This is more yesterday’s story.

Before heading to Malatapay Market in Zamboanguite after breakfast, we drove into Dauin and tried to get some cash at one of the four ATMs in the place. To cut a long story short, it didn’t work yesterday either, as it had days and weeks before.

On the way to one of the ATMs, we passed through a street I had never been on before and discovered the beautiful old wooden house that graces the cover of today’s report. I also had a good conversation with the owner, who was sitting on his veranda.

So we drove past the Malatapay Market to the town of Zamboanguita and got cash at the Landbank ATM right in front of the municipality hall.

Now to the Malatapay Market. I was surprised that there was not too much going on here. The cattle market was already over. A few pigs and goats had not yet been sold and the last vehicles were getting ready to take away their purchased livestock. A few guests were still sitting in the rustic eateries and in the restaurant with dishes made of horse meat, the pots were already being packed up.

Gerlinda did some shopping while I tried to film some video clips.

I was able to talk to a few market stallholders and the opinion tends to be that after the pandemic, the market has not recovered. Maybe the great Sunday market in Valencia has taken away visitors from this market, especially from expats and tourists, because it lacks the international flair of the international food stalls.

The last time we were here was just before the pandemic and it had been a wonderful and lively market.

When dusk falls in the Philippines, more and more people come out of their homes and flock to the gathering points of their homes in the communities and towns. These are often the markets and market streets. Housewives go to the markets again around this time to shop for dinner in the cooler evening hours. The tropical sun is no longer burning. I noticed again how many Filipino women, often alone or with their partners and husbands, eat a quick BALUT at one of the many stalls that spring up like mushrooms on every corner at dinnertime. After the often hot afternoon, the market streets of the Philippines come alive in the evening.

This morning started with this sunrise and a calm sea at low tide between us and the diving island Apo in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

One of the monstrous jeepneys on the Dumaguete – Zamboanguita route turns around on the highway.

On our morning walk, the end point as we walk towards Zamboanguita is at this house. The owner has embellished his gate with plants planted on discarded rice cookers.

Gerlinda has spotted hanging flowers and the owner is not far away either. In the end, we make our way back with two hanging flower pots made from recycled plastic bottles as our booty.

After breakfast, we will pay a visit to the Malatapay Market in Zamboanguita, as it was screwed up last Wednesday by the low-pressure system that passed through.

This morning the walk was to the bakery on the National Highway to buy pandesal.

On the way back, one of the residents had already placed a table by the road and offered a rice speciality made of glutinous rice with a chocolate sauce. This speciality has the most diverse names in the different regions of the country.

It looks like it tasted good to Gerlinda.

Almost full moon right in front of the house. That was last night.

This morning started with thunder rumbling in the distance, a few small showers over the sea and thick clouds on the mountain side.

So the morning started without a walk, I had my first coffee straight away and Gerlinda got to work in her flower workshop behind the house.

I was then allowed to take a few of the heavy pots to some of the places for a test run.

Finally, some of Gerlinda’s tools from the flower workshop.