Cebu revisited  − 7 September, 2002

Junice's birthday gift was paying for half of my trip to Cebu. So I flew to the island I held close to my heart, and stayed there overnight. We visited the bird sanctuary where she had a study done. I saw the depot where we used to live as we drove thru the Mactan Bridge. The following Sunday we heard Mass at the Redemptorist Church, the church across my old school. And then we spent the rest of the Sunday checking out two small villages/islands, swimming and feeding fishes with her co-workers. I realized that being with her in letters was different from being around her. We weren't like the old Jade and Eunice tandem. There was a silent chink which was brought about by simply living in different worlds, in different circumstances, in different ways, by different persons with an enormous distance in between. But I think it's because we both refuse to throw away the link to our beautiful childhood and friendship that we go on and keep each other as special friends. We said our goodbyes and wished each other well at the airport. We continue to share our lives to th other thru emails.