Traditional Village Event

     For two years, there was no village fiesta due to the COVID menace. Now it's the third year in a row after COVID that my niece and nephew celebrate in my house. I have no finances to run on my own. They prefer to do their celebration here due to space as they have a throng of visitors, from politics to business.

They hire a caterer 

     Last night was the vesper and there were so many people who came, many I didn't recognize. Some relatives approached me when when they were leaving, when they were a tipsy. I'm sure they won't have the courage to see me if they were sober. One particular thing I won't forget is when the mayor of the town came inside the house after dinner to look for me. I am so touched by the gesture, because I was not expecting that. For her to have dinner with my niece and nephew I thought was enough. A municipal councilor, a close friend of my niece and nephew, also came in looking for me later. There was a public dance as usual that kept them busy until wee hours in the morning.

     Today is the feast day and I'm sure the crowd will be larger than last night. Relatives and friends far and wide will come. The workers from the catering company came early this morning to prepare the tables for the day's feast. They are so professional in what they are doing.

The traditional lechon, roast pork

The TRAPOS advertise themselves 

Village Fiesta

     In a week's time, it will be the village fiesta, an annual event that happens every last Saturday of April in honor of the Black Nazarene, the patron saint. It is a religious tradition honoring the village saint in all villages, which usually happens during summer time in the Philippines. 

The barangay council erected welcome streamers 

     The first streamer hung up was that of the Governor and Vice Governor with their prominent photos, thanks God, it has been replaced. I learned from the barangay officers that the previous streamer was hung without their permission, it was hung by the Governor's staff. I'm glad it has been replaced with something less political.

The previous streamer with political background

     The barangay council spruced up the fiesta welcome sign by painting the bamboo and hanging the streamers accordingly.

The political streamer on the side , waiting perhaps for the opposition's streamer 

My Coffee Supply

    My coffee supply from my Malaysian friends arrived, a box full of instant coffee, pure coffee and 2-in-1 types. I loved them all. It's a blessing to have friends like them.

A variety of coffee

Self PT?

     A Filipino-American friend asked me if I am doing PT(physio-therapy) to improve my movement. I replied that I don't know any PTs nearby me at the moment, and beside, the truth is I have no funds to support such expensive-sounding therapy, although I didn't mention that to her. What I did, I searched online what could be done to improve my balance which I feel that's what I lack, self diagnosis. I was surprised to find these simple exercises to follow.

They are so simple and easy

     I tried it for a week until today, and I don't know if I am biased that it is of help. When I started, during the first three days, I had muscle ache, which I never was expecting as I thought the exercises were not so physical. It made me think it must be effective. I continued every morning after my morning walk, and today I found out marked improvement in my balance. I will continue this to see the long-term effects.

Happy Aidilfitri Festival

     I want to wish all my Muslim friends, mostly in Malaysia, a blessed and happy Aidilfitri Festival (Eidil'fitri to some).

     I won't forget the fiesta feel of it, very similar to the fiesta celebration in the Philippine villages, except that Aidilfitri is festival of the whole country, commemorating the end of the Muslims's  Ramadan, their fasting month when they completely fast from dawn to dusk. I got used to this yearly fasting of Muslims when I worked in Malaysia, although we, non-Muslims, were allowed to eat.

     One of my Malaysian closest friends is a Muslim, and there were times I would follow him back to his hometown to join his family, actually became my adopted family. I would fast with them although they allowed me to eat but as a sign of respect, I joined their daily fasting. There were many celerbrations of Hari Raya Aidilfitri I joined the Malay Muslim family since it's a two-day holiday in Malaysia, allowing to see their customs and traditions.

Stable BP

     In the last two months or so, my blood pressure(BP) has been normally stable, something I have not seen in four years. I have a sphygmomanometer to check my BP morning and night. I used to see sudden rise each week or two, this is the first time for a prolonged period. I am grateful for this, it means my medicines are effective. I have to maintain it to be like this. Praise God!

My latest BP profile

Managing Expectations

     I am back for good in my rural beginnings. Everyday I see typical people,  friends and relatives alike, do their usual thing which are not up to my expectations. I must learn to manage them so I don't have to worry. There are many things they're doing that are absolutely no-no to me. And politicians, when election time comes, use them for vote during the election, in any way including vote buying. I am useless now, there's nothing I can do to make them change, it is so hard. I also don't want to unnecessarily tire myself for health reasons. I am trying to learn to manage expectations that I will not end up frustrated. The truth is it's easier said than done.

The hardest thing to do for me

Banyan Tree Thailand

     Last time when I was still working, I travelled a lot, and when I was in Bangkok, Thailand, I would stay at Banyan Tree Hotel, I only changed to Aetas Hotel later. I was a loyal customer of Banyan Tree Hotel that they actually gave me a 2-night free stay in their Danang, Vietnam branch which I failed to use due to work commitment.

The comfort they provide to travellers is superb

     They're located not in the busy district of Bangkok, accessible to many areas of interest.

I usually was given a suite as a loyal customer

Their welcome tray you'll find bedside

     I stayed in this hotel when visiting customers in Thailand. I remember working for an American company like Hexion that they don't scrimp on hotel accomodation, as their priority is safety. I had the choice where to stay, they didn't dictate like the previous companies I worked with.

The prominent hotel tower

Amazing Sunset

     This Filipino celebrity posted in his IG this lovely sunset photo.

Awesome

     I love sunsets. I can probably sit here for a long time watching as the sun finally sets especially after an exhausting day. Many things may come to my mind about life in general, of things that happened in my life and things that I could have done differently in my past.

Krabi, Thailand

     When I was still working in Singapore, I took break from work by vacationing in places famous in Asia, it was my way to recharge and not worry so much on my domestic problems.

I visited island resorts

     One break I spent in Krabi, Thailand, one of the few trips that I went alone, really detachment from the world. Krabi was the perfect place to do that. I had time to do some island hopping, visited nearby islands including Maya Bay, where Leonardo DiCaprio's  movie The Beach was shot.

The trip to Wang Long Bay was unforgettable

Visited islands, so natural

The sparkling clear water is alluring