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This is turning into an annual event.

The past few months I have been so concerned about the youth in the Scholarship Program. It seems that so many students are eager to enter preschool and go to grade school; but, when they get to high school, so few of them are able, or willing, to finish. I worried and wondered if there was something more that we could do here at Sonshine Center to help them make it. Then I read an article which had these staggering statistics: Philippine Department of Education records show that in every 100 pupils that enter first grade, only sixty-six will finish elementary school. Of that sixty-six, only fifty-eight will enroll in high school, and then only forty-three will graduate, and out of this, only fourteen will finish college. I wanted to compare these statistics with the dropout rates in the United States. According to the statistics website of the U.S. Department of Education, 10.9% of 16-24 year olds were high school dropouts in the year 2000. So, in the U.S. about 10% of children dro...

It is no secret that my kids love my Mom (their Lola--Lola is Filipino for grandmother). Her visit a few weeks ago was way too short. She spent some quality time with Eric and Faith, taking them to ride the rides at our local mall and also taking them to see National Treasure 2. She was also able to spend some quality time with her newest grandchild, Danny.

I really thought the Patriots had this one wrapped up. I agreed with most  that felt that the Giants had little chance to stop the Patriot's path to perfection. I am stunned. I was not really rooting for either team, I was just hoping for a good game. Thankfully the Patriots and the Giants delivered, Super Bowl XLII was an incredible game. How did Eli avoid this sack? AND, how did Tyree hold on to this catch? Say it again with me, A-MAY-ZING!

Here is a bit of Filipino culture. The Barong Tagalog is considered formal dress wear for Filipino men. This is what the men wear when they get married. The Philippines is way too hot for three piece suits and wool tuxedos. Barongs are made of translucent fabric, so they are quite cool to wear. They are worn untucked with an undershirt underneath. They are made of silk or other very fine and shimmering threads. They come in different colors. For the most formal events like the one mentioned in the previous post , cream or white is the color of choice. Eric looking like a proper Filipino gentleman Actually he was not as bored as the photo above suggests

Sixty years ago my great-grandfather, John B. Lacson, started the Iloilo Maritime Academy. That school has now evolved into the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University . We celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his school this evening. In honor of this event we put on our formal Filipino attire. The event was held in the evening, so Danny was not able to attend, hence his more casual attire.

It is hard to believe that my son Eric is now ten years old. Today we celebrated his birthday with a pool party. Friends and fellow missionaries here in Iloilo joined us in celebrating Eric's birthday, and we also had the added treat of having my Mom here for the party. She and my Auntie Gina, and Brylee (Auntie Gina's grand daughter) are visiting us from the States. I still can't believe that it has been a decade since that cold January morning when we drove to Howard County General hospital in Columbia, MD. Eric is a wonderful, thoughtful, and most of all Christlike son. He is a true young man of God, and I know Eric will follow in the Lord's ways all the days of his life. Pictures from today, here .