Page 69 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

Misadventure

in Bangkok

with Bhanu

Maria Corazon Ungab-Mesiona
21 February 2024

I first met Bhanu before he and Divina left Manila for Bangkok. He was very glad to meet
me because I was supportive of their relationship. I could see that they were happy together.

Several years later, I met Bhanu again, when another friend of ours, Renie, and I visited them in
Thailand. It was my first trip to Thailand. I was so excited. I bought a long roll of film and took
pictures from the airport up to Bhanu and Divina’s house. I just kept taking photos almost non-
stop. After a while, Bhanu noticed that despite the many pictures I took, I had not used up my
roll of film. I also noticed it. When I opened my camera, I found out that I had not loaded the

film after all! The film was in my bag all the while, not inside the camera. I was so embarrassed
that I ran to the bedroom and hid my blushing face from everyone. We all had a good laugh,
including Bhanu who kept teasing me about it during the rest of our visit. Divina and I still laugh

at the memory of that funny and embarrassing incident.
My camera misadventure aside, what I remember most during our visit was Bhanu as a very
hospitable host. Although he was busy working, he still managed to take us around Bangkok to
show us the main tourist sites and taught us where to take the right bus so we could go around
the city on our own. He entertained us well because we were Divina’s friends.

May Bhanu rest in the eternal glory of heaven!

Maria Corazon (Cora) teaches courses in Science, Technology, Philosophy, and Sociology at
Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary in Davao, Philippines. Previously, she taught biology at
high schools in New York City. She has a master’s degree in Teaching Biology and Teaching
Religious Education from Ateneo De Davao University in Davao, Philippines.

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