Today was not a workday, but that is not to say we had the day off. Today we had 3 things on our agenda; to attend the final profession of Sister Joanne’s vows; to go shopping for gifts at Greenhill’s shopping centre and to visit sister Gavie’s school for dinner and a game of basketball with her students.
The boys looked great in their school uniform, which they seemed to wear with pride. The girls and us guys scrubbed up all right as well. We felt like we were off to the races, especially as fashion sense has not been high on our list of priorities for the last week or so. We left the hotel at 7.30 and got the bus to the mother house in Manila (about an 1 ¼ away)
A couple of the boys were still not entirely sure what the purpose of the mass was, so when we explained it again, they interpreted it as sister Joanne was marring God. Which seemed right. We were given prime position at the front, sensibly for function reasons we were seated on the side, as the locals would not have been able to see over us.
Philippno’s are very religious and I knew there masses would be long especially with the addition of this important occasion. The mass went for just under 2 ½ hours. The boys were extremely well behaved and respectful of the occasion. They did themselves proud and were fine ambassadors for the college.
The service was lovely and it was great that we were able to be there to witness the service and add our support to our friend sister Joe. The girls must have had something in their eye, as they seemed to be using a few tissues. Sister Joe is always up bet and friendly but today she was even more so and to use the boy’s description of the event, she was a glowing bride.
We had lunch at the motherhouse after the ceremony, which was great; again for the sake of some of the boys, this was the reception after the wedding. We felt very privilege to be there with Sister Joanne’s family and fellow sisters. The food was great, until we discovered (after we had finished our lunch) that the beef stroganoff that we had enjoyed, was not in fact beef, it was ox tongue. Its funny how something you enjoyed in ignorance 10 minutes ago, suddenly was not that good? The wise Mr David McLean has learnt in his 4 weeks here in the Philippines “sure avoid, if you are not” that is Yoda talk for if you are not sure, avoid, wise words for us young and enthusiastic/
Some of the boys struggled with the fine print associated with the vows taken by Religious; poverty, chastity and obedience. There were many inquisitive and constructive conversations held on the bus between the motherhouse and Greenhill’s shopping centre. This shopping centre consisted of both market style stores as well as a department type area, like paddy’s markets and Westfield’s side by side. The market area was broken up into 4 main areas; jewellery, shoes, clothes and mobile phones. I know why Elmelda Macros had so many shoes, of concern is I think some of our boys have taken her lead, not mentioning any names – Tom Hill. The clothes section was so big and full. I saw a pretty shirt for my daughter, I learnt that if you saw something you liked, you had to impulse buy it or you would never find it again. Sorry Cleo, like a good fishing story, I’ll talk up how good it was but you’ll never know. While we could have stayed there for many more hours, the boys seemed be got most, if not their entire gift shopping requirements covered in one foul swoop.
I don’t want to spoil your present surprises, just know that the boys were very careful about choosing appropriate presents for you all. They soon mastered the art of bartering (some more so than others) Myself I found the disinterested walk away the most effective and least confrontational, normally in 3 casual steeps you could have 50% cut from the original asking price.
Like sea gulls squawking of a prized chip, they were all excited to show off their purchases. Occasionally this excitement was destroyed by the knowledge that someone else had got the same item for 100 piso cheaper. Which sounds a lot but at the end of the day is $2.50 AUS.
Back onto the bus and over to Sister Gavie's school. Sister Gavie was at St Augustine’s before Sister Joanne. She had invited us for dinner and to playa game of basketball against her school team. We had a lovely meal, followed by some dancing. We all attempted and subsequently embarrassed ourselves trying to do a tradition Philippino dance were you basically jump in and out of bamboo stick which are being banged and moved by other people, all to music. No one escaped trying musical elastics with sticks, not even Fr Tony Banks.
They looked very deck out and professional compared to our motley crew of players and ring ins. The game was a friendly game, however you know how boys and testosterone work, you can’t play for plays sake, there has to be a winner and a loser. It looked pretty even to me so I’m going to call it a tie. There was even compitition from the spectariors, the gentle natured Philippino’s cheered on their team, but they were soon introduced to ‘saints on 3, 1, 2, 3 SAINTS’.
Back on the bus and home James. Got back to the hotel about 8. The boys are tired after another long day. Tomorrow is a rest day however I have assembled a little swat team for a covert operation, can’t say too much as the Sisters may be monitoring this blog.
Craig Jeffery
The boys looked great in their school uniform, which they seemed to wear with pride. The girls and us guys scrubbed up all right as well. We felt like we were off to the races, especially as fashion sense has not been high on our list of priorities for the last week or so. We left the hotel at 7.30 and got the bus to the mother house in Manila (about an 1 ¼ away)
A couple of the boys were still not entirely sure what the purpose of the mass was, so when we explained it again, they interpreted it as sister Joanne was marring God. Which seemed right. We were given prime position at the front, sensibly for function reasons we were seated on the side, as the locals would not have been able to see over us.
