These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

Everybody got up early because we wanted to avoid the tourist rush at the St. Paul Underground River National Park north of Puerto Princesa City.

The trip took hours into the beautiful lush rugged mountains northwest of the city. The sights were absolutely wonderful. Beautiful mountains covered in green vegetation. And since it was early in the morning, the mist covered most of the land but the mountain tops. I’m telling you, it looked like a setting for Jurassic Park. It was serene and magnificent. I loved it. The roads were very bumpy most of the way, but I cared less. I’m ready to say that it was the most scenic road trip I had in my entire life yet!

I woke up by the time we arrived at park’s pier or something. The backdrop! God, the backdrop of the place was majestic! Jagged limestone mountains covered in extremely lush vegetation, its top hidden in white streaks of clouds. To my left, I saw a beautiful long stretch of unspoiled wide white sand beach lined with very tall coconut palms swaying with the sea breeze. And then I look out into the South China Sea and I saw islands, tens of smalls hilly islands covered in green vegetation.

Okay enough of that.

After some preparations, we all boarded our own motored bancas at the rocky beach on the other side of the pier. Then we journeyed deep into the park along the scenic coast to the site of the famed underground river.

The water was crystal clear. I’m telling you, I could see all way down at the bottom of the sea!! I need not even go into the water to see fishes and sea turtles! And the coast was very majestic. White sand beaches line the coast with numerous limestone cliffs protruding into the sea. You know, I truly can’t describe the magnificence of the place by my vocabulary. You have to be there yourself!!

Okay. After an hour or so, we arrived at a secluded white sand beach enclosed by limestone cliffs.. We walked into the forest and followed a path which lead us into a station, at the mouth of the St. Paul Underground River. There were only four paddled bancas so we waited for the others to finish their underground river trip. While waiting, I soaked a little at the sandy banks of the mouth of the river. The water was cool and clear and the sand was very soft.

After about an hour, the first batch of people paddled out of the river. We all wore helmets and life vests and then boarded the bancas. Soon, the tour guide paddled our banca into the entrance of the river carved like a hole in a tall limestone cliff. Soon, as we paddled farther and farther from the entrance, it turned pitch dark black until the tour guide switched on a spot light or something which he held with his hands.

It stunk a little inside mainly because it was home to thousands of bats. We paddled several kilometers deep into the underground river and marveled at the stalactites and stalagmites shaped like different things. The river had different sectors. There was the Cathedral, where the limestone ceiling was very high and was shaped like a dome of a cathedral and the stalagmites and stalactites were shaped like statues of saints! There was also the biggest sector of the river where the limestone ceiling was at its highest. It was a huge! There were times when the battery of our light failed and believe me it was ultimate darkness. It was scary! We had to make a u-turn at a certain point in the river because it is somewhat prohibited for tourists to go any further and deeper into the river. On the way back, I soaked my hands on the water while we were paddling back to the entrance. The river’s water was very cold.

Anyway, when we got back at the station, we made our way to the picnic cottages where we had lunch with macaque monkeys and monitor lizards.

After finishing my lunch, I went to the beach where I played with the soft powder sand under the heat of the sun, making sand castles without any tools. It was fun. But after that, my skin was burned.

Later that noon, we journeyed back to the park’s main pier then drove back to the city along the same rugged roads in the deep mountain forests. But I wasn’t able to watch much of the scenes again because I got tired and fell asleep. I did however see the tall limestone cliffs along the rice paddies in the countryside.

Sigh. Such bumpy roads. I’m telling you.

We got back at our hotel and rested. I didn’t join my mom at dinner time somewhere in the city because … er, I don’t know. I didn’t want to.

These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

In the ship, I saw a very petite young Filipino woman carrying this big white baby. Some other women asked her who the parents of the baby were. She answered that she was the mother. Apparently, from what I heard, the father was Australian who left her. It’s either that or the Australian father has no idea that the woman he had sex with, bore him a child. I could just picture how this situation came to be. I wonder why it is usual to see a Filipino woman left alone to a child born from a foreigner. I mean, I never heard an American or any other Caucasian woman bearing the child of a Filipino man who left her all alone with the child. Filipinas are always the victims. Anyway, that’s not my point in this entry.

We arrived at the port of Puerto Princesa (Palawan’s capital) at noon. While the ship was docking, I took a stroll at the decks of the ship. At the left side of the ship, I watched the local boat people diving for the coins that the passengers threw at them. At the right deck, I watched the port personnels of Puerto Princesa ridiculously dancing in local costumes waving palm leaves and singing a song in a local dialect. They seemed very, very hospitable. They just looked really ridiculous. Not to their disadvantage. I just found them funny.

Our host is another government department’s boss I think. She arranged our meals and activities. Kind lady.

We ate lunch at a local restaurant in the city. Palawan is also known for its seafood so we had a hearty lunch. Scrumptious. Mussels, shrimps, fishes. Mmm.

