James Breese ’73 recently received a 2007 Judicial Excellence Award in the State of Colorado. You can read more about his exciting accomplishment at www.coloradojudicialinstitute.org.  

Elizabeth Ford ’92 was recently promoted to King County’s Labor Relations Manager of the Human Resources Division’s Labor Relations Section in the Seattle area. 

Life Overseas In the Foreign Service: “Two Typhoons, An Earthquake, and a Military Coup Attempt, All In One Week, Right Here In Manila.” Written by Sarah Peck '96 

“After working two years in Prague as a political officer, I am now working at U.S. Embassy Manila, one of the largest posts in the world (see manila.usembassy.gov). As vice consul, I issue the visas that permit Filipinos to study and work in the United States, and to visit their loved ones. One of the more interesting aspects of the job is the seafarer portfolio: a third of the world’s seafarers hail from the Philippines. I enjoy the humanitarian aspect of the work, as well as the opportunity to work with Ambassador Kristie Kenney, who a highly respected career diplomat (and a star of Princess Diana magnitude among Filipinos).

What’s it like here? Well, Manila is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, the city can be lovely, depending on where you are, with balmy weather, lush greenery, and quirky architecture and streetscapes. Restaurants and nice shops abound. There are interesting cultural sites to visit, such as the Chinese Cemetery, where the dead reside in mansions outfitted with electricity and water. Travel outside of Manila can be extremely pleasant, with mountain retreats, beaches, and exotic landscapes to explore (Madonna has vacationed here for good reason). And best of all, Filipinos are resilient, hard-working, funny, and creative. They are quick to smile, and can turn any event into a festival.

However, the poor are shockingly poor. Waif-like street children tap on your car windows, begging for coins. The traffic is deservedly infamous: smoke-belching jeepneys, though picturesque, clog the roads and pollute the air. The challenge of living here is complicated by corruption, the threat of terrorism, and constant natural disasters. We have already survived two typhoons, an earthquake, and a military coup attempt, all in one week, right here in Manila. All of this makes for the kind of life-changing experience that attracted me to the Foreign Service in the first place. I hope to leave the Philippines a slightly better place two years from now.”