DAY
SEVEN
Date: 22nd June 2014
Day: Sunday
Time: 22:20 of 23rd
June
Weather: hot
The day started off with a trip down to LRT again, because
Kim’s friend Dorothy is going to bring us around yay!!! They are church
friends, so the first thing we did was to go to Dorothy’s church. Hmm dad won’t
be too happy about this but I guess it’s like a cultural exchange so it’s okay!
The church was about two hours long, had many songs and loud music and bands
and pastor giving a lecture style talk about the younger generation. My first
time in church! (the last too haha, but it was an interesting experience)
After church, time for lunch!!! Manila is really the land of
fast food LOL we had lunch at yet another famous local fast food called
Chic-Boy! I had my chicken leg with rice and sour sauce, yummy! J Took the taxi for the
first time and we set off to Intramuros! A really old district with all the
rich history of The Philippines, esp during colonial period under Spain. It was
really a pretty place, with nice architecture and quiet streets. We took the
horse and toured the area! Tour guide was really nice and patient with us, and
he is always wanting to help us take group pic so cute hahaha. We went to MANY
PLACES
- A Spanish museum to look at the real furniture during those times, the house of a rich Filipino.
- A Filipino-Chinese museum which shows the history of Chinese in the PH
- A Fort with cannons, green green grass (duh haha), posters of presidents and… caged places underground which were probably prison cells for the prisoner-of-war :’(
- A church and another church. All looking so pretty, esp the glass. A wedding was taking place at the oldest church! Weddings held there are super expensive, 有钱人!
- A huge garden-like place, with the statue of National Hero, and carriages that looked like Cinderella’s, a super chill and beautiful place which sadly had entrance fee as well haha.
Spent a lot of money that day, around 500 pesos! Because of
the museums and transport rides. Had nice small talks with Dorothy about
everything and anything, mainly about PH and SG, from food to politics haha. To
end off the day, Dorothy brought us to the huge Robinsons mall near her condo
to try this mango with prawn paste and coconut at the food court! Love the food
again haha going to repeat this ten thousand times, (but sg’s food still number
1 in my heart tho) We went over to visit her condo as well, it is a nice cosy
apartment! J
Thank you Dorothy for taking her busy time off to spend the
day with us!!! School here is really stressful as well, 谢谢你! J
DAY
EIGHT
Date: 23rd June 2014
Day: Monday
Time: 19:16 of 24th
June
Weather: okay-hot with rain in
the morning
Monday!!! Omg I survived a week here already!
Monday was spent taking a trip down to KAISAKA INC for the
first time ever! Woke up with a shock because Andy texted me at 6am that I
should be making my way down already due to the rush hour in the morning. We
were supposed to meet her at 8am at Quirino LRT Station, but we ended up early
anyway haha, so it wasn’t so extreme.
The orientation (slide show and talking style) was a little
sleepy, but still good. At least we got an idea about the organization and how
it functions, people are really friendly as well J The most exciting part was the AREA VISIT!
Because four physiotherapy students were interning at the place, we had the
chance to follow them during their area visit!!! It started raining but that
doesn’t change anything! Geared with umbrellas and off we go! J Sadly I was wearing
flats so it was super soaked after that (but it’s okay, I washed my socks
already haha) Area visiting was really, really, really an eye-opener. We went
into the slum areas and there were a lot of activities going on. It was a
little dark, and probably darker because of the rain. The air was wet and
moist. Ventilation wasn’t that good. There were: Naked children bathing,
mothers washing clothes in the olden-sg-style with a pail and soap, people
selling fried food (pots of oil and floating food like fish balls), children
trading cards and playing, small stalls selling snacks…
We finally arrived at the first house of visit! The
beneficiary was a three-year old, who has a muscle disorder so his muscles are
really tensed all the time. He was so skinny he looked like a baby, small and
fragile, heartbreaking to see… The house was dark and small and the sofa that
he was lying on took up half of the whole place already. His really young-looking
mummy told us he loves songs so everyone was singing lullabies so loudly during
his therapy, which aimed to loosen his muscles but it hurts him so he would
whine a bit L I
could really feel his mummy’s love, 母爱真的很伟大 :’) Grow up healthy little
boy!!!
Time was tight so Kim and I left with our in-charge, Jeannie
to the second beneficiary, Angel! Second example of母爱真的很伟大,
it was her grandma who raised her patiently. Angel is slow in learning and really
quiet, we waved hello and she shyly replied. Did a hi-5 too J
I wish they will grow up happily, and may these illnesses
never stop them from becoming happy people please J
We had welcome dinner with AIESEC UST (University of Santo
Tomas), so we had to leave KAISAKA early at around noon! Headed over to Macs to
wait for Andy, my EP Buddy, and we actually feel asleep in macs hahaha. Began
the epic long journey again after much walking, we took a van that works like a
jeep but looks like a taxi haha, squeezy as usual but I actually fell asleep in
it haha. Sleep is possible everywhere I go~
Had lunch at a food court (finally!!! food courts are really
rare in malls omg, it’s always just fast food or expensive restaurants) and I finally
ate the very famous Siow Mai!!! It’s super popz here in PH, their version of
siew mai back home, just that it’s one level higher, YUMMIER! J There were so many
different types as well haha pork and shrimp, chicken, tuna… I got the typical
pork and shrimp ones, and they come with lime and chili, wahhhh I really love
the chili <3 Happy tummy with siow mai!
Met up with more AIESEC UST people like Kath, and even more
at Gongcha (yes leh omg they have it here haha), and just waited till it was
time to go! Took a tricycle to the final venue of dinner place, and the house
was really nice! Wooden furniture, piano, garden, huge, with many pets (furry
cat, dogs, fish, bunny hahaha) After exploring the house, it was more waiting
time and small talks with new friends from UST. I suck at socializing as usual,
did my best to talk… hahaha was dying for time to pass quickly tho.
And yes finally! MAKAN TIME!!! The other EPs from Explore
arrived, so it began! J
The food was whoohoo: The national fish, grilled milk fish, sweet grilled
banana (LOVE), some sweet sticky rice with cheese on top, filippino noodles,
fresh lumpia (LOVE), intestine things (nope didn’t touch that hahah) and SWEET BARBECUE
CHICKEN (MEGA LOVE) Food was wiped out in a flash hahaha, super shiok, esp the
bbq and the banana ahhhhhh! Things sped up a lot after the meal. That sentence
can be translated into: we left. HAHAHAHAHA Andy, Kim, Ayla and I left for the
dorm as soon as we were done hahaha, didn’t play the games or socialize anymore
:P They weren’t feeling too well too. Made a trip to the super grand and huge
supermarket at Landmark Departmental Store and tadah!!! We’re back J Comfort zone again
hahaha.
Anddd… I forgot any small details in between sadly, so that’s
all! (Didn’t manage to blog religiously everyday sian! It’s the 26th
today already…)
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