Cheapo!

One of my major considerations in transferring to Bacolod is the fact that the cost of living here is a lot cheaper than in Manila.

For the record, I have not spent more than 60 pesos with any of the meals I have had here - with the exception of one meal at the hotel when I got sooo lazy to stand up and grab a bite outside. Just today, I had my lunch at some eatery. I had pork barbeque for 12 pesos, vegetable in coconut milk for 30 pesos and a cup of rice (which by the way is a very generous serving) for eight pesos. Good food, generous serving, affordable price - only here in Bacolod.

However, I still need to work on my commuting. I have not ridden the public jeepney yet. I have been taking the cab still. I have been told that the minimum fare is the same in Manila - seven pesos. It will be a hefty savings if (oh, make that when) I get used to it. Maybe, I can buy a car here. Hmmm... Within the three months I am spending here, I plan to learn how to drive and get my license here. Sigh... It will happen.

Even with almost everything here cheaper, I am still financially struggling. But, God will make a way. I believe that he will make my settling here a lot smoother than I expected, given that I am dead broke and I do not know when I will get my backpay. I believe He will make it work for me.

This is it!

Now, I can relate to those scenes you get to watch in Filipino 80's films - dramatic scene at the airport where one is bound for some Middle East country to work. Today, it is my turn.

Thanks to Ee and Joe who helped me load my four years of junk at the airport bound for Bacolod. (Damn, and I thought I did not have enough stuff.) Good thing that I did not have any difficulty loading all my things - 1 large luggage, 4 duffle bags and 2 hand carry bags. I had to pay for 1700K for the excess luggage though - I had a total of 70 kilos of memories I am bringing to Bacolod.

The flight was serene. No turbulence - as what Jigger would always wish for a flight. This is my third time to fly. My first as a non-tourist. And I am used to the routines of airplane ride. Nonetheless, I still look forward to the split second orgasmic feeling of the airplane touching the ground during landing. Amazingly, my flight was not delayed and it also arrived on the dot - it took 50 minutes. I was just getting nostalgic while looking over the window when the seatbelt signal beeped to warn the passengers of the landing.

I do not cry most of the time. But this time, I wept. Albeit no tear. It was a poignant experience. The pathetic feeling that I do not know a single soul here, that I have a few thousand pesos in my wallet, that I still do not have a place to stay here, but mainly, that I am temporarily freezing my "Manila" life.

Oh well... It is official. I am now a Southerner.