SOS Children's Village

My friend Lara and her son Ari began tutoring children in reading and math at this orphanage in Talamban. I have attended a couple of fundraisers for this orphanage and have started volunteering there on Wednesday afternoons since Lara and Ari moved back to the US. More information about the orphanage can be found at sos-childrensvillages.org.

Valentines Day 2015

On Valentines Day 2015, my husband Jeff and I went with the American Chamber of Commerce Cebu Chapter to an orphanage in Toledo City, Lingap Center (lingapcenter.org) This orphanage was established in 2006 by an American businessman, John Drake. We took croc shoes and beanies to the children.

Lapu Lapu Dump Site School

There are two preschools on dumpsites, one in Cebu City, the other pictured here is on Mactan Island. The Lapu Lapu Dump Site School is in its 1st year of operation funded and operated by an international organization, International Gospel Centre (IGC Foundation at igcfoundation.org), who also funds and operates the Cebu City dumpsite school which started three years ago. The school is inside of shipping containers.This school helps to prepare preschoolers who are living in extreme poverty for school. The children can bathe at the school, eat meals there and there is a health clinic there also. My friend Linda and I visited the school. In December, Linda and her husband Tony donated money for a Christmas party at the school. The children got to eat ice cream for the first time. They were surprised by the sweetness and coldness of the ice cream and asked if they could eat the cones too. See pictures of the school below.

Dawn in Northtown

This is a beautiful picture taken in my back yard at dawn.

Ladies Who Lunch

In 2015, I joined a Tuesday Ladies' Lunch group. This is a fantastic group of approximately 18 women of many different nationalities. We go to different restaurants each week or occasionally someone hosts a potluck luncheon in her home. In December I hosted a tea for the ladies at my home. See pictures below.

2015 Boating With International Friends

We are fortunate to live close to an affordable boating company called Fun and Sun. We have gone "island hopping", diving, and snorkeling with friends from France, South Africa, US, UK, and Iceland. Fun and Sun provides the equipment and a barbecue lunch on the boat. See pics below.

2015 Vacation in Vietnam

In July, we flew from Cebu to Manila, then Manila to Saigon on Philippine Airlines.We stayed at the Hotel NikkoWe toured the Cu Chi Tunnels, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum which were the most memorable sites. Then we flew Jet Star domestic airline to Danang. From there we drove to the lovely Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort. We took a boat to Hoi An ancient city where we toured the city on bicycles. After three days at the resort we flew back to Saigon and toured the Mekong Delta by boat. Here are some pictures with highlights of the trip.

Friendsgiving 2015

This was our first Thanksgiving holiday without our family, so we decided to have a traditional Thanksgiving feast with friends.

Halloween 2015 in Northtown Homes

We had a big turnout of trick-or-treaters (over 500). Jeff was Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. I was Elphaba from Wicked.

Be's Garden

I have a good friend Bethilda, who is originally from Bicol on the island of Luzon and her husband Mike from Manchester UK. They have a lovely home in Maria Louisa. Be is an expert gardener. She has helped me with my garden. She also sponsors women who weave items from recycled rice and feed sacks. The organization Haiyan Arts and Crafts was started after Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) struck the Philippines in November 2013. They weave beautiful purses and bags among other things. Please see the website: haiyancrafts.com for the whole story and "like" the Facebook page "Sacks & Stuff." Here is a picture of the lovely Be and her garden.

New Gardener Randy Daño

American Chamber of Commerce Cebu Chapter

I'm very proud of my husband Jeff Minnick, who is the newly elected president of the American Chamber of Commerce, Cebu Chapter. Here are pictures from his induction ceremony in November 2015 pictured with the outgoing president Mark VanDyke. He was formally inducted by former Chief Justice  of the Supreme Court Hilario G. Davide.