12 Memorable Things I (We) Did During Our Hometown Vacation

The last time I went home to my hometown Zamboanga City was on July 2013. It was not a vacation, but a work related travel. I was pregnant then and had to stay most of the time at the checked-in hotel before and after our meeting.

This year, I have planned (which hubby agreed) and made use of the long weekend on August 28 – 31, 2015 to visit my brothers and their families in ZC, my parents grave and also attended for the first time the ZCHS Main 70^th Alumni Homecoming.

Sunset at the Highway of Zamboanga City

August 28, 2015  (A proclaimed holiday here in Cagayan de Oro City to celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine), together with hubby, the two kids and the two Yayas, we left as early as 5:30AM (the earliest we can), trying our best to arrive in Zamboanga City before 5PM so that I can catch up with the ZCHS Main Torch Parade. In spite of having only a few minute stopover in Iligan City and Pagadian City to buy our takeout meals from Jolibee, we still arrived at past 5PM. An approximately 12 hours travel defensively, running at 60-80kph, plus the road repairs and traffics along the way. 

With the lot of things we did during our stay, but I only listed 12 that were most memorable during the vacation.

1. Attended the 70^th Zamboanga City High School Main Alumni Homecoming. After 21 years, it was my first attendance, and I am so happy to meet former classmates, batchmates and old friends. Some which I could not recognize anymore, some I have not known that we were batch mates because of the big population when we graduated (1700+ graduates during our time).

2. Visited our Departed Loved Ones. At 10:00AM the following day, we went to visit my parents and grandparents grave at Forest Lake. With the expected harsh sunlight, we brought with us our beach umbrella. But the kids didn’t mind the heat at all, and kept on strolling in the area.

3. Long Chit-Chat with My College Best friend.  Excitement overload not only because I got to see my best friend who I haven’t seen for a long time, but also to look at her miracle baby boy born via IVF aka test tube baby.  We had more or less 3 hours of chit-chat, talking about our present lives, her IVF journey and remembering our past. It was really a fun afternoon to remember, I missed our old days together.

4. Fetched My Big Brother A at the Airport. My big brother A arrived from his 3 weeks schooling/ training in Bangkok, Thailand. Happy to see my big brother A because we only get to see each other when he had a work related travel in Cagayan de Oro City. And of course, with my requested pasalubong, the Starbucks demitasse mugs, another addition to my collection. Yehey!

5. Handcrafted Jewelries. Because I was so busy the previous weeks and wasn’t able to complete my SIL’s orders, I took with me my pliers and the materials and finished the rest of the jewelries there.

6. Devoured Zamboanga’s Famous Satti. I wanted to eat the famous satti in town, hence, we went to Andy’s in Tetuan. But at 8:00AM the satti haus was jam-packed. It was impossible for us get a spot. Instead, I bought P300 worth of pork barbeque with the super spicy sauce and savored every cute-cut pork barbeque with overflowing sauce at home.

7. Lunch-date with Big Brother J and his family. My other brother in town J, invited us for lunch at Amigos y Amigas. Hmm, probably his first time to treat us for a lunch hehehe.

8. Shopped for Pasalubong. When you’re in Zamboanga City, make sure to check out the barter trade in Canelar, they have a lot of imported stuff from Malaysia that you can choose for pasalubong. We bought sotanghon, Apollo chocolate wafer sticks, Boy-boy chocolate coated wafer and gummy candies.

9. Play-date at Yubengco Mall Tetuan. It was freaking hot early afternoon, and nowhere to go, better yet spend a few hours at the mall. We took the kids and their cousins at the Yubencgo Mall in Tetuan because accordingly there is a playhouse for kids to enjoy. There was indeed a playhouse, but compared to Cagayan de Oro City were malls are huge and wider areas for playhouses, still the little boy enjoyed his 1 hour play time with his cousin Ate Jan.

And I also got to bond with these two mommies, they are my friends and classmates in elementary days.

10. Big Brother A’s Birthday Celebration. When we arrived home, the foods for the impromptu birthday celebration were already prepared. Of course, hubby and I bought a birthday cake for him (hehehe, low budget). It was like a mini reunion for the 3 of us siblings and families, a happy get together and at the same time made us miss our parents and our older sister who have gone ahead of us.

11. Watched the Dancing Fountain Show at the Paseo del Mar with Family and Friends. While, big brother A was still busy with his visitors at home, we decided to visit the Paseo del Mar. It was already our last night in the city and our only chance to visit the famous hangout in the town. The dancing fountain show started at 7:00PM, we paid P10.00 entrance fee to be able watch it while properly seated in the viewing area. In the middle of the 3^rd song, the power supply suddenly went out. Yikes! Brownout in Zamboanga City, well known for having the most number of power curtailments. Anyway, after an hour, the power came back and the show begun again.

A very small dancing fountain compared to Manila Ocean Park, still it is a must see tourist spot in the city.

12. Prayed and Visited the Miraculous Shrine of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar. I can’t end the vacation without visiting the Shrine also known as the Fort Pilar. We said our prayers, lit candles took photographs. A blessed way to end our vacation.

The next day, August 31 it was time to travel back home and go back to reality. We left Zamboanga at 8:30AM and had a few minute stopover at the Zambaonga City and Zamboanga Sibugay border for a photo op at their welcome arch.

The Kids, The Ates and I

We bought our lunch at Mang Inasal, Ipil, ate while on mobile, I took over the wheels for a 10 minutes while hubby had his lunch.  Twelve hours after we’re home at last! Thank You Lord for keeping us safe at all times.

Our long weekend was meaningful, the few days spent with my family and friends back home are memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. I don’t know yet when I (with my family) can come and visit again, I hope the soonest.