Poof! And just like that, September is gone. Where did it go? These next few months will pass by so fast the next thing you know it’s the New Year. October is supposed to be the month for the County Fair but due to a global pandemic and still recovering, it’s been canceled three years in a row.
What else is in store for the month of October? Halloween! I think it will not be a big event this year considering the wildfires that happened in Lahaina. We will keep it low key this year and hopefully we will be able to dress up and have events on our island again.
Shout out to our October babies: Daphne Butay and Melissa Domingo who both celebrated their birthdays on October 7, Taylor Banaag on October 11, Dhia Lei Alejo on Oct 18, Lisa Corpuz on October 22 and Zion Jesse Butay on October 30th.
Let’s see what’s going on with our story this month and where Michael and Angel will be going next, shall we?
She rushes to unlock the lukub (door) for her husband and lets him in.
“I was watering the plants outside and left the keys to the storage and the tools by the fence. I just remembered it when we were eating so I rushed to go out and get it. I left the back pasbul (door) open so I can come back but for some reason, it closed and is locked. I was not able to come in,” he explains to his wife.
“Nanoyin (What) are we going to do?” she cuts him off.
“We’re going back to the hapag (table) to finish our dinner,” Michael’s dad says.
“No, silly. I’m talking about Angel,” Michael’s mom says sarcastically.
“Oh, that? I don’t know. I leave it to you, you are the expert on all areas, especially that one,” Michael’s dad says and rushes to sit at the dining lamisaan (table).
Michael’s mom is left speechless. She doesn’t know what to do so she just follows her husband to the dining lamesa (table).
Michael, Angel and Michael’s dad are laughing when she gets to the lamisa (table). She sits quietly and looks at Angel.
She quietly eats while the three are laughing so loud. She ngiti (smiles) once in a while as if she is participating in their conversation.
They talk about celebrities, about food and places they would like to visit. She is just listening to them and not really paying attention.
She isem (smiles) at Angel. Then she looks at Michael, and she timan (smiles). Then she turns to her husband and gives him the “eye.”
Michael’s dad is about to say something when …
“Why don’t you guys lock your front pintuan (door)?” says Uncle Ray who just pops out of nowhere.
The four looked so shocked to see him standing in the living room.
“How did you get into our bahay (house)?” asks Michael’s dad to his brother Ray.
“Anni (What) do you think?” asks Uncle Ray back.
Robert looks at his wife and says, “You did not lock the front ganhaan (door)? I walked back to the dining room before you.”
Michael’s mom is speechless and looks at Michael with fear in her eyes.
Michael looks away. He doesn’t want to make eye contact with his mom. He stands up and gives his uncle a hug and says: “Uncle Ray! We were just having dinner. Please come and join us.”
Ray is hesitant to join them.
“Ano (What) is it Ray?” says Robert. He looks at his brother then he looks at the lady who just popped out from the living room.
Ray says, “This is Katherine. I work with her. We are working on a case.”
Ray introduces Katherine to his brother.
Robert says, “Of course I know Katherine. She has been the secret crush of Ray since grade school. He has a picture of you in front of our mirror in our room when we were still roommates.”
Ray blushes. “Stop it Rob,” is all Ray can say to his brother.
Robert continues, “Katherine, if you want to know how crazy my brother is to you, just give me a call and we can talk stories for hours” and he laughs.
Michael’s mom finally speaks up and says, “Robert, why don’t you go and get some plates for them.”
“I will go and get them plates,” says Angel shyly.
“And who is this maganda (beautiful) lady?” asks Katherine.
Everyone is quiet and nobody wants to answer.
“I am Angel, Michael’s friend. You are napintas (beautiful) too, Ma’am,” Angel responds shyly and goes to get some plates and utensils.
“She is very gwapa (beautiful) and has an angelic face, is she your girlfriend, Michael?” asks Katherine.
“Yeah, Michael, she is malagu (beautiful), is she your girlfriend?” asks his dad.
Before Michael can answer, Angel is already back with two plates and utensils in her hands.
“Dito (Here), Uncle Ray and Katherine. Come sit next to me,” Michael answers and looks at each of them.
“We have trabaho (work) to do,” Ray tells Michael and looks him in the eyes with a blank expression.
“Ahh … loosen up Sergent, obro (work) can wait,” says Katherine to Ray and takes a seat next to Michael. “Family comes first before trabahu (work).
Ray does not argue, he follows Katherine and sits next to her.
Ray takes the plates from Angel and he notices she is shaking.
“Family first,” he says, looking at Angel in her eyes seriously. “Maraming Salamat (thank you), Angel,” he says softly, still looking Angel in the eye.
It’s the first meal they have with Uncle Ray with a lady guest. And it’s the first meal he has with Angel and his parents. This must be something, Michael thinks.
Anyways that’s all I have. Keep an eye out for my column in every issue. I’m Dulce, helping you to master your Filipino Languages. Like always, let’s laugh, let’s makinig (listen) and Let’s Talk Pinoy! Hanggang sa muli! (Until next time!) Ingat! (Take care!)
Dulce Karen Butay was graduated from Maui High School and received her Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Maui Community College. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting, from the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu. She is currently the Administrative Officer at the County of Maui, Department of Finance. Butay is a licensed Resident Producer of Life Insurance with World Financial Group and an Independent Consultant of Saladmaster. She is now part of Saladmaster’s Travel Club and won an all-expenses paid trip to Cancún, Mexico. Butay has traveled to Texas, the Philippines and Thailand as one of the delegates from Island Healthy Solutions, a Saladmaster dealer here on Maui.