Tostado Fiesta winds down

Hello, i am still alive LOL. This has indeed been a social marathon. Somehow my cousin Tina has become the new President of the Tanonganon Association and I am the Vice President. I had also been appointed the temporary Mayor of Pebbles since we brought the sun up on that beach for quite a few nights in a row. The town of Santander has changed alot in the 10 years I haven’t been around. The Fiesta which used to be centered around the Patron Saint (presence of the Saint is still there) is now more centered around a cookie, the “Tostado” which is a cookie I remember my mom making when i was young. Anyways, this cookie is now the focus since it’s always been included on the fiesta snack plate for years….i think it’s a kind of tourist attraction viewpoint. Today there are many people on the beach cause it’s time to go home..all the visitors will be leaving going back to where they live. They are called the baliklungsods, meaning they return from other cities and towns in the Philippines.

There’s been some animosity about the balikbayans (which are people like us…who come from the town but have moved outside the country) being treated in a more special manner than the baliklungsods, which i can see to be true. We don’t want special treatment, but somwhow the fiesta event organizers had set things up that way. The fiesta felt very segrated…i’m glad I chose to defy the “formal” dress code…enabling me to join the local disco with no problem.

Anyways, i’m off to Siargao now for some surfing. Wish me luck on my journey, it’s quite a distance to go but I’m excited to go somewhere new! Ciao 4 now.