On account of Holy Week, Metro Manila simply breathes for a brief period of five days. The main highways are entirely clean, and the traffic is very light. Metro Manila is almost like a ghost town. Limited stores were open, and fast food chains and malls were strictly closed. How I wish that Manila would always be like this. But no, after Easter Sunday, many people will return to the city to work and attend classes again. There are millions of Catholics in the Philippines, and because of this, it is quite common for us to return to our hometowns for the extended holiday, as well as to use the time to unwind and practice meditation during solemn commemoration of the Lord’s Passion. But since my family and I were so busy, we didn't have time to go back to our province, which is in Bulacan, just a two-hour drive away from our residential area. We also didn't plan to have a Visita Iglesia since it is very hot here in the Philippines and it would be life-threatening to my parents if they went out during a 32–40 degree heat index. But still, we find ways to follow the family tradition: fasting, eating limited meat, watching bible movies, and not attending celebrations. My parents started to accept the modern tradition, unlike a few years ago when my grandma could not allow us to take a bath for days until Easter Sunday, Partying was also not allowed, and even playing outside was not allowed because kids were prone to accidents.
As I said, the past is past, and our family is starting to adapt to some modern traditions. Today, my sister and I decided to go for a walk and take this day to stroll and appreciate the not-crowded Metro. The plan is to buy food for our lunch and some ingredients for our dessert for the afternoon. Since the wet market is just five minutes away from our house, we decided to go there. You may still see a bunch of people buying some foods, but the best-seller for today is coconut. For sure, many will cook Bilo-Bilo, or Filipino rice cakes, because that's part of our tradition as well. But since I and my sister are such busy bees this week, we have to skip cooking average-to-hard dishes for now.
The supermarket we visited a while back seemed to be so ghosted. Few were buying, and I think that's the reason they limited the manpower. I enjoyed picking and comparing some goods inside because I knew people would not stare at me. I don't like being stared at, and I am very conscious when other people come near me every time I pick something.
It is also the best time to pick fresh veggies and fruits inside the supermarket. Everything is fresh from the farm, and mangoes are sweet and quiet, perfect for the mango dessert with tapioca pearls that I made today. I think the only disadvantage today is the price of these goods. They were so expensive! Good thing my sister was the one who bought the food, and I just had to help her with the chores.
Seafoods are the best-selling meat for this week. There are also meats, but traditional Filipinos would always want to follow traditions. On the other hand, honestly, eating the food you love to eat during this season does not make you a bad person.