First Day High

Kanina ka pa?

Musta?

Ayos lang. Kaw?

Tatango

Asan siya?

Magkikibit-balikat

May kinuha ka na?

Ito lang (Beer at mani)

Boss!

May lalapit

Isa nga rin. (Tuturo sa beer). Tsaka... (Pabulong) pengeng mani. Wag adobo a, nilaga.

Tatango si Boss

Kamusta mga bata?

Tulog na kanina pa

Anong sabi mo?

Kako iinom lang saglit, sa kaibigan ko

Naniwala naman?

Sana

Matalino pa naman yung dalawa

Tangina. Hindi ko alam anong sasabihin ko pag nagtanong uli e

Tahimik. Lilingon sa ibang direksyon

Ayos din pala to nu? Mukhang malinis

Dapat lang. Sa labas man lang e

Yan na yata ung inorder ko

Babalik si Boss, may dalang beer at isang platong mani, at isa pang mani

Hi

Hi. Ernie. Kumpare ko si Jun

Tatango

Tikang. 2 months pa lang.

Yun! Maupo ka

Jun, parang malungkot ka?

‘Di ayos lang yan

Jun, gusto mo ba? May marireto ako

(Diretso ang tingin) Hindi ayos lang

Kanina pa kayo?

Hindi naman

First time niyo dito?

Siya oo, ako hindi

Parang hindi siya nag-eenjoy

Ayos lang yan. Mamaya lang konti magsasalita na rin yan

Okay. Ano namang sinabi mo sa misis mo?

Sus. Wala ako nun.

2 months na ako dito. Lahat sila wala daw nun
Sila yun

Bolero. Itong si Jun ba? Jun!

Meron na ‘ko

Buti pa ‘to mukhang mabait

Mukha lang! Hindi... mabait talaga yang kumpare ko

Tikang, sino yun?

Titingin sila sa kanan

Ewan ko. Bago lang.

Hindi. Yung kasama niya?

Yung balyena? Si Rody, suki rito

Bakit pre?

Blanko

Naku, hindot yang hinayupak na ‘yan. Putangina ang bigat sa kama. Nakakapagod. Ang liit naman ng titi. Tagal pang labasan.

Mukhang may kaya.

Sa totoo lang, malaki naman magtip

Tatayo

Pre, san ka pupunta?

CR lang

Sige, dagdag ako ng isa pa a

Tatango

Babalik sa lamesa

Tuloy ang kwentutan... kwentuhan pala

Anong oras ka matatapos dito?

Maya maya. Mga ala singko. Hindi mo ba ‘ko papainomin?

Siyempre naman. Order ka.

Boss!

Huling lagok na. Tatayo

Jun? Pre?

Palabas

Jun? Pre?

Una na ‘ko.

Pre naman. Ni hindi mo nagalaw yung mani mo.

Papasok pa mga bata

Tangina naman pre. Kakasimula

Baka magising sila.

pa lang

Ni isa sa ‘min hindi nila makita

natin

Mga ala singko pa pala

Ako taya ngayon!

uuwi nanay nila

(378 salita)

Coincidences

I experienced three things in Baguio which were totally out of my control. 

The shutter
On Sunday afternoon, I walked all the way from the White House, to Teachers' Camp, Botanical Garden, Wright Park, and up to The Mansion with my fully-charged digital camera. Those who have been to Baguio know that these sights are far from each other and it is best to commute instead.  

After reaching The Mansion by foot, I hired a taxi to get me to Good Shepherd Convent and Mines View Park in 15 minutes. I spent three to four hours for the entire trip and I took my time taking photos of sights and scenes that interested me. Click. Click. Click. View. Next or delete.

I thought that Mines View Park was tourist-friendly but the view deck (which everyone wants to see) was not that awe-inspiring. Countless of roofs scattered in the mountain range did little to overwhelm me. I decided to take (obligatory) landscape shots to capture my last stop and after three shots, my camera died. 

I submitted to the thought of going back to my transient. I was so damn tired that at one point I even complained putang*na, pagod na 'ko."

The pen
I decided to keep a travel journal with #BiyahengBaguio as my first entry. I wrote down every place I have gone to and my experiences to make my three-day trip last. 

My trip back to Manila was scheduled on a Monday, 2 PM but I was already at Victory Liner by 1:10 PM. The security guard assured me they will announce once the bus has arrived. To kill time, I wrote my last day's journey highlighted by my trip to the Lourdes Grotto. As I was writing my final sentence, expressing gratitude to my landlords, my pen ran out of ink. 

A three-day travel in the City of Pines must be truly exhausting that my pen had to give up on me.

The ride
I weren't able to continue writing so I read The Sherlockian (a fast-paced mystery novel by Academy-award winning writer Graham Moore) instead.

The novel was thrilling and I was so close to finishing it, I didn't want to stop. My mind insisted but my tired eyes gave up. I put a bookmark on the page where I paused and helplessly yawned.  

After what I felt was a long time waiting, I looked at my watch and realized that it was already five minutes before 2 PM! My co-passengers were already boarding the bus so I ran to it. 

Victory Liner didn't announce that my time in Baguio was up. My body made me feel it.  


Whenever I remember these coincidences, I wonder: I think I met Baguio like a lady with her period on, someone who can get cold and unpredictable.  

Tags: #BiyahengBaguio #Baguio #BaguioCity