3 days in CEBU, PHILIPPINES

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I spent 3 days in Cebu City in the Philippines. Our church organized a group trip to the Temple that was just opened there. Sweet David stayed home to watch the boys.

Most of the time was spent at the temple. Time for service. Time for peace. Time for gathering strength.

In between sessions I would eat yummy pancit in the cafeteria or talk to the gorgeous Philippino people with their big smiles.

"We were expecting Chinese people from Singapore, why are you all white?!" they would giggle. "Hello, sister!" "Welcome!" They were so friendly.

One lady told me it was only a 8 hour bus ride for her to get to the temple. Another told me how she and her sisters took a boat for a day and then a bus for another day to get to the temple. Another lady told me that she was from an island about a day's ferry away but that she and her husband couldn't afford to send their 2 boys to university in Cebu. So they moved to Cebu to cut the costs and found new work. Now they are also close to the temple. So many stories...

Another day I spent snorkeling just outside of Mactan Island with friends (but that needs its own post).

Somewhere in there I saw pieces of Cebu City. I missed the downtown sites, Magellan's history. I guess we'll have to go back another day.

The streets with their black electric wires everywhere and the buildings are the only things that reminded me of South East Asia. The rest of the Philipines is all its own. Check out these Jeepneys. They run a route like a bus for only 7 pesos. You look for your number, wave it down like mad and squish in with everyone else.

Christmas lanterns were everywhere. Most people in Cebu are Catholic.

This little Saint was on the dash of a taxi. In Singapore everyone has a Buddha, or that green shiny cat that waves you good luck.

One night was dinner at Gerry's Grill in Ayala Mall with Malia and her sister, Kei. Sizzling sisig, tuna belly, sinigang soup and of course calamansi juice. Kei lives just north of Manila so it was awesome to have a local to order for us and bargain like a pro while we looked at ukuleles or necklaces. Hopefully I didn't embarrass her too much with my big camera bag and my assertive taxi skills.

Kei even showed us the Surplus Shop at SM Mall. Made in the Phillippines extras from Hollister, Old Navy, Forever 21, Target are all piled up in here. Everything $3-7.

(thanks to Malia for the picture)

Just before hitting the airport I played a couple beach volleyball games with the church teenagers. Listened to their stories of visiting the orphanage and helping to paint a school. Then I nestled into a beach chair at the hotel with my book.

Rested and Strengthened.