Study abroad trips offer an invaluable learning experience, and are enriched even more when those leading them have firsthand knowledge of and connections in the countries being visited.

Such was the case for a small group of Old Dominion students who traveled to the Philippines May 13-27 with Earl Honeycutt, professor of marketing. Honeycutt was stationed in the Philippines for 2 1/2 years during the Vietnam War and later served as a Philippine specialist at the Pentagon while in the Air Force Reserves.

The students attended classes prior to the trip and were required to write a formal term paper in order to earn three credit hours for the study abroad experience.

The trip was planned by Araceli Suzara, director of Old Dominion's Filipino-American Student Cultural Center, and a native of Manila. Members of Suzara's family in the Philippines accompanied the study abroad group from arrival to departure.

The 13-member Old Dominion contingent, which included Chris Drake, professor of geography, and students from the College of Business and Public Administration, visited historical, cultural and educational sites on the island of Luzon and met with the vice president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"The visit with Vice President Macapagal-Arroyo was a high point of the tour," said Honeycutt. "She took time from her busy schedule to meet with us and discuss our visit to her country, and even treated the group to refreshments."

Macapagal-Arroyo presented the group with a wooden box that contained Philippine cups made from the ashes of Mount Pinatubo and woven materials. Honeycutt, in turn, presented her with a brass Old Dominion clock as a remembrance of the visit. (The cups are on display at the Filipino-American Student Cultural Center.)

Like Honeycutt, Heather Jones, an international business major who will graduate in December with an M.B.A., cited this meeting as a memorable part of the visit.

"A unique selling point of the trip was, undoubtedly, the chance to meet with the vice president and other important public figures in private settings," she said. "Very few people of ordinary stature have the opportunity to meet with such high-powered decision-makers."

She added, "Aside from my purely personal interests in the venture, the program also appealed from a career perspective. My educational and indeed life background are very internationally oriented. I have lived, worked or studied in eight countries and my career goal is to work within the context of international business operations."

In Manila, the group visited the Asian Institute of Management, University of the East and the University of the Philippines. They also visited many historic and cultural locales, including the site of the 1986 People Power EDSA Revolution that brought President Cory Aquino to power.

During a trip to the mountain town of Baguio City, the group stopped briefly to observe the devastation caused by the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which caused loss of life and destruction of homes and businesses in that area.

"We also learned about mountain cultures by attending a lecture at the Baguio City Museum by Dr. Leonora San Agustin and by participating in mountain dances at the Tam-awan Village Cultural Show," Honeycutt said.

On the way back to Manila, the group took a bus excursion through the Province of Pangasinan and stopped at Lingayen, the site of the Japanese invasion in 1941. Back in Manila, they also went on an all-day trip to Corregidor, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur held out against the Japanese in 1942 and from where he departed for Australia with his famous words, "I shall return."

"We toured the entire island and spent time in the famous Malinta Tunnel, where nearly all U.S. and Philippine personnel stayed during the constant shelling and bombardment by the Japanese invaders," Honeycutt said.

Karen Cabral, a senior management major from Virginia Beach, particularly enjoyed the trip to Corregidor.

"There is so much history there, both American and Filipino," she said. "I learned a lot. Plus, the atmosphere on the island is very laid-back and relaxed. The scenery is very picturesque, so it was great being able to walk around, be alone for a few moments and meditate after learning so much history."

On their final day in the Philippines, the Old Dominion contingent traveled to Subic Bay, the former U.S. Navy Base that was returned to the Philippines in the early 1990s.

John Beacham, another member of the study abroad group, said he went on the trip in large part because of his working relationship at a local warehouse and distribution firm with a number of Filipino-Americans.

"I think my most memorable experiences came from observing the genuine friendliness of the Filipino people and their ability to deal with adversity in such a matter-of-fact, unstressed manner," said Beacham, who just this summer completed his undergraduate businesses degree 30 years after first enrolling at Old Dominion.

"In spite of floods, political turmoil and economic struggles, everyone seems to be able to go about their daily routine with a smile and steady energy. I think that, as a result of the visit, I also have a better understanding of the Filipino/American bond that was born during the colonial years and fully matured during World War II.

"Since I have returned home, I have a new appreciation for the Filipino heritage and I now appreciate my Filipino co-workers in a new way."