Holy Week in Bicol: Family Time

Back to the city, back to work.

And the supposedly four days of my Bicol vacation was extended to five days - there were no more bus tickets available during the day of my planned trip back here in Manila, so I had to leave the following day, which isn't a bad thing, by the way, because I was able to spend a longer time with my family.

Anyway, some of the things I planned I was able to do, but not all of them. I was not able to join any Holy Week activity; wasn't even able to visit a new place. I went out only once to see my sister in Legazpi, visit my family in Albay, and buy some stuff for our planned gathering.

Most of my vacation was spent in Pandan with my grandparents and my family during our get together to celebrate the birthday of many family members - Lolo, Papa, Mama, and two of my brothers (all March celebrants). My sister, who has been staying in a police camp since last year, was able to go out for the Easter, although for only 24 hours. That gathering was one of the few instances we're able to get together completely as a family (three families, actually).

Now that I'm away from them, it's things like this that I frequently miss. But anyway, I'll be back next month for the election. Until next time, Bicol! :)

Hello, Long Weekend! (Holy Week Celebration)

Tomorrow is the last working day before the long weekend in celebration of the Holy Week 2013. And, tomorrow after work, I'll be off to Bicol to spend the holidays with my family. It will only be a four-day vacation, but I'm excited because this will be the first time I'll go home to Bicol this year (after my Christmas-New Year vacation).

I only went home thrice last year, and that's the average number during the past years. At the beginning of this year, one of the goals I'd written down was to go home more frequently this year (at least five times, with this schedule as the first one). I'm just so happy I'm able to stick to it despite some irregularities and hurdles. And right now, I'm just so excited to go home and see my family, especially my grandparents.

I won't be having a lot of 'gala' this Holy Week; I want to observe a quiet Holy Week at home. I'll just stay in Pandan most of the time and celebrate Lolo's birthday on the 29th, go out only once to see my family in Albay on the 30th (and also celebrate Papa's birthday), go to church (must not forget this), get my return ticket (I hope I won't have a hard time finding a reservation, with all the vacationers returning home after the Holy Week), and visit at least one place (I'm not yet sure which place, let's see).

For some ideas on things to do in Albay this Holy Week, I created a post last week - here. Not sure which of them I'll have the chance to do this Holy Week, maybe the Kawa Kawa trip, though I'm not yet sure. I feel like I have only a short time, and I want to spend most of it at home with my family. I'll post updates when I return.

Happy long weekend, everybody! Have a meaningful Holy Week celebration!