Dutch Ukay
We fetched dad at the airport earlier this morning. He just got back from Amsterdam, after three weeks of work-cum-leisure trip that was sponsored by the World Press Photo.

His pasalubongs? Haha!

Dad narrated his experience during the Queen's Day -- a day of festivities in the entire city in honor of... well. their queen. He said it was celebrated in such a way that the Dutch would set-up street bazaars from left and right-- their old jackets, books!, clothes, shoes, bags, shades, etc. were sold at very low prices.

He only noticed it late afternoon, when majority of the sellers were already going home. While looking at the items and picking potential pasalubongs from various stalls for us, his family from back home, he asked one of the pedestrian passersby where the sellers were, as if signalling that he'll pay for the items he was holding. To my dad's amazement, the guy said: "Oh... you can take them." 

Ohmyf*ckinggod. He looked at the street stretch and saw the long line of goods left by its sellers -- which may now just be collected... all his - free for the taking! 

Ukay galore, really! To my dad's mind, if only the Ukay merchandisers in the Phils. were there, it would have been heaven for them.

Sadly, he wouldn't want to pay (and couldn't afford!) the excess baggage charges at the airport, so he only brought home one boxful (one box!) of items, just right for me (I soooooo looooovvveee my new Amsterdam collection of tops, skirts, pants and jackets, hehe), Kokoy (he's loving his sweaters and pantssss), Jong (just like Kokoy's), Isay (she's wearing some later when we hear mass), and Mom (her favorite's the Givenchy shades).

Dad could only laugh at himself for being like a basurero. Eh kinapalan na daw niya mukha niya, tutal wala namang nakakakilala sa kanya don. Hahaha!

My mom would scold me for proclaiming to the world (in this "secret" blog) that we're wearing Ukays, but ohwell. This is news, baby. I swear if I'll ever go to Amsterdam, I'd target that I'm there on the Queen's Day. As much as I hate the Philippines to be the "dumping site" of more well-off countries' goods, I'd be lying if I say I'm not gonna fall for that.

Just happy dad arrived safely. :)