Interesting Food Updates

Some of the food options at the movie theater here in Manila.

Pork Sisig:

Sisig = pig face

Black rice

It's black because it's flavored with squid ink.  I had seconds...it's pretty good.

Liquid seasoning is the same thing as soy sauce.

Friday, July 16

Today was the big day. We were able to partner with a very skilled and professional organization that IJM sponsors to work with the girls at the shelter where we refer a majority of our clients. Throughout the year, this organization has conducted "art as therapy" sessions to work with our clients on their recovery. They do such good work, giving the girls the best they have to offer by using quality materials, and by doing this, it is their intention to show the clients their value and worth and that they are deserving of the best there is to offer. We've seen so much transformation from the kind of work they do with them. From what I hear, (as I had not arrived yet) at first the girls would be very critical of their work, and would get really upset over any kind of mistake they would make, and Bambi (the owner of Creative Kids, and daughter of a famous architect) patiently taught them how mistakes can be fixed and can be used to create something beautiful. This became a wonderful metaphor for their rehabilitation. It was amazing to see the art exhibit come to fruition, and to have the opportunity to simply celebrate their creations, as these girls have not been celebrated enough thoughout their lifetime.

During the art exhibit we had a program surrounding the theme of Filipino Fiesta. The girls from the shelter danced traditional dances called the Kaamulan and Tinikling. It was incredible and so encouraging to see them dancing age appropriate dances, since they come into the shelter only knowing dances from their experience as a Guest Relations Officer. I have attached a photo of our clients doing the Tinikling dance, which they make look much easier than it actually is. During the program, a client who has gone through rehabilitation at this shelter and has since moved back home was able to share her very powerful testimony (originally written in Waray, the dialect spoken in Samar, and translated into English). 

We finished the evening by having our STARS (Standing Together to Advocate Rights - clients who now advocate for victims of trafficking) host a dinner for the guests at our Field Office Director's house. One of our clients served as the emcee and cracked jokes all night long, while another presented on what it means to be a STAR client. She memorized her entire script, which was amazing because her speech lasted more than 5 minutes. Several girls sang two songs throughout the night including "Journey" by Lea Solanga and "Thanks to You" by Tyler Collins. It was such a powerful and inspirational moment for me, to see these girls working in their gifts and talents, feeling special, and feeling empowered that I forgot I was supposed to speak to the group after one of the songs. I walked up to the front still sobbing, so I had to get myself under control. Before the busy week began, I was feeling a little cautious for our clients, as I did not want them to feel like they had to put on a show or be anything that they are not, but once I saw their interactions with our guests from abroad, I was so encouraged to see how how excited they were to show and share with others how their lives had been changed. From what they shared with me, it was an opportunity for them, not a burden. I also know sometimes speaking English can be exhausting, so when I checked in with the girls, their response was all very similar: "This is all a dream come true." The dinner was a very intimate way of closing out the trip, and we all left feeling so excited and so proud of the wonderful women these girls are transforming into.

Thursday, July 15

We thought the typhoon would affect the flights of our guests coming in, but fortunately they made it safely to Manila, and on time.
The rest of the week was packed with events, which fortunately had beautiful weather.

This afternoon we took some of our STAR clients on a city tour of Intramuros (downtown Manila) with IJM HQ Staff and their guests. I was feeling a little cautious for our clients, as I did not want them to feel like they had to put on a show or be something they are not, but once I saw their interactions with our guests from abroad, I was so encouraged to see how empowered the client's felt and how excited they were to show and share with others how their lives had been changed. From what they shared with me, it was an opportunity for them, not a burden.

This evening we partnered with a local church to put on the Manila Prayer Gathering. Over 100 of our partners showed up simply to pray for the cause of IJM. It was so inspiring. I got to lead a prayer group, where one of our clients joined me. We all went around to pray, and I think she prayed the most beautiful prayer I've ever heard. Although mostly in Tagalog, I was able to hear her heart and how grateful she was to be where she is today. Earlier she had told me of a recent promotion at her job with an organization that offers job to many of our clients that makes and sells organic cleaning products, and so I was able to brag on her to the group and share in her success.

