It’s Sunday, 12:30 PM, and we’re facing the classic Philippine dilemma: weather vs. plans. We were supposed to go swimming in Moalboal today, but the rain had other ideas. Since we didn't want to waste our entire Sunday stuck at home, I suggested we drive to Oslob to hit the mall instead. Jessa, ever the optimist, tried to bargain for swimming and the mall in Moalboal, but a quick look at the sky settled that argument.
The drive was actually quite a treat for me. Jessa took the wheel, and for once, I got to be the "proper passenger." I was living the high life in the back seat with an ice cream, some Cola candy, Sprite, and a real curiosity: tomato ketchup-flavored potato chips. I’d never heard of that flavor before, but in the Philippines, you learn to expect the unexpected. Liam, our "big boss man," was enjoying his front-row seat, and Jessa even managed to admit (well, 50/50) that my call on avoiding Moalboal might have been the right one.
As we drove, we passed the old "Monkey Viewing" place. It used to be a great spot, but the monkeys have become a bit mean lately, so I’ve officially pulled my approval for that location. We also had to deal with a rather annoying squealing sound coming from the car window—just another item for the "to-fix" list, but I wasn't going to let it ruin the mood.
About 15 minutes in, Jessa’s "snack alarm" went off. Liam and I had already eaten, but she was starting to get cranky. We had to stop to get her some rice and chicken before the tears—or the "Tampo"—started. It’s a Philippine miracle how girls here can eat so much rice and so many meals a day and still stay small. I’m convinced it’s some kind of black magic!
We had planned to visit some old church ruins and a park by the water so Liam could run around, but the moment I turned off the engine in Oslob, the heavens opened. Total rain. No park, no ruins, just a direct retreat into the mall. It felt a bit like a failure—no swimming, no playground, no car wash—but we made the best of it. Liam got his fix of French fries and chicken hot dogs, and Jessa and I grabbed some Shawarma.
Even though the day was a series of "not exactly as planned" moments, we at least managed to get out of the house and spend time together as a family. We decided to wrap up the day with a "movie day" at home, which, honestly, isn't a bad way to spend a rainy Sunday.
Sometimes things just don't go your way, and you have to be okay with that.
