This morning at 9 the Clifton College families who hosted the Bahay Bata kids gathered at the Clifton College Pre to say goodbye to the kids. The kids boarded a bus to Heathrow, where they took the afternoon Etihad flight back to Manila. I have the most heart-rending videos of the farewell reception, which I will post when my glasses stop fogging.
Bahay Bata vs Clifton College Prep, 10 May 2011. The adults are, from left, PRFU coach Matt Cullen, Clifton rugby coach (and referee for this friendly) John Digby, and Clifton College Prep headmaster John Milne (who played center for Scotland football).
Bahay Bata kids, 24, Clifton College prep, 0.
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In the morning the kids toured Twickenham Stadium (seating capacity: 82,000) in London, home of England rugby.
They got to sit in the royal box, where the Queen and her family sit when they watch England matches.
Friday the Angeles Bahay Bata Foundation boys rugby team trained at Clifton College’s sports facility in Beggar Bush, Bristol. The playing fields are surrounded by a protected nature reserve. In the afternoon the kids visited Bristol Zoo, then returned to Beggar Bush for more training with the Clifton College boys XV that will tour Australia.
Saturday the kids went to Bath, site of the ancient Roman baths. They took a short walk around town (it was raining) then proceeded to the stadium. There were games and amusements on the field for kids rugby teams. The Bahay Bata boys trained and played some touch rugby before the Bath vs. Newcastle match.
dindin for putting Pinoy viewers inside the heads of the White House team. Congratulations, you can claim your prize when I get back to Manila in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, here’s Fil-American comedian Rex Navarrete on Manny Pacquiao.
No I meant this video but couldn’t find the embed file. http://www.lopeztonight.com/episode_recaps_and_highlights/
rex_navarrete_is_a_chinese_chicano.php
This is Clifton College, our host in Bristol. Clifton alumni include John Cleese, Sir Michael Redgrave, and assorted Middletons. Yesterday at the fun day I met some Pinoy nannies who explained to me why Kate cannot have the title “Queen”. I thought that was Camilla Parker-Bowles. Ah well the rules of marriage and succession escape me. I still don’t get why girls can’t be king.
It’s only been 72 hours since I’ve had internet access but I feel like I’ve missed out on everything. I know this is not true, but it doesn’t stop me from thinking it anyway. What have we done to ourselves, we’ve become drones of cyberspace.
I recommend a 72-hour vacation from the internet to all overthinkers.
In fact I recommend going on a trip where all the arrangements are beyond your control, you cannot have your way (and overthinkers must have their way or there will be a body count), and your usual overthinking will get you nothing but a headache. In effect it is a vacation from your neurosis.
So the PRFU through the men’s team manager Matt Cullen invited me to cover the Bahay Bata (BB) kids rugby team tour of the UK organized by Touraid and Clifton College. The tour group is composed of 15 kids, the coach, the kid’s house mother Mercy Lewis. I don’t think the organizers were expecting the media to tag along–I am listed as an adult and a carer, both of which are demonstrably untrue. The kids are eager to compete–yesterday they were broken up into mixed teams for a touch rugby tournament at a school fun day and one of the BB kids told me, “Laro na nga, nilalaro pa nila.” (Essentially: They’re not taking it seriously enough!” Aba, competitive!)
The weather is fabulous, still cold but I have attained the color of shoe leather through unaccustomed exposure to sunshine, and the BB kids and I are about the same age emotionally so all is well.
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