Revisiting Ilocandia

Veejay's Summer Vacation

My eldest daughter Veejay is on vacation and so the whole family decided to revisit San Fernando, La Union and Vigan, Ilocos Sur last weekend. It was a long-delayed wish-come-true for the family.

It was here that my second daughter Jinjie was born in 1994. Veejay had part of her elementary and high school there. It was therefore an exciting time for the whole family when we drove all the way from San Fernando, Pampanga to San Fernando, La Union. The kids along with their mom were excited to set foot again on a memorable place where we once lived.

San Juan, La Union

We took a peek (slowly driving the car) at the old house where we once lived for 5 years in San Juan, La Union (7 kilometers away from San Fernando). A fellow pastor and his family also lived there for 7 years previously before we moved in. This sleepy town is now famous for surfing. We stayed overnight at the Sea & Sky Hotel where I used to book our guests and visitors. We reminisced the past and we remembered the brethren in the area.

Jinjie's Birthplace

We showed Jinjie where she was born -- at the Lorma Hospital. She must have been quite excited. It was her first time (now 15 years old) to visit La Union since we left in 1997.

Quick Visit to Vigan

We proceeded to Vigan as the kids really wanted to see the place. We visited the Fr. Burgos Museum, Crisologo Museum and then stayed overnight at the Cordillera Inn. The kids (especially Jinjie) were again excited to see the old Spanish houses like we were brought back into the old Spanish colonial times. Cordillera Inn was right within and part of this old historical community.

Childhood Classmates Reunion and All-Artists Get-together

For Veejay, one of the exciting moments for her (and for the whole family too) was our visit to her former sixth grade classmate (at Felkris Elementary School in San Fernando) who has now become a famous professional painter, May Ann Licudine. They (or we) had a good time together. She showed us her artworks and it was great. She really is talented. We immediately liked her -- like family. She also considers us as family too -- great! We were all delighted to hear it when May Ann said that Veejay was her "idol" in drawing back during their elementary days. We then encouraged Veejay to carry on with her love for art and painting.

My family by the way are lovers of art too. Both of my daughters and my wife can draw. Veejay can paint too. Jinjie is into digital arts using a pen tablet and a computer. My wife draws and paints "once in a blue moon." I can draw just a bit. I was an architectural draftsman for a good number of years during my younger days.

It was just too bad we didn't catch up with the church members in San Fernando for church services. We left Vigan too late. I called the pastor and told him I'll visit the church next time.

Well, in so far as our daughters are concerned, it was a great weekend. It was a great time for the family.