Chapter LVI: Retirement
The morning sun has not yet fully risen over Loz Zapateros when Max opens his eyes. For a few moments, he simply lies on his bed and listens to the sounds outside his small home. The distant barking of dogs echoes through the narrow alleyways. A tricycle rattles somewhere beyond the neighborhood. Vendors begin preparing for another day of work.
Max slowly sits up from his bed, and he looks at his phone, and he can't believe it. After almost 45 years of teaching, Max retires from teaching. For more than four decades, he spent his life teaching students at the Los Zapateros Institute of Technology. He witnessed generations of young people enter classrooms filled with dreams and leave carrying degrees, ambitions, and hopes for better futures.
Now it is over, and retirement has finally arrived. A faint smile forms on his face.
He stands, fixes his neatly folded clothes, and prepares for one final visit to the institution that becomes his second home. The campus looks exactly as he remembers. Students continue walking through hallways. Teachers continue discussing lessons, and the world continues moving. Only this time, he is no longer part of the routine. Several faculty members greet him warmly. Some shake his hand, and others embrace him. Many thank him for the years he devoted to education.
By the time he receives his retirement documents, his eyes are already becoming moist. He laughs softly.
"Old age really makes people emotional."
The younger teachers laugh with him. Before leaving, he takes one last look at the campus. Almost 5 decades of service in this institution. Then he walks away, not with sadness, but with gratitude.
For the next several days, Max spends his newfound freedom visiting churches around the National Capital Region. He prays, reflects, and gives thanks. And as his birthday approaches, a thought comes to mind. He has no family nor children, and he lives all by himself, yet his other family is back in Metro Hermosa, and other parts of Luzon. He still has nephews and nieces scattered across the country. And so he begins making phone calls, one by one, inviting them to go to Los Zapateros for a trip.
Some are busy, some do not want to travel, and some doesn't care at all. Yet only 5 nephews and nieces accept the call of whom which are Elric, Meric, Jonn, Jing, and Flor.
The cousins coordinate with one another about going there. Jing volunteers her vehicle, and the plan is simple. They travel together in one vehicle, to celebrate their uncle's birthday, and spend time as family. Nothing more, nothing less, it's like a family reunion like most families should do once in a while. Reunion is not just for schools, but also for families to bury hatchets and to have fun with one another again.
Late in May, preparations begin. The sky is already dark when Jing starts her journey. She picks up Flor near Tuanong, then Elric in Pantay Este. Finally, she arrives in Caluipat where Meric and Jonn are waiting. Luggage is loaded, snacks are prepared, and bottled water fills the compartments. Everyone settles into their seats.
"This feels like a field trip," Flor jokes.
"Except we're all old now," Elric replies.
The entire vehicle bursts into laughter. The road stretches endlessly ahead. Soon they leave Metro Hermosa behind. The city lights slowly disappear. Dark highways replace busy streets. For hours they travel. Stories fill the vehicle about childhood memories, funny family incidents, and embarrassing moments. Even old arguments become sources of laughter. The cousins talk so much that they barely notice time passing.
Before long, dawn begins appearing on the horizon. The skyline of Kamaynilaan gradually emerges as tall buildings, countless vehicles, skyways, and endless movement appears against the start of the day, the complete opposite of the slower pace of provincial life.
Finally they arrive in front of the Diocesan Shrine of Desamparados. The church stands proudly amidst the urban surroundings. Nearby lies a narrow alley or an eskinita. They park the vehicle near the church, and begin to walk. The deeper they go into the small eskinita, the more uncomfortable the surroundings become. Dogs bark from behind fences, and the odor hanging in the air is overwhelming. Flor immediately covers her nose.
"Ayna, nagandoden! Oh my, it reeks!"
Jonn laughs.
"Bagta diay Hermosa awan maangot mo nga kastoy. (Glad in Hermosa you can't smell anything like this.)"
"Sungarud, nagkaro met. (I agree, it's too much.)"
Even Max later laughs when he hears the comment. Eventually they reach a modest house, and a familiar figure emerges, it's their uncle Max. His face lights up instantly.
"My favorite nieces and nephews!"
The cousins laugh.
"You invited only five of us."
"Exactly."
The reunion begins with warm embraces. The years seem to disappear. For a brief moment, everyone feels young again. Their first destination is the Shrine of Desamparados. Jing remains outside due to her religious affiliation.
The others enter respectfully. The atmosphere inside is peaceful, quiet and sacred. Meric kneels, and she offers a prayer for her family. For her mother, for Conching, and for everyone who has gone ahead. When they return outside, Jing smiles.
"You done already?"
"For now."
The adventure continues. Their next destination is Antipolo. The trip takes nearly an hour.
As the cathedral appears before them, everyone falls silent. The structure is magnificent. Its massive design dominates the landscape. Even Max seems impressed despite having visited before. Inside, candles flicker, and people pray quietly. The cousins spend time reflecting, giving thanks, seeking guidance, and finding peace.
Outside, Jing patiently waits inside the vehicle. She teases them when they return.
"You people take forever."
"We were praying."
"You prayed for fifty minutes?"
"Some of us have many problems."
