Dumaguete Day 6

• Woke up later than I planned. Was supposed to go with Jette to school so had to wake up early, but opened my eyes a little after nine. Speed shower and dress, and made it to COSCA without being too late. She went to school and I went to the Dumaguete Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria) to spend a few minutes in prayer. Comedy pa. I went inside the cathedral to pray, and I walked down the side to one of the pews close to the altar. I knelt down, bowed my head and started to cry. Every time I go inside a church, I just cry. So I prayed, said my thank yous and sniffled aloud. The people a few pews away from me turned their heads towards me and I felt embarrassed because I was red-faced and sniffling. Ewan ko kung bakit nakatingin sila sa’kin pero I sat down to spend a few more minutes inside the church. Saka ko lang napansing may kabaong pala sa harap ng altar. Eh Jette and I were wearing black pa naman because of the Ampatuan Massacre (my thoughts on which I’ll probably write some time). That was when I realized na pinipilit ako kilalanin nung mga tao sa simbahan. If the deceased was a guy, baka iniisip nila either kabit ako or anak sa labas. Sorry po. Sorry. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, Oh, Lord… I prayed for the deceased na rin before heading out. Ayun! Saka ko lang napansin yung karo ng patay sa labas ng simbahan! Diyoskolord! Anlabo na talaga ng mata ko. Went to the Dumaguete Belfry which is right next to the Cathedral. Nagdasal na rin ako to Mama Mary and to St. Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of Dumaguete (patroness?).

• Ate fries at McDonald’s. I think na-spoil na ko ng pagkain dito because McDonald’s French fries, which is what I go to McDo for, didn’t taste as good as I remember. I guess, after Gabby’s Bistro (I swear, I love this place. Obvious ba? We go there every day?) and Hayahay, fast food doesn’t appeal to me anymore.

• Walked to Rizal Boulevard. I walked from one end to the other for a while, probably looking like an idiot because I was smiling and I was all by myself. But the sky was so blue, and I was walking by the sea. What’s not to smile about?

• Went accessories-shopping at Gifts Fashion (Sta. Catalina Street). I read about this place from Carla Giopaolo’s blog entry, The Dumaguete Break. The owner’s name is actually Gift, and she designs the accessories the shop sells. Sabi nga ni Jette, they’re one-of-a-kind. If the design is similar, the colors are different, and vice versa. Anyway, I saw an owl magnet and I grabbed that and never let go until I was at the counter. The pieces are beautiful, I tell you. I had to restrain myself from getting one of each. I ended up buying two pairs of earrings (one of them for Richel), the owl fridge magnet that I’m calling Hubris, and a puka shell necklace that was supposed to be for Kat but she doesn’t wear accessories. I ended up buying it na rin. Para sa’kin. Talked to my parents too. They wanted me to reassure them na malayo ang Maguindanao sa Dumaguete. My mom’s paranoid. Pero naman kasi! Hanggang ngayon, bothered pa rin ako sa nangyari! ‘Di talaga tao ang gumawa no’n! Kailangan do’n pira-pirasuhin ang katawan kung ilan ang mga biktima niya! *Bloodthirsty much?*

• Noticed I was walking the wrong way back to COSCA so I went back to the Boulevard. It’s my MRT, my point, my North Star here in Dumaguete, meaning I can pretty much find where I need to go so long as I know where it is relative to the Boulevard. I chanced upon a seat under the shade of a tree so I sat down for a bit because it was getting hot. I didn’t realize that I’ve been sitting there, watching the waves, and smiling for close to thirty minutes until Jette sent me a text message asking me where I was. So instead of going back to the school, she just met me at Mamia’s instead.

• Had lunch at Mamia’s. Tenderloin tips with gravy, rice, side salad and soup. We didn’t know that dessert was included in the meal so we got our bill before the server (who had a really pretty tat on her wrist) told us that we haven’t had dessert. We both ate rocky road bars which is several kinds of awesome. That’s the thing about Dumaguete. I’ve never eaten food here that doesn’t taste great.

• Went back to school for a bit so I can write on the post card I bought for Lorna. Jette also needed to go to the bank so I walked to the post office to mail the letter. It was so nostalgic. The last time I actually mailed a letter was when I was in college, ten years ago (and THAT told you how old I am). I’m just wondering kung lahat ba ng nagtatrabaho sa post office ay masungit? Of course, I only have experience with three post offices: Pasig (na uber sungit ng nags-stamp); Baguio (semi-sungit lang); and here, Dumaguete. Hindi naman ako yung sinungitan ni ate but the woman in front of me. In fairness, medyo slow kasi siya.

• Walked back to COSCA. I wanted to go back to the Boulevard but it was too hot to walk so I went back to school. Ay! Nagpunta pala muna ako sa Tops & Bottoms which is an all around department store. Anyway, Jette was still at the bank, sa likod ng amoy palengke daw wahaha, so I stayed at their some sort of quad, playing Top Gun on the iPod and listening to Linda Howard’s Mackenzie’s Pleasure audiobook. Zane Mackenzie is my Mac Herrera… well, a more makulit version.

• Ran errands. We went to St. Paul University again although umikot lang kami kasi may pinabigay lang si Jette kay manong guard sa school president. Singing Hark! Daughters of the great St. Paul… Come listen to his call… again. Then we drove to the seminary by the airport. Then to my favorite place in Dumaguete, second only to the Boulevard (sorry, Gabby), Gabby’s Bistro for pizza. We had shrimpy garlic pizza, and I had perky blue lemonade. Sabi ko kay Jette whenever I eat something from Gabby’s, nagbubukas ang langit and I hear the Hallelujah Chorus in my head. Jette also ordered blueberry cheesecake for dessert, and I asked it to marry me.

• Home. Now, we’re both on our stomachs, typing away again. She brought her work home (kasi naman eh!) and I’m writing this entry although I need to work before opening my ms. I think Wesley wants a re-write. Hay.

Dumaguete’s name came from the word “daggit”, meaning “to snatch”. Because it’s a coastal town, it was prone to pirate attacks where people were “snatched”. Wikipedia also said that the word “dumaguet” was coined because the place has “the power to attract and keep her visitors for good”.

Gah! That I don’t doubt.