After dropping off our luggages at the hotel, the entire group went to Honda Bay, at the north-eastern part of Puerto Princesa City. The group was divided and everyone boarded these motor bancas for island hopping around Honda Bay.

The bay was huge. After touring two islands on the boat, we headed off to Araceffi Island, where Dos Palmas Resort is. It is where the Abu Sayaff kidnapped their famous hostages that the Philippine and American army are now chasing and trying to recover.

The almost-one-hour trip to Araceffi island was a bumpy ride. We caught up with strong currents and waves. It was fun though, with the small banca riding those big waves.

Dos Palmas Resort was magnificent. It was wonderful. White powder sand. Beautiful palms all over the island. Crystal clear water. Hundreds of fishes. We just toured the Resort. Because of the kidnappings, it is closed. It’ll open soon though. It’s such a waste. It was such a beautiful place.

After touring Araceffi Island, we went to other islands like the Snake Island, called such because it is one long island stretch of pure white sand. Beautiful. We also went to Starfish Island. Apparently, there are many starfishes there. Didn’t see any though. I’m so amazed at the sand. I’ve never felt such soft sand before. Such a contrast to Cabangan’s coarse sand.

It was already around 7 pm when we got back to the Honda Bay docks. From there, we went to another resort along the city’s beautiful coast where we ate our dinner.

That’s my first day in Palawan. Such a beautiful place. And there’s more. I’ve only been here in Puerto Princesa City. Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines. There’s surely much, much, much, much more to see in the Philippines’s last frontier.

Just one setback. Puerto Princesa roads were horrible! Your internal organs would get all jumbled up with such bumpy dirt roads!

These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

I am on the MS San Paolo right now to Palawan (the Philippines’ last frontier). My mom enlisted me to go with her and the rest of her office on this vacation at Palawan. If I only knew that this trip was a group trip, I could’ve just stayed home. I dislike traveling with a big group. My mom’s office happens to be an entire department, almost a hundred people travelling together.

This is going to be my first time in Palawan.

We went to Manila’s port this noon. The port was very filthy and stinky. Slum areas everywhere. An awful stench was with the warm humid air. Plus, the sea breeze wasn’t at all fresh. It smelled a lot like garbage. The government should improve Manila’s port. How can that place be the most important port in the country? It looked and smelled like a stinky wet market. It’s chaos! But the port was something I could handle. I’ve been around Manila’s streets often enough to be used to this. I love Manila, but I could love it even more if things were just much, much, much better.

We boarded the ferry and got to our cabin. It was a cozy cabin. Front view of the ocean, two old wooden-style beds with those four posts and curtain thingies. The room was even garlanded with ornamental plastic plants. We even had our own rest and bath room.

I’ve stayed here all this time. There’s nothing to see outside. I was either watching TV (there was only one channel in the ship), or reading “The Rescue” by Nicholas Sparks. That book’s taking me forever to read. Like… it takes me forever to read any book.

Good night. I’d like to sleep now.

I’m back home. It’s almost midnight.

I spent most of my morning with little Ricky. I love that filthy kid. I’ll miss him and all the other kids a lot. I’ll miss ‘Nay Teng, my foster brothers, Kuya Robert and Arjay and ‘Tay Bert as well. Everything and everybody. I’ll miss them all.

Since my foster brothers were in school this morning, I was left to play with little Ricky who doesn’t go to school yet. I could barely understand the words he say, but I understand him somehow. He has this superior attitude and keeps cussing. Why, I don’t blame him. His dad was mean I suppose and he seemed to have left Ricky alone with his mother. Can’t blame him. It was nice being with him all morning, but I was gloomy for the fact that I was to leave by tonight. We just played around the fields strolling around. I even got a wound because that kid led me to these thorn shrubberies. I was too big to avoid those damn thorns.

This afternoon, there was a meeting for all the BANLAW volunteers. I was bored to hell in the meeting. Maybe because I was overwhelmingly apprehensive that I’ll be leaving soon and I haven’t got time to waste in the meeting. Ah, I don’t know.

However, there is a part of me that’s dying to get home. There is also a part of me that wants to stay a little longer. But I couldn’t stop it. Though it was sad to leave, I was indeed dying to get home.

I gave ‘Nay Teng a figurine of the holy family as a remembrance. Then, I tried all my best to show my sincere appreciation for the genuine hospitality that she has shown. I just left quickly after that. Those few minutes before we reached the town center from which my mom’s office driver would pick me up, I spent thinking.

Arjay feels bad that I’m leaving this soon. Kuya Robert is hoping I’d come back on their village’s fiesta on May. ‘Tay Bert hitched a ride with me to Olongapo. ‘Nay Teng, I cannot grasp how she feels. She doesn’t feel indifferent. But I don’t know if she’s glad I’m leaving or she’s sad. She did invite me to come back on their village fiesta.

