A Day In The Farm

Yesterday, amidst my very hectic, short and crazy schedule I took a day to go and visit our farm in Sarangani Province. I will be leaving for the States in a couple of days so I thought of visiting the place while I have the chance. It's been 25 years since the last time I was there and I was amazed at how much it has changed in terms of land scape and vegetations. But the familiar feelings and the fondness of the place where I spent so many memories of my youth seems like fresh and remains as it was more than two decades ago; in my perspective at least. I took some photos which to my frustration are short of capturing the beauty of the place I once called home.

this structure was a witness to my dreams as a young 

girl; who was full of hope & had a crazy ambition 

of becoming a future mayor of our town

papaya tree

banana

fruits like papayas, mangoes, bananas 

are found in the farm

view from the kitchen window

I planted this coconut 25 years ago

Farm animals & fowls:

chicken

cow

horse

carabao

goat 

part of the river where we used to play and swim 

when we were kids

this is a bridge that was not there when I almost got

drown while playing in the deep water under the trees

I used to love swimming here like this little kid but

the difference is that the water used to be so clear

the girl who dreamed of becoming a mayor of this 

town someday is now a woman who loves to travel 

and now look at life and the world from a different  

perspective

bahay kubo 

farm road going to the barrio where

we used to be scared to walk especially

at night because of "momo"(witch)

hanging bridge is another structure that was not

there when we were growing up

my sister, my confidante and my best friend

the second and fourth generation taking a rest

under the "payag" after a long walk.

That one day I spent in the farm was a chance for me to reconnect to my past. When I look at my life now and where I had been in this world, it is such a relief to realized that I haven't changed so much as far as my values are concerned. I still love the peace and quiet of being around with nature. I enjoy both the simplicity of the past and the challenges of the present and the future. I will always treasure the people who have formed me to be what I am today. My dream of becoming a mayor is a thing in my past anymore, but I still want to contribute in shaping the future of that place. After all, it is still home and the world to my sister, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. God may have placed me in a different location many thousand miles away. But the memories and love ones will always make me feel close and connected to this place.