Katie Lou: The Philippines

The most fabulous place I have ever been: The Philippine Islands.

I don't even know where to begin. I find myself avoiding sharing details of my trip with others, simply because, A) There are too many to share in a one timely conversation, and B) No matter how well I explain what I experienced, it cannot be fully understood or comprehended. The FEEL of that place is amazing. The SMELL is NOT amazing. (Lots of pollution; dead fish; rotting animals, homeless people. . . you get the idea) The People are amazing. I missed it as soon as I got home. I still long for the sticky heat and the incessant ache after a hard days work. It was quite the journey there; the flight from LAX to Manila was 16 hours alone; not to mention our 7 hour layover in manila, the flight from SLC to LAX, the flight from Manila to Cebu, and then the 2 1/2 hour boat ride from Cebu to Bohol. All I can say about it: It was well worth the disgusting airplane food (Philippine Airlines feeds you fish with the fins still on it for breakfast. . .) and the lack of hygiene ( you smell pretty good after 2 days of non-stop airport. Mmm.) Thank goodness for sleeping pills.

But nonetheless, I LOVED it over there. You see National Geographic articles and watch CNN, but until your feet smear across the soiled ground, until those starving people actually share with you their meager meals, until you look into the eyes of someone who only dreams of having what you have and living like you live, it can never truly pierce your heart the way mine has been pierced. On the Island of Bohol, where all of our aide took place, there is a tiny little village called BEHIND THE CLOUDS. It is found far into the deepest jungle, encircled by what are known as "The Chocolate Hills." During WWII, when the Japanese invaded the Philippines, a tribe of people retreated to the mountains to hide themselves from their enemies. They hid themselves so well, that the Japanese never found them. So, the villagers decided to make this place their new home. It was so high and secluded, that they named it Behind The Clouds; the name is self explanatory. Most of the villagers there have never seen a white person in their lives. They build houses out of bamboo and palm tree leaves. We built three houses there with cement floors and brick walls and a bathroom and a kitchen. We held three or four medical clinics, where we handed out antibiotics and other medicines to eager hands. Even taking people's blood pressures was amazing; you'd think I was handing out gold bars by the way they crowded in and lined up just to watch in wonder and amazement as I pumped and pumped the little cuff, and listened to their heart beat again and again. It was amazing. Words can not describe the way it felt to be touched so strongly by the people there. They have nothing; and yet they have everything. Mothers walked around barefoot, in dirty old clothes, holding their babies, as the loving husband walked along side. I looked at them one day as I was building them a floor, and realized that they have everything we need; family. love. the simple joys of life. And in that moment, I envied that woman.

The people follow you everywhere and just watch you. They call every white person, male or female, Joe. Everywhere you go, people shout at you, "Hey, JOE!" and then they wave and smile, like you're Katie Holmes. The girls dressed in their school uniforms scream and giggle with their hands waving frantically in the air as you pass; if you wave back at them, they almost faint with glee.

We would work all day in the scorching sun, and the people would find coconuts for us. First you drink the milk, then my favorite part: They cut it open and you eat the fresh coconut meat from inside.

A group of kids who came and watched us build the houses in Behind The Clouds. They taught us dances and played games with us. They even helped haul bags of rocks and cement!

This little abuelita sat in her house all day like that and watched us. The picture isn't distorted; she's that small! She kept that face the whole time and didn't speak a word. But when I showed her this picture, she burst out laughing. Priceless.

Doesn't this look like a postcard?! We hung out on this beach all day after church one day. We caught crabs, caught starfish right off the ocean floor, and we even got mobbed by a crowd of Korean women who thought we were "Hollywood Actors! Ahh!"

We toured the Loboc River on a little boat; but first, we stopped to see the monkeys. This little guy isn't being as friendly as he seems. . . he was growling. . .