Matt and Kristin in the Philippines

I woke up at six am, one of the last ones to rise at the gathering of Church Workers of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (our host denomination here). Went downstairs to discover there was a line for the comfort room and my cold bucket bath. Okay, so I'll just sit in the living room and wait.

Well, this means people will try to talk to me, and I will have to try to talk back in Visaya even though it's so early and I haven't had a shower or coffee yet. I'm becoming more dependent on coffee, especially when shedules get busy and the mornings start early.

I met Pastor Pedro, who looks to be in his forties. There are others in the room, who speak and listen, but he directs the questioning. At first it's the usual, predictable questions. Where are you from? How old are you? Are you married? Is she Filipina? How many kids? None? You must be newlyweds. No, four years?

Maybe you're wondering why we moved from this cute little cottage with the lime green doors vying for attention from the surrounding green of palm fronds and foliage.

Or how it could be possible to give up a bedroom with streaming sunshine a double bed, cotton sheets, and a four-inch think foam mattress, a definite luxury in this country.

We've been thinking for a long time how to tell the story of Diwalwal. Hopefully enlisting the help of some of Kristin's excellent photos will help.

The town's real name is Mt. Diwata, in the mountainous region north of Davao, and it's the largest gold reserve in the Philippines. If you want to go there and you're rich, you can take a helicopter. If you're not rich, you have to take some form of truck or van, which will traverse the crazy roads up into the mountains and give you a good idea what a kernal of popcorn would feel like if it were popped over and over for two hours.

WE'VE MOVED!

Our new address is:

Kristin & Matt Black
Kalinaw Center
13 Francisco St.
Juna Subdivision
Davao City
PHILIPPINES

I spent the last two weeks in a very small village several kilometers outside of Mangagoy, living with a peasant farmer.

The house was all wood except for half the roof which was tin (a sign that this farmer is better off than most). It had three rooms. I was given the master bedroom, and slept on a thin canvas mat on the floor boards. It's really quite comfortable once you're used to it. So much of living in a different culture seems to follow that rule: it's okay once you get used to it. The food, the language, the simple living...even when "simple" begins to mean something very different from "easy."

Presbyterian Church (USA)
Office of the General Assembly

Clifton Kirkpatrick
State Clerk

March 8, 2006

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Malacañang Palace
Manila 1005, Philippines

Dear Madam President:

On behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I write
to express our alarm and dismay over the recent developments in the
Philippines. We are aware that there has been an increase in recent weeks in
peaceful protests against the policies of the government and against
corruption in official circles. Unfortunately, instead of addressing the
people's grievances, your government has dealt with the situation by the use

If you're interested in checking out some more photos (without content/commentary), go to http://photobucket.com/albums/a238/maiwillow/

"The US-educated economist [President Arroyo] now has a popularity
rating lower than the former dictator Marcos.

Retired general Ramon Montano, 68, who was detained and then released without charges during the emergency, said the government's claim of a conspiracy between extreme right-wing military elements and communists was nonsense."

Arroyo lifts state of emergency - (3RD UPDATE) AFTER being assured by her advisers that the coup threat has eased, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted the state of emergency exactly a week after she issued the controversial declaration to quell an attempt to overthrow her government. [Philippine Daily Inquirer]

What can ants possibly crave in a bottle of canola oil? I must subject this innocent plastic bottle to a daily ritual cleansing. I have no remorse for the biting red creatures swirling down our kitchen drain. At least the ones that manage to creep inside sink and I won't have to worry about them until I use many more tablespoons of the lovely yellow liquid.

Today, February 24, marked the 20th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, the first one, during the time of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. Millions gathered for massive demonstrations and it was this event, after years of demanding his resignation, that finally ousted him from 20 years of power, 15 of which were spent in martial law.

Today, the president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declared a State of Emergency throughout the entire country which means the military/police squad can make warrantless arrests of suspected "communists or rebels".

Filipinos continue to demand her resignation, there have been rumors of coup plots, the situation is tense and the people are angry. GMA is scared and determined to hold her seat of power by any means. She ignores the Bill of Rights of the People and the people have had enough.