Bonding Time With a Retired Colonel and Son in Boracay

IT WAS A long overdue invitation.

Ret. Col. Severina Anacion Rojas had been inviting me for the longest time in an all-paid trip to a vacation in Boracay since God knows when.

The other invites she has been offering me are trips to Corregidor, Bataan all these Aprils on practically all Philippine freedom days and a sightseeing from a mountaintop in Tanay, Rizal, all of these have not been realized yet particularly the historical World War II ruins of Corregidor.

The Bataan visit is still a standing invite since my retired cousin military nurse I and her confreres endearingly call Ate (a term for older sister or woman by blood or affinity) Vener is a veteran of the Vietnam war–as a medical professional for the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) contingent and war-torn Mindanao in the early eighties with then newly installed army officers Gringo Honasan and Ramon Biazon as superiors.

With all her achievements in the service, Ate Vener’s wish is to ride again a helicopter to reminisce her past in Saigon and Jolo, Sulu.

Meanwhile, the paradise haven in Tanay is no longer managed by Ate Vener’s closest relatives.

I finally gave in to the Boracay enticement not necessarily to set foot in the pinkish sands and frolic in the blue seas of the Aklan island but more so, to bond with her and son Roy Rojas with their cousin Lorena Perez in tow.

Oh, yes! I regularly drop by the Rojas’ house in Murphy, Cubao but I wanted a new environment that could possibly lend and dig in dimensions or realizations in integrating and interacting with her and Roy, primarily, and Lorena, secondarily.

A foresight if not an option: To make my transport to NAIA more convenient, on time, hassle-free and easier from the uncertainty and inefficiency of public transport, I decided to meet my companions at their residence and advised them that I’d sleep over there.

Together, in agreement, we would take a Grab to NAIA.

On the night before our early morning flight to Caticlan Airport, Roy was steadily monitoring me where I already was from my travel to 14th Avenue, a stone’s throw from Camp Aguinaldo, from San Pedro City, Laguna where I stay.

Ate Vener was even checking on me on audio call in our GC as the evening wore off to make sure I should make it.

I don’t usually break a promise, though.

After beating print and online writing deadlines, I made it past midnight to the Rojases.

I presumed Ate Vener as well as Roy were relieved to finally see me.

After catching up with naps in the wee hours of the morning, we went on to the airport.

Roy was a perfect travel buddy for he knows well enough how to solve current air transport conundrums like digital passenger or baggage check-ins that could make one’s travel pretty smooth-sailing.

Although there were flight interruptions if not delays, we made it to Boracay before lunch.

Roy was the efficient schedule master, tour guide, economical kitchen menu expert in every meal as Boracay is a tourist destination etc. having been in the island for more than ten years.

As an octogenarian, Ate Vener just wanted to revisit Boracay for the nth time and to savor the beauty of the place.

“Makarating pa kaya ako ulit dito sa isang taon (Could I still make it here next year?),” she wondered nonchalantly.

The four-night and five-day stay in Boracay were such revealing moments.

Roy and I were able to exchange ideas and get through each other’s consciousness.

We were confronted with a lot of questions about life’s many issues, in general, to look at it with objectivity, understanding and resolve.

At the end of the day, we became closer as cousins.

Ate Vener was doting and generous as a mom and aunt.

Lorena was the witness to all our getting to know more about ourselves who managed as well to discern a lot of things about life in the middle of the busy front beach and the wonders of nature.