The Coño Boy 3: Love What You Will

Chapter Eighty-Six: Salubong

[Author's Note: RAW Chapter with minor edits. Will come back to editing later pero it's somwhow good na rin naman. I just wanted to post an update for you guys. Enjoy!]

Jake: Se... Se... Se...

I stir from my sleep. I can feel Jake's thumb rubbing my right earlobe.

Me: Mhhhhmmm, what is it? I'm sleepy pa...

Not just sleepy but really drained.

Jake: Malapit na pumila ang mga carroza para sa Salubong, hind ka pa ready.

He whispers softly into my ear.

Me: Ten minutes muna, please...

I bargain with Jake without opening my eyes.

Jake: Kaya mo ba, Se? O ako na lang muna ang sasama kay Santa Martha?

The way Jake is asking me this, I know na his tone is of genuine concern. I open my eyes a bit and see that he's lying in front of me on the bed; looking quite intently at me.

Me: What time is it na ba?

He checks his wristwatch.

Jake: 3:30 na...

Me: Are people in the house moving na?

Jake: Bukas na ilaw ng Tita Agatha at gising na sina Nanay Delia. Nagsabi ba ang Doña Doray na magsa-Salubong siya ngayon?

I look up at the decorative cutout ventiladas on the wall above my bed. Lumulusot na nga yung light coming from Aunt Agatha's room.

Me: I don't know... I didn't hear Lola say anything eh.

I feel Jake's hand stoke my hair.

Jake: Se, kung ayaw mong bumaba para mag-prusisyon, matulog ka na lang kaya muna. Kaya na namin nila Lolo Ruben ang poon.

_ _ _

It's been a good while since Jake left. I could hear busy voices passing on instructions from the street. Siguro it's those people who are in charge of the Salubong getting the carrozas and the people ready. I know there's always been a Salubong ritual that's been done here sa bayan. It's usually performed in front of the Church or the convent which is now Liceo or the private school owned and operated by the Diocese.

I remember when I was younger, there was some structure made from bamboo and decorated with clouds, rainbows, hanging ribbons, and lots of anahaw leaves na alam ko galing sa tubigan ng Lola Doray. May time pa nga ma bumubukas yung giant flower tapos there's gonna be a shower of flowers and confetti at may mga doves that will fly out from it. And the main attraction is this little angel na will come down using a lot of tali. Then may mga chorus ng angels na kumakanta habang ina-alis yung thin black veil ng Mama Mary.

Yesterday, I noticed them setting-up a kubol somewhere along Calle Burzagom facing the plaza when I was walking back galing Lola Idang's. The kubol this year, is still made from bamboo but instead of the usual whimsical and cartoonish accents, they decorated it with lots and lots of palaspas stars and garlands of flowers.

*That's a lot of palaspas stars! As in ang dami!*

Things are a little different this year. Sanay kami na it's just the Virgen and the Risen Christ na lumalabas for procession ng Salubong but like I learned last Friday, kasali na this year yung mga Holy Women Saints —that includes Santa Martha. And that's why extra effort ang Black Saturday para sa lahat ng caretakers ng female na santo. But as Tito Vic would say, "Minsan lang sa isang taon ang Semana Santa! Kung may pera ang poon, ibigay at gamitin sa paglilingkod sa kanya. Huwag kang manghihinayang at huwag mo siyang titipirin!"