IT WAS at 10 when we get back after the mall had closed. I am informed that the battery in my vehicle had died. We try to get it started but it wouldn't. I asked my driver to check if there was a shop opened that late at night, there was none. We surrender and hope for a shop that would open on a Sunday. At 7 the next day we find a shop willing to sell us a new battery and some discount in exchange for the old one.
At 10 in the evening of Monday I decide to drive back up to Baguio. It is now 2 in the morning of Tuesday before I decide to fill up my vehicle for some fuel. After some time my ride would not start. I am fortunate that a taxi was there to help jump start mine. I was glad he recognized me and offered to help.
Upon reaching my place my ride would stop in the middle of the driveway and would not move. I will try my best to get it moving but to no avail. With the windows open and would not close, Joy decides to cover it with shower curtains from the rain. We surrender back to our home and leave it all for the daybreak. It is now 4 o clock of Tuesday.
I had lost my sleep worrying about my ride in the middle of the parkway. At 7 o clock my driver whom I had informed had come over to help move the vehicle. Still groggy I head out to where I had left the vehicle. We get to jump start it and off it went straight to the mechanic.
I get back to bed before setting the alarm for a 12 noon family lunch and meeting at 1. I sleep soundly until the alarm goes off at 11. I shower and leave for my appointments. Back at the gas station I find Mom and Dad. Unfortunate for them the gas boy had filled up their diesel car with gasoline. I would ask once more for my driver to help out.
After my meeting I set out for home to prepare to cook for dinner. I will prepare a slow cooked pork stew. It is now 4 in the afternoon and it was ready by 7. I try to sleep early as I will set my alarm for 4 in the early morning for a trip I plan to take to Cauayan City in Isabela. I could not sleep.
At 5 I drive off to catch a meeting at 10. The sun already up and at 8 we are not yet halfway. I speed up but time was not on our side. I had miscalculated and set a time short. 5 hours will not be enough.
Construction along the way didn't help at all. At 9 I am still in Nueva Viscaya and just nearing Santiago City. It is now 10 and I am 20 minutes still away to Cauayan. I reach the venue I had loaded in Waze but it is a wrong one.
At 10:30 I reach the City Hall. There was no choice for everybody since I will open and start the meeting anyway. I apologize for being late, the fault of the construction and the changed venue. But actually I should have given the trip 6 hours instead of 5. The Mayor of Cauayan had just stepped in a few minutes before me. He understood once he learned I drove all the way from Baguio.
The meeting had not even reached an hour. It was fast. Glad to have lunch prepared just before adjournment. We enjoy our meal hosted by the Mayor. He soon informs me that he has reserved a room for me and hoped that I would stay. Dinner he said was also on him at 6 that evening of Wednesday.
I had wanted to get to the hotel to at least freshen up but check in time was still at 2, it was now 1:30, I will wait it off. I was hoping we had time to go to Ilagan for some cave tour but was afraid we could not make the time set by the Mayor for dinner. We instead rest it out in the hotel with a bottle of Johnnie Walker.
After dinner and another bottle we decide to have a massage, it was recommended to us. I chose the 2 hour massage. Ton had asked for the 3 hour one. We were the last before it closed at 1 in the morning, it is now Thursday. Off we went to a "lugawan" that was open till 6. For 25 pesos unlimited lugaw with a piece of duck was served. There were lots of people from all walks of life out for a bowl of it.
At 3 we head back to the hotel. I sleep at 4. An alarm gets off at 7 and is failed to be turned off, I am awake from it. I lay in bed till 8. At 9 we head to another favorite joint in Cauayan for breakfast, lugaw again but with Goto and Tokwat Baboy. At 10 we decide to head back to Baguio.
Along the way we decide to stop for awhile in Magat Dam Eco Park. Since we were still full from breakfast it did not bother us a bit that it was 12 already. I had mentioned of another place in Bayombong that served very good food. A late lunch it will be. At 2 I had asked for some beers and Crispy Pata. Pizza was soon served. We stay till 4 before setting out once more.
At 5 I was informed that we had no electricity at home. It was restored at 7. I arrive safely from strong rain then fog along the way. It is now 8 and my family had just finished dinner. I am still full from the late lunch that we had.
At 10 I had heated a piece of focaccia and spinach dip which Joy shared with me. I decide to write this story. I finish before 2 now a Friday. I will send it to the editor before noon time. My next appointment anyway