Overview:

The Pangilinan Clan embarks on a summer vacation at Laiya Beach in San Juan, Batangas. The Kennedys, visiting from the United States, reunite with their Filipino relatives—the Pangilinans, Sevillas, and Argentes—strengthening family bonds across generations. Selena cherishes the time spent with her sisters, Thalia and Ellie, as well as her brothers, Greg and Ronald, while reconnecting with their parents, Emily and Al. Meanwhile, the younger generation—James, Benjamin, Michael, Mary, and Sophie—join their cousins, Allison and Topher, in enjoying the many activities the resort has to offer, making the most of their time together.

Carlisle, the butler, assisted Topher, his young companion, as they climbed the steps of the towering water slide. Together, they zoomed down—whirling around curves, dipping into sudden drops—until they splashed into the pool at the bottom.

“That was fun, Carlisle!” Topher exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

“I’m glad you had fun, bud,” Carlisle replied, smiling.

Topher, with a mischievous grin, aimed his water gun at his mother, Selena, who was floating leisurely on a large inflatable bed. He sprayed her with a burst of water.

“That’s naughty, son,” Selena said lightheartedly, wiping the water from her face.

“Sorry, Mom, but it’s too much fun!” Topher giggled in response.

Afterward, Topher and his father, Bill, engaged in a game of tossing an inflatable beach ball back and forth in the pool.

“I scored, Dad! You missed the ball!” Topher shouted gleefully as Bill failed to catch the ball.

“Yep, I lost this round,” Bill conceded, shaking his head with a chuckle.

Topher climbed onto his father’s shoulders, declaring, “We’re coming for you, Mom!”

Bill, with Topher perched high, waded across the pool. “Yeah, we’re coming!” he echoed.

Meanwhile, Carlisle captured the moment with his DSLR camera, framing the joyful scene. “You all look great together,” the butler remarked, admiring the family through his lens.

It was a large, bustling public pool with families scattered about, enjoying the warm midday sun. The main attraction was the sprawling network of water slides, fountains, and play areas, all under the watchful eye of the lifeguard perched atop a tall chair.

The following day, the Kennedy family and Carlisle found themselves seated for lunch at Aling Corazon, the main restaurant of the beach resort. Selena was determined to give Bill, Topher, and Carlisle an authentic taste of Filipino cuisine.

“Since you two like spicy food, here’s some laing,” Selena said, passing a dish to Bill and Carlisle.

“What’s laing?” Bill asked, eyeing the dish curiously.

“It’s taro leaves, either shredded or whole, cooked in thick coconut milk with meat or seafood. It’s seasoned with chili, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, ginger, and shrimp paste. This is a specialty from Bicol, where it’s called pinangat,” Selena explained.

“Sounds incredible!” Carlisle said enthusiastically as he and Bill took generous helpings.

“This is amazing!” Bill praised the dish after taking a bite.

“I couldn’t agree more. It’s fiery but delicious!” Carlisle added.

“I’m so glad you both like it,” Selena said, smiling.

Turning to her son, Selena introduced the dessert. “Topher, this is bilo-bilo.”

“What’s bilo-bilo, Mom?” Topher asked curiously.

“It’s a dessert made of glutinous rice balls in coconut milk with sugar. We add jackfruit, bananas, sweet potatoes, taro, and tapioca pearls. This recipe comes from Luzon,” she explained.

Topher tasted a spoonful and beamed. “I love it, Mom!”

“I’m so happy to hear that!” Selena said, cuddling him.

As Topher finished his dessert, he said, “The iced tea is good, but I want something else, Mom.”

“What do you want? We can order it for you,” Selena replied, ready to indulge her son.

“No, Mom, I can do it myself. I’ll go to the cashier,” Topher said confidently, pointing toward the bar.

“Let him be. Our little man is growing up,” Bill said, supporting Topher’s independence, though Selena still seemed a bit protective.

Topher confidently walked over to the bar and climbed onto one of the stools. “Can I order a watermelon shake, please?” he asked the teenage girl behind the counter.

“Of course!” the cashier replied with a smile, amused by Topher’s politeness.