In any way, I am home. I miss my home a lot. But then, I’ll never forget my experience these past few days.

Thank you for the wonderful experience. I’ve learned a lot in the few days I’ve spent with your family, ‘Nay Teng. Thank you, thank you very much.

These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

7:30 AM: I just moved my bowel for the first time here. It needs a lot of getting used to. The story of my first boweling experience here later.

First off, Kuya Robert and Arjay had left for school. By the way, ‘Tay Bert is here, the father of Kuya Robert and Arjay, from Olongapo. I met him for the first time last night.

So back to the story… I told ‘Nay Teng and ‘Tay Bert that I desperately needed to move my bowel. They told me to go to the neighboring cluster of huts, where their former hut was (that’s the reason why their comfort room is still there). ‘Nay Teng told me to borrow a pail of water from her mother for me to use. The toilet doesn’t have a flush mechanism, see.

I walked to the next neighborhood but found nobody there. ‘Nay Teng’s mother wasn’t there. Nobody was. I was clueless as what to do. And I had that painful urge in the butt to finally push that stinking thing out. I walked back to ‘Nay Teng and told her that there weren’t anybody there. So she gave me our own pail and I walked back again to the neighbors’ quickly going to the well and started pumping water for my use. I don’t have strong arms you know, so I was struggling to carry that heavy pail of water to the CR. By the time I got there, a fourth of the water has spilled.

There. The moment I sat down. Blop! I stayed there for more than 10 minutes. And those 10 minutes were not comfortable.

Why on good earth do they have to construct the comfort room together with the PIG STY! Thank God I have colds! With my nose clogged, it still smelled horribly putrid, with the pig and my shit! What could it have smelled when I had not gotten colds? Why do they have the lavatory beside the pig sty? I mean, the concrete wall separating the pig sty from the CR doesn’t even reach the nipa ceiling to completely seal the pig sty off the CR.

Now, just to chronicle some happenings of yesterday that I wasn’t able to write down, and I’ll have caught up with my journal: I insisted with Arjay that we should swim at the sea this day. I have been here in this coastal village for 3 days and I haven’t swam in the sea yet. It’d be about time. And yes, ‘Nay Teng finally allowed me.

The sea isn’t actually for swimming, less than 5 meters into the water, and you’d drown, as in you wouldn’t be able to step on the sandy bottom anymore. The waves were strong. The actual beach drastically drops a few meters before it kisses the ocean, so there seems to be somewhat like a half-dune that forms like a sandy dike along the coast.

It was fun swimming…with the kids and everybody else. I intentionally neglected bringing swimming trunks. People don’t wear swimming trunks there. So all I was wearing were my shorts. So it always grows heavy when it is soaked in water. Plus the sand that accumulate in the pockets. Everytime I’d get up, my shorts would fall a little bit before I’d go holding it up and removing all the sand and water that had accumulated. Beats me how the kids could play so actively and swim so fast with their clothes on (they didn’t even remove their shirts). As for me, I spent some of my time playing in the sand building sand castles. But I never accomplished constructing one with such strong waves. The kids even buried me in the sand for the first time. I never realized sand would be so heavy when you’re buried under it.

At about 6 PM, the sun had begun to set. Kuya Robert arrived and we all rose from the sea and walked to the beach, back home. Kuya Robert said some people had invited us to go to Iglesia ni Cristo, a Christian sect that originated in the Philippines. It would seem that there would be a talk to non-INC believers. And so, we are invited. Obviously the purpose was to at least open our eyes to the ‘truth’ that the Iglesia ni Cristo believes in.

So that night, we all prepared and dressed up for the talk. It was the village’s INC members that cordially invited us to come to their church tonight. They were the ones who arranged our transportation to the church which was at the town proper. So that night, we rode tricycles to the INC temple. And there, we listened to the extremely passionate INC missionary who orated the ‘truth’ to the non-believers who accepted the cordial invitations. When the session ended, there were some people who were asking me how I felt towards the missionary’s attacks on my affiliation, Roman Catholicism. No matter what anybody say, I firmly believe that I already belong to the one true Church of Christ. That’s what I said. But then, it was a nice experience to be at an Iglesia ni Cristo temple for the first time. I think the INC is the prime church opposition to the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

So that was all that happened yesterday

I didn’t take note of the time anymore: This morning, my foster parents, ‘Nay Teng and ‘Tay Bert invited me to go with them to the beach where they’ll meet up with a person who’d like them to castrate her pigs. Since I’d be alone at home if I didn’t go with them, I went ahead.

We walked across the fields and into some sharp fences to go to the woman who owns the newborn pigs that ‘Tay Bert would castrate. ‘Nay Teng didn’t want to witness the castration so she sat far from the site. As for me, I was interested to see how pig castration was done. I was standing there, in front of the woman and ‘Tay Bert beside the pig sties (ugh, pig sties again).

