Boy and brother visit the cemetery burn candles and remember their Mamma.
Category: Finding Jerry
One day in the Philippine school holidays (2015) a little boy followed a group of us to the beach. It was scorching hot and he had no shoes and cut bleeding feet. Jerry was so tiny and cute I thought he must have been 4 or 5 years old.
My heart melted as the other kids told me his mother was dead, his father semi-paralysed by a stroke, and his siblings scattered all over the country. The home and all their belongings, including his pets had been destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda.
Within 7 days I had got him a birth certificate, bought him clothes, shoes, and toys and put him back in school. That’s when he asked me if he could live with me. Of course I said no.
Almost five have passed since that day and Jerry now lives with me full-time and I am investigating how to legally adopt him as his father died in 2016.
You can read all about our life together here on the blog, keep coming back for updates as our story continues to unfold. If our story speaks to you, please consider making a donation to support the adoption and assist with his ongoing care.
If you’re new to my website, I also recommend reading:
Growing up
Last night I found a cute little video of Jerry singing. He got hold of my phone not long after he came to live with me in 2015, and watching it caused me a few lamentations about how fast he's…
Subay
Subay. It's the Hiligaynon word for ants. Actually it's the Hiligaynon word for one ant -- if you have more than one ant, or a group of ants -- it's mga subay. Mga Subay. In our apartment Jerry calls me…
Frogs’ Legs
It rained and rained in the middle of the night and Jerry woke up to the shrieking sounds of frogs below his bedroom window. He eagerly grabbed the military grade binoculars given to us last year when our friends Kevin…
Getting all the kids back to school 2019
Each year (with the help of friends and family), I use the money I earn as a freelance writer to support about 20 Filipino kids in their schooling. Throughout the year family and friends (and even a few people I've…
Boy on Bike
I can ride I can ride I can ride ... He shouts like every kid who ever learned to ride Then hits a tree [not pictured]. Hiring a bicycle for Jerry to learn to ride in the gardens of the…
Holy Week Processions
One of the things I love best about the Philippines is their strong cultural observances, customs and traditions. You don't have to be Catholic (or even Filipino) to get swept into a Holy Week procession and become part of a…
As another school year ends
Jerry has just finished Grade 4, receiving his very first recognition medal and awards. It was an exciting experience for both of us, especially when you consider that just 4 years ago Jerry was wandering around the local pier (not…
Writing in Super Typhoons With Sick Kids
With Super Typhoon Mangkhut approaching the Philippines Jerry's classes have been cancelled today. The typhoon will make landfall tomorrow much further north than Iloilo City where we live. But like most of the Philippines, we will cop a lot of…
Nutrition Day 2018
This week Jerry celebrated his first Nutrition Day Program at his new school in Iloilo City. You can see him singing along to the 'Five Food Groups' in the video below (he's in the third row 2nd from the left…
Reading Jerry ‘The Magic Pudding’
When I was home in Australia last October mum produced a box filled with the books I read and loved as a little kid. They all fit in my luggage too (returning to the Philippines) and Jerry loves most especially The…
Plastic Flowers … Ma’am Said
Yesterday as Jerry was putting on his school shoes (ready to return to school after lunch break) he decided to tell me about the class project. He did it by sitting at the bottom of the stairs and calling my…
My Little Monster
How would you pin this agile little monster (with a high fever) onto a bed and made sure he rested? © 2018 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Agile I'm part of Post A Day 2018 Location: Estancia, Iloilo (Philipppines)
How To Entertain Your 9 Year Old
No matter what country you live in and where you are from, finding new ways to entertain children is always a delight (and a relief). By accident, (on Saturday night) Jerry and I stumbled across this old ten-pin bowling alley…
A Little Boy and His Orange
I hope this little post evokes all the joy that a simple act of kindness from a stranger can bring to your day.
Brilliant
Living, working, playing, eating and sleeping in one-room small room is not without its challenges. Sleeping is really, really difficult. So for me Jerry's latest game is just brilliant. Every night I struggle to get him in bed, and if…
Riding in Cars With a Boy
The first time Jerry rode in a taxi he opened the door while the taxi was speeding along a major road. He was only 7 and curious about all the buttons and handles and nobs. That was just before he started vomiting. And though we still don't travel without a plastic bag, he can usually manage short distances now without causing a major hazard or throwing up everywhere.
