It was the Anglo-Irish essayist Jonathan Swift who once said...
"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others."
Four years ago, I had a simple feeling that maybe my son Tutapel inherited his dad's mathematical ability.
And as Regina Spektor's famous song goes- that feeling turned into hope...
"Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word.
And then the word grew louder and louder
"Til it was a battle cry..."
Since then, it has become an all-out war against a series of hindrances in the form of self-doubt, grueling training, difficult tests and surmounting bills. But it was a war that we were bent on winning!
I then resorted to the only viable solution available to Christians and that is to offer everything we had to our Lord and plead with Him to direct us to the path we ought to take. It might be a passive response to some, but devoted followers would agree that the fulfillment of any vision begins with surrendering your all to God.
It was far from easy, believe me. I soon found out that I had to put my faith into action in order for that burning vision to become a reality.
Finally, last summer, the Lord took delight in our faith offering and granted us the desires of our hearts. My 7 year old son was one of around 50- Grade 1 and Grade 2 students all over the Philippines who qualified to the Philippine Team to be sent to International Math Competitions abroad.
And last July 26, along with other elementary students from various schools in the country, he flew to represent the PHILIPPINES in the 2016 China Primary Math Olympiad also known as the Enjoying Math Summer Camp to be held in the beautiful city of Hangzhou located in the province of Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Philippine Representative to the 2016 China Primary Math Olympiad
Manila ➙ Hong KongIt was a good 5 years when we were last bound
abroad. Feelings of excitement, fear and sadness all gripped me without any knowledge of which emotion had the most advantage. My response was to savor the moment with my son despite the lingering hope that it would have been better if Hubby Bala was with us too. You see, he was always our POLARIS, our guiding star, in every travel. I usually didn't think about anything else except the photos I had to take for this particular blog. Without him, I had to think about everything: our luggage, call time and most importantly, making sure that my son is always with me.
But if there's anything I learned from my UP Diliman education it is this: SINK or SWIM. That was the glowing mantra of every teacher I had during freshman year and I soon found out that the faster I adapt to my environment, the better chances I had of overcoming obstacles.
Instead of flying direct to Shanghai, the Contest Organizer assigned some of the students and parents from the Youngster Group (Grade 2) to have a connecting flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai.
Cathay Pacific: Manila➙ Hong Kong ➙ Shanghai
Although it was quite troublesome, I just looked at the situation as a way to take more photos. Deep inside I was ecstatic because the last time I had a connecting flight within the same country was 19 years ago--when I was a mere 25 year old!
Like my son, I too became a Philippine Delegate, but not in the field of Mathematics--oh no, not in a million years!
Hundreds of professionals from various disciplines such as medicine, education, government service and mass media applied in the Japan Information Cooperation Agency (JICA) Friendship Programme back in 1999. We went through a series of examinations and interviews and eventually the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines and the Japanese Government were the ones who decided our fate. It was God's gracious hand ALONE that got me in, believe me! My very first connecting flight: From Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Matsuyma Airport (1999)
The only difference lies in the fact that back then, the JICA Delegates didn't have to pay a single cent- for everything was shouldered by the Japanese Government: food, hotels, transportation, workshops fees plus allowance for our 28-day stay in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kanagawa, Miyajima and Matsuyama.
In my son's case, however, we paid for everything, just like what other parents did for their kids because the Philippine government does not give any financial support to math contests such as this.
Tutapel at the NAIA Tarmac
It was not only grueling math problems that parents and kids have to think about but also the financial part of competing internationally. For instance, some students who have qualified to the Philippine Team opted not to go, although they are equally talented, or even more talented, because when you think about it, spending at least 110,000 pesos excluding pocket money is just insane. And for most of us, it's even more expensive than the normal school tuition!
But there are parents like us who are willing to give an arm and a leg just to let our kids compete because what we're ultimately sacrificing for is that infinitesimal chance to battle wits with the best of the best from different nations! In the process, that one-of-a-kind experience will help us gauge our kids' potential and therefore fine tune their skills and techniques needed not just in competitions but LIFE, in general.
This is our BACK STORY. And because of this, our travel became a thousand times more meaningful to us.
