Crazy Past couple of Days!

Hello everybody!
So life in Ligtong (the town within Cavite where my family is from) had been relaxing, but somewhat slow paced since i've been here. That is, until Wednesday. It started out as an early morning, Grandma Erly goes to church on Wednesday mornings in Manila. So we got up around 5 to leave around 6, but didn't actually get out of the house until about 7 or so. Kuya Rey (Granmda Erly's nephew, but also driver) and Ate Grace (Grandma Erly's niece who is a nurse) met us so we could all go to MAnila together. Manila is about 45 minutes away no traffic. Ate Grace speaks English really well and is so sweet, and it was really wonderful to meet her, and even moreso for reasons you'll see soon. So we went to mass at a huge church, literally hundreds of people were in attendance. it was such a big church that there were tvs interspersed through the pews so people in back could see and hear the priest. It was a pretty plain church, not at all what i was expecting of Manila, what with the Spanish influence, but I guess the big spanish catholic center is on another island, Cebu, which for all of the island hopping we'll be doing, isn't one of our destinations.
Wednesday was the day also that Tessa and Alisa arrived in Manila. Although Tessa and Alisa assured me they would be ok finding there way to us, I had arranged for us to pick them up. Earlier that morning i called my Mom and she so kindly looked up there flight for me in my email because i wanted to double check the aiport they were flying into. Up until Tuesday evening I had no idea there were like 3 airports in Manila, and 1 2 hours away. So kI found out they were flying into Manila-Clark. Ok, got it. Next step, ask family where that is. Amidst a lot of tagolog speaking it was decided that was in Manila, and that it was close to where I came in, and since we were going to Manila for church it would be perfect. We would go to church, go to the duty free shop by the airport, then pick them up when they arrived at 11:15am. Perfect, right???

Wrong! We arrived at the airport Ninoy Aquino 3 around 11:30, and were told by the guard that Air Asia didn't fly into #3, but rather Ninoy Aquino 1. Little bit of panic, but it's ok because it's only another 30 minutes away in traffic. so we arrive at #1 only to find out that Air Asia doesn't fly into Ninoy Aquino #1, but rather Clark AirBase in Pampanga, 3 hours away from Manila. At this point, I still had my wits about me, trying to figure out what to do, but once we got in the car to head up to Pampanga, i just broke down crying. and poor Ate Grace was fanning my face and handing me tissues and telling me to calm down and that it would be ok. i just felt so stupid for not having planned better, and worried about Tessa and Alisa flying in and expecting us to be there and wondering where we were, and I think all of the emotions of being in the Philippines for the first time and by myself and not being able to communicate as easily as I'd expected all came flooding in at once and even as sweet and calming as Ate Grace and Kuya Rey were i took me like a good half hour to calm down. Which was ok, because i had to have something to do for the long ride up (jk). After calming down, it actually turned into a really fun day. despite all of the anxiety and worry it was almost like being in a movie where you see us passing each other in jeepneys without either of us knowing that we're right behind each other. In reality, tessa and Alisa had to take a bus to Manila and we were able to communicate by email and they hopped on another bus into cavite, where we told them we'd meet them. So finally after making it to Clark airbase and following their trail back down to cavite, we found each other at SM Bacoor which is a mall close to ligtong. We planned to meet in front of a pizza place at the mall and when Ate Grace and Kuya Rey and i approaced the front of the pizza place there was a stand I couldn't see behind but couldn't see anyone. As i walked closer i noticed some backpacks on the floor and then seconds later I saw Alisa sitting down, and i cannot even express the elation and the relief and the joy I felt seeing her! And then minutes later Tessa came from the bathroom and it was elation and joy all over again!! Finally a huge sigh of relief and then dinner at Kenny Rogers (a fried chicken food chain here, weird right?) Apparently while we were ordering food Alisa was talking to kuya Rey who told her "If Tessa and Alisa are on this island, we will find them" Which pretty much sums up the kindness and easy goingness of Ate Grace and Kuya Rey the whole day through all of it. I have to get going, but I am so happy that Tessa and Alisa are here and we're having a great time!!!