One saberdey morning nga, I went up the hill and I was looking for a dry cleaner. I ended up here at chinika ko ang Filipina who was working here, hoping na maka-chamba nang discount! Wala ‘teng! Walang nangyari sa powers ko. Siningil pa rin ako nang $1.78 per piece samantalang $0.99 lang sya sa Philadelphia. Kaya lang $310 ang round-trip ticket. Magdusa. Dito na lang.
And while I was making chika with her, she called up her bff na Bikolana pala. Si Merci. Eto sya.
Said, they were waiting for me last week dahil sila pala ang naka-toka for the novena. And this is her husband. Si Ben. Si Merci yong sa likod.
Anway, me Bikolano Association pala sila here in Charleston. Finally, 1st invite ko dito. At dito naimbitahan ang lola nyo mag-novena.
Dumilim ang panahon pagdating ko.
Madilim talaga sya. Gabi na kasi.
The church was nice inside. Kaso nakakahiya namang mag-li-litrato ako sa loob. Mahahalatang kaba-baba ko pa lang nang bundok. So, pa-cute muna ang lola nyo. And these people were very nice naman. Lahat mga Bikolano, except for some of the Caucasian husbands, yong iba Irish pa. One of the Irish guys was “Bomber” who was making birit of one Bicol song. Kaya daw nya. Ah ok.
I was told that Pinoys are very active pala in this Church. The Saturday novena was in preparation of the Penafrancia Fiesta that they celebrate here also. Every novena, me naka-toka, just like what we do back home. Prepare food and invite guests and do the novena.
Art from Naga City, yong nasa gitna, a retired Navy told me na dati puro lang daw sweets and desserts. Kaso mga Pinoy, so tinuloy na daw na todo-todong kainan and they would typically stay till night time here. Look nyo naman ang bago kong mga barkada hehehe!
Ang aking mga bagong sisterettes. They’re from Tabaco, Albay.
He’s the current President of the Bikolano Association here. Sila na ngayon ang mga ka-tropa ko hehehe!
Mawawala ba ang mga pambara?
Marami namang tao actually.
In fact, nag-sayaw pa nga kami nang Todo-Todo. See? I was hoping na Lady Gaga will play. Kaso, silencio si Alejandro.
Hindi lang Todo-Todo, buhay pa pala si Macarena? Akala ko, na-aresto na sya? At binawi na lahat nang music nya?
It was a fun night and I thought it was weird dahil I was speaking Bicol the whole nite. Akala ko tuloy, I was back in Bicol. This was actually my 2nd time to attend a Filipino gathering. The 1st one was in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where I was invited by another friend Merle. It’s fun to be with Pinoys.
I only have one complaint. I’d say, Pinoys in general are just fond of asking:
Me asawa ka na?
Me anak ka na?
Ni minsan di ka pa kinasal?
Bakit wala ka pang asawa?
Sinong kasama mo sa bahay?
Bakit wala kang kasama?
Ay! Me ipapakilala kame sayo! Si Beth, wala pang asawa yon!
The whole night, walang naka-amoy nang ganda ko. Pano kaya to ngayon?! *singhot*
Magtatayo siguro ako nang kabaret sa dami ng babaeng ipapakilala saken nang mga Pinoy na na-me-meet ko dito.
P.S.
Sa mga Bikolano igdi sa Charleston: I was only joking. Karaw lang tabi. Kamo man, dai na kamo ma-intrimis. 
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
e kase naman you look like a hunk sa tsura mo.
balak mo na bang mag transform? ha ha ha
love the food pic.
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hehehe ano naman kaya itsura ko nun? wag na lang. pede na to.
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saka ka na magladlad mahal na reyna, macho kasi ang arrive mo kaya di ka nila nahalata, in the meantime pangatawanan mo muna ang pagiging hunk
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reynz Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 8:01 am
hindi ko naman kasi masikmurang pa-gurl ang lola an2nette, talagang magmumukha akong sanggano hehe
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props to your new eyeglasses ‘day! mukhang mejo mahal yan ah HAHAHHA. sosyal na sosyal ang arrive mo….at lalakeng-lalake. nextt ime kase pag aattend ka ng event, mag lipstick ka LOLs
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reynz Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 6:23 am
discounted ‘teng! $300! i need all the props i can get for added attraction hehe
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manayyyyy!!!! manoy ka na pala ngayon?? hahaha. joke lang.
i’m so happy at may bicolano association pala dyan sa bago mong barrio. o di ba, at home na at home ka at nag-bi-bicol ka pa the whole night. sabi ni art, baka naman daw ang pa-panget nung mga babaeng ipapakilala sayo? hahaha. bad trip talaga mga ganyang tanong ng pinoys noh.
hmmm wala bang mga binatang anak nyang mga bago mong ka-tropa. baka sakaling matagpuan mo ulit ang iyong first love ever.
hehehe.
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reynz Reply:
September 6th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
iyo, mga makalwagon man, pero culture shock ako dahil siempre this is the south, kaya iba rin sila sa mga tiga northeast (Philly/NYC) hehe garu baga akong nasa bulod na kai-ino haha
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Inang, tama nga sabi ni Ms. Bing, hunk ka nga dyan sa mga pictyuraka mo. Nanibago ako ahahaha!
God bless po.
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reynz Reply:
September 13th, 2010 at 6:38 am
Miss N!!! hahaha! it’s so nice seeing you back here. My blog was messed up the few days so even if i can access it, i can’t browse on my entries, kala ko kung ano namang tyanak ang namahay here! hahaha!
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