Hours ago, I was still in the Philippines with my loved ones, now I’m here all alone in my bunk bed and reminiscing all the moments of my vacation. Many things transpired during my vacation in the Philippines. May has been insufferably eventful. Originally, I planned to make a blow-by-blow account of each and everything that transpired during my “balikbayan” moments. But like the faith of perfectly laid plans, mine was also doomed to fail from the very start. I never had the chance to even sit in front of my Mac and blog about the things I did during my month long stay at home. Just to let everybody know what I did in the past month, I decided to make a quick entry.

I arrived at the NAIA in the evening of May 2. For the first time in almost 1 1/2 years I have been reunited with my family. Finally, I also saw my mother and saw her condition after her accident that broke her left arm. From the airport, I had my first meal in the Philippines courtesy of North Park at Macapagal Avenue. The following Sunday, me and my family went out for lunch at Josephine’s Restaurant in Kawit, Cavite and savoured on the Filipino dishes that I really missed. In the evening, I met with my bestfriend Caloy and congratulated him and his spouse on their wedding which unfortunately I was not able to attend because their wedding was the same day of my arrival. I was supposed to be his bestman. We already agreed before that whoever of us gets married first, the other one would be the bestman.

Me and my friends celebrated my arrival at Glorietta, Makati and ate at Tony Roma’s, the first posh restaurant we went to altogether. After which, we relaxed at Starbucks and drank our favorite Java Chip Frapuccino Venti while munching a slice of cheese cake a piece of donut. I got together with my kapilya dabarkads. I arranged for our house to be repainted. I visited Svenson, a hair clinic, and had my scalp treated for dandruff and hair fall. I finally was able to eat KFC (with gravy and mashed potato), Jollibee, Yellow Cab, Wendy’s, Brother’s Burger, Greenwich and Kenny Roger’s. I bought a Jansport knapsack bag, a pair of Hush Puppies shoes and Arrow black pants, a replica of a Star Wars Light Saber when I went to Greenhills and a bunch of shirts and polos.

Me and my friends went for a 3-day getaway to Baguio and visited some of the tourist spots there, the most spectacular of which, for us, is the open air SM Mall. We also reminisced some of our moments together at Alabang Town Center and SM Mall of Asia. My sister celebrated her better-late-than-never debut party at Circle Island Resort on the 21st of May, which happens to be my mother’s birthday as well.

I finally was able to drive again. Saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (ugh). I also had my general check-up at the Prime Globalcare Medical Center, had my dental makeover at Ka Irene’s dental clinic and had my eyes checked and a new pair of glasses made by Ka Beth.

A few days before I left, my family and me went for a dinner at Highlands Steakhouse at MOA and was blown away by the very delicious steaks.

I left for Dubai in the afternoon of May 31. One of the loneliest moments in my life. I’m leaving my loved ones again and will see them again a year later.