The Quest For a Coveted Cigar, Part 2

Day 2. Today we search for the manufacturer. The top of the cigar chain. The Dons.

We passed through toll booth after toll booth. Uncle Chito stopped to ask the tricycle taxi driver and sidewalk vendors for directions. Hours later, in hot, humid tropical weather with no air conditioning in our transpo, our sweat and bleary eyes paid off.

Uuuuuum, are you sure it's down there?

Another security guard?! At least he's carrying a pistol, and not an M-16.

Hah, the Indian! We must be on the right trail, Chief 5-Star.

Indeed we were. See for yourself:

This is where the Antonio Gimenez comes from.

Cigar press.

Thank you, Gabriel, for giving us a tour of your factory.

Oh, but it doesn't end there. That was the first cigar. Now for the second...

We must be close. There's another security guard.

Whaaah? Are you sure this is the right address? It's an empty building...

Very hot on the trail. Another security guard. Oh, and he's opening the 14' gate for us!

Yes! [fist pump] At long last, the pot of gold at the end of a hot, humid, zigzag rainbow.

Be gentle with those 5-Star. That is the pride of the Philippines, the Don Juan Urquijo (DJU).

Whewh! How about some sustenance.

Lunch at Josephine's Restaurant.

Overlooking the Taal Volcano.

And on the drive home...

Streetside b-ball.

And the very last, yes LAST stop for the day: a restaurant at "the big circle monument". Seriously, that is the direction we got.

The picture doesn't show it, but the red, blue and yellow path is a circle painted around the statue on the pedestal.

Yours Truly was so pooped, I didn't bother to photograph 5-Star's meeting with Alan.

Ugh, recounting this experience exhausted me!

I'm gonna lie down now.

Don't wake me.

G'night...

This Old House

This old house was Lolo's & Lola's.

Where sons were raised to become accountants...

Tito Benny

...and pioneers.

Papa B & Tito Quirino.

"You may have the kick-ass BDU pants that hold up through back-breaking work, but I got the cool fedora that chicks dig!"

Where daughters were raised to be teachers...

Tita Virgi

...and grandmothers.

Greatgranddaughter Janice, Tita Nida, and Granddaughter Sandy.

This old house is getting a facelift.

A new terrace over the front entrance.

Cement now replaces the old wooden wall.

New rooms are added.

New rooms where greatgrandchildren now play.

When I was a child, my cousins and I ran up and down these stairs...

...we climed into this closet...

... and out this one, which used to adjoin the two rooms.

The Last Supper tapestry still hangs over the dining table.

These religious icons still adorn walls...

...and the alter...

...watching over this old house's residents and guests alike.

The old grotto still stands steadfast...

...a beacon for returning family and strangers who come calling.

A traveling shoe & umbrella repairman.

These old shoes definitely have a shot at carrying the greatgrandchilren's feet when they grow up.

Tito Nilo & Tita Nida

Lolo's & Lola's greatgrandchildren.

Sarah & Richard (Ian)

Vince & Irene (Honey)

Janice & Imelson (Sandy)

Grandchildren.

Sandy (Tita Nida) looking over King (Tita Nida).

Apparently, King (Tita Nida) is quite the aesthetician.

King (Tita Nida) & Mama K

One thing that has not changed, through typhoons and el niño's...

...is the basak (rice fields).

Papa B surveying the basak and suba (slough).

The ever sustaining grain that Lolo & Lola cultivated to nourish their children...

...and build their home.

In loving memory of Loloy Tikoy & Lola Irene

Thank you for giving us This Old House,

to cherish and hold for generations to come.