Tuesday, November 15
We checked out of La Residencia Hotel at 12:25 noon. Dwight, our assigned driver, took us to the airport area. (Five minutes later Eve text-messaged me that she and her co-faculty members came to the hotel at 12:30 sharp to give Edward a surprise goodbye; fifteen minutes later Ian text-messaged me the same.) We had a bite to eat at The Oasis, in front of historic Saint Paul University. Edward had fried, breaded shrimp for lunch.
Our flight back to Manila was slightly delayed but we were in good spirits. It rained when we touched down at Terminal 3. Edward said, "I love the rain."
We proceeded to Barbara's Restaurant in Intramuros in our travel T-shirts and arrived on time for Public Affairs Officer Robin Diallo's reception in honor of both Edward and Junot Diaz (Junot sent word that he couldn't come because of his back problem but that he would be at The Great Philippine Book Cafe the next morning).
This reception was an excellent get-together for our program partners to meet and know one another. We were all honored to have, in alphabetical order: Walter Ang of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gen Asenjo of De La Salle University, Albert Avellana of the Avellana Art Gallery, Karina Bolasco of Anvil Publishing Inc., Edward Cabagnot of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Tina Cuyugan of Asian Development Bank, Isagani Cruz of Manila Critics Circle, Andrea Flores of the National Book Development Board, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz of the National Book Development Board, National Artist Frankie and Tessie Sionil Jose, Sandra Ramos-Padilla of National Book Store, Racelle Weimann of The Holocaust Museum (Washington, D.C.), and Dee Anne Zobel of the Zobel Foundation.
Our most special guest of honor was the Ambassador himself--Harry K. Thomas, Jr.--who took time out from his hectic schedule. (Secretary Hilary Clinton is in town for a SecState Visit.)
Our buffet was Spanish-Filipino. The evening included a spectacular cultural presentation of ethnic Filipino dances. Robin and Will danced the tinikling!
I hit the sack at 12:00 midnight. I mustn't forget to thank my colleagues who were mostly in the background but were working double time both for the Edward P. Jones Roadshow and the SecState Visit: Teen Andrade, Bing Limlingan, Joy Pasandalan, Manny Domingo, and all of the Motor Pool drivers assigned to take us around.
If I've forgotten to mention anyone, forgive me; I shall remember to do so at another point in time during this program.
"Tomorrow is another day!"
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