MAPPing Paracelis v.2
So, after a successful conduct of the Regional Search for Modelong Ama ng Pantawid Pamilya the other day, my peoples decided it was better to package the documentation straight from the ground.
I traveled for eight hours to get to Paracelis via a UV Express, it was already fast considering we had to pass through three different provinces and countless mountains (8 PM to 4 AM). I got there at dawn and slept a little in the van while waiting for my sundo (Toneyoung) to wake up.
We met at 6 AM and had breakfast at their place. At 8 AM, we moved out. It took us an hour and a half to get to the house of Tatay Erwin (plus fifteen minute tricycle ride from town proper to the entrance of their sitio). It was literally on top of a mountain, pass several creeks, and unpaved roads.
It was a tiring hike for a smoker like me but it was very fulfilling once you've reached the top. Their sitio Poblacion has a only a little population and the houses were literally separated by little hills. On the way up we've also passed by creeks and bantays which were their main water source.
The view was beautiful from the top. We arrived at around 10 AM and was welcomed warmly by the smell of a burning cow being cooked. We had the interview shoot for thirty minutes and after that, it was time for lunch... my favorite part of the day.
Tatay Erwin had nine children and two grand children. He, being an Igorot has always been proud of having a large family. Prouder because despite the fact that they don't have much, they still manage to send them all to school and as you can see in the photos above, they (the kids) also deliver and are honor students. See full story here: An Igorot's Tale.
Lunch was like a mini feast for they made parti a cow for salu salo. And if you were thirsty, they'll get you a fresh coconut right from the tree!!! It was a very exciting thing to watch (my lowkey evil self was waiting for the kid to fall ngay but thank god he didn't hehehe).
After lunch we rested for a while before trekking back to town. I shared a cigarette with the lakays of Paracelis and even tried momma (betel nut)!!! The elders was saying take it slow cos I was chewing too fast, i might get dizzy daw. Hahahahha. Fortunately i didn't and survived another hour trek down. It was faster since we took another shorter route pass by Paracelis Elementary School. We got back in town just in time to catch the bus leaving for Baguio at precisely 2 PM. It was an ordinary bus so it took longer than expected (it was thirteen fucking hours of butt numbing pain I had to endure to be homes). I got to Baguio at around 3 AM and slept through half the day.
A part of me has always been tired and angry of all the bullshit that has been happening in and out of the office (and by the looks of the current administration) but I've always enjoyed going on trips to visit our beneficiaries. They're the only reason why I'm still here and not quitting. It's a tribute to them, to share their wonderful lives, one story at a time.
To cap it off. Here's your sweaty tayerd lola with her walking stick.
That's one down of all the n trips for the year.
Stay tuned!
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