Our family is scattered presently as our son Jonathan is in Spain, our daughter Joanna is in the beautiful Island of Palawan (in the Philippines) and Mel & I are in the mountainous region of the Cordilleras here in Baguio City…..
Jonathan called the other night to say he will be home for Christmas and his 21st Birthday!
He has been living in Chelmsford, Essex, England since mid - September with an English Family (pictured above) whom he met while he was working on board the Cruise Ship the Norwegian Jewel. They offered for him to live in their home between contracts and for Jonathan to be their personal trainer. This family has been extremely kind and generous to our son since his arrival at their home and this week have taken him along with them on a family holiday to Spain.
Joanna with one of her classmates on the airport runway outside our home.
In the past months she has spent many hours preparing for her musical entries in her school's annual convention where they compete against 80 other ACE schools. 
Presently Joanna is so busy down in the island of Palawan which incidentally is a two day trip from Baguio including a 24 hour ferry ride. 
A six hour delay in Manila waiting for the ferry to leave for Palawan!
Glad to finally be on their way!
Joanna is attending her school’s annual (A.C.E.) National Student Convention.
Over 80 different ACE Schools in the Philippines participated. Here she is with some of her classmates and those they met whilst there.
Proud of their awards medals etc.......
Joanna entered the Table tennis, radio play (which she wrote/ directed/acted), guitar duet, guitar solo and also a song she recorded that she had composed the music & lyrics of and sang with a friend.
(She received medals for all her musical events and the radio play!)
To complete their time in Palawan their school group will take a day trip to the amazing 8km long underground river in Sabang.
Time to return to Manila and then on up to Baguio...enjoying the cool sea air on the ferry. Palawan is 10.C warmer than Baguio.
Mel hasn't been feeling well lately with having chest pains and high bloodpressure. After having made some lifestyle adjustments with exercise and diet and medication he has improved alot. To get away from it all we took a day trip down to Agoo about an hour and a half from Baguio and about 10 C. warmer....we played local tourists for the day and did some sight seeing at the beach and the cathedral......So here we are........
Quite a refreshing change for us..........thanks for viewing..........so until next time
..blessings Mel & Brenda
Joanna with one of her classmates on the airport runway outside our home.
Glad to finally be on their way!
Over 80 different ACE Schools in the Philippines participated. Here she is with some of her classmates and those they met whilst there.
Proud of their awards medals etc.......
To complete their time in 