She quickly set to work, slicing watermelon, removing the seeds, and blending it with crushed ice, condensed milk, and water. Topher watched in anticipation as the ingredients mixed.

“Here you go, young sir, with a slice of watermelon on top,” she said, handing him the freshly blended shake.

“Thank you! My name is Topher, by the way,” he introduced himself, proudly holding his drink.

“What a lovely name. I’m Roanne,” the girl said warmly.

Roanne Reyes Mallari, fifteen years old, had long, straight black hair tied in a neat braid down her back. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she smiled, her tan skin complementing the floral orange blouse and white pants she wore as part of her uniform.

“There’s my younger sister, Kate. She’s a waitress here, too,” Roanne pointed to another girl across the restaurant, taking orders from a group of tourists. “We work here during our summer vacation.”

“Thanks for telling me! I guess that makes us friends now,” Topher said happily.

“Yes, you’ve made a new friend today, little man,” Roanne said kindly.

The other day at Ashford Residences, the Sevilla family—Eric, Thalia, their daughter Allison, and their maid, Morissette—rode the elevator. Morissette pressed the button for the basement, and the doors slid shut as the lift descended.

When the doors opened, the family stepped into the underground parking garage. Eric carried a bag and pulled a piece of luggage behind him. Thalia followed, her shoulder bag hanging over her arm as she held Allison’s hand. Bringing up the rear, Morissette managed the rest of the luggage, a mix of Thalia’s and Allison’s belongings.

As they walked past rows of cars, Eric pressed the key fob, and his dark gray car chirped, “Beep, beep, beep, beep,” leading the family toward it.

Opening the trunk, Eric began loading their bags. “Thalia, why did you and Allison bring so much? We’re only staying in Laiya, Batangas, for five days.”

“These are all essentials, Enrico,” Thalia replied firmly. “Allison and I have our outfits planned for the entire trip. Do you want your wife and daughter looking shabby at a high-end resort?”

Eric sighed internally. There’s no point arguing—when she makes up her mind, it’s final. Begrudgingly, he tried to make the bulky luggage fit in the trunk as best he could.

Allison’s luggage, covered in sparkly pink accents, caught Morissette’s eye, who smiled at the girl’s flamboyant style.

The Sevillas piled into the car. Eric took the driver’s seat, with Thalia beside him, while Morissette sat in the back with Allison. The sheen of the dark gray car gleamed as it exited the basement parking and emerged onto the surface.

Meanwhile, in the Pangilinan family van, Greg, the father, was driving while his wife, Martha, sat beside him. The stereo played:

Umiiyak ang puso ko’t sumisigaw

Pati ang isip ko’t damdamin ay humihiyaw

Buhay kong ito ay walang halaga

Kung ang pagmamahal mo ay mawawala pa

…

• Lyrics from “Umiiyak ang Puso” by April Boy Regino, Greatest Hits – The Legends Series

In the back, James was playing Uno with his younger sister, Mary, on an improvised table. After dealing seven cards to both of them, James flipped the top card from the draw deck: a yellow seven.

“I’ll go first, clockwise order,” James declared, placing his own yellow seven on top of the discard pile.

“I don’t have a seven, but I have a red!” Mary grinned as she played a red skip card, making James lose his turn.

“Aw, bummer! But it’s okay—ladies first. I’m a gentleman,” James said, winking playfully.

Sitting beside them, their younger sister, Sophie, was engrossed in Peppa Pig on her tablet. “If you are jumping up and down in muddy puddles, you must wear your boots!” Peppa Pig said.

Loud crunching came from Michael, who was enjoying his cheese-flavored corn chips.

Benjamin, the eldest brother, quietly watched the cityscape from the window seat. The family van passed over the Metro Manila Skyway, an elevated expressway, and crossed the San Juan River as they traveled through different parts of the city.

Down in Laiya Beach, San Juan, Batangas, the extended family was busy preparing lunch. Grandma Emily was stir-frying canton noodles with vegetables, meat, and seafood in a large pan.