According to ‘Tay Bert, newborn pigs have to be castrated a few days after they are born. It is done for the reason that keeping the pigs’ testicles there will inhibit the full growth of the pig (I guess maybe it’s because of the hormones produced). And since they want the pigs to grow fast and good, they have to remove the testicles.

Among the newborn piglets, there were 4 male ones. And one by one, the woman who owned them, brought them out of the pen while she held them upside down by the legs wide apart. ‘Tay Bert would then cut a slit at the rear. Apparently, piglets’ testicles are still inside the body so he has to cut a slit. He inserts his finger at the slit and tries to pull out the two balls. One by one, he removed each testicle by opening up its protective layer and slicing through the connective tissue. Then, he applies medicine to the wound and the woman places the piglet back into its pen.

All that while the piglet whined and shrieked to the top of its lungs. At first the shrieks would make you feel very uncomfortable together with the sight. But I got used to it. There’s nothing unusual with pig castration I think. They only spare one pig to be father for the next generation of pigs.

Kuya Robert came back home from school early. ‘Tay Bert told him to buy cement and hollow blocks in town. You see, ‘Tay Bert is constructing and concretizing their small kitchen. And of course, I went with Kuya Robert to town to buy cement and hollow blocks.

Wearing my cap, sando, slippers, and shorts, we biked on our squeaky pain-in-the-butt bikes to town. Actually, I was riding the bike that Kuya Robert borrowed from his cousin because one of the squeaky bikes we used to ride was now bolted into a pedicab. The chains of my bike were often clogging so I switched bike with Kuya Robert. Though it hurt much more than the one I had, at least it was working properly.

We went to two hardware and construction shops in town and bought a couple of sacks of cement and some hollow blocks and arranged for a tricycle to bring them back home.

It started drizzling after a while so we quickly biked our way back to the village. This afternoon, Kuya Simon arrived here. He is a BANLAW area chief but he is assigned at another fishing village. He was one of the volunteers from last year who stayed here that’s why he was here for a visit. And he happened to be the Features editor of Hilites Magazine.

I was with the kids and Kuya Simon. As usual, since I was just a newcomer, I felt outcasted with all their stories from last year. We all walked to the beach where we met up with a lady sitting beside a banca untangling some fishing nets. She is apparently Kuya Simon’s foster mother last year. While they were all there talking and stuff, and since I felt that I was just a sore thumb, I left them and walked towards the sea and once again, stood against the waves in solitude.

At one moment, Arjay, who was with us, called me out and pointed out that a few meters from me, were some flying fishes unusually close to the shore. Arjay said that I was attracting them. Whoa! He was just joking, duh. But really, it was unusual for flying fishes to be swimming dangerously close to the shore with fishermen ready to catch them.

Then, I just saw that Kuya Simon together with the lady in the banca and Kuya Robert, were carrying the banca out into the sea. When it touched the water, the lady boarded the banca with Kuya Robert and they paddled their way out into the wide open ocean. They will be among the hundreds of fishermen fishing in the moonless night with their luminous lamps to attract the fishes. You should see the sight at night. The whole horizon looked as if it wasa string of Christmas lights. Wonderful sight, really.

Soon after, everybody else jumped into the sea and joined the swimming fray. While on the beach, I met a co-BANLAW volunteer who was with this local teenage girl. That girl’s name is Joanna. She actually invited me tomorrow to hang out with them. I doubt I will be able to. I’d rather hang out with the local kids with my foster brothers.

Tonight, all the kids, Arjay and I, went to the beach to welcome Kuya Robert and the lady from fishing out in the ocean. I think they call this thing salubong which literally means to meet up or to welcome. The beach was dark. The kids said that in order for Kuya Robert and the lady to get to the coast, we had to light up a bonfire. Bonfire it was we made. While the kids collected the fuel (they insisted I just relax), I absorbed all of my last night there by rolling in the warm sand (I’ve just taken a bath so it felt really cool).

Sitting and lying around the bonfire at the beach that cool night was great. The kids and everyone were all telling stories which were hilarious. They were singing. And I sang too, solo. They liked it. Er, my song I mean. It was great. I’d wish that moment had lasted much much longer. Kuya Robert and the lady arrived soon. Kuya Robert, tired from fishing threw at me this beautiful fish and then I placed it at the bonfire to cook. I ate it, and boy it was one of the best fish I have ever tasted, no kidding. We hung around there a little more. It was extremely great. Damn it, just when I was liking it a lot here with these kids, it’s almost over. I’ll leave tomorrow night already. Bummer.

Then, it started to drizzle. So we all headed back to our homes and spent the night. My last night.

These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

7:07 AM: I woke up 10 minutes ago. Actually, I woke up when it was still dark. My guess is that it was about 4 AM then, the usual time I wake up to get in front of the computer. Since there was nothing to get up early for, I slept again and just woke up 10 minutes ago.

