Part 3: Impact, fog and military shorts

Regina Antequisa, executive director of Ecoweb Inc., waddled through one person to the other to know the impact of the water project in this community (Pantaon) by getting their insights, opinions, and other problems.
There were chits-chats too that were a-little-bit-sensitive and quite an affirmation of events for me. That is written on the wind, as preferred.
When we’re over, we decided to find our way back home. But heavy rain started to fell when we reached barangay Poblacion so, we sought a shelter to shield ourselves and wait for rain to subside.
We found our seats at the residence of a barangay captain whose father was instrumental for the establishment of Poona Piagapo town years and years ago.
‘Aha, you are stationed here!” I blurted when I saw 1Lt. Kim at a veranda of a health center cum military post.
“Have you taken a permission from the headquarters?” he asked in zest.
He was kinda conversationalist and was crowded with friends who were discussing about elan in the mountain, though I liked seeing them with their unending smile.
Kim [now calling him in a first name basis] brought coffee which was served for us who felt chilled by the late afternoon wind.
I gestured that he should take one cup for himself but he gently refused. He said he is no longer a visitor but a resident of the place. Good! Not everyone could feel at home in PoonaPiagapo. He is taking the exception.
While we were conversing over enhancing projects and sustaining agricultural support for the community, I noted that Kim was smoking cigarettes. He has truly adjusted with the Maranao community. He is also learning basic Maranao language too.
It was past 5 p.m. when the rain finally subsided. Fog enveloped the community freezing my hands and my feet.
“Ma’am thank you so much!” Kim said, “though our meeting was kind’a…”
“Kind’a historical…” I filled it out.
With the barrio captain, I decided to walk past anyone toward the vehicle despite the rain. I took also the chance to personally converse with the barrio on vital concerns.
My jacket was soaked and coldness crept my being while the rest of the team stayed at a house to battle remaining minutes for videorecorded interviews.
The surrounding is then covered with fog though persons and objects remained visible.
My best experience with ‘how fog kissed the earth’ was at MSU-main campus [in our times] when we are unable to see persons in front of us and we’d use layers of jackets and blankets at night time to keep our body warm.
Though it aint as perfect as that of MSU, but still I prayed it will rain fire. I was really so cold while counting the raindrops.
Thirty minutes elapsed as I and the barrio waited for the rest of the team at a certain crossing where the vehicle was stationed. Then they arrived one after the other. And my gosh, they arrived with escorts.
Another band of soldiers, all wearing military shorts with their boots on though in full battle gear with high powered rifles and deathly bullets crisscrossed on their bodies were following them until they reached our site.
I grinned. My silly thoughts reverted to an earlier experience as I watched this “sexy soldiers” walking on the rain. They reminded me of “amazons in shorts” in other parts of Mindanao.
If they are ladies, they can best be imagined as band of majorettes with rifles as their batons. Nice and cute.
Ah, stop your imagination. That was a perfect site to see nonetheless. You can’t see them at the city displaying their legs at their best. Haha!

[chapter 4 upcoming]