One taping day that we had, we were packed-up at 5:00 p.m. an early pack-up for a “May Bukas Pa” taping considering that we had a calltime of 10:00 a.m. Given an early release from work, some of us “priests” decided to drive off to Angeles City. The Toyota Fortuner of David Chua took the lead of our convoy with Ruben Gonzaga, Robin Tolentino and Andre Tiangco giving David company. Andre who is from San Fernando City, Pampanga was our guide. The Honda Civic of Victor Basa was the second car and my Ford Lynx was the last car of our convoy.
We took the Mega Dike road from Bacolor. Driving at dusk was fast and scenic along the Mega Dike. Rice and vegetables are already growing on the riverbanks where only pure unproductive barren lahar was the sight some 15 years ago. I recalled the words of Father Jess Manabat of San Guillermo Parish, our location used as the monastery, that the victims of the recent flooding brought by typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng can rise up the way that the Kapampangans were able to rise up after the destructive Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the subsequent years of lahar flows. The sight of greenfields gave me that ray of hope that sooner, the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng will also be able to recover.
Andre was not that good guide after all. We missed the right turn going to Mac Arthur highway and I really felt that we were travelling far already since we reached the town of Porac before we turned right towards Angeles City. We had to drive slowly as the Porac to Angeles road was already bumper to bumper of dump trucks loaded with sand from the lahar quarry at that time.
We stopped at a restaurant named “RUMPA” in Angeles City at about 6:30 p.m. According to Andre, the place is an institution in Angeles. Steaks are priced below 200 pesos. Andre paid the bill for only a thousand pesos. A family of four was also having dinner in Rumpa and the father approached me. He asked if I was Riki Sandalo. I told him, I am Riki’s brother – Edgar. He was Art Figueroa, a fraternity brother. He told me he is close to Helen Gopiao-Maturan. Helen was a co-actor in our UPLB plays. Art told me his family is a regular May Bukas Pa watcher. We had some picture-taking with his family.
After our dinner, we drove to Sucat, Paranaque. Andre joined me in my car. Our destination was the Holy Family Funeral Home. The father of Rayver Cruz – Mr. Rodolfo Ilustre was laid in state at the funeral parlor. We paid our last respects to the father of Rayver and showed our sympathy to him and his family. Bea Alonzo and Sunshine Cruz were also at the wake.
I was able to arrive home a few minutes before 12 midnight. It was a very productive night bonding with my “co-actors” in two distant places: Angeles City and Sucat!
