Last 2 Weeks!!!

Hello All,

Well I am back here in the Good'Ol USofA! Starting RN school. Sorry for my delay in finishing my blog, but I had a road bump in the Philippines when I got an email from the nursing program suddenly changing the first day of school from June 15 to June 1st. For over a week I scrambled to try and change my ticket (no luck), email administrators, and prepare to be two days late for school.

Other than that, the last couple of weeks were highlighted me proposing marriage to Cecil (she said Yes!) and us taking a weekend trip to her childhood hometown to meet other siblings and go to the beach. She is from a small town called Guindilman in the southeast corner of Bohol, lying nestled below coastal mountains in the crevice of Guindilman Bay. I argue this is the best place on earth! Why? Because the Philippines is the best country on Earth--the most Christian/Catholic/peaceful/loving country. The island of Bohol is the best since it is the most traditional, peaceful, and beautiful. And Guildilman is the best town in Bohol because it is surrounded by pure beauty, is remote and the most peaceful place, and is well kept and clean. If you are looking for the best romantic corner of the world, look no farther than Guindulman, Bohol, Philippines!

Soon I will develop some film I have here in the US to put pics on the blog, but I had to send one bag which has the rest of the film by air mail, which may take a month. It has the remainder of the film, so I'll post those pics asap.


Thursday, May 21

Despite the sudden email from the nursing school announcing June 1 as the new date for the first day of school, Cecil and I enjoyed her afternoon off, going back to the beloved town of Calape. We packed rum and coke, cheese, cooked shrimp, rice, etc for a picnic on the ocean. We took a 45 minute bus ride to Calape and then a tricycle across a small island to the floating huts we had visited a couple weeks before (with Cecil's friend Felmar).

Jumped off the deep end of the bamboo bridge into deep ocean water surrounded by coral, algae, and fish. Cecil held onto my neck as we swam around and enjoyed the cool water. I tried the snorkel and mask I bought but the mask broke (cheap one).

Later we stopped by to say Hi to Felmar's mother who was glad to see us. Cecil told her that our previous visit to her home and town was my favorite experience thus far in the Philippines, so we came back. She responded by inviting us to come back (hopefully in a year after 1 year RN school) and stay a night at her house, for a get-away.


Friday, May 22

I bought a dress Cecil had noticed in the mall and brought it to Cecil at work. I asked her to wear it for our special dinner that night. In the afternoon I finally settled in an engagement ring at the jewlers and went home to shave, shower, and get dressed up. At 7pm, I drove up at Cecil's house in a nice, air-conditioned taxi, and took her picture inside in her new dress. Jeana, a helper at the house, was very excited. We went to Bohol Tropics Resort restaurant, where we had been twice before. I took pictures. Wow, Cecil looked gorgeous!

We sat and ordered, I cant remember what because I was a little nervous. When we finished eating, I looked into Cecil's eyes and told her I had some thoughts prepared I wanted to share with her. I told her all I felt about her. Then I pushed back my chair, got down on one knee, took out the ring in its box, opened the box, looked back in Cecil's eyes and said "Cecil, will you marry me?" She said "Of course!" We embraced and I felt like the most lucky man on Earth (which I am!).

While eating dessert, an American man named Joseph, who I know, stopped by our table and ended up joining us for a while, congratulating us.


Friday, May 29 - Sunday, May 31

Cecil, two of her coworkers, and I took an air-conditioned van to Guindulman, Cecil's home town, 2 hours away, for the weekend. We left at 630pm and arrived around 830pm, at Cecil's "ancestral home," ie the home of her deceased parents left to her and her 11 siblings. Her nephew and his family, who live in the home and take care of it for the extended family, were away for the weekend, but Cecil's eldest sister Josephina joined us at the home, supplying us with dinner that night, and breakfast the next morning.

I gave Cecil some money and she and her sister took off to the market to buy food for a big feast to share with relatives at the beach, and for dinner that night. Only one brother--LoLoy and his family were able to join us to the beach, taking his car. We rented a beach-side hut, and feasted on pork dishes and crab. This beach is cheap but very nice, with big rocks the waves crashed against, and from which boys jumped off. I myself tried to climb up the rock face to jump but didnt make it. :)

That evening we visited Cecil's parents graves, lighting candles, drove to the top of a mountain for a breathtaking view of the town/bay, and then went to LoLoys house to eat left overs and see his home. LoLoy has a very nice home, gated, nice front yard with plants, big tree, and their very own school house--a small business he runs--preschool, kindergarden, and first grade.
I enjoyed singing Karaoke with the family, a common Filipino family past time.

Coming back by van on Sunday morning, Cecil and I (her friends had left on Saturday evening) ate at a road side restaurant, in an outdoor room, and then went down to the ocean to a waterfall which feeds a cold mountain spring into two large swimming pools. I stood under the waterfall. The water was very cool and refreshing. We could see and hear huge waves splash nearby.

This weekend was such a relaxing and memorable way to end my trip to the Philippines


Monday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 2

Cecil took the day off to see me off at the airport. She met me in the morning to help me finish packing and then we enjoyed a nice lunch on the veranda of the house where I rented a room, with food she brought from home.

Off to the airport and checked in for my 130pm flight from Tagbilaran to Manila. Cecil helped me sort out my baggage, then we embraced a last time before I walked to my plane!

Arrived in Manila around 3pm. Went through customs, got my baggage, and took a shuttle bus to the international airport but found out I couldnt stay there over night, so I shuttled back to Ninoy airport where I stayed overnight, napping, and eating at the 24 hour convenience store.

Flew from Manila to Hong Kong, 8am-10am. Hong Kong to Chicago, leaving at 1230pm, for a 14 hour flight. Then a 6 hour layover in Chicago. Finally, Chicago to Tulsa, 8pm to 10pm!!