I’m all alone in the hut. Arjay and Kuya Robert are in school. I don’t know where ‘Nay Teng could be but maybe she’s there on the neighboring cluster of huts doing her chores with her fellow housewives.

It’s a bit chilly this morning. But surely it was nothing compared to last Saturday night when we slept at the beach with the wide dark ocean (more on that later).

It’s a school day. I am sitting in this little white plastic chair writing on pieces of paper on my lap as I watch kids on their bicycles and littler kids in groups of more than 10 crammed in and around one small tricycle on their way to school.

Now, back to the backtrack chronicles:

As we approached the hut, some kids playing at some nearby fruit shrubs and trees noticed our arrival. They immediately recalled Kuya Tan, the guy from last year’s BANLAW volunteers batch. I was just there walking quietly with Kuya Tan and ‘Nay Teng, still in awe, trying to fill myself with the reality of my new temporary life. I was still unable to grasp reality.

I couldn’t seem to feel comfortable with Kuya Tan around. He already know these people and vice versa while I was just about to know them. And during that time, the people I’m supposed to mingle and talk with were too busy chatting with their Kuya Tan. I might have felt jealous. I really felt uncomfortable with the guy around. Go away, this is supposed to be my Banlaw experience. You’re ruining it.

7:55 AM: ‘Nay Teng came back that’s why I stopped writing. It’s improper to just keep on writing when she just arrived. She just came back from feeding their pigs at the neighboring cluster of huts. I’ve already met their pig. Fat and noisy.

She offered me coffee and some plain biscuits. That’s my breakfast.

I’ve just been with her at the neighbor’s. She has to take care of her sister’s baby while her sister’s away. And now I came back here at the hut. Alone. Writing.

To continue the chronicles:

I couldn’t talk just yet. I’m still in awe at everything. After I dropped my things off, which was just a light, green backpack luggage, the kids, whose names I haven’t learned just yet then, and Kuya Tan and I, went to the beach where we played patintero at the glorious white sand, which I just realized was very coarse. But coarse or fine, I had fun in the sand. It has been more than two years since I’ve been at a beach so you could probably imagine how enthralled and kiddish I was playing at the beach.

It was fun playing with them. Finally, I got to mingle. I realized I would be the foster brother of two of the kids (not really kids, one’s older and one’s just as young as I am, it’s just that I look bigger and older than they are), Kuya Robert (16) and Arjay (13).

We went to a basketball court along the beach where we stayed for a while talking and watching some other people playing… basketball. I still felt uncomfortable because Kuya Tan was around. So there I was just quietly listening to them.

Thankfully, Kuya Tan stayed back at the headquarters while I, together with Kuya Robert, Arjay, and the rest of the kids, who one of them I learned the name (Donalyn), went back to our huts (the other kids live at the nieghboring cluster of huts).

Supper was ready. ‘Nay Teng was done eating so it was just Arjay, Kuya Robert and I who were eating together at the small round plastic table. Dinner was eggplant omelette and rice.

After that, ‘Nay Teng told Kuya Robert to buy a liter of Pepsi. She also suggested to take me with him. Riding in one of their squeaky bikes (which was extremely painful for my butt to ride on) along the dark road, I went with Kuya Robert to the cluster of huts opposite the farm fields to a house where we bought from an old man.

After drinking it at home, Kuya Robert decided that we should sleep at the beach for my first night there.

‘Nay Teng and Arjay had to stay at home though because nobody would look after the house. Their father (my supposedly foster father during my stay is not present) is at Olongapo, Zambales working as a mechanic.

Donalyn and the other kids also decided to sleep at the beach. We all walked towards the shore and picked our own spots were we dropped off our beddings. After that, they all decided to see their Kuya Tan again. What could I do? They wanted to see him. This immersion experience is supposed to be mine and it felt sucky that your supposedly foster family keeps on wanting to see last year’s volunteer.

At the headquarters, where Kuya Tan was, I slept a little, trying to not get jealous over my foster brother’s and the other kid’s more interest in mingling with Kuya Tan.

I woke up to the voice of Kuya Robert waking me up. Thankfully they got tired of mingling with each other, now we can all sleep in peace. I was just wearing sando and shorts so everybody I met was shocked and warned me at that it would be very, very chilly that night. They expected to find me freezing stiff tomorrow morning. Yah, okay. I can handle it.

The next morning, that’s another chronicle. I’ll stop for now.

9:05 AM: The next morning, I woke up a couple of times while it was still dark. Lying on my back as I star-gazed.

I have never seen the sky so beautifully dotted with such a myriad of stars before. It was like sugar sprinkled over a dark, dark blue something. Wonderful. I was able to spot one shooting star and what seemed to be a UFO. I felt scared looking at what looked like a star that moved across the sky. But then… a thought came by. It was probably just a satellite, foolish Victor! A UFO? Ridiculous! Haha. I went back to sleep soon after.

