“It was a double celebration, a family gathering and the 84th birthday celebration of my Lola”
At some point I can say that we are lucky enough to have our grandparents still with us at this age, when we were young we call them as our Lola’s and Lolo’s the second parent that spoils us with love and material things that they can give. Now the feeling of running out of time to be with them arises, as one of them just passed away this year, I can barely feel the reality of life, that there are times that we need to say goodbye to some and welcomes the additional members of the family, it hurts to think about it I even thought that this might be the last year we will be with them.
The quotation that I’ve once read online that says, we are so busy growing up yet we often forgets that our parents were also growing old and our grandparents were getting weaker speaks to itself, its self-explanatory we look for opportunities for jobs, careers, education and we also find new friends and colleagues but every time we have a problem and seeking for advice, we oftentimes look for our grandparents to have a heart to heart talk. I remember how my late grandmother told me that she always prays for my safety every time I go to school when I was still in college.
The quotation that I’ve once read online that says, we are so busy growing up yet we often forgets that our parents were also growing old and our grandparents were getting weaker speaks to itself, its self-explanatory we look for opportunities for jobs, careers, education and we also find new friends and colleagues but every time we have a problem and seeking for advice, we oftentimes look for our grandparents to have a heart to heart talk. I remember how my late grandmother told me that she always prays for my safety every time I go to school when I was still in college.
Now as I look at my Lola Lydia blowing her cake with a number 84 on top that best explains her age how I wish that my Lola also reached that particular number and she was here celebrating with her older sister’s 84th birthday. It was just a simple celebration and only the family members were her to witness the event. I just pray to God that this is not our last celebration with her because I can see how time took away her strength, how her age reflect on the wrinkles on her face and how age took away her memories.
Well I believe it was all part of life, we all need to age and get old for the incoming generation to enjoy this planet. At some point I therefore conclude that nothing last forever so savor every opportunities that would make you happy, take time to have a heart to heart talk with your parents and sister nor brothers, spent time talking with your grandparents on their walks of life when they were young that would help a lot on the coming days and never forget to reflect yourself, take a break from work at least thrice a year and travel somewhere you’re unfamiliar with, these are the keys on how to have a happy life even if you don’t have enough money and wealth.
I’ve been to Catburawan which was part of the coastal barangays of the city of Ligao last year (2015) and we even pass this Red Beach Resort on our way and there is also other beach resort ahead that offers no entrance fee except for the cottage, rooms and function halls if you wanted to stay overnight. These resorts and beaches were actually the not-so-heard name in the city maybe you can attribute that to their names but I believe it was the location that makes it hard for first time travellers to reach the area.
From the city proper it took almost an hour to reach the area if you are going on a private transportation like renting a jeepney but if you will go on a commute it was a different story as you need to wait for the jeepneys to be full before it will go. I was never been to Pioduran on a public transpo but as what I’ve seen several times it was actually a hard trip. Rocky roads and dust will surprise you on the way and on rainy days it was the mud that will ruin your travelling activities on the area.
From the city proper it took almost an hour to reach the area if you are going on a private transportation like renting a jeepney but if you will go on a commute it was a different story as you need to wait for the jeepneys to be full before it will go. I was never been to Pioduran on a public transpo but as what I’ve seen several times it was actually a hard trip. Rocky roads and dust will surprise you on the way and on rainy days it was the mud that will ruin your travelling activities on the area.
Since these places were not so known for beach and travel lovers the area has maintained its serenity and grandeur. There are so very few residential houses surrounding the area that makes it so solemn if you want a peace of mind and relaxation. We came to the area at about seven in the morning yet we were not the first guest in the resort but I think our neighboring cottage spent their overnight. Anyway I am so excited to see the shoreline; it has been a tradition to me to separate with the group to take photo of the shore and the beach without people and the so called “selfie squad”. I took the opportunity of taking photo and searching for a nice location to find a picturesque view of the area while my colleagues were very busy preparing and eating our breakfast.
The first thing that I’ve observed in the area was the name “Red Beach Resort”, for me personally it doesn’t seem to be a good name because it is not that so catchy for tourist and there was no point in naming the beach as a “Red Beach” because there was not even a red thing on the beach nor a red stone so I guess it was named after the resort owner’s surname. While some were eating their breakfast, I have decided to walk to the shoreline and feel the early morning sunrise that kisses my skin, it was not so hot that time and the blue sky just compliments the clear water of the beach.
I am so glad that I didn’t remove my slipper as I walk to the shore because there is no sand on the shore but a bunch of small and pointed limestone, it was a stone beach or in layman’s term a “Shingle Beach” which is defined as a beach armoured with pebbles or small-to medium-sized cobbles, this type of beach are also typically steep because of waves that easily flow through the coarse, porous surface of the beach that decrease the effect of backwash erosion and increasing the sediment into steeply sloping beach. So if you will not wear a slipper or any protection to your feet you will get bruises and cuts from the stones. There now comes the idea to my mind that maybe the beach was named after its shoreline consist of small pointed limestone’s, it was named “Red Beach” because you will be literally bleed because of the stones on the shore and underwater.
I wasn’t given a chance to talk to the locals in the area about the beach itself but the area was so amazing as it was rich with small and bigger fishes that swim just below us and they were actually enjoying swimming with the tourist as you can visibly see them just behind your feet using a goggles which I actually did, small fishes and a big puffer fish were just swimming below us, there are also a bunch of cute jellyfish nearby. I believe that these stones serve as a natural home to fishes because of the absence of the corals in the area.
There is also some limestone formation not so far with the beach they were really sharp and edgy as you need to have protection on your feet while climbing and walking to the said formation. They were not that tall but at the top the view just gives you a perfect hundred sixty degrees view of the Basicao Coastal and to the island I believe a part of Masbate province.
The trip was so memorable I admit it was really a mix of emotion deep inside, I just hope that this would not be the last but rather the start of an annual family gathering. This adventure has made me some realization about time and family, it’s not the money that matters but how much nor how often you spend a memorable time with your family, a single picture worth a thousand words and a captured photograph freezes a soul that last a lifetime. You may have found the best travel buddies but guess what travelling with your family is a one of a kind travel experience.