112th Philippine Independence Day

The Barong tagalog
Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo!







On Saturday June 12th Jeff and I hosted a party in celebration of the 112th Philippine Independence Day! The Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in Cavite, Philippines. The Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, which had been recently defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.
We have a very small Filipino community here in Yaoundé…but what we lack in size we make up for in spirit and enthusiasm! We rounded up around 20 Filipinos and another 30 guests and made a party to celebrate our independence day! Our fellow Filipinos come from the Catholic church here in Yaoundé, ASOY, EDMARK, SORAWELL, and VSO. Our VSO colleagues came all the way from the North-West province of Cameroon and stayed the weekend at our house. Father Naz, from a local parish, is the president of Filipino Community of Cameroon (FCC), Yaoundé chapter. Our guests represented Cameroon, France, Tunisia, Japan, Belgium, and of course the US Embassy!
Our food was totally Filipino…headed of course by some lechon…roasted pig which was cooked over an open fire at our backyard right before the party. Other dishes included, chicken adobo, beef machado, bicol express, pancit, menudo, papaya achara, cassava cake, leche flan…not to mention the rice! Haha.
We performed some tinikling dancing, and of course all the Filipinos danced proudly to PINOY AKO!!! A great time was had by all and we are already looking forward to next year’s celebration!

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Celebrate the first day of World Cup 2010

US Embassy Cameroon Celebrate the first day of world cup 2010.

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Catch up....and Golf!

The Embassy in the background

Teeing off hole one.
Hole in One Prize

I know it's been awhile since I last posted...my apologies. Jeff has been TDY a couple of times since last post to Bangui and Malabo, and is getting ready to go again to N'djamena. Though I only work part time at the Embassy, I've devoted my time to my work and when I'm not working Í'm either in the kitchen or the garden...not to mention I'm taking golf lessons every Thursday and Friday. Yaounde has a nice golf course at the foot of Mt. Febe, adjacent to the Embassy. Last Friday Jeff and I played 9 holes. We're just out there to have fun, but next time we play we'll write down our score. I never thought golf would be so fun and relaxing just because the course itself is sorrounded by nature. Before I always thought it's a boring game and considering it's an expensive game to begin with. Didn't imagine myself getting into golf until Aunt Shirley gave me her used clubs when we visited her in WV. I'm glad I decided to give it a try and here I am now loving golf.
Today I just walked 13 holes and watched the opening day of the International Golf Tournament, which is being held at Yaounde Golf Club. It's the first annual tourney and it falls within celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's independence. The competition will take place in both the professional and amateur categories. Around 43 professionals from Congo, Cote d' Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa and of course Cameroon. My golf instructor is one of the participants from Cameroon. Cameroon and Nigeria tee'd off first at 0845H.
The course is very green, and very hilly. Lots of up and down. The rough here is real rough...not like rough in the US. We even had 2 sand greens until just a few weeks ago. Narrow fairways, lots of sand traps. But if you can play decent here, you can play well anywhere else.
Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the tourney. Jeff and I will watch in the morning. Tee off will start at 0845H . I'll post pictures later.

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Cameroon Celebrate International Womens Day!

With the Ambassador and Yes We support and Promote Equal Rights and Opportunity for all!

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Kribi Beach

Where you turn left to Kribi (EDEA)off to Yaounde-Douala road

The dip...Silhoutte.

Happy 4th birthday!!

Haina,Elsi,Istah,Claire and sylvi

Claire's writting her name on the sand

Ocean foam all over a pretty lil girl

A plate of Crevettes for Lunch

Behind us is The Lobe Waterfalls

Lobe Waterfalls

We just spent our weekend at Kribi beach in the southern part of Cameroon. It's a nice place just to be able to get away from the city life...the 3 hour drive is worth it and the road is not bad, espescially once you make the left turn off the Yaounde-Douala road. We stayed at Serena Hotel, which turned out to be pretty nice. It's just a basic room with AC, not really hot water but we didn't need it so it was ok. The place is really right on the beach...the outdoor restaurant was good too! We just enjoyed sitting there and relaxing and feeling the breeze thats all we want. We ate seafood for lunch and dinner and it was really good! We had originally tried to get a room at the Illomba Hotel, but it was booked...the Serena is defenitely a good backup. We walked 3km along the South beach of Kribi to see the Lobe waterfalls.The sorrounding nature is very beautiful Very relaxing and we will defenitely go back!!

