Bontoc Celebrations

I arrived in Bontoc, and settled into my payag. A payag is like a cottage on the ocean, and this is a beautiful one. Unlike many of the homes which are cinder block with a tin roof, this payag is in the traditional style with wood and bamboo and a nipa roof. I am literally on the water. At high tide, the water is under the house and I can hear the lapping of the waves. There are so many kids here, and I have taught several to juggle already. Filipino kids really seem well coordinated compared to American kids and they love to perform so learning how to juggle is just another way to do that. Many of the kids remember Asa and Elliot from two years ago, and today as I was playing my flute one of them said, "Two boys." His English did not extend much farther than that and finally I realized what he was talking about, and said, "Yes, Elliot and Asa."

Bontoc is not a big town but yesterday it celebrated its 59th year as a town and there was a parade with four marching bands. The bands have drummers, people playing chimes, girls twirling batons, and drum majorettes. Then there were hundreds of kids and adults joining in. During the evening there was a disco. Generally what I have noticed is that small towns have a city hall and a covered pavilion with a basketball court. That was where the disco was held, and there must have been between one and two thousand people dancing there! The speakers were put on so loud that I was expecting that people in Chicago would be able to hear. The mayor here has gotten to know me, and I was seated next to the chief of police who ordered me to dance. Hey, I always do what the chief of police orders!! And I am thankful that Filipinos are polite enough not to laugh at my dancing even though lots smiled. ha ha

The Philippines has so many friendly people, and I have made it a habit of saying hi to everyone who looks my way, and invariably people will wave back or ask where I am from.

I have recently begun to see signs that medical tourism and eco-tourism are being included among the sources of livelihood here. Medicine, nautical and information technology are the three biggest programs that my students are going into, and I have made a note to see if I can get some people to mentor some of the kids here in information technology.

Well, I have to run now. Literally. ha ha

Human Sardines

The students I have in Manila are some of the greatest kids I have ever met, and so are the people in the Mission Ministeries Philippines. However, I so much prefer the provinces to Manila. Manila is big and congested, and the provinces are just so beautiful and friendly.

I took a plane to Tacloban where I splurged and stayed in the Leyte Hotel. It is a beautiful place and the evening I was there I saw a singer guitarist perform. The sign said her name was Linda David and she reminded me of my great friends Ester Hana and Danny Buenconsejo. When she asked for requests, I asked if she would sing Freddy Aquilar's song "Anak." I actually met Freddy Aquilar the first time I was in the Philippines. If you haven't heard it, get on YouTube and listen to it. Better yet, call up Ester Hana and ask to hear her version of it.

Next day I took a van to Sogod. It only took an hour for the van to fill up but when there were fifteen of us, they were ready to go. A few miles down the road we got a 16th passenger and like sardines we made our way South. It always amazes me to see how Filipinos seem to get so many people into a a vehicle.

The vendors at the bus stops seem to look forward to seeing Americans and selling peanuts, sunglasses, mangoes and everything else under the sun. The bargaining is great fun and goes on a a relatively furious pace.

Cold Weather

I took my students from last year to Quezon Circle yesterday and while we bicycling through the park we were caught in a rainstorm and flood. It was great fun. And today I went swimming and I swear when the clouds came in it was cold.

I repeat--it was cold!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come to the Philippines to avoid Chicago's heat! New advertising strategy!

Busy Beginning

July 25, 2009

The plane rides to the Philippines were long and eventful. I thought for a while that I would miss my connection in San Fransisco, and nearly lost my wallet. But a wonderful Chinese student came running up to me to return it. I was grateful that I gave him a big hug then ran on the plane. Wish I knew his name so I could thank him.

By the time I reached Manila I had been traveling for 27 hours, and I had been awake for fourteen hours before I even started. I know that I slept about two hours, but it could have been more. I took a taxi first to visit Mary Joyce and her family in Payatas. You might remember her if you look on my blog from two years ago. We had a good time visiting and then I took Mary Joyce's older sister Kaye and her brother Moy to Jolliebee to eat. My good friend Flor came to get me to take me to Payatas where I have done tutoring in the past. After I put my head down for a short nap, I fell sound asleep for four hours.

Today was wonderful.

I went to a poor area called Pinalagad Malinta Valenzuela where the group that I am staying with--Mission Ministries Phillipines- has a program and gives food to kids. I juggled for the kids there, and had a great time with them. Then I met with five students that I tutored last year and the year before. I took them to a mall and had them buy clothes. Then we went to a restaurant where I met my old friend Sterling and her three month old son. She is from Bohol and is married to an American, and may after all this time get a Visa to the US. Once there I called up Jo Jo Sayson who is in in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. He introduced me to one of his military friends, Jerry Simon, who is helping them set up a school in Zambales for Aeta children. My students were quite impressed. I am not sure that they have been in malls much and it was there first time going on the train. Jo Jo was in some television programs a couple of years ago playing spiderman. I will videotape the students tomorrow when we go to the ecopark.