Starstruck in Tarlac
Arriving Tarlac City at noontime gave
me an ample opportunity to roam around the city. The city is no
different from other provincial places. The wide roads were filled
with cars and trikes while the houses and small establishments line
up the city proper.
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| San Sebastian Cathedral |
First stop was the San Sebastian
Cathedral and the Corazon C. Aquino Monument. Two famous sites
favoured by many tourists for its history and significance to the
city.
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| Tarlac Capitol |
I hopped on a jeep and took a photo of
the Tarlac Capitol and saw the expansive Maria Cristina Park right
opposite. It was walking and walking all throughout, but I wasn't
lost.
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| Refuelling Station |
However, I am not to stay at the city
proper as I need to meet one more friend I met through blogging. I
took a bus and arrived a very rustic barangay and waited for my
friend to pick me up. While waiting I noticed tons of students coming
in and out and in groups later learning that they merge together at
certain times to catch a ride together on a three wheeled tricycle as
it was cheaper to chip in for the fare.
My friend came. “Cezar Montano, is
that you?” I hopped on his bike as we traversed the wide and
green landscape that is typical of any province. It was the most
green I have ever seen, a cacophony of colours brightly enhanced by
the crops and trees planted along the road and fields. The trip was
quite long but in my eyes, it was a bursting imagery of many hues of
green from the lightest to the darkest.
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| The Expansive Vegetable Field |
When I reached his house, he gave me
the opportunity to feel at home by accepting me as a special guest of
the household. It was humbling! When it was time to eat dinner, the
food served were straight from the field and it was the most
delicious meal ever. It was filling! When we conversed about work and
personal lives, our bond became stronger. It was encouraging!
The cups of coffee became the extra
listeners to our plights and joyful sharings. The dim light coming
from the living room gave drama to our emo stories. The silence
around the house made our laughters more crisp and infectious. We
were speaking not just as bloggers, we were building friendships.
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| Bring Me the Ax! |
Aboutambot will remain anonymous to
those who wish to see his face and know his name. But to me, meeting
the writer had given me an opportunity to widen my scope about life
and issues of living. His many stories are uplifting so is his
pursuit to excellence. His trust to house a complete stranger will be
one of the many highlights of my stay in the Philippines.
 |
| Rustic Beauty |
I became one with nature, one with
simplicity, one
with myself. Leaving Tarlac gave me sadness but a
reassurance that one day I will live a life inspired by him. I
appreciate his kindness to me, many thanks aboutambot!
Comments
Rural area pero napaka-relaxing ng ambiance...Thumbs up!
Mabisita nga din ang blog ni AboutAmbot after this.
Kung mayroon lang mga trabahong nakalaan sa mga taong nasa probinsiya eh hindi na sila magsusumiksik sa lungsod dahil ang nakahain sa probinsiya ay hindi lamang payak na pamumuhay kung hindi saganang pagkain at maaliwalas na kapaligiran. Ako, pag tanda ko, sa bukid ako maglalagi.
Salamat sa pagbisita. Ikaw naman ang susunod, ha,ha,ha.
Same sentiment. I am so blessed to have met you as well, the experience being in your class was immeasurable. The country needs more teachers like you.
And of course, the perks of being upcountry: clean air, healthy living, simple lifestyle, happy! (with internet connection, definitely!)
Sana pala sinama mo ako para nakilala ko siya... hehehe
Ang ganda ng Tarlac, so provincial...
Really appreciate you for writing this. Little bit disappointed you didn't post pics of the awesome food you both had !
Good !
Yes, it was an adventure but I was cautious in a way because I do not know the bloggers. I only know them through their words and emotions. However, it was an adventure worth writing and pondering later on.
I didn't think of taking photos of the food because we were probably hungry at that time. Kidding aside, it was a very exciting meet so we were talking like mad and forgot to document other things. Anyway, they were fresh veggies and fish.
I hope na tayo naman ang magkita next time. Simple conversations between online friends. Madali lang ako mahanap since I just stay in Manila most of the time.
Going to the provinces excites me kahit wala yung maraming conveniences ng kalungsuran. It is the place to slow down and wonder at nature. Nakaka-relax. Kaya nga kapag nagso-sorry yung mga hosts ko sa province na wala silang ganito o ganyan ay sinasabihan ko na walang problema. Hindi ako pumunta ng probinsya para bumisita sa kopya ng Maynila.
I also see your face in delight and amazement as you fill your visions with the urban life you are witnessing.
The photographs you posted here are all perfect for your story. The refueling station gave a wide smile on my face. The vegetable field and hay stack makes me want to run out of the city and find a place just to see such simple and yet so calming scene like that.
The cut logs formed like a faceless human described Ambot as anonymous. I checked his blog and I really feel regretful finding it in "private" setting.
Please say my hello to Ambot and thank you Jonathan for bringing us along to your mesmerizing adventure in Tarlac.
Btw, I actually consulted my dictionary for the word "cacophony" :)
I am thinking of going to Dumaguete and then Samar to meet three different people. I wanted to see Ms. Joy as well in Norway or perhaps the people in UAE. Gotta save, save, save!
Your comment will probably be listed as one of the most honest and best compliment I received through these many years of blogging.
Yes, I enjoyed envisioning the rural life and that I am pondering of being in one in the near future. The ambience alone captured my imagination that when I wrote ambot's entry, it was vividly photographed and transferred through words.
Ambot mentioned that his simple lifestyle in the province became a heavenly place through the way I described his place and our meet.
I wish people will see the beauty of simplicity and live a life like that. The material gains we enjoy are simple passing fancies but the communion with nature is something we all need to seek.
May your presence in the blogging world be an inspiration to many, to write not because they need to, but to write because they have great stories to share.
Best regards,
Jonathan
Kahit na busy napadalaw pa rin, maraming salamat. Parang hindi kumpleto ang postings kung wala kang comment, lol!
Anyway, sa lahat ng pinuntahan ko, simbahan ang unang pinapasyalan ko. Nagpapasalamat sa safety and great day ahead. I was able to visit the one in Baguio as well, first thing I did, not SM, ha,ha,ha.
Sana minsan may outing ang mga bloggers at sasama ako. Mag aabsent ako sa work!
Hayaan niyo po, if ever I will visit Norway, well documented din siya, hopefully!