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Welcome 2010!!!

Full moon on new years day

New Year! New found filipino friends in Yaounde!

Yes Swimming on New Years Day and Cheers to 2010!

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Christmas in Yaounde!!

Milk and Cookies for Santa

Baking cookies

Our family little tradition on Christmas Eve

Our Family Christmas ornament every year

Glad to spent Christmas in Yaounde!

Claire with her new red dress and her outdoor goal set

Wii game for Christmas who could ask for more!

Showing off my Cameroon home jersey!!

　
Our first Christmas in Yaounde is not bad at all!! Wherever we are we stick with our little tradition that we started since Claire came into our life. On the night of Christmas Eve I usually prepare a good dinner...after dinner Jeff will put the star topper on the Christmas tree and then later before going to bed Jeff and Claire will bake a cookies for Santa and we put claire to bed...of course Jeff eats the cookies and drinks the milk to make Claire think that Santa stopped by and brought her presents. Christmas morning we woke up with excitement especially Claire and I! So still in our pajamas the three of us sat under the Christmas tree and start looking for our name on each gift. I'm happy with what I got this year, the Cameroon home soccer jersey is so cool!!! Thanks baby! I also got a wii which is the reason my shoulder is hurting now hehehe..and of course my swiss army watch that is on my wish list and to top it all my Bobby Flay collection has expanded and I thank my loving Mom in law for that beautiful gift. Claire got a outdoor goal set with a soccer ball and some accessories for field hockey and lacrosse. She really likes it and is kicking the ball all the time now! She also got a KidJam musical toy from Grandma...she's really enjoying that too, and is already making different music and mixes. We went over to our friends place in the afternoon and had a BBQ...some burgers and chicken, plus some fish and my ratatouille. We had a great time...Claire and the girls went swimming...on Christmas day! Then we all went swimming again on the 26th!! Only in Yaounde!! I'm sure we'll jump in on New Years day as well!!

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The Fon du Mankon!

The Mankon Palace gate

Claire with the traditional dress

We are the Mankonians!

Bowing and clapping 3 times is how to show respect to the Fon

Fo Angwafo III S.A.N

The mankon traditional dance

The gun salute. You can see the real Elephant tusk an entrance to the Fon throne.

The Horse show

The Fon and the steer horn

Beautiful kids

Claire and the d'jambe

Dancing to the beat of the d'jambe

Claire's new found friends

Accident along the way

Two pig sunbathing on the bus roof top

Car Loaded with plantain and banana

Just one of the many beautiful view (overlooking) of Bamenda

We just took a 3 day trip to the North West province of Cameroon. A very interesting experience and a fun time. The embassy got an invitation to attend the 50th year celebration of the Fon du Mankon in Bamenda. We left Yaounde Friday morning and got to Bamenda late afternoon...we went on convoy which makes our trip more fun. A very long drive along some very bad roads! We checked in at Ayaba hotel...our stay at that hotel is really something to laugh about and we learned our lesson never to stay there again! On Saturday we all dressed up and headed for the festival. We got to sit in the covered area with all the local officials and other foreign representatives. Things got off to a late start due to the late arrival of the governor, but it was very interesting to watch and learn. Lots of dancing and shooting of guns! Even the Fon got into the act a little bit. The people were very nice and were happy to see us there. We left and went to grab a late lunch which was another experience in itself...some of us ordered sandwhiches off the menu and it took an hour to get them! For sandwiches! We also were invited to dinner with the Secretary of Health which made up for the sandwiches! On Sunday we stopped at Prespot Pottery before heading home and bought a few things. Then we began the long drive back to Yaounde...finally arriving just after 7pm. We were all quite exhausted from the weekend, but glad we did it and not to mention our car is covered in dirt and dust. We wish Fon Angwafo III S.A.N and the people from Mankon continued success!!

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