Porter Marina- The Philippines-2008

31 Dec, 2008
By now it was mid December, almost Christmas and as we didn't wish to spend Christmas alone and our friends from Keturah were too far ahead of us for us to catch up to them by Christmas we decided to stay on at Porters until the New Year.

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them.)

The Lovable Eddie and Norma Porter

Eddie and Norma had encouraged us to do this as there were lots of celebrations coming up. So we stayed on and had a wonderful time over the next few months.

Fun at Porters

Here is a taste of our fantastic time.

First of all, on Saturday 6 Dec 2008, we celebrated the opening of the Porter Marina Pool and attended Vincent's Memorial Party. It was 5th anniversary of the death of the Porter's grandson, Vincent, who was killed in a car accident at age 7. The family staged a firework display in his honour. It was very sobering and interesting and we felt honoured to be included as family. All Eddie and Norma's family came and we had lots and lots of yummy Filipino and Spanish food!.

Preparing the Fireworks

After that there was Eddies birthday party and Dee's and Julia's, Eddie and Norma's granddaughters, birthday parties.

Well then there was Christmas and New Year and all the holidays that goes with it. I'm sure there are more holidays in the Philippines than any where else in the world !  I am not complaining as this involved lots of fun, food and fireworks!.

Now to Light Them!

We felt thrilled when Eddie and Norma almost adopted us! They had a huge family so the celebrations were never ending and as we were considered "family" we were invited to everything. We did not complain about that!

Next we attended the Three King Festival at the Spanish Club.Yes and had more fantastic food, fun and more fireworks!

The Porters and Fran with the Kings

By Jan 2009 we had to extend our Visas as there was either too much wind or not enough to sail.

Meanwhile, we cleaned and oiled the teak decks, gathered all the paper documentation for the Insurance claim and bought our replacement dinghy and motor.

Norma and Edmund Porter

Then we were thrilled to be able to attend the Sinulog Fluvial Festival which is the biggest singing dancing festival on the Cebu calender.

The Sinulog Fluvial Parade is a celebration that re enacts the Spanish bringing Christianity and the miracles of the Santo Nino, the Christ Child, to Philippines .

The Santo Nino Statue

This was the most amazing experience of all as we were the guests of Commodore Norma Porter of the Cebu Coast Guard on board the led boat in the Fluvial Harbour Parade.

There were hundreds of boats, thousands of people and an unimaginable display of sound, colour, emotions and faith.  It was AMAZING!

I have written our impressions of Parade for the Cebu Coast Guard Newsletter.  (Refer to "Impressions of the Sinulog Fluvial Festival" in "Tall and Not so Tall Tales")

This  Says It All!

Fran and the Porter Kids!

Lunch Anyone?