I wanted to spend one full day of fun with “my boys” before I left Manila. So since Wednesday was a national holiday (Presidential Inauguration), Manny was out of school, meaning that we had the full day to spend together!
The night before I told the boys to come over at 8am, and there they were right on time! I invited them inside to my room for some breakfast and a movie, Beauty and the Beast. I know they are boys, but they don’t understand English anyways, so it’s just fun to watch any cartoon. For breakfast they shared an apple and each had a peanut butter sandwich. And Jeff even supplied some children’s ensure vitamin milk drink that was donated…. and they loved it all!
After the movie, we hopped in the car in search of a few things. If you notice from the pictures, they aren’t exactly wearing “appropriate” clothing. That is a very loose term, being that they live on the streets and in the dirt, but to take them out to the mall in a see-through shirt, dirt-stained clothes, and no shoes…. well, let’s just say they would attract a lot of attention. Even more than normal when there’s a white woman with two Filipino boys.
So we stopped first to get them some tsinelas (Tagalog for flip flops). They enjoyed the car ride too of course! I made to sure to keep the windows down and the aircon off, since these boys have never been in a car before (except one other very short ride I took them on). Unfortunately these precautions weren’t enough… seconds before parking, while still in line to pay, Imon let it all out. All over his clothes, all over the seat, on his new sandals….. just everywhere!
So I did something I would never do in America. Something I’d probably get put in jail for in America. I told the boys to not leave the car and I’d be RIGHT BACK! I ran into the mall in search of three things: paper towels, washclothes, and a little boys outfit. Since the mall had just opened I was in and out in about 10 minutes. Then I spent another 10-15 minutes cleaning Imon and the car up. And then we headed back into the mall all-together. We went back into the same store to get Manny a clean outfit as well, and then took him to the CR to change clothes.
Looking and fresh and clean (although still in need of a shower), we started out at WORLDS OF FUN! A room full of arcade games, these boys had huge smiles on their faces and were SO excited!
Next stop:SM Department Store. There were a few things I wanted to get for Manny for school during our day of fun. First we went and got him some rubber shoes (gym shoes) for school. Next we went and found him a backpack. He actually had one already, but I preffered that my boy Manny doesn’t carry a pink barbie background around. Next, I found the boys some underwear. They usually don’t wear any underwear. Not a good thing. So I got them some. And lastly, we got a picture developed that we just took at Worlds of Fun, so that the boys have a picture to remember our fun day out (though I’m sure they won’t ever forget!)
And then we headed back to Hypermarket, which is the grocery store/department store. It’s kind of like a target… just way less amazing. Anyways, there’s some food stalls in front of the store as well so we went there and I got them hotdogs and fries. Big red Filipino hot dogs. Nasty! Haha but they enjoy them 🙂 Me, I just stuck with a fruit shake.
Then we did some grocery shopping. I got more bread and individual packets of chicken/ham salad to make the boys sandwiches for breakfast and dinner. And I also got some groceries for myself. I put both the boys in the shopping cart at this point. They were beyond the point of obeying Tita Christie, and Tita Christie was over yelling their names and trying to get them to not look under the toilet stall doors!
And then it back back in the car and on our way home. I made Imon keep a bag held up to his head the whole way back, just in case he got sick again! Manny just enjoyed the view! They were tired but happy. And I was happy. It was a great day of fun with my boys. 🙂
