The Real Thing

Since my boyfriend and I are drawing close to having been together for a year now, we decided to check a few things off of our To-Do list -- one, being to travel to his hometown of Batangas and experience a real fiesta!

It was a gloomy, rainy day, but there was absolutely nothing that could dampen my spirits! I had been waiting for this day to come for quite a while now, and although I was extremely nervous about meeting his entire extended family and Batangueno friends, I was leaning greatly towards excited. 

Jero had a whole itinerary planned out for us that day, and we accomplished it all. Our first stop was at his house, where I had breakfast with his brothers, who both introduced me to this new hit show, The Voice. Then Jero drove me around a few parts of the city to show me where he went to grade school, where his parents work, where all the big names of Batangas live, and the fantastic pier. I felt like we were in the States because everything was so clean! 

More on Batangas...

After which, we traveled to the family bukid, where the barrio fiesta was to be held. I was delighted by the little signs of a fiesta all around me; kids sat on Monobloc chairs on either side of a winding road, under the rain, holding between them a long piece of rope with strips of crepe paper hanging from it, which served as a "gate." They would hold it up and cars were made to stop before it; drivers could donate any amount of money they could (which would go to the kids' funds for perya or other fiesta activities), and receive a handmade sticker in exchange, which they would have to stick onto the car's windshield. 

After a big lunch with his all of his relatives (and a few rounds of the Pacquiao-Mosley fight on the television), I was toured around the "younger" parts of Batangas City. I visited Jero's high school, St. Bridget College, which was huge. His friends Kuya Madz and Cana toured me around, and I was extremely grateful for the hospitality the Batanguenos possess. Everything was locked since it was a Sunday, but they had the theater and a lot of the rooms opened up for me, just so I could get a glimpse of the school life there :)

We hung out at the places the younger people liked to make tambay in. I met two more friends: Erick and Mati! While we were conversing, they asked me if I had ever tried real Batangas Lomi (a kind of pancit) before. When I admitted that I hadn't, their eyes got big and they immediately jumped at the chance to bring me to an authentic Lomi house. It was just a run-down house with an extension, where the little resto was located. I was appalled by everything I saw (making me seem and look extremely tourist-y). They sat me down and taught me how to make my own condiments, and of course, how to eat the big servings of Lomi. This definitely was the best part of my trip! Who can say no to amazing Filipino food?

(L-R): Kuya Madz, Jero, me, Cana, Erick and Mati

Despite being stuck in traffic for a few hours, the trip was totally worth it. I was shy (my complete and total opposite), but I experienced a lot. Finally, I got to see Batangas in Jero's eyes!