Philippines

BORACAY!

December 27, 2009

Greetings from beautiful Boracay!  We are spending the next few days here, after a looooong journey from San Fernando.  IT IS BEAUTIFUL!  I've been to several Asian beach destinations before but this place is every bit the paradise that they say.  The beaches are stunning white, the water so clear and the food and nightlife […]






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MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2009

To everyone! And to our dearest Bear, who is home in California with friends this season. =) We MISS YOU BEAR BEAR! We’ll be home soon!






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Merry Christmas with Giant Lanterns!

December 24, 2009

Last night we attended the 2009 San Fernando Pampanga Giant Lantern Festival. And it was amazing. I had no idea that something like this even existed but apparently it has been going on since my parents were kids. Each barrio or “baranguay” creates a lantern through a cooperative effort for entry into the competition. There […]






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Girl’s night out

December 23, 2009

Do we look related, or what? =) We are just a handful of the dozens of us cousins here. Ranging from age 16 to 27, we were preparing for a night out of dancing. =)






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The weight of small things

December 20, 2009

A few days ago, the family (about a dozen aunts, uncles and cousins) went back to my Mom’s old elementary school to spread some Christmas cheer to about 300 kids from the barrio. My mom has been sponsoring this yearly Christmas feeding for about two years now but this is the first time she’s had […]






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You know you’re in the Philippines when….

December 19, 2009

The crazy traffic and pollution is no longer charming like it is in other 3rd world tourist hubs.  It makes you want to pull your hair out. When you walk around in the mall, you're a whole foot taller than everyone else.    Elementary school Christmas parties consist of sing and dance routine presentations by […]






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Back to the beginning: A Family Christmas in the Philippines

December 18, 2009

I’m a banana. Yellow on the outside, white on the inside. This is what friends have always said to me growing up. Philippine born, Canadian raised, Euro/American adult. I’m a bit of an in-between. My brother and I have spent most of our memorable lives in Canada. We left the Philippines when I was 5 […]






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With the Gamboa-side girl cousins

December 17, 2009






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