ahSus...mAsseuse!

I remember that trip in Naic,Cavite last July to meet my cousin who was documenting a workshop for a project. I decided it was to be my therapeutic trip to unload and reload myself after my last run in Marinduque. I have always found road trips to be one of my stress-relieving activities. It may sound weird to some since others find road trips really stressful. Maybe it will one day occur to me but that day, when I was on my way to Cavite, I was still feeling what I always feel aboard a bus going somewhere. Peaceful...just feeling the wind blow, observing the views of the places I pass by and wandering off (at least in my mind).

I was just a bit worried after realizing that I was to be the last girl on board and it was getting darker at a place where I was completely a stranger. Thankfully, my seatmate offered where I should stop and hail a tricycle going to the venue where my cousin was.

After finally arriving around 7pm at Daluyan Community Center in Shoreline Kabalikat Office, my cousin met me at the gate and brought me inside the conference hall where participants were just packing up for the day.

I was glad to see Sir Miko - the main facilitator and consultant for the said project. Aside from the fact that he is one of the mentors Hedz and I look up to, he is also a close friend of my former bosses.

Some of the participants were just heading for the pool while Sir Miko was looking forward to his "Bentusa" session. Hedz was just contended to know she will have someone to sleep with. We walked towards her room at the 2nd floor of the other building overlooking the swimming pool. She was sharing the room with two other participants but she had the "good for two" bed so I was welcome to settle beside her. After refreshing, Hedz and I were ready to just spend the night talking (as usual). A few minutes later however, we heard knocks on the door. Turned out, Hedz' room mate was also up for a "Bentusa" session. The program they were handling actually had beneficiaries who administer the "Bentusa" - herbs applied in certain parts of the body that is aching for a soothing and healing effect.

Hedz and I got curious. Actually it was a nostalgic activity since my cousin and I grew up to a family that is very used to the traditional hilot and of course in some similar sessions as "bentusa" where either our Nanay Peling, Tiya Rosa, Auntie Necie and my mom uses cloth with certain herbal leaves to patch the aching parts of our body. For that reason, we both find it hard for anybody to compare with the kind of therapy they give us. It was already imbibed in our systems like having standards in their hilot where anyone not meeting that will only make us more stressed. hahaha

Anyway, we observed the Bentusa session with much curiosity and I asked the person instituting it if she was also into massage and of course blessed with luck that day, she agreed to massage me after putting the patches of cloth with herbs to Ate Gaya. In my mind, I was just looking forward to a therapeutic getaway and it was already the massage opportunity that presented itself in my room! perfect.

While Hedz looked like she actually needed it, she was worried about the usual not-meeting-the-standards we have developed. I however, was just so tired that I can consider any kind of massage already. Another knock on the door...an older lady came in and informed Ate Gaya that Sir Miko was already asleep during the massage, she did not bother waking him up to ask where to put the bentusa. We were all laughing and then I told Hedz, maybe she can just try it for herself instead of the massage. In the end though, I had a wonderful out-of-the-house massage ever with probably a million burps (my indicator that the massage had actually and effect to me) and Hedz was also loosing the resistance of not being massaged after the bentusa session. We just found two masseuses leveling off with our standards!Although I must admit I just learned the english version of our manghihilot.haha


[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]

This is the only exception to the manipulation rule! - being massaged...Thank you for one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy. A massage truly helps the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being. It relieves stress, encourages relaxation, improves circulation and posture, lowers blood pressure, helps manage pain, relaxes muscles,improves flexibility and breathing, relieves tension headaches, strengthens immune system and decreases depression. Whew

I reminisced that perfect de-stressing trip in Naic while I was lying last night at the Nuat Thai bed in Pearl Plaza. The masseuse was not exactly as good as the one I had in Naic but I also felt better relaxed after the session. (I should really find that oil they are using) hehe

Maru was just getting the bill when I heard the staff talking in bisaya. I asked in Visayan dialect "bisaya mong tulo?" (Are the three of you Visayan?) to which they smilingly quirped, "bisaya ming tanan nga staff dere" (All the staff here are Visayan). haha I was amazed that one of them was also from Bohol while the others were from Cebu. I felt a deep sense of pride for I know the art of massaging entails care...and Visayans have always been attributed to being very good care givers.

My friend and I left the building with smiles on our faces and a more relaxed mind and body. I however, felt closer to home =)