Wednesday, July 14

So apparently, the monster rain we recently experienced was not just a storm that was part of the rainy season, but typhoon Conson.  Around 11pm on Tuesday, my electricity went out while I was on the phone with Corey.  I decided to go stay with Leah in an apartment building one street away, as she still had electricity and I figured if the electricity would go out, it would be better to be with people than in an entirely separate building apart from everyone (all the other interns live in the same building except for me...).  Going outside was a little eery, the wind was starting to get out of control and debris was starting to blow off of structures and fall to the ground.  Walking was, at times, difficult, as I tried to push through the air and reach the other apartment complex. Once I was safe and sound at Leah's, we tried to go to sleep early to prepare for the big visit of Gary Haugen, President and CEO of IJM and some supporters of IJM.  We laid our head on the pillow, but neither of us could sleep from the noise of the wind and crazy storm outside.  There is a condemned building right next door where we kept hearing glass shattering all throughout the night.  At one point we gave up on sleeping and just sat and watched the storm go on outside the window.  There is a hotel across the street, and I saw a man try to leave and walk to his car a few steps away..the wind overtook him and he just started sprinting down the street.  I knew he didn't intend to originally sprint down the street because I saw him trying to crawl his way through the wind back to his car.  I'm supposed to be used to this whole hurricane thing being from Florida...and I think I was fine for a while...until around 2 or 3am when the fire alarm to the building went off....I went into panic mode as I was having flashbacks from my first week here when my building actually caught on fire and was a mess the rest of the night.  There was no fire, just a technical problem they said, but I just couldn't relax.

When I first heard of a typhoon heading this way, I contacted my dad and asked that he pray the rains wouldn't ruin the art exhibit we had planned for Thursday.  Amidst the fire alarms, the lack of elecrticity, the insane wind and consistent glass shattering...I turned to Leah and asked "why did I ask my dad to pray for the art exhibit and not...for our lives."  Now that it's all over I realize how safe I was...and while we were concerned that the weather would affect all we had planned for Gary's visit, it turns out having the typhoon on Tuesday meant no rain the rest of the week, which was a huge blessing. The electricity at my place was out for 2 days, but that is it. Having all those rains also brought down the temperature too, which made sitting in heat not as bad as it has been the past few months. My fears from the storm seem somewhat unfounded when you hear about the actual devastation so many people have experienced.  Please keep them in your prayers. 

pictures of the devastation

Tuesday, July 13

Edgar and I experienced our first monster rain when walking home from work tonight. If this is what rainy season will be like...then I need to carry around my rain boots (that Hope gave me before she left) with me everywhere.  I was wearing flats, and they were filling up with water so much that when I walked, only the heel of my foot would come off the ground.  Edgar was wearing his boat shoes which he said ironically can't get wet...or walk on water.  We agreed our feet might be catching diseases with each river we crossed over, but we just did what we could to get home.  And yes, we were using an umbrella.

Sunday, July 4

My future sister-in-law (hehe...i have a future sister in law :)) and her boyfriend came to visit me for a long weekend. The timing was perfect..we had Wednesday off to celebrate the Presidential Inaguration, and Friday off for something like Pasig Day...who knows.  Having visitors is so fun because it means we decide to do fun touristy things that, for some reason, we just don't do on a regular basis. 

On Thursday I took them to a restuarant overlooking the city:

Friday I took them to the Mall of Asia, which is the 4th largest shopping mall in the world.  I ordered them delicious Filipino Food overlooking Manila Bay before taking them on a city tour.

Saturday, we went to Tagaytay to see an active volcano close to Manila.  We went to this glorious place called Sonya's Garden, which offeres yummy organic/fresh foods....and pampered ourselves by getting massages and manicures and pedicures....all for under $20. 

Lastly, on Sunday, Madison, Kortney and I went to El Corregidor where we ended up getting the opportuniy to take pictures "driving" a jeepney.

Kortney and Craig gave me one of the best compliments they could have said when they told me they were impressed with how assertive I was  (they saw me in action with many a taxi driver) and commenting on how acculturated I seemed.  I wanted to tell them it was all an illusion, but having them appreciate the city as much as they did really helped to further my love for the Philippines and to feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be here. 

Tuesday, June 29th

We (me, Hope, Leah and new legal intern Madison) went to a fun place tonight called Tiendecitas.  It has fresh food/fruits/fish, some shops, and this picnic table area in the outside where you can listen to live music...which we appreciate here.  We are continually so impressed by the muscial talent in this country. Good singers tend to show up everywhere we go. 

Our friend Joey came to hang out with us, the one who introduced us to isaw (chicken or pig intenstines), so now it has become his job to force us to eat what we wouldn't pick out for ourselves.  On the menu tonight: pigs ears.  Yeah for the most part everything does kind of seem to revolve around pigs.  How to describe the taste....hm.  They taste just like they look?