Homecoming

AFter 6 weeks in the Philippines, I'm back home the bay. It's been quite a journey, but I'll save time for reflection in the next post. Let's recap how the past week has been.

Monday- I left with Mary Ann for our trip to Bohol. We left Victorias with Ate Glenn and Kuya Buboy, who dropped us off at the Silay Airport. I'll definitely miss Mary Ann's family, especially Ate Glen and Kuya Buboy for making me feel at home. Ate Glen definitely always brought laughs. I scared her by telling her I saw ghosts, so after that she kept joking that she would slaughter me like a chicken (they take ghosts pretty seriously in the Phils. I told other ppl I saw ghosts and they believed me too). Kuya Buboy was definitely one of the chillest ppl I've met there also, always smiling and making sure u were having a good time. Anyways, we got to got to Bohol after a plane ride to Cebu, then a ferry ride to Bohol. One the Ferry we watched The Forbidden Kingdom and it was pretty good.

We got picked up by our tour guide Albert, and headed to our pension house where we were going to stay for that night (A pension house is kinda like a really cheap motel). After, we explored around the area. We picked up some pasulubong and some bootleg dvds (We got pacquiao's fights, a dvd with 25 movies, some other asian dramas/shows, and animes). After we watched the dark knight at the mall nearby, and it was pretty good in my opinion. I might be biased tho cuz Batman's my favorite superhero. After that headed back to the pension house.

Tuesday- This is when we started our tour. We first started off by seeing the Tarsiers, which were pretty cute (pictures to come). After that we drove through the man made forest. The next sight we saw was the chocolate hills, which were pretty beautiful. Seeing the hills, I thought how dope it would be to live on one of those. After that was a restaurant cruise on the Laboc river. They had a guy who played the guitar and sang some popular songs while we ate the buffet on the boat. (my highlight was the pancit).

During the ride we came to a tourist stop along the river, where some members of the Ati tribe were dancing and performing. This was a negrito tribe (indigenous people's of the Philippines, usually darker, shorter, and have curlier hair. They were named negritos by the Spanish colonizers). They were dressed up in grass skirts, and had spears and bows and arrows. As most of u folks who know me and Mary Ann, we didn't really like that these people had to be put on display as savages, for tourist entertainment. So we just watched while most of the tourists on the boat took pictures with the Ati people while they posed with spears and bows. However, we talked with one of the little girls there, and that was nice.

After this we headed back on the tour, to Baclayon church, the memorial for the compact between the Spanish and the Filipinos, and the shops where we bought some more pasulubong. After this we headed back to the Bohol Beach Resort where we stayed for the night. It was pretty beautiful, had dinner where a band sang to each table. And we sat along the beach. Sitting there in the dark, with just the moon to light up the ocean was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. There was no sound besides the ocean waves. So for probably an hour or so we just sat staring into the vastness of the ocean. Probably one of the most peaceful moments I've had in the philippines. After this we headed back to the room.

Wednesday- We said goodbye to Bohol and to Albert and headed back again by ferry and by plane to Manila. We got picked up by Ate Che, and headed back to stay at Kuya Rhodel's apartment in Makati City. We were pretty tired, so we just knocked out, since I was going to standby for the 7:45AM Flight to Tokyo, then Tokyo to SF.

Thursday- We left early in the morning so I could standby. After getting through the line and waiting however, they told me that the flight was full and that they couldn't get me on the plane since there were no seats. (Since my mom works for the airport, we fly standby, meaning we fly for free, but we get the seats left over). I went back with Mary Ann and Ate Che to the apartment. We slept, then after got some food then came back to the apartment. Watched some of our bootleg movies, hahaha. Kung Fu panda was pretty good, The Happening was ok, and Leatherheads was ok. Was going to watch Urduja, a Filipino animated movie based on the folktale about the princess, but it was entirely in Tagalog, and I still have a lot to learn : /. After, I talked to my parents, and we decided to just buy a Philippine Airline Flight to SF, since all the flights to Tokyo, and Tokyo to SF were full. After that we just knocked out.

