IMG_4694 - Individual Journeys . . .

Looks good in black too!!!

 

The Philippines has, and always will, hold a very special place in my heart. The scenery there is magnificent, especially in Ibabao, Cuenca, Batangas Province, where Rosey and I used to live. I remember with huge fondness, the first night I arrived there. Unfortunately, Rosey had taken a job in a Call Centre in Lipa City and was rostered on the first night I arrived there. Her children were very kind and picked me up from the airport in Manila, and drove me to Ibabao, to Aunty A's house. The drive is around 90 klms.

 

It was interesting, having just come from Australia on my very first visit to the Philippines. I had been married to Rosey on April 27 of the previous year, and it would be 9 months before we saw each other again. I do not remember what time my plane landed but think it was around 6 pm or so. It did not take long to clear Customs and collect my baggage and meet Rosey's children wiating outside. The law states in the Philippines that no-one bar the embarking/disembarking passengers because of security concerns!!!

 

They have a system whereby surnames beginning with "A", "B", "C" wait at a certain place, then "D", "E", "F" at another, and so on. We all piled into their little car and off we went. It was interesting to see another culture and life emerging right before my eyes!! These strange looking people movers called "jeepneys" or "tricycles" - we don't have these in Australia!! And of course, driving on the right hand side of the road rather than the left was a bit strange until I got used to it!! Rosey was not due to finish until 5 am or so.

 

We eventually left Manila and headed for Ibabao. It was an interesting drive and being in Greater Manila with a population of around 50 million people, that is around twice and a bit of the population of Australia. Another wonder of the Philippines is its fantastic transport system. Bit air-con buses line up in rows in "bus stations" and it is a matter of finding which bus takes you where and climbing aboard. There is no such thing as a timetable - the bus goes when it is full. And, unlike Australia where I need to book my ticket, I can be standing on the side of the road, and as the bus comes towards me I can raise my hand and the bus stops beside me and on I get, I find my seat and along comes the conductor and asks where I am going. He issues me with a ticket after punching several holes against prices and distance and it is far cheaper in Manila than in Australia!! The conductor moves on and then comes back and collects the fare for my travel. So easy.

 

Then there are the jeepneys and these are another kettle of fish. They are like troop carriers, they have bench seats running lengthwise each side of the vehicle. They are quite tricky to get in and out of and I would often request a seat next to the door if possible and the people there would often oblige me, as I was considered their "lolo" or "grandfather"!! The reason I requested a seat near the door was because I would be bent over double trying to negotiate my way down the isle - that was a journey in itself!!!!

 

We eventually arrived in Ibabao and attended a party of Rosey's friends and a good time was had by all. Eventually it was time to leave and we arrived at the home of our beloved "Aunty A" and "Aunty B", both of whom you have heard of before and who, sadly, have now passed on. I shall always remember this diminutive white haired lady standing at her front door, welcoming me with open arms. Aunty B was more restricted in her movements and she was waiting inside.

 

I had arrived and did not know it then, but already a wonderful love affair had begun between the Philippines and myself. It is a beautiful country and if you ever get the chance to go there, don't miss the opportunity.

 

We lived in Ibabao, which is around 100 klms from Central Manila. A beautiful little country town, and me being used to country was totally at home here!!! We shared a house with Aunty A and Aunty B and we had the bottom part of a big house with out own bedroom, bathroom/toilet, kitchen, We often ate with Aunty A and Aunty B and mornings were usually very special. One of us would go the little bakery around the corner and buy little bread rolls. With these rolls we would have butter and other delicacies such as fried egg, meat dishes and vegetables and rice, always big at our table!!!

 

Another huge joy for Rosey and myself was our walk. We lived right on the highway that ran drom Banay Banay Crossing to Lemery. There was traffic constantly from around 5 am right through to around 11 pm at night, when it would quieten down and then begin again the next day. All manner of vehicles came past our place, from big trucks, to buses, to jeepneys and tricycles, private cars and taxis, and pushbikes, and people walking too!!

 

Because we were right on the highway we would head away from the highway and very quickly left the roar of traffic behind and became immersed in the beauty and quiet of the countryside. The air was clean, not like Manila City where there is huge pollution because of diesel vehicles, and where we lived it was heavily timbered. And walking here was an absolute pleasure. We had a choice of hills or flat which we divided up pretty well equally. And often times Rosey was working the day shift so I would head out by myself, always letting Aunty A know where I was headed, in case I got lost or something else happened (not sure what)!!!

 

Another joy was seeing daily "God's Fingers" as we called them. In places that "enjoy" fog then this is a natural phenomenon. Here in the Philippines, because there is a lot of burning happening, hence smoke pollution, then these "God's Fingers" appear like magic, especially if the sun is in the right direction. As there is no regular rubbish collection certainly in our town, then rubbish such as leaves, paper, etc, is raked up and burned, and mostly it smoulders away, creating smoke which appears as "fog" and hence these beautiful (to me) and stunning visuals appear to my eyes.

 

And this is no exception. Actually this is smoke from fires and being a place where rain falls on a regular basis, bushland is in abundance, bordering these little roads with very little traffic so we had the roads to ourselves mostly. The little children are on their way to school. Because of the population, often school days are split into two. The first session begins at around 7 am and the second around 1 pm so there is the opportunity for as many students as possible to attend school.

 

I never tired of seeing such beauty as portrayed here - even looking at this scene now takes my breath away!!! It is amazing how the residue of man's pollution can be resurrected into an absolutely beautiful scene that defies words!!! Enjoy our dear friends!!!!

 

Many thanks for your visits, warm comments and faves - you all truly are wonderful friends of ours, and our lives are enriched because of you all. May God continue to bless you all as your walk your own pathway in this beautiful world. Rosey and I are now caretakers in a crisis and counselling centre. I have often heard the word "mentally disturbed" and to both Rosey and myself they were merely words. Not any more, we are witness to some amazing people battling depression. Some have wanted to end their lives and because of the wonderful skills of Pastor Kevin and his son, Irwin, both terrific counsellors, and another lady, Larissa, part-time counsellor, many lives have been saved. In some circumstances suicide has been a definite option for these people and, happily, through the intervention of these wonderful people, lives have been turned around. God has certainly led both Rosey and I to this place and what a joy to be part of the Barnabas House Crisis and Counselling Centre!!! Love and God bless you all, Clive and Rosey xxxxxxxx

 

Rosey says thanks to you all for your kind and loving birthday wishes - she is presently sleeping, after a had day in the garden. We have had rain here the past two days (Hallelujah) and Rosey is having a field day!!!

Done