Philippine Arrival June '09

When we arrived here Saturday, June 13, Indo was so happy to see us, jumping and barking as if saying,

“Hey, you guys, where have you been?”

“I miss you so much!”

“It’s been a long time since I went walking! I’m getting tired of scattering my doo-doo all over the yard.”

“Come here and let me rub myself all over your legs for a minute.”

Indo’s video here.

As most Filipinos will tell you, there are two seasons here in the Philippines – wet and dry. It’s muddy, and rainy and muggy half of the year starting June and it’s hot and humid and dusty on another half. Well, that’s a bit of an extreme. We do have an in between sort of weather here during November through February, the mildest being late January and early February. So for those of you who’re planning on going on vacation, keep that in mind.

Anyway, the first few days when we arrived was a bit busy trying to straighten out the stuff from our luggage, making phone calls to make sure the things we brought for other people are distributed. And it was only raining during late afternoon and the night. The first day I was able to walk Indo was Monday morning and he basically doo-dooed three times! I felt so sorry for him. It’s as if he’s been holding it since we got here.

For the last few days it’s been raining off and on during the day and nights as well..

Donnie and Tess Yturralde

He was a former shipmate in Japan on the USS White Plains. Both are from Mabalacat, Pampanga. He and his wife Tess lived in the apartment unit above us at the Moriya Mansions in Yokosuka. I remember, he had a brother, Gener. He was also a sailor and was working part time back then at the base Navy Exchange. Donnie got off the ship before I did but he got transferred to shore duty at the NSD on base and when we passed by Yokosuka one last time on our way from vacation in the Philippines to my new duty station at NAS New Orleans during the late 70’s, we had the chance to stay with them for a couple of days. Donna told me Donnie and Tess extended her quite a bit of assistance when our ship got underway and I left her with two little babies. She remembers Donnie always tinkering with his yellow Ford Pinto and when it’s time to pick up Tess from Chase Manhattan on base where she works, the dang thing wouldn’t start!

When I got out of the service after New Orleans, we still had some contact with them, so much so that we visited them in their place in Vallejo, California where Donnie got transferred after Yokosuka. I think Donnie was already an SK1 by that time. A couple more Christmas cards after that and we’ve totally lost contact and I’ve been trying to look for them ever since. Someone mentioned that he got transferred to Guam.

The other night, Donna sent me a text message from the casino in Balibago and she said she was seated next to someone at the slot machines who resembled Tess so much that she asked her if her name was Tess.

The lady replied, “No, she’s my older sister. But how do you know her?” It turned out the lady’s name was Josie and that’s how she and Donna started a conversation. Josie and her husband, a former sailor himself, are in town because her mom passed away recently. They were stationed twice in Yokosuka as well. She even worked for the base MWR and our best friend Mary, who was an MWR financial supervisor, became her boss at one time. She had some explosive news for us. Gener has passed away and Donnie and Tess divorced a long time ago. Donnie retired from the Navy and is now living in Guam with a wife and a 20 year old kid and Tess resides in Fresno with her husband and an adopted kid. Josie promised Donna she’ll give our contact info to Tess the next time they talk.

Whenever I drive out, we leash Indo to the bench otherwise he'll go out and it's a bear to try and catch him. We did this even when we were living in Norwalk. Anyway, the other day, I called him and tied him to the bench, opened the gate, got in the van and started to drive out when I heard a thud. It was raining hard the night before and I drove over some flooded streets so I thought it was the brakes which got wet and somehow disengaged, thus the sound. But when I drove out, there was this metallic dragging sound that I couldn't figure out. So I stopped, got out and tried to look for whatever was creating the sound hoping there was nothing wrong with the van. The first thing I noticed - the bench where Indo was tied to was not where it used to be. I went around and found out he dragged it (probably running after a cat) towards the other side of the garage and broke its cast iron leg in the process. I don't know if I can get it welded, if not, well we'll just have to buy us a new bench.


I was surprised that we arrived from our vacation and the bananas in our backyard were still up on the tree albeit a bit bigger than when we left last April.


Yesterday, Ramiro, the gentleman who cuts our grass, harvested it for me. Two of the fruits were already starting to ripen to the point where they were busting out. I had to cut one out and throw it away because flies were all over it.

Here they are hanging on one of our bathrooms' sliding door frame waiting for them to fully ripen.


By the way, Eph got a new tattoo on his forearm in honor of his late son Elijah. It reads the same, right side up and upside down. Isn't that cool?

This is in addition to the one around his arm that says "maniago".

Last night, we attended the 18th birthday party of Rochelle. She's the daughter of one of our walking buddies here in Greenfields, Bong Dungao and his wife Recy. It was held in a function hall between Nepo Mart and Villa Theresa called Uni-Chef. Some of our neighbors and other walking buddies were in attendance; Bong Naguit and wife Rosalie, Jojo Naguit and wife Mymy, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Velez. She was beautiful in her gown. Bong Dungao's serenade of his daughter with Joshua Kadison's Beautiful in my Eyes was pretty cool. Sorry folks, forgot my camera - no pics.