Sports Eye
Brief but worthwhile visits
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS–We have moved here with my goddaughter, nee Marilou Cariño, formerly from my place in barangay Buenlag, Mangaldan and now married to an electronic engineer, Giles Honeycut, who picked us up in Houston and took us to their beautiful home. The community is a peaceful and elegant place where mostly white people live.
In Houston, I met my 2006 cycling friends who formed a Filipino biking group called “Siklista-Houston” headed by Joey Coz, formerly from Calatagan, Batangas.
Of course, there too were my good friends, Mr. and Mrs. Blandino Caguioa and family, (in whose house we stayed), and his brother Amor, all San Carleans; Edgar Lacro from Angono, Rizal; Bien Amistoso of Marikina City; Bunny Acedera of Iloilo City; and the tall mestizo Gilbert Mangahis of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, the uncle of RP’s prominent rider Hilson Mangahis.
I caught the NBA’s western and eastern conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Orlando Magic in Houston.
From Houston, I journeyed alone to McAllen, Texas, a one hour-50 minute plane trip, then headed to Pharr, Texas to visit the grave of my father, he whom I owe my life and eventually my citizenship status here in America as well as my family’s. I also visited the tomb of my grandparents, Felipe Garcia and Severiana Rivera and that of my Auntie Josefina, the lady who diligently wrote letters to me during my childhood until she passed away in 1997. I won’t forget her, she’s very close to me in my heart and in my soul. May she rest in peace.
Just like my last visit in November 2006, it was my first cousin, Dago Garcia Soto and his charming spouse Belinda, who took me to my relatives resting places of my relatives, including his father’s grave.
The Sotos also took me to the house of my cousin Mike Garcia Mata and his mom, my Auntie Idolina, where I met his brothers Omar and Pete, Jr., his sister Ana, his daughter Talia and husband Eleazar, and Dago’s son Junior. Tia Idolina is the only one living now among the Garcia siblings.
I managed to watch the Lakers 103-97 victory over the Nuggets at Talia-Eleazar’s residence and how the Magic subdued title favorite Cavaliers, 99-89 at Dago’s place.
A day before I flew back here, I finally met my two brothers Rolando and Rogelio with their mom Elvira at her casa. Absent was my sister, the classy Angela and the loner Roberto. It was a cordial and not an emotional reunion unlike the first times I came here in 1978 and in 2006. Hopefully this would not be the last.
I’m doing this piece afternoon of May 26, US time and tonight I’ll watch the fourth of the best-of-seven battles between the Cavaliers and the Magic. Tomorrow we go back to Blandino’s house in preparation for our trip to Los Angeles, California and Hawaii and finally home in the first week of June.
Despite the beauty of America which many call the “land of opportunity” and millions of Filipinos are aspiring to land here, I would say there’s still no place like home. I miss my four favorite food: mongo, black beans, pinakbet and bulalo.
Yes, three weeks is a brief stint to visit big America. But although the visit is brief, it has been worthwhile. This is my other country, being a Fil-Am or Fil-Mex, according to my maestro and media colleague Rhee Fer Hortaleza.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
