Kwento Ni Nanay

The Province without Old People

It’s summertime again. To be honest, I don’t like staying at home during this season. My mom had always been nagging me to look for a summer job, which I really don’t like. I’ve been studying for the whole year and now I’m going to tire myself to work again for the rest of my vacation? Come to think of it, I heard that my aunt has a wide beautiful farm. According to Dad, Aunt Eliza is really good in taking care of it, thus the fruits of her labor had always been that bountiful. I decided to stay there for a while and chill.

The best part of staying at Aunt Eliza’s is that I get to see my pretty cousin Mana. She’s cute and all, but of course she looks at me only as a cousin. The eldest, Johann, treats me like a big bro. It’s really cool staying here. The only thing I really wonder about Aunt’s place is that the town is not as populated as the other provinces. I guess you could say people are moving and going in the nearest cities. Living in a province is indeed a tough thing, especially if you’re like me, a city guy, who enjoys malls, bars, game rooms and different establishments that are deprived to be seen in a faraway town. Nevertheless, it’s a good place.

“Since you came all the way from Manila, I guess you should try out our new harvested tomatoes. They’re really tasty!”, Uncle Fred said. Aunt Eliza quickly took them out from the basket and washed them, and then placed them well in a plate. As I munched the first one, I quickly had the delicious taste of the tomato. It was juicy and for some reason, the taste was intoxicating. Mana and Johann was laughing at me and told me it’s as if it was my first time eating a fresh tomato. I just smiled and continued eating.

Early in the morning, I helped Uncle Fred cleaning the house and tended the water buffalos. I kept wondering, why do I feel as if I love helping them more than how I do with my parents? I guess Aunt Eliza is just that kind. I went with her and my cousins pick out the strawberries, potatoes and Soursop fruits.

“I thought Dad was just exaggerating but, it’s really true! It’s a whole lot!” I told Aunt, and she just laughed. Mana and Johann laughed with her, as they know it was some form of compliment for their hard work.

“Well, you see, the land here is really nutritious. It’s as if it is blessed by the heavens. You can see how it is a bit darker than the usual ones you walk on, right?” Aunt replied.

“Yeah?”

“We don’t use too much fertilizers. We don’t use sprayers that aren’t organic, it ruins the taste of the fruits and crops. I believe you know what I mean. The strawberries around your place isn’t as tasty as the ones here,” she continued.

That I have to agree. I mean, sometimes the strawberries are sappy, the apples are cotton and such. I guess this is the reason why my aunt’s crops aren’t the same as the ones commercialized out there. Dad is once a farmer and he himself told me that most farmers now are not always producing organic products anymore.

“I noticed none of them even got blighted,” I continued and helped aunt carry the heavy basket of Soursop as we traversed the path to their house.

“All I can say is that it’s a blessing,” she replied and smiled at me.

It’s my fourth day when I decided to walk around the town with my own. Mana said she’s going to the farm to remove the weeds while Johann is busy studying for his upcoming college entrance exam.

As I was walking on the road going to the local market, I saw a few teenagers chatting on a rundown bench. I tried to wave at them and smiled. They smiled back, but I can see that they’re wondering who I am. I went near them and tried to make friends.

“My name’s Diego. This is Marina, Linda, Jason and of course our fat friend Tony,” said the oldest as they laughed at their friend.

“My name’s Daniel. Daniel Sparks,” I replied and started talking with them in the bench. I learned that they were born and raised in the province and they were chatting about something creepy.