Friday- Slept in, and watched some more movies. We watched Kiki's Delivery Service, which was pretty good. After that got some food. Mary Ann's Kuya Bati and his son Bullet (yes, Bullet) met us up. Bullet was super cute. Kuya Bati's other son is named Bloodymere, true story. Anyways, we took the taxi to the airport, since my PAL flight was at 10, and I wanted to be there by 8. The taxi driver ripped us off, charging us 300 pesos for a ride to the terminal. The first ride we took to the airport, it only cost us 100. As we got dropped off, I stopped to give the driver a piece of my mind, something I've been meaning to do for a while since I've been here. I'll leave out the expletives (as I was pretty pissed off at this guy), but I basically told this guy off for thinking that just because I was balikbayan (a Filipino from outside the Philippines), that he could rip me off to alienate me from other people here, when I love this country and its people just as much as anyone else. I also called him an asshole.

I felt good, because this is something I've been wanting to say for a while but never found the right words to say. I want to say though that though it upsets me, I do my best to understand where people are coming from. It's just been frustrating at times when I see the disconnect between Filipinos in the Philippines and me as a Filipino-Chinese-American, and no matter what I do, I can't overcome this disconnect. I can say though that most of the people I've met here have been incredibly welcoming and loving, especially my family, Mary Ann's family, the staff at Charity First, and the people here that I've met and worked with in general.

We waited at the airport for Ate Che, who was coming all the way from Cavite to say bye to me (She's super dope like that). While we waited, I checked in my bags and took care of my terminal fee. After Ate Che arrived, I said my farewells to Ate Che, Kuya Bati, and Bullet, and Mary Ann. I boarded the plane feeling both excited and sad for leaving this place that I've come to love.

I'm home now, after my 12 hour flight. The Flight wasn't long and I watched 21 and Vantage Point. I came home to the smiles and hugs of my parents and had dinner. I'm glad to be home but I'll miss the Phils, and most importantly the people I've met there. However, I know I'll be coming back, and that I now have family and friends that have helped make a home for me over there.

Coming to a Close

So this past week and a half I've been traveling with Mary Ann, visiting
my family in Pampanga and her family in Cavite, Bacolod,and Victorias.
It's been quite a week. Altogether Mary Ann's family has been generous
and welcoming.

Monday we went around with Mary Ann and her Ate Glen, Ate Che, Kuya
Bembol, Ate Crystal, Kuya Arnel, and their kids AJ and Kyle. We were
supposed to go to Star City with Ate Crystal, AJ, Kuya Arnel, and Ate Glen
but it was raining : / So instead we just ended up going to the
aquarium,which was fun. We got to see sharks : ) We met up with Kuya
Bimbol and his son Kyle at the Mall of Asia and ate. After that we headed
over to Ate Gayselle's house in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Tuesday we went to Tagaytay. Unfortunately it was still raining : (
However we were still able to go to Taal Lake. Mary Ann, Kuya Bimbol, Ate
Glenn, Kyle, Ate Che and I went. Mary Ann, Ate Che, and I then rode
horses to Crater Lake. Fun, but rainy, and I caught a cold : / I think
today I got fed up with people asking if I was Korean or Japanese, and
combined with my cold I was pretty cranky. The horseride and chilling
with Mary Ann's fam was still worth it though. After that we stayed in
Alfonso with Ate Glenn's family. They made some bomb ass sinigang that
helped clear up my cold.

Wednesday we stayed in during the morning. Unfortunately we had to say
bye to Kuya Bimbol and Kyle. Kuya Bimbol has probably been one of the
funniest people I've met here,and and also a good dad. Later we went to
Baclaran to do some pasulubong shopping. I was able to get some good
stuff at cheap prices. After that Mary Ann, Ate Glen, Ate Gayselle, and I
met up with Ate Che, and stayed in Makati with Kuya Rhodel, who was very
smiley and nice.

