Maria Marauder: I'm Deeply Touched

My family is moving to Cebu on Easter Sunday, hopefully for good this time. Just as everybody in the Christiandom is getting a five-day Holy Week respite, by either going to church, or heading to the beach, my family is busy packing our things from TV to clothes to Corelle dishes.

I have had enough transferring of houses in my lifetime. Manila. Cebu. Bacolod. Davao. Bacolod. Now Cebu again. Changing jobs. Meeting new people. Getting different sets of friends. Then moving again. I like the idea of the excitement that goes with the change of environment. But it's draining, physically, financially, and mentally. Yet this has been the life my family has been destined to have, so we all embrace the good and the bad that go with it.

I'd like to thank all my dear friends who said goodbye to me and attended my farewell parties. That's right, 'parties' in plural form. Not just one, but FIVE wonderful despedida parties, each special in its own way. Allow me to thank these dear people who took their time to say goodbye and acknowledge my ephemeral presence in their lives. I am deeply touched by all of you.

And how were they special to me?

March 30: At our rented Suntal Villas 2 residence. My Vision family went to my house to culminate my final work day. I prepared some pica-pica...

...and they brought ingredients for the mixed drinks.

Bloody Cheberry?

I also asked them to help me get rid of some of my excess baggage...

...so the party turned into a garage sale!

I had fun, you guys!!

Salamat sa pag-aabala! Thanks to kit for organizing the affair; allen for the wtf stories that made our belly ached (expelled na kami sa suntal dahil sa yo--buti na lang lilipat na kami! hahaha!); princess for being just your innocently (daw) funny self (good luck, my pardner!); ron and angel for the bartending (ay, mostly angel pala!); marie for hanger-shopping, irene for getting almost all my shoes (nagtira ka pa!), joana for being ariel the mermaid; chill for teaching us the "reeeeem" (hahaha!) and missing her ielts class tuloy; amy for accepting allen's "wedged" gift (isuot mo yan sa monday ha!); and melchor for helping me "steal" the chairs (wink wink!)!!!

It's official. If anyone of these people go to Cebu, hindi ko sila pagtataguan!!! Hahahaha!!!

March 31: At the New Government Center grounds. This is where I dance my heart out on weekends, and I must admit that I would sorely miss this activity. And the nice ladies who lead this group and make it happen. And Ronald, our dance leader. It got harder and harder every time they asked me when I would be leaving for Cebu. Imagine my surprise when 'Nang Bebing, the group's president, suggested to have a despedida for me. AWw! So we decided to have a dance exercise again at 6:30 pm of March 31, and have a picnic at the park afterwards. Aren't they the sweetest?

Prepping to zumba..picture muna!

Lovely, healthy hataw ladies

And this is how we dance!

Ang saya namin palagi rito! Oh, I would miss dancing with this group!

April 1: At our rented Suntal Villas 2 residence. This time, it's my Cenacle Prayer Meeting group who insisted on saying goodbye by having lunch together. Two months ago, I joined praying with a group of three elderly couples. They were grounded, supportive, and very comforting. Each time I pray with them, it is as if I experience inner peace. Anyway, although I have only known them for a few weeks, they have accepted me and considered me as a daughter. So I guess, they would also be sad as much as I would be when I leave.

April 3: At the Hangukkan Korean Restaurant, Mayfair Plaza. David Kim and his wife Youngju invited me for a final lunch together. What I had with them was a special, professional, but friendly relationship. I thank them for trusting me in the five years I worked for them.

David, Dain, and Youngju with their now ex-Head Teacher

April 4: At our rented Suntal Villas 2 residence. My Bacolod family is the last to say goodbye to us of course. Nanay, my sister-in-law Vanessa, and Trina, my lovely niece, plus Tita Etta, Nanay's sister, and her family--all went to the house to have lunch and finally see our house go bare. All boxes are sealed, everything is almost ready to go. We have to do this to make us all realize that this is really it.