MATAMIS

I don't have many pictures because conversations are hard to capture.  Two years ago I met a lot of family and made many friends, and on this trip I put effort into saying 'hello' to all of them. It's hard to call this trip a vacation, it has been very difficult, but meeting my goddaughter, playing with my baby cousins, and drinking with my friends has been all very much worth it.

In my heart I have a lot of frustration, even hate, but mostly love for this country, but conclusions haven't been reached, for I still have much to see and learn. I'm Filipino-American, and like many of us, I don't know what that means.

In the Philippines, the hills are green, the palm trees are tall, and I've heard there are beaches with white sand and clear water. The people are nice and they smile when you speak English. 'Tagay' is what they say to take a shot of alcohol, and if you've  been friendly enough you'll feel the honor to be called 'pare'. I'm going home because I was born in America, but I'll keep thinking about this sweet, sweet place.

COUSIN & GODDAUGHTER

PALM PALM

BARKADA

REDUBLO

PENITENSYA

MELTING

PILIPINAS

I'm back in the Philippines, this time a 3 week vacation, seeing family and friends, and revisiting fond memories of 2 years past. This trip already seems to be a richer experience. Much of the culture shock is gone, leaving me able to more intimately appreciate my time here.

It's only my 4th day, I'll post more pictures and maybe write more soon. Miss you all!

FILIPINO

RED HORSE

5 nights in a row of drinking, last Friday(8/19) - Tuesday. I only like to drink a couple nights a week, but social commitments kept putting beer in my hand. I'm so tired.

NAGSINAMO

English lesson.

JOY

This was last week, I think on August 13. It was my friend Joy's birthday.

LIFE

It's 1AM, I just saw a huge spider in my room. I didn't want to kill it, but I tried to hit it to tell him to get out of my room. I don't know where it went, I'm so tired, hopefully it doesn't try to say hi to my while I'm sleeping.

HANDS

The majority of the Philippines is religious, I think it's around 85% of the population belonging to the Catholic Church.

Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon, is 300 steps to a 50ft statue of Jesus. I survived the climb in hellish humidity, the statue was nice, but I liked the view better.

LOVEBIRDS

FIESTA

This is Unisan, Quezon, my parent's hometown and one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. Yesterday was a fiesta, which is like a mega block party, because here they actually like their neighbors. We got invited, almost forced, to eat at several houses, and then asked to drink outside with different friends.

People keep telling me Filipinos are some of the happiest people in the world.