Sunday, May 12, from Washington, D.C. One month from today Filipinos, at home and around the globe, celebrate Philippine Independence Day. To celebrate Independence Day, I am having a Goodreads Book Giveaway of ten copies of "Sundays in Manila," my travel memoir based on my first three visits to the Philippines ('94, '98, and 2005). In 1998 I was a Visiting Professor for a semester at the U. of the Philippines Diliman (UP). I arrived in early June, about a week ahead of the start of classes to find my way around. Of course, June 12 was an early-semester holiday, and a memorable one for me. It's one of many memorable occasions during my stay. The traffic jams boggled my mind, as a friend and I drove out of the city to get to some high ground to watch the fireworks. But we got there and had a wonderful dinner and conversation while watching the fireworks over Manila Bay. It was a special Independence Day because it marked 100 years since the Filipinos drafted, approved and signed their first constitution. They had the Spanish surrounded and about to surrender, before the Americans showed up and spoiled things. But more about that in the book.
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