Philippno’s are very religious and I knew there masses would be long especially with the addition of this important occasion. The mass went for just under 2 ½ hours. The boys were extremely well behaved and respectful of the occasion. They did themselves proud and were fine ambassadors for the college.
The service was lovely and it was great that we were able to be there to witness the service and add our support to our friend sister Joe. The girls must have had something in their eye, as they seemed to be using a few tissues. Sister Joe is always up bet and friendly but today she was even more so and to use the boy’s description of the event, she was a glowing bride.
We had lunch at the motherhouse after the ceremony, which was great; again for the sake of some of the boys, this was the reception after the wedding. We felt very privilege to be there with Sister Joanne’s family and fellow sisters. The food was great, until we discovered (after we had finished our lunch) that the beef stroganoff that we had enjoyed, was not in fact beef, it was ox tongue. Its funny how something you enjoyed in ignorance 10 minutes ago, suddenly was not that good? The wise Mr David McLean has learnt in his 4 weeks here in the Philippines “sure avoid, if you are not” that is Yoda talk for if you are not sure, avoid, wise words for us young and enthusiastic/
Some of the boys struggled with the fine print associated with the vows taken by Religious; poverty, chastity and obedience. There were many inquisitive and constructive conversations held on the bus between the motherhouse and Greenhill’s shopping centre. This shopping centre consisted of both market style stores as well as a department type area, like paddy’s markets and Westfield’s side by side. The market area was broken up into 4 main areas; jewellery, shoes, clothes and mobile phones. I know why Elmelda Macros had so many shoes, of concern is I think some of our boys have taken her lead, not mentioning any names – Tom Hill. The clothes section was so big and full. I saw a pretty shirt for my daughter, I learnt that if you saw something you liked, you had to impulse buy it or you would never find it again. Sorry Cleo, like a good fishing story, I’ll talk up how good it was but you’ll never know. While we could have stayed there for many more hours, the boys seemed be got most, if not their entire gift shopping requirements covered in one foul swoop.
I don’t want to spoil your present surprises, just know that the boys were very careful about choosing appropriate presents for you all. They soon mastered the art of bartering (some more so than others) Myself I found the disinterested walk away the most effective and least confrontational, normally in 3 casual steeps you could have 50% cut from the original asking price.
Like sea gulls squawking of a prized chip, they were all excited to show off their purchases. Occasionally this excitement was destroyed by the knowledge that someone else had got the same item for 100 piso cheaper. Which sounds a lot but at the end of the day is $2.50 AUS.
Back onto the bus and over to Sister Gavie's school. Sister Gavie was at St Augustine’s before Sister Joanne. She had invited us for dinner and to playa game of basketball against her school team. We had a lovely meal, followed by some dancing. We all attempted and subsequently embarrassed ourselves trying to do a tradition Philippino dance were you basically jump in and out of bamboo stick which are being banged and moved by other people, all to music. No one escaped trying musical elastics with sticks, not even Fr Tony Banks.
They looked very deck out and professional compared to our motley crew of players and ring ins. The game was a friendly game, however you know how boys and testosterone work, you can’t play for plays sake, there has to be a winner and a loser. It looked pretty even to me so I’m going to call it a tie. There was even compitition from the spectariors, the gentle natured Philippino’s cheered on their team, but they were soon introduced to ‘saints on 3, 1, 2, 3 SAINTS’.
Back on the bus and home James. Got back to the hotel about 8. The boys are tired after another long day. Tomorrow is a rest day however I have assembled a little swat team for a covert operation, can’t say too much as the Sisters may be monitoring this blog.
Craig Jeffery
2 comments:
Hi Davo and all you other great people.
You are all making us sooooo proud!! To see the faces of the children (and yours) looking so happy is wonderful. David, Nanna is perfecting all her ox tongue receipes!! You will never be able to not eat her steak and kidney pie again. Thanks for ringing me so often, you are saving the rest of the family from living with a "phyco mum"!! Love and miss you heaps. Take care, Mum.
PS Amy misses you heaps (she is a superstar, having come 1st overall at her gym comp!!!) She has already eaten all the lollies she bought you at the Easter Show but don't worry I have hidden your Easter Eggs from her!!!
Hi guys - greetings from Uluru. This blog thing is a fantastic initiative - enabling us to keep up on the news even this far away. Can you give Sr Joan our love and tell her how proud of her we are.
Love the photos...
Keep up the great work and spirit.
Love from the Gilberts
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