“Joy, like the vast majority of other emotions, is a highly contagious and welcome feature at celebrations,” – Old Sean
Soft Soaring
After a period of time exploring Singapore at a breakneck pack, I returned with Ching’s family to the Philippines, remaining in Alabang once more.
This, however, would be my final lap of the area for the month. As a group, we returned home to Alabang, repacked our suitcases and set out the following morning. This time, we would be heading to a wedding venue just north of the Taal Volcano.
Hurry and Wait
To be honest, I had very little to do in regards to the wedding. I mostly just hung around, played card games with Ching and her family, and sipped at coffee while working online. Eventually, however, the best man (James) arrived. He hadn’t quite finished his best man speech so we sat down together and made an outline for him to work with.
Afterward, it was time to get situated for the event. I put on a traditional barong (barong tagalog) an embroidered long-sleeved formal shirt for men. Ching’s father bought it for me, so I could arrive to the wedding in proper style.
The large group of attendees walked through the tropical footpaths past private little hotels and a small cafe. We seated ourselves within an immaculate white church and waited for the wedding to begin.
Crossed Lovers
It’s been a while since I attended a wedding, but this one was exceptionally beautiful. The bride and groom were lovely to behold and I was reacquainted with the rituals of a Catholic wedding. Once the ceremony was done, past the din of cheers and claps, our groups attended snacks followed by a feast followed by speeches, videos of the bride and groom, and a fantastic little dance at the end.
I spent my time as a spectator, enjoying watching the crowds swirl by. It was a lovely way to spend my last few days in the Philippines. The rest of my time was spent returning to Alabang and frantically catching up on work.
Soon, I’ll be making a semi-planned trip to China, as that was the cheapest option for flying back to the US. So with that in mind,
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written January 11th, 2025
