Team Pacquiao

On day one in Quezon City, we had a lovely lunch with the outbound GSE Team, who called themselves (perhaps jokingly) Team Pacquiao because their GSE shirts resemble the shirt worn by Super Welterweight Champion and Congressman Emanuel "Manny" Pacquiao. What a great uniform!!!! Everyone was extremely hospitable, and lunch was very good, including some of the best fresh fruit I have ever tasted. Then off to our host families for a good night's rest before our first full day of activities. We started with a flag raising ceremony at the Mayor's office and the official kick-off of Woman's Month. After a great

educational day, including breakfast with the Mayor, a visit to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (the equivalent of the United States EPA), lunch with Congresswoman Bernadette "BH" Herrera-Dy, meeting the Speaker of the House, and touring the House of Representatives and its archives, our day culminated with a visit to Manny Pacquiao's office, arranged by Lady Dot, the wife of the Rotary District Governor. The Boxing Champion was not in today - I guess he is off training for the next big fight. But we did get to take a picture with a life-size portrait of him in his office. What a brush with fame. I know a lot of people back home will be jealous!