February 18, 2025 – Forgotten Passport in a Whole New World

    After exchanging $1000 USD into 7,800 Filipino pesos, we walked out of the airport threshold into the Manila air. The traffic was bustling...almost roaring like an ancient dinosaur. A huge skyway goes right beside the airport...city streets lie underneath. The roads are much, must narrower here if it is not a main thoroughfare, and there are many motorcycles (like the sands of the shore by the sea), jeepneys, buses and trikes (motorized tricycles). There are many cars as well but most people get around on motorcycles, jeepneys, and trikes. While driving towards Taguig we stopped at a grocery store. Marvin went to go park in a parking garage, and Johanna and I gazed into each other's eyes, both of us wondering if all this was even real. If felt like a dream. Johanna said, “You are real, look at you...” as she gently touched my arm with tears welling up in her eyes. We then walked into the grocery store to buy a few needed items and food/snacks for the condominium. We bought toothpaste, mouth wash, shaving cream, shampoo, deodorant, and various snacks. I also bought a black sharpie marker to right 'EXP' on the exposed film.

    As we were leaving the grocery store, somehow Johanna received a text from the airport saying that they had my passport. I checked my pockets and my baggage. Sure enough, I didn't have my passport. I thought it was strange that they had Johanna' phone number. She wasn't even with me at customs or at the cashier to whom I paid the fee for the declared gold and diamond ring. I guess that is a whole other store. Marvin had to then turn around and go back to the airport in the Manila, morning traffic. It took us some time, but we made it and found the passport in the lost and found department/office on the second floor of the airport terminal. Thank you, Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus. I had the passport in hand and Marvin, Johanna, and I were back off to Taguig, to the AirBnB condo in which I am staying for the remainder of my time here in the Philippines.

    I am staying at Grace Residences, Tower 4, Room 606 in Taguig. The condo is only a few miles away from Johanna's home in Taguig. I checked in without any problems, and then I took all my luggage up to Room 606. Marvin and Johanna waited for me in the car/lobby. We then made our way to Johanna's home in Taguig. Marvin dropped us off at Johanna's alleyway/roadside that leads to her home, while Marvin left to go find parking. There is hardly any parking in this part of manila. He may have went and parked at Jollibee or a grocery store./ I'm not too sure. Like I said, there is no place to park. This is because all the residential homes and businesses are crammed in together like a can of sardines. There is no extra space anywhere. Most of the houses in Taguig are either made of wood, block, with a corrugated tin and steel roof over the top. Different street vendors or side liners line the sides of the road selling food and other items. Everywhere you look, there is something new to see. There are no street signs, no stop signs, no traffic lights, and no accessory road signs as well. I will write more about driving in Manila in another entry after I have experienced it more.

    Anyways, back to the story. Johanna and I walked down the alleyway, took a left and then walked down an even smaller alleyway until we reached a gate with a Star of David symbol painted in sea blue on the frame. This sis the entranceway (one of two) to Johanna's home-place. We were immediately greeted by Mr. Joe, Johanna's father. He is a very kind, jolly man with a constant smile and laugh. He took Johanna and I upstairs to the second floor to meet Ms. Cora, Johanna's mother. She was busy in the kitchen like mothers do, preparing dinner for the evening meal. Mr. Joe and I talked at length, for quite a long while. He shared his testimony, his life story, his family's story, about the phased construction of his house, about the Gospel and about his Messianic faith, about his younger years, about his old church, and his house church (that meets on the third floor of his home), about how him and Cora met, and much, much more. It was a very exciting and stimulating conversation with much joy and many boisterous laughs and sweet smiles. After talking at length, a man came downstairs who had been working on the fourth floor construction of Mr. Joe's house. He is a welder. He asked Joe a question, then Mr. Joe, Johanna, and Mrs. Cora gave me a tour of their home.

    I forgot to mention, when I arrived to meet Mr. Joe and Mrs. Cora it was advised for me to do a 'Mano Po' to both of them as a sign of deepest respect. You take the right or left hand of the person you wish to show respect; and you take the back of their hand and put it to your forehead. Then you say 'Mano Po' as you bow down your head. I was able to show respect with 'Mano Po' for both Mr. Joe and Mrs. Cora. It may have made them quite surprised, but it as a way for me to humble myself and show my utmost respect.

    Back to the tour of their home at 14 Dimasalang. I first saw the living room, dining room, and kitchen of their second floor. In the kitchen and dining room, one of the walls has an opening about three feet wide that open's to the outdoors. It has a decorated steel fencing around it but this opening allows air circulation into their home. It also allows cats and birds to come inside their home as well. The third floor is the same way. I was then able to go into Johanna's room to see where she sleeps and works. She has a very simple room with the only air-con in the house. She has a desk and a PC laptop where she does her work from home with CBN Asia. There is a bunkbed in the room as well. The walls are white and there are only a few decorations on the walls as well. Johanna is a minimalist, and she does not need much to make her happy.

    After viewing Johanna's room, the three of them took me up to the third floor of the house which is a church sanctuary and fellowship hall for Mr. Joe's church (Mr. Joe is the pastor of this house church). The third floor is simply one big room for the church. Then, we walked up to the rooftop which is the fourth floor. This is their rooftop garden and hang out space. This is where the construction is on going. They just built a huge metal awning over the fourth floor roof. Now, they are going to tear out the old fourth floor pitched roof (where the old roof is). They are going to cut out the peak of the old roof and then they are going to make a new flat floor that will be covered by the awning. Mr. Joe told me many stories about the ongoing construction of the home and said that he needs more money to complete the construction on the fourth floor. I told him I may be able to help if I have and funds left after the duration of my stay. I think he said he needed somewhere around 80,000 pesos or so to finish the construction.

    After touring the house, we went back downstairs to enjoy dinner. Mrs. Cora cooked pancit, white rice, dried fish, and fried rice. She prepared other dishes as well. We all shared many great stories, and I got to learn more about the Francisco and Binuya families as well. We talked late into the night and then Johanna had to go to sleep for she was to do a night shift on Saturday, February 15. Mr. joe and Marvin led me out into the night streets of Manila and the streets were still bustling like a giant ant pile. Marvin's car was parked at the Jollibee. Mr. Joe tried to grab my hand and lead me down the road, but I refused the offer. I told hime, there was no need to hold my hand. That I would be ok walking by his side amongst all the cars, jeepneys, trikes, motorcycles, and pedestrians. We made it back to Jollibee, laughing and having much fun in the company of each other, and then Marvin took me to the condo at Grace Residences. Marvin is Aunt Minda's son, by the way. They really do look a lot alike.

    That evening I had a massive headache and my stomach churned like a grinding millstone. In the middle of the night I woke up about four times. One of the times I woke up, I had to throw up and puke profusely. I puked a whole bunch of fluid out, and some of the pancit. My reasoning was that the tap water made me sick. There was a lesson learned: drink only bottled water from here on out. Johanna would tell me the same the following day.