Be Prepared

I guess everyone is familiar with the motto "Be prepared". This short but concise statement always comes to mind when we execute the salute few years back. Proudly wearing the uniform with the other teens. Learning to do the simple household chores like cooking simple dishes.Camping.The bonfire at night. Every boy or girl had enjoyed the scouting years.I thought the story ends when the snappy uniforms were kept in the cabinets. My perception proved to be wrong.
 
Early this year,my uncle who now lives in Negros unexpectedly came to our house exactly at noon. He personally delivered the invitations to my other aunts and uncles for the upcoming wedding of his eldest son that Saturday.I drove him to each of them. He haven't spent valuable time with each other . He has to catch the last boat trip back that afternoon. I was tasked to convey the invitations to the rest of the family members living outside our hometown. Thanks to the new technologies, I had no problem communicating to them the event. Everything came smoothly although unprepared.
 
We are the groom's relatives. His father is a younger brother of my mother. The whole clan stayed in pension house for a night.One aunt reminded me her gift for the Christmas. I haven't seen her for years. She now stays in Iligan. She goes to Davao every now and then to visit her children who settled there. I promised her and the rest of the family to treat them in a food chain the next morning. They did enjoy it. I wasn't prepared. I was fortunate. I found an ATM near the area.
 
Originally, I planned to get back to Cebu after the wedding.I had only my clothes on and a jacket. I don't have personal necessities with me. I wondered if I smelled bad. I was forced to stay for a night with my relatives. The younger sister of the newly-weds made an eleventh hour decision to make me a "Ninong" of her second child. The family flew in from Arizona to attend the nuptials.I wasn't prepared.
 
Days ago, I was also an eleventh hour replacement to attend the year-end assessment at the Central Office in Manila. My co-employee was having an emergency to attend to. I was fortunate to book a round-trip flight a day before the meeting. It is very seldom that schedules were available that week especially the Sinulog festivity was on upswing. I barely had less than a day to pack my things for three days consumption.And, I wasn't prepared.
 
With such things happening unexpectedly, I'm glad I was able to compensate my unpreparedness. Should I, from now on remember what I always kept in mind during my boy scouts years? Be prepared.

The "Habal-Habal"

The cool December gentle breeze soothed our skin. We docked past ten in the evening. The waves pounding the seawall sounds astonishing. Everyone likes to jump immediately to bed after five hours journey on a fast ferry. My eyes tired and almost closed.

Aside from the tricycles and motorcycles parked at the waiting area, none other stayed that late, particularly the jeepneys. I was compelled to take the prevalently known "habal-habal". Basically, it's a single motorcycle added with accessories to cater more passengers. I don't subscribe on how it was called by the locals. Habal term is a street word for making love. It is usually used when one wants to have a sow cohabit with a boar. That goes beyond what our local mode of transportation implies.

My two boxes of gifts to my relatives and neighbors had nothing left to turn down what the driver asked for my fare. It costs three times more than the usual amount on daytime. I understood his plight. The peril he faces, transporting me safely with minimal light to guide us in the dark night costs even more. No price can pay for it.

We took the shorter distance from the wharf to our town. The route everybody wouldn't want to try. Passing mountain slopes and ravines. I could see the moon smiling from above with the stars. The light kept our path clear and distinct. The twinkling lights from downhill reminds me of the bright decorations hanged on the Christmas trees. The freezing coldness became more intense every time we're covered with towering canopies.

We talked whatever comes to mind. The brutal Maguindanao massacre. The political clan in our province dishing out money to the barangays for their parties. It sounds traditional politics. The duel in the political arena next year. Everybody is interested. A prominent showbiz figure threw his hat on the ring joining the race. They claimed their roots came from our province. The pomp and pageantry of our town he said is a must-see display. Decorations wrapped the century-old acacia trees at the heart of the town. I have to see it myself.

I disembarked safely. Gave the driver what is due and an extra amount for the holiday.