The Backyard

I was surprised when my elder brother tagged me photos on Facebook because we never communicate on facebook or messenger. Even on my posts on Facebook he never drop any comments or react on my posts. In short, we are not close on social media. It seems we ignore each other on Facebook. It's not that we are not in good terms, I guess because we just didn't see each other's posts. hahaha or maybe my posts were not his kind of thing. In my case, I don't love scrolling on feeds that's why I never see his posts.

But you know what? aside from being surprised of his tag, I was also amazed and had a great moment reminiscing the happy old days when I saw the photos. The photos he tagged are the recent view of the backyard of our ancestral house in Northern Samar.

While looking at the pictures, memories flashed back when I was a little girl. Exactly in that location, was the backyard of our ancestral house. I remember my Dad paid people to construct a riprap to protect our backyard from the waves when the sea's waters crept up the shore. And since my parents love gardening, that area before was a garden of vegetables and different kinds of fruit trees; Avocado, Mango, Star Apple, Pomelo, Lemon, Guyabano, Jackfruit, Chico, Bananas and lots Papayas. Our house was surrounded by fruit trees, from front yard to the back yard. I was once a happy little girl helping my mom in that garden with different kinds of vegetable plants; String beans, squash, tomatoe, Pechay, Pepper and a lot more to mention.

On the north side of the garden there was a small poultry while on the other side was a nipa hut with bamboo flooring built by my Dad as our Playhouse. I used to play in the Play house together with my sisters and cousins. The playhouse has balcony, mini kitchen, and cute living room. Really it was a beautiful playhouse. My Mom bought us kitchenware toys that we really used for eating while playing in there. I remember my Mom loved to hang out in our Playhouse during nap time on weekends, listening her favorite drama on her transistor radio and she let me pulled out her white hair then she fell asleep. Oh! this makes me sad, I'm missing now my mom in heaven telling this story.

Those were just a happy memories. Farewell to the old forgotten backyard, but in my heart the memories of the backyard and ancestral house as well will never fade.

Farewell! backyard ....

MY BROTHER OWNED YOU NOW ....

I was in first high school when my family moved to Cebu City. My parents decided to transfer and work there because they  wanted us ( 5 children) to study in the City. No one left to stay in our house, so my parents hired a care taker to clean and water the plants. We only had a chance to visit our house during Summer and sometimes Christmas or fiesta. 

When my brother got married, he asked Dad's favor if he can stay in our ancestral house with her wife so they can take care of it too. Then after few years, when my brother had already children he told my Dad that he's planning to buy the house. And since my Dad just bought a house in Cebu, so he sold the ancestral house to my brother. After several years, my brother renovated the entire house. He built his dream house, yes he can afford to build his dream house because he works as a Seafarer for many years.

Recently, my brother just got home for vacation. And his new project was to improve and change the landscape of the backyard.

Now the backyard really looks beautiful and so cool because of the sea view.

It has a beautiful landscape. My brother constructed a small guest house over looking the sea, so perfect for sunset viewing and below the guest house is the hang out area for relaxing where you can smell the salty sea breeze and hear the whispering waves. And when the sunset appears, surely you will be fascinated by its beauty.

There is also kiddie pool for his grandchildren. The landscape of the backyard now really amazed me.

I think my brother tagged me these photos to let me see his new backyard. I really love it. He is lucky enough to own the ancestral house. And we, the siblings were happy too for his dream house. I wish after the Pandemic I'll get a chance to visit my brother in Norther Samar.

I commented on the photo he tagged, thanking him for remembering me. I also asked his permission that I'm going to use these photos for my article here on read.cash. I heard from my sister that he won't go back to work as Seafarer anymore, he wanted to stay home for good and planning to build a beach resort. Speaking of Beach Resort, the beach lot has also a story behind, how he owned my Dad's lot near the sea. It's a sad story of my other late brother. That would be the story of my next article.

Thanks for reading. Do you have memories during your childhood days in your ancetral house? Do you miss the place?

All the photos were taken by my brother in Northern Samar, Philippines and have approval to be used in this article.

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