Kuya Robert woke me up at about 6:30 AM (I had no idea what the time was, but that’s how I guessed it was). We walked towards where Kuya Tan were sleeping along the beach. We then walked towards the shore after seeing the he and his companions were both still sleeping. As Kuya Robert decided to jog along the beach, I approached the sea and stood against the strong waves in peaceful solitude. I was standing there for more than half an hour staring at the horizon and watching a couple of fishermen in their bancas lifting their nets up which didn’t yield any visible fish from where I stood.

3:35 PM: Kuya Robert and Arjay are still in school. ‘Nay Teng and I had just been strolling around the neighboring cluster of huts across the fields. The fields have just been harvested now. ‘Nay Teng said that during the rainy season, the whole wide stretch of the fields are covered with water. They plant rice there, see.

I’m here right now beside the doorway of our hut, writing. I can see little Ricky approaching from the other huts over there. I think his mother’s sending him here for an errand…

3:38 PM: It’s a lazy sunny afternoon. I just gave little Ricky a box of matches.

Ricky is a small kid. I think he is 3 years old but he looks like he’s two. He talks with a lot of saliva in his mouth so the words he utter sound… baby-ish and well, er, cute. He looks kind of filthy. Maybe it is just me who is accustomed to such urban cleanliness, keeping myself tidy all day. You cannot expect anybody to stay spanking neat when the countryside’s outdoors is all you’ve got as your playground — as I’ve realized. It is me who needs to blend in. That’s what I am here for. My feet are now just as dirty as theirs. I’ve given up on my slippers. No matter how tight I wear them, my feet just keeps getting dirty. I’m tired of washing them every now and then. Their life calls for dirty feet, I am to have dirty feet. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I just need some getting used to.

I envy my other BANLAW co-volunteers. Their foster homes have the comforts of wide-screen television, DVD player, karaoke, and even PlayStation. While I have none like theirs. My foster home is as simple and primitive as it could get. But then, I get to think…

These discomforts are very important parts of this experience I have volunteered to take. I shouldn’t be envy. Because these discomforts are those which make my experience more profound than theirs.

I’ll tell you. Those are not the only discomfort.

Back to the chronicle: The water in the sea was warm in contrast to the chilly temperature at the beach. Kuya Tan and Kuya Louie are stunned and amazed that I survived the freezing Saturday night and still be able to survive being wet with sea water as I stood against the waves. I was just wearing sando and shorts — that was in contrast to everybody’s jackets and woolish cotton sweaters. Oh I haven’t told you. Kuya Louie is Kuya Tan’s co-area chief at San Isidro.

After Kuya Robert played some basketball, we went back home to ‘Nay Teng and had breakfast. Coffee and crackers.

Kuya Robert had to leave for Olongapo, Zambales, a few towns south of Cabangan, to check on his father, whom they haven’t heard from for weeks.

I remembered Olongapo. I’ve not been there more than 2 times in my life. The last time was when the bus stopped over at the bus station in Olongapo on its way to Cabangan. Olongapo as many think the same way, was/is a night-club city. Known for its prostitutes and their foreign patrons. And I wasn’t disappointed. Just staying in the bus, I already saw three wide public pictures of seductive naked women. That is one reason why I don’t like the American troops here in the country right now, to stay. I don’t want American military here.

Anyway, moving on. At that, Arjay was left to be my companion. Somehow I don’t feel like his big brother, even a foster one, any bit as I’m supposed to be. Arjay went with me to the next neighboring cluster of huts for me to be able to take a bath.

It took us a hard time to resurrect the water pump, it took us two pails of water and a lot of pumping. I helped pump the poso. Thankfully, soon enough the water pump started gushing out water.

After I took a bath, we went back to the hut. By that time, Kuya Robert had left for Olongapo. Arjay decided to take me with him and the other kids to go pick cashews.

We walked a few meters up the road to some wild shrubberies by the street and fields. Some of the kids started climbing the cashew trees while the rest (including me) tried to pick some ripe ones with these really long and slender bamboo picking sticks. Soon enough, I got to learn a pathetic little bit of how to pick cashews with the bamboo sticks. I’m not that talented to climb the tall slender tree to the very top. These kids are amazing. The slender cashew tree already bends until it looks like it’s ready to break and yet they stay calm. The climbers dropped the cashews they picked while the rest of us picked them up from the ground. Most of the time, the cashew is unripe but the nut is good for roasting so we just take the outer nut and throw away the unripe fruit. The cashew nut is what we really are looking for. The ripe cashew fruit is just a bonus. Picking an unripe one isn’t a loss. If we’re lucky we do get to pick ripe cashew fruits that are colored bright yellow and is juicy and sweet.

