Back to Nature

As I've said here, there were tons of things I did while on vacation. I went to our house's developer for documents and payments, met with the travel agent several times for our visa application, packed our belongings just in case we push through with our plan to give up our rented house and move to our new house, and visited friends and families.

A few days after our arrival, we went to my mother in Bataan. My kids were very happy because they got to enjoy again the beauty of nature, Philippine countryside version. Fruit bearing trees, vegetables grown by their grandma, chickens being chased by dogs, bamboo bed under a tree, blue sky and the thickest formation of clouds above. Except for the scourging rays of the sun, the day was perfect and the kids were excited and happy all throughout the day.

Fred and I were born and raised in the city and we didn't go to the provinces of our parents often. So whenever Gabby and Sunday squeal at the sight of soil, grab their shovels and start digging, we understand. I only got to play with soil when I was nine years old or younger, when the vast vacant lot near our house in Makati was not paved yet and sold to the government for development. That was where we went to in the afternoons, chased dragonflies, picked flowers and climbed aratiles trees. Those were my fave childhood moments. I remember how afraid I was to cross the bridge made of a thin plank of wood  just to reach that vacant lot. One wrong step and I'll be in the shallow river below, hurt by the big rocks and cheeks flushing red at the sight of my playmates looking down or laughing hard at me. I don't remember if I fell down, I just know I had some scratches from climbing trees and stumbling on stones while chasing those dragonflies.

And that's what I want Gabby and Sunday to remember in their childhood. Good moments and lots of fun. That's the reason I expose them to activities they enjoy doing, even if it meant getting dirty and sweaty. I also don't want them to suffer from nature deficit disorder which affects kids living in the city. And I believe, this disorder doesn't only affect kids. Even adults like me are prone to it. (I have other reasons for thinking so. And I will expound on them on my next posts.)

a fountain in Mega Station, Pampanga

On the way home, we stopped by Mega Station in Pampanga for a quick halo-halo session. Dropping by there is becoming a habit whenever we go to Bataan. We never miss Chowking's Halo-Halo. Maybe next time, we'll try the famous halo-halo of the nearby Razon's.

Halo-Halo at Chowking

The kids had fun on that short trip to Bataan. Maybe next time when Fred is with us on our next vacation, we'll spend more time in the countryside. And next time, I'll teach them to catch dragonflies.