Campbell liked Pinoys’ love for music, drive to survive

Two years ago, 38-year-old Julia Campbell stepped out from what she called "the rat race" in New York, joined the US Peace Corps and boarded a plane for Manila. Last January 13, Campbell, who spoke fluent Tagalog, wrote in her last blog http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com titled Buhay Pa Tayo how poor Filipinos in Legaspi, Albay suffered from strong typhoon Reming but managed to rise from the rut. She said Filipinos often respond “buhay pa" (I’m still alive) when asked how they are doing in the midst of hardships. Police found Campbell's body buried at Battad village in Banaue, Ifugao province on Wednesday. The local police said Campbell was supposed to go for a massage but the US Embassy said she intended to hike in a hilly area. In another blog, dated October 24, 2006, Campbell wrote her bad experience from another typhoon Milenyo. “Talagang malakas! I ended up huddled alone under an umbrella while the walls shook and rain poured inside my hut. The hut and I survived to tell the story many times over. Thank God I'd remembered to buy a bottle of red wine the week before in Legaspi, the nearest city. While Campbell shared her worst experience in her volunteer work in the Philippines, she nevertheless had light moments telling how she admired the Filipinos’ talent for singing. In her May 26, 2006 blog, Campbell wrote her admiration for Filipinos who could sing anytime and anywhere. “Americans are closet singers. We sing in the shower. We sing in our cars. Maybe you whistle a jingle while walking the dog. But how many of us belt out a tune on the city bus? The subway? Uh, huh," she said. "Well, in the Philippines, singing is done everywhere and every event gives you an excuse to sing. It's not unusual to ride a jeepney, cheek to cheek, and have the 20 passengers break out into song in unison to whatever is on the radio at the moment," she said. "Last year, when a popular singer, Nina, had a hit "Love Moves (in Mysterious Ways)," there wasn't a mouth on the jeepney that was silent. Including mine!," she added. It was apparent from her blog that Campbell was a simple woman who had a healthy lifestyle. She wrote in her blog that she practiced yoga, ate vegetarian food and loved to cook and hang around with her friends. - GMANews.TV