There's no place like HOME

It's been awhile! The last time I was HOME, was during the Holy week. That's April to be exact, so I miss home. I decided to use my vacation leave and come home. It's not easy to file for a vacation leave in our company, there are so many rules to follow and sometimes you don't really want to leave your students even for a few days (only those who are close to me, haha!). Fortunately, my 3-day vacation leave was approved. Yay! I was super excited! :))

"I'm going home to a place where I belong", this is from the song Home by Daughtry. I always sing this whenever I'm going home. Haha :D Wait, where is home?

© tabacocity.com.ph

This is my hometown, the City of Love -- Tabaco City. It is the only city in the first district of Albay. 

L-R: The Belfry, Tabaco City Plaza and Mayon Planetarium and Science Park  © tabacocity.com.ph

© tabacocity.com.ph

Tabaco City is also called the Padyak Capital of the Philippines, because the padyak is the most common mode of transportation in the city. 

The city is also known for  Tabak Festival, which is an annual celebration of every Tabaknon. Tabaqueños and tourists enjoy different activities during the two-week celebration such as; street dancing, Mutya ng Tabak and Tabakla pageants, Padyak and Sibidan races, trade fair and exhibit and Karawat Bicolnon.

 

© tabacocity.com.ph

© tabacocity.com.ph

There are also different products that you can buy for pasalubong/souvenir for your friends and loved ones. We have the razor-sharp tabak or bolo, which is another trademark of Tabaco City. Pili nut is a very popular product in the region, it is a great pasalubong for everyone (my officemates love pili nuts ^^). Another product is abaca, which serves as raw materials in certain handicrafts such as bags, purses and slippers. Furniture made in Brgy. San Antonio using wood and other indigenous materials is very in demand because of its quality. These are only some of the products that you can find in our city.

Ooops, wait! I'm supposed to talk about my vacation, but I ended up promoting our city, haha! Anyway, come visit Tabaco City! It's more fun in Bicol! :D

So, here it is. I had a 3-day vacation leave plus the weekend and the 2-day extension because of the bad weather. I had a really long vacation. :))

I arrived on Friday night, after a 13 1/2 hour bus ride (tagal no? Haha!) On the next day, we were all busy preparing for my Aunt's 80th birthday party. My brother and I, helped everyone with their outfits. I did my mom's hair and my cousin Aiko's hair and make-up. We met our relatives, took pictures, ate not-so-delicious food (haha!), had a drink, danced until our feet shouted "set us free" from our high heeled shoes, wahahahaha! It was a great night! :)

Sunday is indeed a family day. We all stayed at home, watched TV, played with the kids, helped the students with their homework, talked about what's happening in the world and enjoyed the day we're all together.

 

Amore Coffee, Tayhi, Tabaco City

Monday was for my friends. I met two of my closest friends since high school at a new coffee shop in the city. We chatted over frappes and had a really great time. Then, I met one of my best friends at a famous Halo-halo resto in the region. We were so busy catching up that we forgot to take pictures, haha! He also introduced his new girlfriend (which was kinda awkward at first, but it went well later on). I missed these people a lot, and actually I still wanted to see our other friends, but I wasn't able to. :(

Children's only Laboratory of Readiness Skills (C.O.L.O.R.S) Preschool, Panal, Tabaco City

On Tuesday, I was a story-teller. :) I went to Gelo's school and read a story to his class. Everyone listened attentively including the teachers, haha! They took pictures while I was telling the story and they took a class picture with me too. :)

I was supposed to come back to Manila on that day, but because of the crazy weather, I stayed for another two days, yay! It was my longest vacation since 2010 and I really had a wonderful time.

I missed home so much; our house...

That's my brother Soh and cousin Aiko walking around the neigborhood. "Where you goin' guys?" :D

 ..the food..

L-R: Ginataang Tabagwang (snails), Gulay na Santol

..my friends..

Two of my closest friends since high school; Jhes.RN and Engr. Jhie. :)

 ..lastly, my family.

L-R: (1) Auntie Issa, Mama, Lola/Mama Vely (2) Me, Mama, my brother Soh (3) Auntie Issa, Cousin Mica and Aiko ~This was during my Aunt's 80th birthday party at Patio de San Jose in Malilipot, Albay, will blog about it too.

These are my babies, MGM; Megan, my cousin's little princess, Mica, my youngest cousin and Gelo, my cousin's little prince.

I'm really excited for my next vacation, but it would probably be on December. :( I will super miss everything in Bicol again. Truly, there's no place like HOME.

A view of Mayon Volcano from our house.