day 1: even before we crossed the Philippines immigration, we were already looking forward to our next holidays. not a good sign. the sky was overcast. groggy from lack of sleep. the reception took forever. met roma joerg and philip and had an extremely long dinner talking about facebook and emergencies.
day 2: he made us wake up so early. the disney princess jeepney! thank God the wire was spoiled so i was spared the brain-damaging music. one hr too early for our ferry cruise, so we visited the manila cathedral and baseko. the ferry cruise down pasig river with the wind in our eyes and the water hyacinth under the ferry. at the last stop we alighted, with 45min to wander. and wander we did, into the memorable incident of the trip. the 11th of jan 2011, 11 people on the bridge, mla#11.
day 3: he made us wake up too early again. we were too early at buayang bato. the first normal day at our first site. adek suya became a star!:D
day 4: 2nd day at buayang bato. of wires, clothes and plants. the furry caterpillar. the fainting spell. thank you dita meng.
day 5: we were too early again (as u can tell we were sleep deprived). had an impromptu dance lesson by a 63 yr old dance instructor at the park. our warm up for the building day at telus village. i managed to get myself a 'supervisor' while painting the walls -_-
day 6: fieldwork at telus village. started and ended the day with dance again.
day 7: the Lord's Day. but there's still work planned :( visited st augustine church. a mass was going on. tombstones make the floor. spiritual wickedness in high places. back to buayang bato. can't really get much work done with the kids all around u.
day 8: sitio pajo. seniors' site the last time. lotsa edible plants! couples for Christ. handmaids of the Lord. values formation. the fire in the slum, rebuilding their habitation with the roof still burning. the desperation, the fear. the gratefulness for their homes. we are so blessed.
at the detectives and investigators section, they were playing computer games. "Be wise in your own eyes". it was on the wall. what else would you expect?
the sick river, the scorching heat. yet, the sacrifices that was made, the hardships that were borne. taking pride in the little things. cherishing the little experiences. they each had a story to tell. we have been pampered beyond feeling, beyond loving.
*pls check out the album for more pretty pics! i could only put the landscape ones here cos portrait ones spoil the format.