Halo! (By the way Halo is filapino for hello, real original) Well the flight was fine it was really long but it gave me time to figure out some travel plans. Luckily I was able to out smart the system a little bit. So Philippine law states that you can not enter the country without showing exit. They dont want people over staying their visas. This is understandable, the policy is the same in the US. Well i bought a one way ticket thinking that I would be fine. I figured it couldnt be that big of deal and I could talk my way out of any problem. I did a little research and got mixed messages. Some said there would be no problems and others said they would not let me on the plane. Well they wouldnt have let me on the plane. I actually was lucky enough to recieve a little advice form my uncle right before I left and I bought a fully refunable ticket which I am in the process of canceling, with a little help. They asked me to show proof of exit in Seattle, in Seoul, and through customs in the Philippines. Haha good thing I bought it! The first night was amazing, nothing like being in a new city for the first time. We stayed in Malate a predominately, how should i say this, gender challenged district of Manila. I have come to find out "gender challenged" is actually not just specific to Malate or Manila its the Philippines in general. With maybe the exception of Vietnam, I never traveled in a place with more hospitable, genuinily nice people. Every one on one experince seems to be memeoriable. I am struck by how nice the Filipinos are to each other. As not to bore you all ill summarize the next day. I traveled to Intermuros which is the old Spanish fort in down town Manila. Beautiful place. Heres where is gets good. My third day here Lauran and I went to the Black Nazerene festival in Manila. I cant descibe in words what the festival was like but ill try. It is a Catholic festival where 4 million Filipinos camp for days prior to the 9th of January, where they pull a 400 year old eneormous statue of Jesus on the cross through the streets of Manila barefoot from 8 in the morning tell 8 at night. They lend the festival by placing it at its normal resting place inside the Quiopo church. Everyone carries around a towel becuase family miracles are said to come to those who rub the towel on the face of the Black Nazerene. The crowd pulls the rope that carries this one ton relic. I was fortunate enough to meet a wonderful native Filipino man named Ryan who took us around all day. I told him my grandmother was sick and he told me that she would get better if I was able to touch the towel to the Nazernes face.I also asked him if everyone recives Miracle when they touch the Narazrene and he said " yes because everyday you wake up its a miracle." I love him, he is a good kid. Now picture this for a minute. 4 million people in the street, a street that has no exits becuase it is a boulavard and it is inclosed by concrete barriers almost the whole way to the church. These 4 million Filipinos are celebrating the largest festival in the Philippines and most, struck with the moment, will pretty much do anything to touch the Black Nazerene or pull the rope. Pulling the rope is seen as even a larger feet because it is much harder and much more dangerous. People literally fight each other for it. Youtube it if you get a chance. Well i couldnt get anywhere close to the Nazerene and Ryan saw this so he grabbed my towel jumped down into the crowd and touched the face. When he brought it back he said "here now your grandma is getting better". Pretty touching stuff. If only you would have seen what he had to go through to get that done. Then we were walking back and Ryan asked if I wanted to pull the rope. When in Manila right! So I took off my shoes and walked barefoot down the steet. The rope was a little rediculous. Its frightening because the rope is so huge and once you grab on you cant let go. It picks you up and pulls you through the crowd. Some people were hurt while participating in the rope pull. I was not one of them luckily, except my feet were a little cut up, so for the sake of my mother and grandmother ill leave it at that. Anyway after that we walked back to a friend of Ryans and had fiesta all day at their humble house with all their friends and family. *Mr. Harper, this was the back alley in Ho Chi Minh that we always wanted to hang out in!!! The played games and ate all day it was wonderful. I am very thankful for all their hospitality. I did finish 2nd in a Red Horse (haha the extra strong San Miguel beer) drinking game with all the other older more experienced beer drinkers. Today I am headed up north to check out the old head hunter tribal people north of Bagio. Hopefully it goes well. Miss you all
Peace and love
Brent
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