cebu city

l to r : uncle pe'ing, mom, dad, uncle tito

uncle tito pouring vinegar into his drink.

i dont know why they made me take this photo but we ate so much food.

l to r: mama, honey mae, me, uncle pe'ing, uncle tito, ariane

i'm sitting in a hotel in cebu. having a little alone time to wind my mind down.

the past few days have been sort of a whirlwind. i got in on saturday night and met

my dad at the airport. i hadn't seen him in almost two years but it wasn't that strange.

he gave me a big hug and started tearing up before turning away and marching up some

stairs. then we met up with my mom and two of my uncles. my mom kept hugging me and

holding my hand and saying "my girl, my girl, how are you?" i've missed all her little mannerisms.

i should also note here that my uncles flew here from the island that we're from. (i say i'm from

because that is where my blood runs) this was their first time in an airplane and their first time in

cebu since the 80s. the night before they came, all my cousins and my auntie were teasing pe'ing. 

saying they better pack rice because there's none in cebu. and they actually did. HAHAHAHA. 

luckily they didn't leave the house with it. i've loved watching them see the city for the first 

time. my favourite part is when they get on the escalator. i guess because it reminds me of nanay.

or when they really enjoy food.  

we only had one full day with my dad so we just drove around cebu, showing my uncles & me

everything. then we walked around three different (massive) malls and had dinner at 'the golden cowrie'

which is a gourmet filipino restaurant. we ordered soooo much food. i always say i don't like filipino 

food. but what i really mean is, i dont like lumpia or pancit. there are many other things i really love.

today we went to my cousin's work, which is a restaurant called 'chika'an'. another gourmet filipino

place. and this was even better than the golden cowrie! i was soooo excited to see my cousin, 

honey mae. she is one of the best people i know. and it made me happy to see she was equally

excited! when we started ordering the food, i got a bit teary because its beginning to feel more

like home. i have my uncles and now i have honey mae. and tomorrow i will have everyone else.

i just feel so thankful to be here. its weird that a large part of this culture has grown me. things 

that i've only started noticing about myself, i am seeing so clearly comes from this part of me. 

and i'm becoming terrified at how little my children might know of this part of them.