Place: Garlic Stand (Pinili, Ilocos Norte)
Date: 25 May 2008

The night before, there were arrangements made that we would all drop by Laoag City public market to buy garlic because Tita Letty somebody gave her some garlic from Laoag that costed only 40 pesos per kilo. In La Union, it’s 160 pesos per kilo, so all of us were excited about that. However, as we were travelling from Bangui, Tito Jaime asked us if we would still pass by Laoag public market, and two of our companions started trashing the arrangements made. They were doubting the very cheap price of the garlic, and since the two of them has passed by the road before, they voted that we all should just buy garlic in the town of Pinili.

Still, Aunt Julie and I were still insisting we pass by Laoag public market. Aside from the garlic, she was hoping to buy Longganisang Laoag (sausage) while I wanted to buy Laoag Empanada and shirt (if ever available) for my sister. I was also hoping to set foot in Laoag and maybe see my friend Claire even if it meant saying “Hi, hello, goodbye.”

I was ecstatic about the whole idea, but started feeling bad (again) when we reached the bridge. I looked back on the arch, and I saw the “Welcome to Laoag” signage and realized we were already in the next town (San Nicolas). I asked Aunt Julie, and she mumbled that we will no longer dropping by Laoag market because all of them were really hoping to get home. I texted all my frustrations to my brother (thank goodness he’s a great shock absorber), and as we approach the town of Batac, Aunt Julie blurted out her frustration by saying that the cheap garlic were really sold in Laoag. Turned out, brother texted her because he was just in the area a week before. The two companions who opposed to the idea just said, “too bad we already passed it.” Wow.

It’s normal in the Philippine countryside to see kiosks of different products by the highway. In the town of Pinili, there were lots of kiosks selling garlic, onions, and Ilocos vinegar. Since this is the place that our companions suggested we check out, naturally, we have to stop. I was the one seated by the door of the van, so they asked me to go out and ask for the price.

The prices of garlic here wasn’t on kilo basis. The stall owners give customers selection and the price would depend on the amount of garlic in the bunch. The cheapest was 80 pesos, and the most expensive was 120 pesos. When I went back to the van, all of their faces dropped and Aunt Julie was certainly frustrated about it. In brother’s text message, he said that the other place to get cheap garlic was in the town of Sinait (Ilocos Sur), but none seemed to mind about it.

Still, they bought garlic. Aunt Julie asked me if I would buy some, but I said I cannot tolerate such amount. After all, we still have some garlic in the house, so it wasn’t that much of a need for us. But then, if the price was a lot cheaper, I’d buy of course. Garlic is one of Ilocos Region’s best products, and the garlic here was certainly so aromatic and delicious. I, for one, love garlic, and I prefer eating garlic from this part of the country than anywhere else.

Well, while they were haggling with the stall owner, I was busy picturing myself — what else? I enjoyed the self photo shoot, it certainly took away that bad feeling I was feeling all day. Even if some of them were laughing and wondering why was I so busy taking pictures every now and then, I just kept up with it and continue shooting pictures.

Back in the van, I told brother what happened and was surprised why Aunt Julie still bought garlic. When we reach Sinait, we saw a garlic cart by the corner of the market and Tito Jaime asked if we would still be interested in asking for the price. I went out and found out that garlic here costed 80 pesos per kilo! When I told them about it, all the more that they got frustrated. I bought two kilos of garlic and Aunt Julie bought some as well because one of her workmates asked her to buy garlic. She just said that the one she bought in Pinili would be for her workmate, and the one from Sinait would be for the house.

At long last, a smile in my face!

*** Jenn ***