Lenten 2010: A Family Reunion with Mangyan Relatives

By the time this posting is read, I must be on the road to Mindoro already crossing the Pacific Ocean by midnight of March 30. We decided to leave early to avoid the peak of people's exodus to the provinces. This is a rare chance that I have my family together to visit my hometown. Excited, yet somewhat tense 'cause this is a hectic holiweek schedule. For my 4 days stint in my birthplace, I need to attend to important things, like preparing for my post-retirement farming activity, where I need to talk to our farm laborers (not tenants) and the upcoming construction of a small farmhouse. My (elementary school) alma mater will have a grand reunion, which I must include in my itinerary. Local Church in my hometown annually hold "7 Last Words" in observance of this holy week, which we, by family tradition, are compelled to listen. Above all, this is another family reunion with my Mangyan kins.

Ask why I need to go back to Mindoro after retirement? My answer is simple - to sustain the legacy that our parents left, especially the farms, which sentimental attachments far exceed than its economic value. That's why, no matter how insistent my US citizens-children allure me to stay with them in America after retirement, we have not arrived on final decision yet. All I can say now. . . only time will tell.

Hopefully, we'll be back to Nueva Ecija on Black Saturday midnight to catch-up with Resurrection Sunday, which my local congregation agreed to have it at 5:00 AM. Have a blessed holidays! (JSF Blogs)