Hello Home and Away friends!

Today is a national holiday in the Philippines. We remember a great statesman of ours who was assassinated 26 years ago. His name was Ninoy Aquino, and he was a great inspiration to Filipinos. His widow Cory (fondly called Tita or Aunty by us Pinoys), became the Philippines (and Asia’s) first woman president. Ninoy’s death in 1983 is regarded with more meaning now, because of Tita Cory’s passing away last August 1. The Aquinos were a symbol of democracy, hope, and peaceful resistance to oppressive forces in society. Today, August 21, Filipinos all over the world remember Ninoy and Tita Cory, and how both of them contributed to Philippine freedom from 20 years of dictator rule.

I wax nostalgic today as well, because I marked my first full time “dissertation-only” week. I finished my last taught paper of the year last August 10 (happily, because I studied the right lessons for the exam), and just got the grade from my first geography paper last semester. It's a good feeling to finish all my classes and assignments! I now have twenty-six weeks for my dissertation alone, and that gives me a sense of freedom too. I will have more time to read and write about my favourite passions (mangroves and travel), as well as have more time to blog about my NZ adventures here.

Next week: stories about Orchard Park, Mt. Pirongia, Mt. Ruapehu, and Rotorua.

Kitakits! (See you!)