Almost …
Pitong tulog na lang, Jollibee na naman
ang araw lulubog, sa Linggo’y mabubusog
sa Chicken Joy manok, at Yumburger bilog!
Yes, after ten thousand years, Manila, we’re almost there! It’s been long - too long, in fact - and we can’t wait to see our lupang sinilangan (well, except Julia). I’ve been listening again to my OPM MP3s to slowly condition myself - the gooey sentimental songs of Regine, Gary, and some of the oldies like Rico J., HotDogs, etc. And even listening sometimes to 89.9 over the net. 
Anything to remind me that in just a short time, I’ll be smelling again the real world, not the sanitized air of America.
I remember that as soon as we confirmed we were really going home (Feb, I think?), you know what Lian and I immediately discussed? Where we will eat first. Yes, gluttons to the bone. Jollibee was the first to come to our mind. Yes, Jollibee. Busy, noisy, greasy Jollibee. And this time, we promised, we won’t hold back - no more one-piece Chicken Joy meals, or plain hamburger (is it still Php 29?) meals. We’d go easy on the rice (our small contribution to the rice crisis) for sure. 
Then, we’d go to our then-regular hang-outs: Piadina, Bon Appetit, Via Mare (Lian loves their bibingka, I love their tuyo), Shakey’s, that Japanese resto just before you reach the Greenbelt 2 cinemas, Leslie’s in Tagaytay. Oh, just thinking about the gastronomical possibilities! This will be one Frodo-esque adventure in food. By Chris’ wedding, we’d probably be walking barrels. Good luck to that gown for Lian.
I remember telling this to my sister, and she was surprised that of all the things we’d miss, Jollibee was the first restaurant that came to our mind. I guess she didn’t think that we were that into Aga’s favorite fast food. But I guess deep down, what we really miss about home isn’t merely the food, but the fact that we’re eating our versions of comfort food. If we bite into one of those crispylicious juicy chickens, we know that, at least at that one singular point in time, we are home. Finally.
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