I, Aksel, give you a glimpse into the wonderful, albeit physically demanding, reality of life in the mountains of Ginatilan. As I often say, life here is a constant adventure, and today was no exception as we balanced daily chores with the simple joys of the land.
The day started with a bit of "pig duty." We have two pigs here that actually belong to Jessa’s sister, but since she lives further away, we’re the ones responsible for feeding them. I’m feeling like a bit of a "big boy" myself today, handling the feeding. The pigs are doing great—one is a particularly big boy—and I even enjoyed watching them navigate their muddy pen. It’s simple work, but it’s part of the rhythm of mountain life.
While out and about, Jessa made a fantastic discovery. While she was picking up wood, she found some "flexible" vegetables growing on a tree. In the local language, they call them "ligat," though I’m still not quite sure what the English name is! They look like amazing, delicate mushrooms or fungi that sprout especially during the rainy season. Jessa was so excited because they are a real delicacy when you find them fresh in the woods like this. We managed to fill a whole plastic bag to bring home and cook.
Speaking of the rainy season, the weather has been quite dramatic lately. We’ve had some heavy rain and extremely loud thunder, which usually means it’s a good time to stay indoors, work, and enjoy a cup of coffee. However, the chores don't stop just because it’s raining.
I’ve been taking on more of the physical tasks lately, which I like to think of as my "mountain exercise." I spent a good portion of the day washing clothes by hand—our washing machine isn't working, so it’s back to the old-fashioned way! I also had the job of fetching water, carrying two large, heavy containers at a time. It’s a workout, for sure, but it keeps me strong.
Later on, we headed over to Jessa’s brother’s farm. He has a fantastic crop of beans growing, so much so that you can barely see him when he’s standing in the middle of the field because they’re so lush and tall! We spent some time helping with the harvest, picking a bounty of fresh beans to take back with us.
The highlight of the day, however, was the jackfruit. We found a massive, ripe jackfruit and had to figure out how to get it down. Jessa handled the big knife with impressive skill, and soon we were back at the house preparing it. There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh jackfruit.
As the day wound down, I reflected on how lucky we are. Between the fresh "flexible" vegetables from the woods, the beans from the farm, and the giant jackfruit, the mountain really does provide everything we need. It’s a life filled with hard work—washing by hand, carrying water, and tending to the animals—but the rewards are so sweet. Whether it’s a rainy afternoon or a successful harvest, every day in Ginatilan brings something new to appreciate. It’s all part of the "sarap buhay" (good life) we’ve found here in Cebu.