Scallops
Every school morning begins like this. Me wake up in our one room place, grab my journal and turn on a little rechargable light (just enough illumination) for me to handwrite 3 pages of notes. Anything that comes into my…
Christmas Reflections
It's raining here in Estancia and my iPhone just started screaming out another emergency weather alert. Apart from minor flooding we don't have too much to worry about here, but my prayers are with the people in Mindanao, Palawan and Leyte who are having a third typhoon (in less than 2 weeks) flood out their homes and crops. Oh life here in the Philippines is hard on the poor.
Maxine’s First Christmas
we wrapped it in tinsel green, red paper torn her toy mouse tethered to a lower branch the best present a little boy held © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Cozy I'm part of Post A Day 2017 Location:…
A Boy and His Brother
When I was a kid I always loved the story of Moses in the bullrushes: the little baby cast into the Nile by his mother in the hope of saving his life; watched from afar by his sister until he was found by a royal princess; the story turning back then to his mother, eventually paid to nurse and take care of her own child.
Little Pieces of Joy
Catching Jerry singing to his cat are among the little pieces of droll delight that I find in every day. I have no idea what he is singing (and I'm sure he has no idea either). © 2017 Melinda J.…
Balut
For the un-initiated, the Philippine delicacy Balut (pronounce it bah-lute) is a boiled duck egg. But the developing embryo of the chick is still inside and it has all this cooked smelly liquid that runs out when you crack it. Ewwww!…
The Little Journal
Whenever I'm in the National Bookstore (or any bookstore for that matter), I always seem to gravitate to the journals. Notebooks fill up very quickly in my house and I never, ever go anywhere without a journal in my bag.…
Happy Halloween
Jerry could never look ghoulish, he's just too damned cute. We've had such a wonderful few days in the halloween themed Iloilo City; trick or treating and playing 'Wizards'. Happy Halloween friends. © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Prompt: Ghoulish…
Jerry’s Ballet Class
One morning I was sitting at my desk working until I heard some familiar classical music emanating from where Jerry was watching Netflix on the tablet. I turned around in surprise and asked him what cartoon he was watching. "Oh…
Jerry’s New Shoes
flash colours interchange a nine-year-old's grinning illuminated shoes © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Prompt: Enlighten I'm part of Post A Day 2017 Location: Iloilo City (Philippines)
Adopting Jerry
It was May 2015 that I first met Jerry wandering the dirt backroads of Estancia in the Philippines. Two and a half years later I'm actively working to legally adopt Jerry under the Philippine domestic system. It's known as "expat…
The Old Steel Gate
How many little boys have passed tickets shouting their delight through this old steel gate? © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Prompt: Gate I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Cat Has a Name
This is Maxine and she is definitely not allowed inside. Well mostly anyway. © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Tether I'm part of Post A Day 2017
The Kids of Purok 7
Jerry visits an old playground where his house used to be © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Scamper and Snack I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Dogwood Original Photo Challenge (Week 16)
WEEK 16: Portrait (Movement) Most portraits are stationary, so this week explore adding some movement. Dancing, twirling, or even hair flips. The Dogwood Photo Challenge The Dogwood Photo Challenge is a series of weekly assignments responding to a theme or…
Little Family of Strays
Yesterday on our afternoon walk, I swore I heard some lost kittens calling each other. To be honest it's actually hard not to find or hear lost kittens on afternoon walks, there are so many street dogs and cats roaming…
Two Hot Days Later
he wanted pets trapped small fish and shrimp in plastic cups © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Cringe I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Endless Energy
Jerry my little loop-de-loop from sun to gone, it sleeps but it never stops © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Loop I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Lunchtime Treat
lunchtime stains little white shirt spaghetti © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Uniform I'm part of Post A Day 2017
The First Boy in His Family to Finish School
A very excited Jerry started grade 3 last week, an opportunity denied to most of his brother's and sisters. This is particularly poignant today on World Day Against Child Labour. Like the other 2.1 million+ Filipino kids already working, Jerry's…
Back to School
More than two months of summer vacation ended yesterday as Jerry trotted off to class in his school uniform and shiny new school shoes. He was super excited. Part of the excitement is being allowed to get his own tricycle…
Imaginary Swimming Pool
GET MY GOGGLES! PLEASE! PLEASE!, he shouts above below the rain © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Imaginary I'm part of Post A Day 2017
Surviving the Trip
Whenever Jerry and I are riding the highway in a tricycle I do have the odd morbid thought about whether we will survive the trip. Tricycles are great for photographs, the scenery is so close you can literally touch it.…
Little Wizard
you replay crouching behind a tricycle and surprising me with your collected "love potion" swirling leaves and flowers and petals "you will fall in love tita mel!" you shouted showering me in your wish. then once more for you. ©…
