As early as 5am, Ahdz’s mom started preparing foods she will serve for today’s occassion. I got up from bed at around 6:30am, a big change from the usual wake up time at 4 in the morning. This is the actual day of the fiesta, but it seems I won’t be able to enjoy it well because I will be going home in the afternoon, and most of the programs will be held nighttime.

It was a very hot day, so I just cozied myself in their kitchen, trying to watch Ahdz’s mom while she’s cooking. ‘Te Leth fixed me a cup of coffee, and when Ahdz woke up around 8am, we all ate our breakfast. We were asked to go to the nearby store to buy some ingredients, and coincidentally, the parade in the main road just started.

Right after the mass, the Adakrab Band performed another routine. I appreciated their routine more today than last night — maybe because it was still early and they’re still fresh and all that. We only got to see the start of the parade, because Ahdz’s house is quite far from the main road. So sad that I wasn’t able to see another wind and percussion band (different from the band that performed last night) because we really have to rush the things we bought. If there was any consolation, I got to see the cute little kids vying to be “Little Miss Lawa 2008.”

As soon as we got home, we helped Ahdz’s mom as she cooks the rest of the dishes. Ahdz peeled the garlic while I grate it. Chopping would take a long time and it was a bit messy, so we decided to grate it. At first it was all good, I mean I was enjoying all the grating, but when Ahdz turned on the electric fan to cool us a bit, my fingers started to burn. Three of my fingers were burned from all the garlic I grated (it was a little bowl of garlic peeled). Even if I washed it, drenched it in cold water, it was still burning. As of this writing (06 May), the burned part have healed, but it got dried out. I guess I have to apply a lot of petroleum jelly to rehydrate it! =)

Just an hour before lunch time, Ahdz and I started preparing the spring rolls. I learned a cool technique in making all the rolls uniform, and for sure, the next time I cook spring rolls for myself, I will apply that technique. They used galunggong (mackerel scad), chopped potatoes, carrots, and luncheon meat for this one. Interesting mix of ingredients, indeed!

All in all, they served four main dishes: menudo, chicken caldereta, spring rolls, and chopsuey. I enjoyed eating the menudo because it wasn’t that fatty. The chicken caldereta I only took a piece, just so I can taste it. The chopseuy was a different kind from the usual I see, for this one had cream. I am trying to avoid fatty / dairy foods during celebrations, but I needed some vegetables to balance out my food intake, so I took a saucer and fork out my veggies, shaking off the cream sauce that clings into the vegetables. The spring rolls are delicious, but I hoped to have a vinegar dip instead of ketchup. =) For dessert, I was served buco-pandan salad. It was really delicious! I think I had two servings of it. Ahdz’s mom cooks very well, good thing I don’t live there. For sure I’ll blow up if I do.

There was a little game by the river, which we enjoyed watching from the verandah. The game was palosebo, a traditional Filipino game using a bamboo pole. A participant will try to get the banner pinned on the topmost part of the pole, but apart from the challenge of climbing the pole, the pole was also greased up to add more challenge. We enjoyed watching the kids try out their luck to get the banner. Very great idea of doing it in the river, so when a participant falls, no need for some cushion - he can just jump in the river. I tried to capture a shot, but it was a bit far. My cell phone wasn’t really good in capturing zoomed images, so I just decided not to take a picture.

It was 6pm when we decided to leave. Ahdz and I parted ways in Kamuning, where I took a bus home. I really had a great time attending their barangay fiesta. Hopefully next year, she can invite me again. Thanks Ahdz and the rest of the Garcia family for the wonderful stay in your house. I really had a wonderful time. Thanks a lot, too, for the foods you wrapped up for me.

*** Jenn ***