Views from Iloilo: Exploring Kapwa in the Midst of Typhoon Frank

We arrived in Manila quite late when my cousin Boying picked Dr. Leny Strobel & I from the airport. Reconnecting with Boying was quite wonderful as he told me of his projects to bring retiring FilAm teachers to Caloocan to provide educational services to the people of that province. The teachers here often have 60+ children in their classroom, work shifts (with some kids beginning instruction in the afternoon)and the training of teachers must also continue.

The sadness was the knowledge that 3 ships went down, more than 800 drowned and the question of why did the ships leave port when the typhoon was clearly headed towards central Visayas...this is the Philippines...where corruption is often blatant...on the plane ride I read many articles, including one which said that the company involved had many ship that have sunk during storms like this.

Once in Iloilo, our ride from the airport showed downed shacks, and trees, but the people here are resilient. Outside of homes, many had their belongings out to dry--furniture, clothing, etc.. One young girl, Adele, a conference coordinator, had lost her home, yet once the Kapwa2 Conference began she was back at work--organizing and handling all the needs of the foreign guests. I tried to give her my things, but she insisted all her family needed was perhaps more mosquito repellant, even refusing the small eco-flashlight I brought along (sorry mom). It's hard to see thedevastation from where we are, the downtown now cleared of water. But on our ride past Antique, we saw where the concrete bridge was washed out, and yet they had already built a small replacement bridge, enabling us to visit the art studios of Momo.

This Kapwa2 Conference is a huge blessing for me. I was blessed to find many of my friends here, a huge surprize and so wonderful...these friends from Lake Sebu, Camiguin, Manila & making new ones from all over the PI. The Conference is on Pilipino Psychology-I'll explain more later, but it is filled with many culture bearers who have inspired me with their profound work in maintaining their living traditions. Also, there are many famous people here, in particular, the organizers are Kidlat Tahimik, International Filmmaker, and his wife, Dr. Katrin de Guia. Their story is a unique one, but you can google them yourselves... I am quite honored to be able to walk this path and find that in the crossroads there are many kindred spirits to be found who have much knowledge to pass to me.

Coming home always makes me feel complete, but I know also my home is with my fabulous family and also my friends of "Bahia de San Francisco." Missing and loving you all!

Today we leave for Baguio and then my journey in Mt. Province & my real homecoming to La Union & Caloocan...ok, kids, please free your schedule for next year when you all return with me. Ok, lang?