Mickey Mouse and the Baby Chickens
I've known Jerry for almost two years now and wanted to share a little of his developing empathy, compassion and self-awareness through some stories about his engagement with animals and pets. It's very encouraging. The Death of the Finches A…
My First Mother’s Day
Today I celebrated my first real Mother’s Day. I really felt like a mum. I didn’t mention anything to Jerry about Mother’s Day (actually I had completely forgotten), but this morning while I was typing a poem on the blog,…
Ephemeral
summer tides fall little friends an island weekend © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine Daily Post: Temporary
A Year of Growth
Jerry has been on school holidays for more than a month and still has five weeks before school resumes. It’s a long time to keep a little boy entertained, especially when I am also working from our one-room shared space.…
April Tides
February blew long low tide on the concrete constructed April © 2017 Melinda J. Irvine
Dogwood Original Photo Challenge (Week 7)
WEEK 7: Portrait (Faceless) Tell someone's story without showing their face.. The Dogwood Photo Challenge The Dogwood Photo Challenge is a series of weekly assignments responding to a theme or technique. Participants are encouraged to share their work as displaying your…
Lovingly
'Ghosts cannot remember their sons,' said he. 'But mother's cannot forget their love' said me. © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Lovingly
A Birthday Begins
Jerry's birthday starts with a big yellow sun: then spaghetti, cake, friends. © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Yellow PS: And even though his favourite colour is red, I loved how he chose his yellow birthday cake (because it had…
Birthdays Pinoy Style
Having a birthday? "spaghetti", "hot dogs" and tang it's more fun here. © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Automatic #itsmorefuninthephilippines Cooking my first Filipino styled spaghetti tomorrow for Jerry's birthday treat. Ask a Filipino kid what they want to eat…
Somebody Clean that Fan
inside simple space we find creative moments family type stuff © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Simple
The Greatest Place in the World
The greatest place in the world is always wherever I am standing, and right now that place is Barangay Botongon, Estancia (Philippines). I arrived back from Australia to Estancia last Thursday night and even though it can be such a challenge living…
The Successful Delivery of Magic Fish Dreaming to the Philippines
Arriving back in Estancia after more than two months in Australia and one of my first visits was to the family of Jerry's best friend. I had a small bag of gifts from Australia including a Koala plushie and the…
Exposure
Dark, drumming, music. Street, colour, city, light. Boy, noise, fiesta, night. © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Exposure
A Weekend of Rest
a weekend of rest, (I'm still blogging though for fun) back in his country reunited us wandering the festive streets remembering us in bright streets transformed the Dinagyang aesthetic a weekend of rest © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Aesthetic and Overworked
Marathon of Waiting
Two months all done. Ready to fly home to you. Brave little boy waits. © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Marathon
Someday
We will watch the sunset painting names in bright colours (like a family). © 2017 Melinda Irvine Daily Prompt: Someday
I Love You and Miss You So Much
Less than 24 hours left of the campaign now and everything really helps. I've appreciated the love and support shown by so many people from across the globe. The best news is this time next week Jerry and I will be together again. Yay. Mel xx
Epic Journeys and Families Meant to Be
My newsfeed delivered a lovely surprise today, my friend June Perkins created this lovely post. Thank you June I was so overwhelmed when I read it. Sometimes our friends know our stories better than we do ...
Just Sand
Here I am 'home'. And my passport, driver's licence and cards all agree. And so I wander the lonely beaches here every day looking for new poems and pictures to discover, and hide from everything like Christmas or old friends…
The Arrival of Magic Fish Dreaming
The Christmas mail to my parent's house brought a wonderful surprise today, the much anticipated book (and some extra surprises) by my dear friend June Perkins, Magic Fish Dreaming. If you have been following my blog you will know that…
Decisions and Choices
My driver's licence expired back in October, but I only realised yesterday. According to my Australian driver's licence I am a resident of the state of Queensland, but I'm currently staying in the state of NSW with my parents, but…
From the Black Forest
Fundraising to adopt Jerry has really binded my family as we all search for once sacred relics to sell. This little wooden bear was handed over enthusiastically with detailed instructions for pricing (which I will strictly adhere to as this little poem illustrates).…
Crowdfunding for Jerry
Filipino boy Jerry is only 8 and the bravest kid I know. His mother died tragically at Christmas time when he was only four years old and his father died in August this year. Help me adopt Jerry and bring him to Australia.
My Proudest Parenting Moment
We were walking in the market yesterday, when a lady for no apparent reason, gave Jerry three pieces of native fruit. He received them shyly and then set to work on the eating. After we got home he said to…
the spider-man files
A cute little photo study of Jerry in his spider-man costume. I love how he takes the styrofoam wrapping off apples and uses it for spider-man masks.
