4/4/10

This was Holy Week in the Philippines. The kids are out of school for the summer, and most people have at least part of the week off. I understand that most of Manila clears out taking off to visit relatives or vacation spots. We really noticed a drop in traffic. Our office closed after lunch on Wednesday, and we were free until Monday. In the Philippines it is now officially the "hot season", this is relative because every season is hot, even during the "cold season" the highs are never lower that 79 degrees. Any way now the heat is oppressive and unbearable. After this long week-end I came to realize how hot it really is and I will not venture outside during the day until the next season, which is the rainy season officially starting in June. After that comes the typhoon season in September, and cold season in December.

Thursday because of his broken leg Dennis stayed back and worked, and I took a hike to Wawa Dam with other missionaries. It was interesting but super hot and packed with Philippine families. The heat, noise, crowds, skinny half dead diseased dogs, and cock fights were too much for me. I didn't see the cock fights, only alive chickens going up the trail and dead ones coming down. Fortunately the trail was mostly shady so while I baked, I did not burn. On the way home we passed a garbage dump that was actually a high mountain of trash, I was told that it's where Manila's trash ends up. Living at the dump was a large community of people who make their meager living by savaging. Recycling is taken to a whole new level here because it means survival. It starts with the trash I take down to the garbage can in the garage of our Condo, that is sorted through and stuff gleaned out before it goes to the trash man, it is gone through again as many as three or four times before it makes it to the dump site. I had read about people living in dumps but thought that was only in India. Amid the trash life goes on; there are small stands that sell food, and other stuff. Jeepneys have regular routes, I noticed a free clinic, and a school close by.

Friday Dennis decided since the traffic was so light that we would go out and drive the roads of Manila just to get our bearings. We ended up in the real slums of Manila. I thought outside our condo walls were the poorer parts of town, I realize now that is middle class! I have seen pictures of entire families sleeping on the sidewalks, but it didn't seem real to me until now. I think the hardest part is the little children and babies. Again life goes on: people cooking on little burners on the sidewalk, babies getting bathed in a dishpan of water, clothes being washed and hung out on a makeshift line. Some people tack up a piece of plastic tarp to a wall or fence to give shade from the heat.

Saturday we toured Corregidor. This is an island at the mouth of Manila Bay. It was a very important and strategic spot during World War ll. It was the last American and Philippine strong hold before the Japanese took over. It was where General MacArthur finally left his Philippine and American soldiers to fight the Japanese against impossible odds. When he left he said, " I shall return" and he did several years later to liberate the Philippines and reclaim Corregidor. Unfortunately hundreds upon hundreds died. So it while was interesting, it was mostly depressing. You know the song "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun" Our tour started at 8:30 and ended at 3:30, right in the heat of the day. Like the mad dogs by the end I was physically sick from the heat.

It is Sunday night now and I'm still not feeling well. Mostly it is the heat, or the flu, but also it is emotional. I am totally overwhelmed and grieved to my soul by the poverty. All in all it was a real downer of a break and I'll be glad to get back to business on Monday.

I'm going to post three pictures: Dennis and I in front of the, "I shall return" statue of MacArthur, the mile long bombed out barracks, and the Pacific War Memorial. This is interesting because the building is built like a WWll helmet with a hole in the center right over a round altar, and every May 6th at noon the light comes in and illuminates the entire altar. May 6th is the day Corregidor was surrendered to the Japanese. On the altar these words are written:

Sleep my sons your duty done

for freedoms light has come

Sleep in the silent depths of the sea

or in your bed of hallowed sod

Until you hear at dawn

the low clear reveille of God