Visiting relatives

While in Holland, we are taking the opportunity to meet with relatives we haven't seen in a long time. Maarten's aunt Willy from Edam - that's right, from the cheese - celebrated her birthday and we spent the afternoon in Edam and neighboring Volendam, a major tourist town. The next day, we met with Maarten's cousins from his father's side of the family. In the presence of these cousins, Maarten somehow seemed less tall as you can tell from one of the pictures below.

Cees, Ineke, Willy, Judith and Bert (mom's siblings)



Maarten with his brother Jorrit and their cousins. Standing l to r: Wim, Michiel, Jeroen, Florentijn, Maarten and Jorrit; sitting l to r Astrid and Ellen... Pretty average height for a Dutch boy! Quiz: can you spot the twins?

With Menchie, the cousins and children... note the tallest guy in the middle... ;)

Enna-Marie with the children of the cousins...

With oma Ineke, uncle Jan and auntie Jos...

Few more pics of Kidapawan & Davao...

heading to San Roque at Menchie's uncle's place (dad's brother)

here's our national animal, carabao (or "kalabaw" in Filipino) is a water buffalo

typical view of a rural area in the Philippines

taking shelter at this nice nipa hut

newly weds singing-a-long

group photo, my aunt & uncle are sitting at the back beside mommy Ping

Enna-Marie with cousins (Balundo side of the family)

just posing with the carabao











We visited our friends, the Eugenio family in Davao City and stayed there for one night before our trip back to Manila (my mom kindly accepted to accompany us in this two hour trip from Kidapawan; she went back that same evening to Kidapawan after bringing us to Davao airport). This family also served at the World Centre and left eight years ago.

ate Beth prepared a delicious dinner: rice, adobo & some seafood

Menchie & Lua

Eugenio family: Lua, Beth, Horace & Sammy

group pic before we leave for Manila

last shot with lola Ping

Photos after the wedding...

singing time with my cousins using "magic sing", very famous in the Phils.

Enna-Marie with cousin Jatlin while having a nice swing ride







group pic at the dinner at Valerie's family the night of the wedding

delicious roasted pork lechon we ate at that dinner

with Dante Pollescas & family, relatives from Davao who were not able to come to the wedding but visited us in Novaliches