The Bucket List

the one after three years

RJ / July 12, 2020 - Manila, Philippines

"Menggay bilisan mo naman! Baka ma-late tayo sa flight natin!"

"HOY RICARDO ANONG MALE-LATE HELLO 3 HOURS PA BAGO YUNG FLIGHT NATIN!!! ANG LAPIT LAPIT LANG NATIN SA AIRPORT!!! BAKIT BA ATAT NA ATAT KA DIYAN?!"

Papunta kami ngayon sa Hawaii... ulit. After 3 years and 100 countries, I asked her if she can come back to Hawaii with me. Nung umamin kasi ako sa kanya sa Times Square three years ago, at sumagot din siya ng oo, doon na nabuo sa isip ko na this girl is my endgame. Kaya naman two nights ago, nagpaalam ako sa parents niya, asking for their daughter's hand in marriage. They happily agreed. Sabi pa nga ni Tito Teddy, "Took you long enough, anak." Pucha, kinilig internal organs ko.

We decided to start travel vlogging when we came back to the Philippines nung January 2017. We asked Dani and James to manage Momento, my photo and video coverage business, habang nasa ibang bansa kami, but still asking about the studio for updates every now and then. We hired a couple of more photographers and videographers since dumami din ang clients namin for the past three years.

Akala ko nga hindi papayag si Menggay na sumama sakin mag-ikot sa iba't-ibang bansa, na mas gusto muna niyang magstay kami sa Pilipinas, but then she agreed. She said yes, agad agad. Mas excited pa nga siya sa akin sa pag-iikot. We've toured around Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Central America and a few countries on South America already. Sa totoo lang, mas madami akong natutunan about Maine sa tatlong taon naming pag-iikot sa iba't-ibang bansa, just as she learned a lot about me too that strengthened our relationship.

We came back from Brazil just last month, our 100th country. We were invited by a couple of students there for an interview for their thesis, along some of the well-known travel vloggers and photographers.

For three years of travel vlogging, we have made quite a following. Kaya sa kada bansang pinupuntahan namin, we make it a point to meet some of our followers to share our experiences to them first hand. Sa aming dalawa kasi, Maine is in-charge of our blog while I'm im-charge of our Youtube channel. We share the same Instagram account as well where we post photos on all our trips. Minsan naman baliktad kami ng task, whatever we decide on.

"Bakit ka ba atat na atat? Himala nga na walang traffic dito sa Manila ngayon oh. Di ka ba natutuwa?" tanong niya sa'kin habang pasakay kami sa Uber namin. Nasa condo niya kasi kami kagabi at doon na kami nagstay para mas malapit sa airport.

"I'm just excited to go back to Hawaii with you, baby. Sobra," I smiled at her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Tagal na rin nating hindi nakakabalik doon eh."

"In fairness, I miss Hawaii too. Gusto ko ulit mag-shaved ice by the beach doon. Pero teka, bakit biglaan mo naman atang naisip magpunta sa Hawaii? Akala ko ba pahinga muna tayo for three months before we start touring Africa? Hindi pa nga tayo nakakapag—"

"Maine," I cute her off and held her hand. "Relax lang."

"I'm just asking..."

Kinakabahan ako kapag ganitong matanong na si Maine. All these years na kilala ko siya, kapag sunod sunod na yung tanong niya I know she's really eager to know what's up. Kaya hindi niya dapat malaman kung anong plano ko. I have to act as calmly as possible para hindi niya ako mahuli.

"It's Hawaii Five-0's tenth anniversary, remember? Kaya din tayo pupunta."

She gasped, hindi niya siguro naalala na pinag-usapan lang namin to just last week. Sa Brazil pa lang kasi, nagplano na kaming pumunta sa Hawaii ulit to commence H50's 10th year. Pero hindi pa dapat ngayon, bago kami pumunta sa Africa. But then our plans have changed because her parents gave their blessing for my proposal. Nagbook ako agad ng tickets for this trip.