My Brother-in-law & other stories
By Johnny Novera

Orion port

Because of the traffic congestion at the NLEX highway, we found a new route to Subic.  This is taking a fast boat from a small port near the Cultural Center of the Philippines along Roxas Boulevard to Orion, Bataan.   The trip took 60 minutes by hydrofoil craft with comfortable reclining seat. From there it was 45 minutes more by car to Subic.

We arranged for pick up by the advance party that went to Subic a day ahead of us.  Since the "sundo" has not arrived, we had the chance to take a look around the new port.The landing facilities were improved.  This is said to be part of the Strong Republic Highway as there is a provision for roro type boats to land.   Unfortunately, we are told that no roro boat visits the port.

"We serve La Paz batchoy ," was the sign hanging on a shed-type building facing the pier.  But there was no batchoy when we ordered.  The owner's sister-in-law, an Ilongga, who was preparing the menu was on vacation. So we ordered hot coffee instead, as we sat down to clear our celphone of its clog of previous days messages.

At that moment, a text messagte came, "Arrived here."  We swallowed fast the hot coffee that has just been served and then went out lugging our bag, thinking that the car to fetch us was already there.  There was none. 

We rechecked our celphone.  It was yesterday evening's text message of the advance party to us when they arrived in Subic. It got in only now!