Apr 27 2007
Dad and Mom’s Holy Week, by Guest Blogger Mommy
Toe’s note: my mother (whose name is Mommy) is today’s guest blogger. Below is an e-mail account of how she and my father (whose name is Daddy) spent their empty nest Holy Week this year in Daddy’s hometown in Matabungkay, in Lian, Batangas. All pictures by Daddy.
From: Mommy
To: romyandnenitatogetherforever@_________.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 8:42 AM
Subject: Holy Week
Dear all,
I hope you all had a blessed and holy Easter. Daddy and I left for Matabungkay very early Holy Wednesday morning. Surprisingly it was cool and windy, and very comfortable. We swam in the afternoon. There was not much crowd yet, and there were plenty of vacant balsas.
In the afternoon, we walked up to the wall, then back towards the hotel until sunset.
At night the karaokes were heard all over till midnight, and we could hear people, cars, buses arriving.
The following day, Holy Thursday, we went out to swim again. As we approached the beach, and gulat namin. Ang daming tao, and all the balsas were occupied, hundreds of them.
All houses, big and small, were all rented out.
We swam for a few minutes but felt that the water was dirty, so ahon na kami, and walked na lang along the beach.
Ang daming tao talaga, and si Daddy naaliw seeing the old, young, children, lovers, mga bakla, etc, enjoying the beach. He took pictures.
There was this group of young girls Daddy took picture on our way to the wall.
On our way back the girls said “sir, picture naman uli.” Pose naman sila, and more girls came for the picture taking.
The crowd in Matabungkay is so different from that of Boracay. Sa Boracay, class. In Matabungkay, masa.
They are simple people, mababaw ang kaligayahan.
Each group brought food in calderos, barbecue grills, uling, paper plates, ice, drinks (hard and soft ), radios, etc. They were all over the balsas, the water and the beach.
Surprisingly, despite the crowd, Matabungkay is clean. There are trash cans all over, tapat ko linis ko, and a garbage truck collects the trash every afternoon.
In the afternoon, we walked again till sunset.
We saw CASA BELEN, the house of Tito Ric Tan. They have not been going there for over a year, and the house needs repair. We also stopped and talked to Mang Iloy, the caretaker of the hut where we used to stay when you were all kids. He still has the huts, but improved, with lights, and each has a toilet and bath. It is more quiet there.
So that was Holy Thursday in Matabungkay. I missed the Handmaids groupwork at the Sacred Heart Parish (SHP), the Altar of Repose which we always do (although I asked Roland and Ging to take picture of it). Thanks Ging! I missed going on vigil to the Blessed Sacrament.
That night, the air was again full of karaokes, and more people, buses and cars arriving.
Good Friday after breakfast, uwi na kami. I told Daddy attend naman kami sa SHP Good Friday services, and join the Santo Entierro procession in the afternoon.
We passed by Santa Rosa on our way home. Roland and family were there, on their way to Anilao. Missy is now 3 weeks, and already has double chin.
In the afternoon, Daddy and I joined the procession. The whole width of Kamuning Road and Tomas Morato where it passed was full of people, and it took an hour and a half from the church and back. Very tiring, but fulfilling. You cannot imagine the crowd that joins this procession. Padami ng padami every year.
After the procession, the Dead Christ and the Sorrowing Mother were brought inside the church for burol till midnight. Crowds stayed for the wake.
Saturday, Daddy stayed home, and I went to SHP for our group work for the Easter vigil Mass and the Salubong the following morning.
Daddy and I attended the Easter Vigil Mass. Easter is a big feast of the Church, more than Christmas. I hope you were able to go to mass. I prayed for all of you.
Easter Sunday, we stayed home, but Auntie Bella and Uncle Peping invited us for dinner at their home.
HAPPY EASTER ALL.
GOD BLESS US ALL.
Love,
Daddy and Mommy
Technorati tags: Matabungkay
Beach
Holy Week
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- ASEAN-CHINA Joint Cultural Performance
- On Wearing a Bathing Suit
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Ang galing ko pala sumulat a, at sa akin ka pala nagmana.
Galing ng sunset shot ng daddy mo! magaling ang teamwork ng parents mo sa photo essay nila.