Later on in the morning, we started picking camachile. It looks like sampaloc and like chickpeas, each of the many seeds is surrounded by a white dry, but fruity and juicy flesh. I don’t like the taste though.

We did these picking all morning. By then, I finally got to learn the names of all the kids who I’ve met ever since I arrived here. Shena Mae, Dada, Kenneth, Iam, little Ricky and the one I’ve learned the name beforehand, Donalyn.

Near afternoon, I just hung around at the neighboring cluster of huts where the other kids live and met and mingled with some of the local folks who were preparing lunch. The nice old lady was cooking rice at the backyard stone stoves (that’s where ‘Nay Teng cook as well, on a stone stove). As there were chickens running around, I was just there at the rattan/bamboo platform listening to the old lady telling me how it is much, much better to cook rice on a stone stove than on a gas stove. I didn’t really understand what she just said.

After running a short errand for ‘Nay Teng, Arjay and I had an early lunch.

4:10 PM: ‘Nay Teng just left to go feed their pig at the neighboring huts. She told me to stay here and wait for Kuya Robert and Arjay.

To continue with the chronicle: After lunch, I dressed up for the mass for BANLAW at 1 o’clock to be presided by Fr. Holscher from school. Arjay went with me as we walked the shortcut across the fields to the headquarters at the beach. Michael, a fellow BANLAW volunteer, walked with us. He had a sprained and wounded ankle from last night.

4:15 PM Ricky just came over. He left just now.

To continue, again: At the mass at the headquarters, I saw KC, one of my probe editors at Hilites Magazine in school.

After the mass, held at the small headquarters, we went to the shore and had BANLAW group pictures. Fr. Holscher said that it’s going to appear at the high school’s website. I’ll go check it out and post it here when I get home.

When the mass ended, I couldn’t find Arjay who asked permission if he could leave for a while. He said he’d come back during the mass but he didn’t. I felt quite worried because I felt that being older than him and being the reason why he went here to the beach, I was responsible. But what the heck, he lives here — he should know how to get home and deal with stuff. So I just went home by myself. ‘Nay Teng asked where he is. I told her that he left and I couldn’t find him. And so, we left it at that. I stayed at the hut doing nothing.

A few moments later, Arjay arrived. He said he was sleeping at the beach waiting for our mass to end. With him around, ‘Nay Teng decided that we should roast the cashews we just picked this morning. He handed Arjay this simple wide rectangular container, about an inch deep, with holes at the bottom made by stabbing it with a knife or something — half burnt from all the times it was used as the place to roast cashew nuts.

I had no idea what Arjay was doing while he was preparing to roast the cashews. We went down to the fields which actually is the backyard of our hut. All I thought was to roast cashews, you just have to put ‘em in there atop a fire and there!

Arjay got three big rocks and placed them in small holes in the groud that he just dug (with his bare hands) forming what seemed to look like corners of a triangle. Then, I helped him collecting fuel for the fire — leaves, twigs, bamboos, and more dried leaves. After laying them all between the rocks, we poured a little gasoline and ignited them with a match. And there we had our fire! After placing the wide reactangular roaster on top of the fire, resting on the three big rocks, we placed all of the cashews we picked.

After a few minutes, the cashews’ oil started to sweat out of the nuts. The oil then burned and it was like one of those cooking fires on a Chinese wok thing. A few minutes later, Arjay said that they’re done. With a twig, he toppled over the reactangular roaster upside down spilling the cashew nuts into the sandy dirt which put out their flames.

While letting them cool for a while, Kuya Tan arrived. Then, we all sat down on the ground and one by one, removing the outer skin of the nut to expose its nutty core. Delicious. Yummy, unless you fail to completely remove the dark burnt outer skin — it would taste horribly bitter as I’ve learned. Wow, now I know why cashews are a bit expensive. It was not easy removing the outer skin of the nuts one by one.

At that, Kuya Robert arrived from Olongapo and joined the skinning fray.

After all those, we placed all the edible nuts in a small bowl I was kind of disappointed. We picked half a bucket of cashew nuts and all we had at the end was a bowl-full of the edible ones.

After that, ‘Nay Teng ordered Kuya Robert to buy dried fish and tomatoes at the town wet market. I decided to go with him.

Riding on our sqeaky, pain-at-the-butt bikes, we pedalled our way along the country roads a couple of kilometers inland into the town proper of Cabangan.

We parked our bikes at a gas station from where we just walked. First we went to a store near the municipal hall where we were supposed to get some dried fish (beats me why we have to buy fish there when we’re near the sea living in a fishing village). Turns out there weren’t any stock then. Then we walked along the highway to another store where we bought cooking oil. After those, we went to the town’s wet market to buy tomatoes. We still went around the market because Kuya Robert was haggling. It was there where I saw the sports halls. After buying tomatoes and after Kuya Robert decided to just buy fresh fish at the market, he decided to tour me around the town center.

