What it takes on this planet to have one’s driver’s license renewed

Lining up at the Land Registration Office (LTO) renewal center before 9AM. Buying a black pen at the bookstore (for the dummies like me who bring a pen everyday and forget it on the day it was needed the most). Filling out 2 forms – one 2-pager for the drug/medical test, one 1-pager for the actual renewal. Handing those in to a lady on a desk on a really narrow hallway. Getting told to sit and wait for your name to be called. Sitting down, waiting for your name to be called, for about 30 minutes. Drinking 500ml of water to actually be able to pee when your turn comes. Holding that peeing sensation when it comes before you’re called. Staring at other waiting patrons. Getting stared right back at.

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In Calunasan: “the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down, is weaving when it comes up in the morning*”

It is about four o’clock on a fine Friday afternoon. Rippling gently with the soft breeze, is a huge rainbow-colored umbrella canopy that stands rather prominently in the middle of the fairgrounds semi-encircled by small nipa sheds cum exhibition kiosks, proudly displaying local hand-woven crafts of varying designs and sizes. Bags, placemats, baskets, trinkets and what-not’s made out of bamboo, buri and nito.

At one kiosk, three women are busy weaving pieces of nito and bamboo strips into what would become placemats and baskets. Rhythmic folk music played by a local kumparsa (string ensemble)wafts in the air, conflating with the buzz of excitement and anticipation from a good mix of crowd ranging from pre-schoolers dressed in Filipiniana to teeners to the leather-skinned community elders. Calunasan Norte is more than ready to receive its guests.

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