>>Sa Boracay, class. In Matabungkay, masa.
Toe, does your mom mean that Boracay is just a bunch of rich folks?
>>Ang galing ko pala sumulat a, at sa akin ka pala nagmana.
Now we know where you got your sense of humor, Toe.
Wow great post complete with pictures.
Compliments po to Mommy for the photo essay and of course to Daddy for taking panoramic shots.
I’m impressed your mother is internet savvy and uses email to communicate with her children.
I laughed out loud when I saw the 10th picture.
What a very ideal way to mark the Holy Week, with that serenity of sundet and a bit of exhiliration when the beach becomes full of beachgoers.
And by the way, Mommy writes so well that she can match you (and all of us) toe-to-toe as a blogger—if ever she decides to blog from now on.
Wow, anggaling ng post ng Mommy mo ,at ang mga pictures, astig… Galing ng teamwork nila ng Daddy mo… hehe How I wish my mother and father would also use email to communicate with us.
Have a good weekend, Toe.
kaya pala napakahusay mag kwento ang prinsesa eh ang Mother Queen pala ay super suave din sa pag kwento.
Ang natatandaan ko lang na Holy week sa atin ay yung bawal lahat. Kakainis kasi sa loob lang kami ng bahay. Naisahan pala ako dun.
Mommy and Daddy awesome post po
i’m from batangas. the beach is really different from boracay, and i married marie, whois from palawan and the beach there is very different from batangas.
in batangas, yeah, the beach that i always go to every summer…. how come the beach in batangas is not salty…. nung lumaki ako, malaman ko na i was actually swimming every summer at taal lake! that’s why tubig tabang pala ang nililiguan ko. upto now, the beach that i remember is the “unsalty” one, which i have loved all my childhood days……
i love batangas!
hi, toe! while your mother is a good writer, your father is a good photographer. that’s a nice pic of the sunset. very nice indeed.:-D
Head’s up folks… There’s a new blogger in town!
May kaagaw ka na sa domain mo, toe.
Daphne> It must be the 11th picture (you didn’t include the topmost pic) you were referring to. You know, the one with the big….
Mom, siyanga!
Hey, if you’re going to be a blogger, you have to reply to the comments. 
Noypetes, yes… I almost forgot how beautiful the sunset was at Matabungkay until I saw that photo. I also never knew that my Dad had an eye for photography.
Wil, haha… pwede rin ang ibig sabihin non, sa Boracay, naka-2-piece mga tao. Sa Matabungkay, naka2-piece din… t-shirt and shorts.
Yeah… didn’t realize myself that she had a sense of humor until now. 
Daphne, naku, tig-isang Mac pa sila sa bahay. They have to learn to use the Internet because their children and grandchildren are scattered all over.
However, it’s usually their apos who teach them how to use their computer. 
Thanks Major Tom. It would be really cool if Mom does have her own blog… a 72-year old blogger… cool!
ZJ, their apos are always ready to help them with the Internet and e-mailing. You have to teach your parents… it does save on phone bills.
Mon, hahaha! Panay Bierne Santo pala ang Holy Week mo. When I was a child, we usually spent it at Matabungkay and endured the throngs of people. But we were children, so we still had fun. Naku, matutuwa yong tinawag mong Mother Queen.
Rheiboy, ako naman hindi sanay sa tubig tabang. I always imagine that there would be a Loch Ness Monster which would appear. We’ve been to Taal too… the volcano and we’ve swam in the lake. It was so beautiful but it was also eerie. Kababayan ka pala ni Daddy.
I love Batangas too. 
Thanks Bingskee.
I’m sure they’re very happy with your kind words. My parents are great… both in their 70s and still very strong and healthy and living a wonderful happy life.
Snglguy, hahaha… inaagawan nga ako ng papel e.
Loko din si Dad no… taking that picture… hehe! 
Galing pala sumulat ni Mommy ah! Its such a sweet, sentimental, idyllic post–kaya medyo na-shock to my senses byuti ko sa 11th photo..bwehehe…
Nice post and the pictures are wonderful. It makes me miss the beach though
Gypsy, hehe… may pagka-pilyo din sila no.
