After we went home from our Baguio trip, I immediately unpacked everything we brpught home. It helped that the house was already clean before we left so there's mot much to do. I did a quick laundry for everything we used during the trip. My daughter and I have another field trip planned for the weekend. Her titas, my college friends have planned a simple field trip for her.
When they learned that we plan on visiting different regions of the country this year, 2 of my college friends who now resides in Tarlac offered to give us a tour around. We have studied Region 3 already so my daughter is already familiar about the major provinces in Central Luzon.
I don't really have any idea where to go to so I am really thankful that I have friends who are supportive about our homeschooling journey. They are career women and couldn't imagine how it is to be a housewife and homeschooling mom but they are fully supportive of my endeavors nonetheless.
Being that we were just fresh from our trip to Baguio, this side trip was literally just a quick one. Our first stop was at Monasteryo de Tarlac. It was a church that was said to house a relic believed to have a fragmeny of the Cross of Jesus. There was also a big statue of Jesus which is one of the main attraction of this monastery. My friend said that there used to be monks in the monastery.
In front of the church is a spectacular view of what I think is the Zambales Mountain range. This is the first time my daughter ever set foot on a church that she is aware that it was a church. We did not take that much time in the monastery because the kids were very much excite for our river walk.
After the Momasterio de Tarlac, we hwaded straight to the river. Apparently, there are small businesses that thrived in this place by building small huts where people could hang out for however long they wish to for only Php500. You can have a picnic here and just enjoy the cold water of the river. We brought snacks and grilled some pork and hotdogs while the children enjoy the waters. You just have to be very mindful though because there are spots in the river where the current is strong.
The kids had fun splashing in the waters and only got out of the water when their teeth were already chattering because of the cold. This was a review of our lesson on water forms - that's nature study and Araling Panlipunan in one. We took the whole afternoon enjoying hanging out by the riverside before we started heading out to our next destination.
Before going back to my friend's house, we stopped by at Khaku. It's a coffee shop with a very interesting name and a picturesque view overlooking some of the mountains and plains of Tarlac. Khaku is a Kapampangan term that means "mine". It sounds sweet when you say "I'm yours" in Kapampangan: "Ke khaku". Now the little one got interested with another language. I think we'll pull this off with the help of my Kapampangan friends.
My friends and I rarely see each other now anymore unlike during our 20's. Our careers and families have taken all our time and I am glad that we get to spend time together with our families and loved ones. It was an added bonus that they took the time to make plans for my little learner's impromptu field trip to Region 3. Homeschooling isn't easy, but when you have a tribe to support you. That's why I am so thankful that the universe aligned the stars and made me meet and get to know my friends.
