MORE THAN "FRIENDS"

I feel really fortunate to sit-in on the meetings of the Department of Tourism-UK's "Friends Philippines" group, an association of Brits and Fil-Brits who have lived or worked in the Philippines and who loved their stay so much they actively promote the country at every opportunity. The gatherings are right there among the most fulfilling and enjoyable parts of my work.* I mean, the meeting rooms are 360-wrapped in posters of white beaches and green islands...discussions take up wonderful (and warm!) places to visit in the Philippines...I get to hear of the latest exciting things to do and adventures to try...the work done goes directly towards helping the economy...I attend the meetings wearing swimming trunks underneath...

Wait, what?

Um, you can't verify that last part. But do trust me, it's feels really good to talk up your country and to get foreigners to give it a go. It's still a lot of hard work on the part of DOT and "Friends", but work never looked and felt so fun.

*(Note: rankings may change if I'm ever asked to judge a pageant; we were made to understand during cadetship that there would be numerous pageants, dammit!)

FAST-TRACK TO AWESOME

Y'all may recall from my previous "fightback" posts about how the Philippines was prominently featured in some UK publications and even on Borman's "By Any Means" show. Those were all DOT's handiwork. Their latest activity involved a BBC World show called Fast:Track which, strangely enough, was shown everywhere except the UK. So...aahh, can anyone tell me if it was it any good? Anyone out there want to chat? Anyone at all? Because I'm soo lonely.

(Oh, right. The show can be seen online on BBC's website. How embarrassing. I'll watch now. Carry on kids.)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/8569932.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/8570563.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/8570570.stm

OH MY LORDS*

(*not to be confused with one UP Law professor's favorite expression "oh my gods")

DOT/"Friends"'s showcase event for the season was a reception at the House of Lords that brought together dignitaries, officials, investors and - yes - Lords. Again, it felt really great to promote your country at such a beautiful, grand and historic venue.

Alas, because of our propensity to "picture-picture" in every permutation possible, we all eventually got shoo'd out and could only look at the place from the outside.

It was an especially delightful affair for me, as the LLDD-Hyphen-L volunteered for DOT and I got to see her work her charm on the crowd.

And rock the jusi!

The highlight of the evening was a presentation on tourism investment opportunities in the Philippines. My boss' speech. . .

...was very well received as it was at once informative, illustrative and imaginative. This came as no surprise as the speechwriter (next to me, below) was award-winning, well-renowned and looked like a Pinoy George Lucas.

Master!

NO, MR BOND. I EXPECT YOU TO DIVE.

The very next day after the House of Lords reception, DOT/"Friends" hauled off to the Excel centre for the huge London International Dive Show. After a quick intensive briefing on diving (a crashdive course? har!) in the Philippines, the LLDD-Hyphen-L and I gamely manned the main desk and began roping in prospects. Now, I cannot overemphasize how much of an absolute stud the Philippines is on the international diving scene. I mean, yes, we had the biggest and best located booth at the event, but passers-by were also tractor-beam drawn in to us because they had heard the stories of the great dive spots in the country, or else had previously been to one of our dive spots and wanted to know like right now where in the Philippines they could next. The lady below, for instance, literally ran to our desk, grabbed our brochures, pounded her finger on the pictures, jumped around and shrieked "my fishes, my fishes!". No exagerration, kinikilig ang mga tao!

I like to think the kilig was because of my tight archipelago t-shirt and "stomach-in", but no, it was because of the fishes.

So yes, the Philippines fracking ruled at the dive show, but that didn't stop other regions from trying gimmicks to grab people's attention. The Caribbean, for instance, had non-stop dancing...

...while serving rum-cokes (which if you ask me, is dirty pool)

Get it, get it? Dirty pool? Dive show? Aah, go jump in a lake.

Not that we'd ever get complacent, but maybe we should have some gimmicks of our own next year. I'm thinking instead of just having scuba mannequins all over the convention center...