Thursday we flew to Visayas, and we met up with Ate Cle and Ate Cathy, and
Ate Paige (Kuya Rhodel's wife, who WAS pregnant). We got to visit some
museums and toured around Negros. We visited Tita Lita (who has my
birthday) and Mama Wong, both super nice. We ate some chicken at Tita
Lita, also where her Ate Glenn and Kuya Buboy stays. Kuya Buboy was
really nice. Though I was intimidated by him at first because he had
hella tats, he was super nice and a great cook. He made some more bomb
ass sinigang. After that we stayed at Mama Wongs. I was about to go to
sleep but...

Ate Paige went into labor. Sooooo... Friday morning we went to the
hospital and slept there, While Ate Paige went into the delivery room. In
the morning Mary Ann and I left to get ready while Mama Wong, Ate Cle, and
Ate Cathy stayed with Ate Paige. It also happened to be Mary Ann's
birthday, so it was quite a pleasant gift for her. Back in the states, it
was my sister's birthday since they are a day behind. While we got ready
at the house, we helped with some things. I think I was stressing because
I just wanted Mary Ann to enjoy her day and have the day to herself. And
like always she was too busy worrying about everyone else... (oh well,its
just her hahaha) I ended up playing basketball with her cousins Jun and
Nardo. I thought I played well, but I think the folks there were laughing
at the way I played (American?) Oh well, I let my jumpshot speak for
itself.

Saturday we went to a the Maambukal resort with Mary Ann's family. Got to
row a boat, eat, and visited a butterfly garden. When we got back later
that night we stayed at another resort with some of the family, Palmas(
sp?) resort. Swam some more and chilled with her family. We also
visited Ate Paige and Kuya Rhodel and their baby.

Today (Sunday). We went to the mall where I wrote most of this blog in an
internet cafe. Afterwards, we came back to Mama Wong's house with Ate
Paige, Kuya Rhodel, and their baby. We chilled at the house, then tried
to go to their family's farm in Uma. On the way there, the road was
flooded so we had to turn back. We ended up visiting the graves of some
of Mary Ann's tito's and her lolo. Afterwards, we hit up the city hall
area and market of Victorias. Got some food, then headed back to Mama
Wongs. We had one last big feast, and it was definitely a good send off
for Mart Ann and I on our trip to Bohol and we got to see all of the
family again.

It definitely was a good time with Mary Ann's family. I've got to say
they've been some of the most welcoming folks that I've met here, and
they've already made me feel a part of their family. Were in Bohol as I
write this, but I'll save the blog about Bohol for later. Hope you are
all well. Take care and peace!

World Tour

So I just finished up my internship with Charity First. I spent the past week relaxing in Manila with my friends, including Jude. The past two days I've spent in Pampanga with my family and Mary Ann, with whom I'll be traveling around the Philippines for the next two weeks until I fly back on the 24th.

On Wednesday I conducted my final presentation for Charity First, evaluating its programs and my experience. Altogether it went well, even though I wish there were more of the members there. All in all it was a good experience. I enjoyed the people I worked with, particularly the people that the organization is serving. The members of the organization were mostly well-off Filipino Chinese businessmen. For the most part their intentions are good, in helping keep this organization running to serve the impoverished sectors of society in the Philippines. However, throughout my internship I've sensed some of them to be pretty patronizing and self-righteous in the way they think and do their work. I think I really felt the most comfortable and connected to my hosts Chris and Aya, their friends, Charity First's actual staff, and the people and communities charity first was serving for their passion, genuineness, and generosity.

Wednesday, I went out with my friends Chris, Aya, Grace, Al, and Simye to Fort Bonifacio to a restaurant with a live band. They were pretty cool with the band, so Al went up on stage while I played the cajon : )

Thursday I went to the Mall of Asia, picked up some Basil Valdez cds for my mom, and later hung out with Jude, Darlene, Joey, Jasmine, and Mark, who I worked with at Charity First. We went around UP, ate, and hung out at Tomas Morato.

Friday was my last day with my host family and their friends. During the day I stayed in and watched Warlords with Jet Li. It was good, but pretty sad. After that Jude, Chris, Aya, Al, Sumiye, Grace, Tin and I did karaoke and ate at Greenbelt after. Jude slept over. It was a good end to my stay with my Chris and Aya and the World Tour with Jude pt. 1.

