Going home but it doesn't feel like so

 


"Hi Kuya, Papa is vomitting. We're going to DMSF hospital to admit him. I'll update [you] from time to time", my wife's half sister texted me *Dec 1, 2021.

 Like a nightmare that comes true, this is the text that I have been so fearful to receive. I told my wife immediately and we both were anxious to know what would happen. 


December 2, 2021

 Papa's situation was worse than we imagined, the doctors said that he was suffering from septic shocks, a life-threatening condition due to infections in his body. 

We were preparing for the worst and began planning to fly back home. 

I checked my passport, alas, it was about to expire in just less than 6-month time. I had to renew it immediately. My wife's passport is still valid because the Philippines government always issues a ten-year passport period. There is still plenty of time before it expires

We decided to proceed with all the airline reservations, a bit risky but we had to do it or else we would lose more time if we have to wait until the passport is finally issued. 

My wife thought that we should find a direct flight into Davao not via Manila because we could get stalled in a hotel in Manila to quarantine. 

Luckily, we found a good route from Kupang, Jakarta, Singapore to Davao, without stopping over in Manila. 

All bookings were made, except the flight going out from Jakarta to Singapore, because the online ticket platform did not allow me to book my ticket since the passport was expiring. 


December 3, 2021

All my passport requirements were submitted to the immigration office of Kupang. I was grateful that the immigration office staff of Kupang had always been, most of the time, professional. I paid the fee at the Bank and prayed that it would only take two or three days for my passport to be issued.

December 7, 2021

I was surprised! My passport was done. All I had to do was to sign and I got my passport. I didn't even have to go out and photocopy it like it used to. Maybe I was lucky because I had my lucky charm, Kayla, with me. Several times in the past that I had to go to the immigration office for my passport or my wife's stay permit, she would accompany me and mostly those visits were successful. 




December 9, 2021

The flight from Kupang to Jakarta was smooth. It was so heartbreaking to say goodbye to Kayla and her pack. This would be the first time for Maxi and his puppies to be away from us, but it's equally sad too that we had to leave Kayla again after going through almost two full years at home. 



Our first and, actually, the biggest challenge we had during our trip home was with the check-in staff at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta airport. She has never encountered anyone travelling to Davao from Jakarta, so she was grappling with all the requirements for the arrival in the Philippines, and began asking questions about our RT/PCR test being not written in English, Quarantine Hotel and Davao QR code, which she had little understanding about. 

We tried to explain the system but to no success. We were left waiting until the last moment before the boarding time and a group of them came and tried to talk to us and justify all the back and forth of the requirements. 

They eventually checked in our luggage and off we went to the boarding gate. Going through immigration was smooth but the gate took about 15 minute-walk, we just directly boarded the plane and went to our seats. The plane was half full. Off we were departing to Singapore. 

Changi Airport

The waiting game began. We arrived at Terminal 2 of Changi airport but our connecting flight to Davao would be in the following day and the plane would depart from Terminal 3. 

Changi airport was unusually quiet than during normal times, but still a lot better than Jakarta airport. A lot of the stores and restaurants were closed. 

We went around looking for a place to spend the night, we found an area behind the H&M store that was being renovated. It was quiet by the window, we sat there and started waiting. 


 

December 10, 2021

The plane was delayed by an hour but the flight was pleasant. It took almost three hours from Singapore to Davao.  As usual, it was a bit bumpy as the plane approached Francisco Bangoy airport in Davao but the touchdown was smooth. The airport was named after Don Francisco Bustamante Bangoy, the first congressman representing Davao Province in 1931.

All passengers were ushered to wait in line before being called. We had to go through an interview process with the bureau of quarantine and then proceed to clearance from the department of tourism to assign us to our booked quarantine hotel. The whole process took at least an hour and half before we could get our luggage and be picked up by the hotel car. 


The trip from the airport to the quarantine hotel felt different. I used to feel very excited before because I knew I'd be meeting my wife and spending a vacation in Davao. 

If we travelled together, we were so excited to meet papa again. This time was different. We just stared silently at the busy road outside. The sun was setting down already. The road didn't look as busy as it used to. 

This time we had to go home to take care of papa. He is fighting for his life at the intensive care unit of Davao Medical School Hospital. 

We're home but it doesn't feel like coming home at all. oh and the day was actually our 12th year wedding anniversary. 


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