November 1 entry ♥~♥~♥
I remembered when I was a kid I used to go to two cemeteries in 1 day. We're visiting my other grandma and my great grandmother. The most exciting part with November 1 despite the traffic, the heat and the crowd is the food. My Tita cooks food for the whole UY clan visiting my great grandmother. It was like a Family Reunion of every relative upto the 3rd and 4th cousins (lol). But things change and many grown-ups passed away (May they Rest In Peace) and soon we had a place of our own too. As the family members decreased at my great grandma's place, the excitement and laughter of people chatting while pots and pans were clanging became scarce as well. It was nice to see families get together and you can see that special bond that exists even if we really don't get to talk a lot to each other.
Anyway, as the clans were divided into oh so many groups... there are the elites, the poshes, the singles, the dorks, the tempuras, the epals (Freakin' English Speaking wanna-be's), the TDKs (China people), the tytanas and of course last but not the least... the scavengers/patapons (useless ones)>>> That's us! We're the type of people who talk loud adding a sudden burst of laughter on the side, do crazy and silly childish things, make the worst and uncanny side comments and eats a lot that every food served at our table is 101% sold-out! We always love how we spend the day just there talking anything under the sun, observe people who pass by and of course side-tripping some annoying solicitors. I am not saying we don't donate for a good cause but here in the Philippines, who knows what those solicitors are up to, giving you envelopes saying they're from a church somewhere nearby and needed donations or some made-up organizations singing you a church song not knowing if they're really soliciting for the charity or for personal gain. These rackets are very rampant during November 1.
This year, it's not an issue anymore whether someone solicits from you but it's the fast number of solicitors that ask you for donations even while you're dipping your siomai in the sauce and is about to eat it. I remain heartless for these kind of people. I always thought of them as swindlers, may they be old or young without any clothes, they're all swindlers. I never trusted those who begged on the streets and those who carry white envelopes with green prints on them. Today, it became a challenge on how to scare away persistent solicitors. SARCASM. Heller ate, All Saints Day ngayon hindi All Donations Day @_@ Other solicitors came back twice or more thinking we won't remember them. We started formulating all kinds of silly pranks like picking your nose while staring at afar while they talk to you... those sorts of things. Then I remembered so many years ago, one of my cousins, Ken was so addicted to the guitar that he brought his guitar along with him wherever he went. He then brought it with him at the cemetery.
I remembered we were sitting literally at the middle of the road 'coz great grandma's place was packed with relatives back then and we usually evacuate and seek refuge at Don Manuel's place, our neighbor. But then, when his wife passed away, their relatives started coming during Nov. 1 to that cozy open space that welcomed us whenever we're 'place'-less. Scavengers do have a way of surviving in times of crisis so even without the cozy place of Don Manuel, we managed find our space and eventually entertained ourselves under the strong heat of sun by dominating the center of the road to annoy passing cars (don't worry it's a private road in the cemetery compound... no police~ lol). During those times we were also scaring off solicitors so before they approach us we were already saying: "Kanina ka pa ah, dami na nagsosolicit dito..." We were still angels back then-- reasoning not creative enough. So this cousin of mine was playing with his guitar in random then out of the blue he began to strike the chords and sang "See the church assemble here..." Then we just saw 2 solicitors who went pass us carrying two guitars as well. It was such a classic prank that it was a hot topic during November 1 for years... until it was totally forgotten, not until today. =)
Oh well, it was a fun day at the cemetery, though it was a busy day as well. We had to serve food for two places every year since my grandparents passed away because of the few people dropping-by at my great grandma's. My aunt has always been the one cooking for the relatives, that's why we had to do the serving and other stuff~ But it was all fun in the end.
I had my Ridge hand-carried from Fu Jian Shishi as well~ *_* Thanks cuz betti for these~
I ♥ them~
Long weekend's owattandesu, back to reality and Imma start preparin' for my Bazaar.
Ciao~