Ansel, Mr. Argente, coated chicken pieces in seasoned breadcrumbs. As instructed by his wife, Ellie, he dipped each piece in egg yolk before passing them to her. Ellie fried the breaded chicken in a hot pan, turning each piece until they were golden brown.

Nearby, Ronald helped Grandpa Al pour a gelatin mixture into plastic cups. The mixture had a creamy texture thanks to the evaporated and condensed milk. Afterward, Ronald placed the tray of cups into the freezer.

“Inay, why are we cooking? We could just order takeout from Aling Corazon,” Ronald said as he watched his mother stir-fry the noodles.

“Anak, preparing meals ourselves is different. It’s special. This way, we show our love and appreciation by giving our time and effort to those we care about. That’s something money can’t buy,” Emily explained, her tone gentle but firm.

Soon, the Pangilinan family arrived at the resort. As they exited the family van, they headed toward the lobby. Leading the way were Greg and Martha, followed by their three sons: Benjamin, James, and Michael.

Benjamin, the second child, wore eyeglasses that hinted at his nearsightedness. His style was smart casual, often blending formal wear into his everyday outfits. He was rarely seen without a waistcoat or tie and always carried his dual-display wristwatch for timekeeping, along with a large leather sling bag to hold his essentials.

James, the eldest, had his headphones around his neck, connected to the MP3 player in his pocket. Fashion was important to him—he always followed the latest trends. Though his guitar wasn’t in his hands at the moment, it was either nearby or strapped to his back, ready to be played.

Michael, the third child, was the athletic one. Even when off the court, he wore his basketball team’s varsity jacket—a red one with a lion logo and his last name printed on the back. If he wasn’t in the jacket, he was sporting his Red Lions tank top and shorts. His basketball was his constant companion, either in hand or spinning on his finger as he walked.

Mary held Sophie’s hand, watching over her little sister with care. Unlike her brothers, whose personalities vividly showed in what they wore, Sophie hadn’t yet figured out her style. For now, she seemed to favor headbands, dainty yellow dresses, and matching accessories.

At the lobby entrance, the Sevilla family made a grand entrance—thirty minutes late to the agreed meeting time of 11:00 a.m. Thalia, with her oversized hat and flowing dress, turned heads as she walked in. Her husband, Eric, cringed slightly, embarrassed by the unnecessary attention.

Allison had ditched her usual braids for loose waves crowned with a bow. She sported pink sunglasses, quite literally seeing the beach through rose-colored lenses. Her ensemble was completed with gold jewelry—earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet—along with a bolero over a tube top, a large belt over her miniskirt, and high-heeled boots. Even her luggage sparkled with glitz and glamour.

Struggling behind them, Morissette wrestled with the bags, especially Thalia’s overstuffed luggage packed with dresses.

“Can I help you with the luggage, Miss?” a man’s voice offered.

“It’s okay, I can manage,” Morissette replied politely.

“I insist,” the man said, stepping forward to assist.

Morissette turned to thank him but found herself speechless as she laid eyes on Carlisle, the Kennedys’ dashing butler. His perfect smile revealed white teeth, and his captivating green eyes left her momentarily stunned.

Oh my God, I must be dreaming, Morissette thought, as time seemed to slow, and Carlisle became the center of her universe.

Meanwhile, Topher, excited to see his cousin Allison, skated toward her with his father, Bill, not far behind. Rolling on his roller skates, Topher looked like he was ready for an outdoor adventure. He wore a down gilet with a hood, a camouflage shirt, khaki pants, and a water-resistant wristwatch equipped with a timer and stopwatch. He was always prepared for the outdoors, even if it meant blending into the woods.

“Hey, Allison! Long time no see!” Topher greeted his cousin exuberantly and pulled her into a bro handshake-hug, though she responded awkwardly.

I’m a girl, you know, Allison thought to herself.

“Cuz, good to see you again. Good morning, Uncle Bill,” Allison said, warmly greeting her cousin and uncle.

“How’ve you been, Allison?” Bill asked.

“I’m doing great, Uncle. I’m confident I’ll ace my next commercial audition,” Allison replied proudly.

“That’s the spirit, Allison. I know you’ll be a big star someday,” Bill said, offering his encouragement.