Typhoon Frank

This weekend the Typhoon Frank blew through the western visayas leaving us in Bacolod without power. It was the biggest storm that we've encountered since moving to the Philippines and although it was only a signal one storm there seemed to be quite a bit of damage around town. There was a lot of flooding leaving some of our favorite families and their homes completely under water. The Regodos family had their father in Manila and with all flights and boats suspended there is no way for him to get home to his family to help with the flooding!Thankfully some families were able to find refuge at the church! Some houses were left without roofs after they blew off in the wind while the city totally shut down. There was no transportation and with so many people without vehicles of their own it left most of the city without any way of getting food and supplies which is a problem when the majority of people only buy food enough their next meal. Many people were left without power, water and food. Billboards, signs and uprooted trees had fallen on the roads, parking lots and yards. Thankfully here at our house we suffered minimally; the garden looks pretty beat up (the poor Orchids) and we had a window blow out due to the pressure build up. Other then that and a night of little sleep we are all fine and happy the storm is out of our area.
Unfortunately Typhoon Frank has gone straight through the Philippines towards Manila picking up force and strengthening to a signal three storm. Parts of the city are completely under water. The last I heard there were more then 100 dead and 700 missing after the Typhoon caused a ferry to capsize after going dead at sea from engine failure. As of 3pm this afternoon there were only 2 survivors found alive while they were searching the coast line. They are now attempting to enter the boat to see if anyone is trapped alive in an air pocket. It makes me feel sick to my stomach to read the articles about it. There are hundreds of relatives anxiosly awaiting news of their elderly, children and families but all they can give them are descriptions of the dead they find along the coast line, I'll spare the details. Elsewhere 74 deaths have been comfirmed of flooding while others are still missing.
A 45 minute ferry ride north of Bacolod leaves you in a city named Iloilo which is now under a state of destruction after a manmade damn burst leaving at least 30,000 stranded on their roofs while at least 200,000 families in Typhoon Franks path have had to flee their homes throughout these areas.
The Typhoon is scheduled to leave the Philippines sometime this evening...
If anyone is interested in reading more i've included a couple links to some of the newer reports:
700 missing after Philippines Typhoon
Philippine Ferry Sinks... "Worst Disaster"
Hundreds Trapped And Feared Dead In Capsized Ferry; Heavy Rains, Landslides Submerge Entire Communities
Here is a picture I swiped off CBS News:

The Jeepney Ladies

So around Bacolod there are many many different displays of jeepney artwork; different colours, designs and themes. We thought that it would be interesting to show you some or the different styles of jeepneys so you can all experience the greatness of them from wherever you are in the world. Since there are so many great jeeps we'd love to share I'll have to break it up into a couple of different posts according to theme. I thought I'd start by sharing some of my favorites... the ladies!! Although I have most of them my collection is missing a few... Catherine Zeta Jones, Angelina, Julia Roberts and Shakira. My goal is to acquire a picture of each of the ladies!
P.S. For those of you who don't know what a jeepney is the best explanation I can give is the Filipino equivalent to the bus system but much more chaotic! There are literally hundreds of these aggressive drivers with no designated stops so it congests traffic with a whip lash feel. I have to admit the kids just love riding in the jeepneys!!

Kait's Pic's

I've been meaning to do this ever since Kait left at the end of April but haven't ever gotten around to it and now since the kids are back at school I have a little extra time on my hands to play around so here they are...
My favorite pictures of Kaits!!

First Day of SY 2008-2009

Well June 10th marks the day of the new school year! The kids were all ready to head to school this morning in their uniforms and backpacks. Brayden is in the Panda Bear class which is equivalent to pre-kinder level (preschool) and Sydney is in Gummi Bears which is a pre-nursery level. Brayden was a little hesitant at first to go in but once his backpack was in his cubby hole he was fine! Sydney strolled right into the classroom and started playing with the toys.
Of course we had to take the "first day of school" pictures with the kids:

Here is the token picture ready for school at the front door shot with a super cute picture that Brayden our master photographer son took!

Philippine Movie Experience

Last night Ryan and I went to "Prince Caspian" the next Disney installment to the Chronicles of Narnia. It's been a long time since I've been to a movie in North America and i'm not too sure if you can bring in outside food but here in the Philippines you can bring in anything you like to eat... from anywhere. Well ... there are a few exceptions such as rice, fried chicken and ice cream. But other then that you can pack a huge bag of good food and they'll let you in.
After collecting your goodies for the movie you go and purchase your movie ticket and head into the theatre. There is a catch however: they just play the whole reel and then rewind and play again. They don't really have a set time to enter or leave the theatre and you could probably sit there all day watching the movie over and over and no one would mind. The first movie Ryan and I went to we were a little early and headed into the theatre only to realize it was the end of the movie so we quickly had to turn around and leave and wait around for the movie to finish so we wouldn't ruin the experience.
Once you know the previous show is over and people are exiting you enter and find your seat while they rewind the reel and start it up again. You're in your chair munching on all the food that you've brought into the theatre watching the previews for "coming soon" movies and everyone around you stands up with their hands over their hearts and you're left wondering "what in the world...!?" It looks like a music video on the big screen before the movie but then we slowly start to recognize the music as the Philippine National Anthem (Lupang Hinirang) and jump up.
They've made this great video with the staff and executives from one of the News stations here in the Philippines along with many TV/Movie personalities famous here in the Philippines. It's filmed on various historical sights in the Philippines although from what i've noticed I think it's mostly generalized around Manila and doesn't include sights from Central and Southern Philippines.
Here it is: