The weekend that was

We all waited with bated breath how Ruby would hammer the country, expecting the worse after it was tagged by both national and international agencies as the biggest typhoon for this year.

The Yolanda experience taught us so much in terms of preparation and the people themselves did not wait to be forcefully evacuated but did so voluntarily, and all these have spared Visayas the death toll we saw in the wake of Yolanda.

It was also because, although it was strong in some parts, Ruby’s strength dissipated a bit but the worse is far from over as it heads out of Visayas to Metro Manila.

I was watching the CNN coverage which was more extensive than the local channels, most of which signed off past midnight Saturday and while we were warned that it will hit our province early Sunday, the expected strength was thankfully lesser.

We earlier cancelled Sunday’s mini-reunion with the Llavore family but when we woke up and saw the rain has subsided a bit, we went ahead with a spontaneous lunch to catch up with our niece, Gina Llavore from New York who came back last week when their mother, Ching, passed away.

It was a time to say thanks that the Lord has spared us from Ruby and also thanksgiving for family still around and prayers for those who have joined our Savior.

Hearing the news Sunday about an old man who died in Estancia, Iloilo after he was left behind alone in his home was just so sad and makes me say praise for my family who continue to surround me with their presence and love.

Sunday was also time for us to bid goodbye to my daughter, Mary Anne, who left for another month-long sortie in Hong Kong where she joins the rest of the touring group of the Broadway musical, Phantom of the Opera.

I am just thankful that she left ahead of Ruby slamming into Manila. My other daughter, Mate’ and her son, Giancarlo, who were supposed to leave for Manila Monday, were advised that their flight has been cancelled due to Ruby’s presence.

They are just hoping that by today they can fly out since their international flight will leave early on Wednesday. I hope by then everything will be back to normal and time to pick up the pieces for another road to recovery particularly for those who were severely affected by this typhoon.

Sunday too, I was full of pride for my eldest grandchild, Commie Varona, who was featured by Korina Sanchez in Rated K.

Commie is the sole owner of Zark’s, a burger joint that has become very popular and has created a huge following in Metro Manila.

Commie, the son of my daughter, Inday, first started his career as a cold cuts chef for a cruise ship in Florida for two years or so.

However, he decided to come home and with the savings he had, he opened his first Zark’s branch along Taft Avenue, right across the De La Salle University.

Perhaps his youth contributed a lot to it because he started crafting gimmicks like his famous Tombstone Challenge where one gets to eat a 4-tiered pattie, ½ pound each, with fries on the side in less than five minutes. If you finish the challenge, you don’t have to pay for your meal and the best part is, you get to be featured in the Hall of Fame board.

I could not understand the challenge and will not dare try it since I don’t think I can even finish one of Commie’s burgers, but it has since become a big hit among patrons especially since out of more than a thousand that tried their luck, there are only 12 who surpassed the challenge.

Commie’s Taft branch was an instant hit not just among DLSU students but even those from other universities and colleges. In two years, he opened his second branch in Paranaque and later on the other branches followed and we’ve stopped counting.

It may be awhile though before we see a branch opening here in Bacolod although his aunts have been asking Commie to do so. I do know that like his other branches, it will be patronized here in Bacolod since I’ve been told some friends of ours have been to a branch and have nothing but praises for his burgers.*

back to top