Remembering

 I've been thinking about the word "remember". It really is just the articles re and member colliding to make the word we use to identify our accessing of memories. So it could be described like this: "concerning - or regarding - the constituent pieces". Two weeks ago I was told it is better described as "the act of putting things together". We remember things by putting the important pieces together again and again.
As another tragic catastrophe brings our attention to another part of the world, this concept becomes relevant. I was in the Philippines only two summers ago. It already feels so distant (despite the great advances of technology via social media), so I am trying to remember. Of course their hospitality, joy and peaceful nature about them are unforgettable in impact, but all my memories don't help me understand how they have been effected by a catastrophe. And as much as I can try to remember them, I think they will be putting pieces back together in a much more real way.
There have been so many solemn pictures that are trying to direct our moral compasses towards the east, but I wanted to re-post some of my Philippines photos that maybe depict their humble and light-heartedness that dignifies them. Although our hearts should break to hear about the great suffering there, as we all remember alongside each other, I hope we can also see their brightness. (I should have captured a lot more pictures of laughter, because that is something I remember most, their light-hearted, contagious laughter that was given freely and often).

(Just to clarify, these pictures are from Baguio, not the Southern Provinces or Manila).

And here's a short video MBmission made with my footage
http://www.mbmission.org/video/life