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On the 22^nd of January the FAFQ delegation woke up early about half past 3 in the morning to  fly to Iloilo to attend the Dinagyang Festival. We arrived very early and welcomed  by the CPU staff.

After we checked in our luggage, we went see the Director Of Tourism Hon. Trompeta and Director of City Tourism Hon. Ben Jimena.  We also met the Governor of the Province of Iloilo, Governor Neil Tupas, who happened to be my late grandads’ friend and colleague. We ate lunch and drove to San Joaquin - my mum’s birthplace - to present the donations. It took 50 minutes of travel.

When we arrived, we were all surprised to see the big sign in the plaza welcoming us by Mayor Ninfa Garin, who is mum’s cousin. A lot of people were present and a lot were mum’s relatives. The mayor was in a meeting so we waited for half an hour. We were given lunch in the municipal hall. When the mayor came, we presented the donations in a big hall in front of many people.  They were very happy to receive medicine worth 25,000 pesos, and the 10,000 pesos which sent to the church to help build the convent.

It was a great experience for me to see my relations and my mum’s birth town. We also visited my last grandmother in the town.

By 4pm we drove back to Iloilo to attend the International Night. Chris and I performed during the night. Then we presented the money to the scholars.

The following day we got up very early 4pm to watch the Kasadyahan Festival. It was very relaxing that day because we just sat down and watched the performances. By 3pm, the whole group went to a place called Grand Plains Subdivision in Iloilo, my mum’s first cousins’ house to have an afternoon tea. It was really good to see my cousins.

Then we went to the shopping centre and we ate bachoy and other yummy food.

On the 25^th of Jan we got up again very early to get ready for the parade. It was a hot day and we had to wear our long gowns. We were in the float and paraded to the whole city of Iloilo. It was tiring but Clover, Chris and I had a good time.