First we went to the sports hall near the municipal hall, where at the moment a volleyball game was taking place. Then, we went around the municipal hall. Kuya Robert showed me the police station, the health center and all those town facilities and also the Aglipay church.

After that, he showed me their high school, Immaculate Concepcion Academy, where he studies. To tell you the truth, since I was used to having a high school as big as the Ateneo’s, I was surprised how their high school could be just that one building.

Anyway, we went back to the coast after the tour.

We didn’t sleep at the beach that night because my foster brothers still have to wake up early the next day to prepare for school. We (my foster brothers and myself) slept on the floor beside the bed where my foster parents sleep. You see, there’s just one sleeping/bed room.

These were transcribed from my notebook journal.

5:25 PM: Finally! Finally, I finally find time to write on my journal! It’s been officially past 24 hours since I started staying here in the rural fishing village of Sitio Agoho, San Isidro, Cabangan, Zambales as the foster son of ‘Nay Teng.

Unbelievable. This is so surreal. I could have never imagined in my entire life that I’d be living a life how I live it right now.

I just got back from town with Kuya Robert.

Anyway, before that, let me start from the moment my fellow BANLAW volunteers and I got down from the bus in front of the municipal hall of Cabangan, Zambales province.

I can’t believe it. We’re here… I still couldn’t catch up with the awareness that for a few days, my life would totally be different. It had been 5 hours and a half from the time we left Ateneo High School on a jeepney to the Victory Liner bus station at Monumento, Caloocan City from where we rode a bus more than 200 kilometers far northwest of Manila to this rural town in Zambales. I sighed in enormous disbelief, excitement, apprehension, you get the idea.

I’ll continue this chronicle later. Dada just came in and I want to play with her. Oh and there’e little Ricky too. Later…

6:03 PM: Okay, I’m free again.

After quickly boarding down the bus, the San Isidro group of BANLAW volunteers (that would include me) boarded 3 tricycles and took a more or less 5 minute ride to the coastal fishing village.

I breathed in deeply as I gasped in awe at the wide blue ocean (it’s the South China Sea) as we got closer to the village. I was delighted to see white sand. It wasn’t a tourist resort or something. It was simply just a beautiful rural fishing village by the sea. Nipa huts. White sand.

We got down at the community headquarters. From there, I was fetched by who will be my foster mother looking after me for the next four days, ‘Nay Teng. I’d tell you the truth, I felt somewhat uncomfortable when I first saw ‘Nay Teng. I just didn’t grasp her welcome. She looked like she felt indifferent that I’ll be staying with her and her family. But of course that was just me and my first-time apprehensions.

The guy from last year’s batch of BANLAW volunteers who stayed with ‘Nay Teng (who is now our BANLAW area chief), Kuya Tan, went with us as we walked back through the sandy road just about a hundred meters inland into the farm fields where ‘Nay Teng’s hut, where I’ll be staying, is located.

It was a very, very simple hut. Made of bamboo, nipa, and a couple of concrete hollow blocks. It’s isolated from the rest of the community, sitting quietly alone next to a harvested rice field. The next cluster of huts is about 50 meters away. Quiet.

Ugh, I’ll continue this again later, I think they need help preparing dinner.

These are transcribed from my notebook journal.

5:50 AM: I’m in school right now. It would seem that I’m the only one here. Except for some early morning joggers around. And except for 2-B who’s having their class night at the classroom of 2-M and 2-N. How appropriate to have a class night right at the end of the school-year. It shows how their class is united. I envy 2-B. I hope 2-O, my class, could fix it’s internal problem. I can’t stand seeing my class, a bunch of good and talented people, drowning as a ship with the cracks of social division as its cause. Yah right, we all promised to take part in the unification process (whatever) yesterday. I just do hope we all keep our promises.

Anyway you see, I came here early because well, since my parents are both away, I requested my busy uncle to bring me to school. Plus, I still had to bring home the table and cloths and other stuff (I seem to use that word a lot suddenly) that I left in our classroom. School-year’s over, and anything that’s left in class is considered trash and will be trashed.

I was just really lucky that 2-B, our “arch-rival” section were at the classrooms of 2-M and 2-N (the rooms right next to us). Some of them may have thought of calling the security guards and complain that I was breaking in. I won’t blame them if they do that, which thankfully they didn’t because they may have seemed to recognize that I was from 2-O, not a burglar. A guy taking away numerous items from a locked classroom at 5:30 in the morning must be one. Except for their moderator who kept staring at me like I’d do something awful the next second.

Here I am writing. The sky has already began to light up. I love this time of the day. By tonight, I’ll be living a whole different life.

Later…

12:55 PM: We… left… the bus terminal more than an…hour…ago…Right…now… Damnit, I can’t…write on a… moving… bus…