I just got back...

Lisa & LetLet, photographed in Cebu Philippines: 2005 & 2007

I've been away for the past week, working security for a PGA Pro Golf Tournament - leaving at 5:45am and returning at 8:15pm each day, and I really wanted to be able to post & write at least a few days during the Tournament, but it really became impossible with the stress of a long day in the hot sun, and the fact that I was working sick each day with a kidney infection that left me really fatigued at the end of the day...so I apologize for not being able to post.

On the weekend I did manage to see a doctor on the golf course who wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic, but wasn't even able to get it filled until tonight, so I'm just getting to sleep a little & I'm sure I'll be fine soon.

At this Tournament I've worked for the past 12 years, I've always had a fantastic working relationship with the municipal Police Department in charge of the event; I have 2 of their Officers constantly with me at my post where I wrangle Players, PGA officials & their vehicles, and I love seeing & working with them each year as they're fully aware of my travels to the Philippines and of my photography, and they always want to be filled in on my latest adventures there.

One of my very good friends who's a Sargent on the Force with two children of his own has always been interested in my photography and involvement with children in-need in Cebu - specifically with Lisa & LetLet's Family, really fell in love last year with the top image in the montage above, taken in 2005 - and he asked me for the 8x10 print in my portfolio I had with me, and I gave it to him (he's matted & framed it and displays it in his living room)

He's really grown to care about what I do for Lisa & LetLet's Family, and at the end of last years Tournament gifted me resources to let me buy all their food & meals for an entire month, as well as a special shopping trip to a local Cebu clothing market where I was able to get new clothes not only for Lisa & LetLet, but for their entire Family of 7 children - something I would otherwise not have been able to do without his specific personal involvement.

On Wednesday past I presented the Sargent with an 8x10 double matted & framed glossy of a montage I'd made for him with Lisa & LetLet's 2007 images, as well as their Mama Milagros and baby sister Joanne's images in appreciation for his support last year, and yesterday before the Tournament ended, he made a trip out to my post to see me before he left, and gifted me the exact same amount to be used for the Family when I see them again in November 2007 - I was so thrilled, I didn't know what to say - I thanked him repeatedly, we shook hands & hugged, and later that day his wife & 2 children stopped by as they had been doing all week, to wish me well for Novembers 2007 trip, and to ask if it would be ok if the kids sent Lisa & LetLet some letters & cards, and I told them Lisa's Family would be thrilled to get airmail from them.

Thanks for being patient in waiting for the new posts; I just wanted to write about some of the specific ways a few of my close friends choose to get involved with helping to support a few Families in need in the Philippines, primarily through seeing my photography.

PJAMES