RAMBLINGS OF THE MIND
“Yes, the one in 1997?”
“Exactly, sir. The influx of foreign currency sent by the OFWs back to the Philippines, helped our economy recover quickly, unlike other countries in Asia.”
“Filemon, can you stop calling me ‘sir,’ please. My real name is Edgardo, but just call me Ed. I would appreciate it very much.”
“Sure, Sir Ed. I mean, Ed, sir. Ed,” and they both laughed.
“As soon as I get through these rocks, Filemon, we will continue with the discussion. For now, I will concentrate on this, oops, oops,” Ed mumbled, with arms spread to maintain balance, and eyes focused on the slippery rocks which served as steps to the other side of the river. And he noticed how clear the water was, and the leaves of the plants on the banks of the rivers were so green. He forgot everything about economic meltdowns and foreign currencies' impact on GNP or GDP.
They had been walking for about three hours, through rice fields, rivers and springs, and Ed was just about ready to look for a place to rest, but what he saw next stunned him.
Under the deep blue sky, over the green fields and lush greeneries, and with the awesome limestone cliffs in the background, Ed saw what he thought at first was the ocean... in the mountains!!!
“That is the Hidden Valley Mountain Resort, the first stop of our tour today,” Filemon proudly waved his hand, like an Italian baker showing off his pizza and spaghetti. “The main attraction is the wave pool, the first of its kind in the entire Cebu province,” Filemon continued, nudging Ed to move on towards the resort. Ed felt so proud of being born in Pinamungajan.
Ed and Filemon took a table at the coffee shop which was conveniently located at the entrance to the wave pool area. They were served with Oregano coffee, a first for Ed. It was Filemon’s favorite among the blended coffee drinks they serve at the resort. They also offered a good variety of dishes.
Filemon said he had prepared a special lunch for them. So they enjoyed their coffee while Ed took his iPad and furiously entered his notes, took photos, and some selfies. Most of the time, they were quiet until Filemon said something that shocked Ed momentarily.
“Look around you, Ed, and tell me what could be your best contribution to this,” Filemon looked at Ed with intense eyes. Ed was silent, and for the first time in his life, he was unsure, knowing fully well that in their previous conversation Filemon already precluded money as an answer to it.
“I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want the environment to be a product of me,” Ed philosophised.
“Excellent. Then I will let you see the rest of what Pinamungajan has to offer, before I ask you what you can offer to your hometown,” Filemon said with authority that did not give Ed much choice but to keep quiet.
“Ed, Pinamungajan is also a glorious place for caving enthusiasts,” now Filemon was back to tour-guide mode. He continued, “There are 118 caves, and 108 of them are here in this village. In these caves you will find awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites. Most visited is the Kamangon Cave here in Lamac.”
“Crawling?”
