Life's A Beach

Matuod is our refuge from the maddening crowd that takes over all the other more popular destinations during the Holy Week. In my younger years, my parents used to take us to Green Valley in Baguio up until the major earthquake that hit in 1990. In na in kami nun. We would hang out in the clubhouse, play in the arcade and wear our cardigans for everyone to see. I felt bad then because I didn't have a boyfriend from Ateneo or La Salle who would give me their cardigan to wear. Ay ya yay. Of course then, that was THE major fashion statement. I miss those days but Matuod is what we call home nowadays especially during this long weekend.

Matuod was introduced to us by the Roa family in 1991. We stayed with them during that year, rented a house in the 'gillages' (Nic and Bess, remember?) in 1992 and settled in our house by 1993. It is a private cove right before Matabungkay that caters only to its residents. Sa hirap ng daan (dirt road galore) and with hardly any road signs to guide you, it would be difficult for any outsiders to get here. Masarap dito. Eat all you can, sleep all you can and watch all the DVDs you can. We missed Matuod last year as the Easter break was spent with the Cruzes in the US and so we were raring to make up for it this year.

We begin with.....

Mom's daily morning ritual. The yayas all stand in attention while she barks out her orders. As Otet so fondly describes it, may flag ceremony daw every morning! Actually, he was describing his own mother's flag ceremony! Heehee.


The lazy bones having a DVD marathon on our makeshift cinema wall. LCD projector courtesy of Dondi.


Kids at sea. We missed Joaquin and Summer!!!!!!!




Visitors are always welcome. When Bess, Maja and Nicole were still single, they would take turns coming with me to Matuod. I miss them so much as we shared LOTS of memories on this beach. Joby, Anna I, Miggy, JB and Jaz were also able to join me for one HW vacation there. We're not able to do that anymore since we all have our respective families na. Im just so thankful that the Mirandas and the Hervases came by this year.






These people are the reason why we didn't go home on Saturday night as scheduled. Since the Dumlaos (close family friends and neighbors) just arrived, we felt bad about leaving them without having a drink or two (or three or four) with them. Cheers!





Because Im so feeling photographer, this is the only pic I have of myself. Notice that I cut my hair short again!!!!


My blog entry would not be complete without a little bragging from me, the proud mother. Thank you Tita Michelle (Sandejas) for the adorable kung fu shoes you sent the girls. They wear it everywhere.



Last but not the least, please allow me to share a blog entry by my friend Jonby Hechanova. We live about 5 houses away from him and we (Maja, Bess, Nicole and I) would also meet up with him and the Ateneo boys on a few of our vacations there.

****Matuod---A Place I Used To Know

'I think part of the reason why. . . we hold on to something so tight for so long is because we fear that something so GREAT won't happen twice..'

When I was growing up, my family and I would go to a place every Holy Week where memories were made. It's a beach called Matuod somewhere in Lian, Batangas.
There's nothing special about the beach since it didn't have white sands and great restaurants like Boracay. But what was remarkable about it though was that it brought our whole clan together. We would either sleep in cots out by the lawn or by the balcony of the large bamboo house.
We would frolick in the gray sand and warm waters, sometimes with a cold beer in tow---eventhough it was 10am in the morning. We would chow down on sumptuous feasts prepared by our doting Tita Turing. After the heavy meal, we would soak in the sun and take a nap with the light, warm breeze lulling us to sleep.
As dark would draw near, we would play games under the afternoon sun. Then we would freshen up and gear up for another grand meal. After dinner we would build a large bonfire and exchange life stories and ghost stories, while sipping on some San Miguels.
The fun would continue, as the night grew deeper, either with several games of "Red Dog" or "Blackjack". Sometimes, we are able to sink in a game or two of mahjong, while the older folk take a break from their serious gambling. All of these of course accompanied by a soundtrack, care of mixed tapes by yours truly.
Soon, we would have our fill of alcohol and cigs, we prepared for bed to rest for another day of fun ahead.
I could say that these were the best days in my life as I shared moments with my numerous cousins and uncles and aunts in a place called Matuod.****

I told Jonby nga, if I were to describe Matuod, this is exactly what I would've written. Beautiful, beautiful entry.

Goodbye, goodnight. See you next year!