After the celebration of
the 20th World Jamboree held in Thailand January 10-14, 2003. A
United Kingdom delegation planned to visit the Philippines before proceeding
home. My family was selected as one of the host family in Laguna and
have the opportunity to act as one of the ambassadors of goodwill of our country.
Projecting before our supposed scout guests the best image of the
filipinos, introducing our customs and traditions. However, sometime
before the celebration of the World Jamboree, there was this travelling ban
made by the European Countries from visiting Philippines on some terrorism
alleged issues. The hosting was called off unfortunately.
Several weeks before it was
cancelled. Guests details were handed to us. 2 scouts will be
staying with us in Nagcarlan: Samuel Patterson, 15 from Kirkham Preslon and
Matthew Crozier, 17 from Lancshire UK. The news frustrated me personally.
Had it been pushed through, we sure had good and memorable
times to remember.
It's been years since then. However
events turned out not quite well, I still got acquantainted with Matthew
Crozier via internet. We somehow made that unconsummated meeting
into one special friendship that both Matt (that's his nickname) and I enjoys
til this very moment.
To quote our latest chat dated
August, 2008:
monteza:
Hello Matt. I hope this finds you well. Greetings from the Philippines!
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
Hi it has thanks, greetings from the UK, how're you?
monteza:
doing well, thanks. and you?
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
i'm very well thank you
monteza:
are you working right now? what time is it today there?
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
i'm suposed to be doing some reading for my university project, but am having a
break, it's currently 10; 47 in the morning
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
have you got a day off?
monteza:
i'm suppose to go to the farm today....but its raining here......I'm off from
work right now.
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
it's always good to have some time off
monteza:
yeah......I just finished a big project.
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
good you sound please to have completed it
monteza:
yeah right ha ha ha. we are preparing for our 60th year anniversary come
October 26-30 Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Laguna Council.
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
thats a long time! congratulations
monteza:
well, tell me...do you still have plans of visiting the Philippines?
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
at some time in the future possibly, i'm just going in to my last year of
university and next summer will be working but am looking into working in new
zealand in september so i may look into visiting the Philippines
monteza:
wow......that sounds so good!! come visit us here. I will show you
around.......
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
well if my plans are successful i'd like to very much
monteza:
you can stay at our place here in Laguna and experience our
hospitality......... given the chance I also would like to see New Zealand.....
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
thank you, i will bear your generous offer in mind when i'm planning my trip.
New Zealand looks like such an amazing place to visit
monteza:
i think so too. I visited Vietnam last May. It's also nice there.....good
food and nice people.....
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
have you done much travelling?
monteza:
if my wife and i find extra time off, yes. last year was Singapore.
Next month we're going to Hong Kong
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
very good
monteza:
well Matt, looks like I have been bothering you with your studies.........
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
no, no worries, it's always good to catch up
monteza:
I still remember the article that sent me for our
newsletter.....
monteza:
that you sent me........sorry
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
was it about the jamboree?
monteza:
that's about friendship......
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
you kow i've lost that article would you be able to send a copy by e mail? i
remember writing it, it fits in quite well at the moment, a lot of my friends
who're scouts too are leaving to find new jobs in parts of the UK and i'd like
to send them something just for the down days
monteza:
sure...! i will send it to you via e-mail......
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
thank you very much
monteza:
if i can find it later...i will send it right away, dont worry.......
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
yup not to worry
monteza:
ok Matt.....nice chatting with you today....It's a pleasure catching
you........
monteza:
good luck on your studies.......
crozyuk@hotmail.com:
yes, all the best for your future plans it was great to catch up again, thank
you
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