Everyone laughs again. The next stop is Taga-Itay Public Market. The moment they enter, they are amazed. The building is spotless, organized, bright, and comfortable. It's even air-conditioned. Unlike other markets, there are no flies. Meric looks around in disbelief.
"I've never seen a public market this clean."
Neither have the others. Lunch arrives shortly afterward and they crave for the famous, steaming and fragrant Bulalo, perfect for the cool climate. Everyone eagerly eats, even Max finishes more than usual. The cousins continue exchanging stories between spoonfuls. The meal becomes another memorable moment.
Afterward they head toward the viewing areas overlooking Taal Lake. As they look into the caldera of Taal, the scenery steals their breath, the breeze is cool, and the water stretches endlessly into the distance. Clouds drift peacefully overhead like a sea of mist. For several minutes nobody speaks as they simply enjoy the view.
"It feels different here," Meric says quietly.
"It feels peaceful."
Everyone agrees. The journey continues to Palace in the Sky. Then later to the Manaoag Shrine in Taga-Itay. By this point exhaustion is beginning to settle in. Yet excitement keeps everyone energized.
As evening approaches, they reach the Grand Canal Mall in Tagagiik City. The sight immediately amazes them with the waterways, bridges, and elegant architecture. The atmosphere resembles Venice. The cousins spend hours exploring, taking photographs, window shopping, and admiring the scenery. Even Max looks like a child discovering a new playground.
Eventually fatigue wins so they return to Loz Zapateros and check into a small hotel. The beds feel heavenly after the long day. Within minutes everyone falls asleep.
The next morning begins quietly. The cousins decide to explore on their own first, without Max. They eat breakfast at a nearby carinderia with simple meals, hot coffee, and fresh rice. Nothing fancy, yet somehow perfect.
After breakfast they prepare for another day. This time Elric has an important meeting scheduled and because of this, Jonn takes over driving duties. Everyone teases him.
"Don't get us lost."
"It's ok, I have been here before."
The group heads toward Dapitan Arcade. The area is lively, crowded, and filled with shoppers. The cousins browse through countless stalls. They look at tools, souvenirs, household items, bargains, and interesting finds.
The hours pass quickly, and from there, they proceed to 168 Mall. Shopping intensifies as bags begin accumulating of mostly clothes, and some accessories. A few unnecessary purchases everyone later laughs about.
While heading toward Gate 2 Mall, flashing lights appear behind them, and it's a police vehicle signals for them to stop. Jonn carefully pulls over. The officers approach professionally. After a brief discussion, they explain the violation and it's swerving. Jonn actually did it accidentally and unintentional but still a violation. The fine amounts to five hundred pesos. Jonn scratches his head.
"Well, there goes my lunch money."
The cousins laugh despite the situation.
After settling the matter, they continue their journey. The Gate 2 Mall proves equally exciting. More shopping, more souvenirs, more walking, more stories, and laughter. Due to the grand layout of the mall, it's very complex so there's a lot of walking. Eventually Max decides to remain behind and return home later. He thanks everyone repeatedly, and his birthday celebration has become exactly what he hopes for, because it's with family, memories, and togetherness. Nothing else matters.
Before leaving Kamaynilaan, the cousins make one final unscheduled stop at Sampaloc, where they go to Al's residence.
As they arrive there, the house is simple yet modest. It's small compared to many provincial homes but it possesses something valuable, and ownership, like hard-earned ownership. Every wall reflects years of effort, sacrifice, and perseverance. Meric looks around thoughtfully.
"It's small."
Then she smiles.
"But it feels like home."
The others agree. Additional cousins emerge from the house, and greets them. Another mini reunion begins. Stories once again fill the air. The afternoon disappears quickly.
Eventually they prepare for the journey back. Originally they hope to find a hotel somewhere along Region 3, perhaps one with a swimming pool, or somewhere relaxing. A place to rest before continuing. They search, and search, yet they can't find any suitable locations.
At last they simply look at one another. Flor yawns, Jing stretches, and Elric checks the time.
"Let's just go home."
Nobody disagrees. The vehicle once again points toward Metro Hermosa. Night gradually falls, and highways unfold before them. The cousins grow quieter this time. Fatigue finally catches up, some fall asleep, and others stare out the windows.
Lights pass by, but even though a mist of fatigue, they think about life, family, job, and the time. Meric remains awake for much of the journey, yet sleeps a bit.
As darkness surrounds the vehicle, she reflects on everything that has happened over the years. Families change, people grow older, children become adults, and parents become memories. Yet moments like these remain important. These are like moments when relatives gather, as they travel together, laugh together, and remember together. Long after destinations fade from memory, those moments stay.
Near midnight the familiar roads of Metro Hermosa finally appear. One by one the cousins are dropped off with Jonn and Meric first, then Elric, and finally Flor before Jing heading back home.
As Meric steps out of the vehicle, she looks back. Everyone is tired, and exhausted yet smiling it was one heck of a trip with their uncle. The trip has not been luxurious nor perfect, but it has been meaningful. And sometimes meaningful journeys are the ones remembered the longest.
Inside her home, Meric quietly prepares for bed. Before sleeping, she whispers a simple prayer of gratitude for family, for memories, and another chapter of life.
And somewhere beyond the sight of the living, Mercy watches with a gentle smile. Her family continues moving forward. One journey at a time.