Hey Jude, let's play ball

Jude is a thin, handsome 14 year old Filipino boy who loves playing basketball and reciting the names of his favorite American rock bands. His family is living a kind of poverty I had only seen in a National Geographic. From outside our hotel balcony, I would see Jude shooting hoops in a tore-up lawn with all kinds of spare parts sticking out of the uneven mounds of dirt and sand. In the center of it all, is a rusted pole, a square of wood hammered on unevenly and a bent rim that he has difficulty putting his flat basketball through. Jude's field of dreams. I spied him playing my second day in the Philippines, From my balcony, I could see Jude, his family of many shirt-less uncles listening to Bob Marley and drinking beer and the burnt down buildings that surrounded their open-air hut. This was the truth, and, because most Filipinos can speak English, I wasn't scared to go mingle. I yelled down, "Hey, can I play ball?" and Jude replied, "Yes, come over." Over the next 6 days, I played with Jude everyday and sometimes his uncles would join in the game. They spoke far-less English than he (nationwide English study in school is still a recent development) but they could run a pretty effective pick-n-roll. I was a giant amongst them, rebounding, blocking and owning the paint. Jude told me his favorite band was Green Day so we sat, listened to his CDs and I explained to him the band's history. He was thrilled to learn the names of the band members. Jude would walk around his rubble-filled yard repeating, "Billie Joe, singer, Tre Cool.......drummer, Mike Dirnst.....bass. " At night, I would go over to the house and drink beers with the uncles. I bought a guitar there for 40$ so I would bring it over and Burt and I would trade turns singing songs. Even though his accent was strong, Burt, like most Philippines, could really sing well. I loved walking around the beach and hearing "Wonderful Tonight," and "Redemption Song," and, one night, "November Rain." When Jude's ball eventually went completely flat, I bought him a new one for 5$, the earnings of a days' work for many of the natives. After that, the family was even more grateful and I think they enjoyed me coming over because it gave Jude an opportunity to practice his English while he was on vacation. I planned on giving my guitar to Burt because he could really play, but he didn't have a guitar. Then, on my second to last day, Jude was inquiring about the guitar and he mentioned that he wants to get one someday. That was it, it was his. We had a farewell dinner in their hut on my last night. (You can see the pictures) They brought out a chicken for us and drinks which must have set them back a lot. Understanding the significance of this farewell, Jude's father cracked him open a beer, definitely his first one. I gave Jude the guitar and Burt told him he'd teach him to play. We sang for a few hours and it was the best time I had on the island. Upon leaving for good, I found myself getting real emotional. I didn't think this feeling was possible on a week vacation, but they were truly good people. The father gave us Bob Marley winter hats to wear on your retrurn to Korea. And these weren't the only people on the island to give Darryl and I gifts. Nick, the boy you'll see in pictures with me gave myself and Darryl the bracelets off his wrist. It's so much knowing how little they have to give. Typing this, I miss that family and I can't wait till Jude emails me so I can send d him back some lessons on how to play Green Day songs. Jude, "I hope you had the time of your life."

Boracay Island, Philippines

Enjoy these, I know I will. Everytime I look at these images, I'll be reminded of what life can be like.

Korea, Manilla, and Boracay