My Philippine Islands

I just retired from my work at the big airplane company in the Puget Sound area. Renata and I plan to leave the rainy city far behind and, very soon, like Macarther, we shall return to the Philippines, the land of my wife's birth.  In fact we intend to live in or near Tacloban, Leyte which is very close to where Gen. Douglas Macarther landed when he returned to the Philippines during W.W.II. Tacloban can be located on the map above. We are currently planning to stay there for 5 to 7 years so that Renata can spend time with her parents during their final years.  You can rest assured that she will enjoy spending time with the rest of her family that still resides in the Philippines. . After we arrive I will take lots of pictures of the places we visit and write about what the Philippines is like today.  In the mean time I am putting a few of my favorite Philippine Islands pictures that I took about 25 years ago here. 

The photo above is not one of mine from the Philippines. It is of the FIL-AM Dance Troupe of Tri-Cities WA performing the Philippine national dance called Tinikiling, (the midi playing on this page is the dance music). Tinikling is a favorite in the Visayan islands, especially on the island of Leyte. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems or run over tree branches. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles.  Believe me, the people on the ends of the poles are not holding them in one position.  With each double beat the continually moving poles are brought together or banged against the floor. Only the quick and skillful can survive as many a sailor that consumed a couple too many San Miguels has discovered. 

Incidentally we lived in the Tri-Cities from Sep. 1979 until Aug. 1984. My wife and I both still consider the Tri-Cities as "home" even though we have been here in the Seattle area for nearly 15 years.  There was an active Filipino organization in the Tri-Cities at that time although it probably wasn't as well organized as this current one that was formed in 1990. My two youngest children were baptized in St Joseph church, where the FIL-AM group meets.  My youngest child was brought into this world by a Filipino doctor, his wife was my children's pediatrician. Later on another Filipino doctor would become our family doctor.  It makes me feel very happy to know that there is a dedicated group passing on the Filipino way of life and culture to the next generation in my favorite part of Washington State.

I took this photo of a suburban Manila street scene just after one of those sudden tropical showers that can come up so suddenly and leave almost as fast. I was especially  intrigued by the 3 vehicles for hire horse and buggy, jeepny and tricycle all together at the same moment in time. I consider the colorful reflections on the damp pavement a real bonus.

No one Has ever accused this fatman of not knowing good food when he finds it.  Lechon (whole pig barbaqued over an open fire made from coconut husks) is just about as good as it gets.   This picture was taken in Leyte in October 1975 the occasion was my wife's birthday party.  Filipinoes have many great foods and always seem to be searching for an excuse to prepare them.  I have heard the Philippines described as "A party just waiting to Happen".  That description is not far wrong.

The Boeing Image Gallery

United States Navy- Digital Images

This page was lasted updated 5/30/99