I don’t even know where to start.
It’s been a long time since I
wrote my last blog, and it’s been almost three years. Where have I been? Or
what have I been doing? Really?
I’ve always written blogs as my
form of creative journal, and this is where I can also post photos related to
the blog, combined with all the possible imaginable feelings I am feeling while
writing and while memorizing every inch of emotion there is in those moments.
I’ve always had that enthusiasm, but I somehow lost it.
It’s 2022, and it feels so good
to be back and write again. Being a mom hit me hard last 2021. As for the death
of my father in January of 2020, it turned my world to an almost empty feeling,
crushed it, turned it upside down, you can name every sad feeling in the world,
but that’s how it was for me, devastating and very heartbreaking. This was the
same year we said hello to COVID-19. So I’ll be writing back in time, and we
will be rolling the films back to 2019.
In May of 2019, I finally decided
to leave my first company, and move to a new one. I have been a part of the
account for 3 years, and it felt good leaving as I wanted a leap of faith and
take a chance on a new role.
I studied communication arts and
the skillset needed on the job is not plain communication skills but listening
skills too. Being able to respond appropriately and being able to use positive
language all the time can be a hard task.
But before I resigned, of course
I already had a back-up plan. I already applied to a technology company with
the same role. I started on the second week of June and this is where I met
Aaron. He looked curious, serious, new,
and confused to the world he just entered into. We are the same age but I have
already worked three years, and this is his first. He looked like a gentle
bad-ass which what totally killed my impression of him. He was wearing a black
plain shirt, curly hair on top and a clean cut on both sides of his head, he
had this remarkably well-shaped eyebrows and lips that’re perfectly shaped.
He sounded shy and had a slightly
deep voice which added flavor to my curiosity of wanting to know him more. He
was so handsome. And after a month and a half, we were together! Yep, just as
fast as that, no formal courtship!
September came and I’ve had my 23rd
birthday not-so-planned. I decided to celebrate it with the whole family and it
so happened that my parents were having a meeting in Boracay Island. So I
booked them plane tickets, not to my expense, LOL, as well as their hotel room for
their first three nights.
A day before my birthday, after
my shift, my sister came to my office and we booked our grab to the airport. It
is her first time riding a plane and she was excited too! We landed at Kalibo
Aklan because it was cheaper, then we rode a bus for 2 hours to arrive at
Caticlan Jetty Port.
We rode a speed boat going to the
main beach (Cagban Jetty Port) and we spent around Php175 each. It was just a
15-minute ride. Once we reached the island, we then went ahead and made our way
to station 1.
In the island, there are three
stations. Station 1 is where the most private and secluded hotels are. Station
2 is like the city part of the island where you can go to malls and this is
where most hotels are and each also offered a taste of luxury at an affordable
rate, if not, reasonable rate. Station 3 is where the cheaper hotels are found.
But those hotels are literally in front of the beach, just a minute of walking
and voila! You’re there!
Going back to where we’re headed,
at station 1’s Alta Vista De Boracay. We rode a tricycle and paid Php200. It
was quite far from the Cagban Jetty Port (around 20-25 minutes).
Once we arrived at the hotel, we
immediately saw our youngest sister and dad waving from uphill. We were down
below and it just took a 3-minute ride up to the hotel with their private e-jeep.
We were welcomed with tropical drinks and while checking in, I asked if they
had special treats for birthday celebrators at the hotel. I almost forced it
but they agreed to be at the buffet area with some special treats the morning
of my birthday. Yayks!
Upon checking in, they handed us
with wrist tickets for access at their private beach (Puka Beach) and the
breakfast meal as well as van and e-jeep rides to and from the hotel.
It was a family room with two
large beds and a balcony with coffee and drinks. I did not vlog that much here
because I wanted to enjoy the quality time more than taking films. We had
beautiful photos though. J
Once we settled, we decided to go
the private beach. It was really a secluded area as only guests of the hotel
were able to spend time there with a few souvenir vendors and a volleyball play
area. And when we got back to the hotel, we decided to spend the night at
station 2. We ended up eating at a local fast food restaurant because it’s the
cheapest!
We wandered around the area and took videos and photos for my vlog: MEAGAN (please check me out on youtube).
Morning came and I’m 23. So at
the buffet area, the staff sang me a birthday song with a little cake and a
dedication on a plate! What a cute little surprise that my dad was so happy
looking at me, at us, being happy at a different place. So when we checked out,
we then headed to out next hotel (station 3). I chose this because it’s the
nearest to the Cagban port and our flight is late morning of the following day.
This is when we took the island
trip for Php2500. Snorkeling and seeing islands and a scenery of beautiful sea
creatures were everywhere! Looking down at a spot we stopped at, it was like a
different world underwater! I’ve always gone to beaches on my birthday but this
one showed me a bigger picture of underwater world. And I’d love to try scuba
diving but learning takes days and money too. LOL.
On our way back, we prepared for
dinner, it was just a pizza night for us and a talk about me and my second
sister’s future careers. Our dad loved talking about us and our plans, and
that’s what I miss about him too.
Our last night as spent roaming
around bars and hotels while entertainment shows were ongoing. And the next
morning, I had a short dip at the beach before heading towards the airport. We
arrived early at the airport and waited around an hour. Dad mom and our
youngest boarded the plane first as they are headed to Clark Airport in
Pampanga while me and Essa were headed to Manila. Although we all boarded on
the same airline, AirAsia.
It was my first time boarding this
airline too as I usually book with Cebuana Pacific or Philippine Airlines. It
was our first ever out of town that needed a plane ride. And the last think we
know is this was going to be our last wonderful beach trip with our dad. He
passed away the following January due to road accident. But I was thankful for
all the memories we have had. They’ll forever be cherished and remembered.
Cutting my 2019 birthday to
Manila, Aaron booked a loft type hotel room for us somewhere in Pasay. At that
time, I invited my sister and her partner for an overnight as it was good for 4
pax. We got wasted that we had to pay some fines when we checked out. LOL.
In November, when cold breeze was
approaching in the hot zones of the Philippines, we decided t go to Baguio. It
was Aaron’s first time and it was our first time too as a whole family. The
last time I went to Baguio was during my OJT days in 2015. Whopping 4 years!
We stayed for 2 nights while dad,
mom, and Izha spent one night just to see me and Essa.
Towards December, as my yearly
tradition, I always go home for my dad’s birthday on the 25th of
December. Hosted his program for his security agency and spent his birthday
with the whole family on both mom’s and his side. Can you imagine how big it
was?
And the last time I remember
seeing him spend his birthday alive, with us. He drove me to the airport to
catch my flight going to Manila together with mom. And that was the last wave
of goodbye I have ever seen him do.
*end*
Email: jesellemangoma@gmail.com
TIKTOK/INSTAGRAM: meaganmangoma