...we could have actual people in dive outfits standing perfectly still (like those living statutes in Eastwood/Southbank/La Rambla), who'd then surprise the living beejeezus out of unsuspecting visiting divers!! Think of it, even if people got so scared that a little bit of pee came out...they'd already be in wetsuits! Win-win!

Bad idea? Awesome diving-themed t-shirts would be my next suggestion. Maybe a latexed Dyesebel or something. Either way, you're welcome "Friends", you're welcome.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, I MUST BE IN...MADRID

Well, hola again Spain! So nice of Madrid to host the absentee voting training for all the European missions. I look forward to learning a lot, seeing some of the city, and rehashing my favorite self-written election joke from when I used to volunteer for all the student council electoral committees because I was too much of a nerd to actually get voted for anything:

(ahem)

Someone casually asks during the electoral committee meeting: "What makes a ballot spoiled?"

Without missing a beat, I answer: "Upbringing"

(ba-DAH-ksssshhh!!)

Thank you, thank you. I'm here all semana.


EL SEMINAR

(Everybody! Soccer-chant style!)

Ohhh Ayyyyyyyyyyy ............ OA ... OA ... Ohhh Ayyyyyy, OA .... OA ....... V!

The OAV seminar covered a lot of important matters, but I'll spare you the boring, substantive details. I will say the meeting went smoother and was far more interesting than the mandatory legal training I went through last month. It helped that most everyone present in Madrid already knew everyone else from their home office days but hadn't seen each other in years, so there very much was a family reunion vibe to the place. Indeed, it was a happy gathering. . .

...among former home office department bosses...

...their low-level subordinates/FSO IIIs/Vice-Consuls/Third Secs...





...among batchmates (and their birth certificates)...





...and between Sith and padawan.

Quick aside: Our first night in Madrid happened to be when Real crashed out of the Champions League. Above, the Philippine Vice-Consul in Barcelona immediately makes his sentiments known right outside Real's home pitch...

...and then the next morning, we find this scene right outside our hotel. We liked to think Real's players were being made to model for food.

LA TOUR

Si, the LLDD-Hyphen-L was part of the Madrid trip. What, did you honestly think I'd keep her away from Zara's homecourt? Yo no soy loco. Besides, she was very much my secret weapon at social gatherings, charming everyone we'd meet while I was zoning out thinking of tapas. Upon the LLDD-Hyphen-L meeting Madrid's ConGen, for instance, the latter graciously (and excitedly!) started googling, highlighting Madrid's street map in bright yellow, and briefing the LLDD-Hyphen-L on Madrid's shopping districts.

Or, as the LLDD-Hyphen-L called it, the "Kill Zone"

And with the peace of mind that there was in fact a Mango outlet along the way, the LLDD-Hyphen-L agreed to join me after the seminar on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour around the city. And, boy, was it bonita!

What struck me in particular during the tour was the sheer beauty and brilliance of each and every one of the city's building facades. Not just of one or two old structures, mind you, but todos!

Pregunta: Mardrid y Barcelona, cuál puede causar un "stiff neck" más? Discuta.



LOS FOOD

From the churros to the boquerones, everything was as deliciouso as expected. Our quibble: man, do they start eating late in Spain! Lunch only moseys on by around 2.00, and restaurants don't even open for dinner until past 8.30! That...that's just not correcto.

Plus with our language problems, we regularly got bypassed at food counters. As you can see from her face above, not letting the LLDD-Hyphen-L get her food immediately is like getting between a madre bear and her osezno

LA VIDA NOCHE

But it's all bueno, because with late dinnertimes comes late-starting pub hopping! The LLDD-Hyphen-L and I hadn't been up these hours since our wedding! (we're usually in bed after American Idol). Together with the other Third Secs and some new-found friends, we had one great night fiesta!

Although at the stroke of midnight, everyone turns emo.

Still...muchas gracias por todo, Madrid! You were too kind us. Spoiled ballot, even.

Seminar...play us out!

OHHHHHHH AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY............OA...OA...Ohhhhhh Ayyyyyy, OA....OA.......

V!