Plastic bags

May today there be peace within. May you trust the spirit that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of hope. May you use those figts that you have recieved and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of the spirit. Let its presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of us.

This prayer was sent to me by my 6th grade teacher recently. It is the only thing keeping my soul afloat as I just spent a saddening day in Manila.

Manila is a place of extreme poverty. It is also the consumer mecca of the world. It has the Mall of Asia, as well as at least 6 other malls, tons of street markets and mass confusion everywhere. From living in Taiwan to now traveling in the Philippines, I know where all this "stuff" comes from in the world.

How is it that these malls and markets are full of people buying all kinds of "stuff", but if you look on the streets there are children sleeping on cardboard boxes, slums full of families just trying to make it thru the day, pollution fills the air, it makes me sick to breathe.

Today, I was in the middle of some crazy market and I was watching at least 10 children on a Friday afternoon, when they should be in school, selling plastic bags on the streets. Yep! Plastic bags, the kind you get at every Wal-Mart store in America! 10 pesos per bag they sell. They are filthy dirty, no shoes, ragged clothes. Why is this happening?

My heart is sickened...saddened. I realize today how in-tune I am with my surroundings. My soul feels all the vibrations in the air. I realized today that my mission in life is to try and help create equality for all children. I am not sure how I am going to do this, but I had a good education today and my eyes are now open.

Though, I officially hate Manila now, I am glad that I spent the day here to realize why I am here on this earth.

On to Borocay, to read, relax, meditate and bring clairity into my life.

I ask you all one thing....Please, when you go to the store to buy groceries, clothing, or whatever it is you want to buy, bring your own bag. Buy eliminating even one bag, we are helping the children of the world. Thanks!

Donsol, Philippines

I just had an amazing time in Donsol, Philippines. It's one out of two places in the world where you get to swim with the whale sharks. Google them! They are absolutley huge!

When we would jump into the ocean we would be right on top of the whale. so close I could reach out and touch it. Huge mouths, with little fish hanging out of them. My anxiety was high becuase I get a bit scared in the water especially when we are looking for huge whales! When we would see them, i just stopped in total awe and amazement! Everyone else kept swimming after them ,but i was so ful of awe that I would forget to keep swimming. It was a once in a lifetime experience and now I have a bad sunburn! Yikes! I am so tan though, it 's awesome!

Now I will be spending the next two days in Manila, going shopping for clothes and waiting to head to Borocay.

The most beautiful thing about this country so far is the children. Everywehre we go they say "hello" and they want thier pictures taken. I will have lots of beautiful photos of children! Well, I have to go....I 'll write more soon!