A Persistent Grandma

What happens to a hardworking civil servant after forty (40) years of incessant dedicated public service as an elementary school teacher? The law says one must retire and enjoy the rest of your life pampering your grandchildren. Well, I'm talking of my Mom. On November last year, she passed on the baton to somebody else whose joints don't ache yet. She was the Odiongan South Central Elementary School District Supervisor as inscribed under her name "IREJEAN M. FAMERO" in a marble ornament sitting flat on her desk.

With all those enormous workload gone instantly, Mom can't help but train her eyes on things she has been raring to do - renovate our dilapidated house and play around with her grandchildren.

Just five (5) months ago, Barjae Miguel was born. He was my second child and one of only three male grandchildren in the burgeoning Famero family. Though seen only a few times, my Mom developed a strong affinity to Barjae. She has been very persistent in asking Happy, my wife to let her bring Barjae to the province so that she can take care of him even for just a short while. Persistence and patience are great virtues and they give excellent results. We eventually gave up our reluctance. And on March 26, 2010, we set sail back to Odiongan together with Karylle, my eldest, Nono and Prince John, my brothers and of course, the persistent Lola.

It was such a happy moment to be able to come back again to your native town, enjoy the company of your old neighbors, savor the fresh easterly wind at the beachfront and most of all, the warmth of your family celebrating your rare visit.

And the dilapidated old house? It's great to see it has been refurbished. All because of a persistent Grandma.

The Palace in the Island

It has always been the rule of my Boss to hold a Blessing Ceremony for any new structure before it is being officially used. Sometime last March 2008, the day when Boracay Sands Hotel was to be blessed, the priest asked the boatmen at Caticlan Port if they could ferry him to the new hotel located at Station 3 of Boracay Island. The boatmen replied, "Yes, of course, Father. That's the newly constructed palace in the island."

From a distance, Boracay Sands Hotel is truly magnificent. Its imposing traditional arches give the strolling tourist a glimpse of that early but beautiful Mediterranean architecture. It stands like a mighty sentinel guarding the stretch of white talcum-like beach that made the island the top vacation destination by toursits from all over the world. Boracay Sands Hotel complements that great tourist adventure of going to a naturally incredible beach paradise by offering the best of the modern comforts complete with style and exclusivity.

Edrich Santos, its EVP for Operations simply says that Boracay Sands Hotel is going to be the visitor's sanctuary on the sands. But for the boatmen and the other residents of this world-famous tourist spot, it will always be the palace in the island.

(For more information about the hotel, visit www.boracaysandshotel.com.)