14.12.20

"Manila, baby!!" was the cry as we touched down in this sparkling place.

First night "back home".  Funny how home-- the place you go back to, the place where mom mails the "pasalubongs", the place where the "langunisa" comes from-- took me 28 years to get to.  I'm not sure what will be of these next few weeks.  Already, I'm taken aback by the "help" here in the Philippines.  Mom and Dad are trying to tell me that it is just the way things are done here, and that having servants is good for all involved.  This is one I'll never get used to.  I can't stomach the class divide so prevalent here.

Our flight with Egypt Air was treacherous-- we hit a nasty piece of turbulence that we were convinced would land us in Tokyo Bay at takeoff.  The passengers launched into full novenas on that one.  We were picked up at Manila Airport by Boy Cosico (a family friend) who scooted us through customs and hooked us up with a driven van to one of Lola Pilar's houses in Manila.  From there, we were driven to the Heritage Hotel where we will stay until tomorrow when we head off to Bohol in the Visayas.

r