Tim was up and off to teach Exodus in Hebrews with 4 students--Filipino students--all of them struggling.
Tim & Cleo's daughter's birthday is today--she's in her 3rd year of college.
Cleo was busy with her office staff: Chris is in charge of bookkeeping.
Sheila works with social workers and forms related to
Cleo is working on micro-financing and marketing the crafts of the women through Inakay
Tim teaches and works on the microfinancing projects as well
Tata is in the accelerated learning program through Inakay; stays at Tim and Cleo's part of the week and helps with dish washing and other chores since when with them he isn't paying anything for room and board
I can feel that today is warmer than yesterday.
I am glad for a quiet, "down" day.
Random observations: it is a cash society. I see lots of banks and money changers. From conversations with Brent and Christine as well as Tim and Cleo, the Filipino people live "in the now". If they have pesos, those pesos get spent sooner rather than later. The concept of saving doesn't register. The concept of a larger outlay now can mean significant savings over time doesn't register.
Living in the 'now' makes sense for so many, especially in rural and smaller town areas, have no refrigeration and so daily purchasing of meats and vegetables mean they are fresher and used up that day and so won't spoil without the refrigeration. Clearly one wants to be early to the market to purchase meat fresh (and before flies are all over the meat--can't imagine what it is like in the truly warm months!) and vegetables.
Nothing in Manila can be done quickly--no such thing as a quick dash to the store for something one forgot. The traffic and crush of traffic and people makes a quick drive anything but that!
There is a light rail which Tim often takes--but again, it fills up quickly so one must be early!
I would hate to become ill in Manila. No one stops or moves over or slows when an ambulance is trying to get through!
Saw a lot of malls. A lot of traffic, oh! and did I mention there is a LOT of traffic?
It is noisy--again, the traffic. But noisy it was in Cebu and Bogo--traffic and people and roosters and dogs.
Housing: the poorest are homeless. then there are those who can as squatters--with a small stand for selling something parked on the sidewalk in front of another building. Then some get a small home--like the men built near Bogo: 10' x 12' give or take either up on wooden posts or with a few rounds on concrete blocks before thin plywood walls and gi sheets for roofing and the leanto for a kitchen area. Then some have small homes of all concrete blocks with real windows Then some have large homes of concrete blocks with indoor plumbing and gated entrance and bars on windows. Tim & Cleo's home was built by a Chinese couple in the 60's? concrete and bricks. In the small, plywood homes the floor is plywood and/or woven bamboo; sometimes a concrete slab; sometimes tile over the slab. Tile is evident in nicer homes and most businesses and all malls. Carpeting is not a good thing in such a warm and humid climate.
Tim and Cleo shopped garage sales in the States and also picked up a few things from expatriates who were leaving Manila. One's perspective of who is rich can vary. Tim and Cleo live on a slim support base, but there would be many who would look at their home/furnishings and call them 'rich'. But then, that is rich in the aspect of "things" and belongings. One's true wealth lies in family, health, and eternal life in the One Who is Life!!
About 4 PMish, Allen and Fely showed up with her brother-in-law and the driver of the rented van. After introductions and some pictures, we took off pretty quickly. Fely and I were in the way back. Allen sat in the middle, while the driver and brother-in-law were in front. Allen talked non-stop until well after 9 PM--either he or I fell asleep first! the night drive was broken up with a very late supper at Jolli bee's somewhere, a gasoline fill up, and various stops for the driver to stretch and have a cup of coffee. (after all, he'd driven all night Wednesday down to Manila) We arrived Bangued about 4 AM and weren't long falling into bed.
Dear Fely had worked like crazy to empty out a room full of boxes so I'd have a place to sleep. The boxes got all transferred to the new house being built, since the master bedroom there is along far enough to have a locking door to store those boxes in. Definitely less traffic in Bangued, but neighbors' homes were barely a yard away each side, dogs, and roosters!!! I slept though!
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