Here is Maria with Lulu, Jane and me the first time I met her in August 2000 (at JollyBee in the SM Fairview mall, Quezon City).  During that first visit I don't think Maria was quite sure who I was and/or why I was there.  After we ate we took her to the SM Department store so she and her mother could could pick out a school bag and some things for the house.  After that Maria and her mother had to leave, though, so the visit ended up being shorter than I had hoped.