Sarangheyo!!!!

• I was informed of the tour by Ms. Susan Calo-Medina on Friday, 23 Friday, 2010 and was asked to get in touch with Ms Fina Robes; who in turn asked me to call her daughter Angelica Robes as she had a guest from Korea. The usual arrangements were made and I was intstructed to meet the party at Aristocrat Restaurant by 2:00 p.m.

• This tour was a shoo-in as there were many opportunities to “connect” with the guests on many different levels. I talked to the guest about the popularity of Korean soap operas and K-Pop which is quitepopular among the Filipino youth.

• She was also educated in California and she spoke and understood English well. We talked about life in the US and particularly in California.



• She was very inquisitive and was very aware of our Spanish heritage so we were able to interact with surprising ease. She was interested in a lot of things and ideas, asking about what contributions the Spaniards made towards our national identity as was the case when I brought up the commentaries about the British and the Japanese. Being Korean, had a clear perception of Japanese Occupation in her country and our efforts in the Korean war. As it turns out, she was biased against the Japanese and the Chinese as well.

• We talked about so many things under the sun including the surging interest of Manila’s youth in Korean pop culture as evidenced by the top rating Korean telenovela’s. Aside from my mentioning that I’ve been to the Korean community in L.A. and that the same things are occurring here. She was pleased and was convinced that it was cheaper for the Koreans to live here and learn to speak English.

• She also asked questions about Kilometer 0, the Rizal Monument, and Manila Ocean Park.

• The heat was sweltering and since the guest had just come from the airport, I had no choice but to begin the tour with San Agustin. She bucked the tour of Casa Manila since there was a wedding reception at the patio of Casa Manila and she didn’t want to see it.



• Then I decided to bring them to the Fort since it was mid afternoon and a little cooler.

• We went to all the areas of the fort and the guest punctuated my commentaries with questions taking photo ops along the way and straining the allotted time for the tour. Angelica it turned out had to be at School to take an exam that very afternoon. The Korean guest was delighted to see a translation of Mi Ultimo Adios in her language.



• The tour ended at around 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. with the party heading straight for EDSA so Angelica can be at University of Asia and the Pacific for her school examinations. Along the way I still talked about the Manila Bay and other TVPs. I asked to be dropped off at the CCP. I gave the driver directions to Macapagal Avenue so they could pass by MOA and then straight on to EDSA.