When I went to Morocco in 2023 for a two-week scholarship program, I only carried one cabin size and one medium size checked-in luggage bags, plus two shoulder bags. Those were enough to carry my clothes, shoes, computer, and pasalubong for the program organizers and my fellow diplomat-trainees.

As the days progressed, and we visited several areas, and bought souvenirs and goodies, I realized that the space created by the pasalubong (dried mangoes, artisanal chocolate, capiz tray) I had given away was not sufficient anymore for the things I’m bringing home. Solution? Lessen the pasalubong? or Buy a luggage bag?

The latter, of course. 😀

I found the perfect opportunity when we went to Casablanca. No! I didn’t buy it from a high-end shop. Rather, I bought it one rainy evening, when a few of my fellow trainees, the adventurous ones, slipped out of the hotel after dinner, and booked a ride to an area in Casablanca that seemed like Quiapo, Manila, in a stall which didn’t even have a proper store front and store space, but had lots of bags. (I also mentioned this in my blog entry Memorable Morocco.)

I chose this mocha-colored piece with some diamond-shaped designs. It looked study enough, wasn’t expensive (but I forgot the price now), and would stand out from a sea of black luggages at the airport baggage carousel.

Also, the vendor selling the luggage looked honest. He was serious, quiet (not the loud type selling their wares and persuading customers) and honest. Added to that, it so happened that a nearby stall sold cute fridge magnets, and key chains, which made me linger in the area.

When my brother came to visit us in Manila in 2024, he carried a canvas bag. So this one, unused for a year, became the perfect gift and he’s been using it since. The color suited him, unlike the pink one and the mint green one. Plus it was heartily given.

Let me segue a bit. A hard-shell luggage bag I bought in London when I visited my sister in 2019 during my Paris posting got lost. No, not at the airport. Not during the trip. But in the Philippines. My daughter was then employed at a call center (for work experience and because she got bored being cooped up at home during the pandemic), and her workmate needed a bag for air travel. He didn’t have one, she said. May he borrow one of your luggage bags? and he’ll just return it right after? I agreed, of course. But the ending was, he probably liked the bag so much, he didn’t return it despite repeated requests. My daughter stopped working at that company after a few months, which gave him more reason not to return it anymore.

Anyway, another lesson learned.

But let’s go back to my mocha bag. How amazing it is that a bag from a small corner of Casablanca, on a rainy evening, bought during an escapade, would find its way to Manila, carrying my memories of Morocco, and some pasalubong for family, work colleagues and friends, plus keepsakes of Morocco — a colorful bowl, a tajine plate gifted by Ms. Lamiae, a shawl for my mom, a bracelet.

Now, the luggage is in Albay, accompanying my brother in his trips. It has found its real purpose.