February 26, 2025 - Back to Taguig City

    Yesterday was a relaxing day. Johanna and I slept in until about 7:00am. We are still in separate rooms, of course. Johanna woke up slightly earlier than I did, so she prepared a breakfast while I dressed, brushed my teeth, and got all my things ready. Today would be the day to leave Lipa and head back to Taguig. Johanna had leftover Lo Mei noodles for breakfast, and I ate some of the baked goodies that we bought from the Luis Bakery. Shortly after eating, Ferds and Angel showed up to say fare the well and to pray over us. Ferds prayed a bless over us, and I prayed a blessing over Angel and Ferds. We got all our stuff packed and ready to go, and then we called a trike to come pick us up. The trike arrived soon after, and we all said our final good byes. We loaded our stuff on the trike and off we went to the main bus terminal in Lipa. We arrived, payed the trike driver 200 pesos, and then we found a bus heading to Market market in Taguig. I thought I left my keys at Angel and Ferd's transient home, but Angel could find no keys laying around the house. I searched my book bag...no keys. Johanna searched her carryon...no keys. I then went to search our luggage underneath the bus...no keys. Johanna told me to search again...I finally found my keys. Johanna and I gave each other a big bear hug, and we gave praise to father God and Jesus. Indeed, we have found the keys. The key to my condo and the key to life, Jesus Christ! We used the C.R. And the bus then departed the terminal. We were driving northbound to Manila. During the drive, Johanna and I took a long nap. By the time we awoke, we were just minutes away from our destination at Market Market in Taguig.

    We gathered all our belongings and walked a short distance to Market Market in Taguig. At Market Market, we bought a tiny USB rechargeable air compressor (tire inflator) from an automotive shop in the mall. From Ace hardware, we also bough a white blank cover plate and a bicycle pump for the Binuya family. Afterward, we caught a taxi and headed back to Johanna's residence in Taguig.

    At Hanna's residence, we spent the late afternoon and early evening going through photo books of Johanna, I got to see Johanna as a little baby girl, a young child, a middle schooler, a high schooler, a college student, and beyond. We had a meaningful quality time together and I also got to learn more about Johanna and her family. After going through the photo books, Johanna, Mr. Joe, and I ate a feast of a dinner prepared by Mrs. Cora. She fixed so much food for us from Shumai dumplings, to fried eggplant, to an egg and noodle soup, to a wonderful salad, to eggplant cake and more. The dinner hit the spot. I gorged myself on these Filipino delicacies.

    Afterward, Johanna had to retire for the evening as she has a night shift from midnight to 9:00am in the morning. We said good night and gave each other a warm embrace, and then Mr. Joe and I finished our dinner. Following dinner, Mr. Joe and I talked for a few hours about everything under the sun. We discussed their cucumber tree (Kamias tree) its fruits and how to turn the Kamias into jam. We talked about the avocado tree and its varied uses. W chatted about the growth of Manila and Taguig and how things used to be so much different here on Dimasalang Street. They used to have much more space, but the town has grown up around their homestead. Now, more buildings have been built around their home making things very cramped and compacted. Mr. Joe and I talked all the way until 10:00pm. We talked about things that I don't even remember. Mr. Joe is a very interesting man and he has many stories to tell. He also has much wisdom to impart. It was an honor and a privilege to talk with him this lovely Taguig eve.

    Soon after, Mr. Joe made arrangements with Jayson to drive me back to the condo. Jayson willingly obliged and off we went into the Taguig night back to the Grace Residences.