When I woke up at the hotel, it was clear outside. The island of Negros on the opposite shore is clearly visible.
This area is shallow, and when the tide is low, the sea recedes quite far ahead. A lot of people were out early in the morning doing something. After they left, there were many sticks and plants were buried there. Apparently they were planting mangroves.
The night before, my wife's sister's children had also stayed over to play pool, so they were very excited in the morning.
My wife and I were in charge of watching them. The deeper you go in the pool, the deeper it gets, so the kids were playing in the shallow end, holding on to the edge of the pool. I was impressed that they never get tired of it.
We ate at a table by the pool, but there was a group of six people in front of us, so we had to wait until they left.
My wife told me that since it is a small hotel, there is no kitchen and the food is brought from a nearby hotel called Acapulco Resort. I might stay there next time.
My wife's brother picked us up at 11:00 a.m. and we went to my sister-in-law's house for lunch before heading out to Simala Church.
I thought we would be a small group, but it turned out to be a large group of 17 people, including the children.
I can't say it out loud, but this many people are going to ride in one car. This is also Philippine style.
On the way, we stopped at the cemetery where my wife's father and mother are buried. I learned for the first time that the anniversary of my wife's mother's death was September 9, 1997. She died on my wife's sixth birthday. She must have left behind her young children.
This is the second time I've been to Simala Church.
Last time I came after going to my parents' house to ask my wife's father for permission to get married.
The church was built in 1998, during the dengue fever epidemic in the area, so it is a new church. However, it is said that the statue of Mary that is enshrined in the church shed tears when she saw people suffering from dengue fever, and many people were healed afterwards. Since then, the church has become a holy place for pilgrims.
My wife bought four candles, so I also offer mine. By the way, the color of my candle is brown. It seems to be related to my vocation.
By the time we left the Cimara Church and returned to the city of Toledo, it was well after dark.
We bought sneakers for the children and sandals for me at the Super Metro in Toledo, a chicken set at McDonald's, and drinks at 7-Eleven, and returned to the hotel.
The next day, they were planning to go to the beach with their family.
