Sopas!! Sopas!!

Last June 13 was Tatay’s birthday. We decided to bring 5 kilos of sopas (cream soup) to Mapangpang, Muñoz. We chose Mapangpang because the barangay captain is a regular customer.

And so, with three big pots of sopas and my youngest brother Third as driver, Nanay, Shiro, Noel, Toy, Pam, Aileen and I went to the elementary school in Mapangpang.

We met with the Barangay Captain, and the school teacher. They asked the school children to line up; each one has either a drinking glass or cup, or a small soup bowl, and a big spoon.

Line was not so long, as the school offers only up to grade four. We were almost sad because we had a lot with us, and we don’t want to bring any home. We wanted that everything we bought would all be given away.

Seeing that there is still a lot of sopas, the barangay captain decided to call on the neighborhood, knocking on doors and telling them that sopas is being given away at the school grounds. After a while a few mothers, grand mothers, and other old people started coming, with their soup bowls, and even small pots. They did not just take their sopas away. Most of the old folks even stayed for a chat. They asked why all of a sudden, they were treated to a hot bowl of sopas. We told them that it was my father’s birthday. They even sang the birthday song. After a while, when the sky was getting darker, threatening to rain, we decided that it is time to go home. There was still a pot of sopas left, but we just asked them to transfer it to one of their containers so we could leave it with them. They happily obliged.

They thanked us. And we thanked them in return. The kids waved their lively goodbyes, and the old folks smiled and gave us their blessings. We left Mapangpang and headed home. It was kind of weird; I did not have any sopas when we were in Mapangpang. But on our way home, I felt like I was full.

Happy Birthday Tatay!! I love you.