Of Summer Days, Nostalgia, and Nipa Hut

A resemblance of our ancestral house - which even until now still standing
it is that same house where we rest and relax during vacation.

Earlier, I wired my sister in Pinas to ask for an update about the documents I am requesting from her. Luckily, the progress is nice - at least it's not immobile.

Part of our casual convy touched a topic I so long desired to experience again. She enthusiastically told me that  John Howard (my eldest nephew who recently just graduated) will be going for a solo trip back to our province in Sibuyan Island in Romblon on April 6 - this coming Saturday.

My ate told me that JohnHo as I call him, wanted a summer getaway to accomplish his own wish of visiting his Lolo and Lola - (my parents who are still staying there) when he graduates and before he goes back to Manila to enroll again to continue his ladderized degree in Engineering. 

While we're busy exchanging funny conversations reminiscing our childhood days I begun to travel back in time and grinningly recall my early childhood until my teenage life back there. 

Just a perfect reminiscence for the occasion since it's summer time. And speaking of it makes my imagination runs wild and free.

The vivid mementos that I can recall in my hometown in San Fernando, Romblon- in the enchanted island of Sibuyan - once summer hits the town includes the unending merriment of  attending town to town fiestas, road tripping while under the scorching heat of the sun, recurring excursion at the famous Cantingas River - (FYI - declared twice as the "cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines" - for year 2004 and 2006), the frequent trips to the nearby forest to pick wild plums (duhat).  

Cantingas River Resort

A good shot of Cantingas River

Of course, being a 'beach bum' - an almost half a kilometer away beach 'SEA BREEZE' and a less than an hour pump boat ride 'CRESTA DE GALLO' are two of the famous beach attractions we can invite tourists to splash and dive. It's our own, it's our pride. 

A picturesque Cresta De Gallo 

Another shot of Cresta De Gallo

This islet above was featured as one of the pioneer segment of GMA's Pinoy Adventure hosted by Richard Gutierrez.

During childhood days, we always frequent the sea. Either for a seashells gathering session before sun sets, or simply to take a splash in its pristine and blue water. We also had this routine session whenever we finish gathering woods in the forest, we usually run straight to the sea to swim carrying with us freshly picked green, and almost ripe mangoes with the mouth-watering 'bagoong'. After a few swim, we get off from the water and feast with the mangoes as if we're eating something equalled to that of a restau's menu. So indulging mood.

During siesta time, I can still feel how relaxing it is to enjoy the hammock while reading. Ours was made of yantok. I can even recall our two rocking chairs - old and dilapidated but still the comfort of swinging to and fro can't be compared in today's comfort brought about by the different rides in a theme park.

This is exactly how our hammock looks like

I suddenly feel nostalgic - the thought that I can't even frequent the forest and the seas whenever I want to. I can't even tell my cousins to escape from our houses going to Cantingas River to splash and dive because each of us are so distant and had separate lives already.

Gone were the days? Nahh! Nope! Err not.. As long as we maintain the simplicity of our life in the province those memories can still be recreated in our modern times. We can always go back! Not as quickly as we can be. But at least the thought that we can still book a ticket and fly home we will never be deprived to enjoy the old us.

And going back would never be the same as before. Nowadays, while lying in a swinging hammock you can now read novels or inspiring stories using your Nexus 7 or Samsung Galaxy Note II. While enjoying the beach you can now wear the latest speedo undergarment. While collecting wild plums in the uphill forest you can now enjoy the music in your Iphone 5. While splashing in the pristine and crystal-clear water of Cantingas River you can now take the newly built "Zipline" and enjoy the hanging ride.

Everyone has grown up tall and fast. Amenably, the collective memories of our younger days seem a century old already. But nothing can beat the experience of growing up as a "promdi" in a place where earth, water, and sky joyfully meet.

Lots might have changed but we can still remain as the modest people we ever have been. 

Such is the vision of life I dream of, a better one but still celebrate and pay homage the old fun times. For me, I think it is and I know it is.