It's getting hot in here....

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Humidity (hu·mid·i·ty):
1. a moderate degree of wetness especially of the atmosphere
2. the concentration of water vapor in the air
3. the freakin' Philippines

Damn, it's hot here. I know, what should I expect? It's the Philippines, right? But when I was 19, I was here around this time, and it wasn't hot like this. I mean.... this is unbearably hot. The kind of hot that makes me super cranky. The kind of hot where you can't even move. You don't know what to do when the power goes out and the fan is no longer moving. I don't even want to write in my journal. That would just take... effort.

So here I am, about to take off for Bangkok, finally writing about my time here in the PI. So what have I been up to besides swatting away mosquitoes and trying to not melt in the humidity?

We arrived here on the 18th in the early morning. It was complete madness as 3 flights from the States (2 from SFO, 1 from LAX) arrived all at the same time. Just imagine the chaos that ensued at the baggage claim. We eventually got all our of baggage (a total of 9!!!!) and were immediately hit by the heat. Luckily, we were swept away in the AC-controlled van not too long after that. From the airport, we drove through the compound that housed the Mall of Asia. Okay, seriously, the Philippines needs more malls? Come on! And not just another mall, but a huge ass mall? Crazy. I will definitely have to hit that place to see if it's worth the title "Biggest Mall in Asia".

After eating breakfast, we drove off to Clark's Air Force Base (Mike's birthplace) to do some Costco-like shopping. Mind you, we were really just killing time because none of our family in Alua or Cabanatuan knew we were arriving. Finally it was time to reveal ourselves. We stopped off in Nueva Ecija. All they knew over there was that Mom was probably coming. They didn't know Dad and I were along for the trip. Or so we thought at the time. In the end, some of them actually found out through drunken revelations. In other words, someone blew our secret over some San Migs.

As the van rolled around the corner, everyone on the street was trying to look through the windows in order to see who was inside. Thank god for tinted windows. Eventually, we got to the house. Mom jumped out of the van and ran (seriously... ha!) to Kuyang's house. Then after we saw them jumping around all excited, Dad and I hopped out and then SURPRISE!

The next day, off to Cabanatuan where we were a surprise, too! After visiting with Nanay, we ate at Vicentico's for lunch with Mom and Dad's college friends, Tito Neong and Tita Ruth. Then Mom and I went off to do what we do best in Cabanatuan- pamper ourselves for mere pennies at Aida's. I definitely needed it because when I returned to the house, I had to fight a war- with mosquitoes. They found the American born blood, I guess! I must have had at least 40 bites on my arms, legs, and back at this point. More and more appear as the old ones start to heal.

Over the course of the next few days, we do the usual- eat, see people, shop. Mom had her reunion. Blah blah blah. The days start to blend together since it was hard to do anything in the heat.

Maybe it's the heat that did my camera in. One day, I was taking a picture of Mt. Arayat. I turned to talk to an old man, then turned back to my camera and it was DEAD. Right before I had to go to Thailand. I was pretty upset. Pretty bratty about it, but luckily, Tito Jaime let us his camera until I could pick up Ninong Tino's camera for Thailand.

Monday though was pretty interesting as we visited Pangatian, the memorial for the American and Filipino soldiers held there when it was an internment camp during WWII. If you read or watched "The Great Raid", this is where it all happened. Those who could survive the Bataan Death March were held here by the Japanese until American soldiers worked with Filipinos to liberate the prisoners and defeat the Japanese military set up there. Most of the maintenance was done by this one local who was standing there while we visited. He talked with us about where everything once stood- the water tower, the buildings, etc. Looking through the guest book, it was nice to see that this memorial is visited by so many people who appreciated this man's upkeep of an important piece of American AND Filipino history. The names of the soldiers who perished were up on the wall. I'm not sure if any of them were the Filipinos who helped the Americans free the prisoners. I looked for Nanay's brother's name as he was one of General Joson's men who never came back. It wasn't there. It felt a little inappropriate to stand there smiling for pictures, but whatever- we're Filipino. We like pictures.

As much as I enjoy lechon, the malls, the cheap spas, when I'm in the Philippines, I need to see more places like Pangatian. I've always enjoyed history and to stand where an important piece of American AND Filipino history took place- it gives you a sense of pride. Hopefully, more people will come to understand that Filipinos played a larger role at Pangatian and WWII in general than what is portrayed.

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