A Charmed Life: Life's a Play!

Finally, (again) the mighty wind calmed down a bit and I was able to board a rock'n boat back to Basco. While on board, I sent sms to the people there sayin', "I am comin' back". The doctor's wife replied, "drop by at the house and eat your breakfast".

Since I have seen most of the things to be seen, I thought it's time to get back to Luzon. So the next day, I went to the airport to book a ticket. At the airport, I confirmed that there is a flight going back to Loaog at about 11 am that day. So I went back to my host's house to get my things. Just before I was preparing to leave, the doctor came to give me a live "tatus" (coconut crab), an Ivatan special delicacy when cooked. It is actually a crab that looks like a combination of a big black spider and a crab (sounds gross?). They convinced me that it tastes better than a lobster! The doctor and his wife are very kind and thoughtful to take the trouble of bringing me a tatus. They thought that since I am not able to try tatus in my stay there (because of the sour weather there was no catch), I'd bring one with me to taste when I get back home.

After saying goodbye to the folks, I was brought to the airport only to discover that there was no flight because I was the only passenger! "Maybe tomorrow", they said.

Next day came, no flight, then another day, no flight. I was getting impatient. This time, it was not the weather who's the troublemaker, it was the lack of passengers. I could not afford to charter the whole 8 seater aircraft. Everyday, I packed up and said goodbye and everyday, I walked back to the house, my host family always welcoming me with open arms and great smiles. "Always come back to our house", they said.

The day came when I made up my mind to go back to Luzon no matter what it takes. In a few days, I have a scheduled trip to Palawan and there is no certainty when passengers for Loaog will appear. I decided to take the bigger Asian Spirit airplane bound for Tuguegarao. With this altered plan, however, I have to undergo a few compromises . I have to pay a thousand pesos more for the plane fare; I will have to forget seeing a couple of places in Ilocos Norte, places I originally planned of seeing on my way back to Baguio; I have to take a longer route, I have to ride a looong 12 hours bus ride from Tuguegarao to Baguio instead of the 6 hours from Loaog.

This time, I was really determined. But there was one major problem. I am short of 800 hundred pesos for the plane fare. There is only one ATM bank in Basco and unfortunately, I tried but could not withdraw money from that bank. So I texted one kababayan (a guy from the same Province I come from) I previously befriended in Itbayat island. At the same time, Kuya, the father in my host family learned of my problem and he told his wife. So Ate Ofie, the lady host, came to my rescue and told me that if I am really determined to leave that day, she would lend me the needed money. Then she reiterated what she had been telling me throughout my stay there, that, "if I need anything, I should not hesitate" telling them...

Meanwhile, Mr. Kababayan in Itbayat texed back, saying "kas anu ngay, ket agutang ka a dita ta siak tu ti mangbayad". (Borrow money from anyone there and I will be the one to pay)...Aren't all these people great? I sometimes seriously think I drifted to one of those angelic realms.

....continued next post...