" The Joy Of Being Together"

I don't know why but Im really gifted to easily find "good friends". For as long as I can remember, during my childhood days, almost all of the people that I share time with became my friends, and remained to be friends as to this day. Maybe that is the reason why I have this difficulty of remembering names because I simply have too much names on my head, like a drained RAM (Random Access Memory) of a PC. Too much info to process! In fact, I manage to remember my friends in sets, like Elementary friend, HS, college, Korea, kumpares, Chatting, etc.
Last year, I meet Doms Reyes, a co-member of our group in yahoo chat. He is working in Kwangju city, Kyeonggi Province, about 2 hours bus ride from here. He first visited here last summer, joined us in Seoul tower. After a year, I became friend of his friends and co workers in Kwangju.
After joining us here during the Lunar New year celebrations, last February, it was my turn to visit Aju Textile, Co. in Kwangju. Although I'm used of travelling (usually alone)around Korea, I have that feeling of anxiety because Kwangju city is just near from here but a total stranger to me. After I arrived there ( I acually miss that bus stop) they fetch me from the city to their place.
It was not well planned but we have a lot of fun. FOOD is no.1 fun,ang sarap ng inihaw na isda!
I was not able to go home that night so I spent the night there. My thanks to all of them, Tol Doms, Tol Rey, Tol Rolan, Mhay for that great accommodation. I will surely cant forget it.

A Reuniun

Being in Korea for quite a long time I was blessed with a lot Kumpares and Kumares for I've attended so many baby baptisms since a year after arrived here. In Korea alone, I was invited to become ninong a "lot"of times. Im not mentioning numbers here, but for me, "a lot" really means a lot.

Well, now Im not so sure if having a lot of inaanak really means a blessing or or the other way, but one thing for sure- the fellowship shared with these people means a lot.

About a year ago, I remembered the Sulnal(Chinese New Year) in Chang-an -dong, probably the last time we saw each other before this reunion. It was Pareng Rod who invited us to celebrate the lunar new year with them. Chinese new year is one of the biggest holiday here in Korea so it is expected that every establishment is closed for business, and of course all factories too. In short, This is the time when filipinos-like any other, visit their friends and relatives.

One thing I like most about gatherings like this is the FOOD! And with regards with Binay family- Food is always in abundance...Pareng Rod is an old friend of Pareng Bhon way back in his Chang-an dong times, which introduced him to me.This simple but eager, humble but full of talent guy is from Batangas city.He is known to be a cumputer hardware wizzard, I myself have learned a lot from him.

Last week, after a year of silence, a reunion was held.And of course the abundance of food is always there(thanks to Allan for his cullinary expertise).I can see in each face the joy of getting together once agin. The eagerness to hear each others news from home . And of course the fellowship in partaking Allans work of art.

Despite the fact that we dont have any idea on until when we're going to stay in Korea, or when we could visit each others house back in the Philippines. I just hope that these people will remain good friends, that these fellowships will linger, these faces will remain joyful and eager, and to be able to be in touch 'til the rest of our lives.

PHOTO:(left-right) Mareng Arlene(Rods wife), Dhen, Bhon, Me, and Pareng Rod on the foreground.