January 9, 2010
Greetings Everyone!
Remember my plan to sweet talk the hotel staff about letting me into their business center on a Saturday? That went
over like a lead balloon. Plan B: walk to a local Internet cafe. I'm sitting next to a guy playing Japanese video games.
Every few seconds it sounds like someone is disemboweling himself. The sound effects are almost too much to
tolerate. I will endure, because I know how critical it is for everyone here to hear about my day (sarcasm alert).
A couple other observations before diving into today's activities. First, if you've never seen Filipino soap operas, you
are definitely missing out. I saw one tonight about a magic baby that bled on a grave and caused its inhabitant to
come alive and terrorize the locals. Quite possibly the worst written show I've ever seen, which is saying something.
The acting is even worse. The whole thing is so over the top that trying to parody this stuff is impossible. It was
knee-slapping entertainment. Should you come to the Philippines, that should be your first order of business.
The other thing which defies description deals with the traffic laws. Namely, any laws on the books are summarily
ignored. Everything goes. To give you one example, I've traveled down Commonwealth Avenue, a major eight lane
road (that assumes drivers follow the lanes, which they don't) that runs between Quezon City and Manila and
possibly beyond. Try to imagine a major freeway in your neighborhood. Cars are whizzing by at 65 miles an hour.
Now imagine large groups of people JAYWALKING across your freeway, many of them involve whole families, many of
them with infants and toddlers, and you begin to comprehend what occurs here in the Philippines. It is sheer
insanity. My jaw would drop with each attempt. Such is the life in the Third World!
Today's experience was memorable indeed. I was greeted by the irrepressible Cynthia Tiotuyco, the Manila project
director. She escorted me to the community center, where we were met by a friendly mob of children, parents,
volunteers and staff holding welcome signs and reciting greetings in unison. A wonderful way to be met. Completely
undeserved, but it was really good stuff nonetheless. The best part: meeting my lone Manila child, Jessa, an adorable
young girl (aren't they all?). I think the whole thing was captured on video. Can't wait to post it.
In addition to Jessa, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting 11 fabulous kids from other sponsors. Many of them
presented greeting cards for both me and their sponsors: Jo, Sarah, Chrystal, Jack & Tamara, Stephanie, Susan, and
Heather. I had them all read their cards aloud, though most of them spoke at whisper level. Fear not, for I will be
sending their cards to you. All of it was caught on video. I should have several hours of editing ahead of me. Try to
be patient as I balance this with catching up with my job!
I won't go into disgusting detail on the day's itinerary, since it is a repeat of so many previous visits. Suffice it to say
that Jessa is almost disgustingly sweet. Quiet and reserved, yet always ready with a smile. She held my hand
throughout the mall and seemed to secretly enjoy the attention, especially the occasional tickle.
Jessa's situation is dire. The good news: her parents are together and seem to dote on their children. The bad news:
they make about $65 per month. Excluding the one child that lives with relatives, their income is good for about 30
cents a day per person. They are currently squatting on a plot that is claimed by others, so it's not a stable
environment. All six sleep in one room, with all four kids on a paper thin mat, and the parents settling for the floor.
Now they have two mattresses. It isn't much, but the mother was eternally grateful. The look she gave me was
priceless. It is moments like that that make sponsorship so satisfying.
Lighting is another problem. A single florescent bulb is all they have - not exactly conducive for studying. Jessa now
has a small desk lamp to light the otherwise pitch dark nights. The girls also have a new badminton set, and their
brothers have toy cars to enjoy. It would not surprise me if these are the first legitimate toys they've ever received, if
that tells you how desperate their situation is.
Jessa's favorite moment: going on amusement rides. Watching her face during the roller coaster dips was worth the
price of admission. The video, if it came out, should be classic. Coming to a YouTube channel near you.
Lugging an enormous bag of rice and a ton of groceries, toys, and clothes to her home, it suddenly hit me that I had
completed a goal I had set out for myself almost two years ago: to visit and hold every one of my sponsored children.
A bittersweet memory for me. As I picked Jessa up for one last hug before climbing in the van and waving goodbye, I
realized that many of these kids may be too big for me to pick up again the next time I see them. Since I've promised
every one of them that I'll be back, I hope they're satisfied with a hug next time!
Thanks to one and all for all of the encouraging words these many months. It has been an unforgettable experience.
Here's to another round of visits, and hopefully I will get to see how they've all overcome the poverty that is their
everyday existence. What wonderful kids they are, and I am privileged to be their sponsor.
Until my next trip, all the best from the Philippines!
