"Magkano po lupa dito?" (How much is the land here?)
Lo and behold, he didn't ask this question this time around. He and I knew from the time we boarded off the bus that it is an insult to even ask that question. We were beyond words.
Our love affair with this place started when I looked outside the window with a thought bubble --
"Ok, it's your usual swarm of tricycle drivers waiting for passengers. I wonder how I'll say no to each one of them since we only need 1 tricycle."
Upon setting foot on the ground, a manong politely asked,
"Tricycle po sir?"
Yes we needed a tricycle so we went to the one nearest us. With the intent of riding that one, the driver said,
"Ma'am dun po yung pila ng tricycle."
It hit me in the face. Am I in Pinas?
During our "official" tricycle ride, we were silent. It's unusual for us because we immediately talk about what we see.
The silence was an agreement between us that we have found where our heart belongs. It was a local community that caught us in and out.
Going to various towns and provinces in the Philippines is like a "date" with these various towns. We acquaint ourselves, explore and get to know the culture.
This time around, our hearts were snatched. We knew, deep within us, that we have found the one place we will keep coming back to. Our "comfort place." Our instant and spontaneous, "tara byahe tayo," and our feet for sure will take us to this lovely community --
Baler.
So enough of my talking and find out why we love this place.
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