Insert Clever Title...

It took me almost two months, but I finally posted some Philippines pictures on my Facebook. As I was revisiting them, I came across this picture of one of the nicest families I met during my entire trip — Jake (husband/father), his wife Zeni, and their 8 yr old son David.

When I mentioned in a previous post how I had to compose myself from completely breaking down in tears because I was so touched by the warmth and hospitality that was extended to me, it was Jake’s family who I thought of the most. From the moment that I met him, he always referred to me as Brother Romeo, which immediately made me feel welcome. Even though there was a language barrier between us, we were still able to communicate with the help of my guide/translator as well as through hand gestures and eye contact.

Within ten minutes of peeking his head into my host family’s house, Brother Jake went back to his place real quick and returned with his wedding album in hand. It was apparent how proud he was of his family and how it was such a memorable day for him and his wife. When I asked him how they met, he said he got Zeni’s phone number that very first day and they just kept texting back and forth. Before they knew it, they were married three months later (they’re still going strong after 8+ years)!! When he saw my reaction after hearing how it all happened so quick, he gave me a wink and a nod as if to say, “Yeah, that’s right. I got game!” He’s definitely smooth widdit because his wife was smiling and blushing the whole time he was telling me the story. haha.

Jake supports his family as a jeepney dispatcher/barker and gets 20 pesos every time he fills it to capacity. On the day that I was visiting, he volunteered not to go to work (much to his wife’s dismay) so he could show us around and answer any questions we had. At the end of the day, we were chilling outside under a tree when he started apologizing for not having much in terms of entertainment. He told my guide/translator that he hoped I was as comfortable as the circumstances provided and that although they don’t have a lot of material possessions, they have each other and it’s that kind of companionship that’s more important. As he put it, we need money to survive, but it also comes and goes — life shouldn’t be centered around something so trivial, which I agree with 100%.

After I took his family’s picture, he was concerned that I might be ashamed to show my friends and family back home because of their height and how they looked different than most “normal” people (his words). I assured him that the people I associate with don’t make irrational judgments based on appearance and that what’s most important to me is what’s on the inside. There’s a chance I’ll never see them again and even more likely that they won’t see this post, but I still have to let the world know how much their hospitality means to me and that I’m writing this with the utmost pride. That conversation we had was probably the most memorable of my exposure trip because of the genuine connection that was formed. Despite the cultural differences or the fact that we live an ocean apart from each other, all those outside influences are trivial when it comes down to the essence of just being a good person.

Of course, I can’t forget about their son, David. He was shy around me at first, but by the time I left the next morning the two of us were homies for sure (hopefully he still remembers the daps and fist bump that I taught him)! haha. I don’t mean to brag, but at the request of his parents I even cured a major stomach ache that he had. Ok, I didn’t really “cure” it, but it was more of a placebo effect. lol. It’s completely ridiculous now that I think about it, but I had him put one hand on my stomach while I did the same to him. I put my free hand on top of his head then proceeded to make funny sounds and facial expressions. I have no idea how I came up with that craziness, but it worked because he stopped crying, immediately started cracking up, and forgot all about the stomach ache :) pops collar

What was really nice is that Jake and his wife were still texting me a few days after I left their area just to say hi or to wish me a happy new year. We were even texting back and forth up until I boarded the plane coming back here, which makes me confident in saying that I’m part of their extended family.

It’s been less than two months since I came back from the Philippines, but writing this blog made me realize just how much I miss it over there. Until we meet again…