On Easter Sunday I said my goodbyes to Manila. It was nice to finally get the feel of the busy high strung city but was more than happy to reunite with my mom in her hometown Cagayan de Oro.
Awaiting me at the airport with my tito (uncle), she didn't recognize me at first but we both became instantly happy to reunite with each other. With a 45 minute car ride ahead of us passing the beaches and having a quick stop by the fruit stands, it went by quickly with exchanging stories of my recent trip and reuniting with her brothers and sisters.
A thing about my mom is she is such a dreamer. Even more so than I am.
Designing her own home has always been somewhat of a destiny for her and growing up all I ever did was listen to the different color schemes of her dream kitchen and the types of fruits and vegetables she plans to grow in her vertical garden. Her ultimate dream, is to one day open up her own retail store with the land she inherited from her parents.
Compared to the rest of the neighborhood at Xavier Estates, the house is in no way complete (with cement walls needing a fresh coat of color) but it's already beautiful because of my moms vision and personal touches.
With work left unfinished, I quickly came to center that it's the people that make up a home.
While I was away, she would invite some of my aunts and uncles (a total of 9 other siblings) and stay up with them for hours catching up and talking.
There are basic appliances scattered around in the kitchen yet warm pan de sal and fresh fruits, colorless walls but beautiful orange tile floors, lacking air conditioning in the summer heat but honing a natural island breeze.
It's easy, simple, and honest living and all about creating - I'm already in love.
xo A