By Dennis Eagle

Back to the story I mentioned in the last blog. We were in flight to Davao, Philippines from Manila and it was the last leg of our 10,000+ mile trip. It was a comfortable flight aboard a Philippine Airlines 747 Jumbo Jet with predicted clear weather all the way. Sam and I were sitting in different areas of the plane and my seat was next to a middle aged, professional looking Filipina lady. (Forgive the redundancy because when Filipina ends with an “A”, as here, it is feminine gender. The spelling ending with “O” is either gender.) Any way back to my story aboard Philippine Airline flight number 811.

To her right was a casually dress, polite young man in his mid-twenties. By all appearance he was a professional in his field as well. We exchanged introductions while quietly and patiently awaiting our Captain to take us airborne. “My name is Edna”, she explained with the warmth and politeness of the Philippine culture to which I have long been accustomed.

Once we leveled off at 38,000 feet and 20 minutes into our two hour flight I felt comfortable to begin asking Edna some personal questions such as, “Is Davao your home?, Have you been visiting relatives?, O, what professional services do you provide? Do you have a large plantation? And what crops do your farm? My questions matured as she continued to tell me all about her life, work, husband and children. As we talked further, I realized she was highly educated and a woman of influence in the field of Agriculture. I mentioned “ICare4Children.com” and how we plan to help meet some poverty needs in the Philippines. As it happened, she has also been involved in helping “Street Children”. After a few quiet moments she began again to share her thoughts.

“I have to make this flight twice each month”, she explained in a low voice. Apparently this was to stay abreast of the Agriculture issues and laws in the Philippines and to be able to participate in the lobby process there. She seems to have a strong input in representing all plantation owners in and around Davao. Talking with her made an interesting conversation for me personally as I have grown to enjoy this people immensely.

Once we came to a lull in the conversation, she had pulled a handkerchief from the side pocket of her purse and began to gently dry her hands. Then she said softly confessing her nervousness, “Thank you for talking with me. When I fly the palms of my hands sweat and my feet get wet”. Using impeccable English, she continued in our conversation. “I always go to mass before I fly but this if the first time I wasn’t able to get to the church”.

A Jumbo Jet takes turbulence well but at that split second our plane hit some air pockets which awoke every fear in her soul about flying. It wasn’t very bad turbulence, but she reached for her handkerchief and as facial muscles tightened she was speaking volumes without saying a word. To be continued.