Spending my last days at my hometown; Pampanga Philippines (ft. my amazing family) ❤️

The most literal a family reunion can get in this blog >

   

    My feelings were muddled into a perplexing state of curiosity, eagerness, and intimidation when Tito Rain kindly invited us into his home. But the heart of all my emotions really was eagerness. 

    Because this time, we were really getting the band back together.

    

group photo with people from left to right > Tito Rain, Tito Ryan, Ninang, Mum, me, Mamu, Tito Nhey

    One fact about Tito Rain that I always find intriguing, his fridge is (not exaggerating, wish I was though) filled to the BRIM with an eye-opening assortment of chocolates and truffles from Switzerland after his time there. Chocolate from there in my opinion would have made one of the best edible souvenirs you could bring home. 

    He offered a single piece of premium wrapped chocolate from Switzerland, and as he places lightly onto my palm, I treat it as if it's a block of gold from an abandoned old mine from the 1800s. (technically its rarity is equivalent to gold, it's chocolate guys)

    The piece of valuable chocolate melts into my mouth after several seconds, and I blissfully savour it. "That's pretty good..."

    As though hinting that I'd be delighted to have another, Tito Rain offers another one. It's great to have telepaths in this family.

An awaited family favourite; palabok at Susie's

    With every given moment Mum and Ninang have, while approving "yeah"s in between murmurs, they strangely always circle back to this one particular topic; Susie's.

     It appeared crystal clear that the whole Danganan family was also in unison approval, so we made an easy choice to eat at Susie's for a reunion lunch!

     Going to Susie's after not being at a branch for so long made me feel like it was very first time going there. Mum had asked me what I'd like to eat, and overwhelmed by all the options placed in front of me, I was clueless on what to decide on. Since my family knew the menu like the back of their hands, they suggested sharing a large platter of one of my personal Filipino favourites; palabok. A saucy delight that literally no one in my family dislikes, since it's quite impossible to.

Big platter of the palabok, wasn't lying when the menu said "big" XD.

     Piercing through the noodles with my fork and popping it in my mouth was probably when one of the greatest decisions I'd ever made...

     Because when I finished my bowl, I couldn't even stand up straight without clutching my my ribs.  

 

Full and satisfied Danganans (with Ninang and Tito Randy) from left to right: Tito Rain, Ninang,  Tito Nhey, Tito Randy, Mamu, mee, Tito Ryan

Mini mall hopping tour ~

    Tito Nhey and Tito Randy had gladly accepted to take part with us on mini mall hopping journey, being two honorary members of the Chiang Mai travellers society.

    SM City Clark Pampanga was one of the malls we had in mind for our mall tour, which was one I hadn't been to in a very long time. I only remembered the atmosphere, and the highly polished floors that squeaked with every sloppy step I took when I was only a toddler. I also remember how my relatives and I would frequently go there all of the time. 

    And now we were back here, but only several years later.

    This mall-hopping tour consisted of shopping at a moderate pace, and what I have to say, eating the food was the most enjoyable part of the mall hopping tour (-words from a certified biggie :3).

    

> SM Clark Pampanga

> Nepo Mall 

> Nepo Mall 

View of the resort we were staying at 

> Condo at Azure North Pampanga

    I was super disheartened when I woke to realise that this was our second to last day in the Philippines and my home town, despite having a glimpse of the beautiful bird's eye view of the pool's resort. 

    There was an invisible weight on my back when I sat up, and I assumed that my exhaustion came from the fact where I had to wake up 2am in the morning for the wet market. Yes. 2 AM. From a glance, you would've found that absurd, and at the time I did without any explanation. But the truth was the reason why the wet market had opened up at that period in the morning was because by then, they'd already catched the freshest seafoods of Filipino waters you could've ever imagined.

    And I gotta be honest, it was super worth it. Because by waking up 2am, when we slept back and I woke up for breakfast, I was woken up with freshly cut mangoes, quail eggs, okra (or "lady's finger" in English) and the yummiest of all...

    

    "CRAB!"

    Scrambling to my seat, I gazed at the crab in utter awe, ready to feast upon it. Then after a brief prayer, I ate with my heart's intent.

Our final day at my home country... 

came for a swim at the other hotel we booked at!

(a kind tourist offered to take us a group photo, and this is what they got!)

    To commemorate our last day, my family and all mutually decided order Chowking for our dinner~

    We all found pleasure into Chowking, and it felt like forever since I'd taken a bite out of a Chowking meal. And now that I'm here, going to eat this, we were already leaving. But I figured, if this is my last night here I have to make the most fun that I've had in a while...

got some clothes from Penshoppe!!

    ...so to end the night of strong, we ordered a chocolate swirl ice cream from Dairy Queen. There's literally no better way to end the night then getting a icy dessert with your family members as you laugh at their funny jokes <3

Last country in the next blog.,. (I will always remain mysterious, using ellipses an unecessary amount... mwahaha...)