Family Reunion in Silang
Posted April 12, 2012 / By Adam and Amanda / 1 Comment
For our first visit to the Philippines, I was excited to see some family who had visited the states but also see relatives I had never met. Tito Selit organized a mini-family reunion at the home of one of his sisters, Tita Vicky, in Silang, which is in the province of Cavite, about an hour …
Legaspi
Posted / By Adam and Amanda / 1 Comment
Before we left for Donsol, we had arranged with Tita Chie for her to meet us at the mall in Legazpi. The van driver dropped us off there and we went to meet Tita Chie and her grandson Yacqui. We got a quick bite to eat at the mall, and then I went off to …
Donsol
Posted / By Adam and Amanda / 1 Comment
Donsol is known as the whale shark (butanding) capital of the Philippines (and maybe the world) and that is why we went down there. We had read stories and heard from friends about the possibility of swimming with up to ten of these gentle giants. Ever since I first saw a picture of one, I …
Arrival in Manila and Quezon City
Posted April 5, 2012 / By Adam and Amanda / 4 Comments
After a crazy week of packing and last minute preparations, Adam and I barely make it onto our flight. We are completely exhausted and pretty much sleep the whole way to Taipei. We have a quick layover and fly to Manila. My Tito (meaning “Uncle,” my dad’s cousin) Selit, his daughter Bianca and their driver …
Leaving San Francisco
Posted March 7, 2012 / By Adam and Amanda / 2 Comments
San Francisco. The name evokes a lot of memories for a lot of people. The Golden Gate Bridge. The most European city in the States. Progressive politics and cutting-edge tech. It is all of these things…but for Amanda and I, it brings up a different set of memories. San Francisco is the place we fell …