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Dragging our packed traveling bag along with Nana and Lola, we took Lj to his doctor in Cebu city for his scheduled check-up. It has been 5 years since Lj had his lip operation and this time to consult his surgeon for any further surgical procedure to correct his nose.

Upon leaving the boat, we hired a van that took us to a hotel. There were eight (me, my wife Jean, Nana Norma and Lola Gloria, Jan, Mic, Lj and cousin Nel) of us cramped in 2 modest air-conditioned rooms. Instead of availing what is in the menu, we just bought our meals from a nearby eatery in order to save on expenses.

In the afternoon, I and my wife took Lj to his doctor while the rest of the children under the eyes of Nana and Lola stayed in the rooms glued on cartoon shows. We were anxious for a possible follow-up operation on Lj. His doctor examined his lip closely, expressed pride of her handiwork and talked about other kids she had her hands on and who are now exuding with confidence. Using a mobile phone, she took several clear shots of Lj’s face to store in her database for future reference. We were only advised to wait until he reaches teenage (to at least age 14) to ensure that his cells have matured so that whatever is the result of the operation would be permanent.

We still have 2 days before our scheduled trip back home. We visited several places, mostly department stores to stay away from the summer heat and where the kids could lose themselves in video games and toys. We usually disperse upon entering a department store and just agree when to meet on lunch or dinner. We squandered our earnings (that should have been spent on Lj’s operation) mostly on clothes and educational supplies and equipments for kids in preparation of their schooling. We gorged on foods we could afford to buy and took our leftovers back to our hotel rooms. At night, we just took turns on the remote control and most of the time quarreled over cartoons, sports or movies.

On our last day in Cebu, we visited one of the tourist’s destinations, the Sto. Nino Cathedral. Defying time and elements and standing still, the Sto. Nino robed in glory and adoration, with gold, silver and diamonds is enclosed in steel. There, a peek or a drop of prayer of worship and thanksgiving is a chance to glance what is in store in heaven and leaving with hope that sins are forgiven and that blessings will just come. We paid homage, lit some candles and stole some shots. We also took poses at the Magellan Cross erected on a roofed structure at the adjacent part of the cathedral compound.

In the evening, we left Cebu on a boat and cancelled our option to drop by Dumaguete city. We were drained of cash and energy tagging along children with us. Well, it is all just a typical vacation story.