So if you haven't noticed already, the way I format my blog is with dates and titles in Chinese. From what I've gathered, today there is no direct translation of the name of the province of Batangas, in the Philippines. What I have gathered is that when Chinese traders landed on the island, it used to be called Kumintang, which now operates as the name of a style(s) of dance from the region. However, I cannot find any information on the characters for said ancient name. OTL
12月20日—12月21日
We woke up early that morning to pick up my cousin’s girlfriend, who lives in a nearby area called BF. I forgot what it stands for (if it even stands for anything) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Then, we drove to Pan de Manila to have some freshly baked pan de sal. It was so fresh and miles tastier than any packaged pan de sal you can buy in the States.
12月20日—12月21日
We woke up early that morning to pick up my cousin’s girlfriend, who lives in a nearby area called BF. I forgot what it stands for (if it even stands for anything) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Then, we drove to Pan de Manila to have some freshly baked pan de sal. It was so fresh and miles tastier than any packaged pan de sal you can buy in the States.
We stocked up, as we had a two-ish hour car ride ahead of us. From Paranaque to the province of Batangas, it takes about two hours on the Manila Skyway. We stopped somewhere along the way to meet up with a couple of my cousin’s friends at a rest stop McDonald’s. We also picked up ice at a convenience store when I saw the love of my life.
Sweet, fantastic, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. I’ve missed you.
Then somewhere between my cousin speeding on the skyway and me falling asleep in the car, we arrived in the province of Batangas. Due to eco-tourism, we had to stop at a kiosk before entering, a little girl was selling edible wares from her basket.
“Good Morning po tito, tita, cassava cakes po” in the cutesy-est accent ever. We couldn’t help but purchase a couple.
Driving through Batangas put some more things in perspective for me, especially in regards to privilege. In the States, my family is not extraordinarily well-off. By American standards, really, we’re barely scraping by. My parents left California because it was simply becoming too expensive, the cost of living, and opted for the more affordable desert haven of Las Vegas. With scholarships and free tuition for living in a low-income family, I pay about a quarter of the amount a regular university student would pay annually at my university (upwards of $40,000 US dollars per year).
Sweet, fantastic, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. I’ve missed you.
Then somewhere between my cousin speeding on the skyway and me falling asleep in the car, we arrived in the province of Batangas. Due to eco-tourism, we had to stop at a kiosk before entering, a little girl was selling edible wares from her basket.
“Good Morning po tito, tita, cassava cakes po” in the cutesy-est accent ever. We couldn’t help but purchase a couple.
Driving through Batangas put some more things in perspective for me, especially in regards to privilege. In the States, my family is not extraordinarily well-off. By American standards, really, we’re barely scraping by. My parents left California because it was simply becoming too expensive, the cost of living, and opted for the more affordable desert haven of Las Vegas. With scholarships and free tuition for living in a low-income family, I pay about a quarter of the amount a regular university student would pay annually at my university (upwards of $40,000 US dollars per year).
But you can’t compare it to the provinces in the Philippines. From what I know, my parents on both sides come from Manila and ethnically are Tagalog people, and I do know my great great grandmother was a native Filipina girl, I’m just not aware of what ethnic group. From what I know, they were middle class to “well-off” in the Philippines. But as far as the diaspora goes in the United States, Fil-Ams are Fil-Am. We come in all colors and backgrounds, and driving through Batangas really put that in perspective.
Especially when we got to our final destination of the Balai Resort, a tropical beachside oasis complete with complimentary kapeng barako (a new obsession of mine) and pool, kayaking, etc. I hear it’s usually more populated, but considering the recent storms had left some debris on the beach, we were one of the few groups checked into the rooms here.
Especially when we got to our final destination of the Balai Resort, a tropical beachside oasis complete with complimentary kapeng barako (a new obsession of mine) and pool, kayaking, etc. I hear it’s usually more populated, but considering the recent storms had left some debris on the beach, we were one of the few groups checked into the rooms here.
I then spent the rest of the day chilling by the beach, taking a dip in their pool, kayaking in the mangroves adjacent to the beach, drinking too much Barako Coffee, etc. We then spent the evening drinking, myself eating Hot Cheetos with calamansi (in what I described as “me as a snack,” considering my background being raised in the barrio in Southern California to Filipino parents).
I don’t really remember too much from that point. I recall trying to make a drinking game that fused the Korean drinking game 369 and a game my cousin plays where you skip numbers with 7 or divisible by 7…? (it was ridiculous and fantastic and I am bringing it back to the states).
It was a great time with great people, and I got many awesome photos for social media purposes. Kayaking for the first time was pretty awesome, too.
It was a great time with great people, and I got many awesome photos for social media purposes. Kayaking for the first time was pretty awesome, too.
Upcoming on PKC, expect posts on Boracay, a Southeast Asian Cruise on Royal Caribbean with ports in Singapore, Phuket, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur, as well as visiting the island of Palawan, where my parents spent their honeymoon in the region of El Nido.