I have to say I have been privileged to have met some amazing people in my life. This past week was no exception. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., the Philippines Ambassador to the UN. As usual for me, I find myself in these situations silently asking myself, “How did I get here?” We had a great conversation about the work of Hope For Change and how I got involved working in the Philippines. The Ambassador is a well-respected man with many years of public service to his country. It was an honor for me to be in his presence and I was struck by his humility and hospitality, but then again, that is a trait of the Philippine people. I’m very grateful to the Ambassador for taking the time to meet with me and his offer to help. This meeting would not have taken place had it not been for his assistant Cecile who I met the previous week and arranged everything….thank you Cecile. I hope to visit the Consulate again in September after attending a celebration at St. Patrick’s Cathederal and hope to have more time to talk with the Ambassador and, who knows who else I might meet. Like Woody Allen said, “Sometimes you just have to show up.”

With Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr.