FREE HUGS Manila - CCP Complex, Star City, Harbour Square, Mall of Asia (MoA)

Someone in my CS group posted on the message board the idea of a *Free Hugs* day to happen on different (as many) cities around the world on March 22, 2008.  This got the CS-Manila people excited and eager to participate. The group finally decided on the date of March 08, 2008 because March 22, 2008 falls on the Holy Week and many will be out of town.

The group unanimously voted to have our first *Free Hugs* event in SM Mall of Asia because (1) it's a big area, well populated, and busy (2) that it's relatively safe from harassment for women volunteers - this is a primary concern.  We decided to write SM about our plan and request for permit to have this activity on their turf.  After over 10 email exchanges, it was obvious that we were operating on different paradigms. While we wanted this to be simple, random, and spontaneous, they were thinking of  PR, big signs, and themed event.  So we finally decided to let go of the MOA idea and changed our venue to CCP Complex and baywalk area.

This idea of CS Free Hugs day began in January and by end of February, the hype has waned a bit.  People were half heartedly asking if the Free Hugs will push through and I attempted high-strung "of course!"  The truth is I wasn't all that zealous anymore but with 100 messages exchanged in Manila Group, I feel that it's embarrassing not to push through with it.  The sort of final plan was posted a week before and there were a couple of enthusiastic responses but there are a number of negative replies also from the original enthusiasts. It was a bit disheartening but I told Zara that we will push through even if it's just her and myself. She said ok!!!

Normally on a Saturday, 30 minutes should be suffice to drive to CCP from QC but I gave myself 1 hour, in case someone will be on time. But there was a freak traffic and I was 15 minutes late.  Riva, Kim, Mark, and Bong were already there chilling when I got there.  Riva was preaching couchsurfing to the 3 while Kim briefed Riva about Free Hugs. Apparently Riva came without any idea what's going on. Lol.

By 1 o'clock we decided to start with Rebi, Zara, Riva, and myself holding the signs while Bong takes pictures and Mark attempts to video record.  Except for Kim, we were all rookies on this even if we've watched tons of youtube clips. And obviously most of the passersby haven't encountered Free Hugs before so we were met with weird stares, look through us, or avoided us. But soon enough, there are curious people who asked us what we were doing and finally accepted hugs. It cannot be explained the warmth you get when they do and since then, the smile never left our faces. There were even cars who stopped, parked, came out of the car to receive hugs. Amazing!

We walk towards Star City and while we initially encoutered problem with the guards who wanted to know what we were doing, they finally warmed up and accepted hugs themselves.

Star City is a great place because a lot of family bring their kids there. And by this time, more CS huggers arrived- Nadine, Marlon, Frances, & Jason. There was a guy who brought over his kids to get free hugs (and took picture of us) and told us that he encountered this in Melbourne.  We were there for over an hour and over hundred of people got hugged. There's a bus station beside it so bus loads of people get hugged as well.

Finally we decided to move on and walked towards Harbor Square where Ronnie and Will were having lunch. Kim, Mark, & Bong bid us goodbye because they have to go to work. Kaycee and Pauline finally arrived with their huge and small signs. So we hanged out at Harbor Square as some take their first meal of the day at 15:00 and those who just joined, took their signs for a test drive, finally, the group decided to hit MOA anyway! Why not?!

And so we did. As expected, the guards gave us a hard time insisting that we should produce a permit for our activity. What?? The kids running around the playground, need permit? The people eating chicken joy at the bench, needs permit? The lovers cuddling at the levee, need permit?

We were on a roll here, so we quickly gave a few BS and brushing them away, started walking with our signs, but not without the guards trailing behind us talking into their radio feeling very important.

We swept the stretch of the Bay Walk twice, from IMAX to Shrine of Jesus Church and back. The people there were awesome! Although they don't run towards us, they'd call us to them. We even came to an on-going child's b-day party and when we showed our signs, the parents let us hug the kids and video taped us. So we were video taped, taken photos with, and trailed by security guards. We do feel quite like celebrities. Lol.

What a great adventure! I truly believe that everyone of us was smiling/laughing every second of this experience, that was like 4-5 straight hours, no exaj!!

Thankfully even the weather cooperated. It wasn't too hot and it didn't rain. Finally, we concluded our day with beers (and other cold drinks), good cheers, natural high, and firework display at the bay. :)

The rest of the photos HERE<------- :-)