“When you finally go back to your old hometown, you find it wasn’t the old home you missed but your childhood.” -Sam Ewing
Top L-R: Japan Airlines- my ride back home; enjoying ramen at Tokyo Airport;
Bottom L-R: Lunch with my brother and his fam; seeing my nephew Bitoy.
Six years in the making- I finally coming home to see family again. The last I was in the Philippines was in July of 2019. I promised then that I will try to come back at least every two years. Then covid happened in 2020, and my life took many detours. Fast forward to 2025, I am excited to see family and friends once again.
For the last eight months I have been looking forward to this flight. It was a total of almost 27hrs- started with a short flight from Orlando, Florida to Chicago. Then the long haul from Chicago to Tokyo. With over three hours of lay over, I got to do a bit of roaming around the airport, showered, and ate ramen (yes, their food at the airport is also restaurant quality). Then another three hour flight from Tokyo to Manila for the last leg of the trip. Overall, it was a very good flight. Japan Airlines always has the reputation of an excellent service, and this flight did not disappoint. The ground staff, attendants, the amenities and mostly the food! It was an epitome of excellent customer service.
Seeing Family. I was in Manila for two nights with my brother Joel. He fetched me at the airport when I arrived; he always does. I noticed he aged a bit (who doesn’t?), but still has the bubbly personality. As we saw each other, we hugged and both greeted each other with a big smile then eventually headed to the car whom Ritz volunteered for me to use. I will see her the following day. The next day my brother and I woke up early. We are going to see his new apartment that I have never been. I was also looking forward to seeing my sister in-law Eden, who I last saw in 2019. I asked her to cook an impromptu dish- one of my favorite Filipino dish “Sarciadong Isda” as we are going to eat lunch at their house. Bob teased me when we were on the phone why not the best Eden’s Spaghetti? (She really does make a good spaghetti that Bob loves!).
arriving first time In La Union after 6yrs; and seeing the entire family again.
After more than an hour of riding Grab (the Philippines’ equivalent for Uber), we finally arrived at their place. I was surprised to see my nephew Bitoy too! He’s going to school but not until the later part of the day. When the food was ready, we all shared my first Filipino lunch with stories and catching up. Since my schedule was crunched, we left my brother’s house shortly after, to see some friends.
When my sister Merly and my nephew, her son Kevin arrived the third day, we all geared to traveling and spending five days in Palawan- a paradise island in the south coast of Luzon, with our friends Tina and Allan. We left on the fourth day of my travel itinerary. I am still in the process of finishing a separate blog detailing our adventures in this paradise and I hope you read that too!
After five days enjoying the pristine waters of Palawan, we headed back to Manila. From the airport, we went straight to the bus station where we took our ride to my Tatay’s (Tagalog word for father) hometown- La Union. We left about noon time, and it took us about seven hours to finally arrive. By then it was dusk. So much has changed- I felt the once a quiet after dark town is now too busy, some says its vibrant. I was very happy when we got home to see everybody. Tatay, my sisters- Nilda (and BIL Damian, Justin and GF Lauren) and Sylvia and her family- Ryan, Rheanne and Rani. One more day and we are almost complete.
My Tatay’s hometown- Guinguinabang, San Juan, La Union
Top: visiting Nanay’s grave;
Bottom L-R: spending time with my siblings; one of the many food on the tables our family spent together.
The following day we went to visit our mom’s grave (and Hendrijk’s), all five of us her children (and some of the family) were there and offered flowers. After spending time with both of them, we gone by our day. I spent a bit of “me” moment by having spa- facial care and a massage (with a 4.7 magnitude earthquake as extra- Yes, it was shaking while my facial care was happening!) . Then did a bit of shopping while waiting for the rest of the family doing pretty much the same. At night time, Conor, Rebecca (straight from the airport) Eden and Bitoy (who fetched Conor and Rebecca) finally arrived. Almost complete (missing Bob, Julie Ann, Roxanne and Selena who couldn’t make it; and of course Nanay).
Then Saturday came and we celebrated Nilda’s 60th birthday were we all had a great time (read blog: https://www.junbaniquedimages.com/blog/2025/10/29/shes-60-my-tribute-to-my-sisters-officially-becoming-a-sexagenarian).
