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"Dito tayo!!!" tili ni Kenth nang makita niya ang weavers.
Sinundan namin siya and I took pictures as we go on. Aside from making them my subjects, I also took photos of the locals here. Calle Crisologo is a very photogenic tourist attraction. It was a good thing they preserved this part of Vigan dahil kung hindi? Wala na tayong makikitang parte ng kasaysayan natin. It would be as if the Philippines never had a history. Marami na nga silang dinemolish na heritage sites para lang maging isang modern country eh. I think the Filipino people would be very stupid if they let the government take away this piece of our history. Sa sobrang gusto maging Fil-Am ng mga Pinoy, nakakalimutan na nila kung saan ba talaga tayo nagsimula.
"Sobrang seryoso naman?" I woke up from stupor when I heard Julie's voice. Napalingon ako sa kanya and she smiled. "They went on their separate ways. Maghahanap atang souvenirs."
"Ah ganun ba? Okay. Ikaw? Bakit di ka sumama?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow and I laughed. "That was a stupid question, right?"
"Very stupid." tango niya. "Tara. Let's take a look around these houses." anyaya niya. I held her hand at halatang nagulat siya pero hinayaan niya lang ako. Lihim akong napangiti as we walk hand in hand towards the different ancestral houses in the village.
"I remember when you used to tell me about your dad's photos..." I heard her say. Napalingon ako sa kanya and she gave me a small smile. "Sabi mo, your favorite photo from your dad was the one he took in Bataan. Saan nga yun?"
"Sa Las Casas?" sabi ko. She nodded sabay tingin uli sa mga bahay. Napangiti ako. Naalala niya pa pala yun. Nakakatuwang isipin na kahit nagalit siya, hindi niya nakalimutan yung mga bagay na kinukwento ko sa kanya.
"Yun nga." aniya.
"My dad loved historical places as his subject. He's fascinated with our country's history kaya naman marami ang humahanga sa mga kuha niya."
"You are so much like him do you know that?" sabi niya. Umiling ako saka natawa.
"I'll never be like him. Masyadong maraming nagawa si dad at hindi ko mapapantayan yun."
"Hindi mo naman kailangan pantayan yun eh. Ang kailangan mo lang, ituloy mo yung mga gusto mo. Yung mga pangarap mo."
"Eh ikaw lang naman pangarap ko eh." bulong ko sabay tingin sa malayo.
"Narinig ko yun." aniya saka na naglakad palayo at pumasok sa isang bahay na gumagawa ng mga paso. Natawa na lang ako and followed her. Hinayaan ko lang siyang magmasid sa mga gumagawa and I took the liberty of taking a lot of pictures of her. Both from my phone and my camera. I guess if dad loved the historical sites of the country, I too have one subject that I will always love. And that's her. That's Julie. And I want to create my own history with her.
We roamed around the village looking at different artworks and memorabilias. We saw her friends having fun at one of the houses as they chat with the locals and take pictures with them.
"Wanna join them?" I asked her. She watched them but shook her head.
"Let them have fun. Moment mo na saken to aayaw ka pa?" sabi niya naman.
"Did I do something at gumaganyan ka?" di ko mapigilang itanong.
"You wanted to share this adventure with me remember? Then cherish it."
Hindi na ko nakasagot because of the emotions I'm feeling. Yung magkahalong saya, kilig, tagumpay... Lahat yun gustong kumawala sa dibdib ko.
"Come on, Moe. Let's not waste your time by just staring at me." sabi niya at hinila na ako papunta sa isang lugar na may mga batang naglalaro.
