After spending winter in Europe, not quite according to plan, but not unpleasant nevertheless, I headed East for a fourth time in two years. With more money coming into the bank, I seem to have tempered the desire to set up base and reawakened the travel spirit once more.
A Great Family Trip
Exactly two years ago I joined my fabulous friends Rick and Louis, who are like family, to the Philippines for a very special trip. I experienced authentic Bukidnon life, had an amazing island hopping adventure and found out that my most-loved friends are excellent travel buddies. This March I joined them again on a trip to the Philippines. For added excitement, Louis’ youngest brother Freddy and his wife Marilyn, nick-named Linnen, would join us, as they would be returning to their home country. They had been residing in the Netherlands for three and a half years, working hard to save money to start up their own business and give their children, aged 4 and 11, a brighter future.
After a 26-hour monster journey that included an unexpected third stop, I finally arrived in Davao, the capital of the most southern island group of Mindanao. There I was reunited with Rick and Louis, who travelled on the same day on a different flight, and Freddy and Linnen, who had arrived the day before. After a night in Davao, we all left the next morning to Louis’, Freddy’s and Linnen’s home region Bukidnon in the heart of Mindanao. For years there has been a negative travel advice in place and for that reason the region is not touristy at all. Like two years ago, I never felt in a dangerous or threatening situation. The only time you might notice there is some tension, is when you enter the airport or a shopping mall, where friendly and incredibly well-dressed security staff check your bag. We spent about 10 days in a town near Valencia, where we had some great family time. Just like two years ago, we enjoyed a lovely day at Godwin’s family residency in nearby Don Carlos. (Godwin is Louis’ ‘gay mother’, a very engaging personality and a terrific host). We had a relaxing time chilling at Louis’ family house, which has a large garden housing some animals such as hens, a dog and a few pigs. We enjoyed a few lovely family days out chilling on a nearby lake, in a water park with natural springs and at a newly established mall in Valencia. One family event I found particularly special to have witnessed, was Freddy and Linnen’s daughter Jayjay’s graduation ceremony. Now, graduation ceremonies are big affairs across the world, yet, I had never expected such a circus for kids graduating from primary school.
Filipino Graduation Ceremony: An Educational Circus
Like many cultures, Filipinos like the glitz and glamour of a good show and this was reflected in the ceremony. The occasion took place in the local sports hall and involved about 400 kids, who were all dressed in white robes and mortarboards. Girls and boys sat separately and the girls had hair and make up done as if they were competing in a beauty pageant. Most parents sat at ground level on the edge of the field and other family members and guests were seated on the stands. Outside of the sports hall plenty of vendors sold plastic flowery necklaces, which are hung around the neck of the pupil after they have collected their diploma. All the school’s teachers were standing on the stage in their best frock and a man, who seemed to be a local celebrity, was the master of ceremony. I have slightly sensitive ears and I don’t deal well with very loud and sharp sounds. A passing siren, for example, I find very uncomfortable. Filipinos clearly have a far higher tolerance level for what I call loud and sharp sounds. During the whole ceremony, which probably lasted for an hour and a half, I would have committed a crime for some earplugs. I spent the whole ceremony with my index fingers in my ears while everyone else seemed to be absolutely fine. From a sound-technical point of view, this definitely would not have passed in the Netherlands or the UK.
The Rules of the Circus
The ceremony started with a little talk by the head mistress. Whenever the pupils were supposed to give a round of applause, they gave exactly five claps in unison. This was either rehearsed or beaten into to them by an educational equivalent of a drill sergeant at a young age. When the head mistress announced the pupils graduated, all of them almost simultaneously flicked the little cord on top of their mortarboard from one side to the other. I was later informed that this is an American practice and as a ‘former’ colony, the Philippines is heavily influenced by American culture and practices. After this affair, the pupils were called to the stage one by one in alphabetical order to receive their diploma, first all the boys and then the girls. When the child’s name was called, their picture was shown on a screen on the left side of the stage. Some parents got rather creative when naming their kid about 11 years ago. Like in other parts of the world, people can have peculiar names. I heard a story of a Brazilian woman called Usanavy- say YOOsahNAHvee- named when the expecting parents saw a ship pass by owned by the USA Navy. My favourite name amongst the young Filipino graduates was a boy called Kofy Anan as his first and middle names.
After the graduated child had collected their certificate and shaken the hands of all the teachers present on stage, they left the stage at the other side. There they had their picture taken with parents and whoever else, and all sorts of paper (or real) flower garlands were hung around their neck. After every child had collected their certificate, the kids who were also to receive special honours lined up with their parents at the back of the hall. When the child’s name was called out and the type of honour they would be receiving- insane good grades, or extra curriculum activity- the child walked to the stage accompanied by their parents to receive their special honour and, once again, shake the hands of all their teachers. As Louis saw I was struggling with the sound, he said we would leave after his niece got all the paperwork. So after she did I fled the hall to meet the others outside.
In the evening there was a big party with a big gift for Jayjay and a lot of food including a lechon. A lechon is a whole roasted pig served on special occasions like a wedding, a big birthday or, in this case, a graduation. Everyone was merry and Jayjay is about to make the next educational step in her life.
bottom image: K F S Amor
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