7 January 2026
I can’t remember exactly the last time I went to the city with my mom, or even with my siblings. That alone says a lot about my boring routine, sitting in front of the computer every day and rarely going out for a walk or visiting the city. I guess I’ve gotten used to it.
The long queue wasn't surprising anymore. It was the New Year's preparation day
This city trip with my mom and siblings happened a day before New Year’s Day. It’s been our tradition to prepare more food on the night of the 31st to welcome the new year. There are beliefs we follow that are said to bring prosperity and a better year ahead. While I don’t rely too much on these things and believe more in hard work and perseverance, as Filipinos, these traditions have always been part of our celebrations.
Before leaving for the city, I took care of my niece first. She was attending my cousin’s wedding and was invited to be one of the flower girls. It was her first time. I fixed her hair as I promised, and she looked even prettier with a simple hairstyle. As much as I wanted to see her walk down the aisle before the bride, our city trip was already planned and couldn’t be postponed. I could see her videos and photos, anyway.
The purpose of our trip was to buy fruits and other ingredients we needed for the New Year's Eve preparations. We first stopped at the mall supermarket to get most of what we needed, including some household items. Then we headed to a restaurant since we were already hungry.
We finally got to dine at this restaurant I often pass by but never get to try because it’s always full and I’m too impatient to wait. They offer unlimited rice, which was a plus. I expected the food to be good because of the number of customers, and I wasn’t wrong. The servings were small, but the food was flavorful. I even had three cups of rice, so I’d say what we paid was worth it.
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By mid-afternoon, we still needed to go to the market to buy more fruits and other items. We didn’t stay long at the restaurant. My sister and I decided to go to the market while my mom and brother stayed behind to watch over the things we bought. My mom walks a bit slowly now, so it was better for her to stay.
The city was crowded everywhere, the malls, the streets, and especially the markets. As we went around the fruit and vegetable stalls, the rising prices were hard to ignore. Inflation was very noticeable, and I was surprised at how much prices had gone up just because it was the New Year’s season.
While asking about prices, I couldn’t help but think that maybe we should plant our own food, so we wouldn’t need to buy as much next time. Shopping really hurts these days, lol. But since it was New Year’s, the celebration had to go on no matter what.
We finished shopping around dusk and headed back home. The cool breeze and the beautiful sunset by the sea made the trip back more peaceful. Sometimes, while looking at the sunset and the calm sea, I find myself wishing for the past, when everything was cheaper, and life felt simpler.
It was a short trip, but I hope there will be more moments like this with my mom and siblings in the future.
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
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