rites of passage

"Permanently migrating to Australia" was the option provided by the disembarkation card for my case. i ticked it, of course. then mulled over what "permanent" means. permanence never occurred to me. not on anything. a long time is not permanent. maybe because i change a lot. maybe because i don't grow roots. permanence is applicable to God, but not to me. all the same, i ticked that option. went through several motions. i am here. away from the rainy philippines to the wintery sydney.

separations, i believe, call for proper mourning. i practice that too. except for this case. when i skipped so many mourning sessions so i could finish all the preparations needed and meet up with as many friends as i could. then there's mama not approving of me crying especially when traveling.

i am thankful for the ride to the airport i shared with ivy. it is only with her that i went through my motions of separation. we cried, acknowledging we'd miss each other. but it's okay. and it's okay to cry. we'd see each other soon. we bid each other take care. fared each other well. i also remember distinctly ta, ma and les. separation, albeit temporarily, paved way for a loving and warm farewell.

as i look out the window, i see brick houses. apartments are now called flats. elevators, lifts. it is currently 2:40pm and everbody is most probably eating lunch in manila. i am in an altogether new place. but my thoughts often drift back to the philippines. i will live here and will likely change a lot. [i hope my accent does not, though.] living calls for growth, not permanence.

food trip

being the picky eater i've become, i thought of listing down my comfort food that i will surely miss(aside from home-cooked meals, malakanin na buko, manggang hilaw, and binatog):

01. el pollo loco - white chicken meat, tortilla and salsa.
02. meylin hand-pulled noodles - kimchi noodles, hot and sour noodles and oyster misua.
03. nypd pizza - lasagna verde (i don't think they still have this on the menu though).
04. JT's manukan - petcho chicken inasal.
05. amici di don bosco - Spaghetti Red Vongole e Gamberattii and Cannelloni Agli Spinaci.
06. mr. kabab - chicken kabab sandwich, roasted tomatoes and yogurt drink.
07. tasty dumplings - kiamchay noodles.
08. aling tonya's, seaside - grilled shrimp and crabs in special sauce.
09. golden fortune, soler - shabu shabu at 20% off.
10. wai ying - shrimp chongfan.
11. shoppersville bakeshop - pancit palabok.
12. enriquez smoothies, shopping center - avocado smoothie and papaya-pinapple smoothie.
13. wendy's - biggie iced tea.
14. jollibee - chickenjoy.
15. polland hopia - fresh lumpia.
16. FIC - vanilla ice cream.
17. chocolat - death by tablea chocolate cake.
18. coffee bean and tea leaf - strawberry and cream tea and genmaicha.
19. chocolate kiss - devil's food cake.
20. via mare - bibingka.
21. coop, up campus - kare-kare.
22. ersao - bubble green tea.
23. cafe monaco - bibimbop and beef pocket.
24. chowking - mantao.
25. gatas ng kalabaw - pure milk.
26. dencia's, davao - lugaw and tokwa't baboy.
27. dusk til dawn, davao - petcho chicken barbecue.
28. cecil's, davao - palabok and batchoy.
29. nanay porie's, kidapawan - petcho chicken barbecue.
30. jaltan, davao - malagkit na kakanin.
31. razon's - halo-halo.