Hi 😊
Let’s go back to Sunday. It was not the usual Sunday I’m used to.
Early in the morning, I called my brother Don to pick me up at the boarding house. I had a half sack of rice 🍚🌾 to give them—the rice our company gave back in December. I couldn’t consume it all, so I decided to share it. He wasn’t familiar with the place, and we had a little miscommunication while he was trying to locate me. Still, everything settled well when we finally met and shared breakfast together. Over breakfast, we talked about some family matters, the kind of conversation that feels lighter when food is involved.
After that, we headed to his place in Cebu City. The highway traffic was smooth, the sun was already up, and by around 10 a.m., we arrived. I felt a little groggy but knew the day was far from over—I still had my own little adventure planned.
At the jeepney stop, I noticed a Pacifica Agrivet. I remembered a friend asked me to inquire about stock availability. The staff told me I needed to check another branch along Borromeo Street near Chinatown. They were kind enough to call the branch to confirm.
From there, I went to the Lourdes Shrine in Punta—my favorite church here in Cebu. I asked at the office if there was a Lourdes statue that fit my budget. There were only two available, and neither felt right for me at that time. I thought I could still look for better options near the Sto. Niño Church, where many religious items are displayed near the Basilica.
This place always makes me feel at home. It’s peaceful and airy, and most importantly, the Adoration area is quiet yet inviting. I stayed silent and prayed 🙏. I didn’t get to attend Mass when I arrived, so I prayed alone and lit a candle 🕯️. Afterward, I walked around and took many pictures. The next Mass was a funeral, and the regular Sunday Mass would be three hours later, so I decided not to wait.
Next on my list was looking for a gas stove—we needed to replace the one we use at home. I went to SM to look for a Rinnai single burner with a blue flame. Unfortunately, SM Appliance had very limited stocks. Most of the display was gas ranges, and the gas stoves were tucked away in a small corner, looking like old stocks. I checked the SM Hypermarket below, but it was the same situation—dusty stocks and no Rinnai single burner in sight. I felt a little dismayed.
I then went back to Colon, visited the Basilica, and attended the 1 p.m. Mass. After Mass, I passed by the vendors selling religious items, hoping I might finally find what I was looking for—but again, no luck. I also started thinking about how I could bring such items home since I couldn’t get a leave to travel. These were meant for the upcoming fiesta on February 11. In the end, I asked my other brother to look and buy instead, realizing no one could bring it by boat to Leyte.
On my way, I passed by the Pacifica branch on Borromeo Street and made an inquiry. They had the stocks available, listed everything on paper, and I sent the details to my friend. I also bought okra seeds for ₱80 while I was there.
Later, I went to Metro Colon and finally bought a Kyowa double-burner gas stove—a good alternative after all the searching. I had some hot dimsum at the canteen, then commuted home.
Walking along the street, I felt exhausted but eager to get home and take a nap. There was still so much to do—the laundry 🧺 was waiting—but that marked the end of a very full day.
See you on the next one. Bye.
Photos are mine | Captured with Vivo 1901.
