Who's to Blame

The day has come. It was a sunny afternoon, filled with laughter's and giggling inside the van as we travelled south of Cebu, to a mountain resort situated 100 meters above sea level. The family day for the entire office unfolds.

Few days back, we tried to organize the menu for the whole duration of the activity. Hopped from one department store to the other to buy the needed food stuffs. And where else, Carbon market, where one can bargain prices with the vendors. Practically, all kitchen lovers should love the place.

We arrived at the resort, nestled on the lush forest around 3:00 in the afternoon. Checked in our belongings, as we catched our breath, briskly walking to a hill where our cottage was located. Tropical- inspired architecture mixed with a western touch dominated the entire stretch of cottages scattered on the hills like tiny mushrooms.

Got to work for our dinner. I myself, is not a good cook but only a good eater. I only knew simple dishes like sinugba, tinola and prito. But this not bothered me. One of our colleagues is a born chef. Edgar, as he is fondly called is the man of the hour. He takes charge of the kitchen whenever the office needs him. On that very moment I became his instant assistant .Our dinner . Saved by Edgar.

But alas, where's the oil. Unluckily, it was left in the office. Nobody expected that it would be left behind. All items were already packed early that day. What would chef Edgar do? Armed with his expertise, he cut a bit of lechon, crushed them into pieces and dumped it inside the pan. Minutes later, oil dripped from the pork, just enough to serve its purpose. It worked the way he wanted it to be. The day is over.

It was 4:00 in the morning the next day, I felt the room where I slept together with two office mates gets humid and hot. Brownout. Unminding the predicament I got back to sleep. Not until I was awaken by a loud noise coming from somewhere. Still in my sleepy eyes, I checked. It's not the generator which I previously think it was, but the sound turned out to be my roommates snore.

Morning came. I could hear conservations outside the cottage. As I peeped through the window, I could see my colleagues busy preparing the breakfast. Rice now cooked on a small stove. A totally draining one. Using a big container with only minimal fire, guess what? The uncooked rice. Rice cooker paralyzed.

The lucky day never halted. Five kilos of chicken smelled bad. It was overlooked the night before when everybody enjoyed the singing to the oldies and dancing to the beat of the music.

Memorable as it is , it only happened once a year. A time to renew close family ties. Talk as if you're a politician when in fact you are not. Eat as if there's no tomorrow. Drink until the sun and the moon drops. Meditate to strengthen the soul. Everything happens for a reason, waiting to be discovered. But who's to blame when things go wrong..