Bare hands to fish!

Baronessa Eva Abesamis-de Koenigswater took a whole month making sure the guest list would be an interesting one. Popular hardworking Sagay Mayor Fred Marañon had an open invitation for our groupie to visit this new island, Molocaboc – where he boasted we could catch fishes with our bare hands. Now, wouldn't you jump on such an intriguing excursion?

Botanist and Negros Garden Club expert Francis Te drove with me all the way to Sagay Lopez Central where we were regaled by loving couple Citoy Lopez and Baronessa Eva with early cocktails that stretched on to a sumptuous buffet with Mayor Marañon and his entourage.

There were super eligible Frenchman Henri Muzarrelli, London-bred Ziggy Lopez, fresh graduate David Koenigswater who kept us entertained the whole time jamming with Eva and the Lopez Central band, Ramos girls of Alana Montelibano – young lady Bianca and Alana look-a-like Carla and jetting in late from Hongkong – Georgie Diaz who was flustered by PAL's late plane…

We took off early the next day with Mayor Fred Marañon for that quick boat ride to Molocaboc Island and by the time we got on the kilometer and a half jetty, we noticed three men 30 meters offshore busily bent doing something. Mayor Fred happily pointed out to us that this was his pet project. Eco-friendly manmade mini reefs made out of used tires and rocks piled together where fish live and grow. After 4-6 months, the islanders demolish the mini fish sanctuary and with their bare hands catch up to a Styrofoam boxful of fishes. I saw a 4 lb lapu-lapu thrown into the box jumping for dear life, as our appetite leaped thinking of the feast we would have for lunch. A feast and a half was served in a jiffy with seaweed salad, trays of crabs, steamed giant conches that Mayor Fred swears could beat Viagra and the fresh bounty grilled to perfection and the best spiced vinegar for our dip. Of course, I was the last to finish eating.

We followed lunch with a dip at the end of the jetty where one could enjoy the sea in the shade of the rest house where I dove straight into the crystal clear waters of Sagay. Mayor Fred had to leave us to jet out to Japan that afternoon. We thank him for this memorable experience which everyone should try soonest!

HALLOWEEN

Catch a spook at Mushu Restaurant tonight and win an overnight stay for two at sweet hospitable Sugarland Hotel for best in costume. Enjoy the Johnny Mac Band for after dinner drinks. BOOOO!

MY PRAYER

Let the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave when life is done.*