TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE WE GO - BUT WAIT...........

EXPIRED PASSPORT – WHAT???

We have been looking forward to our trip back to the States since the beginning of the year. We have everything lined up -– people who would stay with Nanan and Marlon while we are gone. A couple who lives close to us are willing to take care of our animals, the house and the yard. We bought two sacks of pig feed to last until we come back. Tickets had been bought several months back. It had been constantly raining in the Visayas region for what seems like forever. It's already April and still the rain keep coming and everyone is getting tired of it. It was a good thing the rice got harvested, dried and stored when we had a break from the rain one weekend. And yes, the coconut got processed and sold too. The one pig we had got sold two weeks before we leave. The big “stuff” had been taken care of. Mike made a swinging bench that was hung on the porch.  The neighborhood kids love it and made our porch their hang-out almost everyday. We thought it might not be in one piece when we come back so Mike took it down and stored it inside.

We took a van to Tacloban and flew to Manila. Our favorite place to stay when we are in Manila is the Mabuhay Manor (www.mabuhaymanor.com.ph).  As usual the main complaint I have when I am in Manila is the traffic – horrible- but we made it safely to our hotel. While we were still on the road to Tacloban, I happen to check our passports making sure again that we have everything and that's when I discovered that JJ's had expired 3 months ago. How time flies! I can't believe it's been 5 years since his passport was issued. Michael suggested we play dumb when we get to the airport..I don't think so. Good thing we have scheduled an extra day in Manila so the next day we went to the US Embassy. (From Mabuhay Manor it costs us P110.00 by taxi to get there. Before you get in, ask the taxi driver you want the meter fare. Most drivers will tell you they will take you there for P500. Insist on the meter fare).

I did some researching the night before and found out that the Embassy can issue a “Limited Validity” passport so we inquired about that. “Limited Validity” passports are emergency passports that are only good for three months. You will need to surrender it to the Embassy before you get a new one. Just like renewing an expired passport, the cost is $105.00 We made an appointment for the 17^th right after the holy week. We need to go back to Hinunangan to get JJ's birth certificate and other supporting documents required to secure the new passport.

Catholicism is the predominant religion in the Philippines. Lenten season, the days leading to the Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday plays an important part in every Filipinos. Starting on Wednesday, things slow down a bit as we prepare for the long weekend, offices/banks and other establishments close at noon that day. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday means everything shuts down. Public transportation – buses, jeepneys and vans for hire stop their operations. And except for occasional tricycles and pedal cabs here and there, you are out of luck going places unless you have a vehicle.

On Friday, April 7, the day we were supposed to fly to the US, we took the bus back to Tacloban. I spent almost all day and night the day before trying to book a flight to Tacloban but every flight on all domestic airlines are booked. Buses are fully booked. We were able to secure a spot on Philtranco bus going to Ormoc and that means we have to get off in Tacloban and find another ride to Hinunangan. We took it. It was “ordinary fare” meaning, it's not airconditioned so the windows are open. Talk about wind constantly whipping your face for 25 hours. But we didn't have a choice.

Because a lot of people from Manila want to beat the crowd to get home to their families in the provinces for the Lenten season, buses are fully booked a week before. And unfortunately we were caught in the middle of the rush. Luggages are shoved under seats, overhead compartments and even on the aisle. When the bus stops for bathroom breaks or meal breaks, we have to do “acrobatic” moves, even climb over luggages and suitcases to get to the door of the bus and out...whew!

There are several bus stops along the way – restaurants with restrooms and filling stations. There is an entrance fee to use the bathroom – mostly 5 pesos. No toilet paper is provided but there are plenty of water. I bring a roll of toilet paper and baby wipes with me when we travel – it's a must when you're in the Philippines. Stops give passengers the chance to stretch and walk around or have a cup of coffee or hot soup. Then off we go again.  We arrived Hinunangan around supper time safely by the grace of God.

Well, I hope you find this blog interesting and informative. I hope we are able to give you a glimpse of life here in the Philippines. We thank you for following. We love you all.