Philippines Independence Day Gala

This week-end I attended the Philippines Independence Day Gala sponsored by the Egypt-Philippines Community Association. (Whoa, that was a mouthful!)



Even without the Philippines Embassy in Cairo, there would've been a good showing of Filipinos in attendance. Pinoys inhabit all corners of the planet. LoL.



Prior to the dinner, the association officers sang the Philippines National Anthem in colorful traditional apparel...



followed by talented Pinoys performing a variety of cultural songs and dances.



This little girl was so cute!



The evening wrapped up with a bevy of belly dancers and island ballads performed beautifully.

It was a wonderful way to get some cultural exposure, and to socialize with my Pinoy peeps. Next week-end will be the BIG Philippines Independence Day Celebration at Victoria Park on June 12th. I can't wait to attend and get some more cultural exposure!

Silly, Rabbit, Tricks Are For Kids!

And for my next trick, I'll pull a rabbit out of my hat...

I Shook Hands With President Obama!

OMG! Yesterday, I attended President Obama's visit at the Giza Pyramids! I'm DEFINITELY keeping my ticket for the scrapbook!

We rode to Giza on a convoy of buses escorted by Egyptian National Security. Security was sooooo tight!

Here's my posse from work. We were all so excited to go!

The wait time was long and tedious. Buses started loading at noon, 1.5 hours BEFORE departure time for the Giza Pyramids. We finally arrived around 2:30 pm.

The U.S. Embassy and Egyptian Government took every precaution for the President's safety. Everyone had to go through security screening before entering the speaking site.

We had a 3.5 hour wait time, since the President's schedule got pushed back to 6pm!

It wasn't too bad. The U.S. Embassy set up open tents for shade and served copious amounts of bottled water to the waiting assembly.

I took advantage of the wait time by taking pics of the speaking platform where President Obama was going to address the assembly. As you can see, "men in black" were everywhere ensuring the President's safety.

Close to the hour, crowds gathered to the speaking platform for better vantage point.

Wait time, however comma, was outdoors in the hot sun No one was complaining, because everyone was excited to see President Obama!

American kids were given front row viewing. I especially liked this little girl's patriotic Uncle Sam hat at front row and center.

I had a GREAT(!!!) spot on a raised platform up front and to the right of the podium! A friend loaned me her head scarf which protected my head from the sun's rays. Don't I look Egyptian?

And then we heard President Obama's arrival by the whirring sounds of his helicopter.

U.S. Ambassador Margaret Scobey introduced the President....

and then presented him with souvenir t-shirts for Sasha and Malia that read "My father visited the Pyramids in Cairo and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!".... LoL.

President Obama's speech was short since his true speaking engagement was at Cairo University earlier that day, but he was as gracious, charismatic, and handsome in person as everyone expected him to be.

And then he approached the crowd and started shaking hands. Do you see something white reflected on the upper right lens of his sunglasses? Well.....THAT'S ME!!! But on a side note, don't you find the pink nail-polished fingers holding a Sony camera creepy???

And then he moved closer to me----AND SHOOK MY HANDS!!!

Unfortunately I couldn't take pics of it. I was too busy shaking his hands! LoL. But OMG, it was exciting!!!

And as quickly as he came, he exited as quickly into a convoy of armored black Suburbans.

President Obama's visit to Egypt carried so "many firsts" ... it was my first U.S. President venue I ever attended ... my first handshake with a U.S. President ... he's America's first African American President ... first U.S. President with Islamic roots visiting a country predominantly Muslim ... marking his first official President's visit in Africa. The overall 6 hour wait time was well worth seeing this President of "many firsts"; a chapter cemented in the history books, and I was there!!! .... and to be rewarded with a handshake from President Obama himself, is something I'll cherish for the rest of my life. In fact, I'm still reeling from the experience. LoL.

The Allure

To the rhyme of "The Raven"

Once upon a midnight dreary,

I blogged until my eyes were bleary,

flitting Blogger's virtual door,

till I paused at this wresting allure,
for my restless eyes did unfold,
an enchanting pic yet untold,
a wistful lass softly illuminated,
deep in thought and me captivated,
What could she be thinking of?
The moon? The sea? A fractured love?

I tiptoed away with questions unanswered -

a wee bit perturbed...
She remained serene and surreal,

her thoughts left undisturbed.

~gina

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON - 5 Mos & 19 Days!

Like, the Twilight Saga: New Moon MTV awards clip was like, sooooo YouTube-ular.... like ferr sherrr....

Alright, I'll stop my bad impression of 80's Valley Girl talk. LoL. If anyone missed last night's MTV Movie Award's New Moon preview, here it is for your viewing pleasure. I've not been this EXCITED about a movie countdown release since Sex And the City The Movie debut. Come November 20th, I'm prepared to wrestle a gaggle of pimply Tweens and their Twoms to get a coveted seat at the New Moon premiere! You-better-you-better-you bet!

I Twuly, Twuly am a Twerd.