Is SM, Shoe Mart, the department store, that is, coming to Guimaras Island? (Whatever other type of SM might be present on the island province is something I stay blissfully ignorant of; imagine my surprise when I first saw the initials “SM” plastered on the exterior of a huge building during my first visit to the Philippines.)
“It’s More Fun in the Philippines” is the official slogan of the Philippine Tourism Board. And there’s no place in Guimaras that can match a birthday party celebration like at Cousin Emma’s place. This is where the party really gets started.
An Iloilo City high school teacher recently tried to teach cheat my nephew Sharwen out of money owed to him. Now that Sharwen and his sister, Shaina, our niece, are enrolled in the public high school system in Guimaras, I’m releasing this post as I feared possible repercussions from the “teacher” involved in this incident.
Our 19-year-old niece, April, finished up her four month contract with SM Department Store in Iloilo City this past December 31st. She was classified as an “out right” employee for the biggest department store chain in the Philippines and did not work for an outside employment agency. If she had been hired as a five month contractual worker with an outside firm, she would have had the option to renew her contract immediately.
April at Raymen Beach in Guimaras