Sampaguita - first visit
The delivery of gifts to the children went tickety boo today – just like clockwork. Sharon, who’s the club president’s assistant, organized the children into four orderly lines. She had a list of each child’s name, and each one was given a slip of paper with a number. When they came to the front of the line, they handed their slip to a Rotarian and another Rotarian gave them a bag of gifts. Older kids put their younger children in front of them, and all were quiet, patient and very well behaved.
“Thank you Po” we heard over and over, as they solemly shook our hands and accepted their baggies. It was a very impressive orderly procession.
Rotarian Francis was MC and kept the kids entertained while the lines were being organized and other Rotarians unpacked the bags. The Rotarians from Las Pinas Camino Real also had vitamins to hand out to children and families.
And the piece de resistance. Neil Swensrude and Anna overnight organized a Peace banner. The Canadian flag blazes from one corner, and Philippine flag from the other and in the center is Rotary Shares and the word Peace. We rounded up as many kids as would cooperate, stacked them up and took a photo. We’re going to submit it on behalf of Red Deer East to the District’s Peace photography contest.
Finally, we took a jaunt through the village accompanied by the village president who showed us some of the 19 microcredit projects that have been funded by RC of Red Deer East.
Baby, a charming woman who’s likely to be voted village president next year, proudly showed me her small lunch counter which she owns jointly with Emma and provides a livelihood for both families. She gave me a bowl of soup and I could see no way to politely decline. And since it was very hot I figured I’d be safe. Besides, we have immodium with us, so I ate some. It was delicious!
Now, I’m sitting on a hot sandy beach. The sun is winking out and sending vibrant streaks across the sky. The incoming tide is whoosing in counterpoint to the karaoke behind me, and charcoal is heating in the barbecue for this evening’s dinner of fish.
This has been the best day.
“Thank you Po” we heard over and over, as they solemly shook our hands and accepted their baggies. It was a very impressive orderly procession.
Rotarian Francis was MC and kept the kids entertained while the lines were being organized and other Rotarians unpacked the bags. The Rotarians from Las Pinas Camino Real also had vitamins to hand out to children and families.
And the piece de resistance. Neil Swensrude and Anna overnight organized a Peace banner. The Canadian flag blazes from one corner, and Philippine flag from the other and in the center is Rotary Shares and the word Peace. We rounded up as many kids as would cooperate, stacked them up and took a photo. We’re going to submit it on behalf of Red Deer East to the District’s Peace photography contest.
Finally, we took a jaunt through the village accompanied by the village president who showed us some of the 19 microcredit projects that have been funded by RC of Red Deer East.
Baby, a charming woman who’s likely to be voted village president next year, proudly showed me her small lunch counter which she owns jointly with Emma and provides a livelihood for both families. She gave me a bowl of soup and I could see no way to politely decline. And since it was very hot I figured I’d be safe. Besides, we have immodium with us, so I ate some. It was delicious!
Now, I’m sitting on a hot sandy beach. The sun is winking out and sending vibrant streaks across the sky. The incoming tide is whoosing in counterpoint to the karaoke behind me, and charcoal is heating in the barbecue for this evening’s dinner of fish.
This has been the best day.
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