Community spirit
Trip Start
Apr 18, 2011
1
110
179
Trip End
Apr 08, 2012
Sagada, Luzon, Philippines
Friday, August 5, 2011
Once back in Bananue I headed straight to the bus ticketing office to book my overnight bus back to Manila, and then had nothing else to do but kill time back at Las Vegas Inn restaurant until 8pm.
The afternoon wasn't quite as quiet as I expected it to be, when while drinking coffee and writing, one of the owners suddenly jumped up from his seat, looking out of the window and running outside. Just a few doors down the road, another guesthouse had caught fire. The next few hours were spent helplessly watching as the whole town seemed to run down the street with bins filled with water, dodging the tricycles and vans that also sped down towards the fire carrying as much water as possible. Despite the efforts of the fire engines, endless hoses cannoning water at the building and the dozen or so men stood on a neighbouring roof hurling buckets of water in direction of the black smoke and rising flames, the fire seemed to rage for hours before dying out, leaving not much of a home left. It was really humbling to see the whole community rally together to try and help, and I felt bad that there was nothing I could do to help as I stood watching the scene from the restaurant window. I left some money in an envelope for the family, hoping it would at least help in some small way.
Back on the bus to Manila I can't sleep again, fighting worn out limbs as I fidget in my chair. I think I'm going to have to find a good place for a massage pretty soon. And I know I'll be glad not to have ride a night bus for a few more weeks at least.
