PAMANHIKAN SA SYDNEY

PAMNHIKAN“ OR “BULUNGAN” SA SYDNEY
Sept. 2, 2000

Upon arrival to Sydney Airport, we immediately felt the cold breeze, the clean air and the good services. A very good reminder of the home country was the only laud-talking, non-smiling woman at the immigration counter who turned out to be a Filipina.

It took a little time before Terry was able to send a message to Paul that we had already arrived. He picked us at around 11:00 a.m., Sydney time (three hours ahead of the Philippines). We went directly to his apartment where he transferred just a few days ago. It was at Coronation, #284 Pacific Highway, Artermon, NSW 2064.

In the afternoon Paul treated us to an eatery named Aristocrat. We passed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a popular Sydney landmark together with the Sydney Opera House. Along the way we sighted some important landmarks, such as the Sydney Tower and the beautiful buildings around. I read somewhere that the Opera House was also known as the “nuns’ scrum”. More than a million ceramic tiles from Sweden were arranged on the “shells” in a pattern much like the stitching on a sail. It perched on Bennelong Point and is backed by the Botanic Garden. On the other hand, the Sydney Harbour Bridge or “the coat hanger” was finished in 1932 and is now a very popular as yet another source of excitement. The Bridge Climb is a three-hour adventure that sees visitors clambering up the steel structure to reach the summit. Day or night, it is not unusual to see people in overalls trying to conquer this man-made peak. The bridge forged a link between Sydney’s north and south.

That night Paul brought us to downtown Sydney, to the Center Point where the Sydney Tower stands. We sighted Shakespeare’s Plaza, Queen Victoria Bldg. before we went to Hilton Hotel in a restaurant called the Market Place. It served delicious seafood, my favorite. It was the venue for the “Pamanhikan” where we were to meet the family of Paul’s girlfriend, Michaela (Mikee), the eldest daughter of Mr. Raymond Policarpio and his wife Mrs. Angelina Almeda-Policapio. With them are the other daughter Vanessa and the youngest son, Redmond. Paulo the elder son had another commitment.

The diner was sumptuous eat-all-you-can seafood. The conversation was cordial,
direct and humorous. I suggested that since both Paul and Mikee were of legal age, to lay out their plans while we, the parents shall listen and shall only give suggestions and advises if necessary. My suggestion was accepted by all concerned and as it turned out, the two indeed have ready plan to present.

Wedding date to be on July 7 2001 (seven being both their lucky number). Church at St. Mary’s Cathedral and the reception at the Pontoon (a sophisticated floating restaurant). 100 guests shall be invited.

After dinner we were brought to Mrs. Macquarie’s Point (Park) where we had a very colorful view of the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and far view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. It reminded me of Parco Valentino in Turin, Italy.

Coming from the Philippines, I found it unusual not so sight any ambulant vendor at the park was as clean as a well-kept backyard.