Greetings Everyone!
Remember my plan to sweet talk the hotel staff about letting me into their business center on a Saturday? That went
over like a lead balloon. Plan B: walk to a local Internet cafe. I'm sitting next to a guy playing Japanese video games.
Every few seconds it sounds like someone is disemboweling himself. The sound effects are almost too much to
tolerate. I will endure, because I know how critical it is for everyone here to hear about my day (sarcasm alert).
A couple other observations before diving into today's activities. First, if you've never seen Filipino soap operas, you
are definitely missing out. I saw one tonight about a magic baby that bled on a grave and caused its inhabitant to
come alive and terrorize the locals. Quite possibly the worst written show I've ever seen, which is saying something.
The acting is even worse. The whole thing is so over the top that trying to parody this stuff is impossible. It was
knee-slapping entertainment. Should you come to the Philippines, that should be your first order of business.
The other thing which defies description deals with the traffic laws. Namely, any laws on the books are summarily
ignored. Everything goes. To give you one example, I've traveled down Commonwealth Avenue, a major eight lane
road (that assumes drivers follow the lanes, which they don't) that runs between Quezon City and Manila and
possibly beyond. Try to imagine a major freeway in your neighborhood. Cars are whizzing by at 65 miles an hour.
Now imagine large groups of people JAYWALKING across your freeway, many of them involve whole families, many of
them with infants and toddlers, and you begin to comprehend what occurs here in the Philippines. It is sheer
insanity. My jaw would drop with each attempt. Such is the life in the Third World!
Today's experience was memorable indeed. I was greeted by the irrepressible Cynthia Tiotuyco, the Manila project
director. She escorted me to the community center, where we were met by a friendly mob of children, parents,
volunteers and staff holding welcome signs and reciting greetings in unison. A wonderful way to be met. Completely
undeserved, but it was really good stuff nonetheless. The best part: meeting my lone Manila child, Jessa, an adorable
young girl (aren't they all?). I think the whole thing was captured on video. Can't wait to post it.
In addition to Jessa, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting 11 fabulous kids from other sponsors. Many of them
presented greeting cards for both me and their sponsors: Jo, Sarah, Chrystal, Jack & Tamara, Stephanie, Susan, and
Heather. I had them all read their cards aloud, though most of them spoke at whisper level. Fear not, for I will be
sending their cards to you. All of it was caught on video. I should have several hours of editing ahead of me. Try to
be patient as I balance this with catching up with my job!
I won't go into disgusting detail on the day's itinerary, since it is a repeat of so many previous visits. Suffice it to say
that Jessa is almost disgustingly sweet. Quiet and reserved, yet always ready with a smile. She held my hand
throughout the mall and seemed to secretly enjoy the attention, especially the occasional tickle.
Jessa's situation is dire. The good news: her parents are together and seem to dote on their children. The bad news:
they make about $65 per month. Excluding the one child that lives with relatives, their income is good for about 30
cents a day per person. They are currently squatting on a plot that is claimed by others, so it's not a stable
environment. All six sleep in one room, with all four kids on a paper thin mat, and the parents settling for the floor.
Now they have two mattresses. It isn't much, but the mother was eternally grateful. The look she gave me was
priceless. It is moments like that that make sponsorship so satisfying.
Lighting is another problem. A single florescent bulb is all they have - not exactly conducive for studying. Jessa now
has a small desk lamp to light the otherwise pitch dark nights. The girls also have a new badminton set, and their
brothers have toy cars to enjoy. It would not surprise me if these are the first legitimate toys they've ever received, if
that tells you how desperate their situation is.
Jessa's favorite moment: going on amusement rides. Watching her face during the roller coaster dips was worth the
price of admission. The video, if it came out, should be classic. Coming to a YouTube channel near you.
Lugging an enormous bag of rice and a ton of groceries, toys, and clothes to her home, it suddenly hit me that I had
completed a goal I had set out for myself almost two years ago: to visit and hold every one of my sponsored children.
A bittersweet memory for me. As I picked Jessa up for one last hug before climbing in the van and waving goodbye, I
realized that many of these kids may be too big for me to pick up again the next time I see them. Since I've promised
every one of them that I'll be back, I hope they're satisfied with a hug next time!
Thanks to one and all for all of the encouraging words these many months. It has been an unforgettable experience.
Here's to another round of visits, and hopefully I will get to see how they've all overcome the poverty that is their
everyday existence. What wonderful kids they are, and I am privileged to be their sponsor.
Until my next trip, all the best from the Philippines!