Saturday, Mary Ann came over and then we headed to Minalin, Pampanga after my Tito Pang and Tita Mye picked me up. We arrived at my Lola Saryang's house where they also stayed, and after choppin it up with her, took a nap. After that we went to the Fontana Leisure resort where we stayed for the night with most of my fam from minalin and my cousins, sorta like a mini-family reunion.

Today (Sunday), I woke up to find my cousins Kyle and Ian at the house. We played basketball then swam at the waterpark. After we came back to Minalin, we went to mass. After that just dinner, and chillin at the house. Tomorrow we head back to Manila to stay with Mary Ann's fam and go to Star City (Manila's version of Great America?).

These past two days have been good. It's been good to see my family again. Over here we get fed 5 times a day. Breakfast, Merienda, Lunch, Merienda, Dinner. Jude told me I've gained weight since I've gotten here. I think my cousins in particular have started to warm up to me more. Though my family has made me feel very welcome, some of them also do a good job of making me feel as if I'm not kapampangan enough. It seems as if they think I made a conscious decision to not learn kapampangan and that the problem is that our families (my aunts, uncles, cousins, Lola) don't see each other enough both in the states and in the PI. I just hope they understand that I want to be here and that even though I'm from the states, that hasn't made me any less Kapampangan. It's something that I've always been recognized with the help of my family, and have always been proud to be. It's frustrating but I understand that it comes out of love and that they just want me to be at home here. I've become more adjusted, and I'm slowly but surely learning more Tagalog and Kapampangan, which I hope to continue to learn in the states.

Anyways, I'm going to miss my family here in Pampanga, but I'm excited to meet Mary Ann's fam. Apparently they already know about me : / I'm looking forward to these next two week, traveling around the PI, visiting Tagaytay, Cavite, Bacolod, Victorias, Visayas, Bohol, and Cebu. I still miss u all, especially the fambam and the squirrelly, so keep in touch. I've been starting to think of all the things I'm going to do when I get back to the states. But I'll save that for next blog. Peace!

Moving On

Tomorrow is the last day of my internship, for which I have to do a final presentation on the work I've done. The past two weeks have been a good experience, difficult at times though. Its not so much the work that's been difficult, but rather the lack of familiar things and people, particularly my family. In the past week, I've -white water rafter in Cagayan De Oro, and did sightseeing
-visited public schools and universities (where classes are held 60-80 students to a room, or basketball court)
-visited more people living in a garbage dump
-visited a street child who lives in a home the size of a closet
-assisted in a dental mission where i held kid's jaws while the dentist extracted their teeth with dental pliers

ive truly enjoyed the work that i've been doing and the people ive met. most people here have been extremeley welcoming, nice, and generous. however there are still people and situations here that have made me feel as i don't belong, whether its staring at me because i look different, or pointing out every bit of my "american-ness." i've never had my identity questioned so much, and i feel like i've constantly had to defend my "filipino-ness" and pride for my culture. anyways, im enjoyed my work, and the people i've worked with that have made me feel welcome, and those i've been able to exchange ideas with. particularly, i will remember my conversation with Brother Efren, one of Charity First's staff who lives in the impoverished villages it serves. its particularly been these people living in the impoverished communities i've worked in that have been the most welcoming and generous. Brother Efren and I were basically talking about why were doing the work that we're doing and the importance of filipinos all over the world to be able to work together and understand each other (cheesy, di ba?) at the end of the conversation he told me,

"you truly are filipino."
Brother Efren and I on the way back from Payatas

that was the first time anyone said something like that to me since i've been here, and genuinely meant it. i think that conversation will be one of my highlights for this internship and this whole trip. anyways, im excited to finish my internship tomorrow. i'll be relaxing and hanging out with folks in manila til i go back to pampanga with family this saturday. i'm looking foward to kicking it with jude. after that, sightseeing with mary ann. i miss seeing familiar faces. i still miss my friends, my squirrelly, and my family. i hope u all are well back in the states. please keep in touch and let me know what's going on. i'll post up more pics and i'll see you guys soon.

peace and love,
case