Maria Marauder: Thanks CE '87! Day 1: Ostrich Farm/Divine Mercy

Last weekend, our Fam attended the Hubby's 25th year reunion with his University of San Carlos Civil Engineering 1987 batch mates held in Cagayan de Oro/Bukidnon.

What's so fun about their batch is they unabashedly unleash their teenage hearts amidst the creaking of hip bones, the show of grey hair, and the bouts of wrinkles. More importantly, they always celebrate their grand reunions with their families. It just goes to show what kind of brotherhood and sisterhood they have because they want to share with their loved ones the happy past they had, while also enjoying the present fruits of their labor.

We arrived in Cagayan de Oro on Friday.

Most of the batch mates and their families were on the same flight as ours, so the riot already started at the airport.

Then we checked in at Country Village Hotel. Each family was given a complimentary kit--two T-shirts for the batch mates and ID's and cowboy hats for all the members of the group.

After lunch, the group was raring to set off for the first agenda in the itinerary. Although the temperature was at its summer peak, every one was game to go touring.

It was a good thing we were given cowboy hats to protect our heads from the heat of the sun. But the Daughter refused to wear one. She thought it was lame. Haha.

The hat doesn't look that bad, right?

Sakay na! Groups were assigned to ride in hired jeepneys.

The first stop was the Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farms in Opol. It was at least a thirty-minute drive from Cagayan de Oro. (Entrance fee is P30/person)

This 10-hectare farm was established by the Limketkai family in 1996 with only three pairs of ostrich breeders brought from Australia. Now, with about 600 birds raised on the farm, it supplies around 3,000 kilos of ostrich meat monthly to supermarkets and delis in the country at around Php430/kilo for premium meat. Ostrich eggs sell at Php250 to Php 500 each. A mother egg can lay as many as 100 eggs a year, so this must be a lucrative business, no?

This ostrich was not camera-shy at all!

I thought I heard we could ride the ostrich but I guess that would be too unpredictable and dangerous. And kawawa naman the ostrich. So we just had our pictures taken with these long-necked birds.

What'cha lookin' at, cowboy?

It's really hard to imagine that these amazing creatures are raised as livestock just by looking at them. They seem so tame that I could see myself having one in my backyard for a pet. That is, if I had a hectare as a backyard.

They look so adorable and camera-friendly!

At the opposite side of the ostrich's cage is where the crocodiles are nestled.

Nothing much to see, but crocs lying still with mouths open wide. Parang nasa theme park lang sila 'no?

Next stop was the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.

When I was young, the prayer of the Divine Mercy or the 3 o'clock Habit was prayed on television every day at yes, you guessed it, 3:00 p.m. Up until now, I still remember that low resonant voice saying "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us and the whole world."

Marian devotees who are believers of the Divine Mercy message find the presence of this shrine a firm testament of their faith on the Heart of Jesus. Hundreds of pilgrims flock to this site every day to pray and feel blessed.

Before entering the sacred ground, there are some rules to be observed, especially on how you are dressed up. But if you come here unaware of these rules, there is a station where you can rent long skirts for a minimal fee to cover shorts, mini skirts, and skinnies.

Pilgrims' walk to the statue...

Almost there...

..and we made it!

The fifty-foot statue of the Divine Mercy of Jesus majestically faces the Macajalar Bay and, ironically, the mountains of Lanao where our Muslim brothers reside.

Coincidentally, we reached the place a little after 3:00 p.m. The grounds felt serene and sacred, but it was scorching hot, with no shade in sight. So we headed back after a few minutes.

It's good that I have a tall Hubby to act as a shade! Haha.

We ended the tour with a cone of Cornetto ice cream each. Ang init e!

The group was to have a thanksgiving mass at 5:30 p.m. Unfortunately, we were too tired to attend the mass. Sorry, but we rested at the hotel for a while.

There was dinner and welcome program at 7:00.

The boys...

..the girls...

..and the kids.

Everyone was in a good mood to mingle and re-connect with old batch mates. I heard that some people don't recognize the others (yeah, after 25 years!) So this was a good venue to recall and get re-acquainted.

Some brought their families along...

President EY Espiritu and Family

Jong Lumagbas and Family

Lope Icong and Family

Sol and Flor Hayag and kids Sean and Emmy

Eric and Adora Prado and Kids

Raffy and Helen Musni and Kids

Ma'am Aida Oliverio and Family

Roel Gingoyon and Family

Ferdinand 'Pinky' Cagampang and Family

Luz Odchigue-Babanto and Kids

Edward Tang and Family

Allan Quirante and wife Susan (Their kids were at the swimming pool at that time)

Rommel Imbing and Family

Gemma Bugas-Resullar and Husband (Their son was somewhere at that time)

Unfortunately, my Third, Carlo, could not join us because he had a summer internship for Philippine Science. Let me stress that we felt incomplete every time we laughed and enjoyed all the activities. We always blurted that we wished Carly had been there with us:-(