Mabuhay to all of you!I am unable to post in my blogspot weblog (the-globetrotters.blogspot.com or huakai69.blogspot.com) due to the slow internet connection they have here at the internet cafe in Dipolog City.We arrived Manila safely on Tuesday night. My dad met us there with his former driver (from BFAR until he retired this year). The weather is bearable but very humid. They are actually expecting two typhoons any time soon. It took us about an hour to get to my parents home in Lagro. My mom was there waiting. What was missing was the sound of barking. Their dog, Gabi, was given away to a trainer after he bit my dad's arm about three weeks ago. Gabi was, most of the time, tied up because he was just too aggressive. It worsened after awhile. Despite the deep puncture wound from the bite my dad is doing well. It was fortunate that it was him who got bit an not my mom. Anyway, this is actually a first for us not having a dog around the house. I just miss it.On Wednesay, my dad stayed home with us, being retired yet re-hired or re-cycled as a consultant for the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) for the next year. He now has the luxury of being able to go to work when he feels like it or not. Peter and I spent half the day just resting. My mom went to the University just to do some work then came back. In the afternoon we all went to SM (Shoe Mart Mall) to cool off from the humidity. There we got tickets for our trip to Bacolod for my cousin's wedding at the end of September. Had some snack at Goldilocks bakery. Peter went to the internet cafe to check emails while the three of us went shopping. BTW, because my dad is now retired he had to give up the car. So now we do not have the luxury of getting driven to and from whatever place we want to go. I am equally suprised to see him ride public transportation after being spoiled by having his own driver. It's just hard to imagine. But after riding the jeepney with him to SM I am just glad that he can still adjust to being just like the other people who only ride public. Today we took a cab from Lagro to the domestic airport dropping off my parents in between to go to their respective offices. It took more than an hour and about 400 pesos worth of fare (which is less than 10 dollars for 24+ kilometers). We were very early for our flight to Dipolog. About 2 hours early. But time went by quickly, thank goodness. It took us an hour and 15 minutes to get to Dipolog City on the north of Zamboanga (in the island of Mindanao). Dipolog City is my mom's ancestral hometown. This is where Peter's cousin, Jigger will get married to Joyce Velasco (a Dipolog native) this Saturday. We were billeted at the Camila Hotel right in front of the Capitol Building. It was a nice suprise because adjacent to the Capitol is my mom's old spanish-style house which my brother is planning to renovate into a commercial building and apartments. Joyce, Jigger, Peter and I had lunch at the Sunburst Restuarant just below Camila Hotel. Their chicken is what they are famous for. And, indeed, it was delicious. Afterl lunch, we were left to our own devices. We decided to visit my mom's family home. Fortunately, Tia Mending and her daughter was there. Her daughter, I forgot her name, saw me from outside the fence and recognized my face as someone who looks so much like Mildred or Inday, her pet name. Immediately, she came out and called out my name. It has been 28 years since I have seen and visited this place. I do not remember much except for the set up of the house. We spent a few moments talking story with them. Hopefully, we'll get the chance to visit again before we leave on the 15th.Tonight we will be having dinner at Joyce's parents house in Gulayon. And, maybe, we'll get to visit the wake of my mom's relative who passed away yesterday, also in Gulayon. I'll sign off for now....