Thanks Chase. It is kind of strange that Norwegians have a tradition of being fishermen and there are no beaches. I remember when I was at The Hague and went to a nearby beach, it was so strange because it was so cold and I couldn’t even remove my jacket, much less swim. It was really nice, nonetheless, just hanging out on the boardwalk and eating ice cream.
Hello Mommy! Dati nag cocomment ka lang kay Toe (nagtatama pala ng mga maling info…hahaha!). Now, guest writer ka na, galing naman!
Natawa ako dun sa mga nakita nyo, pati mga bading napansin nyo. Saka si Daddy ha galing pipili ng view…hehehe.
I went there once and I was a scared away by the number of people on the beach. A few km down the road it is again more peaceful and less crowded.
What is the blogging address of your mother? I think she will get a lot of visitors!
Nako toe, your Mom should have her own blog na. Galeng.
Wow, beautiful sunset photos! I can’t help but smile at the very honest observation of the crowd in Matabungkay and Boracay.
I haven’t been to Matabungkay. From the photos, I think it is clean.
Nakakamiss ang mga holy week activities sa Philippines.
Congrats on the first post, po!
Ann, inaagawan ako ng eksena… hehe!
Yeah, there are a lot of interesting things to see during Holy Week in Matabungkay. 
Sidney, Matabungkay is very popular and it is near Manila. During Holy Week, the crowds really come in throngs. Hehe… Mom doesn’t have her own blog yet… but she’s probably thinking about it now.
Ladybug, oo nga… I will teach her how to use Wordpress.
Ipanema, my parents are often in both beaches.
I’m quite relieved nga that Matabungkay is clean despite the throngs of people. Naku, Mom is happy with all the kind words… baka nga magka-blog na. 
I have to agree with mommy. Magaling sumulat at mukhang sa kanya ka nga nagmana, Toe.
I enjoyed reading this po mommy. And I like that email address. 
Niceheart, Mom was a prolific diarist and letter-writer. If blogs were uso during her time, I’m sure she would also have been a prolific blogger.
Hehe… e-mail address concocted by my brother. 
Oh i cannot call you mommy — we must be about same age. But I have to tell you directly i enjoyed this blog. And you’re right Toe got her writing flair from you. One of my daughters writes too. Ang galing ng mga anak natin ano.
Why don’t you begin your own blogsite. I am doing mine as a hedge against retirement (malapit na). Well … if you do … you already have one blog buddy. haha
I still recall when Matabungkay was THE place to go. But I guess those were the days ha.
I love the sunset shot. its almost like art.
THose are beautiful shots, Mom and Dad!
Rehiboy17’s comment is HILARIOUS! Finding out that he’s been swimming in the lake and not the sea!
)
Thank you very much for your kind comments. I never realized that I would get such comments. Parang I got honors for essay writing. By the way, all pictures were taken by Daddy, except the sunset which I took.
Annamanila, naku, my Mom is 72 na!
Sige, I will teach her how to use wordpress when I go home. I’ll also teach her how to go to your blog. 
Kaya lang, baka talunin ako… hahaha! 
Sixter, next time I’ll post their picture of our house in Matabungkay. Gulat ako… it looks really nice.
Hahaha… mukha namang dagat ang Taal Lake e. 
Good work Mom!
I really have to teach you na how to blog when I go home… baka ma-addict kayo. 
hmmm…thought i’d posted my comment….anyway, nice stories tita! this is raul – son of ric and bea tan….well, the house is a work in progress, renovations finished (interiors – anay!) and additions underway- expanded balcony….it would be nice if we could all get together one day and reminisce IN matabungkay…thanks ichay for directing me here….cool blog…..ciao!
Hi Raul! Your comment did get posted… but in the other entry about Ate Ichay’s Sailing Trip.
I replied that I think I remember you because you’re also the youngest, aren’t you? It’s really great to have someone from my childhood comment in my blog. Oh, I do hope we could hang out in Matabungkay someday. But I live in Cambodia until next year. Do plan a trip here, see Angkor Wat, and visit us. 
dear mommy and daddy–how lucky of Toe to have you! now alam ko na kung kanino nagmana. God bless you!
Sexy Mom, yes, I’m lucky to have them the same way your kids are lucky to have you.