I was really amused with us both in red! And this added to the happy mood of the evening! Looking for something new, we had our dinner in a known native/seafood restaurant, but which we had tried for the first time, it being far from our place, plus there are now so many food establishments in Bacolod City to choose from, and more accessible from where we live. Aboy’s (that’s the name) has a unique approach to dining in that, they have prepared cooked yummy varied viand ready to be served for the hungry guest who cannot wait for orders anymore, and also have marinated ready-to-grill fish/chicken/squid/pork if the customer opts for it. The result: yummy food and fast service!
With full tummies we went back to the van, but wait, there was no dessert yet. Some wanted the favorite halo-halo, but as the mall was closing, a wiser alternative would be to buy ice cream and enjoy it still with the group, and so to the uncle’s place which was nearer, we went. It was a limited edition of Nestle`, and you know what I mean – yummy! While watching “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (a favorite Saturday TV show here in the Philippines), and also munching pistachio nuts (sent by bro-in-law from the States) with the ice cream, time dashed by quickly.
With great thanksgiving to the Lord for a day well celebrated, we bade goodbye and good night to end our memorable red day at nearly eleven.
Tags: Aboy's, Alumni Homecoming, Eucharistic Celebration, family, Hawaiian, Maalaala Mo Kaya, red, Sunburst Seaside Resort, thanksgiving, Valentine's Day
. Sincerely, I’d like to apologize to all who have visited, only to find the site with no updates. *more sad face*
