Typhoon in Palawan; Water Expo in Spain

IN JUNE 2008 Philippine Airlines (PAL) took a group of Cebu media to Puerto Princesa in Palawan to inaugurate service from Cebu. We were escorted by PAL’s Vice President for Communications Rolly Estabillo and PAL’s Mactan Airport manager Jun Canton.

We were welcomed by PAL manager in Palawan Rey Salvatierra, who had mapped out our stay in detail. That evening, we had dinner with Congressman Baham Mitra at his home. The next evening, we attended a dinner hosted by Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn for various groups.

We were toured around the place. Among the things we bought were cashew nuts, the best coming from Palawan.

We were told that typhoons never came to Palawan, but the weather abruptly changed, and we felt the one that hit Central Visayas.

We had gone to the Underground River situated below a rain forest. The torrential rain filtered through, and so as we plied the river we were totally drenched. The pumpboat that took us to the place where we had started also braved the waves, and we got even more sprayed by the sea foam.

At the tourist shops we had to buy T-shirts to at least change into dry clothes.

Because of the typhoon, we could not fly back to Cebu, and instead were flown to Manila from where we took another plane to Cebu.

Cecilia and I had planned on going to Zaragoza in Spain in September to see the World Expo. In March there was a special offer from Qatar Airways to purchase Business Class tickets at US $2,000 for use throughout the year. We coughed up the price before March was over.

We left Cebu on September 6 for Doha where we took another plane for Madrid. On board was Tomas Rodriguez Pantoja, former Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines, now assigned at Oman.

We arrived in Madrid early in the morning and went to the Atocha train station to take the high speed AVE to Zaragoza. We stayed at the apartment
of Cecilia’s sister, Conchita Rodriguez who awaited us with their younger sister, Maria Jose “Chiqui” Rodriguez.

In the afternoon, Cecilia and I went to the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar to thank the many blessings that have come our way, including this trip.

We were back at Conchita’s apartment and went down to the bar Ribeiro to celebrate our arrival.

The Expo in Zaragoza had opened on June 14 and would close on September 14, dedicated to sustainable water projects, and participated by 180 countries.

On September 8, our dear friend Rosario Muñoz came to Zaragoza to see the Expo with us. We visited the Philippine pavilion first of all. Though it was small, it was so tastefully done that it won one of the important prizes.

Next day, September 9, with Rosario once more, we spent the whole day at the Expo. In the evening there was scheduled a concert of bells as all churches would ring their bells at a given time. We went to Plaza del Pilar but the forecasted rain spoiled it all.

We took refuge in Las Palomas, a restaurant offering a grand buffet. We heard someone tapping the glass pane from the sidewalk, and it turned out to be Cecilia’s friends Cesar Gimeno and his wife Maria Jesus Alcala.

When Rosario left for Madrid we started calling our friends and relatives. Dentist Beatriz Arrieta was first if only because Cecilia needed an “empaste.” Then her aunt Elisa Villarroya, and dearest friend Puri Alejandre and her daughter Marian Contreras.

Puri takes care of our apartment in Kasan. She said that once more pigeons had invaded our terrace to the chagrin of the neighbors. We went to a place to order glass panes to fully enclose it.

On September 11, I walked to Basilica del Pilar and chanced upon Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, Duchess of Alba, who entered the church on a wheelchair. I asked her guard if I could greet her whereupon I complimented her. She told me, ”Es usted muy amable,” and I then said farewell.

On September 12, Cecilia recalled that a month before, in Cebu, she had stepped on a rusty nail and had been given an anti-tetanus shot. Now she needed a second shot, and we did not know what to do. Her first cousin Blanca Crespo who worked at the Zaragoza City Health Office as a nurse solved the problem.

On September 13, Cecilia and I went to the Museo de Zaragoza to view an exhibit of Goya’s paintings and sketches. Goya was a native of Fuendetoros, a village of Zaragoza. He is considered one of the world’s greatest painters.

Some of his most notable works are portraits. In this exhibit was a life-size full-body portrait of the Countess of Chinchon. It seemed she was ready to step out of the canvas.

On September 14, we agreed to meet Aitana Muñoz at the popular tapas bar El Lince. She is with Television de Aragon, and the year before she had come to Cebu for the filming of “Aragoneses por el Mundo.” Cecilia and I were featured.

We were told the episode on Cebu had been very well accepted with requests for repeats. Some people in the streets recognized us.

In the evening we went to one of the bridges of the Rio Ebro to see the 30-minute spectacular fireworks to close the Expo. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were there but we did not get too close, for it would have been difficult to get transportation when the event would be over.

On September 15, we had a dinner date with our Perez first cousins, children of Consuelo Rodriguez Perez, sister of my mother. Present were Marilar and Luis San Gil, Vicky and Javier Ruiz, and Hugo Perez with his wife Ana.

We had lunches, dinners and meriendas with many relatives and friends. Specially enjoyable were those with Beatriz, Puri and Marian, and Cecilia’s impish classmate Conchita Sarmiento. I managed not to gain weight by every day taking long brisk walks.

Cecilia’s brothers and sisters decided to get together in Zaragoza one weekend. They arrived on Friday, September 19. Instead of going bar hopping we decided to take the tapas buffet at Las Palomas, sit at a table and talk all night.

Next day, September 20, we all went to the summer house in Movera very near Zaragoza, and recall happy childhood days. Present, according to age: Maria Pilar and her husband Dr. Jose Carnicer; Paco Rodriguez; Gen. Fernando Rodriguez;

Conchita Rodriguez with her son Jorge and grandchild Nicolas; Cecilia and I; Chiqui Rodriguez; Ismael Rodriguez and his wife Maria.

On Sunday, September 21, it was the birthday of our cousin Marilar. Her husband Luis had organized a surprise luncheon for her, inviting many friends, and an ensemble of mariachis to serenade her with Mexican songs.

On September 22, we had lunch with Cesar Gimeno and Maria Jesus Alcala at their beautifully appointed home. Cecilia was happy to meet,
after so many years, Maria Jesus’ mother Pilar Gasque. That brought back many memories.

On September 24, we went to Basilica del Pilar to light a candle. A text message from Cebu said that our niece Choco Escaño Laplana was in labor
for her third child. After that, getting on the bus to go home another message came. Choco had just happily delivered little Andrea.