14 THE FARM

Ely Yamadachi is not ignorant of the Philippines because her mother is also a farm girl and her wife also being a daughter of a sugar and coffee tycoon. They sometimes go to a jungle style of adventure.

He called Jacky the night before, told her that she will not wait for him in the apartment but in the school because he needs to buy something to bring to the farm.

Ely spent the night in the hotel prepared by the company for his stay here in General Santos City, a hotel walking distance to SM Mall, the Greenleaf. He had a coffee then after, walked, and had some exercise in the road and felt the cool breeze from the Sarangani bay, He waited a little bit and SM was open.

He bought a tent, a 50 lbs backpack, bushcraft survival tools like a folding knife, a fire starter magnesium rod, a Leatherman multitool, a folding saw, a hatchet, a first aid bag, a hammock, a camping cooking set, a camping stove, a water purifier filter system, chlorine tabs, iodine, condiments and powdered spices, three Northface Jackets, Salomon Hiking Shoes, and some MREs a ready to eat food, and a solar charging system for cellphone, laptop power supply.

He went to the grocery store, get 5 kilos of fresh chicken, 5 kilos of pork and 5 kilos of beef bought a styrofoam box to put it. He gets a box of assorted canned cola and juices.

He bought a bow and arrow in the sports store and four fishing rods and fishing accessories.

"This will be fun". He thought I miss camping and the jungle hiking adventure, me and Luz are fond of dating back then on the farm, forest, or just nature tripping.

Now that I have the gear, I will bring Luz here next time, I'll just practice again and prepare my bushcraft skills.

He paid all by his credit card and deposit it to the guard and went back to the hotel to take a bath have breakfast and get the stuff in the Mall with the rented car. It's a four-wheel drive, Toyota Landcruiser Prado.

"Hello, my baby girl, how are you?" Ely opened a video call via messenger and Jacky's face went up first, then Luz also. " Hello, my love, you postponed your trip home, what is the plan today?" Luz relaxing on her sofa, it is her rest day in Japan. "We are going to the farm, Mother! I wish you are here with us." Jacky said. "Wow! you are having an adventure without me..." Luz said. " Don't worry darling, this is just a preparation, I will bring you here with me next time for sure. We will visit the family of Martha, I just want to discuss how we can help find her in Japan." Ely said. "OK, have a nice trip, keep safe and you Jacky, have an anti-mosquito lotion just in case, malaria is rampant in the tropics." Luz reminded her. "Yes mother, Hey Dad, I already finished submitting my project, Juan is waiting here, he felt nervous, hahaha," Jacky said. "What, Juan is there? Can you say hi to me?" Luz teasing her. "I will mother, hahaha," Jacky said laughing. " We will go, for now, my love, bye, love you," Ely said. " Love you Mom" Jacky waved. "Love you both, take care" Luz waved also.

Ely drove to SM mall, get the boxes, and all of the stuff he bought, and put it in the back of the car. He headed to the school to fetch Jacky and Juan.

When both Juan and Jacky went to the car, it made a scene in the school. Rose, said in her mind thinking, "I think it is confirmed that these two are already in a relationship". They deny it but now even her Dad approved their relationship.

All the guys and gals looked at the two going to the car, bringing their backpacks.

Ely waved to Juan to sit in the front and signaled Jacky to sit in the back. Juan shyly opened the car door, "Good morning" Ely greeted them. "Good morning, Sir, I'm just OK in the back Sir?" Juan said. "No, I want to talk to you as we travel," Ely answered. Juan had no choice obeyed and put on the seat belt.

Jacky grinning, " What is my Dad doing?" in her mind.

She sat in the back attached the seat belt in the back and looked at Juan who is uneasy. Jacky pat his shoulder and said jokingly, "My Dad will not eat you"

They laughed and it relaxed them.

Ely set the car GPS with Juan's assistance to locate the farm in Olympog, General Santos City.

They started passing the highway going to Davao cemented road, then to Conel, then they turn to an off-road to the rest of the trip. It is a going up to climb, but it is easy for a four-wheel-drive car. The farm is near Sanchez Peak an ecotourism place. You can see the Mount Matutum volcano and the breeze is getting cool.

The car FM radio sang the old song " Fly Me to the moon"

"Love that song?" Jacky asked.

"You know it?" Ely said.

" Actually, I love mellow songs, I memorized the lyrics? I get it from Google." Jacky speaking to herself.

" Does your father know where coming?" Ely facing Juan who is silent as if thinking.

" I tried to contact him but the phone is out of reach, Sir. I think it is lowbat or had a breakdown. That's the oldest cell phone, my Mom gave him. He did not use it often when Mom was gone. It's only me that contact it often." Juan said sadly.

"Then this will be a total surprise," Jacky said.

The road is getting muddy due to the rain yesterday. They slowly climb the mountainous part of the trip. The four wheels are slowly sliding and gaining traction. It climbs the muddy part then the part in the side of a cliff, Ely stopped for a while and calculated the road if the car can pass safely. Juan said he will guide the car just for this part because this is the part that only one car can pass at a time. Usually, only horses and carabao pass this road, Trucks don't pass this road after the time when it had a landslide eating the half of the road.

