Another CNY escape from the busy life in Singapore. I planned to go back to my country just to have a simple getaway to some of the beautiful tourist spots but I didn’t know that this trip will be a “memorable one”. And would turn my world up and down like a 360 degrees turn around.
My first time I went to Cebu to see the Magellan Cross and Sto. Nino de Cebu, I was excited because it’s another place that I wish and dream of when I’m studying Philippine history. But I didn’t explore this Island because we need to travel to Bohol the next day.
Having this kind of island hopping in our country is an adventure to make. Going to Bohol to meet my friend and his family and of course to visit the famous chocolate hills and other sightseeing places in this province. I am very lucky and thankful for them because they accompany me and tour me on their island. And they were the ones who support and comfort me.
Below pictures are in sequence of how my trip goes at that time. The blood compact site, Baclayon Church, The Tarsier and Philippine Eagle Sanctuary, the Loboc River Cruise where we ate our lunch, The manmade forest, chocolate hills, the cave, and the last is Panglao Beach. The island hopping in Panglao has been cut in my trip because of an unfortunate thing that happens in Quezon Province.
I receive the bad news that my father passed away when we were eating our breakfast in Panglao. But since I reached Cebu, I already text my father and informed him I’m having a weekend holiday because of Chinese New Year and will not touch Manila. I plan this because my parents will be going to Singapore in March. I never know that this will happen as I have constant communication with my father at that time. There was a premonition but of course, I am not aware back then that some strange thing will happen.
At exactly 7 am, I and my father exchange text messages checking each other how are we and greet a good morning. I keep on texting him, and with a long pause and only one reply, he told me that he is inside the church to celebrate mass. I replied and inform him that text me I will call back so that we can talk. I was mesmerized by the beauty of Panglao beach and I forget to check my phone. Around 11 am, I received a lot of texts came from my brother and told me the sad truth 😦
What is the premonition that happens to me at that time? Checking on my pictures in my DSLR camera, there is this sunrise from Cebu Port that I took, the sun rays formed a cross. And there is this strong wind while driving to chocolate hills, somewhere in Carmen area downhill, our vehicle experienced a strong wind that the driver would have hard to control the steering wheel, and luckily nobody hurts. We reached the Chocolate Hills safe and sound but the view has dull and dark clouds.
This trip should end a happy one but things went till the end. The end of life of my father. I had an opportunity to talked to him even in his last hour of his life. Regretting that I have not said how much I love him. And never show him where I stay and work in Singapore. He processed his passport and collected it a week before. And the purpose is not to travel to Singapore but it’s his passport to heaven.
10 years passed by, still miss you my bumblebee.
