We're going home

Today is our last day in the Philippines.We leave tonight at 8:00pm. We fly to Bangkok then to Brussels and then to Montreal. We arrive Thursday afternoon around 12:30pm. It's going to be a long trip home, hopefully Manny will sleep through most of it!

Manny gets his Passport

Today we met with ICAB to get Manny's Philippine passport & visa. Manny's is cleared to leave the Philippines. They gave him a minature Philippine flag and toy Jeepney (a common Philippine bus).

We heard abou the earthquake that hit Cebu yesterday. We missed it by a day!

Shopping in Manila

We went shopping today at one of the big malls that has floors and floors of knock off designer items. Hollister, Puma, hand bags, shoes even Canada Goose winter jackets! They don't even use jackets here, it's purely for the tourists. We bought Manny shoes and clothes, most or all of the stuff I brougt from Montreal was to big. Tommorow we meet with ICAB ( international adoption board) to pick up Manny's passport and visa so we can leave on Wednesday.

Leaving For Manila

We leave to go to Manila today at 1:00pm. We arrived at ourhotel in Manila at around 6:00pm. The hotel is very nice. We are staying at the New World hotel. It is close to all the major shopping malls in a very nice area of Manila.

Cebu Resort Day 4

Today is another hot and sunny day in Cebu. Manny is much more comfortable with us, he is smiling more often then he is sad or crying. He now gives kisses on the lips and blows kisses, he also gives a high-five. He says hello to the staff raher then looking away.

Cebu Resort Day 3

This morning is the first morning he woke up and was not sad or crying. We went to the pool, he was still afraid of the water but once he was in he splashed his hands around. He is still not completely comfortable, he would rather be out of the water. We also went to the ocean, he was not happy about going in.

Cebu resort Day 2

Manny is getting much better, he has a bit of a cold but that is getting better also. He is playing and smiling now. He understands what we are saying to him. He still does not talk much or at all. He did repeat the word ball and no. He says hello on Skype and waves. He plays with his crayons, places them in and out of the box. He loves to ride in his stroller. He loves eating ceral out of the samll ceral boxs we bought him. He points to his diaper when he needs to be changed. He has quite a healthy appetite, they did tell us that at the orphanage.

At the Cebu resort

The resort is beautiful. It is sunny and hot. We took Manny to the pool, he was not happy, he was afraid of being in the water. He is slowly coming around. We Skyped Alexandra and Michael at home at home so they could "meet" Manny. He liked playing with the keyboad on the computer.

Travel to Cebu

When Manny woke up he is was sad and crying. He didn't know where he was, all he did know as that he was not at the orphange. We went down to eat breakfast, he did not eat much. We stayed in the hotel room until around 1:00pm, then we left for the airpor to take us to Cebu, Alegra beach resort. The flight was an hour but the drive from the Cebu airport to the Resort was over 2 hours.

The Day we finally met Manny

The Director from the Orphanage ( RSCC) came tp pick us up at the hotel at 9:00am. We were expecting her at 8:00am, so we were getting worried. We drove in the RSCC van to the or phange which was 40 minutes away.Once we got there she showed us around and little Manny was being changed. They said they had shown him the pictures of us at that he was excited, until he saw us. I think then he understood what mommoy & daddy meant, they would be taking him away. He did not want to come to us. They prepared a presenatation and little departing party for Manny. Each caketaker spoke about Manny ( Emmanuel). The Social worker who handled his case, who chose us to be his parents( TinTin). The nurse and the mother caretaker. We gave candy to Manny that we had stopped to buy on the way to the orpahnge. We bought lots for the other kids also. The director said Emmanuel would like candy. He suirmed when we tried to hold him but everyone at the centre tried to cox him to stay with us. We had lunch with everyone, the ther chikdren and the staff. I gave them the toys I had bougt for the children. They had us read an adoption poem with Emmnauel's picture which was very emotional. We stayed for about an hour, we signed the final documents and the van along with nurse escorted us all back to the hotel. Needless to say he cried when went to the van. There were no long goodbyes they whisked us quickly away to the van.He cried at first in the van. He wanted to stay in sean's arms not mine. He just stared out the window of the van the whole time. We stopped in Legazpi to take a picture of the hospital he was born in.

Legazpi Hospital where Manny was born

In the hotel room he was very quiet and sad, he played with some of his toys but he was not that interested. I haven't gotten him to smile yet. It will take time.

Arrive in Legazpi

We arrived in Legazpi thsi morning at 8:00am, It is an hour flight from Manila. We stayed at the Venitian Hotel which is close to the orphanage. We went to see the Mayon Volcano, considered the world's most perfect looking volcano. The taxi driver also drove us to a local Filippino restaurant. We bought some local crafts from Legazpi to bring home.

Arrive in Manila

We arrived in Manila at around 1:30pm. We stayed at the H2O hotel. We went shopping at the Mall of Asia which was huge. We bought an unmbrella stroller for Manny. We had roasted Mandarin chestnuts.

Last day in Bangkok

We relaxed today at the hotel. It was overcast today in Bangkok. We packed the luggage and had supper at the hotel. We wnet back Kao San Road to get another foot massage at "Charlie's" ( outdoor massage spa).

Floating Markets

We drove to the floating markets. It was an incredible experience. On our drive there we visted a coconut processing place. They make coconut oil, lotions, crafts. Then we drove to the markets nearly 2 hours away from Bangkok.

Ayutthaya

Today we took a tour of the Ancient city of Ayutthaya. We visted several ancient temples and the had lunch on a river cruise boat which took us back to Bangkok.We went back to MBK to get the Canada goose jackets and more luggage! We ate supper on Kao San road. We rode on a tuk tuk and also had a foot massage!

Kwai River

Today we visted the Kwai river bridge and went riding on elephants in a rural area 2 and half hours away from Bangkok. We had supper at our hotel.

Shopping in Bangkok

We walked to te shopping mall, MBK today. It's huge, 7 floors of discounted desigener bags, shirts, tiffany jewellery, Canada Goose jackets. We shopped engough to warrent buying another luggage. We walked around Pat Pong and had supper there.

Arrived in Bangkok

We arrived in Thailand today, Sunday 4:00pm-Bangkok time. In Montreal everyone is still sleeping. The plane ride was not too bad. We slept most of the way, although we woke up several times trying to get somewhat comfortable. We are staying at the VIE hotel in Bangkok.We took a cab to the hotel, 45 min. ride for $40 cdn. It's very hot. The first thing we noticed was the pink taxi's and huge billboards, three times the size of those at home. Seven more days until we finally meet little Manny.

London

We arrived in London at 4:00am(Montreal time).We travel to Thailand tonight at 9:40pm(London time). It's cold and raining on and off in London. We went shopping this morning and then visited the Parliment buildings.

We're back in business

The agency called this morning early. All the paperwork is fine. We leave for London on Friday.

More Waiting....

The agency called today with bad news. There was an error with Manny's passport, so we are not cleared to travel yet. How long will it be? not sure. Talk about a roller coaster ride! We will have to change the flights, but hopefully it won't be much longer.

Flights booked

We booked our flights! we're traveling to Singapore for a week first before we travel to the Philippines.

Visa-Finally!!!!!

January 16th, 2012, 10:00am
Finally, the agency just called to advise us that the visa  is ready. We should have confirmation Tues. or Wed. from ICAB. Our tentative date to travel to the Philippines is Jan. 28th. We arrive in Manila on Saturday Jan. 28th and then onto Legazpi on Jan. 29th. We will meet Manny on Jan. 30th in Legazpi at the orphanage.