Friends:

My day began with a performance at Miriam College, one of the largest all girls schools in Manila. The Philippine Daily Inquirer (the Philippines’ largest newspaper), along with Scholastic Books, partnered to sponsor a reading and literacy promotion event for the preschool (co-ed) children. The children were so fun and energetic. They also loved to participate!

After my performance, I was interviewed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The article is scheduled to run in the Sunday (March 17, 2008) paper.

I was so impressed with the literacy level of these children. At 5 years old, many of them were reading! I could tell that the school and the parents worked closely with these children. Dreena del Mundo, the Principal of the Child Study Center, gave us a tour of the preschool facility. It was very impressive and well-equipped. This is one of their preschool classrooms.

I explored the playground and found the children that were in my audience playing. Here is a picture of me with some preschool girls.

Of course, the boys wanted a picture too so we took one on a “bus.” Too cute!

After my fun day with the students, my client, Meinard, took me and my cousin to The Fort, a mall area, for lunch. We ate at Gerry’s a restaurant specializing in Filipino cuisine. It was delicious (but very fattening). LOL Here is a picture of me and Katrin at The Fort.

The Philippines is so full of paradoxes. They have so many well-developed areas with “mega malls” yet the country still has such abject poverty. So many Filipinos struggle at making a living. Today, there was a transportation strike. Jeepneys and buses were not supposed to run, as a stand for higher fares. Still, I saw quite a few jeepneys in spite of the strike. They just couldn’t afford a day without pay. This is a picture of squatter housing.

Later that night, my entire family met me at the SM Mall of Asia, Asia’s largest mall, in Pasay City on Manila Bay, filled with shops and restaurants. It is rumored to take 7 days just to walk the entire mall. It’s HUGE.

We ate at a Japanese restaurant called Tempura. There were 22 of us!! My family had never eaten Japanese food before and I had fun watching them trying to master chop sticks. It was great seeing them again. Here is the gang, my aunts, my cousins, and my cousins’ children. The family has grown! There are four new children since I last visited in 2004, a new wife (my cousin Jug Jug’s wife) and a new fiance’ (my cousin, Shobe’s fiance’). Here is the gang. That is one LOOOONG table!

Mahal kita, pamilya!

When I arrived at my hotel, I was so exhausted, I collapsed in bed and got some GOOD sleep. Seeing my family makes me miss my own family even more. I love you Antonio, Soleil, Eliana, Mom, Clay, Papi, Jennie, Gary & Kids!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friends:

The picture above is the last look at the beach in Tumon Bay, right in front of my hotel. So beautiful. I will surely miss it!

I spent my last few hours in Guam walking around (I must have walked about 2.5 miles – good exercise!). I ate at a Vietnamese Restaurant, Hoa Mai. Then I walked A LOT uphill and took a last trip to K-Mart so I could buy a few more Guam goodies for my family in the Philippines. Tina Buendicho, the President of the IRA Guam Council, and her children picked me up to head for the airport.

It was such a sad goodbye. I really made some good friends in Guam. I will never forget how wonderful the people of Guam were to me. I had excellent service at the hotel, made incredible connections with the students, and met such an inspiring group of teachers. Then there was Tina, Evelyn and Cyndy… They made my short stay in Guam a true paradise. Here is my last picture with Tina and her family. I love you guys! I look forward to a return trip!

I am such a lucky woman, blessed to be doing what I do…

My trip to the Philippines took about 3 hours and 20 minutes. When I arrived at the airport, my Aunts, Espie and Jovie, were waiting for me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. My client, Meinard Cruz, General Manager of Scholastic Book Fairs, was also there to take me to my hotel. We went to my new hotel, Legend Villas in Mandaluyong (Manila). Look at this gorgeous bouquet!

My hotel room is a “villa.” It is two stories, with a kitchen, dining area, living room, bedroom with two double bed, and a huge bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub that can fit three people! LOL Here is a picture of Auntie Jovie and Auntie Espie (L to R) after I gave them their “pasalubong” – gifts from the U.S. and Guam.

Later, my cousin, Katrin, joined us after getting off duty at the hospital where she is training. Katrin is studying to become a registered nurse. This is Katrin.

They all spent the night in my room. Because of all the excitement and the preparation I had to do for the next day, I didn’t sleep until 3:30 am! I had to wake up at 6 am the next day… But I don’t get to see my family in the Philippines very often so it was worth it.

It’s been such a full journey so far! I look forward to my visit here in the Philippines. Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne