Making The Holiday Worthwhile

Today, Catholics and the Philippines commemorate the feast of Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated as a public holiday. Luckily, it also happened to be my day off from work. It was the perfect opportunity to spend some time in the province, after returning from the city to enjoy my two days off.

Today is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. We decided to offer our prayers at the Capelinha De Fatima Replica - San Remigio, Northern Cebu, Philippines.

Capelinha De Fatima Replica is the exact replica of the Shrine Of Fatima in Portugal. It means a little chapel and it is located specifically in Tinubdan Hills, Lambusan, San Remigio, Northern Cebu, Philippines. It was opened to the public last October 2021 and since then it was flocked by so many devotees. The first time I was here was when I offered my prayers to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers, and by God’s grace, I did passed on my first take, thankfully.

We took the shortcut in Barangay San Antonio, Northern Cebu, heading towards the roads of Anonang Norte, it will route you to the Capelinha de Fatima Replica shortcut which is located in Lambusan, San Remigio. It is really very easy to locate because there are signages and directions heading there.

We then offered our prayers. We went in near the altar of the Fatima, and once you get in, you must remove your shoes. I did not get a close-up photo because you could not take photos of the altar up close. That's the rule that is strictly implemented.

These two took a pose and then we left. We headed to Bogo City to run some errands.

I find road trips to be an effective way of relieving stress, particularly after a long and tiring week at work. The opportunity to hit the road helps me reduce the pressure that's been building up all week. The road leading to and from Capelinha is my favorite because it affords me the chance to breathe in fresh air and take in the scenic views of nature, which I find incredibly refreshing. We then arrived in Bogo City, Northern Cebu.

My son got hungry so we went to his favorite fast-food chain to grab some snacks.

Every time I go home during my days off of work, I always bond with my son because I rarely have the chance to do it with him since I'm working in the city. He's staying here in the province, which is a three- to four-hour travel, and I only go home to the province during my two days off of work, so this is one of the bonding that we do all the time visiting his favorite fast food chain when he requests to come here. I can never, ever say no.

After we had some snack, we went to the Bogo City Public Market to buy some fish. I enjoy going to the market and selecting fresh produce from local fishermen and farmers. It's not only more affordable than the grocery store, but there's also a wider variety of options available such as meat, fish, and vegetables.

We chose this fish and bought one kilo for two hundred eighty pesos. With inflation driving up prices, it's no secret that the cost of living continues to rise. Despite the stress of work, it's crucial to maintain a stable job and income to afford the necessities. Hustling hard every day becomes essential to survive and thrive in times like these.

I really love to eat it grilled so my beau grilled these fishes for our dinner. In my previous blog, I talked about how my beau works at one of the largest restaurants in the Philippines. He's an excellent cook and always prepares whatever I ask for, knowing it will make me happy. What I love most is that he doesn't just want me to be happy, he wants to make my whole family happy too.

Cooking and eating our favorite food together has become one of our cherished bonding moments. On days when we feel like going to the market, we head to Carbon Market in Cebu City which I featured on my previous blog - to choose whatever we want to eat. My beau then takes over the cooking, and I find it amazing how he prepares everything to perfection. I appreciate all that he does for me so much that my diet is always ruined because he always cooks such delicious food.

There's nothing quite like sharing a meal with loved ones at home. The bond you feel over good food and good company is unbeatable. Catching up on each other's lives and discussing daily activities is always enjoyable. It's nice to be able to sit down for dinner and chat about life with family.

Before we blessed the food and ate our dinner, we struck a pose. Time to dig in. Hope you all enjoyed the Holiday just like how we did. Ciao! ☺︎♡