Meeting Halfway in Orani, Bataan

It is one of those unique trips that I would remember in life. Imagine only being introduced to new contacts through text. Meeting new faces halfway is made even more meaningful when these people are good to the point of comfort that you already forget that you've just met. They easily become like your closest friends, your family, after a bus ride, a sleepover, a church, a wedding...

Upon arrival at a supermarket in Orani, Bataan, I am still a little distant here...

The strangers I texted and met at the bus station in Manila for the trip to Orani, Bataan, are friends of the couple getting married who used to work at that time in Kaoshiung, Taiwan where they met and fell in love. Most of them are from the Jesus is Lord (JIL) chapter in that part of the globe.

It was the wedding  of my high school pal, Rudy (light blue shirt) to Reign (pink striped shirt)

And before I proceed with the people I was with during this trip, let me share the beauty I have found - a lot of grass, plants and flowers. Here, have some:

   

                       

The quaint little town is a haven for bees locally known as pukyutan, here's what I found that made it to a certain website: 

Here's that screen grab:

After the ecosystem exploration, we enjoyed eating the following food at the house of the family of the bride:

Grilled chicken soup, I think it is a local delicacy in Orani. Do you know this dish?

Here, Charo (hello!) is enjoying the shrimps

Atis for dessert

Vidal, the wedding singer and Edna playing around

Let's meet the bride and groom, now husband and wife already due to the 'historical significance of this post:

Rudy and Lorena already opening presents the night before the wedding

And on the wedding day, my camera was limited at the groom's room as I was participating at the ceremony as the best man, to be fair to Reign, I'm posting the photos in smaller sizes here:

Entrance of the resort opposite the venue of the wedding

And the next photo/s will already be about the post-wedding reception merry-making:

 

The last three pictures were from the day after the wedding as I joined them visit a friend also from Kaoshiung. We were closer to each other as the days progressed, from the meeting at the bus station, the trip to Orani and the bonding that went with it. I was happy to have met them courtesy of Rudz and Reign. I could still vividly remember the day we went back to Manila, one by one getting off the bus, with some still with me at the LRT and then finally having to say goodbye to the last few ones. Such wonderful people, they were a blessing. I hope to see them again. I would like to end this entry by saying that sometimes it is not really the journey nor the destination, they simply become the venue, a setting where friendship happens. It is the people you will meet halfway, eat halfway with and be with for a certain period of time that makes the trip worthy. Til next entry!