On September 28, 2019, 4 days after my last chemotherapy, I flew to the Philippines and visited my family in Calbiga.
I love how suburbs in Victoria look from above, very organized 🙂
I had a few hours layover in Manila and my younger brother Gio met me at the airport and we flew to Tacloban together.
This sight makes me giddy as I know I am almost home.
And because it’s a trip to Pinas, there’s food involved of course 😛 And to start with, this will always be present for breakfast!
And also, some things never change 😀
Unmilled rice drying under the sun
Spent my 40th with family, for some, this will be just a table full of food . For me, this is a table full of love 🙂 I have never felt more happy and content that day. Oh and hot! Because, humidity!!!
A few days spent by sleeping, catching up with friends, reading and playtime with nephews and my niece.
October 3 we went to Cebu. You travel by van and a fast ferry when you arrive in Ormoc:
This trip was to visit my sister, meet my cousin who’s working in Davao, celebrate Papa’s 65th and visit Simala.
We did Zubuchon too!!
Ensaladang Talong:
My nephew’s favourite: Ginisang Monggo
We left the city pretty early the next day to go to Simala, I was told hundreds visit this church every day and you don’t want to be caught in traffic going up there.
And when in Cebu, you never pass an opportunity to eat Lechon Cebu 😀 We bought lechon in Carcar and ate it in one of the restaurants in SRP (South Road Properties); this is a long stretch of highway and there’s a popular restaurant which serves yummy food. We searched for Razon’s because their website said there was one in Cebu. We went where it was supposed to be located and was told it was permanently closed. Bummer. Dinner ended up with Army Navy.
Ayala Cebu is pretty at night time 🙂
Papa’s 65th was spent at Seafoods and Ribs Warehouse
Went back to Calbiga the next day. Had a day off of travelling then we went to Sulangan on the 8th of October. Left home at 3 am and by 5:30 am we could see this:
We went to their church and heard mass and had lunch in one of the resorts. We rented a cottage, we had cooked adobo and rice the day before and just bought fresh caught fish and grilled them there.
On our way back, we passed by Calicoan:
Last few days in the Philippines was spent catching up with friends and eating barbecue 😀
We also made a quick trip to Catbalogan and visit Ubanon Church. And you never miss an opportunity to have a snack at Tina’s Garden:
Oh and I was introduced to this heavenly dessert when we went to Tacloban!
When it was sunny enough, we went to Lulugayan Falls. Lots had changed since I went there last.
You have to drop by here first for registration. They have a hotel there now..awesome!
Lunch that day was my favourite ❤
Then I was due to go back to Manila and last night in the Philippines was spent catching up with friends and this time I had Razon’s (finally!!)
Manila at night time…
Sunrise…on my way to Melbourne.
Touchdown. Back home 🙂
This was my way of resetting my mental and emotional health whilst battling breast cancer. I needed to see my family and let them see for themselves that even if I am sick I am fighting and ‘good’ – not depressed, though sometimes sad, but not deteriorating.
TheHangryPinay 