The morning after Nilda’s birthday was spent from having breakfast with some of her friends and our friends at our place. When they left, it was just us family. That night we had family dinner of left overs from the previous night’s event. I must say, everyone is overwhelmed with cakes🎂😂 (yes, we have probably had about six or seven cakes given as gifts to the party for all three of them combined). The night was full of laughters and gift givings to the birthday celebrators. The best part was my Tatay singing Fraulein- one of his favorite songs in his genre. The rest of the night I spent packing for our trip to Sagada for the next day (read blog: https://www.junbaniquedimages.com/blog/2025/11/9/sagada-the-sea-of-clouds-experience).
As we navigate our way back to La Union, we briefly stopped in Luna and watched the sunset beside the Baluarte Tower. We spent one more night with the family; then everyone became busy with mostly packing since. I couldn’t believe that’s been two weeks; and now onto the last stretch of my Philippines trip. The following day we headed to Manila with stops in Pangasinan to visit Conor’s cousins and at my brother’s new place in Pampanga. When we finally got to our hotel, we freshened up and headed to BGC for dinner to celebrate Conor’s birthday.
Witnessing sunset at Baluarte Tower with the family.
Having a great time with friends.
Top L-R: lunch in Greenbelt after picking Merly and Kevin from the airport; dinner with Tina in Makati;
Bottom L-R: Xenia, Ritz and my self for a quick trip to New World; Kampay with Tina
Meeting with Friends. Just like my sister, I have many friends of different timelines that I want to see in this time constraint trip to the Philippines.
Ritz and Xenia. First of the many (of my few good friends) I want to see this visit; friends who become my family; my friends from nursing school. Ritz picked us up at Trinoma Mall (on Day 2 after my visit with my brother’s new place), our meeting place- then proceeded right away to a massage place, where we also met our friend Xenia. We had a great an hour and a half of a relaxing massage- good enough to switch my mind off my busy schedules. Then we had a wonderful Italian dinner at Italianni’s after. I was suppose to meet another friend but that didn’t work out so we extended a bit of time trying to catch up with all the things I missed.
I saw both of them again the following day as they wanted to accompany me and my brother to pick up Merly, my sister and Kevin, my nephew at the airport. When we are finally all together, we had lunch at one of the Korean restaurants in Greenbelt- an upscale mall in Makati. After that we parted ways. That night we met with Tina, another of our friend too, for dinner nearby our hotel. Tina and her cousin Allan, joined us in our adventure in Palawan.
Seeing my UP friends and the Caloocan Gangs at Nilda’s 60th birthday celebration.
I think the best time reconnecting with all our friends happened during Nilda’s birthday celebration. Most of her friends are our common friends and we were glad that we see all of them at her most special moment. Our UP friends (Didith and Jeng and husbands Raul and Sev) were there; Wella and boyfriend Joel were there. Of course, Ritz, Xenia and Tina were also there.
But the most I was happy to see were all our friends from Caloocan Compound- the CMC. Tanton, Tito Raph, Tita Karn, Mick (and wife Joy), Andong (and wife Brenda), Zalde, And Manang Delia. The gang wasn’t complete, but I’ll take what was available and spend the best time. At this point in my life, every moment counts- I wanted to nourish and enjoy the important people that touched and molded me as a person. And what I have that moment is more than enough. I was happy to see all of them. The hugs… the stories…aaahhh so much to say but so little time.
CMC at Nilda’s 60th birthday celebration and spending lunch in the house.
The night went by fast and around 10PM slowly the guests started saying their well wishes and parted ways. Tatay, perhaps because of his excitement seeing former neighbors, invited them for a breakfast the following day. We really appreciated this because it gave us more time to catch up, banter and reminisce the good times. They ended staying for both breakfast and lunch. We were having so much fun that we lost track of time. Around 2PM, they finally said goodbye. It was sad that we are parting, but so happy that this bonding happened.
On my final day in the Philippines, I spent the morning having breakfast with my family then went to Ritz to celebrate her birthday briefly. In the afternoon, after I come back in the hotel, I met Tina for one last time as she was kind enough to bring me to the airport as I commence my trip from the country I always long for.
See you again Philippines! I hope sooner than later.