Family Bonding Day
"Can we come here everyday?" said his little voice. and it wasn't that he wanted to pray or burn white candles under tall Mary each day. His little heart filled with the floating view of the valley his small hands…
Another clueless #ParentFail (reading Faunaverse)
Wednesday night, reading Jerry's bedtime story I decided to video the experience for my friends Alexander Dudley and Jane Sullivan who had sent me a copy of their newly published book Faunaverse. Faunaverse is a wonderful book of poetry about…
Jerry opens Faunaverse
Faunaverse is a marvellous book of poetry appealing to both kids and adults. Fun educational and inspiring, Faunaverse was written by two passionate and talented environmental activists (and also my friends): Alexander Dudley and Jane Sullivan.
arrival of the WIFI
Having dedicated WIFI in the house for the past 48 hours has been ... well ... like a million continuous yays. I can only really describe that incredible feeling when the technician handed me finalising paperwork and that first little…
my beautiful dream
Eight year old Jerry tells me about a marvellous dream he had the night before, though I think possibly a lot of it was made up during narration. What a joy he is.
We Can Fly Together
Jerry kicks and thrashes in his sleep, poor little thing has terrible nightmares. He always wants to sleep in the bed with me and I usually allow it for a few hours and carry him to his own bed after…
Bad Kid: a kid who has had bad things happen
Jerry's father died three weeks ago and his behaviour is becoming more and more erratic. Researching how to help him, how to love him, how to support him and grow as a parent.
Parenting a child who has experienced abuse or neglect
A list of behaviour indicators of child abuse, trauma and neglect highlighted to me the depth of distress and disturbing incidents Jerry has already experienced in his eight short years. Links to the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
zebras and giraffes
Our Saturday morning sleep in and do not much and Jerry decided to put all his animals in hospital and colour in the stripes on his zebra. Totally cute. Hope this brings you a smile as I document his English…
Out the Window of the Bus
is our saturday morning. Our funny little family strengthens. © 2016 mel irvine
Frame of a Little Boy
delighted little boy frames happiness wanting to sleep in those gloves © 2016 Melinda Irvine
Written in Sand
little boy writes my name in the sand (near his) then smiles my face. love you 🙂 © 2016 Melinda Irvine
Can I open just one eye?
Yesterday afternoon four little friends of Jerry came over to play and watch Disney Movies. The toy library has a very cool little cooking set so they all insisted on 'cooking' for me. I had to close my eyes for…
Jerry’s Nutrition Day
July is Nutrition Month in the Philippines and Jerry's school had a special family event to educate kids (and parents) on the long-term health benefits of diet and exercise. I'm blogging it because it is the first thing I have attended…
Tita Mel! I’m a cowboy
Jerry told me on Saturday afternoon he was a cowboy and could he please borrow my cream/daisy coloured lace sunhat as cowboys wear hats. He disappeared outside and about 10 minutes later I found him lassoing the chair with two…
Bad Me
bad me’ i heard his little voice say ‘bad me’ small head turned into the pillow ‘bad me’ i had scolded him for breaking a yellow colouring pencil he stomped it into two pieces discarded for garbage i found it…
Tuition and employment
Yesterday some of the dreams and visions for my life here in the Philippines manifested into reality: tuition for street kids and employment for families battling poverty. For the last two years I have been helping Shelia Gedalanga and her…
Late afternoon ladies
Child's birthday party: cake, games, spaghetti. Later, ladies find red wine. © 2016 Melinda Irvine
Decisions
Arriving in the Philippines over two years ago to help out after Typhoon Yolanda, I never expected I would still be here. The amazing, crazy and tragic things that have happened over the past two years have left me drained…
Dinagyang Festival
fiesta maidens; rainforest warriors; and two little princes © 2016 Melinda Irvine
The Grade 1 (Squid) Christmas Party
My first official parenting duty: attend the Grade 1 (squid) christmas party. Not sure if my favourite part was the brawl or when they managed to pull down the entire candy frame. Definitely loved taking back the video two weeks…
Finding Jerry
I met Jerry on a hot, dirty roadside. He had cut feet and no shoes. He was crying. It was a long time before he trusted me enough to climb on my back so he didn't have to walk on the…
Jerry comes home
I promised myself not to leave him; to believe I'd find him again © 2015 Melinda Irvine Click here to learn more about helping me adopt Jerry.
Jerry! Diin sa iPhone?
When a curious little boy get's your iPhone, without you realising there's suddenly more than 600 photos. Delighted at what I found here.