11 March 2009

A blog meme called "Photo Hunt" (every Saturdays) had me dug up pictures of the MV Doulos, which brother and I visited in 2007. While checking out some details about the ship in their website, I found out that the ship was currently in the Philippines and was in Bacolod, Negros Occidental at that moment. I saw in their schedule that it was bound to dock in Manila for pretty much whole of March, so when I traveled to Baguio and La Union, I told my sister that when I get home, we will go check out the ship because she still hasn't seen it.

When sister woke up at 9AM, she greeted me with, "Let's go check out the Doulos!" Ohh-kay, that surprised me big time.. but then again, this was what we agreed to do. We left the house around 11AM, and ate at Tokyo Tokyo first before going to Manila City.


We asked to be dropped off in Quiapo Church. Sister and her significant other have already visited the church, and I have visited it, too, however the difference was, she was already able to take pictures of the church, and I still haven't. I was so thankful that sister was with me on that day, because even though it was a church area, Quiapo has been known to be a "dangerous" place. It was nice taking pictures in the area, although I still have fears that someone might take away my camera or shut me up for having their pictures taken.

I would've taken more pictures, but I was with my sister who wasn't as shutter-crazy as I am. Reviewing the images I took and realizing I have enough images for my blogs, I decided it was time to leave. Walking towards the road, I told my sister that a few days ago, I was telling people in the forum that I commend people who have done a Quiapo photo shoot, and I was there! Talk about great blessings! We didn't know how to get to the location of the ship from there, so we just took the taxi and asked the driver to take us to Pier 13.

"Pier 13" seemed to be a mysterious place as the driver was struggling to think where it was located. He knew where Pier 15 was, but he simply cannot pinpoint where Pier 13 was. While along the Manila South Harbor, he asked some bystanders, and they pointed us at a different position, but when one of them asked where exactly we were going and learned that we were out to check the MV Doulos, they told the driver to get in Pier 15 and the ship was near Super Ferry.


Seeing the ship and checking it out for the second time was sweet. I wasn't able to see any photography and/or scrapbooking related books, but I did buy Doulos merchandize - bag, pen, and key chain. Sister also bought Doulos merchandize because she said that those items were priceless and one of a kind, especially when the ship leaves the country.

Sister and I stayed until sundown, and as we leave the ship, I asked one staff if she could pose a picture for us, and she was very happy to be smiling for the camera. Tseko Viktor, a staff from Mongolia, asked if we already saw the insides of the ship and we said we haven't, and she was very much interested in touring us inside the ship, however she just started her shift and we had to get back some other time so she can tour us. It was a very great invitation, and I am thankful to the heavens for that, but in my head was a struggle. Should I come back or not?


I only knew one way going home - and that's the road brother and I took when we first saw the ship. Sister and I walked from the pier to the Rizal Park, but before we go to the park, we went to the Quirino Grandstand first. We've been to Rizal Park so many times, but we rarely check out the grandstand. It proved to be a great thing as we were able to see this tree, which was planted by Pope Paul VI when he visited the country in 1970 - wow... I didn't know that! Super duper thankful that I was able to see that tree.

Sister and I got home around 10PM. We weren't able to eat dinner anymore, but it's alright. It had been a great day being with my sister, but I still am looking forward to go back in Quiapo Church - even though I have enough pictures to sustain a blog entry, there are still so much to see in the area, and I'd be thrilled if I can go back there again.

*** Jenn ***