😉 Kamusta, bro n' sis Hivers? 😁
I hope you're all okay 🙏 It’s Kymmy here bringing you my new story for this week, and it’s also my entry for this week’s contest: ASEAN Hive Community Challenge #157 - Traditional Textiles.
📸 Traditional Philippine textile
I’ve been feeling weird since the start of May but I ignored it. However, it’s getting worse so I messaged my doctor if I can book an appointment. She said 6 pm this Friday. And I was like… whoaaaaaa that’s pretty late! But I really need help so I agreed. Then, an idea popped in my head.
My former school was like a 15-minute walk from the clinic. It has this mini museum. I remembered when I was a freshman, we had a tour there and I remembered it has various textiles. So, I decided to leave home early and visit the museum so I can share the beautiful displays there.
📸 Selfie with manong Goldios
My favorite seat in the bus is the front seat next to the driver but when I got inside the vehicle, someone was already sitting on my favorite spot. But the adjacent chair was empty so I was still able to sit in front.
In the picture with me was Manong Goldios. Our talk started about the hot weather. We are inside a regular bus, one that isn’t air conditioned. I don’t like AC buses. They make me sick and vomit.
The weather talk started a long chat about his life and my life, too. He is a hardworking man of the sugarcane fields. His main work is pulling weeds from sugarcane fields under the burning heat of the sun. No day offs.
And now, the field that he used to work for is now his. The government seized the land from the landowner because of tax payment neglect and was distributed to the laborers who worked in it. At first, they had to pay, but the following administration ordered that it’d be given free.
He even paid for my bus fare and I’m very thankful. ☺️
Fried chicken skin (left)
Kwek-kwek (middle) boiled eggs dipped in batter then deep fried
Sago’t gulaman (right) sweet drink with small boba pearls
After almost 3 hours, I arrived at my school. I was thinking whether to buy fast food or street food. I chose street food. I don’t like fast food anymore and I missed eating kwek-kwek, too. After the snack, I took a little breather, refilled my water bottle, and went to the museum.
📸 Miss Jen the staff (left) and Ashley (right) the student assistant
The museum entrance is free! I just didn’t have a tour guide at that time because he/she was absent. I was free to walk around but I’m the only visitor there and the place was very cold, quiet, and scary. If I had a group with me it’d be fun. But I’m alone so I asked Miss Jen if she can go upstairs with me.
📸 A traditional weaving equipment
Miss Jen tried to explain everything that she knows about the displays. It was not much but I’ve taken photos and hope that would compensate for it. The photos below are textiles from the Philippines:
📸 Textiles from Luzon
📸 Textiles from Visayas
📸 Textiles from Mindanao
She said that the materials used in textiles depends on their availability per region. Later, I told her I’m okay being on my own now because I’m thinking she might have work to do, too. Then, she reassured me that the place is monitored by CCTV cameras so there’s nothing to be afraid. They’ll see if something’s wrong and will rush to help me.
Also, there are other textiles but they are mixed from different countries. I will share them below:
I would like to take more photos because there are a lot of other displays too aside from the textiles. But I’m too scared because I’m alone, so I headed downstairs quickly. I politely thanked Miss Jen and Ashley for their kindness.
📸 Small cafe downstairs where I bought drinks (left) | Tita Ruby and me (right)
I left school and walked to my former dormitory during college. I want to visit my landlady auntie who has been very kind and loving to me. The dormitory was on the second floor. From below, I was calling out to her “Tita~” and she said “Yes?” without peeking downstairs. I replied, “Can’t you remember my voice?” She laughed and called my name. We spent two hours talking while drinking some sweet drinks and eating ice cream.
📸 The before and after of a delicious batchoy
📸 My selfie remembrance for this day’s trip
At 5 pm, I left and walked to my clinic. I waited for less than an hour. I had a talk with my doctor and she made medicine adjustments. I was looking for a place to eat and I saw this open fried chicken place. I saw a stray dog and he looked hungry. A passer-by gave him some pieces of burger and I gave him some crackers, too. I left and kept on walking and searched for a good place to eat. I saw a Batchoyan. Batchoy is noodle soup and the place that offers it is called Batchoyan. I ate the batchoy paired with a bottle of Mt. Dew.
📸 There are no available buses for almost an hour
📸 First available bus was packed with passengers that some were already standing.
After 20 minutes of waiting for a jeepney, I arrived at the bus terminal. There are no buses available! Upon hearing this, my boyfriend and mama slightly panicked. But I was calm because I once experienced going home as late as almost 12 am and there’s still a bus. I waited and was able to get on the third bus. I arrived home a little over 10 pm.
📸 The night streets on my way home while riding a traysikel
And that was my Friday! 😁👌
🙏Thanks for reading my bro n' sis Hivers! I really appreciate your time, effort, and patience. 🥰
@kamustakymmy here ✌️ See you after a few midnights! Salamat! ☺️😴
Some photos are Canva edited.