Juan walked and guided Ely was to pass and put some stones in some part that has a big hole for the tire to pass.

Ely and Jacky enjoyed the adventure, you can see them seeing the hurdles in the road not as a problem but as a challenge for a good end.

Most of the beautiful things in life are hidden in difficult roads... " I remember what Martha said, " Going to paradise is a winding difficult road that only a few find it enjoyable" Ely remembers.

Jacky replied: "Amen"

Ely called out: " Juan, come in now, I think we passed the hard part safely."

Juan entered the car, and they continued the downward slope to the farm...

The community was surprised by a new car in the village. The village has a small market, a convenience store, and small hardware.

They stopped to buy some donuts and had a snack.

Ely stand first and said, " Just continue with your snacks I will buy some things I need."

Ely bought a new Samsung A10 cellular phone which is the only branded phone available in this store.

He went back to the children and they again continue to traverse the farm road with rice fields in the sides. Then a portion with many trees, then a small house with a bigger barn. Ely park near the barn.

A girl, ran to Juan, " Kuya, Kuya! (Elder brother), who is the art beautiful lady?" Ruthie shouting.

Jacky smiled and called her, " Hello, come here!"

"What's your name? I have donuts for you" Jacky said.

"I'm Ruthie, is that for me?" Wow! Ruthie exclaimed.

" This is Ruthie my ever baby sister. Where are Dad and Paulo?" Juan said.

Ruthie put the back of the hand of Jacky in her forehead, a Filipino sign of respect to elders... Then went to Ely to do the same... then to Juan.

" Dad is in the banana field, they are harvesting today. Kuya Paulo is painting in the fields. I'm studying my lessons and doing my assignments." Ruthie said.

"You're a good girl. I know if your Mom is here she would be happy." Ely said.

Juan invited them to their small nipa hut.

Ely called all of them to the car. "Help me with things. I have some food here, That is for all of you, Juan."

Juan, Jacky, and Ruthie help carry the grocery, food, and Ely carried his new backpack with his new things for camping.

They went to the house and Juan cooked some rice, and get some water, and cut some new firewood. While Ely and Jacky toured the pond near the house.

Ruthie went to her father to announce that there are visitors. she shouted to Paulo: Kuya Paulo, there are visitors with Kuya Juan!

"What did you say? Visitors?" Paulo hurriedly wrap up his paintings and went home to see who are the visitors.

Tony upon knowing of the visitors leave the harvest to his assistant and went to the house to meet them.

The farm is eight hectares, three hectares are owned, while the five hectares are mortgaged to them which Tony wants to buy later.

Ely and Jacky were later joined by Juan in the pond area with a bench made of bamboo and a shade made of nipa roof, a good place to relax and put some fishing rods to hook some fish.

" If you want to fish Sir, I will make some fishing rods," Juan said.

"Actually, I have three fishing rods at the back of the car because I know it will be an opportunity to fish here or in the river," Ely said

Juan sees his father walking in a hurry to their direction.

" Dad is here. Hello Dad, This is Sir Ely Yamadachi, the first employer of Mom in Japan, and this is Jacky, his daughter, the baby Mom told us." Juan gets his father's hands and puts it in his forehead. Jacky imitated Juan and bow Japanese style. Ely and Tony had a handshake.

" You are welcome here in our humble home. Thank you for coming. I'm so happy to know you and to see the lady Martha is always telling us about. It's just sad that she is not around to welcome you." Tony said with Misty eyes.

"Sorry for what happened Tony, I wish we can help to find here. That's one of the reasons we visit here to figure out a way to find her in Japan." Ely said.

" That is good news, I'm so happy to know that. Let's have some food first, so we can talk more." Tony said.

" We brought some food for you, we will help with the cooking and preparation," Ely said.

" No, you are guests here, just relax, thanks for the food that you bring, we will grill some chicken and soup. Have some bananas, if you please." Tony replied.

While Ely and Tony are talking. Juan went to the kitchen and dressed two native chickens and cooked a "tinola" with, unripe papaya and moringa leaves. And the rest are grilled. Jacky helped beside Ruthie with the grilling.

" I bought you something Tony, I believe you need this so we can contact you anytime regarding Martha and we can update you anytime," Ely said.

He gets a box in his backpack.

"What's this? Tony asked.

"Just open it, it's yours," Ely said.

"Wow, a new cellphone? This is too much Ely." Tony said, "I can't repay you."

"Tony, we are indebted to Martha and you, besides that is our gift, we know will be of great help to both of us, for our communication.

" Thanks, I feel this is so much," Ely said.

" Don't worry, we will talk and ask you some documents to identify Martha that's what I need to bring when I went home to Japan on Monday" Ely said.

Both men embraced, " Brothers! Tony and Ely said. Tomorrow we can't be absent from our chapel, we invite you to be with us. Tony said.

"Sure! Ely said.