It was our first time aboard Cathay Pacific and I couldn't be more thrilled. The plane was much larger, and in the words of my prenship Charmie, "you feel more safe." ;)
Our first time aboard Cathay Pacific
Tutapel also had a blast choosing from among the game apps available on the 9-inch Personal TV. At first we didn't know where to plug the headphone.;) Well blame it on our track record of flying on a budget. Little did we know that the outlet was found on the tip of our arm rest! ;)
Tutapel playing chess on the plane
If Tutapel was excited about his games, well, what I was actually looking forward was the FOOD! I was expecting rice meals of course; but, since it was waaay before lunch time, only snacks were given.
The Scrambled Egg & Cured Turkey Wrap was served warm much to my delight and it came with juice on tetra pack and an Anzac Cookie for dessert.
ANZAC COOKIE
Stories have it that wives of the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the First World War
sent Anzac cookies to their husbands because of their extended shelf life due in fact to the absence of eggs as primary ingredients.
Thanks to a simple mixture of rolled oats, flour, dessicated coconut, sugar, butter and golden syrup, Anzac cookies remain to be a favorite sweet treat not only in Australia and New Zealand but also all over the world.
Snacks aboard Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong International AirportThe last time we were in Hong Kong, my son was about 2 months short of his 2nd birthday. That was in 2010 and back then despite being overwhelmed with the grandness of the airport, I found some of the airport personnel awfully rude.
Basically, our family was going through the usual routine of checking in. We were respectful and mindful of our manners, when all of a sudden, some personnel congregated amongst themselves and started laughing while shouting "FILIPINOS!" If that was not enough, the people in charge of inspecting our carry-on luggage, raised their voice at us, while commanding us to open our belongings! Can you believe that?
FAST FORWARD TO THIS PHOTO. It was unfortunate that six days after this photo was taken, a similar incident happened. Three of our mathletes, my son included, were just laughing and talking to one another when all of a sudden a male security personnel raised his voice at them!
One of my mom friends told me that some airport personnel could be really strict. However, in my vocabulary, that was simply being RUDE and UNPROFESSIONAL!
In a matter of seconds, I concocted the best defense ever! It was creative, respectful but somehow laced with hints of irony, which left him quiet all throughout my speech. But that's another blog! ;)
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Hong Kong International Airport
Mama & Baby at the Hong Kong International Airport
Airport Transfer: HK Airport
Hong Kong ➙ Shanghai It was my first connecting flight in 19 years so it was only natural for me to get all excited.
DragonAir is basically an airbus so it's much smaller than parent Cathay Pacific's Boeing 777.
DragonAir: Cathay Pacific's Budget Airline
Hong Kong ➙ Shanghai Aboard DragonAir
Other than that, what we were most enthusiastic about was the FOOD! Oh, we were starving! My son and I requested for different lunch sets so that we can have more dishes to try.
Alas! It's time for lunch!
Since my son is a picky eater, he didn't like the
Chicken Meal that much.
DragonAir Lunch # 1: Mixed veggies with chicken, rice, salad, roll with butter and orange juice.
He opted for the
Beef & Potatoes instead which turned out to be quite good!
DragonAir Lunch # 2: Beef with potatoes, salad, roll with butter plus drink of choice
I've come to think that dessert is the most important part of the meal; and, having
Haagen Dazs to take that essential component was just heavenly!
Yummy Dessert: Haagen -Dazs Mango & Raspberry Ice Cream
Shanghai Pudong International AirportIt took us close to four hours to get to the Shanghai Airport from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. So you can fully understand why I had to take my son's obligatory pose in front of the airport signage, right? But an airport personnel thought otherwise when she told us to make it quick and go inside the airport right away.
Oh my! My airport rendezvous was becoming more exciting than ever! ;)
Tutapel's First-time at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Playing with the Trolley at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Playing with his fellow CPMO Delegate at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport
BFFs at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Footnote:
I used Fujifilm X-A2 to capture these photos.![]()
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Instead of eggs however a free flow of comforting tea comes out. 
I ordered two more scones for my boys who can't help but be fascinated while I devoured those poor things. Oh well.....
Instead I finished a decent bowl of soup and some toast.
After taking all the photos that my dependable Fujifilm X-A2 could muster, I asked my 2 boys to help me finish good-ole Charlie Brown. 
My Mission: Bombard Instagram with these photos! 
