Roadtrip to Calaruega

It's always a wonderful time when I am with my dear best friends. Laughter never fails to deafen the persons nearby, or food pig out or lots of reminiscin' and future envisioning. We are all just one happy group of girls who are naughty but nice .. right Vie?

Last Saturday, I went to Calaruega in Butalao, Batangas with Reg, Cathy, Vie and JP (JP, of course, being the "dad" of the group and Cathy's better half). We missed our dear girlfriend Armi who, before she left several months back, was also in Calaruega to see if I am trul telling the truth about the place.

We were late in leaving the city as I was late in our meeting place (hey, I had Christmas parties for two consecitive nights ... and it was one of those few times that I was ever late, right girls?). Anyway, we began our trip to Calaruega with a several teasing and many laughs. I voluntered to bring the sandwhiches and the hot choco, Cathy and JP for some drinks and "poison" food (yeah yeah the junk ones ... so we are not health buffs) and Mrs. Sung (as she prefers to be called now that she is married to her Korean hubby) brought MORE junk food.

So the trip began with a AWFUL (im sorry, Cathy, I have to say it ..) music ... the grunge, the heavy metal rock, the NOISE from the car's stereo. Our driver, Ms. Cathy Lorbes, wants a blasting sound so as to prevent any of us from doozing off. It's really as if we can even blink our eyes close when I think I just want to cover my ears from the sound. On the other hand, Reg, the sentimental lawyer, wants the love songs radio station. JP, being a kind referee as he is, once in a while, changes the station to appease the head banging head of Cathy and the sentimental heart of Reg. And all these while Vie and I devoured some sandwhiches dipped in some sandwhich spead and some hot choco.

The talks about each other's lives were intercepted by some jaw breaking laughters, some bladder breaking anicdotes from myself,some work "chika" from Cathy and JP, some sentimental stories from the hopeless romantic Reg and some marriage and breakfast "coffee" from the married Vie.

We arrived to our destination sometime around 10 in the morning and everyone is excited to be there. I, for one, was personally happy to have returned to one of my favorite places in the world, the Transfiguration Chapel of Calaruega. It is located on top of a small hill.

The place has a sentimental value to me. I have told those I am closest with how I feel about Calaruega. My first time there was 8 years ago and over the years after, I have planned on returning and being one with the place again. It was a leadership training convention that I attended when I was in Calaruega back in my college days. The activity was fun and eventful and I have learned to much. But the best moment I experienced there was when I sat on this lone bench adjacent to the small chapel on the left and over looking verdant fields and mountains. Just few steps from the same bench is already a cliff. I did not fall, of course ... but what happened was I fell in love with the beauty of what I have seen. The vast green fields and the strong proud mountains, capped with white clouds in a beautiful orange skyline ... it was before sunrise, around 6 in the morning and the whole experience converted me into a person of more faith in the wonders of a brand new day, a dawning of miracles, a blessing of beauty and serenity.

I have told to myself some promises that day and I keep such in my heart until the time it happens and all will be returned to that "promise land".

I first entered that chapel 8 years ago, when the sun was slowly rising and the rays of sun is reflected to the glass stained creations at the altar. The beam of light which is bounced on the glasses created an amazing dance of colors and stains inside the chapel. It awed me and until now, looking inside the chapel last saturday, I can almost see the reflections of the glasses. Simply breathtaking.

Back to my friends, we started our picture taking and posing and going around the small land of the secluded Calaruega. It was the first time for Reg, Cathy and JP. It was the second for me and Vie.

Vie and her husband Sunglee, when they were still "friends" and are just starting to date, went to Calaruega last February. The place did wonders to them as well and the experience of being together in the place touches their hearts. Few weeks after, the two committed to each other into a special friendship ... few months right after, marriage.

The second time for me in the place, I must admit, is not as fantastic and soul reaching as it was the first time. The feelings of the first will always stay in my memories. Last Saturday was more like re-visiting an old experience, looking at the venue from a different glance, a mature perspective, a rekindled spirit. It was a memorable moment beacause I was with my closest friends (though I miss Armi as she is in Canada already) and I was happy to share to them the beauy that captured me few years back.

There was a wedding in the Tranfiguration chapel when we were there so we did not immediately enter the small house of God. I remember, back then, I was absolutely mesmarized by the simple grandeur of the chapel. It was not lavish with gold trimmings or created to be flamboyant and eye catching ... I guess, it was simple if you look at it. Very small, around 100 sitting capacity. It was the glass stained altar which formed the images of Jesus, Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration described in the Bible that is truly spectacular to see.

We stayed at the place for several hours because we were waiting for the wedding (which actually took forever) to finish. After which, we went inside, said our own prayers and took some photos.

Reg met her friend Dennis in Calaruega and he arrived close before we left.

We went to "downtown" tagaytay to have our late lunch. Late though it seem, it was a feast! Eating while laughing and joking around have always been a routine whenever we meet. It will not also be the same without Vie's antics and Cathy's laughs while sneezing or Reg's screams while lauging, or JP's teases. We terribly miss Armi. We felt her absence tremendously.

We went home at around 3 in the afternoon, hoping we can still visit Market Market at the Fort. But the traffic is simply at its best, as usual! It took us forever to even enter the express way, more so in Muntinlupa.

The best part of the trip was actually inside the car while we travel to and from Tagaytay. Only we know what has transpired on the talks of "coffee" in the morning of Vie, of Reg's opinion of her new found friend Dennis, of my plans on leaving the country, of JP and Cathy's wedding bells and much much more.

I must say, though, we have "learned" so much from the newly wed friend we have, right Cathy and Reg? She taught us how to take marriage in a note or two. For her, marriage is "singing of fine tunes and notes" everyday. Go figure.

I only wish we can do our travel again soon. to Share. To Laugh. To Experience Beauty Together. To Strengthen the bonds of friendship ... in the Beauty of Calaruega.

Later.