Today we did a distribution at Laoag. It went extremely well, including a live pony and ice cream seller as props for the photo shoot. We did some more recipient interviews, both were blind children. One had the gift of music. Though blind Ian an 8yr old lad taught himself to play the piano. He is able to go to school but at his age it is only half days. Unfortunately he is an only child as well so he seldom has anyone to play with as he has to stay close to his mother. His home situation is complicated with the father abandoning the mother and child at his birth. To survive she moved back to her mother's house where young Ian practises on her piano. We were assured that he was quite good and that he could make a living from playing the piano. Blind artists by custom are in demand at various gatherings such as wedding and funerals. Another Stevie Wonder maybe? What was the most important thing in the bedkit? The towel, because now I can have a bath. We ended the visit with a gorgeous meal that left us full.
On route to our next site we stopped off at Paoay Church, the Roman Catholic church of the Ilocos Norte. This is a UNESCO Heritage site built around 1710.
In the afternoon we drove to Burgos and the Argo-Industrial school. This is an agrarian community with most being farmers. Again more interviews. Jay-de is 8yrs old living with his family in a bamboo structure of roughly 12x 14 ft with an earthen floor. They suggested that more school supplies would be good. After the distribution a dance troupe put on a colourful local dance for us. As is the custom we were treated to a meal. This time it was a suckling pig, with crackling!
We had a lot of traveling today and finally got to our hotel about 8pm.
