Tagaytay Tales 2: Beyond Taal
Aida CF. Santos in Ang Pinoy Stories
Jan 23, 2020 • 2 min Read
After that crazy, funny misadventure in Tagaytay, Sandra and I decided to tell a few friends and ask for their advice for our next steps.
Merci, who apparently had more knowledge about real estate, told us that it was good that the Alfonso deal didn’t push through. That property did not have a title, it’s merely a tax-declared property.
Merci, ever so kindly, offered Sandra and I to look beyond Tagaytay and the beauty of Taal. Am sure we’d find cheaper and prettier places, Merci sounded optimistic.
Merci offered her van, an L300 if I recall correctly. Princess came with us.
There was a tilapia vendor along the way. Merci insisted we buy the fresh fish, grill, and make some sawsawan. I forgot how we cooked the rice.
I was beginning to worry about time. We could eat along the way, I suggested, frustrated with the lackadaisical attitude of the others. But if you know Merci, grilled tilapia it was, with sawsawan and the whole caboodle. it’s like we’re having a picnic! Of course, we are, Merci proudly declared.
We had driven past Los Baños, and through towns that I wasn’t familiar with. Hours of driving. Then the signage on the arc, as we entered a town: INFANTA, QUEZON.
Never been there. But it looked green and serene. The vehicle driver stopped upon Merci’s instruction. We all went out. Lo and behold, a valley beyond our feet! Lush mountains around us. The grass is verdant green. It was like in a film—The Sound of Music.
We were all so enthralled and without a thought started to sing, “the hills are alive” with our arms raised toward the lush mountains. We laughed at ourselves. But at least we knew we remember the lyrics of that iconic movie.
Loved it, I found myself muttering. But where are the people, our would-be neighbors?
I can paint here, Sandra beamed. It’s so quiet, majestic.
Oh, the rebels are highly active here, Merci quipped. Yes, of course, I concurred.
I was reminded that way back, Infanta was a battleground between the rebel forces and the military.
It was so quiet. Where is our nearest neighbor? I asked Merci.
Oh, just a few meters down the road is the station of the xxx battalion of the military. (Merci has a kin in the military.)
I looked at Sandra and Princess. Even if the price is 50 pesos per square meter, no thank you. Let’s go, it’s getting dark.
