Good Friday 2025: Balut, Stroll, and Stillness in Butuan

April 18, 2025 — Good Friday.

Originally, I was supposed to join my fraternity brothers and sisters for the annual Panaad walk in Anticala. Every year, it’s something my husband and I look forward to—spiritual, reflective, and physically challenging in the best way. But this time, things didn’t line up. May mga kailangan akong tapusin, and to be honest, I wasn’t feeling well din. So I stayed home and tried to just rest.

Fast forward to around 7 PM, my husband suddenly said, “Tara, spa tayo. Para marelax ka.” And honestly, it sounded so good. After being cooped up in the house for days—working, thinking, stressing—who wouldn’t want a little hilot time, di ba?

We have a favorite spa here in Butuan, a go-to place when we just need a little reset. Pero kahit pa alam namin na holiday, we still tried our luck. We went out, hoping maybe one spa—just one spa—might be open.

Quiet City, Clear Mind

True enough, most of the establishments were closed. Lahat ng spas—dark, closed, tahimik. But here’s the thing: as we were driving around the city, something shifted. What was supposed to be a simple errand turned into something else.

Ang tahimik ng Butuan that night.

The roads were clear. No traffic. The usual busy streets—calm and still. Walang ingay ng tricycle, walang hila ng mga jeepneys, and even the shops looked like they were in deep rest.

And for some reason, it felt… peaceful.

Sometimes, when you live in a place, you get so used to the noise and routine. But that night, we saw Butuan in a different light—a quieter, slower version of itself. And honestly, I loved it.

We didn’t even feel frustrated na sarado ang mga spa. We were just… driving. No rush. No destination. Just two tired souls looking for something—rest, maybe? Or just time away from the screens and the tasks waiting back home.

Balut Over Massage

Since the massage plan was officially a fail, my husband suddenly had another idea: “Maghanap na lang tayo ng balut.”

Balut over massage? Why not. 😂

We circled around a few streets until finally, we saw a vendor. Yes! But there was another small challenge—we only had 1000 pesos with us, and the manong vendor didn’t have change. So ayun, nakabili lang kami ng 4 pieces (apat lang kaya ng coins namin).

We didn’t even mind. It felt like a mini victory.

Hot balut, a chilly night breeze, the quiet hum of a resting city—somehow, it was better than we expected.

A Simple Night, A Full Heart

After that, we searched for an open sari-sari store to buy drinks. Nothing fancy. Just a quick stopover, a few cold bottles, and then we were back on the road—simple, casual, no frills.

I know it doesn’t sound like much. But in a weird way, that night gave me something I didn’t realize I needed: space to breathe.

Our house has become our office, our meeting room, our break room—basically, our everything. Working from home has its perks, yes. But sometimes, the walls start to feel a little too tight. The routine's a little too repetitive like "kakapoy ba!" in bisaya.

So going out, kahit wala talagang napuntahan or nabili, felt like a gentle pause. Like the universe telling us, “Hey, slow down a bit. You deserve peace too.”

Reflections on a Holy Day

Good Friday is all about sacrifice, stillness, and reflection. And while I didn’t make it to Anticala this year, I think I still got the message.

Sometimes, life doesn’t go according to plan. You miss the events you wanted to attend. You stay home when your soul wants to be somewhere else. You trade one kind of rest for another.

But you know what? That’s okay.

I found God in the quiet streets of Butuan that night. In the space between stoplights. In the simplicity of balut and a good conversation. In the cool air that brushed my face while I leaned at the back of my husband. In the silence that didn’t demand anything from me.

Not all spiritual moments happen on a mountain trail or inside a church. Some happen while you’re sitting on the street, cracking open balut with your best friend in life.

Final Thoughts

This Good Friday taught me that peace doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes, peace is just… a drive around town, a few missed spas, a lucky balut find, and the quiet company of someone who gets you.

To those who also spent Holy Week differently this year—maybe not the way you imagined or hoped—I feel you. But I hope you also found your own kind of stillness. Your own little miracle.

Sometimes, it’s not about where you go. It’s about how present you are in the moment.

Until next time, Butuan. 💛

Love,
Dee Mayang