This blog update is extra special... and will be sort of extra long... i hope you can bear with us. As most of you know, I took an emergency trip to the Philippines and had to stay there for about six weeks. You must have read
my post early in July which I wrote while at the San Francisco Airport wait for my connecting flight via Philippine Airlines.This post will basically give details of those six weeks in the Philippines, mostly from my point of view... and then the two weeks that followed after my arrival in Salt Lake City...
THE HOMELAND
Mama and Papa and Carl's parent's met me at the airport and we spent the whole morning in Paranaque. Ezra was overjoyed to have his Thomas the Train toy and Esther absolutely loved her little stuffie! Later that day I took the 6-hour bus trip with Mama and Papa back to La Union. I can honestly say I was still out of my head... of course I was extremely glad that I was home...but my mind kept wondering and worrying about my visa interview...because if worse come to worst...my 6-week vacation can become 6 years or more. I spent 2 days in La Union visiting family and friends, especially my sister whose been staying in Baguio City attending school. And then it was time to face the music at the US Embassy.
THE GATEWAY TO AMERICA
We were there really early. Mama, Papa, and I - just like the first time. It was sort of a deja vu... except that I know it will be harder for me to bear the consequences of any unpleasant outcome this time. I was inside the embassy for probably 4 hours, and I only spent more or less 5 minutes explaining my reasons why I should be granted a new student visa. I honestly thought the consul was going to deny my application. At the back of my mind, I was praying, Amen after Amen...I was asking Heavenly Father to please, more than anything, reunite me with Carl. And then the answer was YES. I can almost hear Carl whisper, "Welcome Home."
THE VACATION
I spent a week with my new extended family. I truly enjoyed cooking for them - from Garlic Shrimp to my Lumpiang Shanghai! Ezra and Esther were the perfect playmates... and I love love love them to pieces. Ate Ruth and I took them to the mall and we all had a blast as the two little munchkins joined other kids participate at a kid's show mall tour. Being shy certainly doesn't run in the Canlas' blood - that's for sure. Mom took me to Divisoria for some budget friendly shopping... and with Dad they showed me their house where Carl spent most of his younger days... I should have taken a picture of it, but I was so overwhelmed I forgot all about it - but that particular house of theirs has the Laie Hawaii Temple engraved on its main door. I also met up with some of my college girlfriends including Carl's cousin Ann. For me the highlight of my whole stay with Carl's family was Carl's birthday - Mom and I went to the Manila Philippines Temple together.
Ate Ruth and her babies, Ezra and Esther, at SM Bicutan
UP Baguio Girls - Love (UPB Econ '04, Davao Mission bound),
En (UPB Econ '03, career woman looking for Mr. R)
JV (UPB SocAn '03, happily married), and
Ann (UPB Comm '04, Baguio Mission bound)
Mom and I at the Manila Philippines Temple on Carl's birthday
FAMILY and FRIENDS
A day after I got my passport/visa in the mail. Papa picked me up in Manila. During the 4 weeks that followed, I was able to spend some quality time with my family. On my first weekend, I actually went out with my High School friends and we visited our good friend's grave who died from bacterial meningitis in 2008. I also went out on a date with my big little brother and watched a movie, and I also attended his first baptism ever. Papa took us out and we had a feast at Shakey's. I met up with my good friend Angela in Baguio and had a great lunch at VOCAS with ate Chona. Angela was also leaving the Philippines for graduate school... she'll be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a Fulbright Scholarship. I know.. its great to have friends as smart as Angela! Mama and I also went to Baguio a couple of times, mostly to do some shopping at the famous Ukay-Ukay. On a normal day though, I was just at home, with Lola and two little kindergarteners who make life interesting for everyone - Ydian and Ylyzza. Carl and I talk at least twice a day. I spent a lot of time talking stories with my lola... she has lots and lots of stories... and I can never have enough :)
Ylyzza and Ydian: BATH TIME PINOY STYLE!
THE WEIGHT..THE FOOD... AND ALL OTHER REASONS.
I know... I gained 25 lbs over the last 4 years. And everyone seemed to notice... And almost everyone told me I should lose weight so I can get pregnant. In reality, its like the other way around... this whole weight gain is an effect, not a cause, of a medical condition I didn't know I have ... it's called
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Because of PCOS, conceiving will be a challenge for Carl and I... it won't be impossible, but it will take a while (and some medical intervention). And according to my OB-GYN, one of my condition's side effect is weight gain. So there... everytime some one said I've gotten HUGE, I just dismissed it... knowing that its not entirely my fault... and so I continued to eat like I usually do. HAHAHA! I ate A LOT of veggies and fruits - ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES STYLE! Can't beat that!
THE BIRTHDAY and THE ANNIVERSARY
I received a birthday card and an anniversary card from my only love Carl. Can't ask for more... My family organized a simple gathering for me - to celebrate my birthday and Carl and mine's 2nd anniversary... and for many more reasons close to the heart. We all had a great time catching up, realizing how kids have grown up so fast, and seeing what the future has promised to all of us. Families are awesome - no matter what size and shape they come in. I am ever glad to have a family like mine. I wish Carl was there.. I know how much he wished he could. Friends from my home ward also came, and my very good friend Joreen came down all the way from Manila to spend time with me over the weekend. It was good...and it felt great to be 24!
THE MOST NEEDED TIME FAMILY TIME
A couple of days before I had to leave for the US, we had to be in Manila to pick up my aunt's family from the airport. We visited our family in Pampanga on our way to Manila.Tita Jen's family arrives from Texas a day before my flight. and we spent some time with them in Subic before driving back to the airport for my flight.. We had a blast at Zoobic Safari in Subic, feeding tigers and all that fun stuff. We stayed at the Grand Seas Resort in Olongapo, and enjoyed their pool's cool water and their yummy breakfast. We had a late lunch at Gerry's Grill with the super uncle in the world, Chammy. It has been a while since our family was able to have a "get-away." We were always a busy family, and we usually don't go very far. My aunt's family was so nice to include us in their budget ;) Seriously, the last family trip we probably had was 10 years ago... It was really heartwarming, and again, I was wishing Carl was with us...
TIME TO LEAVE
After an exhilarating day at Zoobic Safari, we scrambled to get back to our hotel and get ready to leave for Manila. The trip from Olongapo to Manila was about 3 to 4 hours, plus traffic because it was a Friday. We left Olongapo at around 3:30 in the afternoon, and you bet we got caught in traffic. My flight was at 10, we arrived at the airport at 15 till 8. Awesome. Carl's dad was there with more stuff for us. And then, in a whirlwind, I was inside and checking-in my bags. Mama and Papa, oh yes those two were teary eyed, as they always are. After i checked-in my stuff, I went out again to spend a couple more minutes with them since I still have time. Papa wasn't able to give me a blessing, so he just lead us in a family prayer. It is going to quite a while before we will become a family of five again. Later this year, Yken will be leaving for his mission... so lets say, the next reunion for this awesome family will not be until 2 years from now... and yeah, Papa felt awkward to give his big baby girl a hug, not because he's not affectionately expressive, but because he doesn't want to cry...
one last time... before five becomes three (for the next two years)
UP IN THE AIR
There's nothing much to say about my flight back to the US except for the fact that I was afraid my flight was gonna be cancelled because of the airline's issues with its staff and crew. Seems like international flights weren't as affected as the domestic ones... And so, every couple thousand miles, my heart felt closer to my one eternal love... Carl.
