Millikens in Manila

It is Sophie’s birthday.

Today we are off to the Manila American Cemetery about an hour’s walk but we’ve been instructed not to do so as the areas between here and there apparently are dicey  …

So now we are setting up the Grab app. The guy arrives and drives impeccably (=patiently) - the traffic (yet again) was insane. Bumper to bumper.

Meanwhile, the girls were up at 1/4 to 6 to be ready for the school bus at 6:30 which conveniently stops just outside the front gate. The security guy on the bus kindly wished Sophie Happy 10th Birthday. Sweet! 😊 Apparently the security guys are called ‘Bus Mums’. 😆

So, back to General MacArthur, who in 1945 did keep his promise to return from Australia to the Philippines to lead the bitter conflict (so many casualties!) that culminated in the surrender by the Japanese.

My reading dovetailed in nicely with our visit to the Manila American Cemetery. The Yanks  (technically the American Battle Monuments Commission) really know how to do these overseas memorials well: an excellent museum set in over 150 acres of manicured gardens and  of course the plots with the white crosses of over 16000 who died in the conflict.

From here we walked to the Venice Mall - sweat pouring off. Yes, gondolas!

Then to the girls’ school for cupcakes in Sophie’s class (managing to coincide with Regis’ arrival with Bong so he was able to facilitate our way through security) - Kathryn meanwhile was caught in traffic with the cupcakes (!!). She made it just in time before the class broke up for the day.

We stayed in to watch the girls in the gym then proceeded home - slowly - through the awful traffic. 

Oh a shower was bliss! And a G&T!

Dinner and cake - and present-opening. We hit the jackpot with 2 out of 3 of the gifts but Kathryn ‘blew it’ with the suggestion for baby doll clothes - we bought girl ones not realising baby was a boy. Oh gender dysphoria and baby dolls. Argh.

9.5 kms walking today. Phew!