Page 18 of Between Then and Now
As we make our way to Room 8, I can’t help but feel apprehensive. Sharing a room with Bon is going to be an experience, to say the least. I help her with her luggage since she packed like a celebrity on tour.
When we open the door to our room, we find a cozy space with two twin beds, a small wooden dresser, and a window that offers a stunning view of the ocean. Bon immediately claims the bed by the window, tossing her bag onto it with a satisfied grin.
“This is perfect,” she says, looking out at the view. “What a beautiful view, Miller, look! We even have direct access to the beachfront.” She opens the door leading to the sandy shore.
I chuckle, setting my own bag down on the other bed. “Yeah, it’s definitely going to be interesting.”
Bon pulls out her camera and starts snapping pictures of the room, the view, and even me, catching me off guard with her enthusiasm. I take a quick moment to look at Bonbon. She’s wearing denim shorts and a white tank top layered with a green and yellow crocheted sweater. She has a large headband on and white sneakers. She’s smiling as she scrolls through her camera.
“I have to go out for the briefing,” I tell her.
“Perfect, I’ll document it,” she says, already switching to her video camera. I nod and head out, with Bon following close behind. Everyone is already gathered in the middle of the inn’s courtyard, and I join the group while Bon stays a few steps back, filming the scene. Her dedication to capturing every moment is impressive. She has different cameras for photos and videos, and one of her luggage bags is solely for her production material.
Dr. Fernandez stands in the center, addressing the team. “Alright, everyone, welcome to Batanes. Our mission here is to provide medical assistance to the local communities. We’ll be setting up our primary station here at the inn. We’ll also conduct mobile clinics in the surrounding areas. The island is small, so we’re stationed in almost all parts of it. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the schedule and your assigned tasks. I’m going to pin this schedule on the bulletin board, and you can take a photo of it for reference.” She holds a large piece of paper containing our tasks.
“Some will be deployed here in the inn, some will be in the mobile areas in the surroundings. Some of you will go house to house to see if there are people in need of special assistance. All of you will have access to medicines and vaccines, should the residents need them.” Bonbon is strategically filming the entire spiel, probably making sure she has enough footage to choose from. She moves around to capture different angles, and while I’m following her with my gaze, I see her disappear behind someone. Alexa.
Alexa is nodding along, taking notes from Dr. Fernandez’s reminders. Her hair is up in a ponytail, her cheeks pink from the heat. She looks more beautiful than she did this morning. Unbelievable.
Dr. Fernandez continues, her tone becoming more serious. “The pandemic and the natural disasters have left a lasting impact on these communities. Many residents may not have had access to regular healthcare for quite some time. It's essential that we approach each situation with empathy and kindness. Remember, we're not just here to provide medical care; we're here to listen, to understand, and to offer support. These peoplehave endured a lot, and our presence should bring them comfort and hope.”
She pauses, letting the weight of her words sink in. “Please, always be mindful of the cultural differences and the unique challenges these communities face. Our goal is to help without imposing. Respect their traditions and their ways of life. We are guests here, and we must act accordingly.
“You won’t be working 24/7. You will have time to go to the town if needed or attend to personal matters. Just make sure you update the team of your whereabouts and make sure your stations are manned.” Dr. Fernandez finishes her speech with a warm smile. “Let's make a positive impact here, team. We're here to make a difference, one step at a time. If you have any questions or need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask. We're all in this together.”
As Dr. Fernandez ends her speech, our guide approaches her and they speak quietly. After a few minutes, Dr. Fernandez returns to the middle and says “Okay, I just received an invitation from the local community. Apparently tomorrow is theKulayfestival, and we’re invited to join. We can spend our first day engaging with the community before real work starts after that.” This statement earns a cheer from the crowd. As the team disperses to take photos of the schedule and discuss their tasks, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. We are about to embark on an important mission, one that will challenge us and hopefully change lives for the better.
“That almost made me tear up,” Bon says from behind me. “Thanks again for helping me be here.”
I turn to her, smiling. “I'm glad you could come, Bon. Your documentary’s gonna be great,” I say sincerely.
As the sun completely sets over the horizon, we take a moment to appreciate the beauty around us. Even in the dark, the island is mesmerizing.
“Look at that view,” Bon whispers, her camera focused on the horizon. “We’re so lucky to be here.”
“Yeah,” I agree, feeling a rare sense of contentment. I look at her, her eyes peeking through her camera. “We really are.”
CHAPTER TEN
Bonita
So, apparently, our arrival is just in time for one of the island’s most colorful festivals. We are immediately invited to the festival on our first day, and I’m so thankful for it because this will be great for my film. The locals, with their infectious enthusiasm, practically drag us into the celebration.
Last night, after a quick chat and settling in, we immediately drifted off to sleep, exhausted but excited. This morning, Dr. Fernandez decides to embrace the festival vibes too. Instead of jumping into the medical mission right away, he’s joining us for the festival extravaganza today. We have the whole day to soak up the island’s magic before the real work starts tomorrow.
Some people decide to skip the festivities, opting to catch up on personal things and explore the island on their own. But Ryan, Alexa, Dr. Fernandez, John, Mia, and Tom (I think—names are still a bit of a blur) pile into the jeepney with me, ready to travel to the town proper.
“Ugh, I’m thirsty.” Just as I’m mourning that I left my water bottle, Ryan hands it to me.
“Here, you left it,” he says as I thank him. I’m halfway through drinking from my bubble gum pink water bottle with stickers all around it (Thank you, Pinterest) when John speaks up.
“Are you guys together?” he blurts out all of a sudden, pointing to me and Ryan, who are sitting across from each other. I instantly choke on my water—like, full-on coughing and gasping for air. And choking is not a good thing to happen at any time, but it’s especially worse when you’re in a small spacewith six doctors. All of them shuffle in their seats, ready to give me specialized attention, but thankfully, my coughing stops.
“God, no! Absolutely not.” I wave my hands in emphasized distaste, still coughing between words.
“You could dial down the disgust,” Ryan says as he chuckles and turns to the others. “But yeah, we’re not together. Just neighbors and friends for years.”
“And not even, like, best friends. I’m actually closer to his brother,” I say, which is true. Ryan is only two years older but Richard and I were always in the same classes back in school. He was actually my prom date—but not my first choice.
