Summer in Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island, my mom’s birthplace, is where we often spend our summer vacation since I was born—I think.
I love the place for lots of reasons—the beach, fresh sea foods, friends, special friends, relatives, being away from home, and having new experiences.

I have made a special bond with a few guys and gals of my age--Cherry Villaceran, Elizabeth (Inday Palak) Relos, Niña Sarabia, Hazel Descartin (from Cadiz), Angie Descartin (from Iloilo), Big Boy Descartin(from Iloilo), Ramil Villaceran, Michael Alota, Ryan Despi.
I spend most of my summer days with them--chitchat, disco, games, swimming, boating, etc.
I remember one summer when I was strongly tied to two of my cousins that we even made and named our small group as BeZelBoy--a combination of my name (Bebe), my first cousin (Hazel), and my second cousin (Big Boy).
One more summer, I was hooked to another group—forgot the group’s name, though, but I remember that it was still a combination of our names--with Cherry, Inday, and Niña.

The first two boy friends I had were from this island.
Michael was the first one—Cherry was our “bridge”.
I think I was still 13.
Once, he climbed a Caimito tree just to give me a fruit—so sweet of him--which I didn’t eat as it was already overripe.
After a week or two, I broke up with him because I was told that his mother’s family name was Descartin—just like my Mom’s.
Ramil, a 3rd degree cousin, was the second one—Inday was our “bridge”.
I was in my sweet 16.
We dated in semi-darkness—only a lamp was lit-- at the place of Inday’s grandma and had look-outs for intruders.
When that summer vacation was over, we wrote each other for several months but broke up because I was stupidly eyeing someone else.
Despite the past I had with these boys, we remained friends.

Last month, we again spent our holy week vacation there.
Inday, Hazel, and I had a slumber party at Cherry’s mansion—sad thing, I didn’t have my digicam with me!
Cherry told me then that Ramil is getting married on May 23, and she was inviting me.
Jurein was very cool with the idea of attending but I was not sure of if I could come.
I informed Niña about the wedding but also said she's undecided.

Cherry had been convincing me to come.
Since I had the enough fund, Jurein, Zyle, and I were able to attend.
I was glad that Niña came, too--it has been almost 5 years since we last saw each other in Labangon.
When I saw Ramil—with bigger built and better-looking than the last time I saw him in 2003—finally married to this girl named Grace, I was happy for him.

For the coming summers, I look forward to another out-of-the-ordinary reunion.
I hope I could take as many pictures as I can.

w/ Cherry

w/my family

Ramil, the Groom

w/ Manang Neneng, Niña, Tin, Vem